#'jesus. how am i gonna survive a whole week without you guys'

[chirpsythismorning]

Season 5 Opener: Out of Context

Bonus:

[bylrndgm]

hellfire t-shirt mike, you'll always be famous (breakfast/pep rally)

jesus, how am i gonna survive a whole week without you guys?

[xoxo-sarah]

I Wanna Be Yours || Part 1

Series Masterlist | Part 2

↝a/n: my first Robin Series. Set in season 4.

↝pairing: Robin Buckley x fem!Wheeler!reader

↝ Warning: not proof read. Possible spoilers if you still haven't watched season 4, everything that happens in stranger things, slow burn, Vicky doesn't exist here, not because I don't like her, but because it's easier to write for Robin when she's not madly in love with another chick.

↝⎙ 6.24.23

Nancy jiggled her keys, annoyed with the mop headed boy. "Mike! Let's go." She turned, looking at you with an irked expression. "This kid." She opened the door, walking past you as you put your backpack on.

Mike rolled his eyes, hunching over the toaster, impatiently waiting for the pop tart to pop any second. "Jesus. How am I gonna survive a whole week without you guys?" You grinned as he walked past, handing you one of the warm pop tarts. "Besides you. You're cool." He whispered before practically jogging to the car, where Nancy sat with her head thrown back in annoyance. You bid your parents goodbye before following him to the car, deciding you didn't have time to argue over who was getting in the front.

"So, Cali, huh?" Nancy glanced at you from the rearview mirror, a small grin making its way onto her lips. You two have tormented him for weeks over him going all the way to California for spring break. You did it more than Nancy though, only because you loved his grossed-out reaction when you'd turn around, acting as if you were making out with someone, hinting at the two.

"Yeah." Mike grumbled, looking out the window from the passenger seat.

you nodded, not bringing it up for the rest of the car. Atleast, until you got to school.

"And then there's Heidi tomorrow night, but the problem with Heidi is that she's going out of state for college. So, it's like, do I really wanna start another relationship that has no point other than sex?" Steve continued to rant to deaf ears. "I mean, i don't know. Does that make sense to you?" He rubbed his forehead, glancing to his side, where Robin was putting on mascara, solemnly paying attention to the mirror and not to the man who was ranting for the whole car ride. "Robin, are you listening?"

"Uh, yes. I-I'm lis-"

"What did I just say?" Steve threw his hand up, shaking his head, unimpressed.

"Something about sex with...Linda."

"No! I'm talking about Heidi."

"Cut me some slack, please!"

Steve bit his cheek before rubbing his forehead again. "Well-"

Robin began to rant, "Your love life is one of labyrinthine complexity. And it is 7:00 in the morning, we have this stupid pep rally and i woke up looking like a total corpse." She stretched her hands on the sides of her face, surely not looking flattering at all.

"Oh, you're worried about a pep rally? You expect me to believe that?" He glanced over again, his expression showing he absolutely did not believe that, not one bit.

"Yeah? So?"

"So, we both know what this is about. Okay, I'm not buying that bullshit. This is about Y/n." He had met you a few ties, when he was with Nancy and when you guys had to fight some ugly parasite looking monster. You were quick to catch Robin's eye in school, which, in turn, made her turn to Steve and tell him all about this girl. There were a few characteristics that lead him to know she fancied you before she even told him your name.

"Absolutely not." Robin couldn't help the blush that painted her cheeks, moving to do anything with her hands. She began applying lip balm, staring back into the little mirror in the vizor.

"Yes it is. You know what else I think?"

"I really don't care-" Steve could go on and on. If you were to ask Robin what he said, she's surely say blah blah blah with a roll of her eyes.

"I think you gotta stop pretending to be someone else when you're around her. You just gotta be yourself." He had his hand out, motioning around absentmindedly.

"You're literally quoting me to me. You do realize that, right?"

"WELL maybe you need to listen to yourself. Ever think about that, smarty-pants?" Robin stared at him with a look that could kill. Was she this annoying when she scolded him, telling to get his shit together? "I listened to you and look at me. Boom. Back in buisness.

"It's not the same thing, okay?"

"Well..."

Robin made a sound of disagreement at that, not letting him finish that thought. "You ask a girl out and she says no, big deal. nothing happens. Maybe your ego is a little bruised." Robin looked at him with false pity, before moving her hands around again. "But I ask out the wrong girl, and BAM! I'm a town pariah."

Shaking his head, Steve understood where she was coming from, but disagreeing with how she was going about it. "Yeah, okay, I'd buy that, except Y/n is defiantly not the wrong girl."

"We just don't know that do we?"

"She returned Fast Times at 53 minutes, 5 seconds. Do you know who paused Fast times at 53 minutes, 5 seconds?'

"..."

"People who like boobies, Robin!"

"Ew! Gross! Don't say boobies!"

"Boobies. it's not a big deal, okay. I like boobies. You like boobies. Y/n likes boobies. Definitely."

Clinbing over the seat after Nancy parked, you patted Mike as he held the car door open. "Use protection atleast." Before he could reply or grumble, you were jogging towards the gym, finding some of your friends in the process.

"Got any plans for spring break?" Chrissy asked, trying to keep in stride with you.

"Not really." You hadn't made plans, but you'd probably end up staying at one of your friend's house. After walking in, you turned towards her, grinning to ease her nerves. "Have fun. You'll do amazing." She smiled back, giving you a quick hug before running off.

Turning back to the bleachers, you tried to look for an empty seat, which was becoming harder with the people trampling into the double doors.

Hearing your name being yelled, you looked around, stopping when you see Steve. He motioned you over, making sure no one sat down beside him.

With the glare he could feel on the side of his head, he'd definitely be getting an earful from Robin.

He held his hand out, helping you step up the stairs with all the people walking around you to take a seat. "Thank you."

"No problem." He turned to face Robin, mouthing '53 minutes, 5 seconds'. She rolled her eyes before looking forward.

When everything started, he cheered with you as you not only cheered on your school, but your friends and all the work they put into the moves.

"And of course, I have to give a special shout-out." Steve glanced over at you when he heard you scoff at Jason Carver.

"What? You not like Jason?" His words were playful, already knowing you despised him for some reason, hearing it from Robin.

"I dunno. He loves Chrissy and shows it, but he's just a dick to everyone else."

Jason continued to speak, "Chrissy..." He stared at her as they were they only two in the room. "Chrissy, i love you, babe."

You made a gagging sound, only loud enough for Steve to hear it.

Jason went on to make another speech. "You know...I think I can speak for all of us when I say it's been a tough year for Hawkins. So much loss. And sometimes I wonder 'how much loss can one community take?' In dark days like this, we need something to believe in. So, last night, when we were down by ten points at half to Chrisian Academy I looked at my team and I said, think of Jack, think of Melissa, think of Heather, think of Billy. "

Both, you and Steve looked down, searching for the red head you had seen climbing up the bleachers to sit with your brother and Dustin. You both looked back at each other, taking pity in the poor girl.

Sure, you never got along with Billy. But you would've never wished that kind of death upon anybody, including him. Especially with the way if effected Max. You could tell she felt guilty. It wasn't fair for her; she was just a kid- a good kid at that.

"-Think of our heroic police chief, Jim Hopper. "

"Yeah, people died so they could win a basketball game. That's the reason." You rolled your eyes, grumbling as you glared at the man screaming into the mic. "For a stupid trophy." Sure, you will still congratulate Lukas if they do, indeed, win the trophy. But to say many people died for that was just ridiculous. Honoring the people who have fallen is different, but that's not what he's doing. Maybe Lukas would play in honor of them, but not Jason.

"You alright?" Chrissy almost walked past you in the hall, looking a little uneasy.

She blinked a couple of times before trying to smile. "Yeah- yeah. of course. Just had to go to the counselor. I'm alright." You slowly nodded, before wrapping an arm around one of hers and walking towards class. She had been acting weird lately. So you made sure to stay close to her, making sure she didn't do anything. "Would you like to do something for spring break?" You brought back the question she asked earlier.

"Like what?"

"I dunno. We could hang at your house-"

"No!" You looked at her, confused by her outburst. "Why would we do that when we have your house?"

"I mean, Mike's not going to be there so sure." You gently smiled at her, squeezing her arm effectiontly when she stopped by the bathrooms. "I'll talk to you about it later, yeah?" She nodded before pushing the door open.

You began walking towards class, trying to wrap your brain around what is going on with her. She obviously wasn't okay.

•2021-2024 by xoxo-sarah on Tumblr•

•My work is not to be translated, copied, modified, and/or reposted on any other site without my permission. [!I don't give permission!]

[beyondspaceandstars]

The Wounded

Relationship: Steve Rogers x Reader [Dating], Bucky Barnes x Reader [Platonic] Warnings: mantions of kidnapping, slight depictions of PTSD, angst Summary: After you survive a kidnapping that ends up affecting you in ways you and Steve never anticipated, you turn to Bucky for comfort leaving Steve confused and insecure. A/N: alright this is an older one I had sitting on my computer i felt like uploading but very sorry for the lack of content! I am currently dealing with finals but this is my last year so fingers crossed i’ll have more time after this! Still, please enjoy this, I remember really enjoying writing it :)

Masterlist

You shot up in bed suddenly, praying your eyes would adjust to the pitch black darkness of your bedroom fast enough to ease your brain. As your heart raced and sides ached with bruises, you took in your surroundings finally.

You were in your bed, your boyfriend Steve sleeping peacefully next to you. You knew this in your brain but your heart didn’t. It still raced relentlessly, just a haunting reminder of your latest nightmare.

The nightmares always had the same theme. They always seemed to circle back to your troubling and scarring kidnapping you had suffered just a few weeks ago. It was a devastating ploy by some equally devastating men to get to your boyfriend. The abduction didn’t last very long — just about a week in some musty, dirty cell being kicked around — but the scars it left on your brain where so much deeper than you had ever realized until recently.

The physical abuse was bad but the bruises and cuts were healing just fine. It was the mental and emotional games they played that was going to take longer to ease. The words were haunting and they followed you in every crevasse of your brain, typically leaving you running on a couple of hours a sleep. It was a cruel routine: go to bed safe and sound, find peace for two hours, wake up in a cold sweat, watch mindless TV in the common area until breakfast.

Here we go, you thought as you made your way out of the bed. Steve was still undisturbed, in a peaceful dream sleep, typically unaware of your absence. The few times he had caught on you rushed him back to bed, claiming you just wanted a midnight snack. He never questioned it but his eyes always told you he wasn’t convinced. You ignored it — you just couldn’t tell him. The guilt he carried about your kidnapping was unbelievable. You worked so hard to convince him you were alright, it wasn’t ever his fault, and that the wounds were healing because you couldn’t bare to see those eyes in such a miserable state.

It really wasn’t a total lie — the wounds were swell and you wouldn’t dare to blame him for something not in his control — but then the nightmares started. The daunting voice began chiming in. The depression… the anxiety… the fear… it all came at once so unexpectedly.

You tugged on your fluffy robe along with your slippers and made your way to the kitchen. As you rounded the corner you were stunned to see the kitchen light already on. Peaking your head in, your eyes fell on Bucky who was situated at the kitchen island  snacking on some chips.

You stared, unsure of whether you should head to the living room and venture into the kitchen. No one had ever been up with you before and if they did, they never made themselves known.

"I can feel you staring, Y/N."

Bucky’s rough voice brought you out of your ridiculous phase. You sighed and made your way to the fridge.

"What are you doing up?" You asked, grabbing a carton of vanilla ice cream along with a spoon and making your way to the island. You stood opposite of him, watching and waiting for a reply as he crunched on the chips.

"Isn’t this the time you always get up?"

His question stunned you. Holding his intense stare, you placed your spoon on the counter next to the ice cream. Suddenly, your stomach was in a knot. Maybe a part of you didn’t want anyone to know what was going on.

"I just wanted a snack," You gave your go-to spiel but the ex-assassin wasn’t buying one bit of it.

"Every night?" Bucky scoffed. "Probably should eat a bigger dinner, then."

You rolled your eyes as he gave you his know-it-all smirk. You loved Bucky really —totally loved his company and all that — he had been such a great friend to you and so inviting but no matter what, without a fail, he could always pick up on anything that was off. Steve, of course, could see right through you but he always gave you the benefit of the doubt. He was gentler with you, never wanting to pry or upset you, and you were so thankful for that. But Bucky didn’t give a shit — if something was wrong he was gonna find out one way or another.

"Why are you up?" You repeated your initial question, getting a bit fed up with this now. He stalled your question and reached for more chips. You sighed in annoyance and opened the ice cream carton, digging into the creamy deliciousness.

"Something’s up with you," Bucky finally answered. His voice was a bit softer and way less cocky. Hearing someone express they saw you weren’t okay nearly had you in tears. You shoveled more ice cream in your mouth, staring down at the granite counter.

You shook your head. "Just wanted a snack."

"Jesus Christ, Y/N." Bucky groaned. "Come on, don’t make this hard." You placed your spoon in the carton, pushing it to the side. You fiddled with your nails as thoughts and feelings swarmed in your brain. It couldn’t hurt for someone to know, right?

"Nightmares," You spoke softly, voice cracking ever so slightly. "Just some bad nightmares."

"The kidnapping," He whispered. You saw his fists clinch at the mention of it. Your kidnapping had shocked everyone. They all had their own way of handling it but usually it was just a lot of confusion. You weren’t some hero. You didn’t have magical power or a fancy training. You were just a nurse who bandaged up the heroes when they came back. Even with dating Steve, no one expected you to be a casualty.

"It’s really messing with my brain," The words were rough to get out but once they were out there, you felt a new freedom. A weight you never realized was so heavy was being lifted so carelessly with words.

Bucky just nodded and waited for you to continue.

From then on, your nightly routine was no longer a lonesome thing. Bucky began joining you every night with snacks and a therapy session. It felt easy to talk with him about it especially since he understood. He didn’t have to pretend to know how you felt — he had felt it all, too. He got what being captive was like, how the mental manipulation went, how strong the effects of it all could be… You for once didn’t feel crazy. But most importantly — someone knew. Like really knew. And you were immensely grateful.

It seemed to be helping as well. You knew when the thoughts got rough, you could just spew it all out. You could talk about what exactly had happened to you without fear of being looked at differently. The whole thing was like breathing fresh air. You could even sometimes fall back asleep on the couch which now put your sleeping time up to four glorious hours.

The nightly chats really put your daytime spirits back up. So much so, Steve was getting a little suspicious. While he was so relieved you seemed to be doing better, the steps you took to get there were still a mystery to him and you could tell he was curious. When you’d join him in your shared room at the end of the day, he’d ask more questions about what you had done through the day. It was almost like he wanted a play-by-play and you did your best to comply.

It wasn’t until a week or so later that he started catching on to you leaving in the middle of the night. Without knowing it, he had used all his might to stay up one night to see if something was going on. You didn’t appear to be doing anything but work during the day so something must’ve been happening in the night — and that’s when his mind wandered. The thoughts of what could be helping you started to get a little unpleasant.

It was a random Tuesday night and you were on the couch with Bucky eating some pretzels. He was sitting up right while you were laying on the couch, legs thrown over his lap. You were going on about how your nightmares had gotten weaker when unexpected foot steps halted your words.

"What’s this?" The unmistakably strong voice of your boyfriend boomed through the living room. You scrambled to sit up, throwing pretzels all over the coffee table. Both stunned and unsure, you and Bucky stared at Steve. His demeanor was hard, his face unamused, and his eye said he was ready for a fight.

"Steve, babe, what-," You fumbled for your words, trying your best to reason. He hadn’t caught you two doing anything but his energy was so startling it made you unexplainably scared.

"What? What am I doing up? What are you doing up?" He marched towards the couch. Hesitantly, you stood up to face him. Bucky stayed seated, looking at you both with a slight expression of annoyance. He knew how possessive his best friend could get but this felt excessive.

"Just wanted a snack-,"

"Don’t bullshit me," Steve growled, taking an intimidating step towards you. You jumped at the harshness. Sure, you guys had had disagreements before but this was entirely new.

"I… I’m not… Steve-,"

Steve took a deep breath.

"Y/N," His voice got deeper. It was slightly too calm compared to his attitude just seconds before. "Tell me why you’re up at night sneaking around with my best friend."

"Sneaking around?!" You gasped. "Steve, that is not-,"

"OH, IT’S NOT?" Steve’s voice boomed throughout the common area. Even a watching Bucky jumped at the noise.

You quickly backed away from him, completely scared beyond belief. His eyes were harsh, his entire demeanor fuming with anger. You had never seen anything like this from him and it started to bring up the memories you worked so hard to heal from.

"Steve, man, take it down a notch…" Bucky finally stood from the couch and placed his hands on Steve’s shoulder.

Steve flinched back, nearly ready to throw one at Bucky, but something in him clicked. He lowered his hand and took a few deep breaths. Coming to his senses, he looked at you and saw the absolute horror on your face. He had never seen you look at him like that and it broke him into a million pieces.

"I… just… what the hell is going on?" Steve meant for it to come out nicer, but the harshness was yet to leave him and his tone. You started rubbing your hands together, a nervous tick you’ve had forever. Bucky tried to get you to stop when he noticed your movements, but Steve’s cold glare wouldn’t let him anywhere near you.

"I can’t sleep anymore," you said, breaking the silence with a much more powerful voice than you intended. You didn’t know you had the strength. "Ever since… I can’t sleep. I keep having these nightmares and Bucky’s been helping."

Steve scoffed, "Helping?"

Bucky rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. Now you were getting weary of both super soldiers.

"We sit up talking," Bucky explained. "It helps her… well both of us, really, to talk, watch TV… anything."

"And you didn’t tell me this because…?" Steve asked, pointing his attention back on you. When his eyes met yours, a shiver went down your spine as his cold gaze. You sighed, realizing the gig was up.

"God, Steve, I didn’t wanna worry you!" You exclaimed. "The last thing you need is a girlfriend with PTSD. You go through enough shit and I just didn’t wanna pile it on."

The admission sat in the air heavily around you three. Bucky looked relieve you finally said something but Steve’s eyes just held so much confusion. Personally, you felt so much weight coming off you. You thought you’d never have to tell him, assumed everything would sort itself out, but no, you finally spoke up.

"Honey," Steve sighed with sudden tears forming in his eyes. "You didn’t… You shouldn’t have done that, you know you can tell me anything, right?"

You nodded, "Steve it was just so scary. I didn’t know what to do. Bucky was just there and he got it and would just sit up with me and-,"

"Alright, hon," Steve cut you off and made his way closer. Thankfully, you didn’t flinch away. "I understand and I’m glad you had someone, but I would’ve helped. I can help you, sweetheart."

"I’m sorry," You whispered as he pulled you into a hug. You threw your arms around his torso and buried your face in his chest, letting the pent up tears flow. Steve rest his chin on your head, stroking your hair softly.

"I didn’t know you were hurting this much," he admitted.

"It’s been so fucking scary,"

Steve could almost feel his heart breaking at the sound of your voice alone. Your words just piled on so much.

"I should let you two…" Bucky began, essentially forgotten standing next to you two. You pulled away from Steve to look at him.

"Thank you, Buck," you said.

Steve nodded in agreement. "I’m sorry for the overreacting I just… I thought the worst, but really you probably saved my girl."

Bucky gave a small smile and patted Steve on the back. "I didn’t do anything. It’s her strength you gotta thank."

With that, he made his way to the elevator and back to his room, leaving you two still standing in an embrace in the common area. You stared up at Steve, watching his expression towards you change. What was once so scary and harsh was back to the softest man you’d ever met.

"We’ll make some calls in the morning but for now, would you come back to bed?" Steve asked. "I can’t imagine anymore nights without you."

You nodded, giving him a peck on the lips. He led you back to the shared bedroom and for once, you went to bed with a sense of hope.

[makeste]

BnHA Chapter 296: Ngl, This One Pissed Me Off

Previously on BnHA: Deku was all, “p.s. I actually activated yet another quirk several chapters ago when Kacchan got stabbed.” Compress was all, “[gets captured and passes out].” Spinner was all “[rifles through Tomura’s pockets and slaps a random Charbroiled Hand onto his friend’s unconscious face].” Tomura was all, “SOMEHOW THAT ACTUALLY WORKED” and woke up again, except it wasn’t really him, it was everyone’s favorite Final Villain, AFO. AFO was all, “time to escape finally” and summoned a bunch of Noumu and Absconded with Spinner and the DabiMarble in tow. Skeptic was all, “Horikoshi forgot I existed, but I’m actually Absconding in marble-form as well.” Deku was all, “ATTENTION WORLD, I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT I OFFICIALLY WANT TO SAVE SHIGARAKI TOMURA.” And then the arc just sort of ended lol.

Today on BnHA: Horikoshi is all, “but when you think about it, do we really need literally any female teachers at U.A. at all?” and for whatever reason doesn’t stop to wait for an answer. Midnight, who absolutely did not need to die, Dies, and I’m pissed about it. Ochako wanders the ruins of Jakku for what feels like hours, rescuing small children while her adult hero compatriots fall to pieces around her, because apparently the U.A. kids really are the only people who have their shit together. The citizens of Japan are all “damn that’s wild, wonder how fucked we are now,” but are actually super casual and chill about it which is oddly realistic. The chapter ends with AFO in Tartarus being all “lol time for the prison break arc,” without giving us so much as a chance to catch our breath, like holy shit. Are we on the clock or something now, goddamn.

lmao it’s like 7pm on a Sunday night and this is out already. this is like the worst possible timing lol. there goes my nice, relaxed evening. unless of course this turns out to be a nice, restful, soothing chapter, as chapters coming on the heels of traumatic, earth-shattering battles so often are. yeah, break out the Pina Colada song and the little drink umbrellas, I got a good feeling about this one

(ETA: I mean, I was obviously being sarcastic here but damn, Horikoshi.)

-- fff why did I laugh

it’s the crumbling city ruins in the background that really does it, I think. JUST LOOK AT THIS MESS THAT YOU HAVE MADE, EVERYONE. FOR SHAME

also, the title is dramatic af and I am so fucking excited you guys, like holy shit. BnHA’s In-Between arcs have always been my favorite part of the series, because it’s when all the character development and angst and/or catharsis happens. just, those little breathing spaces in between the action when everyone gathers to recuperate and compartmentalize their fresh new traumas lmao. bring on that angst!! but also, let’s please have some Comfort to offset all of this Hurt too, please and thanks

blah blah blah so the survivors were evacuated, good good, can you actually show us though?

AHHHHHHH

PIXIE BOB SURVIVED!!!! WASH IS STILL ALIVE LMAO HOW. THIRTEEN’S FACE, OMG SHOULD I LOOK AWAY. IS IT LIKE MANDALORIAN RULES. IDK HOW IT WORKS

HOW THE FUCK ARE THEY ALIVE. LOLS ANYWAY I’M HERE FOR IT. FEEL FREE NOT TO KILL ANYONE ELSE HERE HORIKOSHI, I THINK WE’RE GOOD

(ETA: it’s like talking to a brick wall.)

oh my god do we really need exposition about how the heroes tried to stop TomurAFO from escaping and OF COURSE failed completely because they suck lmao. oh my god I am shocked, that is such shocking news

wow they only managed to defeat three of the Noumus. holy shit. again, all of the Not-Kid Heroes are only slightly more useful than cardboard cutouts of heroes at this point, MORE AT ELEVEN

so Tomura may have lost the PLF, but he still more or less has an army then, huh. I really don’t know how anyone could expect a timeskip with that threat looming over everyone’s heads

oh nvm lol there are only seven Noumus left. wait so you’re telling me there were only ten Nearly High Ends in that last chapter?? felt more like fifty but whatever lol I’ll take your word for it

COMPRESS YAY YOU’RE ALIVE TOO

MAYBE THEY CAN EVEN REATTACH HIS ASS. I’M SERIOUS LOL, BECAUSE HE STILL HAS IT, DOESN’T HE? OR IF NOT, THEY CAN REBUILD HIM WITH A PROSTHETIC ASS. he’ll be more powerful than ever

WHAAAAAAT YEAH BOIIIII

WOOO, EDGESHOT, WOOOOO. THAT’S HIS WAY OF THE NINJA

YEAHHHHH SUCK IT, PLF

(ETA: for the record I don’t think Cementoss is dead here, just badly wounded. if he had died he would have been included in the forthcoming In Memoriam page along with the others.)

GET BENT LOL. TRUMPET I FOR REAL FORGOT YOU EVEN EXISTED. I NEVER WANT TO SEE ANY OF YOU LOSERS AGAIN PLEASE. ONLY INTERESTING CHARACTERS MAY PROCEED PAST THIS POINT

dsflksaldkh;l

that’s... holy shit. that’s a bigass mansion, that’s what that is. also so does this mean there are still eighty thousand PLF members still at large, because that’s a plot line I very much do not care about in any way whatsoever lol. can’t we just retcon to say that Re-Destro was exaggerating? I mean hell, a CEO criminal pulling some Enron-type bullshit is pretty believable, isn’t it? those poor bamboozled shareholders

“makeste, here’s an idea, what if you scrolled down to read the rest of the page” lol gtfo of here with your logic and your sense

well those 132 people have made it onto my enemies list, but at least it sounds like they more or less took care of the rest. good riddance

and Toga escaped, as we knew already, and is now on the lam. hopefully she reunites with the League again at some point. although her doing her own thing could also be very interesting. idk what I want lol

anyway so there’s another big panel showing how fucked up the city is, just in case it hadn’t already been hammered into our skulls yet. there’s a car dangling off a roof somehow. how does that even happen. did Machia pick it up and put it there or

NOOO OMG RANDOM SMALL CHILDREN IN PERIL WHAT IS THIS

OCHAKO PLEASE SAVE THEM OMG

“if it falls on me, I want you to have my Endeavor pouch” OH MY STARS. HIS MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSION. NO MY CHILD YOU CAN’T GIVE UP HOPE YET

LMAO

“FOR THE LAST TIME NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR DUSTY-ASS POUCH, KYLE” fffff these children are dying and I am cracking up so hard my eyes are tearing up what is wrong with me

YAY THEY SAVED THEM

but listen. not that I don’t love seeing the girls kick ass, because you know I do. but I also really, REALLY need to know what’s going down with the Musketeers, and I’m not looking forward to waiting three whole weeks for that so please Horikoshi. please hurry this along so we can get to them

goddamn it Tsuyu is saying she’ll take the boy to the shelter to get first aid, and I was all “okay great because that’s probably where Kacchan and the others are too”, but now someone else is shouting for help and Ochako’s all “I’ll go” and it’s like OKAY BUT PLEASE? this chapter is already more than half over omfg. ‘bout to start wringing some hands here

oh my god

is this Toga again??? WHAT THE HELL, THIS CREEPYASS HALF-DEAD DUDE BETTER BE LEADING UP TO SOMETHING INTERESTING, I AM REALLY GETTING IMPATIENT

OR, I GUESS, WE COULD DO THIS INSTEAD

“SO AS IT TURNS OUT, NOT EVERY CHARACTER WHO NEEDS HELP SAVING THEIR SPOUSE FROM FALLEN RUBBLE IS ACTUALLY TOGA IN DISGUISE” HUH, OKAY. DULY NOTED. FILED AWAY FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

but fucking... okay, look. I love Ochako, I do. but I like her a whole lot more when she’s interacting with other characters I actually care about, as opposed to running around in the rubble rescuing random people while the fate of my other children is still up in the air. like okay, I get it, shit’s bad, now if you don’t mind we really don’t have to spend all day here though

...anyways but nope, we’re still staying with her. she’s bouncing around rescuing all of these other people. omg. I literally have no patience here at all and it’s terrible, I know, but oh my god

omg finally something interesting is happening!!

look at that, an adult hero standing around being useless while the kids are busy getting shit done. why is this becoming a recurring theme

MY DUDE, THIS IS SERIOUSLY NOT THE TIME THOUGH

I GET THAT IT’S OVERWHELMING AND THAT YOU’RE TRAUMATIZED AND SHIT, BUT GUESS WHAT, SO IS EVERYONE ELSE. THAT’S WHAT YOU SIGNED UP FOR. JUST LOOK AT OCHAKO! SHE’S SO EXHAUSTED HER HAIR HAS EVEN LOST ITS FLOOF, AND YET SHE’S STILL OUT HERE DOING HER BEST. ONE SAVE AT A TIME MY MAN. GET IT DONE. LITERALLY A SMALL CHILD IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT CALLING FOR THEIR MOMMY AND YOU’RE JUST STANDING THERE ALL “WAHH IT’S TOO MUCH” LIKE COULD YOU PLEASE POSTPONE YOUR CRISIS UNTIL AFTER YOU SAVE THEM PLEASE

OH MY GOD

MAYBE YOU SHOULD!! oh my god I really cannot, like wow. oh no I actually have to save people and do my job, god forbid. jesus christ, at least the other heroes tried. but Moping Hero: Bellyache here is just throwing in the towel and fuck everyone who still needs his help I guess. you are like the anti-Deku my dude

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD NO OH FUCK

THAT’S MIDNIGHT’S HAND OH FU -- SHE BETTER NOT -- HORIKOSHI I SWEAR TO GOD --

I’M GONNA LOSE IT I REALLY AM!!!!

HOLY SHIT HOW INTENSE OF A RAGE DO I NEED TO BRACE MYSELF TO BE FEELING HERE. THIS CHAPTER WAS ALREADY TRENDING TOWARDS DISAPPOINTMENT, DO WE REALLY NEED TO GO AND COMPOUND THAT

WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON

you’re telling me Tomura wasn’t brought back by that electric shock, but by his “fuck you” attitude? why are you explaining this to us now, again??

......

HEY, SO UM, FUCK ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS, THOUGH. (: OH MAN. OHHHHHH MAN. I HAVE... I HAVE GOT A LOT OF WORDS FOR THIS AND HERE ARE SOME OF THEM

FUCK

THINGS THAT SHOULD BE IN THE DICTIONARY NEXT TO “SOME BULLSHIT”: THIS

FUCK

GET FUCKED HORIKOSHI

AND ALSO PLEASE FUCK RIGHT OFF!!

AND SERIOUSLY THOUGH FUCK YOU

NO BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THOUGH!! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED OFF ANYONE. LITERALLY ANY CHARACTER. YOU HAD TWELVE FEMALE PROS. TWELVE. YOU COULD HAVE MADE MORE OF THEM. PROBABLY, IF THERE ACTUALLY WERE SUPERHEROES IN REAL LIFE, THERE WOULD BE MORE THAN TWELVE OF THEM IN AN ENTIRE NATION. BUT NO, YOU WERE ALL “TWELVE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH.” AND THEN WHEN IT CAME TIME TO KILL PEOPLE OFF, YOU WERE ALL “WELL ALL RIGHT THEN, LET’S SEE, I PICK... THESE 18 RANDOM SIDE CHARACTERS WITH LITTLE TO NO DIALOGUE, PLUS THE ONE SINGLE FEMALE U.A. STAFF MEMBER WE ACTUALLY HAD. YEAH THAT OUGHTA DO IT”

AND BY THE WAY, HORIKOSHI, I PICKED SOMETHING UP FOR YOU ON MY WAY HOME, HERE IT IS, ┌П┐(・＿・) do you like it it was on sale. I saw it and was like, “Horikoshi would really like that.” so there you go. sorry it wasn’t gift-wrapped

p.s. I hope y’all can tell that that’s supposed to be a middle finger and not... something else lmao. er. anyway

(ETA: so I got a few asks from people who were really put off by this part of the reaction post, and so I’m just adding an extra note here to make it clear that I do not actually wish harm on Horikoshi in any way or even particularly dislike him. I wasn’t happy about Midnight’s death and I wanted to convey that, and so I went with my usual LOUD CAPSLOCK REACTION tone, but looking back on it I can see that it’s kind of a lot, lol. 

so just to be clear, the “fuck you” stuff is almost entirely tongue-in-cheek. that’s on me, I forget sometimes that there are people who share these sentiments unironically and so I didn’t think to make sure my intended meaning here was clear. anyways, killing Midnight was still a really problematic decision for numerous reasons but it is what it is. Horikoshi is not perfect, the story isn’t perfect, and I’m not gonna pretend like it is, but again just to be clear, I don’t harbor any actual ill will toward Horikoshi here.)

shit. and wow this man really went and killed off fucking Mystic too on top of that. have you ever seen a character fail so spectacularly at living up to their hype. r.i.p. Mystic you were like the Star Wars sequel of characters

(ETA: I have no fucking idea why I keep thinking Majestic’s name is Mystic lol. rest in peace you old scarecrowy bastard.)

and poor Momo, though. fuck. lost two mentors in a single day. and do not even get me started on Aizawa holy shit

so now we’re cutting to some random townspeople who are gossiping about the Todoroki drama. this is actually interesting in spite of my newfound determination to hate this chapter lol

ngl I am kind of heartened to see that not everyone fell for Dabi’s bs hook line and sinker though. Jeanist returning from the dead literally two seconds after Dabi was all “I SWEAR ON MY HONOR AS A VILLAIN THAT HAWKS MURDERED HIM” probably helped with that a bit! but there will doubtless be many other people who do believe him, or are at least still inclined to side-eye the heroes in general either way given how much they sucked in this arc. very, very interesting

so it seems though that even more than the whole Endeavor reveal, at the end of the day it’s going to be the heroes failing to live up to their end of the “put your faith in us and let us use our quirks and in return we’ll protect everyone and keep them safe” implied social contract that’s going to have the biggest impact on people’s opinions moving forward. basically this was always going to be a disaster no matter what

OH MY GOD FINALLY AHHHHH

Horikoshi really tapped into some of the real-life political energy of the past few years huh. Fuck Him Still for killing off Midnight, but I will admit that so far this is hella intriguing and I am really, really curious to see where things go from here

OH MY GOD THE LITTLE KIDS FROM THE BABYSITTING ARC

“FIVE PEEPEE MAN WOULDN’T LIE TO US” YES CHILDREN YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. at least the little ones still have faith

UM

 ( •̀ へ •́  )

that’s great. that’s really keen. all we need right now, amirite

GOOD FOR YOU, YOU PIECE OF SHIT

let’s just wait for him to explain what he feels. you know he likes to drag it out

is that Dabi crouched down there next to Spinner? looks like they got him out of the marble after all. but why has his hair changed colors again lol what

anyways. your turn to what??

:’) excuse me what

hahahaha are you fucking kidding me. and that’s where we’re going to end the chapter then. lol okay

so let’s recap. Midnight died. we spent ten hours watching Ochako dig people out of rubble for no apparent reason and were then introduced to my new least favorite character, and because Ochako is so nice she didn’t even punch him in the face even though she really should have. we did not get any Kacchan or Shouto. we got one panel of Deku, who is Finally Asleep. and the chapter ended with AFO ordering his Noumus to go set free, AND I QUOTE, HIS “MAIN BODY.” and now I gotta wait an entire week for Caleb’s translation to confirm that last part. omg

but it sounds like a prison break is imminent, which is very, very interesting. ...and actually, is it weird that I’m actually rooting for it to be a success? I have no idea what this guy is planning, but I do know that as long as the main part of his soul is still residing in Tomura’s body, Tomura’s chance of surviving the series is close to zero. and villain though he may be, I’m still rooting for his redemption (nice to have Deku on my side now too), and so yeah. so like if AFO feels like using some latent Exorcism Quirk or something that he’s been saving for just such an occasion, be my guest lol

meanwhile this doesn’t bode well for All Might though. or anyone else aside from Tomura, really. shiiiit

anyway. [slaps roof of chapter] this baby can fit so much bullshit in it

[spookysmujer]

Amor Prohibido, O. Diaz

Summary: Oscar Diaz use to get a kick out of making fun about you back in high school, but what is he like all these years later and after serving time in prison?

warnings: teasing, teenager!Spooky, cute s h e t 😚

word count: 1.5K

anonymously requested!

A/N: Me and @youare-mysonshine​ always bounce ideas off each other about teenage Oscar so getting this request made me do a little happy dance. Thank you for requesting, anon! I am loving all the requests I am getting! Please consider: following my blog, heart/comment/reblog my content as well as turning on the notifs for when I post new content!

(Gif belongs to @leelakoiwolff​ 💫)

There are many things in your life that you want to forget and one of them is high school. You weren’t a lone wolf or some kind of loser, not at all. But to a certain to someone you were a easy target to mess around with, the one and only, Oscar “Spooky” Diaz.

Whenever he got the chance to make fun of you, he did. And by some sick twist of fate, you had majority of your class with him during senior year. It’s like it fueled him, the teasing. As you jog pass Freeridge high as a part of your daily exercise, the memories flood you.

It’s finals week and all you can think of is finishing these exams so you can stop the constant stressing and excessive studying. As you swap out textbooks for your AP Chemistry class in your locker, you hear someone clear their throat from behind you, though it’s no question to who it is.

Without even turning to look, “To what do I own the pleasure this time?”

“Just wondering how the weather is down there? I know it’s sunny up here, but what about down there, hm?” Oscar leans against the lockers besides you and give you his famous smirk. 

You roll your eyes and give your best fake smile, turning your head you look at him, “Do you ever think of anything new to say or are the four brain cells up there all juiced out from the coke you snort in the bathroom during study hall?”

Oscar stares at you and pushes himself off the locker, walking away without another word. You look over shoulder and see him exit the school. A scoff comes out of your mouth as you roll your eyes. It’s a cat and mouse game with him, most of the time he is the one chasing but there are a few occasions where you get to be the mighty feline.

When your fit bit vibrates to alert you that you’ve reached you goal, you come to an abrupt stop. Hunching over with your hands on your knees trying to catch your breath. A few students walk past you, laughing away and in a heavy conversation about the homecoming dance.

You start to walk back to your place, remembering the night of your homecoming dance, senior year.

“Wow, it wears dresses. I wasn’t sure that you knew how to be a full functioning girl. I mean, considering no one’s tapped that yet, sad really.” Oscar’s voice sounds from beside you as sat at your designated table to take a break from dancing.

He pulls a chair out and flips it around so his chest is leaning against the back rest. You look over and nearly spit out your drink, “What the hell happened to you? Oh are you... oh no, are you sick? Are you dying? Jesus really is coming back.”

Oscar laughs and runs his hand over his now shaved head. He looks completely different than he did yesterday in AP Bio. You continue to sip on your punch, he reaches over and pours what smells like vodka into your cup from a metal flask. “What the fuck, seriously?” 

“What? Maybe it’ll loosen you up. Always got a fuckin’ stick up your ass. Ay, maybe then someone will wanna blow your back out tonight, I mean trust me we ain’t got much standards. Not a single fuck given about your new straight hair you went and spent all that money you don’t got.” He ruffles with you hair, you swat his hand away and he laughs, getting up to leave. “Could never be me though.”

Once you get on your street you mentally damn yourself for thinking of those days. It use to take a lot out of you to stand up to Oscar. Those days far behind you for a reason. You make your way up the driveway and stop in your trek, it couldn’t be. 

The shiny exterior of cherry red shines back at you. You’re staring at it making sure it’s not your mind playing tricks on you. Oscar’s car is parked in your driveway. Right?

“As I live and breath. Sup, Y/N.” Your thoughts are disturbed as you hear his voice sound, he stands on your porch, leaning aside the post. He looks the same but a little different as well. Sporting some ink on his face and neck. 

You look around and hope when you turn back it’ll be just a hallucination or something. But as God permits, there he is. His physique definitely changed, his biceps bulging a lot more than the last time you saw him.

“Uh, hey, Oscar.” He smiles and licks his lips, stepping down and walking to stand in front of you. Well one things for sure, he still towers over you. He looks down at you and chuckles, taking his hand ontop your head and measuring it to his chest.

A snicker erupts from him as you push him back, trying to hide your smile, “Still the fucking same I see. Shame, all these years and you still haven’t grown up. Where’ve you been anyways?”

“Corcoran. Got out this morning.” He tells you as he walks over to his car to lean against. You wait it out a few secods before he nods his head for you to join him.

“Shoulda known you’d end up in Prison. Kill someone?”

He shoves his hands in his pockets and shrugs, “Drug possession, but ain’t no surprise I was slinging then. I got this while I was inside, ran the whole operation.”

“Yeah, well a part of me isn’t surprised you ended up there and the other part is surprised.” He looks over at you with a quirked eyebrow, “You’re smart, Diaz. You think people didn’t know but we all knew. Just no one questioned you since you hung around the gang, then you joined it. Or how is it? Jumped in?”

He nods his head in agreement with a smirk on his face, you study him for a moment before moving your gaze to in front of you when he looks at you, “Sad you didn’t take the college route. Could’ve been a head chef at some fancy restaurant I bet. My little brother would hang with Cesar. He’d tell me that you’d make such a bomb grilled cheese that he’d refuse anything I’d make. Said you really had knack for being in the kitchen.”

It felt strange to be sitting and talking to Oscar like normal people would. He would tease you any chance he got til the end of summer when you up and left for college in Arizona. Suppose prison truly does change people.

“Yeah, well at the time college wasn’t going to take care of my brother so sacrifices had to be made. Just how life goes.” He sniffs and pulls a cigarette from behind hid ear. You snatch it from him and break it with you heel. “You may have survived prison, but I promise you this will kill you, dummy.”

Oscar wouldn’t normally stand for people acting that way with him.

“What? Not gonna call me names and remind me I’m the most unattractive girl ever?” You turn to him and he turns his body towards yours. He peers down to your lips and brings his hand up to your chin.

You’re confused with what’s happening right now. Oscar not retorting with a comeback and nearly pressed against you, “Never said you unattractive once in my life. Actually thought the opposite since 7th grade.”

“What? You thought I was attractive since we were 13 years old?” Oscar nods and drops his hand from your face.You scoff and step back, walking a few feet away from him. 

He clears his throat, feeling like everything is caving in. He digs for his keys from his pockets. The sounds catches your attention and you turn back, “Wait. I’m just trying to process it all. If you thought I was cute or something, why didn’t you ever tell me? All you would do is tease me and always annoy me.”

Oscar stops fiddling with his keys and steps closer to you, cocking his head to the side, a smile cracking from his serious face, “You never heard that when a guy likes you he is mean to you?”

You roll your eyes and smack his head, “For someone who is smart, that was really stupid to think. I mean.. I would say mean things to you too and you kept comin-... oh. Ooooh, I see it now. Fuck, uh.” 

He sees your calming up with the realization, “Let me take you out.”

“Oh, okay. Um, what are you doing tonight?” You ask him, feeling your heart racing.

“Got some shit to handle tonight, but I’m free right now.” 

Before you can say anything, he dips down and pulls you over his shoulder, you squeal and protest for him to put you down. He only laughs carrying you into your place. 

So by some weird twist of fate, high school wasn’t the worst after all.

[forasecondtherewedwon]

Never a Gull Moment

Fandom: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Pairing: Sam Wilson/Bucky Barnes Rating: T Word Count: 3523

For @yavannie, who wanted Sam to either gain new powers or carry Bucky through the air. Spoiler, I went with both. Hope you enjoy!

Summary: Sam’s had an intense first week as Captain America. The perfect opportunity for a break arises when Joaquín contacts him, offering new programming for his suit. All he needs to test the tech are the beach, birds, and one uncooperative bonehead Sam didn’t manage to leave behind in New York.

If there’s one skill Sam’s hoping to adopt from his predecessor—Steve, not Walker (sweet Jesus, not Walker)—it’s the ability to end a conversation with a humble handwave before it can even begin. Steve always had that in the bag. Leading with the wrist in a flick of the hand that came across as both sheepish and respectful. Like he’d love to stop and talk with that fan or this journalist but he was just too busy. And not rude busy, busy with a quiet nobility. Anyway, it all came across in the wave.

Sam hasn’t nailed the wave.

Four days after the GRC vote-that-wasn’t, he’s still in New York, bouncing between TV appearances; everybody wants a piece of the new Cap. Sam wishes they asked a little more about his opinions on compassion for the displaced, as well as those who survived the Snap to form new, functional communities, and less about the look of his new suit, but isn’t it always a battle between style and substance? At least people are listening. To everything except the look Sam knows he has in his eyes, the one that says this debut has been a lot and he’s longing for home.

He knows he has to nail this aspect of being Captain America too. Unfortunately, chuckling amiably with morning show hosts isn’t doing a hell of a lot to distract him from what it took to get him here. There are seconds where his attention wavers—he’ll be nodding along to whatever someone’s saying, or letting his gaze follow a bike courier down the street instead of staying trained on the camera the roving reporter has set up on the sidewalk—and that’s when Karli hurtles into his mind. He feels her desperate blows vibrating the shield, the weight of her body in his arms, in her death.

He can’t keep sitting behind desks or posing impressively and trying to answer the hard questions (on the rare occasion they’re asked) after he’s told people he’s not the expert. When Torres calls up, it’s the close-enough-to-official reason Sam’s been waiting for to step back and do something that actually feels useful.

Bucky, who’s been skulking behind the scenes, somehow never pulled into interviews (if he knows the deferring wave and he’s been doing it just outside Sam’s sightline all week, Sam’s gonna kill him), sticks with him. They head south to meet Torres, and at least that feels like the right direction. Homeward bound. Of course, they stop a handful of states before Louisiana and hug the east coast, but it’s an improvement. They meet Torres at… the beach.

He’s got his foot propped in the open doorframe of a Humvee, giving Sam and Bucky a big, eager, whole-arm wave as they pull up. Not like they’re gonna miss him; Torres is in the only vehicle parked halfway down an unpaved road. Sand dunes climb steep and high just feet from his front bumper, an informal path cutting between the dunes and leading to the water, though Sam can’t see that from this vantage.

Torres’s hand is somehow already grasping Sam’s in a pumping, congratulatory shake before he’s fully out of the car. Sam hears Bucky’s soft snort of suppressed laughter and shoots him a look across the seats. Bucky raises his palms, but Sam spots his smirk before they’re both slamming their doors and stretching their legs after the drive.

“Traffic?” Torres asks brightly.

“Nah,” Bucky answers, coming around the back of their ride. “Sam just drives slower than my grandmother and she—”

“Died on the Titanic?” Sam guesses dryly.

Bucky’s flat stare could be saying a lot of things, or nothing. Sam feels as if he’s been a student of the language of Bucky’s stare for a while now, but his comprehension is still rudimentary. Pop that asshole in a sanctuary for rehabilitated brain-washees, have somebody study his behaviour like Jane Goodall studies chimpanzees, and they might get some answers. The idea starts as something funny Sam almost shares, but then he imagines handfeeding Bucky a banana and it gets weird. He keeps his mouth shut.

“Or she got the cryo treatment too and she’s kickin’ around someplace, speakin’ Russian and makin’ headshots.”

“Come on, man, Hydra jokes about your own grandmother?” Sam scoffs. “That’s not even a little bit funny.”

Torres’s expression is like a kid watching a wrestling match on TV—awed, alarmed, reluctant to question what’s real because he’s just enjoying the show.

Bucky cracks a slow smile and Sam rolls his eyes, slapping Torres’s shoulder to get him to head towards the Humvee and the reason they’re here.

“Nana woulda thought it was funny,” Bucky assures them.

“Nana?”

“Lemme guess… You called your aunt ‘TT,’ so your grandmother’s probably… ‘GG,’ am I right?”

Sam glares at him (because his guess is correct and he’s a pain in the ass) and turns fully to Torres as he opens the back, revealing a large case.

“You were vague on the phone,” Sam recalls, watching Torres tug the case close before undoing the clasps. Bucky leans against the vehicle as he observes, dark pants picking up a swipe of road dust from the dirty taillight. “Something about an update for the suit?”

“Right,” Torres agrees.

He throws the case open to reveal the wings Sam gifted him. They’ve been repaired and Sam automatically strokes a hand over the gleaming, extended metal. If Torres did this himself, he sure worked fast.

“That duffle bag wasn’t good enough for you?” Sam asks jokingly, remembering his gear broken and jumbled, fit to be dragged out with the trash.

“They’re kind my prized possession,” Torres admits. “I thought they deserved to be kept nice.”

“You might even wanna put ’em on sometime.”

“I’m working up to that.” Torres laughs. “I wanted to make sure they were in working order before I jumped off a building.”

“Or out of the back of a plane without a parachute, right, Buck?” Sam asks, smacking the back of his hand into Bucky’s chest.

“I was fine,” Bucky insists.

“Sure you were. We can watch the footage again. I’m up for that.”

“Just let the man finish.”

Torres grants Bucky a wide smile in thanks.

“Yeah,” he picks up, “so I was fixing them, working on the wiring, and when I got the electronics running smoothly again, I started thinking about Redwing—”

“May he rest in pieces,” Bucky contributes.

“Uncalled for,” Sam complains.

“I replaced it, didn’t I?”

“The Wakandans replaced it.”

“As a favour to me.”

Torres’s gaze dances between them until Sam motions for him to continue.

“About Redwing,” Torres goes on enthusiastically. “The sophistication of the relationship between you, how intuitive the tech was. How Redwing understood not just simply-stated commands, but a more conversational approach, interpreting your intentions.”

“Finally, a little Redwing appreciation,” Sam says. He crosses his arms and gives Bucky a meaningful look.

“But what if it was a real bird?” Torres blurts.

Most of a minute passes as Sam stares at Torres’s excited expression.

“I think I might get where Torres is going with this,” Bucky says.

Sam holds up a hand to pause him. He could make a guess at it too, but there’s no need for that. They have the source of whatever alterations have been made right here.

“In your own words, Joaquín,” Sam encourages.

“Well,” he begins, one palm braced in the bed of the Humvee as he leans over the case with unconscious protectiveness, “you know I’ve kinda been itching to get my hands on the wings for a long time.”

“Yeah.” Sam laughs, remembering having to practically slap Torres’s hands away from the jetpack in Tunisia.

“Since you gave them to me a couple weeks ago, I’ve been tinkering, like I said, and I had this idea. Now,” he warns, raising both hands in caution, “this might be either really obvious or really disrespectful to the whole concept of the Falcon, but I started wondering if it’d be possible for the person wearing the wings to talk to nearby birds. Use them like a resource, like with Redwing.”

“Black Panther dresses like a cat with Vibranium claws.”

“Spider-Man has webs,” Bucky adds.

“Right,” Sam agrees, nodding to him before looking back to Torres. “I don’t think it’s disrespectful to lean into the gimmick if it’s amplifying your abilities.”

“Awesome,” Torres pronounces.

“I assume you went further than just wondering about it?”

Torres gives them a modest shrug.

“I know a guy who knows an ornithologist.”

“Bird scientist,” Bucky translates.

Turning his head, Sam glances at Bucky with a no shit look.

“Thanks,” he says insincerely.

“You’re welcome.”

“Long story short,” Torres pipes up, “she got me access to a catalogue of bird calls and the scientific consensus on what they all mean. I patched that info into the suit and, hopefully, it’s something that could be used, uh, on the fly. Sorry, I was trying to think of another way to say that.”

“So my suit would be able to communicate with birds?” Sam checks. “Automatically?”

“Yeah, it would assess your surroundings the same way Redwing does already, but scanning for birds, identifying what kind they are, and having the interpretation of their calls at the ready if needed.”

“What sort of information would I be gaining with this tech?”

“Stuff like… are they feeling threatened or disturbed? Does something feel off about their environment that has something to do with somebody you’re maybe chasing?”

“Mating rituals,” Bucky says.

“How is being able to recognize mating rituals going to help me?” Sam demands.

“You never know.”

“You brought your suit, right?” Torres wants to know. Apparently, he’s not going to bother engaging with Bucky’s nonsense. “It won’t take long for me to install the new software.”

“It’s in the back,” Sam assures him, jerking a thumb towards the other vehicle.

“Great!”

“But just the bird calls. This suit is brand new. No tinkering.”

“No tinkering,” Torres swears.

He sets up his impromptu workshop in the back seat, next to the suit. Sam has to admit to himself that Torres’s reverential expression as he handles the Captain America suit is pretty flattering. He watches the progress until Torres sits back, stating it’ll just be a few minutes for the new programming to be assimilated.

“Why the beach?” Sam asks while they wait.

“I was inspired by some shaky, far-away footage of you in New York. You did, uh, kind of a nosedive into the river there, so I thought maybe you’d be interested in testing your suit’s maneuverability in water at the same time as we did a trial with the bird calls.”

“Are we running a drill or something?” Bucky wonders.

“That’s a good idea,” Torres says immediately. “A scenario to use both the calls and the water.”

“You got something in mind?”

Sam isn’t the one who asks because he can see from Torres’s face that he does. Fortunately, he is the one who gets to laugh when the Lieutenant squints consideringly at Bucky and asks, “How long can you hold your breath?”

—

The last Sam sees of Bucky, he’s taking off his shirt.

“Oh, entire jacket this time?” Torres asked when Bucky took that off first.

After that, it was his shoes and socks, then his t-shirt, and this whole Bucky stripping thing isn’t so much a last look as something that Sam has to stand there witnessing for a while. He’s already in the Cap suit and, seriously, Bucky could’ve changed at the same time. Then, he would’ve been ready to go without making Sam and Torres wait around. But Sam wouldn’t have gotten to see him undress.

“Hurry it up, man.” His voice is a little off because, at the same time, he’s thinking, Please don’t take your pants off.

“If you’re making me play a drowning victim, I can at least not be getting weighed down,” Bucky argues. “This is to help you, right? Quit complaining.”

Finally, he stalks away, mounting the dune in black jeans and a half-assed scowl and disappearing over the top. The plan is for him to swim out, then duck under the water when Torres tells him to (the guy’s brought along waterproof earpieces for the purpose). Next, Sam will fly up and search for the ‘victim,’ relying solely on input from the seagulls wheeling lazily overhead. It’s a good exercise Torres has cooked up.

Sam hands the shield off to Torres for safekeeping before the Lieutenant heads to the beach. The shield won’t be necessary for this and there’s no way in hell Sam’s leaving it in the car. Besides, it’s kinda funny how wide Torres’s eyes go when Sam offers it up. Even bigger reaction than leaving him the wings, though this he doesn’t get to keep.

“On my signal,” Torres restates.

Sam gives him a sharp nod.

Once he’s alone, he paces between the vehicles, eager to kick off the ground. He hasn’t had an opportunity to just enjoy himself in the new suit yet. Leading up to the confrontation with the Flag-Smashers (and Georges Batroc, that fists-of-steel bastard), he was in training mode, focused and determined. In the media-heavy days that followed, he conceded to a few stunts for the camera. Those hadn’t been purely fun though; they were actually something Sam had to think quick and hard about, ultimately deciding that it wasn’t just performing on command but rather giving the public a lighthearted look at their new Captain America. Testing new tech with Bucky, Torres, and a bunch of seagulls? That seems like it’ll actually be a good time.

The instant Torres’s voice in Sam’s ear says, “Bucky’s under,” he unfurls the wings and sails up over the crest of the dune.

It’s not the warmest day and the greenish-blue water’s choppy near the shore, but there is a surprising smattering of people along a quarter mile of beach. Must be locals, Sam guesses, trekking down to the water from nearby houses. That would explain the lack of other cars where he parked. The people aren’t that close or that bothered by his sudden appearance overhead. Startled, sure, but after they’ve identified him (he sees a few hands lifted to foreheads to block out the sun so they can get a good look), he gets to return a couple big waves. Besides that, nobody’s getting to their feet to pound sand and swarm Torres, who’s conspicuously there with Sam—he is holding the shield, after all. Pretty typical. The bigger the crowd, the greater the chance of people scrambling for his attention and/or whipping out their phones to film him. This group seems satisfied with watching Captain America hanging out at their beach on his downtime and Sam appreciates them for that.

“No scanning the water,” Torres says in his ear. Sam laughs.

“I’m not, just assessing our audience here.”

“Is this a bad spot? I didn’t think anybody’d be around when I sent you my location, but—”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry. Did anybody ask you what was up when Bucky waded out into the water?”

“Nah. If they were wondering, they probably aren’t anymore.”

“Glad I won’t have to compete with a lifeguard to rescue him,” Sam jokes.

He hears Torres’s short laugh of agreement before focusing. Not on the water at all, but the birds. Those down on the sand are squawking for food, comfortable enough with these people to complain loudly in the hopes of being fed.

Sam’s sudden swoops scatter the gulls in the air, so he tries easier circles, mimicking their movements to hover high above the beach. Soon enough—these guys either have bad short-term memories or no patience—they start communicating with each other. The new programming Torres has uploaded to his suit signals to Sam that the birds are aware of a disturbance in the water. He gets a target on his goggles’ imaging and dives.

Sucking in a deep breath, Sam crashes into the murky water no more than a hundred yards out. The drop-off is dramatic enough for him to not complete a faceplant into a shallow bottom. Bucky’s treading water a couple body-lengths down, but he wrecks his form to offer Sam a raised middle finger in greeting. Sam’s wings retract as he grabs Bucky’s wrist to haul him to the surface.

They breathe, bobbing in place.

“Thought you’d be faster,” Bucky says.

“You didn’t drown, did you?” Sam points out. “Come on.”

He catches hold of Bucky’s hand and shoots out of the water, wings opening in the air to carry him once the thruster’s done its work. But Bucky squirms below him, their wet grip twisting precariously. Water runs from his sopping jeans.

“What the hell are you doing?” Sam asks.

“I don’t want to be carried to shore!”

“Why?”

“Because dangling this high above the ground feels a little weird to me! Not all of us do this every day!”

“I guess we could run the exercise again.”

“Fine. Let’s do that. Just drop me.”

Sam rewards Bucky’s melodrama by abruptly releasing his grip. Hey, that’s what the idiot asked for, and if he can fall out of a plane to the forest floor, he can plunge into water. It’s not like Sam’s up at aircraft cruising altitude, just high enough to make Torres look like a little action figure army man, standing on the sand in his fatigues.

“Running it again?” Torres wants to know.

“Yep,” Sam tells him, accelerating away from the shore. “Just giving that dumbass time to swim to a new spot.”

“Even though he can’t reply while he’s underwater… you know he can hear you in the comms, right?”

“Oh yeah.”

When Torres lets him know that Bucky’s gone under a second time, they start the drill again. Once more, Sam does a gliding approach to the seagulls. Once more, they go quiet before filling the air with their screaming, overlapping calls. Once more, Sam finds Bucky. He knows he’s quicker this time, so he’s expecting an acknowledgement of that when he contracts the wings, straightens his body, and plummets into the water feetfirst next to where Bucky’s floating below the surface.

Instead of an appreciative nod, an outstretched hand, or even a thumbs up, Bucky darts away from him. Is he trying not to get rescued? Now he’s just fucking up the exercise. Only, Sam can’t even berate him, because he’s still under too, holding his breath as he swims after Bucky. He uses the jetpack for assistance, but Bucky’s a fast swimmer, legs kicking just ahead of Sam. Goddamn human shark.

Because he is not an idiot, Sam surfaces to catch his breath, leaving Bucky somewhere below.

“There a problem?” Torres asks.

“Only with Bucky’s idea of teamwork.”

“Get him like a bird would!”

“Is that a real suggestion?” Sam asks, rising and falling as a small wave swells under him, rolling towards the shore.

“Really, Sam! You know, like how birds hunt fish.” Back on the beach, he makes a sharp, downward gesture with his arm that has Sam chuckling. He gets what Torres means though.

“Alright.”

Sam goes from water to air, then, alerted by a trio of seagulls taking annoyed flight from the surface of the water, goes into a steep dive. Nabbing the swimmer from above is the trick, he learns, when the swimmer is being intentionally uncooperative with the rescue attempt. Bucky might be quick when he knows Sam’s behind him, but when he drops down on him, there’s nowhere Bucky can go. Sam wraps his arms around Bucky’s bare chest from behind and lugs him up for air.

The first thing Bucky says is, “You took even longer that time.”

Frustrated, Sam splashes the back of his head, but when Bucky strokes his arms out, rotating to face him, he’s smiling.

“You messed it up,” Sam accuses. He rubs a hand across his goggles to smear the water droplets off.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t have fun.”

Sam narrows his eyes before a laugh bursts out of him. He can’t help it; it’s the pressure he’s been under, so much internal conflict, suddenly drawn out with the current. Yeah, Bucky was slightly uncooperative, but that’s nothing unusual. Swimming ahead like he was going for a gold medal or forcing Sam to plunge deep after him, the two of them suspended like the goddamn Shape of Water before Sam towed him to the surface—either way, Bucky definitely gave him distinct scenarios to work with. Sam can’t say he doesn’t feel more comfortable now that he’s had some practice. More comfortable with his wings in the water, with working with his feathered allies. With Bucky.

“Still don’t want a lift?” Sam checks.

Bucky’s expression hardens and Sam backs off with a laugh.

“See you on the shore,” Bucky states firmly.

“Alright. Get doggy-paddlin’, White Wolf.”

Sam feels Bucky’s hand shoot out to seize his ankle in retaliation as he launches out of the water, but he’s too slow. Sam’s wings fan wide as he flies up, up, up with the birds.

[biffhofosho]

Heeeeey

I am ready, (kinda) for the new chapter, I have cookies and a warm drink so let’s get to it.

Chapter 21

Sooo the morning after, I do hope it doesn’t make things awkward for them

Too bad Amber can’t afford to escape! Aside from killing the women he has kidnapped, he can very well go for the people closer to her and Eric already escaped once.

I totally understand Eric not wanting to talk. What was he supposed to say? Who would believe him? And I feel so bad for Lucas, he is really suffering too.

No! Amber what are going to do?

“It looked exactly as it did the day she’d called off their engagement”. OH GOD NO, this is SO painful! I am in physical pain right now!!! But on the other hand what other option was there? She cannot pretend her life is going back to normalcy again, even if in the end Kai is destroyed and the women are returned safe.

“If you're going to quit on me at least give me the dignity of my name” FUCK, this is very painful, friend. VERY

“Don't ever come back” THIS KILLED ME, just finish me off already

Ah, Hyungwon, of course he knows where to find her, and he knows she knows.

Amber is very hurt and bitter and she’s being very unkind to herself, I understand that kind of anger and I wish Hyungwon would be able to comfort her

His touch was a slow brand that left a sting of emptiness in its wake. JESUS

This is so poetic, your words are wonderful, I can feel everything and all. I don;t know if I will survive this emotions, their whole conversation on the water was so beautiful and painful and perfect

Maybe it’s better than admitting that I can’t live my life without you. YES, also FUCK

She wanted to know if he would save her, of course she did! That’s another thing. If they live together, are they just gonna wait till she is old and dies. Like, I don’t believe for a second they will transform her or that she will want that, I mean part of the appeal is that she is human, warm and perfect as Chae said

“Love me, too,” he begged. “Please.” I am gonna flip a table

Well this chapter was SO INTENSE, that I legit cried, it just got to me and touched every fibre of my being. You and your way with words!!!! This message is probably shorter than the others but it is because this chapter left me speechless. (it also has no typos cause I typed it on the computer and not on the phone, lol)

Well done, I can’t wait for the next instalment and now I have to watch something cute and funny before I combust.

toodles

I AM BEHIND. SORRY, FRIEND! Been writing A LOT, as you know. Planning to put out the latest chap of STS this week.

Writing the Lucas/Amber scene was tough. I went through many versions of it in my mind, but this is the one that rang the sharpest and truest, which is how I knew it was the right one. It's the only way. I hate making these guys so sad, but what's a girl to do. They have one day before who knows what happens?

The beach scene was ironically one of the first things I envisioned when this story started coalescing in my brain. Perhaps that's because Seaside is a place I've been to that left this kind of a mark on my soul. It's not like much of the more rugged coastline of Oregon, but that's probably why it struck me so much--the vastness of the Pacific there... As they say, "The Pacific has no memory." That's why this scene became so critically important.

I definitely leaned heavily on the poetic for this chapter, but it suits the mood and the honesty in it, especially considering what lies ahead.

As for Amber's future, as always, you have a good eye for that stuff. She definitely wouldn't want to be turned, nor would any of the brothers do that for her. I don't think she's thought about this at all yet though because she's only finally begun to accept what the brothers mean to her. I wonder what this could mean for them...

The "love me, too" line... *le sigh*

One of those things I don't remember writing, but it absolutely needed to be there.

I know, I know! It's a very chapter. Wish I could say it's the heaviest in the whole story. Might not end up that way... After all, Kai's waiting...

;)

Thanks as always for the review, friend! Sorry it took forever and a day to answer it!

[hedgebtch]

     the magicians sentence starters.      part i.

there are more important things.

it's always something with you, isn't it? it's always an emergency.

your ability to think that we have the slightest molecule of control over anything never ceases to amaze me.

well, i'm sure you're a hit at parties.

i'm still high.

i am the angel protecting your future. tighten your shit.

you can't run away hard enough, can you?

everybody medicates.

am i hallucinating?

if you were hallucinating, how would asking me help?

thank god that you're confused too!

don't you want students who make actual inquiry instead of just accepting like sheep?

this won't hurt a bit.

quit dicking around! do some goddamn magic!

playing with time is such difficult magic. you'll just make it worse.

magic is real. but you've gathered that, haven't you?

so... 'be a magician'? is that illegal, or..?

are you guys trying to take over the world, or...?

if you want to take over the world, we don't teach that, but... give it a go.

why do you have all that nerd-boy dragon porn shit anyway? are you twelve?

hmm. he's not that cute.

do not come by our house if you have anything important to do the next morning.

maybe he should be scared.

we all signed this waiver. i hope you read yours. it says 'spell work is not unlikely to murder you. and if so, oh well'.

so stay on the garden path, kid.

let's go find something magic to smoke.

it's good to be aware that the world is inherently unfair.

you go back out there to the great big boring world, and you'll never find your way back without us.

i need you to tell them they were wrong about me.

god, were you always this smug?

you have no idea how long it took me to find a spell that was real.

you're hurting yourself, and you're not okay.

they cut off my life.

you thought the school was the only place to track the gift?

it's going to kill you. do you understand?

i know you feel you finally belong, but that place isn't the point.

you feel right because you're starting toward your destiny. that's all.

seek real answers that will help you fight!

i really don't want to get kicked out.

i really don't want to be the guy who dies in the first ten minutes of the movie because he's like 'you know what? let's take out the ouija board. what could possibly go wrong?'

i'm obviously coming with you.

great, well. that makes me feel a whole less nervous.

there's no such thing as safe magic. you should know that.

might as well take a risk.

did you think that i came here because i just love magic so much?

i got that you guys need some extra hands or something.

let us know if shit gets exciting.

so what is this place exactly, besides a health hazard?

you ask a lot of questions.

i'm waiting for something interesting to happen.

now, it is so well stocked, it's like the end of the rainbow.

i know we're not supposed to fire off battle magic, but... i mean, come on.

we live in a world that is one world among many.

we do not know the exact nature of this entity, only that it is powerful and malevolent.

jesus, you didn't tell me you were dangerous.

we're stuck, and they're trying to kill us, so--

these people are not murderers. trust me.

there's a bad story every few years around here. i'm not sure that's avoidable.

it's amazing i survived as long as i did not knowing that i was a magician.

he died instantly and i ruined my favourite button-down.

funny little irony they don't tell you -- magic doesn't come from talent. it comes from pain.

so, do you know what it was, the thing that attacked you?

i thought you might be familiar with some pretty crazy shit, since your family...

i just want to be your friend, i guess.

jesus christ, they're gonna kill us. why did i sign up for this?

just let us out.

don't be stupid.

you have to find your way out.

look, if you can't get through this, you definitely can't deal with what it takes to do what we do.

we could not have screwed up that spell worse, and we can't take it back, and --

you should hate me right now.

honestly, growing up, the last thing i wanted to do was read fantasy.

i mean, look, we called something from another world. i don't know, can that really be a coincidence?

don't get caught.

i can't get kicked out.

you don't understand how mind-blowing that is!

i know i don't know you that well, but i know you're not the type to scare easy.

let's just say life wasn't exactly nonstop fun growing up.

why would you leave the only place with experts that might actually be able to help you with this?

if you're guilty, i'm guilty.

this is serious for some of us.

okay, you know what? i'm not interested in your personal issues.

come on, let's go before we freeze our tits off.

i found the most interesting thing buried in our woods.

i know they're your friends.

i can do nothing in this moment to stop the comet from crashing into earth, is there?

word travels fast when your life's over.

who would want to know that magic exists if there's nothing you can do about it... you know, if there's no one to teach you or help you?

you do not have to make me feel better, we -- really, we basically just met each other.

i bond fast. time is an illusion.

how about i find you and seduce you and so lift your spirits and life retains its spark for decades?

i need you to remind me that magic is real.

let's find a way out of this shit hole.

you piece of shit! you ratted me out!

who shot off that spell?!

scissors make a shitty screwdriver, by the way.

i'm done trying to prove myself to you.

you're smart. you're passionate. you question things.

you messed with my head!

how am i supposed to trust you?

why would you ever trust anyone?

i am willing to teach the right people everything i know... and i know a lot, because i have certain connections in certain places.

you want a drink?

hey, have you ever heard of karma? well, sometimes, it's instant.

you're a heartless bitch.

get me everything on this list, this week.

i kind of screwed that up.

you're a much better liar than i expected you to be.

you're not very remarkable.

you're so eager to belong, you even forget why you're here.

i've looked into that beast's eyes.

do you think you have a destiny?

i used to believe that crap too when i was young.

there is no destiny. no born heroes.

learn fast, by any means necessary.

relax, nobody's taking your mind today.

we'll make something of you yet.

don't hop back on the garden path like some little lemming, or i'll erase everything and start you over entirely, for your own good.

everything's connected. don't over-think it.

hope your bits are covered.

i knew he'd come, but i swear i didn't know so soon.

no one is ready. we need more time.

this is all my fault.

this is your problem that you should solve!

join the party, sad sack.

we're so drunk!

[doc-pickles]

i won’t hesitate (for you) chapter eight

Jo is happy, at least she feels like she is. When someone from her past shows up, will her and her daughter’s world ever go back to normal? Or will things change for good?

Hey friends... So it's been over a month.... I bet you guys thought this story was done... Honestly for a moment I did too and I was super bummed because I love this story so much. But stepping away from my writing and focusing on myself did the trick and I am now happy to report that I have the WHOLE ENTIRE rest of Hesitate planned out and I'm slowly (very slowly) chipping away at writing to make those plans a reality. Thanks to all of you for being so patient and for wanting me to continue this project!! You're the beeeeeest!! xoxo Nina

-

“Jo… Jo come back to bed, baby. Alarm doesn’t go off for ten minutes.”

Izzie stared down Alex’s still sleeping figure, watching him for a moment before continuing to walk around the room and get ready for the day. Every morning for the past week, Alex would always call out for Jo when Izzie got out of bed for work. She didn’t think he knew, but the words annoyed her more and more everyday.

“Babe, come back,” Alex groaned, rolling on to his stomach and reaching out for the side of the bed that Izzie had just left. “Jo… Jo…”

“I’m not Jo, Alex,” Izzie exclaimed in frustration, prompting Alex to fly up in bed and look from the empty side of the bed to Izzie. “I am not Jo! And I never will be and if that’s a problem for you, then you can run back to Seattle!”

“Izzie no… I’m sorry I,” Alex ran a hand through his hair and let out a groan. “I wanna stay here for the kids but I… I don’t think you and I are going to work out this time.”

“Why would it ever? You’re just the same pathetic man I left ten years ago,” Izzie threw a pillow towards Alex as she walked out of the bedroom. “I can’t believe you, Alex. Actually I can! You’re still not good enough for me.”

-

Deep breaths. In, out, in, out. Good, you can do this. Today will be a breeze.

Jo had found out about her pregnancy a month ago and every day since then had consisted of her trying to keep her breakfast down. Some days were better than others, but today might be the worst. She’d had to break out her elastic banded scrubs this morning because her regular scrubs wouldn’t pull up over her hips. The elastic was much more comfortable, but the thought of her body changing again had sent Jo into a fit of tears on the bathroom floor which resulted in her throwing up for almost 20 minutes.

“Karev! I’ve got an abdominal obstruction and I think we’re gonna need an emergency colostomy surgery,” Owen sidled up to Jo as the two walked into the ER, the older man sending Jo a grin. “But that’s up to you of course. Good luck!”

Jo grabbed the chart outside Trauma Room 2, entering the room with a forced smile. Her stomach had been flipping back and forth since she woke up this morning and she’d thrown up twice before she came into work. Apparently her baby was not happy to be residing in her uterus.

“Hi Mr. Little, I'm Doctor Karev and I’m gonna check you out real quick and we’ll see where to go from there,” Jo tried to put on a happy face as her stomach churned unpleasantly. She grabbed her stethoscope and began her routine check. “You said you’ve been having stomach pain, how long has that been going on for?”

“About three days,” the older man let out a groan as Jo began to palpate his abdomen. “Oh that’s not a pleasant feeling. A little softer dear or…”

Jo looked up as her patient fell silent, watching in abject horror as the man leaned forward and vomited across his lap. Moving as quickly as she could, Jo leapt back but was greeted with blowback across her chest and arms.

“Oh god,” Jo’s stomach flipped a final time before she turned to her left and emptied her stomach onto the floor of the ER. Jo felt as if the whole room was staring her down as she stood next to a pile of her own vomit. It was as if those dreams of going to school naked had come alive, a feeling of horror washing over Jo as she processed what had just happened.

“What the hell is happening,” Owen rushed over, looking from Jo to her patient, who was staring at her in shock. “Mr. Little, I’ll get you another doctor right away. And someone to help you clean up. Karev, follow me.”

Turning to follow Owen, Jo paused as the scent of vomit overwhelmed her senses once again. Stepping around Owen, Jo leaned over the closest trash bin and emptied her stomach again, a strangled cry leaving her as the acid burned her throat.

“You can go home,” Owen was standing behind Jo now, a gentle hand resting on her back as she stayed bent over. “We’ll survive without you. Go home, Jo.”

A heavy sigh left Jo as she nodded to Owen, standing up and heading upstairs for the attendings lounge. She hadn’t even been out of the house for an hour and she felt like the whole day was going down the drain.

Pressing a hand against the growing swell of her stomach, Jo silently begged the little life resting there to just calm down for the rest of the day. Her almost 12 week bump was harder to camouflage, but Jo knew that the closer she came to her second trimester the less her morning sickness would be an issue. She let out a heavy sigh, head popping up as the empty elevator chimed, signaling that it had arrived at its destination and was kicking Jo off into reality.

“I’m looking for Doctor Karev, it’s not a hard question to answer!”

Jo groaned as she turned a corner, not wanting to deal with anyone else today. Her job came first though, so she walked to the nurses station and put on a brave face.

“I’m Doctor Karev, what’s the issue,” Jo looked from the nurse to the woman standing in front of her, feeling as if she’d just been punched in the gut. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Jo had never met Izzie Stevens, but the woman was unmistakable.  Her painted lips turned down at the sight of Jo standing in front of her, obviously disappointed that she wasn’t Alex. The perfectly curled blonde hair and full face of makeup didn’t sit well with Jo, realizing with a flash of anger exactly why the woman was there.

“I’m not here for you, I’m here for Alex,” Izzie came around to stand a few feet in front of Jo, arms crossed as she stared her down. “Why don’t you tell me where your ex husband is and we can all get along.”

“Oh I am not starting with you today, you need to take your pathetic ass back to Kansas,” Jo took a step forward, arms crossing to mirror Izzie’s stance. She knew she was attracting attention, she could see Levi frantically grasping for his pager out of the corner of her eye, but she couldn’t stop herself. “You know as well as I do that Alex doesn’t want to see you. You fucked him over and he’s moved on. And I know damn well he’s not going to want to talk to you.”

Izzie stared at Jo for a moment, her lips finally turning into a smile as she began to laugh at her. Jo could feel her blood boiling, her heart rate pounding loudly in her ears as she clenched her fists in an attempt to keep herself planted in her spot.

“Oh please, I’m sure that bratty kid of yours isn’t even his either, stop putting on this picture perfect princess show,” Izzie chuckled, narrowing her eyes as she saw Jo’s face redden. “Oh did I hit a nerve? Serves you right you-”

“You’re a sorry excuse for a mom if you think putting your kids through what you did was the right thing,” Jo’s voice rose and she took a final step towards Izzie, her face inches from the older woman’s. She shouldn’t retaliate, but Izzie had gotten under Jo’s skin and she wasn’t going to let her get the last word.

“And you’re a shitty person on top of that for what you dragged Alex through. So you can talk about your stupid children of the corn and you can even talk about how much you fucked over Alex, but you do not get to talk about MY daughter. If I hear her name in your mouth again, so help me I will drag you back to Kansas by your hair myself you self absorbed home wrecking psycho.”

That set Izzie off, her hands coming up for Jo just as Alex ran up and pulled her away from the blonde. Jo, for what it was worth, was thankful that he’d come when he did because she wasn’t entirely sure that she could have kept her hands to herself.

“Jesus Christ! Don't you dare lay a hand on her Izzie,” Alex’s voice bellowed through the halls as he stared down his ex. “What the hell are you even doing here?”

“Well I came to check on you, but it seems that your washed up ex here has you fooled once again. Are you even sure this one is yours? Or maybe she trapped you on purpose this time,” Izzie sneered, eyes roaming down to Jo’s stomach. The dark blue scrubs were pulled tight against her abdomen as Alex held her, making it clear as day that she was pregnant. “You’re lucky you’re pregnant, I would ha-”

“You’re lucky I’m pregnant,” Jo yelled back, Alex tightening his grip on her as she tried to break away from him. “You’d be out cold right now if I wasn’t you stupid bitch!”

“I don’t want you here Iz, and I really don’t appreciate you yelling at Jo like that,” Jo could feel the anger radiating off of Alex as he set Izzie straight. She could tell that Alex’s firm grip on her arms wasn’t just to her benefit, but his too as he held back his barely restrained rage. “Might I remind you that you’re the one that spent three years lying to my face about the paternity of your kids.”

“Now what the hell is happening in my hospital,” all three doctors turned as Miranda Bailey walked up to the scene, Meredith trailing behind her with a sour look on her face. “Izzie Stevens, I know damn well you’re not standing here right now screaming and threatening to physically attack a doctor of this hospital, and a pregnant one at that.”

“Doctor Bailey, I-”

“That’s enough from you,” Bailey fixed Izzie with a glare, eyes narrowing threateningly as she looked upon the doctor she’d once known so well. “You’re going to turn around and walk out of here and you are not to set foot in Grey Sloan again unless they bring you in a damn ambulance or so help me I will have the police here faster than you can say ‘LVAD wire’. Are we clear?” Watching the situation in front of her play out, Jo could feel the familiar pull of anxiety coursing through her. She’d been able to keep it at bay since Alex had come back home, but the ocean of worry and fear began to crest in her stomach again. Her heart began to beat unsteadily as she brought her hand to cover Alex’s on her arm, her feet feeling more unsteady the longer she dwelled on what just happened.

“Jo? You okay?”

Jo’s eyes snapped up to Meredith, who was looking at her quizzically. She could feel Alex tensing behind her, his grip on her tightening as he looked her over. She could feel herself begin to sweat and her forehead heating up as she leaned her weight against Alex.

“Babe? What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine, I’m just a little anxious,” Jo knew as soon as the words came out that Alex would understand what she meant. The nerves in her body were shot and she was pretty sure she’d pass out if she attempted to move out of Alex’s arms. She lowered her voice as she squeezed Alex’s hand, “I just really need to get out of here. Please.”

Alex nodded to Meredith before he began to lead Jo away from the tense hallway, his arms never leaving their place around her shoulders as they headed for the attendings lounge. Her breathing was ragged by the time she sat on the couch in the lounge, Alex’s hand running over her back as sobs began to well up from within her.

“You don’t believe her right? You don’t think I lied to you about Harper or this baby do you,” Jo tried to keep herself composed as she looked up at Alex, but the sad expression on his face made her begin to cry even more. “I swear I wouldn’t do that to you Alex, please don’t believe her.”

“Jo don’t listen to a word that comes out of her mouth. I know you’d never lie to me like that,” Alex wrapped his arm around Jo, bringing her into his side as she continued to cry. “I know you’re not trying to trap me, I know you. You’re a brilliant surgeon, an excellent mother and a fantastic wife, so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Jo felt the wave of anxiety crash inside of her finally, Alex’s words doing little to ease her thoughts as she continued to sob loudly. She held a hand to her chest as her mind began to reel from the words that had been thrown at her.

“I can’t… I can’t breathe,” Jo choked out between sobs, gasping loudly as she tried in vain to calm herself down. “I’m so sorry… Alex I’m sorry.”

“Babe, look at me, come on Jo,” Alex held his fingers under Jo’s chin and waited for her to look up and meet his eyes. “Breathe with me, in and out. You’re not doing yourself or the baby any good by freaking out. Deep breaths, there you go.”

Jo’s breathing evened out as she followed Alex’s instructions, moving a hand down to cradle her stomach as she closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing. When she was satisfied, she leaned her head against Alex’s forehead and took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry it’s just… I wasn’t expecting that today. Or ever,” Jo let a low chuckle out, eyes fluttering open to meet Alex’s. “And I might’ve thrown up on the ER floor earlier but that’s not important.”

“Yeah you smell like fish guts,” Alex joked as he pressed a kiss to Jo’s hair. “Let’s go get Harper and go home. We can put on a movie and relax, okay?”

“That sounds like the best thing I’ve heard all day.”

+

“She picked the movie, I had no say in it,” Jo walked out of the bathroom and looked from Alex to Harper with a smirk. “Come on Jo, you know I can’t say no to her.”

“I know you can’t, you’re a big softie.”

Jo settled into Alex's left side, his hand coming around her to settle his hand against the curve of her stomach as Harper cuddled deeper into his right side. She’d showered and changed while Alex and Harper had set up in the living room to watch Moana upon Harper’s insistence. After their unsettling morning, neither of them wanted to be anywhere else.

“I’m sorry about what happened, if I had even the slightest idea that she would come here I would have told you Jo, believe me,” Alex’s tone was hushed as he kept his eyes on Harper. “That part of my life is over, I’m going to file a protective order for all three of us tomorrow.”

“Alex, I-”

“No, I can’t keep going to work worrying about you two every second of the day,” Alex finally turned his gaze back to Jo, eyes scanning her worriedly. “I… when I went back to Kansas to settle everything Izzie pulled some crazy stuff. Things I didn’t think she was capable of and things I don’t want you or Harper or this little one to be subjected to. So please, let me do this so I can feel like I’m doing something to help.”

Burrowing her head into Alex’s chest, Jo nodded and used one hand to run through Harper’s curls. The little girl meant more to her than anything, along with her sibling still growing in Jo’s womb. Her and Alex could agree on that much, so she would let him do what he felt was needed to protect them.

“Daddy quiet,” Harper poked at Alex and then pointed back to the television. “Watch movie.”

Jo felt Alex’s chest rumble as he laughed at Harper, her heart feeling lighter than it had in years as she enjoyed the quiet evening with her daughter and her… well Alex was definitely something. She wasn’t eager to label things, afraid it would disrupt the sense of peace they’d fallen into, but she had a good feeling about their relationship this time around.

“Mm I found another house for us to look at this weekend, it’s close to the hospital and it has a big backyard,” Jo looked up to Alex, who’s eyes were already on her. “I think we should put an offer in on this one. Trust me.” “I do, I’d trust you with my life,” a knock sounded at the door, Alex prying himself away from both girls who had no problems voicing their displeasure with him. “Sorry girls, I gotta get the pizza and I know neither of you were going to stand up and get it.”

“Just gives me an excuse to cuddle with Harps here,” Jo pulled Harper into her lap, the little girl giggling as her mom wrapped her up in her arms.

Jo and Harper sat in silence for a minute, intently watching the movie playing out. When Alex didn’t return, Jo turned around to see what he was up to, only to find him still standing by the door.

“Alex?”

“She’s taking me to court,” Alex muttered, holding up a small stack of papers. “Izzie served me and she’s taking me to court for child support.”

[wftc141]

Blackwatch Chapter 8: Comeback

08:30 PM, Local Time

Rome, Italy

Tana del Lupo Training Centre

September, 2018

The team had just cleared out a room before heading for the next and final area. Ray had been leading his team throughout the course, armed with MP5SDs and suppressed MP7s. They were taking part in a training exercise under Gabriel’s command to assess how fast they clear out a hostile-infested building. They have already reached the one minute mark which was the average time. The team made their way down the hallway, heading for the end of the hallway which was made out of wood and built to resemble a house. 

Once the team stacked up by the door, Ray stepped aside and got out his flashbang. Genji stepped towards the door and slightly opened it, leaving a narrow gap wide enough for Ray to toss the flashbang. As soon as the flashbang entered the room, Genji swiftly closed it shut and waited as the loud bang erupted from inside. 

Ray stepped forward and kicked the door open, entering the room filled with several steel targets shaped to resemble gunmen and opened fire on them as his team followed him inside and took care of the rest. Ray hit most targets with several shots and no misses. Once all the targets were hit, the team gave the all-clear as they double checked the room. Shortly, they heard the alarm ring. The announcer then spoke in Italian before pausing.

“Exercise complete. Please make your way to the nearest exit.” The announcer said in English.

The team then headed for the exit nearby where they met up with Gabriel, Amélie, Moira and McCree who were all watching the exercise from the camera feeds.

“Nicely done,” Gabriel said. “But it needs to be faster. Head back to the starting point and get ready.”

The team complied and headed back. However, Ray had something on his mind affecting his focus. He wasn’t sure what it was but he felt empty, like something was missing.

“Ray?” Gabriel called, snapping Ray back into reality.

“Yeah?” Ray hastily replied.

“You alright?”

Ray nodded hurriedly. “I’m fine, boss.” 

Gabriel almost looked as if he could see what he was thinking but he said nothing beyond that. “Good. You’re on point again.” 

Ray went back with the team for the exercise redo and they were dismissed after completing several more runs.  

________________________________________

11:20 PM, Local Time

Rome, Italy

Vicolo Cellini

Ray didn’t feel like going back home without something to drink. He stopped by the particular bar some of his teammates frequent and ordered some vodka. Ray ignored the idle chatter from behind as he poured vodka into a glass to sip. The TV noise was drowned out by the voices echoing across the room. Ray’s eyes plastered on the dull, wooden counter as he swirled his drink.

“Knew I would find you here.”

Ray turned to his left and noticed Marvel standing next to him. Ray remained unfazed and turned away.

“Wasn’t really hiding.” Ray replied as he sipped his vodka.

“Well, you act like Genji sometimes,” Marvel said. “Always a loner.”

“Guess I’m just not that talkative.”

“I can see that.”

Marvel sat down beside Ray and called the waiter for some beer. Marvel took the glass filled with golden alcohol and frothy foam to top it off and took a swig.

“Moira told me you got divorced.” Marvel said, wiping his mouth.

“Told you or told everyone on the team?” Ray asked.

“Told the whole team.”

“Wouldn’t say I’m surprised.”

There was a pause between the two as the loud chatter behind them continued to flow in the bar. 

“Sorry about your split.” Marvel said.

Ray sighed as he downed his vodka. “It's okay. I’m over it. It was bound to happen at some point.” 

Marvel glanced at Ray who remained expressionless and unfazed over his divorce.

“Was she a problem?” He asked.

“Nah,” Ray shook his head. “More like she believed I married for the job… and she’s right. I’ve always preferred the field over normal work.”

Marvel remained silent since there was nothing to say about it.

“To be honest,” Ray continued. “Part of me did want the marriage to end… but one part of me wanted a normal life. Fat chance of me having it if there’s gonna be some assholes out there killing innocent people while we just sit on the sidelines.”

Marvel could at least understand Ray’s point of view. Almost having the similar mindset as their team leader. Ray then took another sip of his vodka.

“Anyways, how'd you end up in Blackwatch?” Marvel asked, switching the topic. “Never really got the chance to ask.” 

Ray sighed as he set his glass down. “NATO saw my records of my deployments during my time with the Rangers. Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya. I was like a scalp collector of my squad back then. They gave me an opportunity to go after more bad guys and I was like ‘yeah, why not?’ And that’s why I’m here.”  

Marvel was a bit surprised about Ray’s background as he’s just like any other Special Forces operator.

“What about you? What are you here for?” Ray asked.

“Probably for the same reason as you,” Marvel replied, taking a sip of his beer. “I was part of a squadron for a joint military operation in Boklovo back in 2016.”

“Kurjikstan?”

“Yeah, that one. You know about it?”

Ray nodded. “Yeah, the Boklovo Siege. ISIS overthrew the city and kept the outside world out. They held the locals hostages for a month until the US and the Kurjikstani army went in to liberate the city.”

“Yeah, I was there. We took care of the airstrikes for the areas the military couldn’t reach. It was a real tough one to crack, considering the terrorists somehow stole some advanced anti-aircraft weaponry but we managed to break through it. Guess NATO heard about me through that.”

“Something tells me you went through more than just that. Something similar to that time you got separated from your team during that mission in Russia.”

“Moira tell you that?”

“Told the whole team.”

Marvel chuckled, knowing Ray can at least joke.

“Well, it wasn’t my first time getting split from my team,” he said. “It was way back in my cadet years. I was doing a field exercise with my group and the German Air Force when my aircraft suddenly malfunctioned. It was spinning like crazy. I couldn’t keep the aircraft steady and there was nowhere safe I could land since we were over some forest. So I used the ejector seat to free myself.”

Based on Marvel’s experience, he does remind Ray of Scott O'Grady.

“Long story short, I landed in the woods and ended up getting my parachute tangled in the trees but the thing was, it was so fucking dark I couldn’t see shit. For some reason, I took off my parachute while I was hanging and I broke my leg.”

“Damn. How bad was it?” Ray asked.

“Hurt like hell but I wasn’t gonna stop over a broken leg,” Marvel continued. “I had to use the trees to steady myself and those LED finger lights from the survival kit to find my way around. About what felt like hours later, I reached a rundown village and used my signal flare to mark my position. About half an hour, I got picked up by the Kampfretter and got treated back at base, though I had to sit out of service for several months because of my leg.” 

Ray let out a whistle as he drank his vodka.

“That was pretty ballsy, wandering in a dark ass forest with a broken leg. Props to that, dude.”

“Thanks,” Marvel nodded. “Turns out, the reason why my jet malfunctioned was because of a mechanical issue and the mechanics didn’t notice it somehow. They got a heavy scolding after they found out, and put them on suspension.”

“That was a little harsh for a technical issue, don’t you think?”

“Easy for you to say, man. You got shot on your first mission and still survived!”

“Not the first time I’ve been shot so that was nothing.”

Marvel simply chuckled and the two clinked their glasses before downing their drinks. 

The two then turned to the TV, with the news headline catching their attention. The language was in Italian but from what they could understand, there was a sudden car bombing in London near Harrods. Footage showed police surrounding a charred car near the destroyed shops. 

The reporter then said that several people, including a police officer, were killed in the explosion while multiple people, including another police officer, were in hospital treated for their wounds while the surviving police officer was in critical condition. And the crazy thing was, it happened an hour ago.

“Jesus,” Ray mutters. “This is fucked up.”

“You can say that again.” Marvel replied.

________________________________________

(One Hour Earlier)

9:58 PM, Local Time

London, England

Sergeant Joyce Welsh took a bite into her nearly finished burrito. Her schedule change had unfortunately disrupted her plans to spend her time with her family since the changes were in response to ‘suspicious activity’ for the past few weeks. Their nightly patrol so far spotted nothing out of the ordinary so she and her partner Inspector Tim Campbell got some Taco Bell down at the tourist-friendly and the upheld King’s Row to spend some time together. 

Welsh’s partner was slightly older but more experienced which was where Welsh learned a thing or two from him. He was a reliable and trusty man to both his fellow officers and to Welsh and her family.

“So how’s things back home?” Campbell asked, still eating his taco.

“Not too bad,” Welsh replied, eating some of the fries. “We’re just about done prepping for Tanya’s birthday tomorrow.”

Campbell sat up and glanced at her in surprise. “Wait, tomorrow’s her birthday?” 

Welsh bit half of the fry before looking at her partner.

“Yeah, didn’t my husband tell you? I guess he forgot.”

“Bloody hell, I was too busy catching jackers and drunkards. Didn’t know your young daughter is about to have her 9th birthday.”

Welsh scoffed. “You and your priorities, mate.”

“Am I invited?”

“You know bloody well my daughter would want you to come. She practically worships you now.” 

Campbell simply chuckled and they ate in silence with Campbell finishing up his tacos while their radio faintly blared. Welsh remembered that one time Campbell tackled a suspect into a fountain when he was out terrorizing people at a park. This man was completely focused on his job to protect the people. That’s what made him one of the many respected officers of the city.

Welsh looked out at the street they parked at and noticed a drunk couple stumbling across the road. The guy was in a tacky coloured tracksuit and the woman he was holding wore a light cherry playsuit and she was carrying her heels. Both of them look as if they had been wasted at the nearest nightclub and the woman was probably someone the guy sweet talked for some drinks. Welsh watched as the man leaned onto a parked car before reaching the path on the other side. She couldn’t help but scoff and roll her eyes. Millennials these days. Besides, she hasn’t heard from her partner’s family for a while.

“How’s your family doing?” Welsh asked.

“Me?” Campbell glanced at her.

Before he could continue, Welsh heard the sound of a nearby roar of a car engine and turned around to notice a grey car speed past them like lightning, completely ignoring the police cruiser behind them. Even Campbell had just caught on what happened.

“Right, we’ll talk later. Let’s get to work.” Welsh said as she activated the sirens.

As Campbell quickly stored away his food, Welsh drove off and went after the speeding car with the sirens blaring loudly. They left the market street and headed down the main road. 

“Dispatch, this is Unit 1. We are in pursuit of a speeding driver in King’s Row. Grey BMW X5, no registration plate.”

Quickly attaching the radio back, Welsh looked up and saw the grey car speeding down the street. The car doesn’t look like it plans to stop but neither is Welsh. The cars in front of her began to swerve out of her way as she chased after the grey car. The car began to bump into other vehicles in their way, causing some to drive right into poles and almost into people. 

“This bastard is gonna get someone killed! We need to stop him!” Campbell said as they chased the suspect.

“Dispatch, suspect is now driving erratically and endangering the public. Requesting backup, over.”

“Copy, Unit 1. Officers are on their way to assist, over.” 

“Copy, Dispatch. Out.” 

A few intense minutes have passed and they have reached Knightsbridge. The sirens have managed to attract attention from shoppers and tourists alike. The grey car was going much faster than it was, zipping past several vehicles in front. As the remaining vehicles made way for the blaring cruiser, Welsh noticed the grey car was starting to slow down before stopping near Harrods where several passers were. Something must’ve made the driver come to his senses. Welsh parked the cruiser a few meters away from the grey BMW. She noticed several people were watching the scene unfold.

“Thank God. Alright, let’s go talk to him.” Campbell said before opening the door.

Welsh got out and approached the grey car alongside Campbell. Several people walked past the car to mind their own business while some had their phones out. 

“Dispatch, suspect has pulled over. Approaching him now, over.”

“Copy, Unit 1. Proceed with caution.”

For some reason, she was feeling somewhat dreadful about what was inside the car. Something was giving her a really bad feeling. Campbell was the first to reach the car. As she approached the car, Welsh heard what sounded like a bag rustling from inside and noticed the driver sitting upright alongside the passenger, holding something up.

“Death to capitalism.”

The last thing she saw was a bright, fiery blast flash in front of her eyes before everything went black.

________________________________________

(Present)

12:30 PM, Local Time

Rome, Italy

Embassy of the United States

Gabriel hadn’t had lunch yet but he was going to pass up on it for now. His new Commander, Jack Morrison, has just called him in for a meeting. His best guess was that it was about the bombings that had rocked the world last night, ever since the bombing in London. Amsterdam, Tokyo, Sydney, Barcelona, even Miami. All involving bombings and a handful of deaths. This was a coordinated attack and whoever's responsible must have prepared intensely. Fortunately, Italy hasn’t been hit for now.

Terrorist attacks are unpredictable but this was beyond their expectations. Not one but several more attacks and this wasn’t even Al-Qaeda’s handiwork. These people are professionals, much more than Al-Qaeda. Gabriel hoped that he and his team would at least be given a shot to find whoever’s responsible and take them down before they can hurt any further innocent people. 

Once he arrived and entered the new briefing room, Gabriel found Jack standing near a board filled with pictures and files attached, including a large map with drawn circles.

“You called me, Jack?” Gabriel called.

Jack turned around to face him. “Yes, I did. We have a situation and I need you and Blackwatch for this.”

“What’s the sitrep?”

“There’s a weapons deal scheduled to take place in Romania and the mafia’s involved. I need it to be stopped.”

Gabriel looked at Jack in confusion as the conversation had nothing to do with what’s happening right now. To Gabriel, he feels like he was slapped in the face.

“What about the bombings?” He asked.

“It’s Null Sector,” Jack replied. “They’ve just come out of hiding after ten years and have claimed responsibility for the attacks, calling it their ‘explosive comeback’. We have also just discovered possible Null Sector activity here in Rome so we’re tightening security there.”

“Then let's go after them.”

“Can’t. Too high profile and we can’t afford to stir up further panic.”

Gabriel then approached Jack, slowly closing in face-on.

“So let me get this straight,” he said. “You want me and my team to go after a mafia while there’s a group of dangerous terrorists out there wreaking havoc across the world?”

“I have a team handling this situation.” Jack replied.

“Are they even good?”

“They’re professionals like you, Gabriel. Of course they are.” 

Gabriel scoffed. Jack was trying to play it safe. He knows that Blackwatch doesn’t operate under the rules, yet he’s using another team to deal with the terrorists under the government’s rule and for all he knows, this could be a mistake. Jack sighed and turned away to his desk to pick something up.

“I know you want to go after these guys but I need you and your team for this one.” Jack said, handing Gabriel a Manila folder with ‘classified’ stamped on the front.

Gabriel silently took the folder and opened it. Inside was a pile of files with the one in front of him showing two photographs. One was an aerial image of a ranch house near a river with several deserted cars and bodies and the other was a black-and-white photograph of a familiar looking group.

“This rings any bells for you?” Jack asked.

Gabriel had already recognized the aerial image as soon as he saw it. He scared their hired hackers into staying away from them.

“The People’s Republic of Romania?” Gabriel guessed.

“It's a good thing you have an extensive memory.” Jack said.

Gabriel turned the page over and read another typed file with separate photographs of a different gang and a figure with a question mark as well as an aerial image of a rundown apartment complex. Dealer was written in red below the photograph.

“We’ve received intel that they’re taking part in a weapons deal in Ferentari near Bucharest with a local Russian mafia and an anonymous arms dealer only known as the Coin.” Jack continued.

“What’s the product?” Gabriel asked.

“We don’t know. Our guess is it’s something big since the Coin is the one-stop-shop for organized crime syndicates and terrorist organizations. Interpol’s got a Red Notice on his head and several other countries have been trying to catch him for a long time. He recently supplied weapons to the Gwishin of North Korea for their attempted assassination of South Korea’s Prime Minister Chung Nam-il.”

“When’s the deal?”

“It's happening tonight. Fio’s getting the plane ready for you and your team as we speak. Wheels will be up in 1900 hours.”

Gabriel was still unsure about doing the mission but the Coin has been involved in a lot of his previous missions which makes it a big deal.

“You’re sure that your team’s capable of handling Null Sector?” Gabriel asked.

“I wouldn’t have formed this team in the first place if they weren’t.” Jack replied.

Gabriel still doesn’t trust Jack’s team in dealing with the terrorists but this was just for the sake of doing a favor for his old friend. 

“Alright. My team will take part in this mission.” 

“Good,” Jack nodded. “And if possible, capture the Coin. We need to know his identity and find out who his buyers are so we can go after them.”  

Gabriel nodded and turned away, heading for the door.

“Gabriel,” Jack called, grabbing the team leader’s attention. “We’ll get ‘em. Don’t you worry about it.”

Gabriel simply grunted before walking out of the room to report their new mission to his team, which he knows won’t be warmly accepted. 

________________________________________

8:30 PM, Local Time

Romania Airspace

The team was just an hour away from their destination in Bucharest. All of them were involved since they were going to need more firepower just in case the situation escalated into a violent shootout. For the operation, the team was going to HALO jump out of the C130 to reach Ferentari.

Not everybody was keen on conducting an operation while there were ongoing terrorist attacks outside though it wasn’t their position to object. Ray however wasn’t going to stay silent about it.

“This is bullshit.” He said.

“Easy now, Ray.” McCree said.

“No, I'm serious. We should be going after those sons of bitches who are orchestrating those bombings. It’s not just London whose under attack, it’s happening all across the world.”

“Our orders are to stop a potential exchange of a dangerous weapon.” Gabriel said.

“Why are we wasting our time with the mafia when we should be going after the terrorists killing innocent people?”

“Cause we have orders, Ray!” Gabriel snapped, raising his voice. “We don’t question orders! We follow them! If I hear one more word that is not related to this mission come out of your fucking mouth, I’ll make sure your ass is not part of any other operations! Am I clear?”

Ray went quiet immediately, knowing he went out of line.

“Yes sir.” 

“Good. Now shut the fuck up and focus on the mission.” Gabriel said.

Ray sat back and quietly sighed. Of course, his stance on this matter hasn’t changed but this wasn’t the time or place to make it obvious. The rest of the team remained quiet, not planning on provoking Gabriel anytime soon. 

________________________________________

8:57 PM, Local Time

Rome, Italy

The drive down the lightly-lit roads of Rome was silent. The black SUV drove past the bridge, where the road would lead them to a potential Null Sector hideout. Intel has confirmed that Null Sector has plans to attack Rome and after pinpointing their hideout, the Valorant Protocol, founded by Jack Morrison, were given the green light to go after Null Sector. As an elite clandestine unit of NATO, Valorant handles counter-terrorism and off-the-books operations under the government’s approval.

Team leader Brimstone, former DEVGRU commander and the co-founder of Valorant, set his sights forward on the road as the team drove down the partially empty and dark lane with small flashes of traffic lights. Brimstone is like any other American Special Force op, with his commendable bravery and his sturdy will for both himself and his Development Group boys.

For this operation, Brimstone and his team were given uniforms to resemble the NOCS to create a cover that they’re conducting a raid as the tactical unit of the Italian police and even armed with the same gear and weapons the NOCS would carry. The team was ready and two minutes to their destination.

“All callsigns, abort objective! I repeat, abort the objective!”

Brimstone at first thought he heard wrong but his ears were fine. Morrison sounded desperate and when he is desperate, it could mean one thing. Brimstone tapped on the radio.

“Sarge to Command, what’s happening, over?” He asked.

“I need you in Piazza di Spagna immediately!” Morrison quickly answered. “Our intel was wrong! The attack is happening now! I repeat, Null Sector is attacking Piazza di Spagna! Sending you the coordinates!”

Brimstone’s eyes widened. His team around him glanced at him, waiting for further instructions while the driver was still heading straight. Brimstone quickly recollected himself and got back with the radio.

“Copy, Command. We’re en route, out,” Brimstone then turned to the driver. “Cypher, turn this car around now!” 

“Got it!” The driver stopped the car and turned back towards their new destination. 

________________________________________

9:50 PM, Local Time

Bucharest, Romania

Ferentari 

After landing in Ferentari, the team spread themselves out across the open area where the meeting was going to take place. Ray was partnered up with Amélie where they’re providing overwatch from a seven floor abandoned apartment complex 700 yards away from the open area. Ray watched through the spotter, focusing on the Russian and the PRR mafia waiting for the Coin. Generators were scattered across the area with the light illuminating the mafia for brighter vision. 

Amélie had her M82A1 mounted on the ledge as she kept watch on the targets. While her eyes were through the scope keeping an eye on the mafia, she wondered how Ray was feeling right now. Even though she was the second-in-Command of Blackwatch, Amélie understood Ray’s point though she was never usually the person to express it.

“You okay, Ray?” Amélie asked.

Ray briefly paused for a moment.

“I’m fine.”

“I get that you’re frustrated that we’re not the ones handling the attacks. You’re not alone.” 

“Just need to focus on the mission, that’s all.” 

“I know. But I’m just letting you know that you’re not the only one.” 

“Look alive. We have a vehicle approaching the mob.” Gabriel informed through the comms.

Ray then noticed a black SUV arriving at the meeting before parking in front of the mafia. Shortly, a group of armed men with rifles stepped out and the last person stepping out of the car was a Caucasian man wearing a grey suit. The mafia looked at each other in confusion.

“Ты не тот, кого мы ждали.” A Russian gangster said.

“Я его помощник,” The man replied in Russian. “У моего босса есть дела стремиться к но у нас есть оружие, так что встреча будет продолжаться.”

Some of the gangsters conversed with one another, seemingly deciding what to do. The Russian gangster turned away from the others and turned back to the assistant with a nod. 

“Что у тебя?” The gangster said.

The assistant then called out for his men to show the goods in English. His men then pulled out some boxes from the boot as the gangsters waited and observed. Shortly, the men placed the boxes in front of the Russian. The Romanian gangsters waited for their turn but one of them noticed one of the assistant’s men staring down at them and had just turned the safety of his rifle off. 

Suddenly, as the Russian gangster opened the box, the assistant swiftly pulled out a gun from his jacket and dropped the Russian gangster, clean through the head. The assistant’s men suddenly started to open fire on the rest of the mafia before they could react. The Romanian gangsters tried to get their guns out but each ended up gunned down to the ground just like the rest.

“The fuck is this?” Ray muttered. 

“Let’s move out!” The assistant ordered.

The assistant and his men then rushed back into their car.

“Shadow 2, don’t let them get away.” Gabriel ordered.

As soon as Ray gave Amélie the distance and wind speed for her to calculate, a shot rang from her sniper rifle and Ray noticed both the driver and the passenger turn into crimson splatter.

By the time the assistant and his last bodyguard got out of the car, Gabriel and Marvel had already reached them. Marvel took care of the last bodyguard while Gabriel approached the assistant. Before Gabriel could tell the assistant to surrender, he raised his gun, only to be shot in the chest twice before falling onto the ground. 

While Gabriel finished off the assistant, McCree and Sombra checked the bodies of the Romanian mafia and Genji and Moira checked the Russian mafia. Gabriel and Marvel checked the bodies of the assistant’s bodyguards. Gabriel searched the assistant’s body and felt something solid in his pockets. Pulling it out, he found a phone with a lockscreen. Even using the assistant’s fingerprints won’t unlock the phone but it was intel material they could give to Sombra. 

Gabriel then noticed something that caught his attention. A Fairbairn–Sykes knife with capitalized Greek letters and a thunderbolt was tattooed on his neck. It was a tattoo that’s usually associated with the Delta Force. The Coin had been hiring Special Forces veterans.

“Uh, sir? We got a problem.” Marvel called.

Gabriel walked towards Marvel standing next to the boxes. Gabriel looked inside and noticed it was empty.

“What the fuck?” Gabriel muttered.

Sombra and McCree approached the two to see what they were looking at.

“Was this a setup?” Marvel asked.

Gabriel tries to put all the pieces together of what’s going on. The Coin doesn’t show up for the meet, his men started shooting his buyers and quickly tried to leave the area. Gabriel then starts to realize that this isn’t some sort of set up.  

“This was meant to draw us out…”

________________________________________

The Coin watched and observed the footage on his tablet from the safety of his car. He had one of his snipers positioned on the rooftop of one of the many apartments from afar with a camera attached to his scope. To sum it up, the Coin had been waiting for Blackwatch, the government’s secret weapon, to show up and show up they did. He watched their strategies and their method of taking down his assistant and his men with swiftness and discretion. They’re smart, which is a rare praise the Coin would give to them.

“Am I clear to engage, sir?” The sniper asked.

The Coin stared at the leader with the skull mask checking the empty boxes as he flipped his golden poker chip through his fingers before catching it. His cold, unnerving eyes locked with the operative.  

“No need. We have just enough intel for our friends back home.” The Coin said before ordering the sniper and his driver to move out.

________________________________________

9:06 AM, Local Time

Rome, Italy

Embassy of the United States

When the team returned to Rome, they were immediately hit with the bad news. Ray’s gut had been right after all. Null Sector ended up attacking Rome in Piazza Di Spagna and the other covert unit that was supposed to deal with them couldn’t prevent it due to bad intel. The post mission report detailed that more than twenty people, including the Null Sector terrorists, were killed that night. To think that innocent people were murdered in cold blood while they were out in Romania was unbelievable.

Ray watched from atop of the Embassy where he could see Piazza Di Spagna from a distance. One of the towers was hit by a suicide bomber and the damage left behind was out in the open as a message. 

“Mind if I join you?”

Ray looked behind his shoulder and noticed Marvel walking up to him. 

“Go right ahead.” Ray replied.

Marvel then reached Ray and stood next to him, watching the aftermath of Piazza di Spagna.

“Shame about what happened down there. Those guys did their best to contain the attack but the intel team fucked up on their end.”

“I saw the report,” Ray said. “There’s no way they screwed this up and allowed this to happen.”

Marvel remained unfazed, only sighed softly.

“We’re not superheroes, man,” Marvel said. “We can’t save everyone.”

The two stared down at the plaza in silence as sounds of beeps echoed from afar.

“So what now?” Ray asked.

“Dunno,” Marvel shrugged. “Guess we just wait for the next mission that lands on our desk.” 

“Is this what we’re doing now? Waiting?”

“It’s what we do in the line of work, man.”

Marvel then turned away to head back in.

“Do you know why I joined the army in the first place?” Ray suddenly said.

Marvel stopped before turning around to listen.

“I joined because of 9/11,” Ray continued. “I was about 11 when the towers fell. The smoke came to me like a sand monster. I was wandering around the streets calling for my parents. Don’t know why I did that while they were in the North Tower. My bratty ass went out exploring because I got bored watching my parents work.”

Marvel said nothing. Even though he understood Ray’s motivations, anybody would have joined the army when 9/11 struck. It was a wake-up call for the Americans there. Before Marvel could respond, the door behind them opened and the two turned to notice McCree approaching them.

“You two, we’re needed for a meeting.”

________________________________________

9:20 AM, Local Time

Blackwatch was summoned in the new briefing room where their leaders were expected to deliver some updates on the current situation. Joining them was both Jack and Valorant, the team that couldn’t prevent the Rome attack. Valorant was already up to date with Blackwatch’s situation with the Coin. The board in front of the team was covered with pictures and files all gathered in one place.

“Since we’re all here, we have some intel regarding the mission Blackwatch conducted in Romania,” Jack said. “The phone Captain Reyes retrieved from the Coin’s assistant was enough to confirm our target’s identity.” 

Gabriel then approached the board and flipped over a blank photo to a cutout of a Forbes magazine cover of a well-dressed man with slicked hair and noticeable elegance.

“Meet the Coin, Maximilien Rousset.” 

“Isn’t that the magnate who owns a shit load of casinos and businesses across the world?” Marvel said.

“That’s him alright,” Gabriel answered. “But that’s just his cover. He’s an arms dealer in the black market but at some point, he has been working with a high value client or organization. We don’t know who exactly but we know Maximilien has been indirectly responsible for several of our missions for the past few months.”

“And we learned from our intel team that Maximilien had aided weapons to the Null Sector cell in Rome.” Jack added.

The team said nothing but there were signs of surprise and anger.

“I know all of you are upset,” Jack continued. “I feel the same way. To think that this happened not just in our homeland but across the world in one day… it’s a lot to take in.”

“And we’ll be the ones to let these sons of bitches know we won’t just take it lying down,” Gabriel added. “We’ll make sure anything like this never happens again, no matter what.”

Shortly after a few words, the teams were dismissed and Jack went off to tend to Valorant. Gabriel stayed behind and spent his morning reading the board. Everything from pictures to reports and newspaper article cutouts. Something was bothering Gabriel about Maximilien. The fake deal in Romania was meant to draw Blackwatch out. Maximilien wanted to see Blackwatch in the flesh but why exactly? Something was telling him that Maximilien is going to be an adversary from now on.

“Staring at him won’t make him appear.” Amélie said.

Gabriel didn’t need to look behind his shoulder. He anticipated she would stay behind. Gabriel simply sighed and continued reading the board.

“What’re you still doing here?” He asked.

“Knew you would stay behind so I did the same thing.” Amélie answered. Gabriel then heard her footsteps close in from behind.

“Of course. You’re the mysterious Widowmaker.” 

Amélie chuckled. She was now standing beside him, watching the board with him.

“You should also know something,” Amélie said. “It’s about Ray.”

“What’d he do now?” Gabriel asked.

“Nothing. But there’s something about him that’s very strange.”

Gabriel glanced at Amélie. “What do you mean?”

“He reminded me of someone who wanted to be a soldier as if it was his destiny.”

Gabriel wasn’t sure what Amélie was talking about.

“What’re you trying to tell me?” He asked.

“My point is that you should talk to Ray and at least listen to what he has to say. Because what he said back on the plane was right.”

With that said, Amélie turned away and left the room, leaving Gabriel by himself. Gabriel knew Amélie was telling the truth about Ray but he wasn’t sure how to handle it. He had always been a team leader who’d follow any order given by his superiors but there would be a time where his orders would cross the line morally and trap him on a tightrope. Still, Gabriel couldn’t get Maximilien out of his mind and it was puzzling to piece the connections between Maximilien’s intentions and the past missions.

________________________________________

(Three Weeks Later)

9:51 PM, Local Time

French Polynesia

October, 2018

Will Zambezi checked his watch with the screen reflecting from the ceiling. It was almost 10 PM and his client was still mingling with his business partners. His service in the South African Special Forces had prepared him for the job and his resume was packed with successful escorts for several other high-profile clients. His newest client for him and his security team: Vernand Sainclair, CEO of Sainclair Pharmaceuticals.

Sainclair acted as some sort of messiah to the public when he promised affordable medicine but like many other CEOs he knew, Sainclair was no different. Rich, stylish and self-centred, the many manifestations of a famous CEO nowadays. 

The money he used went into clothes, jewelry, fancy cars and one hell of a superyacht which Zambezi was in right now moored away from his vacation resort in French Polynesia. Some messiah he is. Zambezi watched Sainclair try to speak through his laughs as he held his glass of champagne, wearing a light coloured summer shirt with cream coloured dress pants and gold jewelry. Alongside Sainclair and his business partners, they’re being spoiled by beautiful women accompanying them. Zambezi would bet half of the women are their mistresses considering most of them are married except Sainclair. 

Sighing, Zambezi stared ahead while his clients continued to go on with their drunken rants. He noticed Cruz and Russell across the lounge also standing in boredom while watching Sainclair as well. Suddenly, the room went dark and the chatter was cut off. It was pitch black and nobody could see anything. 

“What was that?” One of the partners said.

“I can’t see anything.”

Zambezi looked around as the confusion arose. He then reached for his radio.

“Spearhead to Team A, status, over.” 

There was no response. His radio wasn’t even working. Something or someone must’ve disabled the electrical system completely but there was certainty of who.

“Got nothing on my feed, sir.” Cruz said.

Zambezi turned to Cruz and Russell. “You two, formation.” 

“Yes sir.”

His bodyguards then surrounded Sainclair and his group, hands on their holsters. None of the guards had flashlights and that was hard enough. 

“What’s going on? Is something happening?” Sainclair asked.

“I don’t know but I need all of you to stay calm.” Zambezi said.

Suddenly, they heard gunshots from outside, startling everyone in the room. At this point, everybody was sobered up and panicking. Sounds of semi-automatic gunfire echoed from outside and it was starting to get louder with time. Zambezi and his men then pulled their pistols out of their holsters and closed in with Sainclair. 

“Mr Sainclair, we need to move you and your group to the panic room ASAP. Follow me and do exactly as I say. Cruz, with me. Russell, take point.”

“Yes, sir!” 

The team began to make their move towards the door. Zambezi’s best bet was that this was a pirate attack. However, there was no possible way for pirates to obtain some sort of device to start a blackout but it was more likely that they took the blackout as an advantage. As the team led Sainclair and his group down the dark corridor, gunfire continued to erupt with sounds of rapid rounds echoed from outside. Zambezi could hear what sounded like a LMG firing from the other side.

The entirety of the yacht was dark and Zambezi's eyes eventually began to adapt to the blackness as he and his team navigated across the expensive yacht. Russell, who was leading the team, peeked through a corner with his pistol aimed before allowing the team to continue safely. 

The team had reached the stairs leading to the panic room. Suddenly, gunfire rang from nowhere and Russell fell over, tumbling down the stairs as the pistol bounced off the steps. Sainclair flinched and some of his friends panicked once again. 

“Russell’s down!” Zambezi shouted. Their attackers were surprisingly more capable than he expected since they were able to see through the dark.

“Nine o’clock!” Cruz shouted.

Zambezi immediately turned around and noticed several pairs of faint red dots illuminating from a distance before a flash and gunfire brightened up the dark. Cruz fell before he could react and before he knew it, Zambezi was hit in the chest and fell back with a violent thud. 

One by one, Sainclair’s group was mercilessly shot down when most tried to run. One of the women was shot in the neck and began to choke and gurgle as she fruitlessly tried to cover her bloody neck. The red eyed figures closed in and one of them reached the dying woman with his rifle aimed at her. Before she could beg, he shot her dead before turning away to focus his aim at Sainclair, who was the only one spared for some reason. More figures emerged from all around them and aimed their rifles at Sainclair, all shouting ‘clear’ as they formed. Sainclair already had his hands up.

“This is Doubleday, we got eyes on the asset, over.” One of the figures said. A pause between. “Copy. Out.”

Zambezi noticed through the dark that the figures didn’t look close to being pirates. They were all kitted up in dark military-grade uniforms with armor from the shoulder pads down to the groin protectors, as well as M50 gas masks with red NODs attached to their helmets. Each of them bore a distinctive patch on their vests and shoulders but Zambezi couldn’t make out what it was. Something was off about them. Something that felt supernatural and inhuman.

“Who are you people?! What do you want?!” Sainclair shouted. Nobody responded.

Shortly, another similarly geared up group arrived and one of them was towering over the rest, heavily muscular and large like a mountain while wearing the same gear but more armored. He was carrying a LMG fitted with multiple attachments like the others with the muzzle still emitting smoke. He was listening to someone through the comms as he approached them.

“Copy. We’re clear at our in. Setting charges.” A voice said.

The large gunman then approached Sainclair, walking over the bodies before him. As he held the LMG up, he then lifted his NODs up, giving Sainclair a view of the visor of his gas mask.

“Vernand Sainclair,” He said. “It's been too long.”

Sainclair’s eyes widened when he glanced up at the bulky figure.

“M-Mauga?” Sainclair muttered, recognizing the filtered voice.

“I see you’re doing pretty well for yourself, buddy. I mean, you can afford a nice yacht now. How’s the company doing?”

“Why are you here? We had a deal! I gave your leader enough information and kept quiet about you all and you let me walk away!” 

Mauga then erupted into laughter and the rest of the figures laughed along over their filtered masks. Sainclair stared in confusion and anger, unable to think straight.

“And you bought every single word they said? Heh, you got jokes, buddy. I’ll give you that. But there’s a catch you missed. No one leaves Talon that easily.”

Mauga then pulled out his sidearm from his holster. Sainclair’s pants began to increase by the second. 

“Well, I did say I wanted to kill you,” Mauga said as he racked the slide. “And today is the day I keep my promise.”

Mauga aimed the pistol at Mauga with his finger lightly on the trigger. Sainclair’s pleas were going nowhere and the gunmen all stood eerily still. A few seconds passed and no gunshot rang. Mauga suddenly snorted and let out a laugh, lowering the pistol.

“I’m just messing with ya, buddy! You shoulda seen the look on his face! He looked like he was having a heart attack!”

The gunmen laughed alongside Mauga while Sainclair stared dumbfounded but still fearing for his life. Zambezi caught a glimpse of one of the gunmen who was the only one not laughing. Eventually, Mauga and the gunmen calmed down and he holstered his pistol.

“Anyways, we aren’t here to kill you. That comes later. Boss needs you alive and we’re here to take you back.”

“What does he want?” Sainclair croaked.

“Dunno. You’ve been a reliable asset for Talon for a long time and they really want you back home.”

“Why?”

Mauga paused and sighed eagerly. “Let’s just say that he has big plans for you. For all of us. For history to come.”

Sainclair’s eyes narrowed down into resistance and scowled at Mauga. Even through the gas mask, Zambezi could see the eyes of a predator ready to take its shot.

“You think I’ll just agree to your-”

Suddenly, Mauga pulled his pistol in a split second and shot at Sainclair’s shoulder, with the bullet just cutting past the surface of the skin. Sainclair shouted in pain as he stumbled backwards and gripped onto his shoulder. 

“That wasn’t a request, Vernand,” Mauga said with coldness escaping his mouth. “You’re coming back with us, one way or another, unless you want Captain to find out I did more than just graze you. I promised them I would bring you back in one piece and the last thing I wanna do is drag another body for tonight.” 

“Charges are set. Ready for detonation.” The same voice from Mauga’s comms said.

“Copy, Pacanowsky. Stand-by,” Mauga then turned his attention back to Sainclair. “Bag the asset and let’s roll outta here. And make sure to slow the bleeding. We don’t wanna lose him on our way back.”

The masked gunmen then approached Sainclair and pulled him up by his collar. Two of them tied Sainclair behind his back and the other put a bag over his head before dragging him with them and heading off. 

Zambezi may be helpless and dying but he still got some fight in him. Blood was already oozing out of his mouth and his consciousness was slipping away but he was willing to make one last move. Sainclair may be a rich asshole but his behavior didn’t change Zambezi’s duty to protect him at all costs. 

He reached his pistol and weakly raised it to aim at one of the gunmen. Zambezi’s hand rigorously shook as he desperately tried to pull the trigger. Suddenly, Mauga stopped and spun around with his pistol aimed back at Zambezi’s direction. A gunshot rang in front of him and the light went dark for good.

[haikyuuscreaming]

omg hi! you started off your blog greatly, im so proud of you! do you think you can write an angsty scenario for akaashi? where his crush likes this guy and wants help from him and he feels all sad :( but she ends up confessing to him! i love your writing so far, keep it up!

UMM so i accidentally got really invested in this so it’s WAYY longer than a drabble and i often write long stuff bc of ao3 so this might sound a little more like that kinda fanfic style instead of a tumblr scenario? mainly cos im really a sucker for this stuff hehehe love you anon

also ! the request made it sound sort of akaashi-centric so i hope you dont mind? there will still be a lot of reader-chan here though! please dont leave yet and i hope u enjoy

again ALSO i wrote this half on my laptop half on my phone so please dont mind if it seems a lil clunky in some areas 

3092 words jesus ok here you go

-

Crushes weren’t necessarily a new sensation for Akaashi. Just an uncommon one. In fact, the last time he remembers even being attracted to someone was in first grade when everyone had a crush on this popular girl. He’s not even sure if he really liked her, or just found the idea of it interesting.

Now, second year of high school, Akaashi finds himself in trouble. Because for once, he really, really, really likes this girl. You. 

He can’t even fake himself out of this, because every damn time he looks at you, he feels all warm and tingly and his stomach feels less calm and he can hear his heart bump against his ribcage and god, his face even flushes a little bit.

(A little bit inconvenient when he accidentally finds himself staring at you and daydreaming.)

Akaashi doesn’t like this feeling.

I mean, yeah, Akaashi has somewhat of a sense of confidence in his looks, manners, and ability to make friends. He’s not exactly the top in each subject he thinks, but it lets him pass through high school without too much of a depressingly lonely life. He could easily befriend you and steal your heart, his inner ego-brat says.

But.. but what if you reject him?

He should become closer to you.

(For the record, he doesn’t not like the feeling. He kind of likes the serotonin boost you give him. But he definitely, more than kind of likes you.

A lot more.)

And one day, in the spring, he finds himself paired up with a special biology partner. With familiar, sparkling eyes and the cutest, most gorgeous voice he’s ever heard that always makes his heart fucking backflip.

Akaashi doesn’t think he can survive this.

His teacher blares, “Start brainstorming ideas for your science fair project! It’s due in a month, you know!”, but Akaashi blocks out the noise because all he can focus on is you, goddamn it. He can only focus on the way you push your hair out of your face, the way your lips upturn into the most stunning smile he’s ever had the fate of encountering, and he really hopes he doesn’t get h-

“Akaashi-kun?”

(Fuck you and your completely gorgeous voice that drives him up the wall and makes him want to kiss you.)

“Oh– sorry, yeah?” He kind of hates himself for how his voice lilted a pitch higher.

You laugh, sounding like a goddess. He hopes that it means you don’t hate him. “Ahaha, I was just wondering if you have any ideas for the science fair? It’s a pretty big chunk of our grade, and I am… not the smartest when it comes to AP Bio..”

Akaashi thinks quite the opposite, but he isn’t currently in the position to contradict you.

“Um…” He pauses and thinks furiously. He comes up with some borderline generic idea that has enough room for a unique twist. And your eyes brighten.

“Waaaoo, Akaashi-kun’s a genius, hm?”

(God, he thinks he might have a little more than a crush on that teasing grin and glittering pair of eyes.)

He musters the courage to smile without looking stupid. “Of course.”

Two weeks later, he wants to sink into a hole.

Yes, it might have been his request that you two meet up to work on the project, but that was because he knew you were a procrastinator! You would start the project the night before if he’d let you!

But it was not his idea to do it at his house.

Now he has to live with the fact that you’re lying on HIS bed, spread-eagled in your sweater and shorts, complaining about how lazy you are.

(He wonders how you’re so comfortable about wearing shorts to a male classmate’s house. You two aren’t even that close, although you claim otherwise.)

“Come on, get up,” he rolls his eyes. “We have work to do.”

“But I’m so tiiiiiredddd… and lazyyyy…. wouldn’t it be such a gentlemanly act of Akaashi-kun to do the project for me?” You flash him a sweet smile while stretching out even more on the bed.

Snorting, he watches you sink into his mattress and roll around idly. “Hey, don’t you need the grade? You can’t pass if you make me do your work.”

Sighing, you hum in defeated content. “Well, it was worth a try.” You reach out your hand and tousle his wavy hair, and he almost flinches at the touch. He hates to say it but he loves it so much that you’re so affection with him, and Akaashi knows he would give anything to keep you teasing him with all this attention.

“Yeah.. yeah, it was,” he murmurs to himself before letting himself sit down next to you. He notices how you scrunch your body from a spread-eagle to a cute, curled up position to make room for him.

“Mm, so how are we gonna do this?” you ask, with a subtle mixture of bored and curious seeping into your tone. Then, he watches your features melt into a warm, mischievous smile as you hum, “Unless you just wanna nap and cuddle or something.”

(Holy fuck.)

Akaashi forces himself to scowl playfully and he shakes his head, sighing loudly in mock disappointment. “I don’t know what to do with you.” And equally as teasing, he adds, “I should just kick you out and not treat you to lunch if you’re going to be like this.”

“Noooooo!!!” you whine in this adorably frustrated and threatening voice. “Don’t you dare starve me or I’m feeding you to the rats.”

He chuckles. “See, that’s what I thought.”

But of course, your face wraps into a devilish grin as you say in a singsong voice and throw your arms around him (which makes him flush and makes his heart go WABAM), “It doesn’t matter though, ‘cause I got this whole-ass meal right here~”

“Shut up.”

(But you both know he never means it.)

Thanks to Akaashi (and your obliging albeit lazy participation), you two blow the science fair out of the way and get an A. He’s never seen you so delighted about a grade.

“I’m so happy~” you never shut up about how grateful you are for him, not that he’s complaining. “This is probably the highest mark I’ve ever gotten in this class.”

“Don’t over exaggerate. You’re not too bad at Bio,” Akaashi remarks. “You just need a tutor, probably, if you’re struggling.”

(By the way, he is ecstatic that you two are ACTUALLY FRIENDS!!! He’s even met your dog!!)

“Hmmmm…” You eye him warily before shrugging. “Whatever you say, Akaashi-kun.” Your eyes flit around before returning on him, and you start rambling about the newest anime you’ve gotten into and how it’s practically on-par with the manga, and how hot one of their characters are-

(For some reason Akaashi really zeroes in on that part.)

He really feels like he has to contribute something to the conversation, so he puts in, “Wow, [Name]-san, you’re such a fangirl.”

You snort loudly and put two peace-signs to your face like some kawaii anime girl, doing this mock-sweet smile. “Waaaooo, you’re rightttt. I’m Akaashi-kun’s number one fan!! He’s so cute when he’s yelling at me to do my work and super hot when he helps me with homew-”

He swears to god his face is radiating an inhuman amount of heat and he rolls his eyes before shaking his head and jabbing your side lightly. “Didn’t I tell you not to say that?”

“Ummm, maybe.” Your ‘innocent’ grin tells him otherwise. “But you know, you’re right, Akaashi-kun,” you cross your arms and give your cute little smirk again. “I am a genius, and I’m suuuper good at Bio. I just need someone to channel it.” And you lean forward until both your noses are touching, and Akaashi thinks he’s about to explode. “So maybe you could help me out?”

The subtle pleading undercurrent in your voice compels Akaashi to straighten up a little bit without flushing even redder. Keep cool, keep cool.

(He prays that his skill of keeping a poker face will hide the blood rushing around in his dick.)

“Well, what time?”

This time around, he finds himself at your house instead. You both are sitting at your desk, ‘working’ on your math and Bio homework. In other words, just talking.

He’s confident now in that the two of you are close friends. He’s learned that from afar, you were a sweet and confident yet perfectly kind girl. That was the girl he based his feelings off of. During your Bio project, he found the cheeky, sly and vibrant yet chill girl who always teased him but was still nonetheless sweet.

And now, under that facade, you were an anxious mess with a shit-ton of insecurities.

(He thinks it’s funny how you boast that you’re just like Shrek. You have layers.)

Akaashi glances at you, groaning with your head down onto the table. “I hate math..” he hears you grumble.

“Hey, you’re not too bad. You just have to be careful when plugging in your equations,” he counters.

“But what if I can’t remember my equations??”

“We both know you’re fine at remembering them.”

“I’m gonna fail.”

“Have faith in yourself, because I do.” And Akaashi is being completely honest. His confidence in you being just fine and being able to pass all your classes is strong because he’s seen you work (after procrastinating). “You just have to work on not putting things off until the last minute.”

You make a frustrated noise before resting your chin on your propped hand. “Sometimes I feel like I’m just.. destined to be set back, y’know? Like, everything I do is gonna somehow backfire on me.”

He knows the feeling, especially late at night in bed, stressing over what tomorrow might bring him.

“And like… I have this whole thing set up for me. When people know me as a classmate, I’m an average student, right? Then when we’re like… ‘friends’, I’m all weird and tease-y.” You let out a loud sigh. “And to the unlucky people who get to this stage, I’m a mess.”

“Stop.” Akaashi’s surprised at how firm he is. “I’m grateful to have met you and to have become your friend, [Name]. You’re going to be fine, you need to trust yourself more. Because I trust you more than anything.”

(Yes, he is on first-name basis with you!! Yes, he trusts you even more than he might even trust Bokuto!!)

Your lips twitch into a small smile, one that he’s grown to love and adore. He’s confident that he’s so fucking deep in love and he doesn’t know how to move on. “You really think so?”

“Of course I do.” He flicks some crumpled-up post-it at you. “Since we’re not doing any homework anytime soon, what else do you want to talk about?”

Your gaze becomes a little more shy and nervous. “Umm… Weeell, I need help.”

“I mean, why else would I be here?”

“No, seriously, Keiji-kun. Seriously!!” You throw mock-fit, despite obviously looking anxious.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m listening. Sorry.”

“Uh. Um, so…” You blink and pretend to look focused on doodling on the corner of your math paper. “There’s this dude I like. Like, I reaaally like him, which is surprising even for me.” You laugh a little bit, and as Akaashi feels his heart start to tear in half, he forces out a chuckle to match. “He’s suuuper pretty– I think that’s the word for it? Pretty. And he’s kinda funny in his own way, and he’s really sweet and listens to me all the time even when I don’t deserve his time. And I dunno, I think he might like me back? Also, I really really really like him. But I don’t really know how to confess…

“Because you know, I’m kinda wack like that, haha. I’ll probably screw up the confession and make things worse, and, well, I need help.” You finish your ramble with a loud breath and you collapse your head onto the table, groaning.

“Uh–” Fuck, oh fuck him, fuck his life. “I mean… I think just a heartfelt confession would do? Something simple and sweet that says you really like him, in case somehow your words don’t work.” Akaashi feels like he’s sweating, a lot, and he feels even more frustrated than ever. His heart is crashing against his ribcage, and his mind is a fucking mess.

You frown a little bit, and suddenly a gush of words fly out of your mouth like a stream bursting from a dam. “Oh my god, what if I’m reading the signs all wrong and he doesn’t at all like me back? I mean, I wouldn’t blame him because I’m kinda ugly and have this weird personality thing going on and I’m shit at math and Bio-”

“Stop.” Akaashi forces himself to intervene, mainly because 1) you’re literally the light of his life and 2) he feels like he has to leave really soon after dealing with the news. “Shut up, [Name]. You aren’t ugly at all, and I, for one, enjoy your weird personality. And I already told you, you’re fine with academics.” He makes himself make eye contact with you, peering up from your arm covering your face, and says, “If he rejects you, he isn’t worth your time at all and you should move on.”

(Preferably with me.)

He watches you exhale, like he just unwound a tight spring from inside of you, and your shoulders relax and you melt from your anxious state, just a little bit. “You’re right. If.. if he doesn’t feel the same, I’ll just forget about him.”

“Because you’re a genius.” Akaashi tries to hype you up, but he still feels like crumbling. Falsely checking his phone, he stretches and stands up. “I have to go now, sorry. My mom asked me to pick up my little sister from tutoring.”

“Huh, already?” Confusion flits across your face, and it hurts him even more to just leave you after you confided in him, but he knows he has to leave before he says something he might regret. “Oh, okaayy.. see you tomorrow then. Thanks for helping me out.” You yawn before standing up to hug him goodbye.

“No problem.” He says it casually, but Akaashi feels his mood drop faster and lower than ever. He hugs you back, but he breaks away fast.

After leaving your house and collapsing onto his bed in his locked bedroom (with his 11-year-old sister knocking on the door and curiously asking what’s wrong), he can’t help but feel hurt that you couldn’t even tell him who your mystery crush’s name was.

A week passes by, and neither of you mention the conversation at your house. It doesn’t matter either way, since you two are still so casually best friends. At the same time, he desperately wants to push the matter just to find out who it is.

Otherwise, Akaashi has noticeably been more quiet and moody to the point that he doesn’t know how to control it. Sure, he keeps up the same as he would before your conversation, but he can’t help but feel his heart sink everytime he sees you. His mind is ecstatic every time he talks to you, while simultaneously wanting to tear itself apart.

He’s tried getting rid of feelings for you, in literally every way possible. From avoiding thinking about you (which backfired horribly because he ended up thinking more about you) to focusing on other girls (ew, none of them were even capable of creating the same effect on him as you do), he’s tried it all and it’s all failed.

Akaashi realizes his silent slump has gotten so bad to the point that Bokuto made him sit out a few practice matches in the gym just because Akaashi was nowhere near the spot that any of the team expected him to be at.

After school, he meets with you near the vending machine as always. You buy two cans of coffee, one for you and one for him.

As soon as he takes the can gratefully, you clear your throat.

“Yeah, [Name]?”

Glancing around before staring him in the eye, you start, “Keiji-kun, before you run away, I just…. I just wanted to let you know I really really really like you. Like, a lot.” You start speaking kind of fast, so Akaashi can’t process what you’re saying.

“And I mean it. Ever since the Bio project, you’ve been so nice to me and you’ve been such a great friend even though I made it hard sometimes, and along the way I just caught feelings. You honestly mean everything to me, and I appreciate you so much for everything we’ve been through. I- I think, I love you, Keiji. And I hope you accept my feelings.” You smile, almost nervously but nonetheless sincere, and Akaashi thinks he’s about to explode.

“I- I,” Fuck, oh my fucking god, he thinks to himself. He’s shaking a little bit– that’s how happy he is. “[Name], I..” God fucking damn it, he can’t even express how happy he is. He feels his cheeks blossom and he feels his lips quirk into this goofy smile.

But then he watches you shy away a little bit as you hurriedly say, “I- I mean, sorry. It’s okay if you just wanna be friends-”

“No.” Finally, Akaashi can use his mouth and then he gently takes your cheeks in his hands and closes the gap between you two, lips connecting in a display of pining and affection.

He practically melts into the kiss, he’s never been so happy. He thinks he’s actually about to implode; he’s been dreaming about kissing you like this, against your soft, plush lips. And finally he’s able to call you his, to call you the one. When the two of you finally break away for air, he’s breathing hard and his mind is a mess, which is rare considering his usual stoic state.

Akaashi has also never seen you so flustered and blushy. He murmurs into your ear as he takes your hand, “Feelings are 100% reciprocated.”

“I can tell,” you laugh breathily, and he’s so happy to hear that some of your anxiety has dissolved in that sweet kiss. He’s absolutely infatuated with you in every aspect. He leans in for a soft, quicker kiss on the lips and savors the feeling of warmth he gets. “Dork.”, he whispers.

“Only for you.”

[its-chelisey-stuff]

Crash landing on you eps 15&16: thoughts on the finale

Let me just say, first of all, before anything else, that I wasn’t really expecting to hold a “grudge” against this drama, at all. But here we are. I knew that they were gonna give a happy ending to Seri and Captain Ri. I knew it. You knew it, eveyone’s mom knew it. This was a romcom, after all.

What I didn’t know was that I’d end up loving the second leads as much as the main ones. And believe me, after they annoyed the heck out of me for a couple of weeks (earlier into the drama’s run) no one is more surprised than I am.

Full disclosure: I liked this drama, I really did. But I wholeheartedly believe drama episodes should be 1 hour long. So that’s that.

My favorite moments/scenes from this final week in no particular order:

The ahjumas feeding Alberto (I know his name is Gu Seung Jun but it cracks me up to call him Alberto, so that’s how I call him)

South Korean Agents realizing they have no case of espionage on their hands cause soldiers are just enjoying capitalism (HAHAHAHAHAHA)

Agents knowing the North Korean Soldier and the South Korean Chaebol are in love (LMAO)

Alberto giving the ring to Seo Dan (My poor heart)

Alberto saving Seo Dan (OTP material RIGHT HERE!)

Seri’s and Captain’s goodbye at the border (Loved the scene, it was beautiful, but this is why it’s a drama, in real life they’d get shot)

Alberto and Seo Dan in the car (aww their first date!)

The honest talk between Seo Dan’s mom and Captain’s mom (it hit me in the feels, ALBERTOOO!!!)

Real kiss scene (I really enjoyed their pecks in the drama, but they were clearly holding back...)

Ending scene (beautiful, but not really for the romance aspect of it lol, the scenery is just breathtaking)

Things I really liked about the drama:

The way they carried out the premise till the end, with the head held high

Your drama has already a way too ficticious storyline that already seems more like fantasy and boderline nonsensical? No problemo. Just go with it. And that they did. I mean, my sister and I were laughing at that scene at the border where Seri ran into Captain Ri’s arms and everyone got the guns out but did not shoot, because it was just too much, you know? But to hell with it. This drama threw logic out the window the moment Seri survived that accident that sent her to North Korea.

Seri’s friendship with our four soldiers (plus noisy guy) and the ahjumas

The squad were really like family for her, and what I liked was that they protected her with their lives back in North Korea (when they barely knew her and really helped her when she tried to go back home, many times) but also in the South. And Seri gave them her card to buy whatever they wanted but they still spent so little money. I hope that in the CLOY universe, they get to see each other again and meet for for holidays, like the family they are. 

A pity that Seri could never say goodbye to her ahjuma friends, but it was still really beatiful the way she paid homage to them. She will always remember them.

The ending for OTP

For a drama that didn’t care much for logic or rationality, the end for our OTP actually put a bit (emphasis on the bit) of sense and reality to the story. Maybe one day they will be able to spend the whole 24 hours of the day, seven days a week all 365 days of the year together without worries in the country of their choice, not just Switzerland. This is dramaland in the genre of romcom, anything is possible.

Thinks I didn’t like:

Killing Seung Jun/ Alberto

Seri, Captain, hear this out: I love you and I’m so happy you got a happy ending, but your drama made me so angry at the last episode. IMO there was no reason to kill Seung Jun. And the fact that he was killed off like that and left poor Seo Dan so broken in the end, will always make me feel bitter about this drama.

Lack of screentime for second OTP

You see, in the second part of the drama, when the action moved to the south, my interest stayed in the north with our second leads. The girl who waited 10 years for her crush (a crush that was pretty harmless and childish) and the conman who had an agenda and a plan for revenge in the name of his father. And I really really liked their interactions, even from the beggining. It’s not very often that the secondary OTP manages to get my attention and heart, but they did it. And then the ship sailed and I just got this bad feeling that something was gonna happen... and it did. And my heart got crushed.

LOL And at least Goblin (drawing comparison only because both had one and a half hour long episodes and had crazy ratings) bothered to give more attention and sreentime to their secondary couple. On CLOY when the leads moved to South Korea, Seo Dan and Gu Seung Jun got kind of forgotten, which is the reason I drank their scenes and moments like they were water in the middle of the dessert. Those were precious, till the last second.

Unnecesary focus and sreentime on other things

If you know you know. I love our soldiers, I loved North Korean Ahjumas and I loved all 3 main mothers but sometimes their scenes didn’t add anything much (other than comic relief and it wasn’t always good). And the villains were too silly and took way too much screentime. (And this includes silly brother and silly sister in law a bit) Jesus, I know you’re evil, but you bored me. Here we have people who did way worse things than Alberto but he is the one who died along with North Korean villain (who btw seemed to have 9 lives). Seri’s brother and sister in law who actually tried to have her killed? Oh, no. Just jail for them.

Fishy bussiness with the 2 dads

So, is it me or did I imagine that Captain’s dad was kind of dirty and somehow guilty (but Idk to what extent) of the death of his first son or at least what he was investigating? And, after listening to Alberto’s story, wasn’t Seri’s dad somehow guilty of all the harships Alberto’s family had to go through in the past? I mean, his whole plot of revenge was against the family but more especifically the dad, no? And yet, both fathers had seemingly happy endings and no justice was brought to them. My point is that I think they were bad fathers and also, pretty bad human beings.

And my poor Gu Seung Jun had to die because of I don’t know why. Yep, I’m never letting that go. 

It was a pretty solid and wonderful ensamble, with a good but kind of crazy premise that had 4 amazing leads. They were awesome, but two of them were underused.

[dailyaudiobible]

05/18/2021 DAB Transcript

1 Samuel 22:1-23:29, John 10:1-21, Psalm 115:1-18, Proverbs 15:18-19

Today is the 18th day of May welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I am Brian it is always a privilege, it’s always an honor for us to get together like this and have the accessibility to the Scriptures like we do and read them fresh and listen to what God is saying through the…the Bible. It is a joy every day to take the next step forward together. And, so, let’s do that. We’re reading from the English Standard Version this week. We’re still working our way through first book of Samuel. We’re pretty clear now in how David and Saul’s lives our intertwined. King Saul wants David to be dead and David is running for his life and trying to find a way to survive. And, so, let’s pick up the story. 1 Samuel, chapters 22 and 23 today.

Commentary:

Okay. So, we passed by a very famous portion of Scripture in the gospel of John today. And, so, we’ll talk about it and its context but let's start by just zooming in on a couple of key words here, “steal, kill, destroy.” So, if you are being said stolen from than something that belongs to you in your possession has been taken by someone who has no right. Kill, we can pretty much understand. Although for something to be killed doesn't necessarily mean you're dead. Things can die within us - dreams, hopes, desires. And then destroy is to render something that was perfectly usable, completely broken and worthless. Actually, if you want to get technical here, to destroy something is and its existence. So, like if…if your house burns down may have insurance and everything like that to rebuild another one. But the one you did live in was destroyed, its existence as it was, has ended. Steal, kill, destroy. If we look at our lives just trying to live, right, just trying to make it through another week, just trying to do our very, very best we can see that these themes are around us. Sometimes it feels very much like we’re being stolen from and its nothing we can put our fingers on. It's not physical, it’s “something is being taken.” Sometimes it feels like we can be experiencing theft, stealing, killing, and destroying like this…this is…this is happening. This is happening to me and I don’t know how to stop it. Jesus said, “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” In other words, the opposite of what the thief's ambitions are. So, doesn't that essentially describe life among humanity. That one verse, very famous, John 10:10, very famous verse, but that really encapsulates just about everything doesn't it? And, so, how is it that we find this concise statement from the lips of Jesus? What’s He talking about? Because John 10:10, this is a quotable verse. This gets said every week. This gets that all of the time, but it's part of a conversation just like John 3:16 is a part of a conversation when Jesus says, “for God so loved the world.” He’s in the middle of a conversation with a man named Nicodemus under the cover of night. So, this famous verse, John 10:10, “the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy” is part of a…of a conversation that Jesus is having and He's discussing shepherding. He…He's using the analogy of…of shepherding, that a flock of sheep they…they may go in and stay in a pen with many other flocks of sheep. It was a custom of the shepherds to keep the sheep together and guard them all in one place during the night, so that a predator or thief couldn’t come and take them. And then when morning comes and it’s time to go out to…out to pasture then each shepherd comes and calls its flock, and the sheep follow their shepherd because they know His voice. So, if you're a shepherd and you got 10 sheep and your sheep are in a pen with 100 sheep and they're all bleeding and they're all moving around but you come, and you call your 10 sheep that you spend your life with, that you love them and you know them by name and you would lay her life down to protect them and you call them, they hear you, they trust you, they know you. Out of the many they come running to their shepherd so that they can go out to pasture. And Jesus in this discussion is basically saying that's the way of it. Anybody who doesn't go in the sheep gate and call his sheep how isn't the shepherd. The one trying to get over the wall into the pen isn't the shepherd. Anyone who's not just going in the front door, who’s trying to get in some other way isn't the shepherd. They’re, a thief and a robber according to Jesus, but the one who just walks into the front door and calls their flock, and the sheep hear their shepherd's voice, and they follow the shepherd to pasture, that's the true shepherd. Speaking of those sheep and quoting Jesus, “a stranger they will not follow. They will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” So, this gives us some context to what Jesus is talking about. And, so, now putting our famous verse in context, Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep.” Okay. So, it's not too much of a stretch for us to understand the metaphor here, that we are the sheep, and He is the good shepherd. But what we should probably understand is that if we are His sheep, we know His voice, which means that we can hear His voice, which means that He's using His voice, which means that if it's not His voice and it's somebody else's voice saying that He's the shepherd we know better because we know the voice of our shepherd and we shy away from that interloper like sheep do. I mean my neighbor has sheep and a flock and, you know, they walk around and they…they bleat and do sheep things and if I walk over by the fence, and they are very observant creatures, if I walk over toward them, they're going to stop what they're doing and pay very close attention to what I'm doing. And if I continue and I say, “hi guys. Good morning beautiful sheep.” Even though I’m being nice, they don’t know my voice. They get skittish. They want to go somewhere where they feel more safe. A flock of sheep feels safe with its shepherd. They trust the shepherd. So, if we didn't already know this, there are competing voices out there that want things from us, whether they want our money or they want our allegiance or they want our vote or they want our voice. And often enough we can find ourselves following when we should slow down. We've been learning quite a bit about how we got…it doesn’t have to be a major slowdown, it's just gotta be we are intentional about not reacting. There are forces out there that want to steal, kill, and destroy. And that's a pretty sure bet if we've lost the voice of our Shepherd and have gotten isolated. If we’ll think this through. Like, if we’ll actually take some time to meditate on this today many things start making sense and it should give us a profound desire to hear the voice of the Shepherd and to know the voice of the Shepherd. And we might think, “I know…I do…I do…I’ve walked with the Lord for years. And, so, I know what that feels like within me when God is prompting or leading or speaking.” And others maybe like, “I just don't even know where to start.” Simple enough way to start is to simply become aware of your senses, which is not to say like, “oh, just follow your feelings around.” But when something feels off…isn't it weird how we can be in a situation that looks normal but something's not right, something's not right. We don't know what it is but something's not right. And, so, we have this kind of intuition. Sometimes we can figure it out sometimes we can’t. If we’re slowed down enough we can ask ourselves, “is this prompting…is this sense…like if…if I'm gonna go forward with this…this path that I'm…that I'm deciding, will this lead me into life abundant? Is my shepherd there? Like, is this gonna lead me deeper into Jesus or is this about me and my own gratification in some sort of way?” If we just get basic, then we can build a foundation and begin to mature. We can simply ask, “can…can this be done in the name of Jesus? Does this bring love? Will I be known by my love that I’m a disciple in this situation? We don't have to be rocket scientists or have a PhD in theology. My neighbor’s sheep don't. I don't even know if they know their sheep to be honest, but I do know that they know the voice of their shepherd, which in this particular story from Jesus seems to be the goal. So, it's an attainable goal. And if we learn the voice of our shepherd and follow the voice of our shepherd into pasture, well that might change our whole life. And, so, let's meditate upon that today and move in that direction today because that will lead us deeper and closer to Jesus today.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit come. We need to know Your voice. We need to know it clearly. And we confess that so often we’re confused about it, but that might be less about Your withholding from us and more about our unwillingness to cultivate, to learn, to listen, to be present. And, so, help us Holy Spirit because how we've navigated this far in so many situations without Your voice, that's…it's a miracle. It's Your kindness and Your mercy and Your patience, shepherding us when were not even listening. But the joy of listening means that we will be led into pasture and we won't be stolen or killed or destroyed. So, come Holy Spirit. Help us to hear Your voice today we pray. In Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home, home base for the Global Campfire that we sit around every day and enjoy the Scriptures as they wash into our lives and inform the steps that we’re gonna take and the motives that we’re gonna have as we take those steps. So, be familiar with that. Stay connected.

There is a Community section at the website. Of course, this is in the Daily Audio Bible app as well. The Prayer Wall is there in the Community section as well as different links to different social media channels that…that we’re on. So, check that out, especially the Prayer Wall is a resource to be aware of because we can always pray for one another, always and we can always ask for prayer. And, so, check that out in the Community section, the Prayer Wall.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, if the mission that we…that we share to bring the spoken word of God read fresh every day and given freely to whoever will listen to it anywhere on this planet any time of day or night and to…and to use that rhythm, day by day step-by-step to know that we are in this together, we’re making this journey together, we’re not alone in it, if that makes a difference in your life than thank you for making a difference back. There is a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner, or the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app, the little red button up at the top or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that's it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

[Singing] It only takes a spark to get a fire going and soon all those around will warm up to His glowing. That’s how it is with God’s love. Once you’ve experienced it you spread His love to everyone. You want to pass it on. I wish you for you my friend this happiness that I’ve found. You can depend on Him it matters now where you’re bound. I’ll shout it from the mountain tops. I want my world to see that the Lord of love has come to me. I want to pass it on. [End Singing] I love you my DAB family. I’m thinking of you. I’m praying for you. I want you to know that I love you so very much. I just thought that this was one of my favorite campfire songs at camp and I wanted to share it with my brothers and sisters around the Global Campfire of the DAB. I love you all. I love you Brian my brother and my sister Jill and the whole Hardin family. I am so grateful for this community. You guys are my family and I love you. Have a wonderful day and a wonderful tomorrow in Jesus’ name.

Hi DAB family this is Gigi from GVille. I wanted to share with you something today that I feel like it was the word from the Lord or for…for us and it is in Isaiah…it’s Isaiah 52 verse 2 it says shake thy self from the dust arise and sit down in a good sit Oh Jerusalem, loose thyself from the bands of thy neck oh captive daughter of Zion. And what I…I feel like the Lord is saying is that he has won the victory. He has done it, but it takes our faith, our response to Him we have to…to remove that…that band around our neck, to rise off…rise off from the floor and the dust and in the dirt and be able to, you know, sit it His authority enthroned with Him on high and to be able to move forward in His victory. We have to claim it, we have to believe that He has done it. Because the…the devil comes around like a roaring lion, but his only power is to deceive us, that the victory isn’t won, we’re still fighting, we have to work hard. And…and we fail. We don’t have the power, but God gives us the power and He has done it and in faith we respond, we receive, and the Lord has delivered us. In Jesus’ name I speak victory over you guys. You guys run the race, stand in the power of God and you will see what God has done in your life and overcome. And the world will know that He lives within you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hello Daily Audio Bible this is Dwayne from Wisconsin. All praise and glory to our wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today is May 15th and I’m calling you with a heavy heart. My son Nathan is struggling. I got some news that he attempted to break into somebody’s shed and I got really upset about what He’s doing. So, I’m asking that you’d please lift up my son Nathan. The Lord will keep him safe, that he will find some direction. He is lost, he’s got a lot going on. So, some of you know, you have prodigal sons so you know what that’s like. So, I’m just asking that you would please lift up my son Nathan, that God will wrap him in His arms, keep him safe and that his eyes will be opened and that he gets the help that he needs. Thank you DAB. Love you all pray for you all.

Hello Eva, this is Running Bear and I want to pray for you and your family. Heavenly Father, King of Kings and Lord of Lords we pray for this family that is suffering so much as they have this court date that is coming very fast but that does not encompass who they are or all that they are working towards Father. Lord, please bring healing into each one of their hearts and lives. Bring people around them that love them and that they can see that in their eyes, they can hear that in their voices. Lord, for this young lady that has been so betrayed where she has to be wondering what words are truth. Father, we…we pray for her, we pray for healing and we pray for a heart that wants You and wants to see You in spite of all of the suffering. Lord, please bless each one of them as they go to speak the truth and to share the truth that their able to recognize the suffering within them, but also that You are the redeemer and that Your desire is to bring healing in their hearts, in their lives, in their minds, and their bodies. And Father, please bless this family with the community around them that love them dearly and every day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This message is for God’s Smile. This is momma ‘D’ in New Albany, Indiana. I heard your story today about how when you and Peter first got together and how you had surrendered him over to God. And I, several days ago, had called in and asked for prayer for my…I’ve been standing in faith for my marriage for 2 years now and he has divorced me, but the Lord has told me to stand, and I’ve been standing for his salvation and for the restoration of our marriage. And I was driving along, I’m…I’m just driving today, on my way out of town and I was…I guess feeling a little angry and I was saying, “you know Lord, I want him saved, I don’t even think that I want him back anymore” and just as I was feeling that I heard your story about Peter and I was reminded of a time, many years ago when my husband Jim…and I do still call him my husband…my husband Jim and I were just dating but I didn’t know if we were going to be together long-term cause he was not saved. And I remember sitting at my prayer closet one night after my children were asleep and surrendering him to God and saying “God you know, I…I, I want him saved and I want us to be together and if you will do that I will praise you all the days of my life and if you don’t do that I’m still gonna praise you all the days of my life. And within a week Jim got saved and within another week he proposed to me and I said I’m so glad you’re saved now because now I can say yes. And he’s fallen away, and he’s stepped out of our marriage for something else, but the Lord said to me, “don’t you think I could do it again?” Thank you for your encouragement God’s Smile, thank you so, so much. God used you today.

[spnreactionblogging]

CARRY ON

spoilers below but I’m very late to the game

here we go!!! there's Some Woman in the thumbnail for this episode and I'm like oh boy did you fuckers turn castiel into a girl to make it Not Gay, I will riot. we're off to a dread-inducing start I'm honestly not even sure I want to watch this? I have not heard anything good but since my options are either keep SPN blacklisted forever but ultimately get spoiled anyway, or use my dwindling remaining time to see it for myself without being told what happens, may as well be on my own terms I am hearing that misha and possibly j2 were not happy with this, whatever this is (?????) yikes I don't understand how you even have another episode after the last one. that seems like a traditional ending. you either beat a dead horse or go ultra meta and it sounds like they dropped the ball, big time but let's see jack's sweet and deserved better. there's a clock but it's NOT heat of the moment playing, damn oh the dog. we love you miracle dog sam's still jogging where's eileen!!!! I like seeing sam cooking I actually enjoy watching them do domestic stuff dean sneaking food to the dog 😭 can this be the whole episode, just them doing chores I meant to catch which book sam was reading I can't tell but it looks like it's old this is extra bonus sad for knowing that they couldn't even like, have a wrap party or anything. extra isolated. :( SPECIAL GUEST STAR JIM BEAVER!!! "Are you sure you're ready for this?" "Oh, I don't have a choice." dean hasn't been this relatable to me in years, this is how I feel watching this lmao akron pie fest dean dies of complications from diabetes god I miss bakeries or restaurants or anything I do love Sad Sam Face "I"'m thinking about Cas, you know? Jack. If they could be here." thank you Sam that pain isn't going away for me either "stop being an eeyore" Sam's the Eeyore of the series, Dean, okay, and same lmao jared fucking slammed that pie into jensen's face and they just filmed it. you can see the actual glee on his face brady??? like sam's old classmate? wasn't that his name? or no some kid. is this just a regular-ass monster of the week. do sam and dean just get killed by like. regular people? are there no monsters anymore. I would actually love that. humanity is truly the worst monster of all. didn't we learn that in season 1 :') in "the benders" are these guys sam and dean? are they just murdering monster families like they did in the holiday episode? what is happening. are those dean's shoes. I could probably recognize how they walk if I really paid attention i guess not. probably. "singer and kripke, FBI" ha fucking clowns lmao poor sam they still have dad's journal, huh. THE LORE evil mimes. vamp-mimes. I guess they kill these dudes? we gonna unmask them or what there we go this guy looks like joseph gordon-levitt oh we love torture on this show this is definitely "dean who's NOT the ultimate killer" amirite "if those kids are dead he's gonna use a spoon" how very walter sullivan of you also I feel like sam would not do this anymore but hey who am I, someone who likes consistent characterization? lol we're back to creepy barns instead of wet pipe factories dean has a fucking shuriken lmao I honestly for real need a machete for the overgrown weeds I don't hate this so far? I'm tired of the constant torture but I guess this feels like early seasons, kind of. idk. lmao sam with the concussions. classic tie them to a chair. it's what we do. i will be disappointed if they are not tied to a chair jenny? cue studio killers. I do not remember whatever episiode this is but it looks very early based on sam's hair oh thanks sam. couldn't get out of this episode without beheading a woman too one of the suggestions for me typing "woman" was a high-heeled shoe emoji. thanks, predictive text...?????? true feminist oh damn he could very well get tetanus from that. that's how trinity dies, man. should've gotten your booster shot, dean. vaccines save lives this is like the plot of signs why don't you guys wear bulletproof shit. your plot armor was holding you together until now. GUYS THIS IS HOW HUNTERS GO OKAY don't ever un-impale someone, guys like "dean we are in a major city, there are ambulances" call fucking 911, someone could be there already "I've always looked up to you" because you're taller than me lmaoooo idefk what to say about this like. we all know this is how hunters die. you fucking leered at jessica is what you did, dean if sam makes it out of this I'll accept it. if sam lives I can be okay. if this is the only way sam gets free of this, I'm okay. CALL 911 AND CALL JACK "always keep fighting" aw :( they're both very good at crying, I will give them that we never think it's gonna be the day. at least you got pie. OH THE WINCHESTER FAMILY MUSIC don't do this to me dean got a way better death than castiel. this actually reminds me a liiiiittle bit of the end of season 2? with how dean holds sam's body. the writing here is overwrought though. jared and jensen do the best they can with the script they're given but like you guys just FOUGHT GOD. they're a bit too up their own ass with this. you can tell that dabb thinks he's very clever. sam... gets a dog again? at least. i guess. the pacing is bad. I don't hate this on principle but it is not executed well. I am having like no emotional response to this except maybe relief for sam in a horrid way. like, you're free! at what cost. it's like the opposite of season 5? sam survives instead of dean. and... sam marries a dog. where do they get all this fucking lumber!!! did sam chop that all himself dude if he woke up to "heat of the moment" i'd lose my shit in the best way. gabriel wins. "gotta keep you on your toes." what had to change in this because of the pandemic? at least sam has a dog to be in scenes with him. the two guns as big and little brothers is an interesting choice of a shot. god the fucking phones. "DHS" "CIA" "dean's 'other other' phone" "state patrol" what's the paperwork on his desk? (512) is an Austin area code I have this on amazon prime and the saddest thing thus far is X-Ray: Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester, with no other actors at all. meta ways, pandemic related. "this is agent bon jovi" donna's alive??? sam just quit, babe. just quit. or take a day off at least, jesus. didn't you just drive back from ohio are you even gonna go back to the bunker DEAN IN HEAVEN!!! how'd you get here. "well at least I made it to heaven" lmao he said the same thing oh hey bobby!! I love jack god i've missed jim beaver you guys moved on to dream bubbles!!!!! RUFUS how very homestuck + narnia of you, starring sam winchester as susan pevensie so jack just like melded all of these metaphysical spaces, I'm cool with that "so the question is what are you gonna do now, dean?" get a better beer so I can drink and drive with my car that's in heaven, I'm already dead so who cares what I hit TELL ME WHERE IS BALTHAZAR FOR I MUCH DESIRE TO SPEAK WITH HIM break everyone out of the empty I do get the impression this was supposed to be a big cast reunion and the pandemic clobbered that :( oh it's the original license plate on the impala sure do love that cas and jack "helped" to give dean everything he's ever wanted. the only time "carry on my wayward son" has been diegetic I guess sam and the dog had a child I like jared in glasses are we doing a bunch of elderly makeup yeah there he is did they just spray grey temp dye on his hair or what is sam gonna drive into toluca lake!!! buddy please don't just run the engine in a garage, he took off his glasses and that makes me nervous jake gyllenhaal looking dude which cover is this must be nice to have healthcare I so appreciate that sam's wife has zero personality and is merely in the background, of no importance whatsoever compared to his kid named dean are the two impalas gonna meet in heaven????? vancouver is beautiful, or wherever this is at jared looks so cozy in that coat you can tell j2 really do love each other for real the majesty of that forest/that river got me choked up a bit, it's such a lonely thing. like. I can see what they were going for? like dean just... getting sick, falling off a ladder, getting in a car accident, etc etc would've been more potent, I think. the execution was not good. I'm not that unhappy though. it's all right. eh. it's fine. the heartfelt message from the cast (what's left of them....) and the crew was sweet. I want to know what they were intending to do? I feel like you can definitely feel the weight of COVID fucking this up which is genuinely upsetting. sam gets like 50 years of being free of dean I GUESS???? perhaps the only way to break the cycle.

at least there was no sexual assault in this episode. i have definitely watched way worse episodes of this show. it's like. twee. but I can't be mad at these guys especially with how much I know jared in particular has been struggling with the state of the world this year but jensen talked about it with rosenbaum on his show too. 2020 has been rough. like. at least they filmed it. whatever. I feel like I get what they were trying to do even if circumstances meant it wasn't really pulled off. it seems like they were supposed to have a big cast reunion and the pandemic took the wind completely out of their sails. this feels incredibly tacked on. 15x19 would've been a much better place to stop. I feel like I just read andrew dabb's notes. I get what they were trying to go for but they didn't pull it off. I thought it was gonna be a lot worse tbh in summary: EHHHHHHHHH

[barnesandrogersfanfics]

Baby Love - Part 2

Pairing: Chris Evans x Reader

Warning: Badly written Smut happens in this part!

A/N - Read More wont work sorry!

After much consideration it was agreed that Chris would be my sperm doner, we decided it would be best to do it through the clinic so that things didn't get weird with us. Disclaimers were signed by the clinic to protect Chris, we didn't want this getting out to the public/press. The actual procedure was over in a couple of minutes and then i just had to lay there for half hour, Chris stayed with me the whole time making me laugh and keeping me distracted, he was amazing! Then we just had to wait, they said we'd know in 6-12 days whether or not i was pregnant but advised to wait 2 weeks.

Today was day 14 and i was sat on my sofa with Chris holding my hand while we waited for the pregnancy test to tell us if we were pregnant or not.

"You know if your not its not a big deal, we can try again"

"You leave again Friday, we'd have to wait til your done. Thats gonna be another few months...."

"We'll make it work, i can fly you out and we can find another clinic...." he started to say until the alarm on his phone went off and i reached out for the test, as i flipped it over i felt my heart break a little at the negative result.

"Its negative" i told him sadly before covering my face with my hands as i cried. Chris pulled me into his arms straight away, my face pressed to his chest as i cried.

"Sshhh its okay" i could hear him saying, his voice slightly mumbled against the top of my head.

"Maybe I'm just not supposed to be a mom, i should just accept that this isn't meant to happen for me"

"Hey! Dont say that! This will happen, ok? This was just the first try, these things take time" he said moving back so he could look at me, his hands cradling my face as his thumb brushed away my tears.

"I don't have time Chris thats the problem" i replied sadly.

The next thing i know Chris is kissing me! And it doesn't feel weird.... or wrong.

I kiss him back my hands tugging his hair making him moan into my mouth. He lays me down on the sofa without breaking the kiss, his body resting between my legs like its the most natural thing for us to do. He starts rubbing his hips against me and i can feel how hard he is through his jeans and i want him, i moan at the feeling of him rubbing himself against my clothed pussy. Reaching up i grab his belt and start to unbuckle it, he finally sits back and looks at me as if checking I'm sure about this, i nod quickly and he free's himself from his jeans and boxers before reaching down and pulling off my shorts & panties. When i finally get a look at him my eyes go wide.....his cock is huge! The biggest ive ever had inside me and my stomach flips at the thought of what it will feel like. Chris leans back down and kisses me again as my hands wander under his t-shirt before tugging it off, he pulls off my shirt and bra tossing them behind him somewhere. His hands are grabbing and massaging my breasts as he rocks his hips against mine, his cock sliding through my slick pussy. I reach down taking hold of him and line him up with my entrance, i just needed him inside me. He pushes in and lets out the most beautiful moan ive ever heard in my life!!

"Mmmm oh fuck.... you feel like fucking heaven!.... so tight" he mumbles as he starts to thrust in and out of my tight wet pussy.

"Shit Chris..... ahhhhh" i moan grabbing his ass and pulling him closer if thats even possible "dont stop!"

"Does that feel good?"

"So fucking good! fuck me harder, i can take it" i moan as he kisses and sucks on my neck. He sits back and looks down at me, his eyes on my breasts and then he grabs my hips and does what i asked, he fucks me harder, faster while watching my breasts bounce with every thrust.

"Ah fuck I'm gonna cum.... your squeezing my cock so tight!" He said before i felt his thumb press agaisnt my clit and start rubbing quickly until i felt myself let go... i practically screamed as my orgasm hit and Chris was groaning as his hips kept pumping, he threw his head back as i felt him release inside me. He slowly came to a stop but i could feel his cock still twitching inside me as he rested his head against my shoulder trying to catch his breath. I run my fingers through his hair and pressed a kiss against his neck as i tried to catch my own breath.

"Wow" i heard him say quietly in my ear and started laughing "why haven't we been doing that before".

"Maybe because we're best friends"

"Right" he nodded "only i don't usually do this kinda thing with my friends"

"Me either"

"I mean I'm not sure if you've realised but my cock is still inside you right now..."

"Oh I'm well aware!" I said with a laugh that must have made me tense up because Chris gasped and bit down on my shoulder.

"Jesus christ woman!"

"Sorry my bad, we should probably get cleaned up and put some clothes on"

"If you insist" he carefully disconnected himself from me making me groan.

"Chris...."

"This doesn't have to be a bad thing. It didn't feel wrong to me at all..... it felt right" he says already knowing that i was going to be worried about what we do now.

"Im not saying its a bad thing or that it felt wrong...."

"So you agree that it felt right, right?"

"Yeah but is now the time to be doing this?? Chris i cant loose you, i honestly don't think id be able to survive without you in my life. It was already a risk trying to get pregnant and now this.... plus your leaving again Friday"

"So how about we take some time to think about it, wait until im back, then we can give this a go if we still think its for the best" he suggested "but we promise no matter what we stay friends"

"Its not that easy once sex is involved" i said getting up and pulling his tshirt on quickly "i mean how can you say no to this now you know how heavenly it is inside me" i teased as i headed towards the bathroom.

"Oh your gonna get it woman!" He laughed running after me still naked as the day he born.

Friday came around quickly and i drove Chris to the airport and went in with him to say goodbye.

"Okay be careful! And kick some ass" i smiled up at him making him laugh.

"I will, i'll call everyday. It'll be like i never left, you'll soon get sick of me"

"I could never get sick of you Evan's"

He pulled me into a hug kissing my head "we'll talk properly when i get back"

"Yeah" i nodded knowing he meant about us "dont go meeting any new guys while im gone"

"There's only one guy for me, Dodger has my heart you know that" i chuckled against Chris's chest.

"Your a dork" He laughed taking a step back to get a look at me "But your my dork"

"You bet your ass i am" i smiled up at him, he leant forward pressing his lips to mine for a quick kiss.

"Im gonna miss you"

"I'll miss you too. You better get going though your already cutting it fine and they wont wait for you"

"I know but its just so hard to say goodbye to you" he pouted like a sulking child and squeezed my hand.

"Go! We'll Skype tonight"

"Okay fine" after another quick kiss he grabbed his carry on and went through the check point.

@jennmurawski13