#umm speaking of someone who rose from the dead...

[wiltkingart]

between contracts

[weixuldo]

Never Forgotten//

Vader x F!Reader/ Ch 5

You finally see the man behind the mask. 

Warnings: Cursing, medical procedures? Bad grammar and punctuation lol, description of injuries, self hatred (vader)

Wc: 3413

__________________________________________

You were still waiting for Vader’s reply. He paused for longer than usual and you were starting to worry.

“Are you…alright, my lord?” you quietly offered.

“You were found on Tatooine as a small child.”

“What?” you were beyond confused.

The Sith sighed, was he really about to do this?

“You were found and the junk dealer, Watto took you in as a slave. You were close with a family of two. A mother and a son. ” he continued.

“Yes, but we need to focus on your recovery now my lord.” you were becoming anxious.

“The boy you mentioned, Anakin. He was a skilled mechanic. He left to train as a Jedi knight, did he not?”

“Umm, yes. Yes”, this was getting more and more uncomfortable.

Lord Vader rose from his seat and you took a step back.

“How do you know all of this? I never go into detail about them.” your mind was spinning.

“I know you, F/N”

F/N.

No one had used that name in years. The last time you heard that name was the day you left Tatooine all those years ago. When he left you.

No.

It couldn't possibly be.

Before you could even register it, you spoke, “Ani?”.

Darth Vader, the all mighty Sith lord felt a weight being lifted off of his shoulders. The way you spoke his name so softly. He observed your watery eyes, how he wished to brush away your tears. You were too beautiful to cry.

He cast his gaze down, “That is… no longer my name.”

You barely heard what he said, you were too overwhelmed. He was alive! He was here. Before he knew it, you were right in front of him, your hands tenderly placed on either side of his helmet.

“I can’t believe you're here, Ani. I- I thought you were dead. I thought I'd never see you again! But you’re here. We’re together again.” you felt the tears threatening to spill over.

At that moment he was purely Anakin Skywalker. It was just you and him. He wanted to bask in your glory. He wanted you to tell him it was all ok. He wanted you.

You smiled up at him as the tears came running down. He wanted to brush them away but something in the back of his mind reminded him of who he was, what he had done. His back stiffened.

Your smile slowly turned to a frown, that man, that file, the pain, that was all Anakin. Who did this to him? How could anybody do that to someone?

“Who did this to you?”

He was caught off guard at your question. You weren't questioning how he ended up here as a Sith lord. No. You wanted to know who hurt him. You truly were too good for him.

“Nothing to concern yourself with. I believe we are done for the day.” He bluntly stated.

“But, Ani please! I just got you back! Please stay with me!” you pleaded.

“That is no longer my name. We are done. You will speak to no one about this”.

Why was he being so harsh? You just wanted to be there for him. He was the only person in the galaxy you ever longed for. You thought back to your childhood, even if he didn’t reciprocate your feelings, you were contempt just being in his presence.

You tried to catch up to him but he forced the med bay door shut. You sank to the floor. There were so many emotions going through your mind. You finally had him back, but just like that, he was gone again. He was so different now, how did your bright Ani become a feared Sith lord? How did he end up in that torture suit? Maybe your feelings were right after all, you truly saw the last of Anakin Skywalker that fateful day on Tatooine.

__________________________________________

Had he reacted too harshly?

No.

He didn’t deserve your care. He left you. You mourned for him. He didn’t want to hurt you anymore.

He had his goals set, he had to set aside his feelings and keep a professional relationship. Even so, deep inside, he still wanted to go to you.

You made your way back to your room, sniffling the whole way there. The troopers who passed you in the halls guessed you must’ve angered Lord Vader. Once you reached your chambers, you face-planted into the cot. How could you continue to treat him? How could he be so cold with you? Why did he wait so long to tell you?

You heard a knock on the door. Soon after an imperial officer opened the door.

“You have a room transfer order. Grab your things.”

A room change? You didn’t put in a request form. You thought it best not to question, the empire didn’t take nicely to questions. You grabbed your bag and some other things and followed the officer. She led you to the wing that held Lord Vader’s chambers. “This is Darth Vader’s wing, I don't think anyone is allowed to-”

“The empire makes no mistakes.” she responded shortly.

She led you to a password protected room. Oh shit, was he trying to lock you up so you wouldn’t tell anyone about earlier? You cringed as the door slid open to reveal…

….a nicely furnished room?

This room was much more spacious than the previous one. There was actually a bed, covered in deep garnet silk sheets and pillows resting on the headboard. There was a desk on the opposite end and a small coffee table in the middle of a large rug in the center of the room. What in the galaxy?

“The code to the room can be changed from that panel screen.” the officer pointed to a small screen on the wall near the desk. You could choose your own password?

With that, she left.

This was definitely an upgrade. Something caught your eye as you searched around the room, a small potted aloe plant on the nightstand. There were no other plants in the fortress other than in the med bay. He put it there. You smiled to yourself, maybe you could work this out with him. You sure as hell weren’t about to give up.

__________________________________________

You weren’t sure if you were supposed to continue with the normal appointments after that whole ordeal. Eventually you decided it best to head down there, you would look lazy and inefficient if you stayed in your room all day.

Now that you were on his side of the fortress the walk to the med bay was much shorter. You entered the large room and flipped on the lights. Making your way to the vitals machine you were startled by a deep voice.

“F/N”

You spun around. There he was. He entered the room, closing the doors behind him. You didn’t know what to say.

“An- Lord Vader” you corrected yourself. “Are you ready to begin your treatment?”.

“There is no need to be fearful, F/N”

“Who said I was afraid?” you shot back, immediately regretting it.

He paused. Then scoffed.

“We will continue treatment. We will take off my mask.”

Your eyes widened, “really? Are you sure you’re comfortable with that sir?”.

There you were again, caring about others without bias. You were just as beautiful as the day he left.

“When we are alone, there is no need for titles”.

You nodded, walking closer to him as he sat in his chair. You continued your normal routine of checking his vitals and such. You were quieter than usual. He observed your hands, they were trembling. He felt terrible. Placing a gloved hand upon your own, he asked you to look at him.

“I will not harm you F/N. Do not worry. You may converse with me.”

You nodded as you breathed in, “ok”.

He settled back into his chair and let you work on him. You seemed more sure of yourself now.

“Thank you,” you spoke.

He turned his head towards you. “For the room, I mean.” you briefly smiled.

“That was no problem. Your daily commute should be more efficient now.”

You finished up and took a deep breath. “ Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

You pressed some buttons in the side of the room to make the pressure higher in the bay so he could breathe easier. Coming back to him you placed your hands on the sides of the helmet.

“You may proceed.”

You slowly lifted the helmet, finally revealing him. First his scarred lips, his nose and cheeks. Then…

His eyes.

You placed the helmet on the cart beside you, never breaking eye contact. He was scarred beyond recognition, but his eyes. They looked exactly the same, the only difference was a sharp yellow mixed with his natural blue. Without thinking you tenderly placed a hand on his cheek, his eyes shifted fully to deep blue, you breathed out a small “Ani.” In that moment he didn't care you didn’t call him Vader, all he could focus on was you. He leaned slightly into your touch before brushing your hand away. He couldn’t give in.

You gathered yourself and grabbed a salve. “Ok, so this one should help with inflammation and irritation, I have a different one that will reduce the appearance of the scarring. This might be a little chilly, so I'm sorry in advance”.

You scooped some of the salve into your hand and began to rub it into his cheeks. His breath hitched and he closed his eyes at the cold feeling. He let you massage it into his face as he tried not to escape your touch.

You studied his face as you applied the salve, his skin was rough and the scars tissue was thick. His hair was all gone. He seemed to be quite self conscious. You didn’t want him to be embarrassed. He wasn't the Anakin you remembered, but he was still just as beautiful.

“You’re beautiful.”

His eyes shot open. Surely you were mocking him. There was no way you could be serious, he was hideous, he hated himself.

You returned your hand to his face to rub some more gel in, a small smile drawn on your face.

“You are so beautiful, Vader.”

Vader.

You accepted him as he was.

You thought he was…

Beautiful?

“That is nonsense”, he averted his gaze from you.

“No, Ani, I’m telling the truth.” you spoke, such adoration in your voice. Once you realized you used the wrong name you apologized quickly, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I’m out of line. Anyways we should check out those blaster injuries, right?”

He was still processing you calling him beautiful. “My lord?” you asked again. He snapped out of his thoughts, “we shall proceed.”

You backed up allowing him to stand. You walked over to the pad in the middle of the room with robotic contraptions around it. This was where the Sith would suit up and attach his limbs with the assistance of the mechanical mechanisms.

“I can leave the room while you take off your armor if you would like.” you wouldn’t want to make him even more uncomfortable than he obviously was.

He was quite nervous to show himself to you. To be so vulnerable. But he knew this needed to happen sometime and his injuries were starting to take a toll on him, he wasn’t a trained medic after all.

You were F/N though. He felt that you would be respectful and professional. He was still weary of fully trusting you, but he knew you only wanted to help him. And honestly, he didn’t want you to leave him.

“No. You may stay.”

You turned towards him, a small smile gracing your lips. “Are you sure, Vader?”

“Yes. I do not wish for you to…. leave.” he admitted.

In that moment he wasn’t just your patient, he was your Ani. “I would never leave you.”

He felt his heart twist. How could you stand to be in his presence? He was cold and harsh to you. He left you. How could you treat him as if you two never parted?

He nodded and took his place on the pad as the mechanisms turned on. You watched modestly as the machines began to take apart his neck piece, boots, gloves, shoulder armor, and cape. He was just as large without the plating, he was tall, broad, and muscular. He was left in the suit covering his body with the box in his chest steadily blinking. His robotic limbs showing a bit at the ends of his clothing. You walked towards him, “Is the air pressure alright? I can adjust it if you need.”

“It is decent.”

You led him to an examination table not far from the pad. He sat himself down, not making eye contact with you. You had never seen artificial limbs like his, they were so advanced, so intricate. You asked him where his recent wounds were and he begrudgingly showed you. One grazed the top of his right arm, the other his left thigh, and he took some blows to his chest (bruised ribs). You asked if you could start with the one on his arm and he agreed. You tried rolling his sleeve up to see the wound but it wouldn’t roll up past his forearm. Shit. He was going to have to take off the rest of his robes. Ugh, you made all this progress today and now this might set it all back.

“Um, I think we’re gonna have to take off the rest of your robes.” You spoke, trailing off at the end.

Was he ready for that? Palpatine was the only one who had seen him out of the suit in years. But this needed to be done, he didn't want to risk infection, either way it will end with you seeing him. He closed his eyes and sighed before he began to undress.

“I can leave sir!” You spoke surprised at his sudden actions.

“No. Stay. I’ll need help with this anyway.” He spoke staring at the floor as he reached for the zipper in the back of his shirt. You noticed him struggling to get it so you stepped in and started it for him. As you unzipped his shirt you noticed what looked like metal segments coming out of his upper back, that was probably his reinforced spine you read about. He needed extra support because of the weight of his suit. Further down there were ports on both sides of his back that were most likely to supply oxygen while he sat in the bacta tank. The zipper ended at the base of his back and once it was unclasped he began to pull it off.

You didn’t want to stare, but not only were you seeing a forbidden sight, this was also your childhood love, he had been through so much. His torso was even more scared than his face, it looked like the burns were the most severe on his chest. You snapped yourself out of your thoughts and began to examine his arm. The wound wasn’t completely healed and there was some necrosis forming around the edges, if he would have let you help him the first day that could have been prevented.

“I’m going to have to disinfect the wound and scrub the necrotic skin off, that might hurt, are you ok with that?” You asked

Did he really have a choice? He knew this needed to be taken care of.

“That is fine.”

You sprayed some disinfectant around the wound and let it sit as you went to put on gloves and wash your hands. Vader was highly uncomfortable, but he just couldn't pull his gaze from you. You were all grown up, you were a woman now, and oh how beautiful you were.

You walked back over to him and rinsed it out. You grabbed some tweezers and began to pull at the necrosis around the area. He flinched at the second pull and instinctively your hand rested on his forearm.

You said, “I’m sorry, sweetie”, an endearing response you told all of your patients. But those words made his breath hitch. You looked up at him with worried eyes before you got up and grabbed an oxygen mask from the wall, thinking he was having trouble breathing. He knew he didn’t need the mask, he simply was reacting to the effect you had on him. He allowed you to slip the mask over his mouth and nose, simply because he secretly wanted you to touch his face again.

“There, is that better, Vader?” You asked, genuinely concerned.

He nodded and you proceeded to clean his wound.

You were finishing wrapping his arm and patching up his abdomen when you felt his eyes on you. Throughout the examination he had been watching you, but now it felt different. You remembered as a kid Anakin would often use actions rather than words to communicate deep feelings.

“You know, I can feel your eyes burning into my soul” you said with a smirk, not looking up at him.

“My apologies, Just observing”, he said. He definitely was not just observing the procedure, he was trained on you, so gentle and careful but yet so efficient. You told him the last thing for today was to patch up the blaster wound on his thigh, so he began to take off his pants. You averted your gaze out of respect. You walked to the other side of the room and grabbed a small blanket. Once he finished and was left only in his undergarments you shyly handed him the towel to place over himself.

“Ready?” You asked. Silently he nodded. You looked up and saw him in all of his glory. He was very fit despite missing his ligaments, he looked so vulnerable, so human. He took off the oxygen mask and sat it next to him as he watched you stare at him.

“Still think I am ‘beautiful’?” He scoffed.

Regardless of his broken body, his deep burns, or the scarring that covered the expanse of his body, he was ethereal. When you looked at him all you could see was a man who had the odds stacked against him but still managed to survive. He had endured so much suffering and pain and yet here he was, the man you loved. You loved him all those years ago on Tatooine and this was no different.

“Ani, you are perfect.” You smiled. His eyes widened and you swore you saw his cheeks heat up.

The gash on his thigh was much larger than the one on his arm, no wonder he had been limping. Softly, you placed a hand on his upper thigh, eliciting a gasp from Vader. No one had touched him there in years, it just felt… different. You began the process you previously did on his other wound, only this time he spoke to you.

“I never thought I’d see you again”.

No way the merciless lord Vader would say that. Of course not. But at that moment he was purely Anakin Skywalker.

Without stopping treatment, you responded with a smile, “I didn’t think I would see you again either.”

You were silent for a moment, you knew he changed, so did you, but you couldn’t help but think what would happen to the two of you.

“Hey, I know a lot has happened since you left Tatooine. You don’t have to tell me, but I’d be glad to listen if you ever needed to talk. Also I know you knew me…before. I treasure our childhood dearly, but I don’t expect it to be the same as it was. And if you do not wish for it to be the same, I will respect your request.”

He watched you work on him as he pondered your words. Did he want it to be the same? The two of you as best friends.

Or

Did he want you to simply be his physician? An inferior being under his control.

No.

He did not want either of those options. What he truly wanted was to tell you what he should have told you all those years ago. He loved you. But so many things were holding him back, his position, his history with Padme, your possible reaction. But for the first time in forever he felt something stir deep inside.

Hope.

***

a/n: ok, this one was really long!! sorry lol. But I’m excited to start getting into the good stuff :) Thank you guys so much for reading! I hope i’m doing our emo boy justice 

taglist: @dokoni-mo, @the-official-memester, @wizardofrozz , @guinea-pig16 , @jar-of-moondust , @stxrrielle , @astra-1780, @katsukiswrld , @bisexual-snake , @hyojin-2579, @yvette-ace , @lollaa-puff, @lordfishflakes , @ayothatsano, @venus-armote , @emuxmu , @msblazer , @organasith , @loversjoy , @alexandra900925

srry to blogs that it wouldn’t let me tag

[uh-oh-howd-i-get-here]

After All This Time (Bucky Barnes X Fem!Reader) Part 3

I'm having so much fun writing this! I hope you all are enjoying this too. This chapter ended up so much longer than I thought it would be, but I'm fairly happy with it.

Summary: The real world is a scary place, even more so when you’re alone. You live alone in a apartment filed with the figurative ghosts of your memories. You’ve both changed since you last met your fiancé, but can love mend the gap after all this time.

Pairing: Bucky X Fem!Reader

Warnings: Talk of torture and death. Mentions of triggers. Cursing? Talk of PTSD and violence. If I missed anything please let me know.

Word Count: 3,299

Part 1-Part 2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Y/N was feeling very lucky. After some failed attempts at getting a job, she wasn’t sure how she was going to afford living. Everything was worth so much more than when she had last had to go grocery shopping.

She had decided though, that she was going to splurge on some flowers to lighten up the apartment. There was a flower shop near home that had been open when she was young all the way till she left for the war. It had been passed down through the generations and she had even been friends with the owners. A couple older than her with a little girl.

Much to her surprise, the shop was still there with the same name. Sunshine’s Flowers. Named after the original owner Sunshine. She walked inside and up to the counter where she was met with a middle aged woman.

“Hi! How can I help you?” The woman chirped.

“I was just looking for a bouquet of flowers to brighten up my dining room.”

The lady helped Y/N find a bouquet and they walked back to the counter to check out.

“And what’s your name?” The lady, who Y/N had learned was Shea, asked.

“Y/N L/N”

It was then that Shea really looked at Y/N. She stared at her for a second then lit up. “I’ll be right back.”

She walked off behind the door and after a couple minutes, then Shea returned with an older lady who looked to be in her mid 90s.

The old lady also stared at Y/N, then smiled. “I don’t know how you’ve stayed so young, but you’re just as beautiful as when you left Miss Y/N.”

Y/N stood shocked for a second, then it clicked. “Dorothy?”

The little girl had been only 10 when she had left, but time had passed.

“Oh it’s so good to see you,” Y/N turned to look at Shea. “How did you know?”

Shea smiled. “Mom keeps a picture of you two in the office. She always talked about how nice you were to her.”

Y/N smiled.

After talking for about an hour, Y/N left with two bouquets and a new job. Her next stop was the VA.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I almost thought I’d never see you again,” Sam smiled.

Y/N offered a meek smile. “I got some flowers to brighten the place up a bit, if that’s alright.”

“Thank you”

After some mild chatter, Sam asked, “What was life like for you before the war?”

Y/N froze. She hadn’t expected that kind of question. She thought back.

“It almost perfect I suppose. Business was getting back on it’s feet, the depression was over by the time I was in high school. I started dating when I was 18 and by the time I was 20 I was moving into an apartment with my boyfriend. A year after we moved in together, he proposed to me. I didn’t have a job, but I volunteered as a nurse sometimes. I mostly stayed home, we could afford it though. My fiancé worked, but he also came from a well off family,” she trailed off lost in thought.

“So you loved your fiancé?”

Y/N smiled. “I loved more than anything else in the whole world.” Her shoulders dropped. “I’d do anything to have him back.”

Sam nodded and silence filled the room.

“I know someone who would understand what you went through, I could call him down here sometime for you two to talk if you’d like.”

Y/N nodded vaguely. She didn’t know how she felt about that offer.

Sam seemed to understand. “Give it some thought,” he smiled.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She had decided to go back to the VA a week later. She didn’t mind talking to Sam, he seemed to understand in a way that others didn’t. Knew what questions to ask. Of course, that could be because he worked with two people just like her.

Y/N could hear Sam talking to someone in his office as she walked in the front door. She recognized Sam’s voice, but the other was talking so low that she couldn’t really hear it. Sam’s door was partially closed, but not quite shut, which meant she couldn’t just walk up and announce herself. She started debating whether to turn around and come back later or to wait until he was done talking with someone.

Sam had implied that there was someone she should meet, and she was terrified. New people had never really worked out well for her. She shook her head before she could think back, a tactic she had taken up while in public.

Just as she decided to come back later, Sam’s door opened. She turned around thinking it was Sam, instead it was the ghost of her memories. Her heart flew to her throat, then dropped to the floor. She desperately tried to move, to think, to do anything other than stand there and gape at the person in front of her. He seemed to be doing the same thing.

Finally, her words came to her. “James?”

He looked like her James. The same face, although now there were dark circles under his eyes, frown lines where there to used to be smile lines, and a permanent tormented look in his eye that she recognized all to well.

Sam appeared behind James and looked pleased, worried, and unsure about the whole situation. “Uh, Y/N this is Bucky. Bucky this is Y/N, but I think you both have already met.”

So it was true. This was James Barnes. The man who had proposed to her. Bought an apartment with her. Had loved her for god knows how long. Yet after everything that happened, here he was.

It felt like hours had passed before anyone moved, bet then Sam ushered both of them into the room with the beat-up sofas and she curled up into her usual spot.

Sam cleared his throat. “I get the feeling y’all need to talk alone. If either of you need me, please call. We’re the only ones here so.” Sam shrugged then eased himself out of the room leaving Bucky and Y/N together.

Y/N was still in shock. She had no idea what to say or what to do in this situation. A situation she never thought she’d be in.

They sat in an awkward silence until Bucky finally spoke. “How are you alive?”

She stiffened, straight to the point then. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

Bucky looked away. “I- I mean, the Winter Soldier killed you.”

She thought back to that day. While she remembered, trigger days were a little fuzzy, like watching satellite tv while it was raining. She took a deep breath before speaking. “How much of that do you remember?”

“I remember being given an order to kill you. I remember choking you. I remember feeling your windpipe collapse, then they announced you dead.” He had said it with such determination. Fact from the fiction of his thoughts.

“Then I’ll start from the beginning and fill in the gaps. We had gone on a couple missions together,” she started tentatively. He nodded in agreement.

She took that as her cue to continue. “We had gotten close. Not necessarily romantic, but we had become a sort of friends. When it was time for me to get transferred to a different facility, I put up a fight. They called me irrational and childish, but because of my outburst, we both had to be erased. By that point though, you were no longer being controlled with your trigger words, they had already started using the brainwashing contraption to wipe your memory. It didn’t work as well though, so there were some things that you would remember. They had noticed a trend in your memory that you remembered kills, and since I had helped with a couple, they needed you to have a “closure”,” she paused trying to gauge his reaction. When he didn’t say anything, she continued.

“They had you “kill” me, without my actual death. I’m not sure where you got the crushed windpipe from, but you never know what they manipulated with. I passed out and when I recovered enough, it was time for my trigger to be placed. I went into cryo and when I woke up from that, I was in Wakanda.”

Bucky let out a sigh but didn’t look any less tense. “So, you lived, and they just played us both.”

“Essentially, yes,” she muttered. It was hard to think about her time with the Winter Soldier. Frustrating now that she had all the puzzle pieces. They had both been so close, but they had never been farther apart.

“And how exactly do you remember so much? I can’t-“ A deep breath. “I barely remember anything.”

It was hard to miss the frustration in his voice, and she understood that. “Because of the technique they used to block my memories, everything was sealed away, not erased. They never actually got rid of my memories, and yours weren’t supposed to either. When they started to fry your brain, that’s where the damage started.”

“If that’s true, then how do you know all this? How do you remember so much? How do you know so much about the Winter Soldier Project anyways?”

She flinched as his voice rose with every question. She knew how incredibly unfair it was that she remembered and he didn’t, but she also knew that if Hydra hadn’t changed hands later in the 20th century, then he would have remembered just as much as she did.

“I know as much as I do because of the Project I was part of. Project Cecilia was a precursor in every way to the Winter Soldier project. Almost everything you went through; I was the reason it worked. And as I said, your memory was never supposed to be wiped.”

Bucky sat back in his seat. He looked angry, frustrated, and betrayed. Through all of this, she felt a sliver of hurt. He didn’t bring up what they were. He didn’t even ask about her well-being. She figured he had changed, but she didn’t know what to expect. She didn’t know this man in front of her, just as much as he didn’t seem to know her. She wanted to reach out, to see if even a sliver of him was still there.

“Jam- Bucky?” He looked up at her with a weary look. “I… I umm…” She stumbled over her words trying to think of what to say. Then continued to blurt out something ridiculous. “Do you want to get something to eat?”

She ducked her head and scolded herself. Of course he didn’t want to get something to eat. He probably didn’t even really want to go anywhere with her. They were… strangers.

His reply startled her. “Sure, but I don’t know any good places to eat here in the city.”

She nodded and blurted out, “We can eat in my apartment.” She was going to need a bigger shovel for this grave she was digging. Did she really just invite him over to her apartment? Their apartment?

“You mean cook something?”

She nodded numbly, mortified beyond belief what she was getting herself into. He could always say no right?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Y/N had hoped that he would say no. He looked uncomfortable when he had agreed, and hadn’t spoken since they had said goodbye to a seemingly shocked Sam.

She wondered if he even remembered life before he was captured. It hadn’t occurred to her then that he had probably suffered some pretty bad brain damage and memory loss. Is that why he didn’t bring up the past?

While she was lost in thought, they had arrived at the place she called home. She snuck a peak at Bucky. He stared up at the building, but didn’t say anything. She couldn’t quite read him either.

They went inside and got into the ancient elevator and it shook on its way up.

She gave a sigh of relief when they got to door 9C. She felt at home when she slid the key in the lock and turned it with a gratifying click. She had almost forgotten that there was a guest behind her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She opened the door and walked through, holding the door for Bucky. When he got inside, he froze.

Everything was exactly the same as when he had left. A sense of déjà vu passed over him. It felt wrong to be here. Wrong to see everything, but not able to quite place why. Had he lived here? Why did everything look like it came from the 30’s? He was about to ask her when he noticed the far wall. It was bare, which was odd, as he somehow knew that there used to be something there.

Her voice cut through the silence. “You can put your jacket on the tree and sit wherever you want while I make dinner.”

He just nodded and did as she said to with his jacket. Instead of sitting he decided to take a look around the living room. He meandered over to the mantle where there was a pipe. It looked worn and used. Next to the pipe, was a picture frame that had been laid down to hide the picture. He picked it up and looked at it.

A slightly younger looking Y/N and Bucky stood in front of that very mantle smiling together. He had his arm wrapped around her and her arm around him. Then, like someone blowing dust off a old book, memories started to come forward.

Bucky remembered Y/N much more clearly now. Not everything, but more than before. This apartment had been their home for almost three years. Three years of love, happiness, and safety. He now knew how much he had loved the woman in the kitchen.

Y/N L/N, the girl who he wanted to take his last name. The light of his life. He felt stupid for forgetting. He turned to take a look around the room with new eyes. She really hadn’t changed anything at all. His eyes landed on his leather chair. Like he was on autopilot he walked towards it and sat down. The worn leather comfortable in all the right ways. The chair had been used by him for so long that it had molded to his shape.

As much as he wanted to bask in the renewed memories, this place also reminded him of the life that had been robbed from him by Hydra. All the pain and suffering they had caused through him. His mood shifted. Why was he here? To eat dinner with someone he used to know? He knew exactly what she had done. The upbringing they had both had. Politeness, charm, and hospitality, it was how things worked back then. It was her default.

The more he thought about it, the more it unsettled him. Y/N was living in the past. She hadn’t changed anything because once upon a long time ago this had been her safe place.

He wanted to know more, so he stood up and snuck into the hall that led to the bedrooms. He opened the door to the master bedroom. As he expected, nothing had changed.

Except, for something on the dresser. As got closer he saw it was her dog tags and sitting next to them on the chain was the engagement ring he had bought for her. It dawned on him then that what had been missing from the wall, were the pictures of them. There were no visual reminders of their relationship in the apartment. Why? If she was stuck in the past, wouldn’t she bask in the memories of him too? He had to know.

He walked out to the kitchen where Y/N was folding a sauce into some noodles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Y/N jumped as she turned around and Bucky was there.

“Oh! You startled me. Dinner is almost ready if you want to set the table.” She pushed two plates with knives and forks on them across the small kitchen island. Bucky nodded and started to set the table. They both sat down to eat in silence for a couple minutes.

If she closed her eyes and pretended hard enough, she was back in 1940 and the US hadn’t joined the war yet.

She was so lost in her fantasy, she hadn’t heard Bucky clear his throat. A second, louder, noise came and her eyes snapped up to meet his.

“Why are you here?” he asked.

Her heart dropped. “Do you mean in New York?”

His gaze hardened a little. “I mean in this apartment.”

“I didn’t have anywhere else to go. I wasn’t a registered live person when I got back. None of my accounts were open and I had nowhere to go.”

She was bullshitting. She could have gone anywhere in the world, but she chose this place.

Bucky shook his head. “Why are you here still then. Why are you living in a museum? You can’t find comfort here. You wouldn’t be weak enough to actually let yourself believe that nothing can hurt you here. Does this place not kill you?” He was yelling by the end. His hands gripping the sides of the table, his vibranium arm leaving minuscule marks on the old wood.

By the end of his mini rant, Y/N was looking at her hands in her lap, desperately trying to keep the tears from leaving her eyes. She looked like a child being scolded by her mother.

Bucky loosened his grip on the table, his anger leaving him when he saw a crystal tear fall to her lap.

Her shoulders were shaking as she cried. Guilt piled onto his shoulders, and he did the only thing he felt he could.

He ran.

Y/N just sat at the table staring at her plate as the door slammed behind her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You did what!”

Both Steve and Sam were waiting for Bucky to get home. When he did, they ambushed him on how it went. Sam was excited that Bucky even went out. Steve concerned for them both. Bucky wasn’t the same person, and he suspected that she wasn’t either.

When Bucky told them what happened, Steve all but exploded.

“I yelled at her,” Bucky mumbled.

“And did she yell back at least,” Sam asked seemingly hopeful that she had tried to stand up for herself like he knew she could.

“She cried,” Bucky whispered, just loud enough for them to hear.

Steve turned to look at Bucky, “Jesus Buck. Why?”

“Steve you should see the apartment, it looks exactly the same. She acts like she did back then. She does everything but dress like it. She’s hiding in the past.”

Sam put his hand on Bucky’s arm. “That’s how some people cope with trauma. They live like they’re back in a time where they were happy. With as many triggers as she has, I would almost expect that. We can’t take away someone’s coping mechanism just because we don’t agree with it.”

“You have to go back and apologize Buck,” Steve sighed, and with that, Steve left.

Sam let out a small sigh. “She’s just as lost as you are. She told me about her fiancé before the war. I didn’t know that it was you then, but she loved you with everything in her heart, and from where I was standing during that conversation, she still loves you. You gotta give her a chance.”

“I’m not the same person Sam. She loved the old me, back when I was whole. She doesn’t want this mess now.”

“Do you know that for sure? Did you give her a chance to decide that herself, or did you make up her mind for her.”

[specsforwoo]

Son of Lachesis | Demigod!Jung Jaehyun

Parent Deity: Lachesis (Goddes of the String of Life; the Second Fate)

Allegiance: Hades

Dark Humor was a thing

He probably picked it up from his dad

His dad was this super successful thriller author

So they had this huge penthouse in New York but Jaehyun was your normal edgy emo teenager

He claimed to hate his life, hate his family, hate his friends

But like, his dad wasn’t bothered by it???

At first Jaehyun thought it was because his dad just didn’t care about him

But then he started to realize that his dad was the same way

He would rather disparage himself in the name of humor than anything else

It was more of a coping technique but oh well

And for some reason, Jaehyun’s senior year of highschool, he moved to Korea

Still doesn’t know why tbh

Something about his dad telling him that it was safer for their family to be closer together

But like his family only comprised of himself and his dad

And his beagle Chu-Chu but that’s it

As far as he knew, he didn’t have any family in Korea

But surprisingly, he fit in well

His last year of high school went by quickly

And soon he was accepted into the medical examiner’s program @ KAIST

What?

He felt more comfortable around cadavers than live humans

It wasn’t weird he just had hella social anxiety

He had a real gift for it too

He could just look at a body and be able to tell how they died

He was oddly able to tell how long ago they died too

He was actually starting to get creeped out by it

So he started talking to the only person he could ever confide in

His dad

It was a long weekend off of uni

And the Friday before he got into a huge argument with his toxicology professor about the substance that one man ingested that led to his death

His professor swore it was Croton tiglium

And he doesn’t know why but something in his gut was screaming that the diagnosis was wrong

So what did he do?

He stole the toxicology report to review it

And he barged into his professor’s office claiming it was actually Daphne mezereum

What scared him the most was that he could swear the man who was lying helplessly on the table was the one who told him what the poison was

So back to his dad’s apartment

Jaehyun was in tears explaining what had been going on to his dad

And sure his dad was the one to lighten up any room he could

But his dad just laughed

And for the first time he actually felt like he was going crazy

He thought that if anyone would be able to help him understand it would be his dad

I mean what was that Ph.D in psychology hanging on the wall for then

But his dad placed a hand on his shoulder and talked to him very calmly.

I think it’s time that you met your mother.

Sniffing, he looked up

I thought she had been dead since I was a baby.

Sorta…

How can someone be ‘sorta’ dead?

She’s more like… undead?

Suddenly a gray smoke started swarming around his feet.

And a young woman, dressed in black with a rose in her hair appeared behind his dad

Jaehyun almost screamed

Dear, Many people are in need to relief so why are you calling me up?

She spoke and her voice was as light of as the mist swirling around her feet

She looked up and made eye contact with Jaehyun

Dear, you know how dangerous it is for them to meet their other parents… why is he here?

She didn’t break eye contact with Jaehyun as she spoke to his father

It’s time he knew. Maybe Taeyong or Yuta could help him? They’ve been through this before.

The anxiety and stress was piling up on Jaehyun until he couldn’t stand it anymore

Knew what? Who is this? Why is our apartment filling with smoke? What have Taeyong and Yuta been through before?

You are a demigod Jaehyun. The woman spoke up, inching closer to his side.

My son, the son of Lacheses.

Lacheses…. The goddess of the string of fate.

I’m the son of a death goddess.

He burst out laughing

He couldn’t tell if it was from shock or denial

Everything made sense

His ominous ability to tell how people died

How long they would live for

So you are telling me Taeyong and Yuta are demigods too?

He looked between his mother and father

Yes, sons of Themis and Bia, respectively of course.

So that summer Jaehyun ended up going to camp with Taeyong

He didn’t feel that comfortable in the Hades cabin, and ended up rooming with Sicheng in the Achelios cabin instead

He also tended to help out with medical care when super dangerous competitions were taking place

If he remembered correctly, Sicheng asked him to because your weird ass ability to tell how long people have to live comes in handy so I can override it.

He said it with all smile on his face too, like people thought Jae was creepy

He is still actively attending uni, still the top student is his toxicology class, despite his prof throwing the hardest cases his way

HE EVEN GOT AN INTERNSHIP AT THE POLICE STATION YAY JAEHYUN

But camp is his life now

He never knew what he would have done if he didn’t have the support system that he did because of it

Yuta is his best friend

Partly because they are apparently first cousins

But also because they just mesh really well together

Whenever Yuta is fighting or practicing

He is there to makes sure to call game before anyone gets fatally injured

It actually got close one time

But other than that

His life is really normal

He eats out a lot

He studies a lot less than he should

He has made lasting friendships

And he has the hugest crush in the world that he refuses to reveal

hey , you

Just tell me! You know I can keep a secret from the hyungs!

Cue Jisung pestering him as they run the track at camp

How do I know that?

Taeyong still hasn’t found out that Chenle and I sneak out every Saturday to go to the arcade and that we were the ones who broke his cat mug.

Good Point.

Sooooo?

Still not telling.

Honestly though, not like it wasn’t obvious enough

Sometimes he wonders if everyone is oblivious to him staring at the back of your head while you run rounds for Sicheng

Or how his eyes follow your figure when he spots you in a crowd

Dude has it bad

And might be a little possessive too

He saw Taeil hug you once and he refused to talk to Taeil for a week

Until Kun saw what was going on and forced them to make up

But you

Girl you might have an even bigger crush

Who knew volunteering was so fun when you got to see Jaehyun every day

Highkey only Renjun knows that you both like each other

What? Renjun knows E V E R Y T H I N G

At least he is like ‘passively’ helping Jaehyun score a date with you

And by ‘passively’ I mean he straight up walked over to you and asked you if you would want to grab dinner with Jaehyun on Thursday, something about studying for toxicology finals

And by ‘passively’ I also mean him straight up telling Jaehyun that you were going to be a the hole in the wall diner on 53rd street a 7 o’clock and if he didn’t show up he was going to kick his ass

So you both showed up

You with study materials

And him with flowers

Johnny told him that flowers were always the way to go

And Jaehyun was beyond embarrassed and confused when you looked up and saw him standing there in a button down shirt that definitely wasn’t his holding a bouquet of flowers

And you were sitting there in sweatpants and your glasses falling down the bridge of your nose

So he did what he does best

Laugh it off

Oh, these are to thank you for helping me study.

Of course, you didn’t have to get me anything though.

In his head he is sitting there cussing Renjun out while also trying to create that empathy link with Yuta so he could tell Yuta to go beat his ass

But he brushed it off and starts studying with you

Only after ordering pecan pie and hot chocolate

Because everyone needs snacks for studying

Right

But you suddenly looked up and stared him straight in the eyes

Why do you even need my help? Aren’t you like top of this class, and IDK you can talk to dead people? Just ask them what happened.

Jaehyun is back to being embarrassed and this time he can’t laugh it off

Well– ummm— you see– Renjun— I—-

Oh for Zeus’ sake can’t you just say that little twerp set us up on a date?

Well… yeah, yeah he did.

YoU — umm— you can leave if you want, I understand if you don’t like me

Why would I leave. And you shouldn’t understand because you are a great guy, of course I like you.

You gave off a cheeky smile before stealing a bite of his pie

Y’all started off really casually

Like a group date here and there, nothing alone

Something in Jaehyun told him it wasn’t going to get serious unless he made the first move

Your father was probably to blame

Zeus was known for being a little aloof when it came to love

But Jaehyun

God Jaehyun had no guts whatsoever

Not until his best friend from New York came to town

Jameson had come to visit over his own spring break, claiming he wanted to see why Korea was so special and “Jeff” as he knew him, never returned to the US

And Jaehyun had taken you with him to the airport, better than dragging along Jeno or Jungwoo, who for some reason was terrified of planes themselves, and Yuta was out of town for a competition and Johnny was still passed out from last night’s party

And when Jameson stepped off the plane, he came barrelling towards Jaehyun, screaming JEFFFFFFERRRRRYYYYY as loud as he could and tackled him into a hug.

After that he began speaking in English a mile a minute

To say you were a deer caught in the headlights was an understatement

Jaehyun obviously wasn’t fazed, he was able to talk back to Jameson at the same speed, not even stuttering

So you felt kinda lost, shrinking away from the boistering boys, opting instead to starting rolling his friend’s luggage to the car

Jaehyun caught wind of your suddenly shy personality and cut off his friend to instead walk over to you

In a much calmer voice, and this time in a language you were actually able to understand, Jaehyun asked if you wanted to be introduced to his friend

You nodded and Jaehyun grabbed your wrist before shutting the trunk of the car.

Pulling you back over, Jaehyun spoke in English again

You could barely make out something along the lines of This is my friend, Y/N, daughter of Zeus.

You gave a small wave and bowed, hoping he wouldn’t speak to you directly, prompting you to speak in your broken tongue.

Just a friend, or something more? Jameson smirked at Jaehyun before looking back over at you

A friend that you can’t have. You couldn’t really understand what Jaehyun said but you could tell that whatever was said, he wasn’t happy about his friend’s comment.

After that you all got into the car where Jaehyun made you sit in the front seat, holding your wrist the entire time, in obvious view of Jameson

Things died down for a while and it went back to the usual

You were still on the track team (more like Pegasus Racing team but whatever)

And Jae came to cheer you on at every game

And Jae was still top of his classes @ KAIST

And you came to cheer him up when the workload got to much for him

But it STILL wasn’t serious

So one night

Specifically, Jameson’s last night in Korea

Everyone decided to head out to Hongdae to go club hopping (pls tell me you people know what club hopping is)

And you were all having fun, dancing, most were also drinking, especially Jameson

Jaehyun somehow ended up being DD after a brutal battle of scissors, paper, rock

So he was sitting there on the side lines, nursing straight tonic water watching everyone else get shit-faced drunk

You weren’t any better to be honest

Jameson started having a habit of trying to get you alone or get you to dance with him

So you thought that if you had to deal with that all night you had to have a couple shots in your system.

PSA TIME PEOPLE!!!!!! PSA!!!!! If someone in your group keeps trying to get you alone or get you to dance with them, both men and women, DO NOT I repeat DO NOT resort to drinking to deal with it. If they don’t get the hint by you avoiding them, tell them straight to their face that you don’t want to be with them. If they still don’t get the hint, seriously consider just leaving wherever you are. Under no circumstances is it okay for them do that. PSA OVER!!!!

Jaehyun had been watching you try to avoid Jameson from the bar all night and after Jameson came up behind you and grabbed your waist he was done

The vision of fully sober, properly pissed off, ready to throw punches Jaehyun was not a pretty sight

Thankfully, at the moment he had enough self-control in his system to not deck his friend straight in the throat

He instead opted to grab your wrist, much more forcefully than last time, and drag you out the back door of the club into the alley way

Then, much more gently, backed you into the wall of the club

He was so close that you could feel his breath on your forehead

Muttering to himself in English, you couldn’t understand what he was saying

Suddenly he looked down and his eyes kept snapping from yours to your lips

I’m probably going to do something I regret right now

Poor you couldn’t even understand him because of him still speaking in English

Next thing you know he was kissing you, pushing you up further against the wall, wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you closer

After he let go, worry flashed across his face, like he finally realized something

Oh my god, did that bastard hurt you?

He started checking your arms and wrists, even running his hands along your waist to make sure there wasn’t bruising there

For once, Jaehyun actually had the guts

He ended up calling everyone rides, and left early with you so he could take you out on an ‘official first date’

To an ice cream shoppe

Mind you average temps in Korea during, let’s say March is still around 28 degrees Fahrenheit @ night

He realized his mistake after seeing you sit there in the booth, shivering as you picked up your ice cream

So he quickly shrugged off his jacket, wrapping it around your shoulders and grabbing your hands in his to warm them up

First date was still a success in his mind

And all the dates there after

Renjun takes full credit for your relationship, but so does Sicheng, they actually fight about this

Jameson actually isn’t in Jaehyun’s life anymore

And Jaehyun is madly in love with you

Proposes after he graduates, in front of all of his friends, @ the stupid little hole-in-the-wall diner that he claims was his first real date with you

While they all scream JEFFFERRRRYYYY in the background.

really tho, Yuta has it on tape, along with Doyoung forced feeding Jaehyun wine, and him sleep talking about your first official date, all of which he plays at your guy’s wedding

Good luck having all of these idiots as brother in laws :::)))))

[sly-merlin]

killing me- 9

pairing : law student!reader + yuta

genre :    angst , mafia au/ arranged marriage au , smut

warnings of this chapter : smut, drinking ,mention of weapons

words :: 7k

summary : “life’s never fair y/n. realise it as soon as you can . it is the only secret for living a regretless life.”                                  

or              

                    “  curiousity got the cat hitched”

taglist :: (not tagging the old ones because they have read it already bt if u want , lemme know! )  @yiyi4657​ @sorrywonwoo​ @sillywinnergladiator​​ @suhweo​​ @exfolitae​ @minejungwoo​ @leesalts​  @mal-nakamoto23​ @ro2424​

@kafenetwork​​​​ @neowritingsnet​​​​

K.M masterlist

K.M 8  next

note:: unedited! i’m a bit busy so i’ll try to edit it before sleep!

“yuta.”

“bake up.”

Yuta groaned at the foreign force shaking him repeatedly. He moved, crashing his face further into the sheets, swatting the alien hands away from himself.

“wake up you horse!” this time yuta heard the gurgling voice a bit more clearly. Someone was trying to disturb his sleep. Staying on his stomach and titling his half body to face the uninvited guest, he made out a face that matched johnnys. His face fell flat on the mattress again until he realised what or whom he has seen! He jolted upright, squatting, to face johnny.

“what are you doing here.” He mumbled with eyes still closed, stretching his arms on the sheets.

“it’s 1p.m!why you still sleeping dude?” johnny’s exasperated voice sounded too loud to yuta’s morning self. Or afternoon!

“It’s m-” a long yawn stretched his mouth into an oval shape, that he didn’t mind covering “its my house. I’ll do whatever I want but what are you even doing here?” he completed quietly.

“why are you still sleeping. You weren’t even drunk. Get up and tell me where is y/n!”

“so you are not here for me!” yuta pouted at johnny before throwing himself on the bed again, covering himself with sheets.

“what the fuck yuta! You are not a baby and tell me where is she? Did you even drive her back?” johnny asked sternly, removing his layer of protection.

“the only thing I can assure is that I wanna sleep more. And about your big fat crush! She certainly came back with me but she was crying so I won’t be surprised if she left already.” As soon as yuta’s almost inaudible words reached johnny’s ears, he jogged outside the room, checking the lock of your room. He sighed in relief at the secured lock. You didn’t leave and he was glad.

Johnny noticed your movements when you signed those papers. He was cursing at himself for not interfering but not like it’d have made any difference! The best he could do was to make sure you were fine at the end. Regardless of the fact that your phone was switched off, he was trying it continuously since yesterday night. Countless phone calls and messages but all were futile. His anger on taeyong was just fuelling by your ignorance.

Annoyingly, he fisted his hair before going for yuta’s room again.

“is she in university right now?” he asked yuta, who was looking like a dead body with an open mouth.

“bloody hell nakamoto! Wake up!” he shouted at him, this time the sheets were tossed on the floor.

“johnny babes, just track her. Don’t shout at me. I didn’t do anything this time.”

“you seriously ate your ethics yuta. I’m not needed there so I’m staying until she’s back.” Johnny declared, making his way outside on the couches.

“not needed my ass john suh. Ate my ethics! Says the one who’s seducing his own sister-in-law.” He only muttered before drifting back into paradise.

johnny just sat there in front of the t.v, mindlessly waiting for you, unknown guilt corroding his mind and heart.

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

Doyeon and mingi’s whispering felt like a hammer to your head. The incessant pounding was the result of some expensive alcohol and the stupid tears. If exams were not approaching in two weeks, you’d have stayed longer to sulk but their future was as important as yours and only one more week was left so you just sucked it up. Now you were eating the lunch brought by mingi while testing them for exam.

“civil laws suck.” Mingi exclaimed, hitting doyeon on the arm.

“no! your brain sucks.” Doyeon reiterated, poking his head with her pencil.

“wtf doyie! My brain is totally packed up to the brim. if you love it so much, then tell me the answer of question 6!” a smug smile made its way to mingi’s lips.

“what’s wrong with no.6 mingi?” you questioned, perplexed as there was no difficulty in the paper yet he was still looking here and there.

“umm. Non bis in idem! It’s not given anywhere. Right?” he hesitantly asked for he knew he was wrong, somewhere.

“what was the paper you wrote last time?” you tried not to unleash your anger on them, so you kept your voice as low as possible.

“double jeopardy!”

“and?”

“and?”

“what the heck mingi! Didn’t you mention the legal maxim of dj?”

“maybe not!”

“what kind of law student forgets about legal maxims duffus! Non bis in idem means double jeopardy.” You reprimanded him tiredly, not in the mood to put up much fight with him.

“sorry” he said, head hung low.

“don’t be mingi. I won’t gain anything from this. you need to study for yourself. now complete this before I give you a subjective test. Double prep is always good. Hurry up!”

A collective musical groan leaves them both, as they tend to their paper again, you drowning yourself in your own books.

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

Johnny and yuta were engrossed in a football match when you entered the hallway. Upon noticing you, johnny sighed in disbelief, before making his way to you.

“why is your phone switched off?” he fumed at you, hands on his waist as you poured water for yourself.

“It wasn’t charged so I left it here.” he knew he wasn’t doing his utmost in containing his irritation and your casual tone just took him off guard.

“you jus- you should have charged it dammit. I was fucking worried that something happened to you and what kind of girl travels without a phone these days!” his hand ruined his already messy hair as he ranted, the reason of which was beyond your understanding.

“it’s not that big of an issue besides I’m not clearly out of reach right!” you scoffed at him, pointing to your arm where the bracelet was hidden, under the sleeves. You didn’t mean to sound rude at his concern but his position was no better .You had every right to be querulous!

“i-you don’t understand. i just wanted a reply from you. it’s the least I deserve! Or don’t i?” his voice went down as his face lost the previous stern expression.

“I saw my phone only this morning and I was getting late so didn’t bother!” you shrugged your shoulders at him, making your way for the room.

“where are you going?” his voice rose a bit as he held onto your arm.

“in my room!” you replied, matter of factly.

“yeah! I thought you were going to greet your dear husband!” he joked, tilting his head towards the couches where yuta sat previously but he was not there anymore.

“I don’t wanna talk johnny!” you said curtly, jerking your hand away. But he was quicker as he pulled you into him, backing you into a counter.

“just leav-

“no tell me what’s the matter with you. what have I even done?” his voice was barely above a whisper, meant only to be heard by you. the rise and fall in his speech was already shaking your resolution.

“nothing! just turned a normal student into a deadly underground member. But it’s nothing big so yeah!” you replied, mock evident in your words. As you tried to leave again, his hands caught your waist as he picked you up, stationing you on the counter. He secured you against his body, restricting your movements. His hard orbs found yours as he hands tightened around your waist, making you gulp in the process. You stared back with same intensity, as if reading his next step. He lowered his front, demanding eyes never leaving yours,

“this is the first and last time I’ll be explaining myself. I don’t know a shit about why he did that. But those papers won’t be used against you. I won’t let that happen. Ever. I promise that with my life. Just have some faith in me” He whispered. Besides it being the precise validation you sought, suspicion couldn’t be helped!

“and why would you do that. Do you also have some hidden agen-

his lips felt soft as they collided with yours with urgent need to shut you up. You froze, so did he. The only movement in your control was of your hands that were tightly gripped to the counter. The silence in the air being tense, his lips stayed still and contrary to yours, his eyes were completely shut. Johnny’s light breaths fanned your upper lip as his chest heaved up and down. Neither of you made any effort to further it nor any to pull apart. Few more seconds passed and he finally detached himself, the bodies still connected. Your lashes fluttered as he palmed your left cheek, speaking in a low husky whisper.

“I promise. Just believe me and when I say taeyong won’t hurt you, I mean it. With all my heart. Can you trust me on this please?”

He was insisting yet pleading and you merely nodded, lowering your head. His delicate fingers brushed the line formed between your brows, smiling softly.

“you have nothing to worry about. with unparalleled record that we have! You ain’t getting rid of me anytime soon. Yeah?”

His breathy laugh tingled your insides and something like awe transformed his face as he felt the warmness of your cheeks under his hand.

“by any chance, are you flustered?” your face went blank at his shameless comment when he was the very reason for your current state.

“n-no!” you pushed him hard while standing straight. He staggered a bit, giggling uncontrollably at you.

“lying suits you y/n. just like your soulmate jaehyun.” You scrunched your nose at the mention.

“don’t talk about him! He’s so annoying, i’m gonna hang him upside down someday o-or turn him into a stew!”

“and feed him to yuta!” he completed. You gawked at him for a moment before joining him in his laughing session.

“there is food?” yuta entered the kitchen, dimming the commotion.

“not for you!” you snarked.

“we have food y/n?” it was johnny this time. you had almost forgot about the sandwiches that were now probably rotting in your bag. As realisation dawned, you hurriedly retrieved your bag from counter, opening the plastics from the sandwiches with a last hope to save them.

“do you know that you don’t have to be ramsey to stuff cucumber and tomatoes in a bread?” johnny shifted, taking the packages to heat them up.

“I was out of bread. So I just took the easy route.”

“lame excuse! Work better!”

“not everyone got time john!”

You strolled for your room, passing yuta in the way, totally missing the frown and cute smile on yuta and johnny respectively. Though yuta’s internals were screaming at him to open his shitty mouth, his main focus was on his empty stomach that was growling like never before.

“pass me one john!” he whisper yelled to johnny, purposely stretching the last word to satisfy himself.

“no! it’s her lunch or snack or whatever it is.” He warned, hiding the oven with his front.

“oh so you have turned a part time servant for her!” he spewed, crossing his arms against his chest.

“no dude. She’s actual-

he was about to tell yuta but he halted his train of words for he was not in the place to tell any of your secrets to anyone , especially yuta.

“she’s what? Your girlfriend?”

“I swear I’m gonna fry you someday!”

“whatever. Now give me a sandwich before she comes out. Hurry up!” yuta looked over johnny’s shoulders to count the stacked portion in the device.

“one, two-

“three. They are just three yuta! Fuck off.” Johnny knew throwing abuses wouldn’t work but hitting him with his shoulder wasn’t either! He glanced at yuta and he seriously looked miserable. Hungry miserable!

“come on-

“are you done john?” your voice echoed from the hall as you approached wearing your famous tank top and cotton shorts. Yuta cursed under his breath, opening the fridge to get himself something.

“here” johnny handed you the plate. He hit yuta’s arm to grab his attention who was practically trying to sit in the fridge.

“renjun and jaemin are cooking their special ramyeon. We’ll eat there, come on!”

“huh!” he excitedly passed johnny to pick his things up.

With yuta out of sight, his focus shifted again on you. “don’t you get sick after eating takeouts?”

“yup I do! My gut is not the healthiest one in the world. But I’ve fewer options and I do check their health certificates so no need to worry.” Your humorous reply didn’t get more than a shit face from him. He leaned again causing you to take a step backwards.

“your hair!” He pointed and you rolled your eyes like you’d see what was happening up there.

“what my hair?”

“umm. Nothing kiddo!” he said before ruffling your hair.

“aah. I’m not a kid johnny!” you shouted at him though he was just standing by your shoulder.

“oh yes you are!” he pouted dramatically and ran but not forgetting to throw a flying kiss your way. “charge your phone, I’ll call again.”

“eww!” you snapped your head to catch yuta standing behind, making faces at johnny who was standing at the front of hallway.

“oh come on you shit.”

At johnny’s comment , yuta just followed and you totally missed the way he scoffed at both of you.

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

You were truly jumbled by johnny’s actions, innocent yet calculated. You had maintained your calm but he was aware that you were not blind towards his growing attraction. why didn’t you push him away! What was he aiming at? Questions, questions! From the very first day, all you have are questions with no concrete answers.

But Johnny was not the sole occupier of your worries, taeyong held a significant part of it. If what johnny said was true, if his intentions were not so malafide then he’d easily have skipped it. Despite johnny’s assurance, you couldn’t afford trusting him anymore. Not like you could protect yourself from losing anything but your walls would always be enclosed for him.

Your wandering mind was pulled back into reality by a message from your classmate. The date of thesis topic submission was moved to an earlier one, a week earlier to be specific. In reality, you were all starting it a few months earlier just so the pressure could be minimised but it instead felt like a strategy for your doom. You all were supposed to submit the topic and a little introduction even before the qualification exam! And obviously you were behind the so called ahead-of-time schedule. You could have wrote a ph.d worthy book on mafia and their ploys but sadly criminal law was not the option available for it. So that’s how you ended up in the small balcony, sitting on the cold floor, enjoying the evening cool breeze. Search results on both naver and google had varied from “50 best topics of dissertation in international law” to “how to know what is my area of interest?” but every try had gone to a blank page.

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

By late evening, you got bored of sitting in the balcony and room, so you decided to study with a change of setting and the only place available apart from your room was the hall. After computing various possibilities, you dragged the single seater towards the hall windows and angling the book on the window still, a much comfy makeshift study space was ready. With the newfound determination to complete the task at hand, your eyes browsed every means of information to stumble upon anything you missed earlier, ignoring the blue skies switching to the darker ones.

***********

Yuta noticed the way he was experiencing more fatigue as the days passed by. He never trained this much until he was suspended. He looked forward for it to end so he could feel the same thrill again but two weeks wouldn’t just pass in a blink! He claimed the basement as his new home trying to ignore the activities transpiring upstairs. The desire to stay with his dear roommate jungwoo was irrepressible but his ego didn’t allow him to give in so easily. He wanted to show his anger to taeyong and that was the only reason he found himself coming back to the new home more often.

He languidly passed the kitchen to use the washroom. Only when he was about to enter his room, he noticed the lightening in the kitchen and living room. He groaned at the thought of your imprudent habit of multiplying the electricity bill which eventually he had to pay! Or maybe you were just trying to instigate him! When he was about to put out the lights, he spotted the sofa and a pair of legs perched on the widow still. He took light steps to reach your sleeping figure and suddenly he felt his annoyance melting into astonishment. Your face was covered with the open, visibly heavy hardcover book whilst your half body was on the seat and half in the air with feet placed on the window still for balance that was clearly very very comfortable place for napping at midnight. unconsciously, his hand extended for the book and as he picked it up, you stirred. Panic took over him as he lost the hold leading the book to fell on your face instead. He ducked, cupping his mouth with both hands to stifle the laugh that was about to escape. Luckily you were dead to the world. Hearing no movement, he crawled for the room , getting up only when he was at a safe distance. Without wasting another moment, he did what he was there for in the first place and went to sleep, with a thumping heart that was probably due to the initial dread he felt or that’s what he thought!

**********

The bus stop being far away, you began the long trudge for neos’ house. Taeil had requested your presence two days ago , but being too busy with studying on the first few days of the week ,it was delayed. You’d have never accepted the offer if it was taeyong but taeil suggested you to take your time even though what he wanted to ask or said was important. His readiness to prioritise your convenience warmed you and it were the emotions of the moment that you agreed to him. And now the heat was burning your exposed legs and you were cursing his sweet tongue.

You knocked on the opened door to announce your arrival despite the fact that the main door had automatically detected you to lead you in. you stood there like a statue, moving your neck like an owl, waiting for an invitation but nothing. you banged it again only to hear someone’s cursing from inside.

“who the fuck knocks when it’s op-

A screeched scream met your ears as a man came into your sight. He abruptly started bowing, apologising profusely.

“I’m so sorry noona. I didn’t mean to! I’m sorry. This won’t happen again. I-

“hey, it’s totally fine. I didn’t even hear you in the first place.” You lied, saving him the mortification.

“can I come in?”

“this is your own place. You don’t need to ask or knock noona!” you entered as he gestured you to sit.

“can you call tae-

But before you could say it, he ran inside. You didn’t know or remembered his name but his face looked familiar. Maybe he was sicheng or hyuck or someone else cause you were sure you had met hyuck before!

“I was making coffee for taeil hyung. But he’s late so it’s yours now!” he exclaimed with his eye smile. it was cute and friendly.

“what was your name again?” you asked smiling back at him, noticing the little red on his neck.

“jeno.” He immediately settled on a seat, his focus fixed on you. “I’m making snacks. Do you wanna join?”

You chuckled at his innocent suggestion, “If you meant joining for eating, then I’m all in but if you want my help in actual process, then you’d die hungry today!”

“I’m aware of that but you are never late to learn anything right!”

“wow. Your enthusiasm is admirable but I don’t wanna burn your kitchen.” Your eyes were blessed with another series of his eye smile. it was contagious.

“you are here!” you saw taeil sprinting towards you.

“I’m sorry. I got caught up in the office.” His words came out breathy as he was still panting from the jog.

“no worries but I don’t have much time. I have to study for exams.”

“yes, studying is important.” He nodded before requesting jeno to get him the coffee and water, to which the boy grumpily complied.

“why the fuck is air con off! I’m gonna roast!” He whined and got up again to close the front door.

“now. I’ve two things to tell you or rather order you. you wanna eat first orr-

“no I’m fine really. Just tell me what taeyong ordered this time!” you had no doubt that it was taeyong’s doing.

“forget about that shit. Here, veto power is mine. JENO, STOP MELTING THE ICE AND GIVE ME SOME WATER!” he screamed at jeno who came out hurriedly with both water and coffee.

Jeno took a seat beside taeil but his one glare made him go back. Sighing in relief after quenching his thirst, he continued in a polite voice. “yuta told me about the card. Why didn’t you take it?”

“because I don’t want his money. I’m good with what I have. Besides every transaction related to him would lead me in trouble so why take the risk!” you sounded harsher than you intended but it wasn’t in your control anymore. Mention yuta and you’ll obviously bite!

“the account is already open. Yuta’s gonna transfer same amount of money every month so why don’t spend his money or better, give him a heart attack by paying everything with the card. He’s gonna pay and I promise, he has no say in this so he won’t even scold you!” he sounded quite cheerful which clearly indicated that none of them understood your language.

“no thanks taeil. staying away from his shadow is much safer.”

“shadow runs with the man y/n.”

“the man himself avoids me like a plague so it’s a win win here.”

“what you see is present. Nobody can ever escape a tomorrow! You are evading it today, but one day you’ll eventually face it.”

“I don’t speak quotes!”

“simple! You both collide only to cause harm to each other. For how long do you think this can work. You’ll get tired and I suppose he’d too. when you’ll stop to rest, you’d find him there but at that time you won’t have enough energy to fight off anymore. Placebo is deadly y/n!”

You absorbed his vague statement full of philosophy but your mind couldn’t harmonise with what he meant!

“honestly, I stopped hearing the moment you mentioned yuta so can we continue!”

“yeah sure. Take the card, keep it for emergencies and I’m not taking no anymore. You aren’t hearing me so I’m doing the same. and secondly, can you defend yourself?”

“defend from who exactly?”

“drunken bastards, thieves, goons or whoever comes at you with a knife!” you were puzzled at the sudden mention.

“my personality repels violence and I’ve two strong best friends.” You declared the obvious. The only drunkards you met were outside the clubs and you never went alone so the thought never crossed your mind.

“first is a lie and second is insignificant here. I need you to learn some basics so you won’t need anyone else or just to hold until help comes.”

“what the! Are you actually recruiting me or something? I don’t wanna be a party in your gang wars.” you announced, now clearly understanding what he meant in the first place.

“I’m not telling you to fight with us. You don’t have an ounce of brain do you? it’s for your own safety.”

“safety from what? I live in a rich and peaceful neighbourhood, my dear husband is a corporate of first class, I myself never even go for a simple stroll in a park then who would I even fight?”

“here ,we all are used to the danger that we face everyday. Each and every man you see here is able to dodge anything that comes their way but you.are.not. Just because they are acting like school kids with no care in life doesn’t mean they are any safer. Jeno was making coffee a few minutes ago but after dinner, he’d be going for protection fee collection with others. If shit goes down, you might not even see him again but we won’t let that happen in the first place. It’s not same with you though. god forbid if you attract the attention of wrong people for all the reasons you stated, then how are we going to help you. even if you press the bracelet , it’d take us some time to get there. till then what would you do? You can’t even probably run for more than a mile! can you?”

You just shook your head at him, too baffled to form any words.

“do you devote any time to exercise?”

“I walk enough I guess and some planks when my stomach is out too much.”

“you are no better than these boys seriously.” She rolled his eyes at your statement.

“but despite the exercise or whatever, my strength is nothing against jeno or johhny. I’ll never b-

“if you fail in strength , atleast you can be swift. Or better you can learn to handle a gun or a knife. When do you get free?”

So, that’s why he called you!

“I don’t have a minute to spare for the next 15 days. Prep and exams are more important for me.”

“no worries. We can start after that. But don’t remove the bracelet band under any condition. Some rival mafia has hired a contract killer for you. so run fast if you notice someone following you, press it and we’ll be there. till then just hang on.” Nervousness got hold of your senses as you heard his warning.

“you are fucking kidding right! was I being followe-

“yes, I’m kidding.” he chuckled dryly. “You should see your face. If it was outside the parameters of the room, you’d have passed out already. Panic only leads to death and I don’t want you to die. so do it just for my peace of mind.” You released the breath you were holding till now, feeling relaxed again.

You just nodded at his words. He sounded like some motivational speaker luring you into his lifetime guarantee program but you knew he was right somewhere. you couldn’t depend on the boys to save you from creeps for whole life.

he was good at reading minds, you thought but despite that you wanted to pour the coffee on his head for the heart attack he’d gave you a minute ago.

“it’s risk free and beneficial. What you say?”

“ok. but I don’t wanna spar with the 6 feet ones. I’ll rather learn from you.” it was your turn to cackle!

“we’ll see about that.” He rolled his eyes to the back at your obvious attempt of poking fun at his short stature

JENO, I DIDN’T ASK FOR A COLD COFFEE. MAKE ME A NEW ONE.”

********

Meeting with taeil had benefitted you in every way. The most useful presently was the topic of the thesis he randomly suggested you. “ effect and consequences of veto power in relation to international peace and human rights”.  even mr. kwang, your thesis mentor liked it as it was almost near original. Now you were just left with exams that were just a week away. Fortune was playing in your favour as yuta had been missing from past few days that saved you some extra energy and headaches that you got with his repulsive energy towards you. then there was your newfound love for the sofa that you had permanently dragged by the windows. It helped a lot in relaxing and studying and you ended up sleeping on it, nearly getting used to the cramped neck.

Unbeknownst to you, he did come back, daily. But you were just so occupied that you never noticed the slight shuffling in the midnight. it went on for days until you woke up with a blanket covering your bare legs, evidently not yours!

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

How to start the finals? By getting wasted? No. certainly not. But birthdays are important, sometimes more than those stupid grades!

The venue for yeong’s b’day celebration was a night club, as expected from yugyeom! He need no reason to get drunk and when his s/o was herself cutting the chains, then it’s the finest deal one could get!

Loaded with university students, the party at the first floor was thundering. The hoots and roars of slightly drunk adults became deafening as soon as the cake was consumed.

“why your classmates are so fucking loud” you screamed in yeong’s ear. You both were seated at the corner on leather seats, drinking away the reality.

“with your dolphin voice, you are in no place to judge them bitch!”

“lets blame this on your drunkard mumbo jumbo!” she jumped in joy at your lame attempt, alcohol speaking out for you.

“btw where’s your boyfriend?” she questioned leaning into your ear.

“who?” you wondered who she was referring to.

“wonwoo! Who else dumbo. His whole army was invited by gyeom but I haven’t seen him yet!”

You just shrugged in response, not wanting to face him. The farther, the better. His possessiveness only elevated your fears. Now that you were bound on taeyong’s mercy, wonwoo would be calling for a danger by being with you, especially when you were incapable of returning his love.

But fate had some cruel plans stored for you. when you were ordering another drink, strong hands gripped your waist. Though beyond tipsy, the moment you touched the protective hold, you knew it was wonwoo. It was always him afterall.

“you could burn me while wearing white and I’d say thank you baby” He whispered, nibbling on your ear, shivers running down to your bare thighs at the sudden action. everyone knew how much you loved white and that’s why yeong had designed this short white satin dress which just screamed “you” and barely left anything to the imagination of the viewer. “and nothing turns me on more than your covered arms.” He continued as his fingers slowly traced the collarbones down to the cleavage, your drunken self melting into his chest. His hands worked swiftly and he guided you into a secluded part to drown the excessive noise. Your back hit a wall as his nose brushed against yours, his slender fingers siding your sling bag to hook at your hips. He bent into your lips, love filled kisses slowly smoothening into hungry ones. The taste he left on yours was of the infamous vodka that he sure had consumed in plenty of amount ,leading him to you. the pledge to keep yourself away from him broke down in figures as he rolled his hips into yours, lips syncing with the movements. His grip bruised your body, hunger lowering from lips to the bare neck. Throwing your head back, savouring his touch, you clutched his shoulders for some control. Scheduled moans became more filthy as his one hand gripped your thigh in a try to hike up your dress. He didn’t do much work as it was already climbing up your hips. A Single move and his fingers graced against your core, tingling sensation burning your whole body. The open mouthed kisses left marks on your cleavage and neck as he fingers fucked you mercilessly.

“I missed you so much baby.”  His wavering yet soft tone met your ears but everything seemed hazy as he drove in and out of you. you felt euphoria in your stomach hitting you once again as he rambled on. “ don’t ever leave me again. you are my only lu-luxury. Don’t you ever dare snatch away the only hope I have! I love you. i fucking love you!” his sped up his actions under the dress but before he could provide you the final pleasure, you came back to the reality he  had divorced you from. you didn’t love him and never would. To his disbelief, you separated yourself from his body, him staggering back with the push.

“wha-

“I don’t love you woo. This-

Your hands filled the space between you two.

“this was never about love. We need to stop. I don’t love you woo. And don’t expect anything better from me. We are over. This is over.”

Your drunken slurs made evident that though you were loaded, the senses were still intact somehow.

“no y/n. don’t do this to me. I’ll wait more if you want. A lifetime if you say. But don’t say you are done with us. I’d die without you.” his words rang like a bell as you attempted to corrected the panties and dress, waving slightly.

You jumped away from him as his words got registered in your head. Ignoring him completely, you turned to enter the blast again but his strong hold on your arm stopped you. you squirmed under him, requesting him to let you go but his confession never halted.

“let go of her wonwoo!” you circled to see jungkook standing there , anger clear in his eyes. “I am not gonna repeat.” Jungkook was indeed dangerous when he was boiling.

“why was he enough and NOT ME!” you shuddered at the raise in his voice as he jerked you away. Timely, jungkook caught you and instructed you to go inside to wait for him. And you complied but not completely.

you were hot, bothered, angry and helpless at the same time so you did what you felt like. It felt like eternity when jungkook found you gulping some shorts in the bar. His brain went haywire for he realised you would’ve reached your peak by now. He cautiously approached you, checking the level of warmness on your cheeks. You were gone and so was he.

“what did you do with woo?” you asked him in the delightfully lovable voice that he found nothing but scary. You acting cute meant it was end of the life for anyone who would witness it. He had tried to record you a few times before in the said condition but it never ended up well with the screen of his phone meeting your wrath everytime. He helplessly dragged you from the bar towards the parking area, ignoring your initial question and the urge to scold you for the whole ruckus with wonwoo.

“I’ll drop you home cutie” he exclaimed, checking the level.

“I’m no cutie! And what about minjunie. And I don’t wanna go with you. I wanna be alone.” He giggled as you pouted at him, a rare sight to behold.

“yeah yeah I know you wanna be alone and blah blah but its past 11 already -

“soooooo. The protocol shall be followed despite the severi-

“shut up! You are not in a class dude. N hurry up, I’ve to pick minjun’s drunk ass as well!”

The discontent in his tone was apparent while he showed you the way forward. continuously wrestling against his strong hands, he finally gave up when you almost tripped over nothing.  

“stop annoying me y/n!”

“am i?” you pouted at him. “I don’t wanna go with you. don’t you understand!” he rubbed his temples in desperation.

“fine I’ll call someone else. But you can’t go alone.” But as he was fishing out his phone, you were gone.

After five minutes he spotted you outside, waving for a taxi.

“why are you so difficult?” his words fell to deaf ears. Watching you continue your frolics, he thought about giving up as a scheme formed in his head. Stopping a taxi , he ushered you in the back seat, moving to talk to the driver instead.

“no you aren’t coming!” you cried, showing your head out of the window. He grabbed his hair in annoyance, narrowing his eyes at you, “I’m not coming with you my mother! Let me give the address to the driver or else you’ll end up nowhere.” He pleaded, clasping his hands, bowing at you.

You giggled pleasantly at his gesture, hands flailing at him. “I don’t live in campus. I’ll give you the address. Wait!” after searching for your phone, you showed him the address saved in the notes app. That indeed surprised him for he wasn’t aware that you changed but decided against asking you. if it was not your new address, it could be trusted enough to be safer as it was saved under “my home”. Commanding the driver with an extreme firmness, he went away. Even in the drunk state, you were sure to some extent that maybe car was not moving.

“let’s go uncle!”

“your friend told me to wait.” you threw your head back realising that kook was upto something. A loud horn heightened your senses as the car moved.

Asshole, you muttered, grasping that he was clearly following you.

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

“bop bop!” an eternity has passed for you in a futile try of remembering the password. The digits were changing their positions, as you regarded them.

“bop bop!” you tried again, mumbling to yourself, not knowing that you were not even banging the door in the first place. Standing still in your intoxicated state, arms crossed, the daggers you were throwing at the door would give any passer by a food to laugh but unluckily, there was noone there.

Bobbing your head from side to side, you started walking down the corridor, coming back at the your own door every few minutes. Curiously you pressed random button near the keypad. It was a bell, that you didn’t noticed earlier.

“wh- noona! You are here!” it was jaemin. He hugged you tightly before letting you in.

“duh! I’m waiting from last ten years but you won’t open.” Another giggle let jaemin known that you were in inebriated state.

“you are drunk.” He whispered.

“shhhh” you said , throwing your heels.

With jelly legs, you wobbled to the kitchen, catching attention of each and every presence in the living room and there were many of them.

“oh hiya! Home tweet home.” You chanted, hands waving like the wipers of a car. Hyuck and mark greeted you while jaehyun just sat down again, shaking his head in disbelief. However yuta was stunned and hooked to his place. He saw you navigating to the fridge, dropping the bottle, picking it up again, gulping it down, jaemin snatching it from you, apparently for you own benefit.

Jaemin guided you for your room before you got distracted by yuta’s figure staring you down.

“moshi moshi. Don’t you have any Japanese to throw at me today.” Yuta heard jaemin and others snickering as you slurred, walking unsteadily to him. He simply rolled his eyes, waiting for you to complete your attack.

“oh hi hyuck. I heard you don’t change your underwear for years. Go and take a bath right now. Asap” the liquid jaehyun was drinking, came out as a spray from his nose at the insult. Everyone was laughing at your antics except yuta. He scanned you up and down, eyes fixating on the fresh hickies on your visible neck.

“and you moshi moshi. You a-act like an angry young man all the damn ti-time,” hiccups started in between, “ but answer me with your half braincell- what kind of criminal you are! Atleast hid your face while shooting people dude.”

Yuta’s jaw cletched at your use of words, tension rising in the room. His neutral face changed into an angry one as you went on and on, all while poking his chest with your forefinger. “and that knife of yours! What are you? a street goon who hires little kids to scan cctvs for the-

And your body lunged forward, head resting where your finger was, passed out. Yuta’s red eyes didn’t go unnoticed by anyone. Anger radiated his body as he removed hands from his pockets to push you off but mark scooped your sleeping figure in his arms, signalling jaemin to open the door. After finding the key in your purse, mark laid you on the bed, rolling you to the side as jaemin placed a pillow behind to save you from falling.

They arrived in the hall only to find yuta already waiting for them.

“what was the need to baby her? She’s an adult and got drunk at her own expense. Didn’-

“so what hyung? Why are you making it a big deal!” mark replied.

“she is the one who makes everything a big deal. Didn’t you just hear how she was just trash talking about you all! She never fucking leaves a chance to spit at my face that I am a criminal –

“that’s what we are! We are damn criminals and she doesn’t know anything about us”

“but she says it like we are not even humans-

“I don’t understand why are you always throwing her under the bus hyung! Drunk people speak shit and she was totally hammered. Just let it go! Your punishment is over after two days, don’t spoil your mood over something so silly.”

“you can’t ord-

“yes I can and will order you because I agree with her. You do own just a half braincell that is not letting you think properly. Now don’t you dare mention all this to her in the morning.” Several pairs of eyes wandered between yuta and mark as the air became more pressured.

“so you do admit she is in wrong here hmm”

“she was just acting with her pure conscious. She saw a man dying and went to police. Tae hyung just made sure that she isn’t leaving anytime soon. She is trapped with criminals. What else do you expect from her? I know exactly what you want.” Suddenly mark’s eyes softened as he went on.  “You are craving empathy hyung. This is what I have seen in your eyes from the first day. You want everyone to realise that you are also wounded. You don’t despise her in actual but just the sympathy that wasn’t given to you in the first place. Stop acting like a stone. While blaming her you shouldn’t be forgetting that it was supposed to be me. You filled my spot as the killer. It started with me-

“no ma-

“it all started coz I was dammit feeling too sleepy to finish that contract killer. It was supposed to be a sniper attack but you had to go instead-

“I forgot my cover mark. How are you the cause when the problem was my own stupidity in the first place!” yuta shouted, tense silence following. Mark smiled a bit at him before continuing.

“then why do you hate her so much. shouldn’t you be hating me for sending you there or yourself for being careless. We should be compromising, not her. Just stop fighting with running water.”

He quietly said before picking up his jacket, going out. Everyone took that as a cue for leaving as well. Nobody uttered anything. The house was empty but mark’s words echoed in the space for entirety of the night, squeezing yuta into the reality he wasn’t ready to face.

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

Your head felt like it was carrying all the weight of the world. Light harmed your vision, footsteps made you dizzy as you treaded for the door. Kitchen was suddenly too far away, everything looking too large for the squinted eyes. Water and sugar! two things circled in your head like a mantra, only until you felt a sharp pain in your waist. You slightly cursed the counter for bumping into you and stepped further to get water. the water soothed only your throat, stomach still craved sugar so you placed the large bottle on the counter, returning to open the fridge.

Some shuffling around the corner woke up yuta, who was resting on the couch. It hasn’t been more than few hours that he finally let himself immersed into the dreamland. His night and half of the day was spent in unearthing the deep hole that mark had thrown him into. He got annoyed at himself for failing in reaching a conclusion that would led to mark being wrong and it was the result of this constant thought provoking activity that he was having a persistent headache. He grumbled at the stiff neck as he got up. 13:03. Another sound came from somewhere, stimulating his body to check. With droopy eyes, he noticed you. actually half of you as the other half was searching for gold in the fridge. The hiked up dress was enough to give a free show of your bare legs without any strain. The thought of you eating his food wiped up all the drowsiness, making him go to kitchen.

“its not your bedroom. Close it.” He criticised, yawns escaping simultaneously. You didn’t move for his voice didn’t reach you in the first place. He tsked at your lack of senses as he neared you. but as soon as your figure got larger, his body met the floor brutally, several groans of pain leaving him. You turned around at the noise to see yuta struggling as his knee hit the polished hardwood. His other hand went to the counter for some support but it slipped causing his elbow to hit the cabinet handle more violently. His shout of anguish striked through your sensitive ears, making you swear in irritation.

Your eyes slowly traced the liquid under his body to the top of the counter. the water bottle. It was tilted and empty by the time you noticed and the water was what made yuta slipped in first place.

“fuck it!” he growled, discomfort contorting his features.

Slowly he moved himself to the other side, bruised elbow secured in his hand, grunts exiting him. You knew you were fucked up as soon as his cold eyes fell upon you.

“I guess it’s my time to call taeyong.”

[dp-marvel94]

Face to Face- Chapter 32

Summary: When Danny went through the ghost catcher, he expected to be cured of the ghostliness that had haunted him since the accident, not to wake up on the lab floor with his parents saying he’d been overshadowed but everything’s back to normal now. But why does Danny Fenton cry himself to sleep to then dream of flying? Why does Phantom, the ghost who was supposedly possessing Danny remember a life that wasn’t his? Most of all, why do both the human and the ghost feel that something vital is missing, in their very soul? Or: Trying to cure himself of his powers one month after the accident, Danny accidentally splits himself but neither his ghost nor his human half know that that is what they did

First -> Last -> Next

Word Count: 6,098

Also on AO3 and Fanfiction.net

Note:What is this?! Another Face to Face update. I'm still struggling through my first phic phight story and hoping some comments on this will encourage me. Thanks for reading as always!

Phantom stayed still for a long moment, looking out over the Ghost Zone. He took a deep breath and  watched the floating rocks, the swirling clouds, and the purple doors. He braced himself and slowly floated to his feet. He needed to head out there. Tentatively, he reached out with his mind and plucked at the line. Like Fenton said, it was there, the link between him and his other half. And….a moment later, he received a tug in kind. His confidence grew. Yes, he could do this. He could find his way home.

With that, the ghost flew. He carefully followed the line, over islands and past doors. He slipped between rocks and paused, looking upward to what looked like a river suspended in mid-air and flowing downward. Phantom’s eyes widened in awe at the sight but he kept going. All the while, he looked around with keen attention. It wouldn’t do, to be attacked by another ghost again. Luckily, he didn’t see or sense anything large or notable. Instead, his brow wrinkled as he flew past a small group of what looked like globs of ectoplasm with eyes. One of the little ghosts (at least he thought they were ghosts) looked at Danny. It blinked slowly before letting out a chirp and darting away with the others. 

Phantom watched for a moment as the small creatures flew away. Then He sloped downward, below a tree covered island. He gaped at the sight. Trees?! There were actually trees here, even though there didn’t appear to be any sun, moon, or stars. So...wait...where did the light come from? And were those the ghosts of dead trees or-

The ghost shook his head, clearing the questions about his surroundings from his mind. It really was incredible being here, even if the circumstances were...not so great. He might just have to come back, after everything was sorted...assuming that things could be fixed with Mom. The boy bit his lip. He couldn’t worry about that, not right now. 

“Focus, Phantom.” He chided himself. He had to follow the line, get back to the real world.

The ghost boy’s brow then furrowed, eyes falling on something in the distance. A rectangular shape. White, standing out in stark contrast against the green atmosphere. And…. he tugged the line again….the way home was in that direction.

Less than five minutes later, the object became clear in his view. “It’s...Casper High?” Phantom muttered.

There in front of him was a black and white version of the school, complete with the American flag and the name plastered above the door in big letters. It was strange, bizarre. Why would there be a version of his high school in the ghost zone? And….he frowned, feeling his tether. Why did the path he was following back to Fenton lead him here? Phantom furrowed his brow. He hadn’t come this way before; he would have remembered seeing this weird building. But…. yep, the line was leading him here and...he could feel he was really close.

The ghost straightened, bracing himself. Cautiously but with forced confidence, he floated up to the doors and slowly pushed them open to find…. an empty hallway, identical to the front hall at Casper, even if it was in monochrome.

“Hello?” He called quietly as he crossed the threshold.

No reply came as Phantom continued onward. His core pulsed nervously at the silence of the eerily familiar space. It was strange, seeing it so empty and quiet. And it was fittingly haunting for a ghostly double of his school. But why was this here? Why did it look like Casper High? And why was it in black and white?

The ghost boy swallowed, pushing the questions away and floating down the hallways. He looked side to side, watching for any movement. His ghost sense hadn’t gone off, but being in an enclosed space was making him anxious. But at the same time….he was so close to….something. Something that would lead him home. But what?

Suddenly, the doors he’d come through slammed shut, earning a gasp from Phantom. “Who’s...who’s there?”

Something flickered at the edge of his vision. Head jerking to the side, he turned to find...nothing. The boy frowned, opening his mouth to call out. Then there was a bang behind him. Startled, Phantom wiped back around to find locker doors banging open and closed on their own.

“I don’t want any trouble.” The ghost boy started, voice wavering with fear.

Again, something flickered beside him. There was a staticy laugh. Phantom turned again and…. His heart would have skipped a beat, if it was in his chest. There was a monochrome teenager, a buff looking guy with slicked back hair and a leather jacket. He reminded Ghost Danny uncanningly of Dash. The figure opened his mouth, static exiting. Then he pushed the ghost boy. 

Phantom stumbled, letting out a surprised cry as his back hit something solid. He turned, looking up at a scowling girl in a poodle shirt. She turned up her nose, pushing the ghost boy away. “Wait! Stop!” His eyes widened as he fell forward again, this time hitting another jock. “I don’t wanna fight!” The other teen, in a letterman, grabbed Phantom’s arm and shoved him to the floor.

The ghost boy hit the ground with a start, the impact knocking the air from his only semi-illusionary lungs. He rolled onto his back, paling at what was around him. A crowd of black-and-white teenagers, all wearing retro clothing, maybe from the fifties? They towered over him, scowling and jeering down at him. 

“Stop! Please!” Phantom covered his ears, wincing in pain at the sound. It was static, hundreds of voices speaking over each other. And they were laughing, mocking. It was years of insults. Freak, coward, geek, nerd, weak, worthless, dead, wrong, unnatural, monster. 

The ghost boy curled in on himself. “Please! I’m lost...I’m sorry I…” 

Don’t belong here...Don’t belong. Invader. 

“I don’t….” 

Trespasser. Invader. Leave! Leave, freak! 

“I… I know I’m not supposed to be here. I’m lost..I…” 

Leave! Dead! Go! The voices hissed. Don’t belong, monster! 

“Please! Stop!” Phantom begged.

The words pressed down on him and his chest heaved with panic. He whimpered as the volume rose, growing into a roar. Phantom bit back a cry as he pressed his hands to his ears, like he could block out the noise, keep out the words. He wanted to move, like the voices were demanding but he couldn’t, too frozen in fear. Instead he sobbed. “I just wanna go home.”

“Enough!” A single voice shouted. There was a whirl, a sound like gall forces winds. And then silence.  “You can’t just barge into someone’s lair!”

“I...I..I’m sorry.” Phantom fixed his head down, whole body shaking. “I just...I got lost and was trying to get home but I ended up here ‘cause-” His words cut off as his ghost sense billowed out of his mouth and he coughed.

The ghost boy paled, looking cross eyed at the mist. He slowly looked up, eyes falling on the speaker. Like the other teens, he was monochrome but looked like a stereotypical nerd, with coke bottle glasses, a bowler haircut, a polo, and a bowtie. He fit the same fifties aesthetic yet somehow...there was something different about him compared to the other. He was more vivid, more solid than the others, almost like…. 

“Are you gonna say anything buster?” The crowd around them was still and silent even as the nerd floated half a foot closer, his fists balled.

“Yeah..Umm...Sorry, I..” Phantom stuttered. His eyes then widened as his ghost sense billowed out of his mouth again. That had only happened once this singular figure showed up, not before and not by the others. The others that had stopped when the nerd told them too. “You’re a ghost.” Ghost Danny whispered, meeting the glasses-covered eyes.

The other ghost scowled. “You don’t say.”

Phantom averted his eyes again, blushing. “No...sorry...I..I mean..you’re not...you’re not like…whatever these are.” The ghost boy motioned to the crowd around them, shivering. “You’re an actual ghost.” He whispered the last part, before glancing up, at the other, now confused looking ghost. 

The other ghost’s brow furrowed behind his glasses. He raised his hand, making Phantom flinch. But instead of swinging his arm to punch or lighting his fist with ectoenergy like Ghost Danny expected, the nerd snapped his fingers and commanded. “Leave us.” 

With that, the teenagers around the ghost boy seemed to flicker, their outlines wavering. Without any movement, the crowd disappeared, leaving Phantom and the other ghost alone. The nerd lowered his arm, his fist relaxing.

That did little to comfort Phantom. His pulse pounded in his head as he wrung his hands. “So...okay...we’re alone now. And...you said this was your lair? I...uh...don’t know what that means but...I can leave...I can leave now since those guys didn’t seem to want me here-”

“Sorry about that.” The quiet words interrupted the ramble. 

“What?” Phantom blinked, looking up at the other ghost.

The nerd didn’t look angry anymore but instead almost….bashful, holding his hand out. “My shadows got out of hand. They aren’t supposed to be that cruel.”

The ghost boy just gapped, looking between the offered hand and the other ghost’s face. His mind raced, wondering what was going on. What was with the sudden change in attitude? He bit his lip. The other ghost wasn’t attacking him or...using those not-ghosts (he called them shadows?) to attack him. Maybe that apology was authentic. 

Phantom took a deep breath and chose to be brave. Tentatively, he took the offered hand and allowed the other ghost to pull him up.

Then there was silence. The ghost Danny shifted nervously in the air as he studied the other ghost. And the other ghost studied him, his expression curious yet vaguely sad.

Phantom finally coughed, pointing back the way he came. “I’ll just...I’ll leave now. Sorry again for barraging in. And uh…bye.” Slowly, he floated backward, keeping one eye on the other ghost.

“Wait.” The nerd reached forward. “You’re new, aren’t ya?” The ghost boy stopped, turning more fully towards the other ghost as he continued. “You haven’t been a ghost for a long time.”

Phantom’s eyes widened, his mouth opening and closing. “Um..uhh...yeah… I haven’t been...like this very long.” He swallowed. “How did you...how did you know?”

The other ghost’s expression softened. “You’re still trying to breath.” At the words, Phantom reflectively stopped, holding his breath with wide eyes. “It’s alright. That’s a tough habit to break.” The other ghost held out of hand, as if to shake. “I’m Sidney Pointdexter, by the way.”

The other ghost blinked at the hand. After a long pause, he grasped it. “I’m Danny….Danny Phantom.”

“Phantom.” The nerd nodded. “So you already picked a name.”

“Yeah?” So apparently, that was a thing? Phantom rubbed the back of his neck. “You can call me Danny though.” 

“Danny.” The other ghost half-smile. “You can call me Sidney then.” Sidney’s expression then turned more serious. “Obviously you didn’t know but... if you want to go inside someone’s lair, you need to announce yourself and ask permission to enter.”

“Oh, okay. Sorry” Phantom blushed. “I’ll...I’ll do that next time.”

“Good.” Sidney crossed his arms. “You’re lucky you barged in on me, mister. If it’d been Skulker, he would have skinned you.”

The ghost boy swallowed, suddenly anxious. His eyes bulged. “Really?!”

The other ghost nodded. “That hunter can be very possessive and mean.” Sidney then scowled. “But I’d never do that. I’m not a bully.” The other ghost then shook his head. “Anyway...why did you come here?”

Phantom’s core pulsed awkwardly at the question. “I..uh…” It wasn’t said with any anger or accusation, but innocently curious. But still, the ghost boy struggled to explain why he’d come inside. The line connecting him to his other self had led here but...how could he explain that? He swallowed. “This looks like my school, Casper High.”

Sidney blinked, eyes widening. “You went to Casper?” The corner of his lip turned up.

“Yeah.” The ghost boy bit his lip, not knowing what to say. Instead, he turned towards the door and pointed. “Yeah...thanks for the advice but...I should go so…”

“You don’t have to yet.” The other ghost’s eyes were slightly pleading. “Why don’t you rest for a bit? And I get you something to eat and drink? You look like you need it.”

Phantom blinked. “Ghosts eat?”

Sidney frowned, slightly alarmed. “Yes? Come on.” He grabbed the other boy’s arm. “That’s it. I’m making you some tea and a sandwich. I think I still have some cookies too.”

The ghost boy didn’t resist, instead gawking as the other ghost pulled him down the hallway and towards the cafeteria. His mind sputtered, trying to overcome the emotional whiplash. Seconds later, the pair floated in the cafeteria’s kitchen. Sidney grabbed a tea kettle off the stove, filled it with what looked like water from the sink, and placed it on the burner. Then he opened the fridge and pulled out what looked like slices of cheese and luncheon meat.

Phantom just stared in disbelief. Sidney turned back towards him. “I have some tiger fruit too. I grow it in the courtyard. Do you want to try some?” He held up a round, stripped fruit, the orange and black standing out in bright contrast to the monochrome environment.

The ghost boy wrinkled his nose. “What is it?”

Sidney looked down at the fruit. “It kind of tastes like an apple. It’s native to the Infinite Realms though. I don’t think it has a Material World counterpart.” He smiled. “It’s really delicious.”

“Alright?” Phantom shook his head. There was a lot of information there. Then he shrugged. “Sure.”

The other ghost nodded, quickly preparing a plate and two cups of tea. He turned back to ghost Danny. “Let’s sit in the cafeteria.”

Without question, Phantom followed. Nervously tapping his hand on his leg, he sat down and took the steaming cup offered to him. The ghost blinked, studying the liquid. It actually felt warm in his hands. He moved the cup, closing watching the liquid sloshing in the cup like water. It did actually look like tea. Tentatively, Phantom looked up, glancing at the other ghost who was sitting across from him. Sidney was blowing his own cup before taking a small sip. 

It was only then that where he was and what he was doing actually hit the boy. He was sitting in a ghostly version of his school cafeteria, with the ghost of a teenage boy who died in the fifties, based on his appearance. Phantom looked down at his plate again. And there was weird, slightly glowing ghost-food in front of him. 

Sidney’s words drew his attention. “Go ahead. Try the tea. It’s not poison” The nerd half smiled at Danny with a nod. 

Phantom looked down at his cup again, doubtfully. His stomach flopped as he considered. He was wary of trying the beverage. What actually was it? It couldn’t be actually tea, like his sister liked to drink. Could it hurt him? Weren’t there myths or something about how if you eat something in the land of the dead you can’t leave? Or was that fairies? Or...wait...did that only apply to humans? He wasn’t exactly human right now; he was a ghost. And this was food meant for ghosts. And….

“It won’t hurt you. And it’s good. I promise you’ll love it.” The other ghost encouraged patiently.

Phantom picked up the cup, again noticing the comforting warmth. It was still softly billowing steam. And it smelled so good, sweet and citrusy. Tentatively, he blew on the cup to cool it. He really did want to try it. Ignoring his doubts, ghost Danny finally took a small sip.

Phantom blinked rapidly, taking another sip. “I can taste this.” He muttered numbly before taking another sip of the fresh, lemony liquid. 

Excitement grew at the realization. He then looked down at his sandwich. Putting the cup down, he took a small bit. The savory taste of bread, cheese, ham. He took a larger bit. “I can taste this!”

“Of course you can.” Across from him, Sidney said in disbelief.

Phantom looked up, talking through his full mouth. “No I...I haven’t eaten in weeks.” He swallowed. “I mean...I tried but I couldn’t taste anything so I gave up.”

“Gave… up?” The other ghost blinked.

“Yeah. But-” Phantom stuffed a cookie in his mouth, groaning in pleasure at the taste. “But how?”

“How?” Sidney held out his hands. “It’s just lair made food.”

“Lair made?”

“Yeah, as in the lair made it?” The other ghost’s mouth fell open at the lack of recognition. “The lair basically took free ectoplasm and shaped it into food that we can eat.”

Phantom dropped the sandwich. “Ectoplasm?”

“Yes. Everything here is made of ectoplasm, even us.” Sidney answered like it was obvious. “Why wouldn’t the food be?”

At that, the ghost boy looked down at the meal with new realization. “That makes sense.”

The ghostly nerd nodded. “Yes. How don’t you know that? And why couldn’t you taste anything earlier?” His brow furrowed in deep confusion. “You said you tried food. But….you didn’t know that ghosts can eat….or need to eat?”

Phantom picked up the sandwich again, taking a few more bits to finish it. His mind whirled. “We need to eat? But we’re dead so….” He took another cookie, smiling at the taste.

Sidney gapped. “Of course we need to eat! Haven’t you been hungry?”

“Hungry?” Phantom put a hand over his stomach. No, he hadn’t been hungry in that way but...he moved his hand over his core. He’d gotten tired from overusing his powers and...he’d felt the Zone calling to him, like...like he needed to go to it for nourishment. “I have been.” He whispered. 

“But you hadn’t realized?” The nerd face palmed. “No wonder you look so sickly.”

The other ghost looked up, mouth falling open. “What?”

“You’re barely glowing. And you’re so pale. They’re no color in your skin.”

Phantom pointed. “You’re likely in black and white?!”

Sidney raised a brow, motioning down his body. “This is an intentional aesthetic.” His image wavered briefly, before the other ghost was in full color. His skin was a pale green and his eyes a glowing silver. 

“Oh.” The ghost boy muttered.

“Yes.” The other boy nodded, motioning to the plate. “Go ahead and finish. You’re lookin’ better already.”

Phantom didn’t need to be told twice. He finished the sandwich and the cookies.

Sidney crossed his arms. “I don’t understand how you didn’t realize. You should have at least been passively absorbing ectoplasm through your skin.” So apparently, that was something else ghosts could do. 

The ghost boy shrugged, taking a bite of the fruit. He paused, staring down at it. “This is really good.”

The other ghost smiled. “Isn’t it? I can give you some seeds. The bushes grow very well in lairs, if you want to plant some.” He tapped his chin. “Is your lair near here? You were trying to get back there, right? You did say that you were lost earlier.”

“I did say I was lost.” Phantom said, swallowing a bit of his tiger fruit. He then bit his lip nervously. “But...I’m not trying to get back to my….lair? I don’t have one of those, I don’t think…..Not that I’m that clear on what exactly a lair is.”

Sidney again furrowed his brow, looking bewildered. “This is a lair.” He motioned around them.

“No, I get that.” Phantom sighed. “But...what is this? Why does it look like a high school? Where did that food come from? And those people...you called them, shadows? What are those?” The other ghost was still looking at him in confusion as an idea suddenly hit the ghost Danny. “Wait...is this like your house? Like you live here. Or...err...I guess that’s not the right word. Afterlive?” His speech quickened. “If it is, I’m so sorry for barging into your house. I get why you’d be mad about that but I swear I didn’t mean-”

“Danny.” The other ghost said pointedly, making Phantom’s mouth snap shut. “It’s fine. I understand. Just…” Sidney pinched the bridge of his nose. “Let me explain?”

Phantom nodded, blushing in embarrassment.

“A lair is like a ghost’s house but...It’s more personalized. It might reflect somewhere from your life or a place you’ve always wanted to see. It’s different for every ghost but based on your subconscious desires and your obsession.”

“Alright.” The ghost boy glanced around. “So this is your school from when you were alive. But still...who were those people that...attacked me?”

“Those weren’t people. They were shadows. They’re part of the lair.”

“So you do control them.”

“Somewhat?” Sidney waved his hand in a so-so motion. “As I said, your subconscious is what molds the lair.” He balled his fists. “So those shadows are reflections of people, bullies, I knew when I was alive.”

Phantom bit his lip, nervous at the anger in the statement. And he wondered. Obviously the shadows were something of a security system. But there must be more as well. There was the anger that the other ghost had shown twice now when talking about bullies. And what was that he said about obsessions having a role?

“Alright, okay.” Ghost Danny bit his lip. “But...what about your obsession? How does that-”

“Don’t.” Sidney suddenly snapped, his eyes flashing. “Never, ever ask another ghost about their obsession.”

Phantom shrunk in on himself, his shoulders falling. “Sorry.”

The other ghost’s expression softened. “You didn’t know. It’s okay. But...that’s personal to me. I don’t like to think about it, much less talk about it to someone I just met. So...don’t ask unless someone brings it up first, okay? Other ghosts aren’t as nice as me. If you asked Ember, she would fry you.”

“Okay.” The ghost boy paled, nodding furiously. 

Sidney also nodded, taking a sip of his tea. Phantom finished his fruit, while his mind struggled to process all he’d learned. About how ghosts had to eat and about ghostly food. About lairs and shadows and not asking about obsessions. It was a lot, and there were so many more questions he could ask. But he had no idea what to ask now. 

And again, the reality hit Phantom. He was sitting in a ghost’s lair, having a genial conversation like he was just a new neighbor. Not one half of a human-ghost hybrid who was trying to get back to his other half in the real world. With that, there was a small push in the back of Phantom’s mind. Yes, right. He needed to get back to following his tether to Fenton. But again...why had the line led him here?

The ghost boy put down the core of his tiger fruit once he’d finished. That got Sidney’s attention. “You’re done. Do you want anything else to eat?”

“No, thank you.” Phantom shook his head. “Actually...I need to go home.”

“Back to your lair?” Sidney questioned.

“No, I don’t have one of those.”

“Oh that’s right.” The other ghost said, frowning. “So where are you going?”

Ghost Danny bit his lip, considering. “The...the human world or...err...I think you called it the Material Realm?”

Sidney blinked, a strange mixture of shock, confusion, and worry on his face. “What? Why?”

Phantom sighed, rubbing his head. How to explain this. Guess he’d have to start at the beginning...and keep it simple. “That’s where I’ve been ever since I…..you know…” He motioned up and down his body. “About a month and a half.”

The other ghost’s mouth fell open, his eyes bulging. “You’ve been...In the living realm?”

“Yep.” Ghost Danny nodded.

“In the living realm?” Sidney put his hands on his head. “The material realm? Really, the living realm? And….” His voice pitched up in disbelief. “For a month and a half? Since you died? Wait...you’ve only been dead for a month and a half? And...that’s where you were...the whole time...but...how? And…” He waved his arms. “No wonder you look so starved!”

“Starved?” Phantom muttered, even as the other ghost continued.

“And how did you even form in the material realm?” Sidney exclaimed. “That just doesn’t happen, ever! And then how did you get here? Portals are so rare!”

“Sidney!” Ghost Danny interrupted, causing the other ghost’s mouth to snap shut. Knowing he’d gotten his host's attention, he continued. “So...long story short. My parents are ghosts hunters and researchers. They’re scientists who made a portal to...this place. They call it the Ghost Zone. And well...I went inside their portal, turned it on, and...umm...it..well...it killed me.” Phantom looked down, his core clenching at the words and the pitying look on the other ghost’s face. 

“But...I walked out of the portal. I’m still here...even if I’m different now.” He paused for a moment, considering the words. He’d said as much to Mom earlier. And he believed them. But…

“I did...I did try to act like nothing was different for a month after that accident, like I hadn’t changed. But….it’s really obvious now. Mom and Dad know what happened and…” He shivered, recent memories hitting him. “Mom and I had a fight. I wanted to talk to her about...some very hurtful stuff she’d said but….” 

Phantom bit his lip. “It went bad. We were both yelling and Mom got really upset and said...she said…” The words sputtered to a stop as what Mom had said repeated in his head. He was supposed to be normal, human, alive. He wasn’t supposed to be a ghost.  He swallowed. “I started crying….and…” Mom’s shocked and distressed face flashed in his mind, her desperate expression as she reached towards him. “I ran away. I didn’t even think. I just flew through the portal ‘cause I just couldn’t be in the same room as her. I just had to get away but…” He put his head in his hands. 

“Now I’m lost somewhere in the Ghost Zone and Mom is probably freaking out. Dad and Jazz too if she told them.” Phantom then shivered, looking up. “I need to get back to them.” He balled his fists in determination. “I need to get back to my parents, my sister, my friends, and my hum-” 

Phantom snapped his mouth shut on the last word as doubt suddenly flickered through him. Human half, he was going to say. But...he hadn’t mentioned that little fact at all. And the idea of explaining was daunting. His insides squirmed. What would a real, actual proper ghost think of that, of him? Both human and a ghost, living and dead, at the same time. Or...half of each, somewhere in the middle. Or maybe even neither, something else entirely. He didn’t know and he was suddenly terrified to find out.

So instead, ghost Danny kept his mouth shut as he slowly looked up. He blushed. “I can’t believe I told you all that.” His shoulders fell. “I must sound so pathetic.”

“No, of course not.” Sidney said kindly. He was studying Phantom curiously, yet also oddly sad. He raised a brow, looking like he still wanted to ask about the other’s near slip up. But he didn’t. Maybe he sensed it was personal, maybe he thought Phantom would refuse to answer if asked. Either way,  Sidney didn’t press. Instead, after a long pause he finally said. “But I know why you came here now.”

Phantom blinked in surprise. “What?”

“You’re looking for a portal to the living world.” The other ghost stood. “I might have something to help you. Follow me.”

Ghost Danny’s eyes widened at the statement but he obeyed without question. He floated out of his seat and took his place behind Sidney as he flew out of the cafeteria. The pair hovered down a familiar hallway. Soon enough, they stopped in front of a rusty looking locker numbered 724. Phantom looked at the door curiously. 

Across from him, Sidney asked. “Did another ghost tell you about my portal?”

Ghost Danny turned to face the other ghost, brow furrowing. “Your portal?” He shook his head. “No one told me.” He blushed. “You’re actually the first ghost I’ve ever talked to.”

The other ghost frowned. “Then how did you know this was here?”

“I didn’t.” Phantom glanced at the door again, reaching out with his mind. He tugged on the tether connecting him to Fenton and the line grew taunt. His eyes widened. There, behind the door, he sensed...something. “But...I sensed something. It...the line...it was leading me here.”

“Line?” Sidney asked.

The ghost boy glanced back at his host, eyes widening. “Yeah..I’m...uh..I’m” He bit his lip nervously. “I’m….connected to someone in the material world...like mentally.”

The other ghost raised a brow, clearly wanting to know more.

Phantom coughed, changing the subject. “So...uh...how does this work? How do I get through?”

Sidney frowned but answered the question anyway as he opened the locker door. “The mirror is the portal. It leads to the real Casper High.”

Ghost Danny blinked, studying the mirror. “That? But it’s so small and… where’s the swirling green light?” His brow furrowed as he remembered his parents’ portal.

The ghostly nerd shook his head. “It’s not always active. It’s only open for a few minutes during the witching hour of the full moon...and on the equinoxes and solstices. But” He raised a finger seriously. “There is a full moon tonight.”

Phantom raised a brow, wondering how exactly the other ghost knew that. But he didn’t ask. Instead, he looked at the mirror again. Was it really through there, his way home? Closing his eyes, the ghost boy reached out with his mind once again. Yep, yes. He was sensing something. Fenton...Fenton was through there but…. He glanced back down the hallway, towards the way he’d come. Theoretically, he could try to find his parents’ portal or he could stay here and go through when the portal opened in a little over 12 hours….and leave his loved ones worrying for longer.

Then there was a gentle tug on the line. Something tickled in the back of his mind. The corner of Phantom’s lip turned up. He could feel Fenton’s keen interest on him. Oh yeah, he could tell or show Fenton what was happening and ask him to tell their family and friends that he was okay.

Finally, Phantom sighed. “I guess I’m waiting then.”

Sidney nodded. Then his expression turned more serious. “Make sure you’re sure you want to do this, though.”

The other ghost blinked. “Of course, I want to do this. Why wouldn’t I?”

The nerd bit his lip. “Well...I should tell you not to go through the portal. You could get trapped on the other side and ghosts that get trapped in the material realm...they starve. They get weak and desperate and angry.” He shivered. “It’s a horrible way to exist but…” He looked up. “If you think you need to do this, I’ll help you.” His eyes flickered to the floor. “If I had another chance to talk to my parents, I’d take it.”

“Your...parents?” Phantom asked quietly.

Sidney wrapped his arms around himself. “They moved away from Amity Park after I….you know.” His voice quieted. “By the time I found this portal, it was too late. They’d already moved.” He shivered. “I know it would have hurt them to see me like this but...I still wish I could have. I should have told them how much I loved them, how sorry I was that all this happened.” 

That sobered Phantom. For a long moment, he stared at the other ghost and it really hit him. This was a dead teenager, a dead kid who’d had family and friends. Hopes, dreams, memories. A life...just like him.  “We’re not...we’re not that different.” Ghost Danny muttered.

Sidney finally looked up. “No, I don’t think that we are. So…” The other ghost shifted nervously in the air. “I don’t know what all happened with your mom but….talk to her.” His voice pitched up, hopeful yet sad. Not demanding but a kind suggestion from someone with experience...and regrets. “Try to make things right with her if you can. Don’t give up yet.”

Phantom swallowed, considering. He didn’t really know what to think of the other ghost’s advice. Earlier, right after the fight, he might have been angry at the suggestion. He’d tried to make things right and had failed; it wasn’t his responsibility to try again if there was no fixing things but...Mom’s face flashed in his mind again. Her guilt, her desperation as he darted through the portal. And it was simple. She was his mom and he loved her, damnit. He couldn’t just turn that off, couldn’t stop wanting her to love and accept him. He couldn’t stop hoping that she would.

“Alright.” Ghost Danny wrung his hands. “I’ll...keep that in mind.” The way he saw it, another conversation was inevitable. Knowing his sister and dad, they would insist on talking about everything as a family. But he had a choice about how he would approach that conversation. Maybe he could approach it with the hope that things would get better, even if he’d be wary to trust again.

With that, Phantom pushed the thought away, focusing on the ghost in front of him, “Thank you for the advice. And for telling me stuff. I’ve learned a lot.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Man, I knew I didn’t know much but...I don’t seem actually to know anything at all.”

Sidney nodded. “No sweat, pal.” He half-smiled. “This is the most exciting day I’ve had in years. We can hang out ‘til the portal opens and I can answer more questions.” 

“That would be awesome.” Phantom finally smiled. “You’re actually a really cool dude, Sidney.”

The other ghost beamed and ghost Danny was happy he’d managed to wander into this ghost’s lair. He’d be in big...err...bigger trouble if he hadn’t. He’d learned a ton about ghosts, gotten a much needed meal, and would be home in a few...hours. His thoughts trailed off at the end as he felt an excited mental nudge.

In the lair, Sidney physically nudged him. “Danny?” He questioned, pointing towards the mirror. His voice turned sad. “Is that what you looked like when you were alive?”

“When I was….alive?” Phantom turned and his eyes widened, taking in his reflection. In the mirror, he had black hair, blue eyes, and was wearing a white and red t-shirt.

Phantom! There was an excited exclamation in his head. At the same time, his reflection’s eyes widened.

“That’s not my reflection.” The ghost’s mouth stretched into a grin. He placed both hands on the mirror. “I’m here! I’m right here! I can see you.”

Across the mirror, Fenton smiled. You’re okay. The words were mouthed through the mirror and communicated in the ghost’s head.

“Yeah! I’m fine. I’m-” Phantom cut himself off as Fenton placed his own hands on the mirror, directly opposite his other half’s. Instantly, a warmth coursed into the ghost boy. His eyes widened as a wave of green passed over the mirror. “It’s open.” He muttered, sounding awed. 

Phantom didn’t quite understand how but the portal was opened. And he needed to be on the other side of it, now. With little effort, he pressed his fingers out of the mirror. He curled them around the back of Fenton’s hand as if he and his other self were holding hands.

Fenton grinned and he pulled.

Behind Phantom, Sidney called. “What are you-”

Without resistance, Phantom slipped through the mirror and right into his other self’s arms.

[lesbian-deadpool]

Roses In A Storm

Part Two Of Three: One Last Mission.

Prelude | Part One | Part Two | Part Three

Natasha Romanoff x Reader

Words: 4,203

Warnings: Umm... ha ha... ha. Anger, sadness, crying, grief (duh), betrayal ig, alcoholism/alcohol addiction, talk of dead bodies, threats... think that’s it...

Request: All you fuckers lol.

Summary: Sent to somewhere new. You discover something shocking.

A/N: I’m sorry?? (Just bullshitting my way through this, if I’m honest lol)

Ko-Fi

(Not my GIF)

***

"Gah!" you panted while you glanced around.

You were in some sort of house. It looked old, vintage old. But hey, at least the chair you were sitting on was somewhat comfortable.

"Well... I'm glad you finally decided to hear me out."

You yelled out in shock again, snapping your attention in front of you. And there you saw, Steven Strange.

Then you remembered why you were here in the first place.

"You wanted to talk to me about Natasha?"

"I want to talk to you about many things," he replied.

"Don't be cryptic."

He looked to the side, then back to you.

"As you know I saw fourteen-million six-hundred and five different futures..."

"Yeah, and we only won one of them. Yada. Yada. Yada. You're like a broken fucking record, with that shit," you snapped, "Get to the point."

Strange watched you for a moment, his eyes squinting slightly.

"Do you want a drink?"

"I-!" You stopped yourself from yelling. "Fine. I'll have a whisky."

"I think you've had enough. There's tea, coffee, or water. "

"Fine, coffee! It doesn't matter!" you yelled, "Now, say what you know about Natasha."

"We're not done yet."

"Enough with this cryptic shit!"

You looked down to your hand, where you were suddenly holding a steaming cup of coffee, just how you liked it.

"How in the...?" you whispered, mostly to yourself.

"Y/N." Your attention was brought back to strange. "I would love to tell you. I don't like to see you like this-"

"You don't know me."

"But still..." he said, "It's not good."

"You have no-" taking a breath, you began again, "Why am I here? What did you want to say to me?"

"I can't tell you. Or it won't happen."

"Ha!" you laughed sarcastically, "Like you'd jinx it-?" A brightness caught your eye in that moment, drawing your eyes over to it. "Is that the sun?" you asked pointing at the long window.

When had the sun risen?

"Yes, it is. Pay attention," Stephen told you, bringing your attention back to him, "Anyway, I wouldn't really put it that way. But yes. I would, "jinx it"."

"God," you breathed, shaking your head, eyes locked onto the ceiling, "This is madness."

"It does seem that way, doesn't it?"

"So, what? You wanted to talk to me? But you can't talk to me?"

"Well, not necessarily. No."

You sighted out of frustration, "So, what is it then?"

He sighed, leaning back slightly in his chair, as he rubbed two of his fingers and his thumb together.

"It's hard, for me to explain," he uttered slowly.

"Then try," you grit out. Your free hand, making a fist, while you brought up the steaming mug, for a sip. Then placing it onto the table, by your side.

"When I saw the future's," he began, "When I saw this future. I didn't just see us winning the battle. I saw all of it... until the end."

"The end of what? Time? The world? What?"

He chuckled softly. Shaking his head, he began, "No. None of that. You think that the end is us winning the battle. Defeating Thanos and his army. But it's not," Stephen paused, a far-off look overtaking him, "That was only half of the journey. We paused for a while there. To grieve-" You inhaled deeply, fighting he tears from forming in your eyes, for your lost friends. Lost love that never got the chance to bloom.

"-Regain our senses. Just breathe-"

"Breathe?!" you yell, the tears you had been trying so hard to fight off, welling up in your eyes, causing your vision to blur. "You think I've been breathing?!"

The chair you sat on scraped harshly against the floor, as you stood abruptly. Hand's balling into fists, so hard that you could see the whites of your bones through them.

"Every waking moment feels like I'm suffocating!" You did nothing to wipe away your slowly falling tears. You just continued to yell. "Everything that I did and didn't do, everything I could have done. Every. Fucking. Moment. I lost one of my best friends." You took a shuddering breath. "But, worst of all, I lost someone I loved- Love!" You corrected yourself, "With my whole heart. And I never even got the chance to be with her."

Stephen stayed quiet, sensing that there was more for you to say.

And there was.

"Because I was fucking oblivious- And fucking blind to see what was right in front of me, before. And now, because she's at the bottom of a fucking cliff," you cried, "And no one will let me go back to when she- She... y'know." You gestured around, unable to say the word you were thinking. But you knew Stephen understood you. He'd have to be a fucking idiot not too. "To get her fucking body."

You stood there. Just staring into each other's eyes. The pity in Stephen's eyes almost made you sick. Because you knew. You knew you were bearing your soul to him. Showing him everything that you had been feeling. If you were in his position, you would be filled with pity for the other person, too.

But it still made you sick.

You didn't want his pity.

You knew what you wanted. But you were smart enough to know that you were never gonna get it.

Yet... you carried on speaking. Because now that you had started, you couldn't stop.

"We had to bury an empty casket because of it. And everybody just seemed fine-! They were a-o-fucking-k with it! They were perfectly fine with leaving her body at the bottom of a cliff, to rot!" you roared out the last couple of words.

"They did that because I told them too," Stephen confessed.

You paused where you stood. Mind going blank. Just left processing his words. You had more to say. You had multiple essays worth of words, to say. And yet, you were no longer able to utter them.

Slowly. You turned your head to face him.

"You what?"

You could see the fear quickly flash through his eyes, before it disappeared, as you took a step closer to him.

He speedily made you pause with his words, again.

"I did it because her body wasn't there anymore."

"What?" you asked breathless and confused, "Where did she go?!"

"The moment that her heart made its last beat was the same moment that Barton was transported somewhere else, and the stone was in his hand. Her body vanished. She was moved to the stone."

"Wait." You raised your hands up to pause the powered man. Feeling like the air was knocked out of you. "So. So, you're telling me that she was in the stone?!"

"Yes. I am."

"How are you coming up with this bullshit?!"

"I have a very reliable source."

"Who-? I swear if you say "God" or "Jesus", or some shit, I'll throw you through the fucking window!" you yell, pointing to the long window behind you.

"No," he scoffed, with a slight 'ugh', "I'm not a man of religion."

"Then who then?"

"They don't wish to be known."

"Is it you? I bet it's just you, and you're making all of this shit up!"

"No, it's not me." He shook his head. "And none of this is made up."

Putting your palms to your forehead, you laughed, feeling like you were losing your mind, as you dropped back down into your chair.

"This is fucking insane. This is unbelievable, Strange. This shit is not possible!"

"Y/N," Stephen started, crossing one leg over the other, as he leaned forward in his seat slightly, "You worked on a team with a man who could transform into a giant green beast. Who is now both that man and giant green beast. You also worked with a man who was frozen for seventy years, a man who invented a flying suit, and a God. Then, later on, were teammates- And friends with a witch. You helped stop an alien invasion and another God. You battled against a literal mad titan. And eventually won. You have recently made friends with a man who can regrow his limbs, and have met the X-Men. Also, you are sitting here, talking to me. That, amongst many other things, I have not even mentioned," he rattled off, making you fee stupider with each and every one. Almost like the blindfold had been removed from your eyes. "Do you really think that your lost love being transported into a stone is really that crazy?"

"Well, I guess when you put it that way. Not really, no."

"So," he said slowly, leaning back, and weaving his fingers together, "As I was saying before. We have had enough time, to breathe- Or in your case, suffocate- And drink." You flipped him off for that. "Now it's time to get back to work."

You scoffed, shaking your head, "I don't do that anymore. I don't work for SHIELD. I'm not an Avenger. I'm a fucking hitman."

"I don't work for SHIELD or The Avengers either." Strange raised his hands in some sort of a shrug. "I'm just helping them."

"Yeah, well, I don't "help" people, unless they pay me now," you said, putting 'help' into air-quotes.

"Fine." Stephen nodded once. Which surprised you, at how quickly he had given in. "I know that there's no way that I could change your mind. But I'm not saying that there isn't someone who can."

"Oh, yeah?" you scoffed again, "Who's that?"

"Why don't you see for yourself."

"What-?"

And then you were gone. Again.

Falling through another one of Strange's portals.

And to your next destination.

***

You landed, this time on your back. On the nature covered ground, not on a cushioned chair. Staring up at the pale blue sky, dappled with white clouds. Instead of the vintage filled room.

You didn't think you'd ever get used to those portals.

The previous ones you had experienced were instantaneous.

This one, however?

You were falling through the portal for around twenty minutes.

"That bastard," you muttered, still star-fished upon the ground, "Making me fall for twenty minutes, just because he couldn't convince me to go back to SHIELD." You took a deep breath of fresh air, exhaling it harshly, "I think I'll kick his ass."

Sighing, you pushed yourself to your feet, brushing the dirt off of yourself.

You looked at the scenery before you. Trees, that were slowly littering the ground with their dead leaves, surrounded you. A lake with a small pier to your left.

Fuck...

You knew where you were.

Bracing yourself with another deep breath, you turned to face the place you hadn't seen int the last few months.

The lake house.

Pepper and Morgan's, home.

No longer Tony’s.

Did Strange really think that they could convince you to go back to SHIELD?

Well... maybe Morgan could. With enough begging and puppy eyes... but you didn't plan on sticking around long enough for that.

"You've been standing there for almost five minutes," pepper said, opening the door, "Strange send you?"

"Yeah. He's a bastard."

She chuckled, moving her head to the side, indicating for you to come inside. Before disappearing into the home, herself. Leaving the door open for you.

You didn't know what made you walk inside. You could have easily walked away. But you didn't. It might have been Strange and the things he said. And the things he couldn't say. Whatever it was. You just had the feeling that you had to go inside of that house. For whatever reason.

The home was the same as the day you stormed out of it. The only real difference being that a few of Morgan's toys littered the living room.

Pepper smiled at you from the kitchen, cradling a cup of coffee, as you closed the door behind you. And Morgan was nowhere to be seen.

She seemed to be handling all this, a lot better than you were.

That. Or she was really good at hiding it.

Before you could start your awkward sentence, you heard someone walking up the basement stairs. They sounded way too heavy to be Morgan's.

Was Happy here?

He could be.

But when the man arrived at the top of the stairs, with little Morgan in his arms. You were proved wrong, in thinking it was Happy.

You store at the man before you. A cold, composed look on your face. Unable to say a thing. Just letting the knowledge of this resonate in your brain.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, suddenly filling up the cabin, Pepper quickly took Morgan from his arms and left the room.

Leaving you alone with the man.

Leaving you alone with Tony.

***

"So," the man spoke, raising his arms, one f them being flesh and the other made form the same metal as the Iron Man suits, "Ya gonna give me a hug?"

That made you snap from your cold state, just watching the billionaire. Filling your body with rage.

"You fucker," you hissed, stalking closer to him. But never close enough for him to even consider touching you.

"Woah there-"

"Don't "woah there" me! I'm not a fucking horse, that needs taming!"

"I never said that you were," Tony said, raising his hands in hopes of calming you down, at least somewhat.

His hopes were for nothing.

"How fucking dare you?" you spat through your teeth, "I thought you were dead!"

Tears began to fill his eyes, guilt at not telling you he was alive, welling up in his body. It made him feel like he was drowning in it.

"You died! You were dead!"

The anger, thundering inside of you like a wildfire, quickly diminishing. Now you were only filled with sadness and betrayal. Tears, tumbling down your cheeks in salty rivers.

"You were dead!" you sobbed, walking closer to the crying man, "And I needed you!"

It was like the dam had broke.

You had cried before.

Of course, you had.

For Natasha.

For Tony.

But never like this.

Sobs. Guttural and hard, raking pain throughout your chest and abdomen at the actions. Muffled only by Tony's shoulder, tears soaking into his shirt, as you gripped onto him tightly.

He held you as you cried, looking up, trying to stop his own tears from falling in the quick succession that they were. His chest, bouncing as he held in his own sobs.

"I needed you here, Tony. And you were gone." Was muffled against his shoulder. "But you were alive all along, you bastard!"

He chuckled wetly when you hit the shoulder of his now titanium-alloy arm, when the anger spiked in you randomly before it fell again.

Tony sniffled. "I know. And I'm so sorry, Y/N." He clutched you tighter against his body. "But if it makes you feel any better, no one but Fury and Strange know about me- Other than Pep and Morgan, that is."

Your laughs sounded so close to sobs that Tony had difficulty telling the difference. But when you pulled away from his shoulder after five straight minutes of crying rivers, with a small, wet -albeit quivering- smile on your face, he knew which one it had been.

"You're a fucking asshole, have I ever told you that before?" you asked, moving a step or two away from the close proximity of his body. As you wiped away your slowly stopping tears.

"Only around a thousand times before." Tony shrugged, with a cheeky smile on his face. Both of you beyond glad that your best friends could pull a chuckle from you, even in your darkest times.

Especially in your darkest times.

"So, you gonna explain to me what the fuck happened?" you asked, "You gonna tell me why that Strange guy sent me here?"

Shit.

Strange was right.

Tony was one of the only people in the world that could convince you to go back to work.

Fuck.

Tony shook his head, causing your eyebrows to furrow.

Before you could voice your question. Tony beat you to it.

"You're way too drunk," he told you, "It's better if you're sober and have a level head- Or as level, as it can be." He gave a half-smile. "Let's get some food into you, and get you some rest. Then when you wake up, we'll talk."

Yeah, he was right.

And you knew that. No matter how much you wanted to fight him on that.

Your emotions had left you worn. So, when you weren't blinded with anger and sadness, you finally remembered how drunk you had been before Fury had "sent" you to Strange.

Lightly swaying where you stood, you nodded to Tony. You could practically feel the way the whisky was fermenting inside of you. It dawned on you that you hadn't even been able to finish the coffee, Strange had magically given you.

Yeah, probably should have finished that.

Your billionaire best friend lead you away to the kitchen, pushing you onto one of the stools by the island, as he began preparing you a sandwich.

And for the first time n a long time. You felt, at least somewhat, content.

***

The sun had far past risen by the time you flopped onto the guest bed and passed out. What felt like the next second, you awoke. Almost twenty-four hours later, at eight A.M.. Sleepily wandering into the kitchen, while rubbing at your eyes.

"Hey, there's the sleepyhead!" Tony called out with a cheesy grin, which was wiped off of his face when you ploughed into him, bringing him into a suffocating hug.

With how intoxicated, worn-down, and sleep-deprived you had been the previous day, you assumed you had dreamed that Tony was, in fact, not dead.

And fuck were you thankful when you saw him standing there, alive and well.

Gently patting your back, Tony whispered to you, "It's okay, I'm here. I'm here."

"I'm sorry," you muttered, pulling away, "I thought it was a dream."

"It's okay."

Tony pat your shoulder, gesturing for you to take the seat beside Morgan, who was just finishing up here breakfast.

You wanted to ask him why you were there- Why Strange had sent you here. 

And just generally what the entire fuck was going on.

But you knew that it wasn't the right time.

Not with the family Tony fought so hard for, in the same room.

So, it could wait.

You could eat the food, then ask him later.

After all, your stomach was rumbling for it.

"So, you ready to tell me what's going on?" you asked once you had finished eating your stack of pancakes. Thankful that Morgan was watching TV and Pepper was away taking a business call.

He sighed, placing both of his hands flat on the counter's surface, in front of you. Raising his head, looking into your eyes, he asked, "Basically?"

You said nothing. Just continued starring at him. To which Tony knew that he could continue.

"You've got to go back to work- Or at least work with everyone for a while."

"Why?"

"Well, cutting straight to the point. We can bring Natasha back. Strange hasn't told us how, but essentially that's what it is. He just can't tell us anything about it, or it won't happen. Which, if you ask me-"

"What?!"

Tony's words faded into the background noise, after he said, "we can bring Natasha back" causing you to retreat back into your mind. Before you suddenly snapped, cutting him off.

"What...?" Tony asked hesitantly.

"We can bring Natasha back?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't anyone tell me this before?!"

"We've been trying," Tony told you, "Hasn't Strange been trying to talk to you for months now?"

"Well, yes but- Why didn't Fury tell me this?! No! Instead, he had to go and, basically, send me on a wild goose chase!"

"It's Fury." He shrugged. "Technically I wasn't even allowed to tell you that. But hey, I figured it out. Strange never told me, so that's free game in my eyes."

"So, Fury doesn't even know?" you asked sceptically.

"He's probably figured it out. But no one's told him."

You sighed, slumping back into your stool. You already knew that this whole thing was going to exhaust you. Feeling it already seeping into your bones.

"Who else knows? Knows about Strange's "We're not done yet"?" you mimicked the wizard's words sarcastically, putting them in air-quotes.

He chuckled lightly. "No one. Just you, me, Fury, and Strange himself- Well, Fury's probably told Maria too, now that I think about it."

You hummed.

"So..." Tony said slowly, a knowing smirk on his face, "You gonna work with us, again?"

"Fine," you muttered, slightly grumpy that you had to do this. But you just kept reminding yourself that this was to get Natasha back. You could do this. And the fact that it made your best friend happy was just a bonus, "So. How do we get her back?"

"I don't know. We just have to do what Strange tells us."

You flung your head back in annoyance, "Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me."

"Yeah, I know. I feel the same way." Tony rolled his eyes, thinking of the cryptic wizard. "But he did say, "we're almost at the end of the journey"."

"God, that guy is like Dumbledore," you mumbled, a smile overtaking your face when your friend began to laugh.

Things were quiet for a short while after that.

That is until Tony broke it.

"Y/N?" Tony asked slowly, gaining your attention, "I need to talk to you about something serious."

"Okay..."

The worst thing began to fill your mind. Was Tony sick? Were you about to lose your best friend just when you had gotten him back? Or was it Pepper? Morgan? Was it something to do with the mission you were now a part of? Something about Natasha-?

"They told me." Fury and Strange.

"Told you what?"

"How bad you got."

You looked away, hoping that if you didn't look at Tony then maybe you wouldn't have to talk to him about it.

But that was not the case.

This was happening.

And it was happening now.

"When was the last time you were sober?"

"I'm sober now," you pointed out, before adding quietly, but not quite enough that you would stop Tony from hearing you, "Well, mostly."

"Y/N," he said firmly. Which he had only done a handful of times with you.

"I don't know," you said, looking him straight in the eyes now, "Before your funeral probably."

"Y/N, it's been six months. You're really telling me that you've been drunk throughout them?"

"I guess I am." You shrugged, lifting your hands up as you did.

"You've got a problem, Y/N."

"I know I do," you breathed, no longer able to look at him.

"You helped me," Tony spoke, and when you finally managed to peer back up at him, you could see the grateful tears in his eyes. So fucking thankful that you had helped him with his drinking problem in the past, "Now it's my turn to help you."

"Does that mean I have to go to rehab?" you groaned.

"Yes. Here." At your questioning look, Tony continued, raising his arms, in that true Tony Stark fashion. "This will be your rehab. And Pep, Morgan and I will be here to help you every step of the way."

"Do I even need to do this?" you sighed.

"Yes," he said firmly, before his voice softened, "We're just trying to get you back on your feet. You can't really get Nat back while drunk off your ass, can you? And I know that you wouldn't want Natasha to see you like this, would you?"

Shaking your head with a contorted face at his words, you realised just how much you wanted to get better. For yourself. For Natasha. And for everyone else in your life.

You want to get better.

You just needed that push.

That manipulation tactic that Tony would no doubt use.

"C'mon, Y/N." He knew you were expecting it. That much you could tell by the smile on his face. "Do it for me."

And there it was!

"Okay, fine! But you're not allowed to use that again, for like another- Three years!"

"Okay!"

Just as you were making your way off of the stool, you hastily pulled yourself back, to tell him one last thing.

"And if this is all for nothing. If Strange is just using us to help him with something. And we never get Natasha back, at "the end of the journey"," you said sarcastically, "I'm killing him, Fury, and I'm ripping that metal arm of yours off, and beating you with it."

"Okay, that's reasonable!"

And with that, you walked from the room. Intending to sleep off your fast approaching headache. With Tony shouting after you, "It's titanium-alloy, by the way!"

Fighting off the hope of getting Natasha back. Just in case all of this was bullshit.

But none the less, even if you hated the fact that you were doing it.

You thought about the first thing you would say to Natasha.

'I love you, too.'

***

(Cross out = Couldn't tag)

Permanent Tag List: 

@imnotasuperhero, @veteranwerewolf95, @natasha-danvers, @marvelfansince08love, @higherfurther-romanova​

Roses In A Storm Tag List: 

@uglipotata72829, @enderman359

[good-rwbyaus]

How does the gang react when it’s revealed that their Professor, Glynda Goodwitch, runs an Only Fans account.

// I can’t believe I’m actually writing this one, but the premise...ehehe. Also just to save people from getting in trouble, from the reviews I’ve looked up, Only Fans seems to be a content-creators site except the content leans more towards adult material. 

Also I can’t stop writing Blake as the covert pervert and Ruby being the oblivious / apathetic one. Please help. -  mod lilac

----

"We have to tell Professor Goodwitch about this!” Ruby exclaimed as she handed Blake’s scroll back to her, “This has to be some sort of plot from someone evil like that Torch guy on TV.”

Her other two teammates, Weiss and Blake, looked at each other. 

“And then what?” Weiss said as she glanced over at red-faced Blake, “How are we going to tell her how we know about this matter?”

“Uhh, isn’t that simple? We’ll just tell her the truth - that Blake found it,” Ruby nodded as if it was the obvious thing in the world.

Blake froze in place, her gaze horrified as she stared at Ruby. 

“No, No. No,” Blake replied frazzled, “I am not okay with this idea.”

“Why? You did a good deed.” 

“Ruby,” Blake slowly said, “Do you not see what sort of things are on that site?”

“Well yeah. I’m not blind,” Ruby replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes, “There’s a bunch of naked people on it. Isn’t that why we have to talk to Professor Goodwitch? Cause if her naked pictures are on there, chances are she wasn’t the one who posted them there.”

“...”

“...”

“Blake, I don’t think Ruby is capable of figuring out why going to a site like that is bad.”

“I don’t get it. It’s not like she’s a ki-”

“I’m not a kid!” Ruby growled defensively, being the only underaged member of team RWBY as of a month ago. 

As soon as Ruby said that, the pair could only look at each other in dawning horror as they realized whom exactly they’re showing pornographic material to.  

Bang. Suddenly, the door to their room was kicked open. 

"Alright! Who’s been showing my sis porn?!”

------

A clock ticks quietly as Professor Goodwitch stared at the scroll in her hands. 

“How did you find this?” the teacher spoke, completely composed as if she didn’t find her name attached to a porn-associated site.

“I found it,” Ruby said after noticing Blake was not forthcoming.

Professor Goodwitch paused, her lips twitching as if to suppress a laugh before finally saying, “Ok really. Who actually found it?”

“Why does no one believe me?” Ruby grimaced.

Patting Ruby’s head, Yang laughed, “I think it must be after you admitted out loud that Jaune’s sword and shield were more attractive than Jaune himself.”

“I remember Jaune being really put out about that. Muttered something about how Pyrrha at least likes his body,” Weiss snickered.

Shoving Yang’s hand away, Ruby grumbled, “What does that have to do with anything?”

The stern presence in the room slowly wore down on their joviality, and before long, Blake slowly rose her hand to admit that finding the site was her doing. 

“It’s always the quiet ones,” Goodwitch muttered under her breath before nodding her head to let Blake speak.

“Umm. Well...I...was just looking stuff for. Homework. Yes, homework. And I clicked on a bunch of links and somehow ended up on that site,” Blake nervously explained, “And we found your name, and we were worried that this is some sort of plot against you, since-” 

“- the site’s full of naked pictures, and we were worried yours might’ve been wrongfully posted,” Ruby said. 

Professor Goodwitch sighed.

"Girls, I’m glad that you brought this to my attention first before it became another rumor in the rumor mill. But as you can see...”

The professor clicked a couple buttons on the scroll, revealing the website. Videos with titles such as “Professor Goodwitch tells you to mind your manners” and “Professor Goodwitch tells you to sit in the corner and think about what you’ve done” appear, totaling almost a hundred. Meanwhile, the number of fans reached the tens of thousands. 

"As you can see, there’s nothing particularly sexual here. Someone once joked that I could make a lot of money by posting a video of myself scolding someone every week, and I didn’t believe them,” the professor said helplessly, “And well, now I do.”

“I do thank you for bringing this to my attention,” Professor Goodwitch said, “But as you can see, there’s nothing that’s going on, though I admit I’m not sure why my videos are so popular either.”

“In any case, it’s late, and you have classes tomorrow,” the professor continued, ”so you should all head to bed now.”

"That’s a relief. And sure.”

“Yup. I’m beat.”

“Thanks, Professor.”

“Good night.”

“Well, I think that clears up that mystery,” Yang announced as soon as they left Goodwitch’s room, “As the professor put it, we gotta get Ruby to bed.”

“Hey! Just because you’re all eighteen now doesn’t mean you can treat me like a kid!” Ruby argued back. 

“It’s not my fault you graduated from Signal two years early,” Yang laughed as she ran, “Kiddoooo~” 

“Yang!” Ruby yelled, chasing after her. The other two followed.

---------

In the dead of night, a cat-eared girl is staring intently on her scroll, finger hovering hesitantly over a button. 

“Do I do it?”

“Do I not?”

“Screw it.”

Click.

[ Ninjas of Love is now following Professor Goodwitch. ]

[tellatennie]

Denki Kaminari x Female!Reader

Warnings: Rough kissing??

I wrote this a while ago xD And someone requested to be put in it then so thats who Lizzie is because FAN SERVICE 

Stupid party. I hate this

I sighed as I stood in my friends room, glaring at my reflection in the mirror. She was having a huge party downstairs and had forced me into a dress that she bought me. 

”I look. Just....why?” She popped her head in through the doorway. “Oh my GOD YOU LOOK SO CUTEEEE” She squealed and ran into the room and circled me and hugged me. I stepped back and looked at her.

”Oh my gosh Lizzy you look so nice!” she gushed at me “Thanks (Y/N)! You think Katsuki will like it?” I nodded and she squealed.

She look my bun out and started to curl my hair, being careful to not burn me. 

“Yknow, Denki will love that dress on you.” She smirked at my flushing face. It was pretty obvious to everyone that I had a crush on him, and they would tell me he liked me back but I never believed them. 

“Sh-Shut up.” She giggles and when she finished my hair and took a step back and smiled at me. Someone cleared their throat from the door way and she let out a small shriek. We turned around to see Katsuki standing at the door. When he saw her he straightened up and flushed slightly. 

“Y-You look nice” She laughed and walked near him. “Did my Katsuki just stutter?” He grumbled and walked away, mumbling something into her ear. She giggled and pranced back to me and picked up a rose from her desk and placed it in my hair. She grabbed my shoulders and looked at me. 

“Listen to me (Y/N). Tonight is the night you are going to be the most vibrant girl in the room. Denki is going to see you and explode at your sexiness” I raised an eyebrow at her. 

“Should I be worried that your calling me sexy?” She pinched my cheek before smacking it slightly and walked to the door, glancing over her shoulder “Come down when your ready”  **** (Denki Pov)

I sighed, getting myself more of the fruit punch Lizzy had most likely spiked with vodka. I looked around the enormous living room, my eyes scanning for a certain brown haired girl. I saw Lizzy walk down the her I sped walked to her, tossing my arm around her shoulder. "Heyy Lizzy" She raised an eyebrow at me and smiled "Hi Denki, do you need something?" My face started to heat up slightly "umm well I was wondering if anyone else is coming to the party or if everyone is here already?"  "Oh you mean (Y-"  "OH HEY (Y/N)" I jumped at the shout from Kirishima and looked up the staircase in front of me and saw the beauty I had fallen for walking down the stairs with a flushed face. All eyes were on her, but she was looking right at me. My face felt hot I knew it was red. I start to walk to the bottom of Lizzies' seemingly endless staircase to join (Y/N), but as i approach it, and were still maintaining eye-contact, Ochaco, Mina, and Kirishima rush past me and speak to her and pull her away from me in the opposite direction (sad elec boi). I watch the back of their heads leaving the room into the kitchen when i feel someone nudge me. 

"Buck up buddy, they don't realize how much you love her" Lizzie says to me, a big grin on her face. "L-love? I d-don't loVE her" I sputter out, she obviously doesn't believe my pathetic lie. "Oh yeah, and you don't stay up until 4 in the morning playing pokemon on your ds. Don't worry though, ill set up some games so you'll be able tooooo..... talk to her?" Well that doesn't sound suspicious at all. Lizzie smiles and me and backs up slowly, disappearing into the crowd of people. I try looking for her to figure out what 'games' shes going to set up, but i cant find her, until she appears on a stage with a microphone. 

"HellOOO my welcome guests! Tonight has been amazing so far, and i have all of you to thank! For any of you who want to partake in some generic smexy party games, follow me into the basement lounge, if you prefer to stay up here in the main area feel free to!" oh noooo nonono Lizzie makes her way off the stage and motions for people to follow her. She looks at me and motions for me especially. 

We all make our way down to her GIANT lounge and everyone gathers in a circle, I see most of class 1-A and a few students from 2-B. I see (Y/N) from across the circle, shes in deep conversation with Monoma, laughing and making jokes with him. I feel a pang of jealously in my chest and I look away from them and take a seat on a couch. Resting my chin on my palm, watching the group around me. 

(Your Pov)

"OK everyone take a seat in a circle and we'll get started!" Lizzie said aloud. I skim the room and notice Denki looking a little grumpy, I go to talk to him put I'm pulled into a seat by Mina. "Don't worry (Y/N), you'll get to socialize with your boy-toy during the games" I flushed "H-hes not my b-boy-toy" she gives me a look and is about to say something when she gets cut off by Lizzie. "Okie dokie then i think we're ready to play some games, how about we start off with spin the bottle?" This question got a lot of good responses from the lounge dwellers so Lizzie pulled out an empty bottle and set it down on the ground in the middle of the circle. "Who's up first?" She was met with silence "Alright..... guess ill go then" She was met with many protests and people offering to go first. See, Lizzie isn't able to play these kind of games because if Katsuki ever found out, everyone participating would be dead in seconds, so no one wants her to do anything other then watch and help move it along. 

"That's what i thought, well then i get to pick who goes first......Izuku! You spin first!" Izukus face flushed a bit as he reached forward and spun the bottle, every ones eyes were on the bottle as it slowed down and stopped on Shoto. Poor Izuku was a stuttering mess as people around them giggled like crazy, everyone knew about the crushes each of them had on one another and it was adorable to watch the timid izuku lean over and peck the maroon faced shoto on the lips. Everyone giggled even more as izuku returned to his seat and hid his face in his polo shirt. "Cuteee. Alright, i vote (Y/N) next!" Lizzie said with the dorkiest smile on her face. I gulped slightly and glanced at Denki out of the corner of my eyes, he looks like hes on edge, he definitely straightened his back. I reached over to the bottle and spun it, i want it to land on Denki, i really do. It slows to a stop. 

Monoma. Dang. Monoma is probably one of my best friends, i don't really want to kiss him. "Do i have to kiss him on the lips?" I ask, "No you don't, but this is the only veto for anyone" I lean over to Monoma and kiss him on the cheek. "Good, i don't want to kiss her, shes a good best friend but not my sophisticated type." Monoma chuckles out. Everyone lets out those nose breath laughs and moves on. 

After a few rounds of this game people start getting a bit bored, so Lizzie announces "Well i guess we only have enough time  for one more game, its getting late. So lets play a spicy game, 7 minutes in heaven!" Some people groan, and some people squeal. Its very obvious who likes this game and who doesn't. 

Lizzie has everyone drop some sort of item of theirs into a hat and Lizzie has people draw something at random. Some pairs go into a closet and come out exactly the same, other go in and come out with obvious ruffled hair and lipstick smears. Lizzie gets to me and reaches the hat out to me "No peaking (Y/N)" I reach in and run my hand around, i feel something seemingly rectangular and flat, connected to what i think is a lanyard. I pull it out and quickly look at the item. eff

The lanyard is yellow and covered with small pikachus in different poses, i look at the UA i.d card connected to it and i see what i both wanted to see, and dreaded to see. I see the dorky smile of Denki Kaminari. Lizzie snatches the lanyard out of my hand and peers at it, with the most ecstatic look on her face. (Y/N) and Denki! You're up!" I'm shoved into the medium sized closet with Denki, i back into a corner, and i cant see anything. "Seven minutes starting nowwww!" i hear Lizzie shout from a room over. 

"Lizzie? Where are you? I cant see anything" Denki says, i hear a small thud and i hear what was most likely something hitting him on the head. "I'm here Denki" I reach my hands out to feel for him "Are you okay you ditz? That sounded like it hurt" I feel my hands touch something moving (him obviously) "Yeah I'm fine" I feel his hands over mine and he travels them up my arms and onto my face, cupping my cheeks. "D-denki? What're you d-doing" 

"I'm glad you pulled my lanyard out of that hat, the truth is (Y/N)... I really like you, more than a friend. D-do you think you would like the be with m-me?" My heart melts, 'this sweet little bean' I reach my arms around his neck and pull him closer to me "W-wha-" i cut him off my kissing him, something I've wanted to do almost since i met him. 

(Denki Pov)

Shes- Kissing me!?! Her lips are warm and soft, i kiss her back, and inwardly cringed at how it was a little rougher then i wanted it to seem, but she starts kissing me harder too so imma roll with it.

[BEWARE, EXTREMELY CRINGE AND BAD WRITING AHEAD SJKJNBLSTHBSILRUTNG]

(Your Pov) 

He pushes me into the wall of the closest, my hands are in his hair, tugging him into the rough kiss more, One of his hands roam down to my ass and he gropes it slightly, causing me to gasp, which he took the opportunity to slip his tongue into my mouth. As we battle for dominance he taps my thighs with his hand basically telling me to jump. I wrap my legs around his waist as he keeps me pinned in the wall with his body. He slips his tongue out of my mouth and he makes his way down to my neck, licking and sucking on almost all the surface area of it. His hands start to roam my thighs and they make their way up to-

"PUT MY FRIEND DOWN BOI" The closet door is swung open by Lizzie and when she sees the position we're in she pretends to faint and walks away laughing her ass off. Denki sets my legs back on the ground and awkwardly looks at everyone staring at us. "What?" He asks, they all divert their eyes as Denki takes my hand and leads me out of the lounge and outside to Lizzies' patio. We sit down at a table and smile at each other like dorks. "(Y/N), would you like to be my girlfriend? Given what we just did in the closet I would hope so but i figured i need to ask just to be sur-" I once again cut him off from rambling and press my lips onto his. This actually might be what everyone calls happily ever after...

jzfdb.kjdsgnbkjngbkjsg I'm REALLY bad at writing romantic scenes *cough* or any scene at all *cough* but i hope you all enjoyed!

[dokoni-mo]

Back Again, Together || Darth Vader x Reader (Chapter 3)

(A/N: I didn’t expect to get this out so quickly, but I started it this morning and it just wrote itself!! It also has become one of my fav pieces of writing that i’ve done :)) as always, tags open, asks open, and important links below. Enjoy!)

Masterlist Link (Link to first part of this story) : [x]

Chapter One: [x] 

Chapter Two: [x]

WARNINGS: cursing, a tiny amount of violence, some angst, a tiny mention of death, otherwise none!

Key: (F/N) = first name 

Word Count: ~4300 (i think)

~~~

The feeling that crept across your skin was both fiery hot and icy cold at the same time. 

You were absolutely speechless. All you could do was stare dumbly at Rey as you processed her words. 

Emperor Palpatine has returned. 

You finally made a move, dropping your gaze down to the hand that was intertwined with your love’s. The crown of your head started to ache as your mind started to spiral. It felt as if the rest of the galaxy around you was fading away into nothing, and your body weight was dissolving into nothing. 

You could hear your heartbeat in your ears. 

You could hear your breath become heavier and heavier. 

All other noises faded away into a dull white noise. 

How could it be possible? 

How could the universe be so cruel? 

After everything you had been through. 

After all those years of slavery, you-

Your thoughts were interrupted by a familiar, deep voice that came from nowhere but everywhere at once. 

“Darling.” 

Who was that? 

Everything was so confusing. 

You were lost. 

Your eyes were searching the fuzzy view of the floor below you for something, anything to make sense of it all. 

You felt a pang of surprise when that anything came not from your eyes, but from your hand. It came in the form of a tight, firm squeeze, and made your gaze snap over to it. 

The reminder of where you were came at you like a metric ton of bricks. 

Your soft, small hand was intertwined with a much larger and stronger one. 

His hand.

Your lips parted at this revelation. 

Him. 

How were you so cruel as to forget about him?

Your eyes shooting up, you were quickly met with the gaze of his mask, the sound of his steady breath slowly bringing you back to reality. Even though his real face was obscured, you could feel his concern. Concern for you. 

You felt so selfish. 

How could you? How could you be so selfish as to fade away by yourself just then and forget about him?

He was the one who suffered the most. 

He was the one who was a slave to that man for so many years. 

He was the one who lost everything. 

He was the one who killed him. 

How could he be back?

It couldn’t be possible...

You felt tears threaten to brim your eyes, but you resisted them. 

No. 

You couldn’t waste any time on yourself. 

You had to be strong. 

For him. 

He must be in far more disbelief and shock than you. You didn’t need him to display it for you to know You could feel it in your bones. He thought it was over. He thought he would never have to relive any of the nightmares he had. Never in a million years did you nor him think that Palpatine could still be alive. It had to be a lie. 

It just had to be. 

A filthy, rotten, lie. 

Gazing into the eyes of your love’s mask, you felt another wash come over you, one you hadn’t felt in so long, and wasn’t sure that you even had in you anymore. 

Pure, unbridled, anger. 

You turned your head to Rey without even commanding it to. She looked troubled, nervous even. 

This only added to the flames that were building inside of you. 

How dare she. 

How dare she come into your home and tell him these awful things. 

You felt your blood begin to boil as you spoke, your voice barely above a whisper. 

“Get out.” 

A flash of confusion went over Rey’s face. 

You clenched your jaw, your fingers beginning to twitch. 

“I’m… I’m sorry?” Rey said, her voice breathy. 

That was fucking it. 

Unwrapping your hand from Vader’s, you stood up so fast that your chair was knocked over, the sound of the wood hitting the floor making Rey jump. 

“I said GET OUT!” you almost screamed, pointing your arm strongly over to the door. 

Rey looked up at you with stiff shoulders, her eyes wide and her voice raised to better match your own. 

“P-Please! Just let me explain, i-” 

“I don’t  give a FUCK what you have to say!” You yelled, cutting her off. Your vision filling with red, you reached down to the table below you, picking up one of your tools. Your body going into autopilot, you lurched your arm backwards, getting ready to throw it at the brunette intruder. You didn’t care about the way she lifted her arms to shield herself. 

“Get the FUCK out-” you continued on. You were ready to throw the tool, but were quickly stopped before you could. You were quite frustrated at first, but it soon faded away as you recognized the touch.

Your love. 

Your gaze moving from Rey up to the figure next to you, your eyes confirmed your suspicions. Vader had stood up from his chair and held onto your arm, preventing you from throwing the tool at Rey. Feeling no metal against her arms, Rey lowered her limbs, looking up at you and your love with parted lips. 

Gazing into the mask of your lover, you felt your anger and frustration slowly start to dissipate. Your chest rose and fell in heavy breaths as Vee helped your arms to lower into a resting position, and continued to do so as he took the tool out of your hand and placed it back on the table. Your head was hung, but was slowly lifted up by the feeling of one of his large, gloved hands on your face. Lifting up your hand to rest on his, the two of you gazed at one another for a short moment before he spoke. 

“Let us hear what she has to say, dear.” he said. 

You felt a sense of calm wash over you at his words. Your cheeks dusting a light pink, you realized that you may have embarrassed yourself a little. 

But, you were quite grateful that he was there to bring you back to reality. 

You loved him so much… 

Nodding your head in agreement, Rey watched in silence and disbelief as Vader leaned down to pick up your chair for you, pushing you back to the table when you sat down. He soon followed suit and took your hand again, leaving Rey temporarily speechless. 

Was this the same Darth Vader that she had heard so many stories about?

He was so…

Gentle. 

Rey couldn’t believe it. 

Realizing she had to say something, Rey cleared her throat before speaking, her tone soothing and calm. 

“I, umm… I’m sorry. I should have broken the news more gently.” she said. 

Your lips tightened into a line at her words as you dropped your gaze briefly. It was you who should be sorry. 

“No, it’s okay.” you said, your voice much more quiet than before, “I’m the one who should apologize. I-I just…” 

You were grateful that Vee was able to finish your sentence for you as you trailed off. 

“We do not care for being reminded of that time.” 

Shooting a glance up at your love, you felt his thumb rub the back of your knuckles as you squeezed his hand. 

You had to stay strong for him. 

No more messing up. 

“I understand, it’s okay.” Rey said in response, a small, sympathetic smile painting her face. 

“Would you care to explain yourself now, Miss..?” Vee continued, tilting his armored head to the side. 

Rey’s smile faded as her eyes widened slightly. She realized she never introduced herself to Lord Vader.

“Rey, umm, sir.” she said, not knowing how else to address your love, “My name’s Rey.” 

The silence she got from Vader told her that she need to start explaining. Searching her mind for a moment, she decided on where to begin. 

From the beginning. 

Shifting in her chair, Rey leaned her elbows on the table as she begun. 

“After the fall of the Empire, there were still many people who were loyal to it and wanted it to still be in place. Eventually, these people came together and formed the First Order. They’re basically a repeat of the Empire… although this time more dead-set on galactic domination.” 

“I’m assuming the Resistance or whatever are the people trying to stop them?” you asked in the break of her words. 

“Yes, they are.” she said, “And we’ve been trying to for years now. We’ve had many victories, but we’re at sort of a stand-still right now. About a week ago, the entire Resistance was trapped, and we were looking death in the face. Kylo Ren… he was about to slaughter us all. But, Luke saved us. He saved us all. He sacrificed himself to save our lives…” 

Rey looked to Vader as she continued. 

“He trained me, made me who I am today… He was a good man, sir. You should be very proud.” 

Vader gave her a nod in response, and only you could feel how he squeezed your hand. 

“You mentioned someone,” you responded, “Kylo Ren… who is he?” 

“He’s the current Supreme Leader of the First Order…” Rey said before she trailed off, her gaze dropping as she searched for the right words. 

“Leia… Kylo Ren is her son.” 

Your lips parted in shock. You were…

Grandparents? 

You wanted to be angry again, but you couldn’t. You looked to Vee, and he met your gaze. 

You could tell he felt the same way as you. 

Happy. 

Grandparents…

You never thought you would see the day. 

“Looks like we’re older than we thought, Vee.” you breathed out, a smile enveloping your features as a rumble of approval escaped his chest. 

Rey licked her lips before continuing, “But that’s why I’m here. Luke, Leia, Me, Han Solo, all of us have tried to bring Kylo Ren home… but we’ve all failed. He’s far too blind for his own good.” 

“What makes you think we’re the ones to do it?” you asked, “And how does this relate to the Emperor?”

“We’ve recently gained intel from one of our spies that the Emperor has been pulling the strings this whole time. He’s  the one that has muddled with Kylo’s mind. Leia, she… she needs you. Both of you. She’s the one who sent me. You both know what it’s like to be controlled like that. You both know how to stop the Emperor… And she needs you.” 

Rey paused for a moment as she looked from you to your love over and over again. 

“The two of you are our only hope.” 

~~~

“There’s no way we can do this.” 

You felt bad for being so blunt, but knew it was the only way you were going to get the message across to Vee. 

You had dragged him into your shared bedroom for a moment of privacy as the two of you talked, leaving Rey by herself in the room next over. You were stood by the end of the bed, your arms folded across your chest as you looked up at your love. 

You knew you were firm on your position, and you knew he would be just as stubborn. 

“What do you mean?” He asked you, tilting his head to the side. 

“Did you hear what she said, Vee?” you responded, “Facing the Emperor again? You’re in no condition to do that type of fighting again, and if you’re not going then I’m sure as hell not.” 

“I am more than prepared for the task at hand.” he said flatly, his gaze locked on you. 

You sighed, “No, you’re not, Vee. I still haven’t completed all the upgrades to your suit, and you’re still injured from your first encounter. We can’t-” 

“I am in a good enough state to press on, darling. I have done this before without your upgrades. I am confident we can do this together.” 

“Anakin, do you really want to go back there?” you asked softly, the usage of his real name signaling that you meant business, “To all of that.” 

“Yes, I am sure.” 

“How? Ani, we both suffered because of that man, you so more than me. We have a good life here. Our fight is over. We did so much… we can choose to rest. We can choose to just live out the rest of our days. Don’t you want that? With me?” 

Vader reached down and took your hands in his as he spoke. 

You felt like crying.

“More than anything, darling.” 

“Then let’s stay.” You pleaded with him, “Forget the First Organization or whatever, forget the Rebellion. We’ve done all we could.” 

“(F/N),” he said, “I can not ignore a cry for help from Leia. She needs me. We told her long ago that we will be here if she does. We can not back out now.” 

“Vee…” 

“(F/N), this may be the only chance I get to be there for her. I do not want the last memory she has of me to be… to be Alderaan.” 

You bit your lip and glanced down. 

He was right, but…

“Ani, it’s so dangerous to go off of this planet. We’ve been hidden for years and he might sense our movement. What if we just cause more trouble? I don’t want Leia or anyone to die because of us.” 

“More people will die if we do nothing, darling…” 

Ani moved his hands from around your own up to your face, cradling it in his gloved palms as he continued. 

“This is our only chance to be the parents we never were for them. You are just as much as their mother as I am their father, even if you did not birth them. Leia needs us there. And by doing this… We will carry out Luke’s dream. We could bring real peace to the galaxy. I wish for Leia to live in such a place. I wish for our grandson to do the same…” 

His thumb caressed your cheek. 

“And I wish for the same for you.”  

You could feel the tears well up in your eyes as you searched the face of his mask, lifting up your hands to rest atop his own. 

Your voice came out strained from the lump forming in your throat. 

“I-I just…” you choked out, your voice barely above a whisper. 

“I just wanted you to be able to rest…” 

You couldn’t stop the flow of tears as he responded. 

“I will not be able to unless he is destroyed, darling. And I know you shall be the same.” 

Throwing yourself into his arms, you did your best to hide your cries in his armored shoulder as you hugged him tight, your small arms unable to wrap fully around his large frame. His arms, however, were able to wrap around yours with ease, his large hand rubbing small, comforting circles into your back. 

You loved him. 

You loved him so very much. 

You loved him more than the air you breathed. 

You loved him more than life itself. 

So, if this is what he truly wanted…

You would follow him. 

Without question. 

Pulling away from him once your tears had dissipated, you reached up your hands as you stood on your tip-toes, pulling his head down to touch your forehead to his armored one. His hands placed on your sides, you placed your own on the expanse of his broad shoulders, holding him there for a moment of silence, your breathing slowing to match is own. 

“How are you so sure we can beat him?” you whispered. 

You felt his thumbs rub circles on your hip bones. 

“When I am with you, my dear, I can do anything.” 

~~~

Rey shot her gaze up to the pair of you as soon as she heard the bedroom door click open, her eyes wide and hopeful. Her gaze followed the pair of you step closer to her, making her rise out of her seat. She could feel the anticipation bubble in her diaphragm. 

Your hand firmly intertwined with your love’s, you took a deep breath before you spoke. 

“We’ll do it.” 

Rey couldn’t hold back the smile she breathed out. 

Leia was right. 

They would join. 

“I have something for you then.” she said, dropping her gaze to the bag around her shoulder. 

After a brief moment of digging through it’s contents, she brought out something that looked oddly familiar to you. 

It was a cylinder of metal, with a hole in the top and many black rectangles around it’s base. 

It looked an awful lot like Vee’s saber, yet different…

You heard your love’s respirator hitch as Rey held out the metal to him. 

“I believe this belongs to you, sir.” she said. 

After a brief pause of no movement whatsoever, you watched as your love took the metal out of Rey’s hand. He turned the thing over in his hand many times, inspecting every curve and edge to the object. Your curiosity taking over, you dropped your gaze upon the thing, watching at how carefully Vee held it in his gloved hands. 

“What is it, Vee?” you asked. 

Getting no response from him, you watched as he held onto the object, igniting it in his grasp. A long streak of deep blue came out of the metal, as well as a familiar humm. 

It was beautiful. 

“It is my lightsaber, darling.” Ani eventually responded, his mask trained on the light. 

Blue, huh? 

You smiled up at him. 

He had told you long ago of his time as a jedi…

You were glad he was finally reunited with a little piece of his past. 

“Does this mean I can have your old one?” you asked half-jokingly. 

“Yes, dear.” 

~~~

He slept in the bed with you that night instead of in his meditation pod. You wanted him to sleep in there, since it was more comfortable for him. 

He wouldn't have any of it. He insisted on being next to you that night. 

It was the first night in a long, long time that both you and him got a full night’s rest. It was quite soothing to feel his weight next to you and feel his arms around you, and you were sure it was comforting to him as well. 

In the morning, you woke up before him just as normal. You thought about waking him up, but decided to let him rest instead. Rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you padded your feet over to the kitchen. 

You decided to cook him his favorite for breakfast. 

You knew it would be the last one for quite a while. 

Waking him up and helping him into his meditation pod, you smiled as you placed the plate of food next to him, pressing a kiss to the crown of his helmet before closing the pod behind you. 

You figured that now was the perfect time to start packing. 

In the middle of preparing your bags, you heard his meditation pod open and close, as well as the sound of his footsteps drawing closer to you. A moment later, you felt his large arms wrap around your frame, pulling you close to his chest as you breathed out a smile. Closing your eyes, you slid your arms over his own, rubbing circles lovingly into his leather-bound forearms. 

“I have to pack for us, Vee.” you said, your tone loving. 

“I know.” 

“You’re not gonna let me go for a while, aren’t you?” 

“No, I am not.” 

You let out a giggle. 

“I love you, Vee.” 

“I love you too, (F/N). More than anything.” 

~~~

It took a long while for you to take your eyes off of your home. 

Your bags slung over your shoulder, your eyes were fixated on the front door of the house you had built, a few strands of your hair fluttering in the breeze. 

You didn’t want to say goodbye. 

You really didn’t.

“Darling.” 

His voice made you finally take your eyes off of that place. Your gaze now on him, your lips parted as you took the sight of him in. 

He was so handsome. 

So large. 

You loved him so, so much. 

He held his hand out to you. 

“It is time to go.”

Blinking at his outstretched hand, you swiveled your head back to your home, feeling your heart ache faintly in your chest.

“I know,” you said, “It’s just… I don’t want this to be goodbye.” 

Continuing to gaze at your house, you felt your love walk up to you, wrapping his big, strong arm around your shoulder. After looking at your face briefly, he joined you in looking at the home the two of you had built together. 

It was beautiful. 

Absolutely breathtaking. 

“It will not be.” was all he said. 

~~~

Rey’s ship was just as shitty as you remembered it being. 

It was complete garbage. 

But you were surprised that Vee recognized it. 

The Millennium Falcon, he said it was. 

He also said how ironic it was he was about to board one of the main ships he tried to destroy all those years ago. 

You told him everything was gonna be a blast from the past for the foreseeable future. 

You were really scared to fly in that bucket of bolts. The only thing that made it worth getting on was Rey’s driod.

“That’s BB-8.” Rey said as she helped you load your bags in the ship, “He’s been really excited to meet you.” 

Pausing from your work, you smiled and knealed down near the circular droid, placing a hand upon his front. 

“Hey there, BB-8.” you giggled, making him beep excitedly. 

You laughed as you stood up, packing in the last bag. 

“He’s quite the cutie.” you said. 

This made the droid beep out seemingly bashful beeps. 

Rey chuckled, “He says you’re not so bad yourself.” 

You laughed again as you looked down at the tiny white and orange droid. 

“Sorry, BB-8. I’m taken.” 

BB-8 beeped questionably, but soon found his answer as he saw Darth Vader step on board. Watching as you took the dark lord’s hand into your own, BB-8 beeped in surprise and rolled away, making you giggle again. 

“Was that droid pestering you, darling?” your love asked. 

“No, Vee.” you responded, “It’s fine. 

Rey came around the hallway before either of you could say anything else. 

“We’re about to take off. Get ready.” 

Giving her a nod, you watched as she left to the cockpit of the ship, feeling your love’s hand squeeze your own. 

Looking up into his mask, a small smile painted your lips. 

“Are you ready, love?” you asked.

The ramp to the ship closed in front of the two of you. 

“No.” 

You let out another giggle as you felt the ship take off.

“Good. I’m not either.” 

~~~

TAGS: @spaghetti-666 , @soullesstaco , @arsonistvoyager , @robin-obsessed , @glitter-rian , @captainrexstan , @easterncryptid , @deviatedwinter , @roseangel013bf , @danicalifxrnia , @dartheldur , @finest-trashbag , @yeah-boiiiiiiiiiii , @elongatedmusk-rat , @shads121 , @muffinbeliever , @sakuramadae , @padme-parker , @khapikat222 , @the-official-memester , @rens-angel , @obiwankenobiness , @yvette1703 , @missmannequin​ , @breakfastpizzagalaxy​ , @scarletsinsandsnowwithetragedies​ , @clearnostolgia , @ahs0ka-skywalker 

[boringsofia]

HFGGHGGHJ Hey there homeboy I just thought of another oneshot idea. You don’t have to do it if you don’t want but yeah. Arthur x male reader where the reader is very impulsive and doesn’t really think. So like runs head first into a fight sometimes but he’s always gotten away with it. But one day, (y/n) actually gets in trouble. Maybe he’s gotten kidnapped or something by someone he mocked. And Arthur has to save him, and then Arthur confesses and hhdhdhd you can do what you want with that!

Thanks for the request! Deadass, I love Arthur with all my heart, even if he's a piece of shit most of the time. I ship him with my OC but SHHHH we don't talk about it. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!

Warnings: mention of Homophobia and blood

Reckless Decisions

There went (Y/N) again. Laughing his ass off while being chased by a group of Downers he just robbed. To say he's an adrenaline junkie is honestly an understatement. He acted on impulses and nothing else. And when Arthur wasn't around? Well, that's the biggest mistake to happen.

The man ran and took sharp turns until he finally lost the group of angered Wastrels. Wheezing as he tried to recover and breathe normally again. Spitting on the ground to get the phlegm out of his throat. Once he calmed down, he continued his walk towards the hatch, knowing Arthur was in there losing his shit over why it's taking (Y/N) so long. He did lie to him. Said he was just going to pick some Roses of Gilead to make more healing balm, yet here he was. Walking back 2 hours later with his bag filled with more than just the flowers and a bleeding nose.

Arthur is going to be very, very happy. Speaking of Arthur, he slowly let his mind wander to him. He remembers how cold the other was at the start but (Y/N) managrd to crawl through that cold shell he had built up. It took a bit, but he managed. Now they can't imagine being without the other. (Y/N) fell in love with Arthur quite slowly. He's someone who doesn't fall in love that fast, because of past experiences, but Arthur managed to take the man's heart rather easily. It was little things that made (Y/N) fall in love with him . Like the way he fixes his glasses, how awkward he is, how easily flustered he gets. It's cute. And Arthur has him wrapped around his little finger.

The moment the male entered the safe house, he noticed how dark it was. A dreading feeling growing in his chest until he was almost whacked in the back of the head with a cricket bat. Thank god for his reflexes, he managed to dodge the attack and put up a fight with whoever was trying to attack him. A small stumble and he found himself falling to the floor with a bleeding forehead. Just before he fell unconscious however, he caught sight of a man. A man he just so happened to have robbed the day prior. Oh boy.

Arthur had gone out to look for his impulsive friend. Well, more like love interest to be honest. Arthur had developed quite deep feelings for the other man but, considering homosexuality was looked down upon and they had been so busy with the whole 'getting out of Wellington Wells' situation, he had yet to say anything about it. He was also too much of a wuss.

He can still remember the day the two met by complete accident. He was running from the Bobbies, (Y/N) was running from Doctors. Then they crashed into each other and Arthur panicked. That was one of the few situations (Y/N)'s impulses actually came in handy, when he took his shaking hand and ran off into the Garden District to avoid getting themselves killed. After then the two just clicked and decided to stick together. Get away from everything with each other. As romantic as that sounds, (Y/N) gets on his nerves 80% of the time. But he can't help but dream of calling the other man his. It's a sweet fantasy. Unlike the sight of his motionless body getting dragged away into a house- wait..

Arthur's brown eyes widened when he noticed a small group of wastrels dragging his friend's body into a house.

"What the hell did you do this time, (N/N)...", he murmured under his breath, running and hand through his dark and dirty hair as he hid behind a tree to see if he could find a way in without being noticed. Of course that man was going to get himself into a situation like. Those wastrels are probably just some blokes (Y/N) pissed off again. Or robbed. It's quite a chore to travel with that man.

With a quiet, exasperated sigh and silent steps, Arthur managed to sneak to the back of the house. Letting out yet another sigh, this one out of relief, when he heard his friend's voice yelling profanities and insults at the wastrels. Such a quick-witted and fiesty man. Arthur loved that though. Among a lot of other things he loved about his companion. Like his dreamy eyes and charming smile and- "Come on now, Arthur, you need to save (Y/N), not fantasize about him. Keep that shit to when you're alone.", he quietly lectured himself with flushed cheeks, fixing his glasses while desperately trying to think of anything else but (Y/N). Even though he kind of had to think of him in the current situation.

He managed to force open a window with a jimmy bar and quietly travel through the house. Taking out whoever stood in his way. As much of a selfish prick as he may be, he will not allow anyone to take his loved one away from him. Not again. Just as he arrived where (Y/N) was tied up, one of the wastrels attacked him. The hostage yelled at his friend, kicking a weapon in his direction. Then cheering loudly when Arthur beat the guy unconscious. His cheers silenced when he noticed the pissed off Arthur walking towards him. Making the kidnapped male gulp and squirm nervously under the intense glare. He really fucked up this time. How was he gonna make it up to Arthur after this? He had a few things in mind but... he hadn't really told Arthur how he truly felt yet. And he wasn't planning on doing that anytime soon. They had to focus on getting out of this fucked up island alive, then they can worry about relationships and whatnot. Says the man who constantly gets in trouble and almost dies every 5 seconds if it weren't for Arthur who looks out for him. What the hell would he do without that man...

Back to the present, (Y/N) looked up at Arthur with a nervous (yet charming in Arthur's eyes) grin.

"Umm... This was a prank! April Fools?", the nervous man commented, hoping he wouldn't get in trouble with his bullshit excuse.

"It's August, (Y/N)...", the grumpy male replied as he cut off the rope from the other's wrists. The moment he was freed, he felt Arthur pulling him into a tight hug. The lanky man's arms wrapping around his waist.

As they pulled away, he noticed the man's glasses fog up a bit. Was he... crying?

"I was worried..", the concern quickly turned to anger, "God! I shouldn't be forgiving you so easily but you make it so hard for me to be mad at you for long! I was worried sick! You just disappeared for hours, then when I go looking for you, I see a group of wastrels dragging you away like you're some fresh hunt! You can be so reckless and childish and-... just... Agh! I love you and I just don't want to lose you!", Arthur yelled out to the other, his face going from anger to shock when he realized he had just confessed.

(Y/N)'s expression wasn't much different, he just stood there. Staring. Gaping. Then he started laughing. To Arthur's dismay, that is. At first the taller male thought he was being made fun of for his feelings but that changed when his troublemaker of a friend pulled him in for a kiss.

It lasted for only a few minutes but to them it felt like hours. They were basically on cloud nine.

Hesitantly, they pulled away from each other, their foreheads touching with brown orbs stared into shiny, (E/C) eyes. The latter reached up, wiping away the tears from Arthur's face with gentle fingers.

"You worry too much, love.", said (Y/N), pulling Arthur away and out of the house. Leaving a ton of dead bodies behind them as they walked back to their safe house, hand-in-hand.

Maybe being reckless and impulsive isn't all that bad. It did score (Y/N) a cute, nervous wreck of a boyfriend, after all. And together, they will escape this hell.

[lovinlikeloki]

The Lone Wolf (Intermission)

Masterlist // Act I Interview

Word Count: 1.9k

ROSE HARRIS, A COMIC FAN’S DREAM COME TRUE

- “I never thought I would go from Story of Miss Oxygen to this!”

BY FAITH PRICE

Going from small independent films to one of the biggest movie franchises is a dream come true, right? Well Rose Harris could certainly tell you. She went from being someone nearly nobody knew to one of the biggest names on our screens practically overnight. Joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the one and only Fianna MacBhfloscaidh, Harris has become an idol for many people very quickly.

While most people know her for her part in Captain America: Civil War which hit the silver screen only a few months ago on 26 April, Harris has been in a couple of short films like Story of Miss Oxygen and even portrayed the lead character in Daughter. She also has a main character role in a new Netflix series currently being filmed named 13 Reasons Why. Needless to say, Rose Harris is a very busy girl and I was very lucky to get the chance to interview her.

FAITH: WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO JOIN SUCH A FAMOUS FRANCHISE? HOW WAS THE RESPONSE TO YOUR FIRST BIG MOVIE BEING ONE IN THE MCU?

Rose Harris: It was amazing. Joining such a big franchise with a huge cast was very daunting at first, I mean these guys are practically a family so it felt weird and almost intruding at first. But then Lizzie came over and started talking to me, uh she reminded me she was in this place only a year ago and kinda eased me into meeting everyone. As for the response, it was huge, I mean my follower count skyrocketed within like a day. I never thought I would go from Story of Miss Oxygen to this! It was really exciting.

SO I HAVE TO ASK, WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS ON FIANNA’S, AND YOUR, ENTRANCE AND FIRST APPEARANCE IN THE MCU? WHAT ABOUT FAN OPINIONS?

Well, personally I loved it, I mean it was- I think it was pretty cool that, um, they made sure that she knew Wanda and like the Maximoff twins beforehand, that was always going to be a big thing. I really liked it, it was fun and very Fianna, I think. As for the fans? It’s almost a 50/50 split when it comes to their opinions, especially the fans of the original comics.

As you’ve probably seen, Fianna’s entrance has a lot of parallels to Peter Parker’s who is also introduced in this movie, which is what divided fans. For, ah, Spideywolf fans, I believe that’s what they’re called, people who pair Fianna and Peter Parker together, they were ecstatic and love to point out the similarities. But then on the other hand, Silverwolf fans, people who pair Fianna and Pietro Maximoff together, they weren’t as big of fans of this. I think it’s because in the comics they were the endgame pairing.

YOU THINK THEY DON’T LIKE THAT THEY’RE NOT ADHEREING TO THE COMICS?

Oh for sure. I mean as I said, Fianna and Pietro, they... they- in almost every comic series you read with the two, they end up together and Pietro seems to be pretty dead right now in the MCU. He- with all of those bullet holes he looks very not alive [she laughs], at the moment. And so in their eyes this is Marvel and the writers straying from the comics, as you said.

I guess they’re now left wondering how far from the comics we’re gonna go, because I mean she’s already a mercenary. Before the names Fenrir or Lupine is even uttered, she’s a mercenary, with zero Wolves Den, uh, context. So many comics are being ignored at this point, and that’s even disregarding her mutant and X-Men origins.

YOU MENTIONED THE WOLVES DEN COMIC SERIES, WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT STORYLINE? IS IT SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE OF THE MCU?

I think that Wolves Den is probably one of my favorites, if not my favorite Fianna comic series. It’s very, I don’t know how to put this, it’s very chaotic. I mean there’s three different storylines to follow, the romantic one, the team one and then the villain one.

You’ve got the romantic one, Fianna and Peter’s storyline, I mean Fianna... she really messes Peter up in this series, emotionally. She does cheat on him, they break up and then she gets together with Harry Osborn, I mean it’s so very messy. Then there’s the subplot where she leaves the Avengers, she breaks off not only from Peter but also from Natasha Romanoff who she is extremely close to in this universe, I mean they’ve got a mother-daughter bond. Instead she becomes a mercenary where she goes by the monikers of Fenrir and Lupine, going between the two to keep the team of heroes off her back.

And while she’s doing this she’s also fighting off a villain by the name of Discord, someone from Fianna’s past, who is trying to take over and attack the minds of people in New York. She does all this at the same time, and it’s just a very chaotic, discordant series.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING FOR HER IN THIS SERIES?

Definitely the way she has to balance all of this, I mean she has so many different masks and personas and she has got everyone fooled. With Peter she’s the remorseless cheating ex-girlfriend, for Harry Osborn she’s the new rebellious girlfriend, for the Avengers and especially, as I said, Natasha she’s a traitor who abandoned them.

Then she’s also got this act of being a good guy even with the mercenaries. She really walks that tightrope between good and bad in these comics and is really morally grey and quite neutral. And she does all of this because she’s trying to protect everyone, or at least that’s her mindset. She’s leaving the Avengers, leaving Peter because she thinks it would save the heartache if something were to happen to her.

I think this is where we see how different Fianna is from the Avengers, because we see that she has the most self-preservation instincts out of all of the Avengers. She is always about protecting herself, she knows that to take care of others she needs to take care of herself first but it’s getting a little warped in her mind when it comes to how to do that.Most of the Avengers work themselves to the bone, lookat Tony Stark and Peter Parker, their mental health isn’t great at the best of times whereas Fianna doesn’t do what they do. She knows she needs to take a step back sometimes to take care of her before she can do her job.

[Rose then seemed to realise how long she spoke]

Sorry, I sort of went on a tangent, I’m sorry. I just love the storyline. Though some of it is a little too dark for the way the MCU currently is.

DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT, I’M SURE THE FANS WILL LOVE YOUR TAKE ON THE WOLVES DEN STORYLINE.

I’m sorry [she smiles bashfully]

NOW I HAVE TO ASK, WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF PLAYING FIANNA?

The most difficult part? I wanna say the stunts but actually I think it was more the dialogue, more specifically the accent and the language because it is definitely not all in English, you know, some of it was in Irish. Yeah, like learning- well no, I didn’t learn Irish for the movie because it’s... learning a language is difficult and... there’s actually a lot of grammar rules and stuff, to Irish.

I mean it’s crazy, if you’ve ever seen Irish written down and then heard it spoken you will know that it does not sound the way it look like at all. And the same combination of letters can make different sounds based on like- I think it’s the vowel changes the sound, it’s crazy. But it’s really cool, it’s such a cool language.

YOU DID AMAZING AT SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE, MANY FANS WERE IMPRESSED.

I was so lucky to have Ciarraí Quinn, she was, uh, she helped me with the accent, the dialect and the language. She was such a help with the accent because Fianna doesn’t have the accent you think of when talking of an Irish accent she has the Northern Irish accent. It’s kind of like a mix of Irish accent and maybe, some English too? I’m not sure how to describe it. It was very difficult to get down but thanks to Ciarraí I did manage to get it.

Also on the side of the language, it was really hard to not butcher it, like I said pronounciation in Irish is a little strange and I did struggle with it quite a bit. Not only did I have to learn the pronounciation but I had to make sure I had the perfect Native speaker accent from Fianna’s region.

I remember there was a line that Fianna said to Tony Stark while she was in the raft and to get not only the line, but to get the accent and the anger and pain and emotion into it, it took a long time to properly say it and to be satisfied with it. The very specific Native accent was so important because Fianna comes from an Irish speaking home, it’s her first language, and she even goes to one of the few all-Irish speaking schools. I really loved this aspect of Fianna and I really do love playing and portraying such a unique character.

THERE WAS A SCENE AT THE END OF CIVIL WAR THAT YOU HAD WITH CHRIS WHERE YOU BOTH SPOKE IN IRISH. WHAT WAS IT LIKE FILMING THAT?

Oh, yeah, a lot of fans seemed to love that scene and I did too, as did chris. It was really fun to film that scene so it was, we must have run over the lines a hundred times to make sure we’d get it right. This was something Chris and I wanted to make sure stayed in the movie, um... because it was almost cut from the script since the runtime was getting a little long but we fought to keep it in, we felt it was important.

Something a lot of people don’t know is that Captain America, Steve Rogers, he... his mother was an Irish immigrant. Based on the time she would’ve immigrated she most likely spoke the language fluently and would’ve spoke it at home with little baby Steve.

So that short scene, that little bit of dialogue meant a lot to Native speakers, Irish learners and even just second generation immigrants from anywhere. That’s why Chris and I fought so hard to keep it in the movie, the representation.

JUST BEFORE WE GO CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR FUTURE IN THE MCU?

Anything about my and Fianna’s future in the MCU? Let’s see, I’ve got a contract for quite a few things. Umm... there’s a couple of movies starring Fianna coming soon. She brings with her her own posse of characters and maybe a couple of others as well. Annddd I think that’s all I can say.

THAT’S ALL YOU CAN SAY?

I think that’s all I can say before someone comes in and like forcefully removes me from the room [she smiles widely, holding back a laugh] either that or you’ll end up with recording footage missing or a trained sniper will shoot me through that window [she points, laughing again] Feige will do anything to keep as much quiet as he can for as long as he can.

[bb-tings]

guns and roses | part 2

So here’s part 2. It’s a lot longer but I’m really proud. My mom has started to tell my family members that I think I’m an author now lol

Warnings: Cursing,  A LOT OF ANGST, a tad of fluff (if you squint hard enough)

ENJOY...

***

As soon as the truck came to a halt in the drive way of Tannyhill, both Sarah and Y/n jumped out quickly. Neither wanted to be in the presence of the eldest Cameron boy, one actually having the choice to walk away while the other knew a conversation was coming. 

Y/n and Rafe went to walk into the back door, but were stopped by the blonde evil stepmother.

"You father isn't gonna like you being back here," Rose yelled out towards Rafe.

"Umm, nah it's alright. He told me to come here." Rafe nodded his head to himself, still coming down from a high. 

"Well he didn't tell me…" 

Y/n went to walk into the house behind Rafe, being stopped by Rose. 

"Rafe being kicked out means you shouldn't be here as well. That's obvious, y/n," Rose told the girl with an attitude. 

The young girl, who was fed up with the 3 oldest Cameron's, flipped her middle finger out towards the woman. "Go to hell, Rose." 

As soon as the girl walked through the back door, she was met with a freaking out Rafe. His room being off to the right, she could see him pacing back and forth with his hands running through his hair. She went to take a step into the room, but stopped abruptly staring at the boy. He looked just like him, but at the same time he didn’t. He looked like the Rafe she knew but skinnier and ridden of anxiety. His face was hollowed out and he had dark sinking bags under his eyes and the once vibrant blue that she associated with home and stability, she now associates with uncertainty and fear. She loved him, she loves him. But she knew that she couldn’t be with him anymore. Y/n might not know exactly who she is or what she wants to do, but she knew her morals. She knew right from wrong, she knew what was allowed and wat was totally off limits. But she was in love. How can she just throw 3 years of a loving relationship out the window. Y/n knew of all the terrible things Rafe had done over the years but he never put her in harm's way and he never put his hands on her> He wasn’t abusive, emotionally or physically. He was just Rafe Rafe Cameron needed help, he needed love. He needed someone to actually stand  by his side and stay for once. She didn’t want to be another failed relationship with him, she didn’t want to be something he looked even further down on his self worth.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” Rafe called out to his girlfriend. He thought the world of her, sometimes whenever he was thinking about the decisions he was making, he didn’t even think of what his dad would say, he thought about Y/n. He knew he didn't show it very well but he cared about what she thought of him. He wanted to make her proud, but sometimes the voices in his head made him think that she didn’t love him and that it wouldn’t matter to her what he did. He just wanted her to look at him and see that he was trying. He was trying his best. 

Y/n finally stepped into the room. She walked towards him and sat on the edge of his bed as he stayed pacing in a line. “I don’t know, Rafe. Have you done anything out of the ordinary today??” He looked at her like a mother looks at a son who knows they have done wrong. He couldn’t stand the pressure and guilt building up so he watched the ground instead. “Maybe you forgot to put gas in the truck, or maybe you snorted a few too many lines today. Yeah, yeah…OR MAYBE YOU MURDERED SOMEONE” The taller boy flinched as she yelled at him. 

Rafe looked up at her with tears in his eyes, only to find tears already tracing lines down her face. He hurt her. He hurt the love of his life and he didn’t know what to say or do to fix it. He walked over to her spot on the bed and got on his knees in front of his bed so she had to look down at him. “I know, I know. I fucked up, ok. I get it, I fucked up big time, but just tell me how to fix it. Ok, just tell me how and I’ll do it, I’ll do whatever it takes,” Rafe placed his hands on her knees slowly making their way up to her thighs and then hips. He squeezed her hips as he begged her. Rafe watched as y/n’s eyes turned into little slits and her eyebrows dipped into the skin between her eyes and above her nose. 

"Fix it? Rafe. Someone is DEAD. No longer have a beating heart. Shot and Killed. Baby, as much as I would wish I knew how to fix this, there is no fixing it."  The taste in her mouth didn't go unnoticed when she said those words.

Rafe stood up from the ground and walked to the other side of the room to give her space. 

At least she can look at me now. She called me baby, that’s gotta mean something right, Rafe thought.

Y/n looked over at the 19-year old whose mind was racing a million thoughts a minute. She felt bad for him, she really did. She knew she was being harsh. But how else was she supposed to act? She watched as he put his hands on his desk and leant on it. She could see his back muscles tense from where she sat. Y/n stood up, walked towards him, and hesitantly put her hands on his shoulders and slowly rubbed her way down to his back dimples, that she could picture even though she couldn’t see. 

As soon as Rafe felt her warmth through his shirt, he lost it. He turned around and gripped her around her shoulders until their bodies met in the middle. Rafe closed his eyes, silently waiting, begging, for her to wrap her arms around him. He just needed someone to hold him, he knew he fucked up but he just needed a second to breathe and be cradled again. He squeezed her harder as he felt her arms go to his back and her head hidden in his neck. To Y/n’s surprise, he began to bawl. 

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“I know, I know. Rafe, you’re ok. It’s not all ok and everything isn’t going to be fine, but for right now, you are ok.“ She didn’t dare say it. She didn’t dare baby him and tell that what he did was ok. He did a terrible thing, but she was still in love with him. And while they stood there, holding each other, she knew that was true and she knew there wasn’t anything that was going to change that. 

***

The next morning, Y/n got dressed to leave her house and meet Rafe at his. He begged her to stay the night with him, but she was hard on the point that she needed time to herself. She knew why he was scared for her to leave. He thought it was gonna be the last time. The last time he held her, kissed her, felt her, saw her. He knew that if he was right, he wasn’t gonna be ok. Ever. But she promised him the moon and the stars that she was coming back in the morning, and as much as she dreaded seeing him again, she’d be damned if she wasn’t going to keep that promise.

Driving through the town she was thinking about what to say to him and how she could convince him to turn himself in. However, she was pulled out of her thoughts when she was at the store getting gas and she saw a poster with a familiar face on it. Finished pumping the liquid, then slowly walked up to the door of the stoor. As she reached to pull the paper down, she felt her stomach drop. John B. Routledge...Murder...Islandwide manhunt…$25,000 Reward. She was gonna be sick again. $25,000 reward for something that he didn’t even fucking do. 

Y/n jumped in her car and sped her way to Rafes, all while fuming. She quickly put the car in park and jumped out with the flyer in hand. She opened the front door and made her way to Rafe’s room in the back hallway. 

“You say why?” Y/n heard her boyfriend’s and hid behind the wall. She didn’t want to eavesdrop but she didn’t want to walk in on an argument between the Cameron men. “They didn’t tell you?” 

 Who was he talking to? Y/n wondered. 

“Nobody tells me anything,” Y/n felt chills run down her back as she heard the youngest Cameron’s sweet voice. She loved Wheezie to the moon and back, but she knew the girl got on Rafe’s nerves easily. She hated even thinking about it, but she wasn’t positive if Rafe could handle his anger with the state that he was in. 

“Um...so John B killed Sheriff Peterkin.” Y/n let her head rest against the wall as she tried to control her breathing. She should have stayed last night. She shouldn’t have let Ward drag him into his office. She shouldn’t have let him brainwash him. Rafe would do anything to make his father happy, and if that meant agreeing with his lies, then so be it. 

“Are you smilin’ right now?” Rafe questioned his little sister. “I’m not joking. Like, this isn’t a game. I don’t know why you're smiling, okay? Look at me.” Y/n jumped as she heard Rfe hit something, she didn’t know what it was but she was thankful it wasn’t Wheezie. “I saw it with my own two eyes, all right? He shot her, and then you know what he did? Tried to shoot Dad, but I stepped in, and I stopped him, right? I saved his life.”

“Why would John B want to kill Dad?” Wheezie asked her older brother. 

Y/n could hear the strain in his voice as he tried to answer Wheezie without scaring her more than he already had. “Uh, because...um..he thinks Dad killed his father.”

Wheezie went quiet, gathering the information told to her, before speaking. “He wants vengeance.” 

“Oh yeah,” Y/n started to snap back into her own world as she heard Rafe’s voice getting closer to her and further from the 13 year old. “I don’t know. I’m just telling you, he’s...he’s a maniac.” 

Y/n took a step forward, coming into wheezie’s line of sight. The middle schooler made eye contact with the girl and gasped. “Y/n! Hey, I was starting to think Rafe had done something stupid and you left him. I’m glad you're back, though. Wanna come help me pick out a layout for my tumblr account?” 

Y/n couldn’t help but give the girl a small smile. Even though she had just been told all the horrific things that were going around in her town, she was still so unbothered and innocent, well, as innocent as a Cameron can be. “Umm. maybe later munchkin, I gotta talk to Rafe about something. But I’ll come find you later, ok?” 

“Yeah, sure.” The two young adults watched as the Raven haired girl skipped away, running back upstairs to her room. 

“How much did you hear?”

Y/n turned to face Rafe, giving him a look that he couldn’t decipher. “What? Did you really want me to tell her that her brother killed someone?”

“You know what? After last night, I kept thinking ‘Maybe we can get through this. Maybe he can change and some miracle will happen and the charges will drop. MAYBE he’ll even come to his senses and confess.’ But looking at you right now,” she started to shake her head while looking him up and down. “I’m not sure I even want to be with you anymore. I can’t look at you and see anything else but you shooting you, but now all I'll hear is you lying to your impressionable little sister that her older sister’s boyfriend killed someone, when the truth is, it was you. I don’t know if anyone has told you this yet...but you are a fucking MURDERER, Rafe. Ok, get that through your thick fucking skull. Because sooner or later, the truth is gonna come out, and I’m not coming to see you in prison, when it does.” 

Y/n then smashed the flyer into his chest, as hard as she could, and walked away. She opened the door and then turned her body towards him as he reached to pick the paper off the floor. “Oh and by the way, you need a fucking shower.” She then stepped out onto the back porch. “And brush your damn teeth while you’re at it. You smell like a damn crackhouse.” 

She made sure the door slammed behind her. 

taglist: @ampanonyg @ims0golden @jjsmentalpolaroids @stargazingstarkey @letsgofullkook @jjmbanks @maybanksbaby@1-800-jjslut @hoeforpankow

[finnwolfhard7137]

The Heart of Mine-

Miles Fairchild × Reader

{Based off of The Turning}

Story Summary: You are an 18 year old nanny and you take on a job for two orphans-Miles and Flora-in a gothic mansion in the Maine countryside. Unexpected events occur, pulling you and Miles towards each other and hearts connect.

Chapter One: Meeting Miles and Flora

Word Count 2,889

Warnings: slight angst (will change throughout the stories progression)

All of your life growing up as a kid, you loved taking care of kids. You loved looking after them, teaching them new things and watching them grow. So now that you are eighteen, you are now a nanny. You have been putting your name all around Maine and you finally got a call. Her name is Mrs. Grose, and she needs a nanny full-time for two orphans: Miles and Flora Fairchild. Miles is 18 and Flora is 7. The house is in the countryside which you loved! It is beautiful there, well the parts that you traveled through. You told your best friend Rose about the job offer. 

"She said it is a mansion!!"

Rose "oh well you definitely have to take it now! You can be rich by the end of it!" 

"Come on Rose, you know I'm not in it for the money."

Rose "I know, you got a good heart Y/n...I am going to miss you."

"I know I am going to miss you so much. I will come visit every chance I get. But it's not going to be right away."

Rose "yeah that makes sense. So when do you have to leave?"

"In three days."

Rose "damn! Well I guess I have to hog you these three days so I can get my sister-time in!" You and Rose are like sisters. You have been friends ever since elementary school. You two are polar opposites though which you find funny how opposites attract. She is more of the partying type while you are more calm and mellow. 

…. 

During the three days, you and Rose went shopping, to the movies, to the bowling alley, etc. It was really fun but now you have to get ready to go to work. You put your bags in the back of your yellow car and are about to leave.

Rose "I guess this is it huh?"

"Only until I see you next!" You try to make light of the situation. You know that you are going to be away from each other for a few months, and that'll be the first.

Rose "okay well, drive safe! Call me when you get there, and keep me updated! I want to hear all the details." You agreed and gave her a quick hug and left. You watched your friend get smaller in the rearview mirror as you drove further. You are excited to meet Flora, from what Mrs. Grose tells you, she is very kind and sweet. On the other hand, Miles is more of the rambunctious type and gets in trouble a lot in boarding school. However, you can handle it. And who knows, maybe you can tame him down a little bit. The drive there was beautiful: lots of open farmland and trees but when you got closer to the house, the landscape changed drastically: many of the trees were dead, not many people on the road. You got to the gate of the manor and saw the house. It was absolutely beautiful! More on the gothic side but you loved that. You could see a maze field as you drove by and a pond. You couldn't wait to see inside. Once to the front door, you knocked but no one came. So you decide to walk around the house and you find a greenhouse. The doors were open, so you helped yourself to the inside. It was filled with beautiful flowers and plants. You were admiring a peony plant when Mrs. Grose came up behind you. 

Mrs. Grose "beautiful aren't they?"

"Oh! Ye-yes they are. They happen to be my favorite."

Mrs. Grose "you must be Y/n." 

"Yes ma'am. You must be Mrs. Grose." She nods and shakes your hand. 

Mrs. Grose "come now, Flora is inside. You won't meet Miles until he comes home from boarding school." As you walk through the house, you are taking in your surroundings. Paintings we hung on every wall, every wall was painted a different color, and there were so many antiques. Once you get to the living room, you see a beautiful little girl sitting on the floor playing with a toy horse.

Mrs. Grose "Flora...this is Y/n, your new nanny." She got up and ran to you. 

Flora "Hi!! You are very pretty!" She was right, Flora is very sweet. She runs to you and gives you the biggest hug.

"Aw thank you sweetheart! But not as beautiful as you...it's so nice to finally meet you." She lets go of you and smiles. 

Flora "Miles is going to like you."

"Oh, is that so?"

Flora "yeah...he melts when he sees a pretty girl!"

Mrs. Grose "Flora, enough of that now." She raised her voice which made you jolt a little. 

"Uh so...tell me about yourself!" Flora told you about what she likes and doesn't like. She loves riding her horses with Miles. But one thing that stood out to you was that she isn't allowed to leave the house. Why isn't she allowed to leave this property? You didn't want to ask so you changed the subject. 

"Do you want to show me around the house?"

Flora "YEAH!!" she grabbed your hand and started running around the house. Showing you where you sleep, the bathrooms and kitchen. Once you get to a long hallway, Flora stops. "That's the East Wing...we don't go in that part of the house."

"Why not?"

Flora "don't wanna." She runs off, leaving you to wonder why no one goes into that part of the house. 

"Hey! Wanna show me your horse!? I love riding horses." She nods and takes you to the stables. 

Flora "this is Miles' horse, he only lets Miles ride him. And this is my horse!" She was white and beautiful! Flora handed you an apple that she keeps laying around the stable so that you can feed her. 

Flora "did you know that the seeds have cyanide in them?"

"Umm no, no I didn't. How did you know that?"

Flora "my doll told me." And she grabs her baby doll off of the ground. 'She's been through a lot, don't freak out.' You think to yourself. 

…..

It is dinner time and you sit next to Flora while you eat. 

"This is delicious, Mrs. Grose!"

Mrs. Grose "this is Flora's favorite, isn't it darling?" Flora just nods. You begin to think that Mrs. Grose speaks for Flora most of the time. That bugs you, but this is only your first day so you don't want to start anything by bringing that up. You finish your plate and are ready for bed.

"Flora, will you show me to my room again, I forgot." She nods and takes your hand. She has such cute little hands and it makes you melt. You already love this little girl with all of your heart. 

Flora "this is your room!"

"Thank you lovebug. Did you have fun today?"

Flora "yeah!! Tomorrow can we go riding?"

"That sounds like a great idea! Sweet dreams Flora." You give her forehead a kiss before she leaves the room. You put on a red nightgown for bed and brush the knots out of your hair. As you are doing that, you hear creeks coming from outside your door. The creeks got louder so you decided to go check it out. It is completely dark since Flora and Mrs. Grose went to bed also. It was deadly quiet once you got out of your bedroom door. You walk towards the hallway leading to the East Wing, and stop. You hear what almost sounds like a woman screaming. You open the door at the end of the hallway and the screams stop. It was a room filled with paintings and mirrors. You look in the mirror and see a boy, it made you jump and let out a little scream. You turn around to see a boy standing in the doorway.

Miles "you shouldn't be in here."

"Jesus you..you scared me! Are you Miles?"

Miles "yeah."

"Why are you home? Shouldn't you be in boarding school?"

Miles "I got sent home early. You really shouldn't be in here, you should go to bed." And just like that, he walks away. Now you know Miles, it was strange but hopefully tomorrow you can get to know him.

____________________________________

The next morning…

Mrs. Grose "good morning miss Y/n. How did you sleep?" You see Miles sitting next to Flora on the sofa. He smiles at you and you have to admit, his smile melts your heart. 

"Uh good i guess. How did you all sleep-" the phone rang, cutting you off. Mrs. Grose gave you the 'okay' to go get it. You answered it and it was Miles' principal, telling you that Miles has been expelled. You were shocked as to why he was expelled. He is staring at you as you talk on the phone, almost telling me through his mind not to tell Mrs. Grose. 

"Okay. Yes of course I will inform Mrs. Grose, have a good day!" You walk over and sit down.

Mrs. Grose "so, what was the news?"

"It was Miles' principal. Telling me how well in school he is doing!"

Mrs. Grose "oh very good!" You gave her a smile and looked back at Miles. He was smiling at you from ear to ear, as if he was thanking you. You had to ask him why he did what he did but not right now. 

Flora "Miles! Y/n and I are going riding today, do you wanna join us?"

Miles "yeah of course!" You get up to get dressed for the day.

You put on a pair of brown pants, a white shirt and a black vest with some boots. It was perfect for riding horses! You are in the middle of pulling your hair up when there is a knock on your door. "Come in!"

Miles "hey um, I just wanted to thank you for doing that back there. You didn't need to but yet you did. Thank you."

"You're welcome. But I have to ask you, why did you do it? Why did you hurt that boy?"

Miles sat down on your bed and patted the area next to him so that you could sit down. Once you sat down, Miles explained, "they burned a photo of my father and it made me mad. I loved him and I miss him. I just lost control."

"It's okay, I understand how you feel. I also lost my father when I was young, I miss him too. Just promise me that you will try to control your temper, even when someone is in the wrong?" 

Miles "I promise y/n. I'm glad that you are here. I gotta say though, I wasn't expecting a girl my age to come nanny me and my sister. But I'm glad that you are. Flora all morning, would not stop going on about how much she likes you!" 

"Well i like her a lot too, she's a sweet kid."

Miles "yeah she is. Well hey, you look ready to go so come on, let's go riding!"

Once he explained to you why he did what he did, all was forgiven and honestly, you liked him. You can't wait to see how this all plays out. 

…..

Miles "do you know how to ride?"

"Yeah, I used to ride growing up! It's just been a bit."

Miles "do you want me to teach you? To ya know, refresh your memory?"

"Yeah, sure." You got on the back of Flora's horse and started riding. Miles informed you on how to keep your form in check and how to keep control of the horse.

Miles "you look good up there." You blushed at his comment. Maybe Flora was right, Miles does like me..

Flora "see I told you that Miles would like you!!" You both laughed. 

Miles "okay you look like you are ready to ride without my help. Follow me and Flora, and we will take you through the maze." You nod and did as he said. The maze was long and complex. 

Flora "you can easily get lost in here!"

"Yeah, no kidding! There are so many ways to go." You weren't worried about getting lost because Miles was leading the way and you trust him. You try to familiarize all the twists and turns of the maze. It was pretty extraordinary! After you got out of the maze, you all went to the stables and got off the horses. 

Flora "did you have fun!?"

"I did! It's crazy in there." You get down to her level, she was tall for her age but she is still much shorter than you.

Flora "tonight, can you read me a bedtime story?"

"I would love to Flora." The whole time you were talking to her, Miles was looking at you and smiling. He has never met anyone quite like you. Yes, nanny's in the past loved Flora too but not like you. He is really starting to like you. You just don't know that but soon will find out. 

You walk back to the house and Miles is walking next to you. You look up at him and smile. 

Miles "what?"

"Nothing just, thanks for today. Thanks for showing me how to ride and the whole maze."

Miles "of course, it's my pleasure really. Are you liking...staying here?"

"I mean I've only been here for 2 days but yeah, I am."

Miles "good! I really hope that you stay. Everyone who comes here, normally ends up leaving….without saying goodbye."

"Hey..I'm not planning on going anywhere." Miles grabs your hand and gives it a quick squeeze. 

Miles "okay, good. Let's go inside, it's time for lunch." When he touched your hand, it was like a spark ignited in you. You felt something for Miles that it was too early to quite put a finger on. All you knew was that this is only the beginning.

…..

Nightfall finally came and it was time to read Flora her bedtime story. She picked her favorite one and she crawled into bed. You got into bed with her. 

Flora "Y/n..can I ask you something?"

"Of course sweety, anything!"

Flora "are you going to leave?"

"No of course not! Why would I leave you?"

Flora "I don't know. Everyone just leaves me and Miles and never says goodbye."

"Miles told me that today, it broke my heart. I am so sorry they did that to you but I promise that I will not leave you and Miles."

Flora "promise, promise?"

"Cross my heart and hope to die." She leans into you as you begin to read. She falls asleep and you can feel yourself start to fall asleep as well. You lightly get up, making sure not to wake up Flora and close the door behind you. You make your way to your room and see Miles in his room. You smile at him and continue walking. Unlike last night, you fall asleep pretty quickly tonight. You were in the middle of a nightmare when you woke up, seeing Miles standing in front of you. 

"Miles?"

Miles "I-I'm sorry! I heard you whimpering in your dreams and it was killing me. Your door wasn't locked so I helped myself in...I was about to wake you when you woke yourself up."

"It's okay..I am sorry for waking you. I get these terrible nightmares sometimes." Miles sits down next to you.

Miles "it's okay, no need to apologize. It just scared me a little, I didn't know what was happening. I am glad that you are okay."

"I am now, thank you Miles." He put a piece of hair that has fallen into your eye behind your ear and smiled. 

Miles "I heard you reading to my sister. She really loves you y/n."

"I love her too. She asked me tonight if I was going to leave her, as you did earlier. I promised her that I wouldn't. I care about you and Flora too much to do that."

Miles "good because we care about you too," He pauses for a second, " All I am going to say right now is that I promise to always protect you."

"What..what do you have to protect me from?"

Miles "just listen to me okay...I'm not going to let anything happen to you, I promise. I know that you have only been here for two days but I have grown to like you, and I won't let anything happen to you, okay?" 

"Yeah." He kisses your forehead and then leaves. You didn't know what he meant but from the way his voice changed, you believed him. You just didn't know what from. You struggled to fall back asleep after that.

_____________________________________

《I have been wanting to write this for a while now, I hope that you all like the first chapter!! It is only the beginning and i promise that it only gets better from here!! ♡♡♡ let me know what you think in the comments》 《im tagging my girls!! I hope you know this movie and love it so far!! If you do please share it》

@hvitserkmarcosource @moriartysringtone7137 @azurebrock @kid-that-likes-to-xplr @daddydobrock @taradummy @cutiecolbsss

[heartbeatan]

Damned Royalty (Chapter 18)

Return to Chapter 17.

Return to Table of Contents.

Return to Desperado Series.

Return to Jimin Fanfictions.

Return to Masterlist.

Chapter 18

Days passed and Jinhyun’s condition waivered by the hour. You thought for a moment you’d lost him, then you thought he’d make a full recovery. Then the status would change again. One thing for sure was that he had gone missing days ago, and that when he was found, he was beaten to the brink of death.

His parents were, of course, devastated and desperate for answers. So were your parents, and your friends, and you. You were going crazy trying to figure out what had happened. The incident put an even bigger strain on your life at home – your father terrified to even let you leave to go to work or to the hospital, nonetheless, meet Jimin. But you found your way to all those places regardless of their protests.

“So, there’s been no change?” Jimin asked after you had given him the full update after you arrived at his apartment from visiting the hospital for the fourth time that week.

“I don’t even know anymore,” you sighed. “The doctors say so many things, I’m so twisted and exhausted from it all.”

“Then why go?”

“Because, Jimin. He may not be my boyfriend anymore, but we were together for seven years. He’s a good guy. I still care about him.”

Jimin grimaced at your statement. He didn’t like that you still carried Jinhyun with you. If it were up to him, he’d be out of your horizons entirely.

“Not like that, Jimin. Don’t be jealous.”

“I’m not. It’s just… have you really thought about how he ended up this way? In a neighbourhood he shouldn’t have been in – after missing for days?”

“What are you saying?” you pressed, a little snap in your voice.

“I’m just suggesting, perhaps he’s not as good as you think he is.”

You pursed your lips, holding yourself back from launching a comeback towards him – but he was right. Why was Jinhyun in Guri? No one seemed to have those answers.

“Can you find out?” you finally spoke.

“Find out what?”

“What happened to him? Can you ask around. You must have some connections.” He sighed and you saw his shoulders tense. “Please, Jimin. We need to know what happened.”

“Why? It’s not going to change anything.”

“Are you kidding me? He was beaten to a pulp! Someone needs to pay!”

He closed his eyes and pressed his palms into the counter of the kitchen – lost for a moment in strained thought.

“I’ll take care of it,” he whispered.

“What do you mean, you’ll take care of it?”

“I said I’ll take care of it,” his voice rose an octave. “This is my neighbourhood. I’ll find out what happened, and it’ll be dealt with.” You shut your mouth. Jimin hadn’t raised his voice to you like that before and it sent a shiver down your spine. You didn’t know what “take care of it” meant, but you knew it was probably best that you never found out.

 

A few more days passed, another surgery passed, and Jinhyun’s rocky condition began to improve. The doctors insisted that all you could do for him at the moment was talk to him, encourage him, and wait for him to wake up. You tried your best to be there as much as you could, just waiting alongside his parents and the other occasional visitors. Then finally, the day arrived.

“He’s awake! You should be here!” you got the call at work from Jinhyun’s mother. You rushed to your father’s office, letting him know of the news, then returned to your office to pack up your things, giving Jimin a quick call to update him.

It took a long car ride through the rush hour traffic to get to the hospital, but by the time you did, Jinhyun had fully woken up from his coma, was taken off his respirator, and given a killer cocktail of morphine.

“He hasn’t said anything about what happened,” you told Jimin over the phone. “The doctors wouldn’t let him speak to the police yet. Said he needed some rest first before he made a statement. He was delirious anyway.”

“But he’s going to be okay?”

“He’ll need some therapy, but they won’t know the extent until they run some more tests. He’s asleep right now anyway.”

“Are you going to come over tonight?”

“I don’t know. I’m going to sit with his parents for a while, but I’ll call you if it gets too late.”

You did sit with them – for an agonizing two more hours while Jinhyun slept through his morphine high. Until finally your stomach began to rumble, starving and needing something to replace the dinner you never had. His parents felt the same, but they wanted someone to be there when he woke up – so, his father took off to the cafeteria while you and his mother waited still. You were just settling into a new position to cure your aching back when his mother let out a shriek.

“Jinhyun! Jinhyun! Can you hear me?” she called to him. You looked up as saw his heavy eyes trying to flutter open. You rushed to the other side of his bed. “Jinhyun!”

“Mom, stop,” he croaked back, clearly annoyed by the shrillness of her concerned tone.

“Are you okay, sweetie? How do you feel?”

“I’m sore. And I’m thirsty.”

“I’ll go get a nurse and some water. Hold on, honey. Y/N is right here with you!” She nearly bolted out of the room before you could offer to go yourself. Jinhyun turned to look at you and you gave him a warm smile.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I was worried about you. We all were.”

“How long have I been out?”

“It’s been about five… no… six days now since they found you. You had been missing for three.” He swallowed hard and you cringed as he did – it looked so painful. “The police are going to want to talk to you, Jinhyun. As soon as possible so they can catch who did this to you…”

“I don’t want to talk to them,” he snapped.

“You just need to tell them what you remember. It’s okay if you don’t know who…”

“I know who the fuck did this to me, Y/N.” You sat straight in your seat, taken aback by his aggressive tone. Jinhyun had never swore at you before and you didn’t know how to react.

“Who was it?” you asked, keeping your tone even and quiet. Jinhyun turned his head and looked you dead in the eye, venom coursing behind his pupils.

“It was that guy you’ve been fucking, Y/N. This is his fucking fault.” His words were like an arrow through the chest. It stunned you, but you weren’t entirely sure it had happened just yet.

“Wait. What do you mean? How do you even know about us?” you weren’t sure what question you wanted answers to first.

“He paid me to break up with you, you know. Did he ever tell you that?”

Your mouth fell open in shock – wanting to refute his claim but not entirely sure if you could. What the hell was happening? Just then, his mother return with a nurse and a fresh bottle of water. You closed your mouth and assumed your position as caring ex-girlfriend. Jinhyun turned back to his role as patient, and the subject was never brought up again. You didn’t know what to do with this information. Surely, something was wrong. Something was amiss in his story and you needed to talk to him privately… talk to Jimin privately… find out the truth. The space between you and Jinhyun was tense – even if the rest of the room didn’t pick up on it, you felt it.

You left the hospital just before visiting hours closed, then, to your poor driver’s detriment, drove around the city for an hour until you found the courage to direct him to Guri… to Jimin.

He stood waiting for you as you walked through the door. His collar unbuttoned and his hands in his pockets. His expression was grim, but he bowed his head in shame when he saw the look on your face. That’s when you knew, there was something more going on and somehow Jimin was involved.

You crossed the floor tepidly, eyeing him up and down, waiting for something to click. Waiting for him to fucking say something.

“It’s not what you think,” he muttered.

“What the hell is it that I’m thinking then, Jimin?” your voice shook even though you tried to keep it level.

“You think that I put out a hit on him. I didn’t.”

“Then tell me what the fuck happened.”

“What did he tell you happened?”

“No, Jimin. I want to hear it from you.” He dug his tongue into his cheek as he eyed you. “You said you’d never lie to me. Prove that to me now.”

“Let’s sit…”

“No!” you shrugged his hand off you as he reached for your arm. “Start talking or I walk out of here now – and I won’t be coming back!”

“Okay. Okay,” he surrendered, then he started to pace the room.

“Jinhyun was in debt to us. A lot of debt. More than he could handle.”

“What do you mean, debt? How much? Since when?”

“Since long before you and I even met. We’re talking, a few million, over at least… four years.”

“What?” you exclaimed. “What the hell did he need that kind of money for?”

“His family hit some hard times. Had to cut back on certain expenses. But… I suppose he didn’t want to.”

“What does that mean?” His eyes were empathetic, and it pissed you off. Clearly, he knew something you didn’t, and he was trying to shield you from it. “Answer me.”

“He, umm… likes to party when you’re not around.”

You swallowed. “What kind of party are we talking about here?”

He shrugged, still nervous to tell you, but continued speaking anyway. “Clubs… trips… prostitutes… cocaine… casinos… that sort of thing.” Your mouth ran dry. There was no way. You had been with him for seven years. There’s no way you wouldn’t have noticed this before.

“You’re lying.”

“I’ve never lied to you,” he snapped. “Don’t ever accuse me of that.”

“But you kept this from me!” He went silent, and it pissed you off even more. “Did you pay him to break up with me?”

“I didn’t pay him, Y/N. That’s not how it happened.”

“Then how did it happen?”

“I met you. I wanted you. And I saw you with him - that fucking creep. He couldn’t make his payments, so I went to him. I offered to waive his debt entirely if he promised to leave you.”

“Same shit, different pile, Jimin. You paid him. You fucked with my life by bribing people.”

“That’s what I do, Y/N! That’s who I am. I see something I want, and I get it!”

“I’m not some thing, Jimin…”

“I fucking know that!” he cut you off. “What do you want me to do, go back in time? Not be selfish? Not do it? You’d still be with that fuckhead, drowning in millions of dollars of debt while he snorts coke off the backs of women he fucks when you’re not looking.”

Your face flushed red with anger – only you weren’t sure what you were angry about. Jinhyun and his lies or Jimin treating you like a commodity.

“I’d fucking do it again, Y/N!”

“I just feel like I was nothing but a game to you.”

“You were,” his voice lowered again. “I won’t deny it. But things have changed.”

“What’s changed?”

“Me… Everything… I fucking need you now – I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

You hated that his words made your heart flutter. You were mad. Wanted to be mad at him. But also wanted to forgive him. You needed him to say the right thing.

“You still haven’t told me how Jinhyun got beat. Was that you?”

“No,” he scoffed, almost in disbelief that you would accuse him of such things.

“Then who was it?”

“After I waived his debt, he went to the cartel and got a loan from them.”

“What a fucking idiot,” you huffed as you massaged your forehead. “Then why is he blaming you?”

“Because when he couldn’t pay them back, he came to me again. Asking for more money. I turned him down.”

“How long have you known this?”

“I suspected it when I heard he was in the hospital.”

“God! Jimin!” you turned away from him, now fuming. “You watched me for days going crazy, trying to figure out what happened, and you just kept this from me?!”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, I should have told you.”

“Yes, you fucking should have. Jimin we talked about this. I’m supposed to be your partner, I’m risking my entire livelihood to be with you and now I find out I can’t even trust you.”

“Please, Y/N, don’t say that. You can trust me, I swear,” he pulled up in front of you and clasped your arms, forcing you to look him in the eye. “I won’t do it again. I promise.”

“I don’t know,” you shook your head.

“I’ll tell you everything. Please. Name it and I’ll tell you,” he pleaded with you. You swallowed hard as tears burned your eyes, your mind nothing but a blank. But then a question came to you, one you weren’t sure you wanted to ask, but it slipped from your tongue anyway.

“When Jinhyun defaulted… if he hadn’t been linked to me… would you have done the same to him as the cartel did?”

Jimin closed his eyes and pressed his lips into a firm line… then nodded.

“Have you done that to others?”

“Many others.”

You wiped away a tear that had escaped and was rolling down your cheek. You both stood silent, unsure of what else to say, until Jimin uttered…

“Please don’t leave me.”

“I’m going to stay at my parents house tonight,” you finally spoke.

“Please don’t leave me.”

“I’m… I’m not leaving… I just need a little space. This has been a lot. I need to think.”

“Please, Y/N. Don’t leave me,” you could hear the fear in his voice, and you could see the way his eyes began to well. It hurt your heart to see him like this, so you shuffled out of his grip and turned away from him heading back towards the exit.

“I’ll call you, okay?” you said just before you closed the door behind you.

 

You isolated yourself for the next few days. You didn’t go to see Jinhyun. You didn’t speak to Jimin. You avoided your father’s office as well the main rooms of the house to avoid running into him. You felt as if all the men in your life had let you down. You felt lost, angry and tired.

But you were also lonely. You missed Jimin like crazy and wanted nothing more than to gloss over everything that had happened, return to him, and live out your happy lives together. But you found yourself once again questioning if a happy life with him was even possible, and if it was worth giving up the life you already had. Would he really give up his world for you? If he couldn’t, would you be able to live in his world? Knowing the things he did? Knowing the things he’s done?

On day four without speaking to him – without a phone call or text between you – you were distracting yourself with work to avoid having to deal with your feelings. But you’d occasionally look up and that’s when you’d become lost in the painting that now hung on your wall. The painting Jimin had sent you.

“I want you to think of me when you see it.”

God, you wanted to see him so badly. Speak to him so badly. You looked down at your phone, considering whether or not you should bite the bullet and finally call him, when the phone began ringing before you.

“It’s Mr. Park,” Trudy advised you before she pushed the call through.

“I’m sorry for not calling yet…” you began but were cut off by a voice that was not Jimin’s.

“Y/N,” said Stanford. “Jimin’s been abducted.”

[bigskydreaming]

Why do You dislike Scott Snyder? I mean I have my reasons.. like a lot of the Court of Owls stuff, his convoluted plots, making Dick a punching bag for the broody bats, horrible at writing the family as a family he literally wrote Death of the Family I mean....*kill bill sirens* ... Also the ''son of a Damian'' line from Black Mirror etc. But I'm curious if you have more reasons since I'm pretty new and I'm told that he likes Dick and wanted to write Dick focused books and I don't.. buy it.

LOL yeah, all of that for sure, and I mean.....tbh, I don’t pay enough attention to his interviews and stuff to even be aware that he’s said that about liking Dick and wanting to write Dick-centric books, but I’m with you on that....not necessarily meaning anything.

God knows I’ve lost track of how many fic writers in this fandom swear up and down they love Dick Grayson and yet I avoid their stories with extreme energy, lmao, because I’ve read enough of their takes on DG that I’m like hmmm, yeah, we are not the same, lol. I mean, there’s a certain couple fic writers who just are like....DETERMINED to mention Danny Chase every single time I make a post about why I’m annoyed by the focus on Dick’s allegedly infamous temper. And its always the exact same song on repeat, they’re like “OH-HO, so apparently you don’t remember the time Dick choked Danny, a literal CHILD, just because Danny had the nerve to tell him Jason died, cuz like, I do, and it was AWFUL and Danny could have died TOO y’know, that’s how mad Dick was.” 

And then I just kinda stare at these words that apparently mean things, and enter a fugue state where an unknown amount of time passes and by the end of it I feel 80 million epochs older, and its like....no, I absolutely do remember that time when Dick grabbed Danny by the shirt and yelled in his face because he just found out his brother died and Danny said “what’s the big deal, its not like it doesn’t happen all the time” and this was absolutely not an awesome and fun scene for anyone, no matter how understandable Dick’s upset was at the time. BUT, I also happen to remember, since y’know, it was in that literal exact same issue, how then Dick went to see Bruce, and due to BRUCE’S upset about Jason’s death, Bruce literally punched his remaining son to the ground, screams about how it was all Dick’s fault, and kicks him out of the house Dick grew up in and tells him to leave his keys with Alfred. 

And its like......the very same people who LOVE to throw around references to Danny Chase in order to puff up the claims about Dick Grayson being volatile and extreme and having a Dangerous Temper like, flat out REFUSE to ever even ACKNOWLEDGE that scene with Dick and Bruce, from the literal exact same issue, because they at the same time claim that THIS was bad writing and OOC and Bruce would never.....but apparently, the writing from ten pages before it was just fine and completely accurate and Dick absolutely would not only ever, he would always, and thus Dick’s Legendary Dangerous Temper is canon and its why Dick can’t have nice things or people being nice to him in these writers’ stories, its too Dangerous, he might get mad I guess.

And each time this comes up on this site, I’m always like....hey, science side of tumblr, is it possible that insisting on vilifying Dick for his reaction to someone in the wake of Jason’s death whilst simultaneously refusing to acknowledge the scene of Bruce’s reaction to Dick is canon or in-character despite existing in the exact same issue and written by the exact same writer.....like....could this be one of those double standards I’m always going on about? And isn’t it in fact reasonable to question just how much or how little someone actually means it when they say they love a character but want that character flogged in the middle of the town square for a Bad Reaction to something that also prompted a Bad Reaction from another character but this character, they’ll like, throw themselves in front of a moving train if it keeps someone from daring to even suggest that THEIR reaction was canon and in-character and might potentially say something damning about their temper or behavior with friends or family?

*heaves endless sigh of endlessness*

Sorry, that example was right there on the tip of my brain today because like....I literally just saw another post around this oft-deceased and resurrected and killed to death again dead horse like, five minutes ago and then came to dip into my ask box for the first time today and it was like.....destiny. Assuming destiny has some free time to kill and nothing better to do, which, I mean, hey, everyone’s allowed a hobby is all I’m saying.

LOL sooooooooooo, ANYWHO, its just like.....ugh, I’m so over being expected to take at face value any writers, whether professional or fan, saying “oh but I love this character or that character, and due to that being my preface to everything else I say or do in regards to this character, you have zero basis for claiming that you do not like or trust my depiction of this character because ummm, read much? I literally JUST said, I love them though? Wow. Insert scoffs of incredulity here, I don’t even know how to talk to someone who thinks I don’t like a character I claimed I like just because literally everything else I say or do about them paints an opposing picture to the contrary.”

LMAO. Sorry. Had to get that off my chest. But yeah, like, I think EVERY canon Batfam writer has made a similar claim in recent years about pretty much every Batfam character, and at a certain point it starts to be like....okay, if all of you are telling the truth here, shouldn’t we see more canon evidence of like....these characters that you’re writing, like....actually even LIKING each other? At what point are we allowed to question the legitimacy of you saying oh I totes love this character, that’s why I write their family as abusing them, that’s just love, baby, that’s what it looks like.

Personally, I’d like to see more of us at least using qualifiers? I mean, I do say I don’t hate Tim, or Bruce, or any of these characters, but I get how people could be dubious about that and be all, umm, you rant about them a lot, because like...yeah. Fair. That’s a valid critique. SO its a lot more accurate for me to be like, I love 90s Tim and I just have become increasingly less enchanted with the character over the past twenty years since then, enough so that my knee-jerk reactionism to people bashing Dick’s character BECAUSE of what Dick did or didn’t do to Tim in their eyes, is like.....disinclined to view the situation or his character these days through 90s-Tim rose-colored glasses. 

Similarly, I truly don’t hate Bruce, at least not when he’s not being written as physically and emotionally abusive and/or just plain neglectful, BUT I absolutely despise the abuse apologism rampant in most fandoms, but particularly in this one, where people will make like Cirque-de-Soilei contortionists in order to prove that Bruce beating this kid or that kid isn’t actually abuse, its cuz they made him do it....rather than people just being like, no, that’s abuse right there on the page and I don’t stand for it or stan that Batman, so I have zero desire to defend that scene or his actions there from his perspective, and am totally fine with taking a seat when someone speaks up about how much they hate what Bruce did to his kid there in that scene and how it affects their read of the characters as a whole.

Its like....that too, is a thing you can do, instead of just.....trying to explain why Bruce isn’t abusive see, because what happened there wasn’t actually abuse, since it couldn’t have been, because Bruce isn’t abusive, see, he would Never.

And yet so rarely do people actually do that, and we have people literally championing themselves as members of the Good Dad Bruce Protection Squad when the frank reality is there CAN BE NO GUARANTEE of him ever and always being a Good Dad, when like....his characterization, ultimately, is dependent on how he’s written by canon writers who ARE NOT US. Which makes that desire to see him as just a good dad and nothing but a good dad always, like....not quite as understandable as it otherwise might be, and instead just kinda....willful, an admission that a lot of fans in this fandom will just flat out ignore all evidence to the contrary of this stated claim about what Bruce inherently IS, when inherently all he is happens to be a character who manifests whatever those in creative control of him choose to manifest via him. Like.....there are ways to go about that kinda thing, its just....that isn’t it. Something like “Proud member of the Keep Bruce Wayne a Good Dad Squad’ or something along those lines? I’d have ZERO issue with, because that’s ACTIONABLE, not WILLFUL. It posits not that Bruce simply IS this way and there’s no ifs, ands or buts about it, but rather that just because he isn’t this way in some instances, that doesn’t mean we have to agree with it or condone that interpretation of him, y’know?

But people are like....unwilling to make that distinction or hold that nuance a lot of the times, so my dislike of Bruce as he’s written in certain ways or by certain writers like....grows and evolves and mutates into Godzilla rampaging through downtown New York, until its understandable that people reading my blog intermittently and who don’t follow everything I say on the subject are like.....”Bold of you to claim you like lizards in this one post when I have here nine other posts where you’re just like, FEAR the murderous monster-lizard destroying New York for it is Dangerous and Fearsome. Cuz one of these things is not like the others, bud.”  

*Shrugs* Anyway, all of that’s just my allergy to Staying on Topic, so make of it what you will, hopefully you get what I mean though even if you don’t have like, the requisite Kalen-Garbled-Nonsense Secret Decoder Ring. Back to Snyder though....yeah, he can claim he likes Dick all he wants, because y’know what, Tynion says the same thing and its been well established by moi that my fondest wish for Tynion is that he be kept far, far away from Dick’s character whenever possible. And I’m pretty sure Tom King claims he loves all these characters and we’re all like HAHAHHAHA and we know Lobdell insists he loves Jason Todd and its like wow how curious then that hardly any other Jason Todd stans love you.

The ironic thing about my random bouts of ugh Snyder in a lot of posts however, is that......tbh, its not even his depiction of Dick that makes me dislike him as much as I do? LMAO. I mean, I’m not a fan of it personally, for a lot of the reasons you mentioned, but I don’t like a lot most canon writers’ depiction of Dick these days and haven’t for years. The thing I really dislike Snyder for, personally, is his depiction of Damian.

Its just.....its very Not Good, a lot of the time. Oh, there are moments here and there, but you could claim that for any writer, really, but for the most part, like.....ooof, I haven’t read Snyder’s work on Damian recently enough to really cite specific moments off the top of my head, because I’ve been avoiding anywhere he’s writing Damian for awhile now BECAUSE of it, but....a LOT of the ‘demon brat’ shit in regards to Damian comes from Snyder’s work, and like, I’m always kinda like “hey is making Demon anything the go-to nickname for a kid of Arab descent who is already compared to a terrorist enough as it is like....really the best we can do” to begin with, and Snyder absolutely 100% does not help with that.

To be fair, its not remotely like its all just on him, the stuff that has had a lot of us complaining for years about the blood son crap and the insistence on acting like there’s this stark divide between Bruce and Damian and the rest of the Bat siblings, I mean, see: Tom King again, its just. Ugh, okay, Im gonna have to get back to this in the near future with actually sourced gripes about why I think Snyder’s Damian in particular is absolute crap and could he just not, though. Because it really is my chief complaint with him, like I was never gonna be a fan of his in general just because he’s someone who's like DARK MULTIVERSE BATMAN FUCK YEAH and I’m someone who’s like DARK MULTIVERSE BATMAN UGH FUCK WHY.....lol....BUT like I mention in other posts.....its not like he’s incapable of doing decent stuff or that he’s never written anything I like, because ironically, he IS the biggest canon backer of Duke Thomas and pretty much single-handedly responsible for Duke retaining as much of a presence as he has in recent years instead of just appearing and blipping out of existence like a one-hit wonder, and that can’t be overlooked or considered inconsequential.

That just also kinda makes it all the more annoying that his Damian is so very.....objectionable to me, but yeah. Anyway, that’s the curious case of my very mixed feelings on Scott Snyder, with a side dish of generalized “lol oh, so you do in fact love this character? Well magically all my criticisms of your take on them have now disappeared!”