#But look at Erick's face!!

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The Medinas came back from a vacation at Sunset Valley! I guess Teodor was absolutely eager to bring the Alegrías a souvenir when everyone was already in bed (and right in the middle of Noemí and Erick's woohoo session).

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Erick Brian in '4Ever' (2023)

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Inevitable (Alex Summers x Reader)

Inevitable (Alex Summers x Reader) Reader Insert: she/her pronouns Word Count: 13,014 Warnings: violence, angst, fluff, death, injuries, mentions of unable to have children, sad ending, implied sexual actions Spoilers: I guess the plots of X-Men First Class, Days of Future Past, and Apocalypse but the films have been out for years so don't at me.

This is the story of Y/N L/N and Alex Summers - of Aura, the girl who could turn invisible and manipulate energy around her, and Havok, the boy who could generate and blast plasma from his body. A boy destined for destruction, and a girl who could prevent it.

Their story was always inevitable.

I'm going through an X-Men rewatch and I forgot how much of a chokehold some of these characters had me in, especially from the First Class era. As you can probably tell from my previous stories, I have an soft spot for the tragic ones, so here is my little story of Alex Summers who bloody deserved better.

1962 - C.I.A. Mutant Division

Y/N looked around at her surroundings as she followed Erik and Charles down corridor after corridor. She'd never met C.I.A agents before, let alone stepped inside one of their facilities. But Erik and Charles aren't C.I.A., she reminded herself as she took in the bland concrete walls and cold, harsh lighting above her. They were like her - mutants.

She hadn't believed them at first when they'd told her just a few hours ago inside the cafe she was closing up for the day. It had been a busy day and she hadn't had time for a drink of water let alone any reasonable break. She thought she was hallucinating when the two had entered the cafe, prattling on about how they knew who she was.

It was only when she demanded they prove it - that they were like her - and the taller one (Erik) had lifted every piece of dirty cutlery in the store and had them float into the foaming sink to be cleaned that she believed them.

That was almost seven hours ago, the drive from New York to Virginia giving the men more than enough time to bring her up to speed on what they were doing and why: they were gathering other mutants like her to stop another war from starting.

As she followed the two men through the facility, only now did she start to have doubts about their intentions. For all she knew, she was going to be experimented on and tortured, possibly killed.

'If we'd wanted you dead, we would've made sure of that back in New York,' Charles suddenly said without looking as he and Erick led the way.

'What? How did you-' Y/N started to ask, but cut herself off as she remembered what Charles' gift allowed him to do.

Y/N noticed her surroundings starting to change. Instead of a war bunker, the corridors started looking more home-like and the lights grew warmer. As they approached a big orange door, Y/N heard voices speaking and laughing in the room beyond. They sounded... happy.

Finally, Charles looked at her and spoke, but not with his mouth. I promise you, Y/N, he said into her mind, freaking her out a little bit, you don't have to be scared here. You don't have to hide who you are from the people beyond this door. Here, you can be free. Happy, even.

Y/N looked between Charles and the door for a moment, imagining whose faces belonged to which laugh, which voice. She imagined herself doing those same things, and that was what convinced her that she was in the right place.

'Are you ready to meet your new family?' Charles asked aloud this time, to which Y/N nodded and Erik opened the door.

Y/N was met with six people sitting around a coffee table chatting and laughing while having a few drinks. She took a moment to admire them all - a short girl with dark hair and visible tattoos all along her shoulders and arms; a red-head who seemed to be doing a lot of the talking in the group; a man with charcoal skin and broad shoulders in a tight grey vest-shirt; a boy with glasses who looked really shy next to a gorgeous blonde girl who could very well have been a super model; and a blond boy in a dark t-shirt and leather jacket who had the smoothest smile Y/N had ever seen.

They were the perfect picture - how could she possibly interrupt that? Y/N was about to leave when suddenly Charles called for everyone's attention and that smooth smile from the blond was now aimed at her. Her heart thudded in her chest, embarrassment at being caught flooding her cheeks and she just had the visceral response to hide, hide, hide.

'Everyone,' Charles started proudly as he motioned to Y/N, 'this is Y/N. She will be- Wait, where did she go?'

Y/N watched as everyone looked around the room even though she she hadn't moved. Both Charles and Erik looked at her, but they didn't seem to see her. That's when she looked down at her hands and found her entire body covered in a translucent light only she could see. And that could only mean one thing.

'Sorry, I'm right here.' Y/N concentrated hard on revealing herself and when she could no longer see the translucent light, she knew she could be seen again.

'Whoa,' the red-head said, his mouth gaping in shock.

'That... is wicked cool,' the broad-shouldered man exclaimed.

'As I was saying before,' Charles said, sounding sheepish at forgetting her ability, 'this is Y/N. She will be joining you all and her gift... Well, we will leave that to her to discuss that with you all. Erik?'

'Yes,' Erik replied, and then the two of them were gone, closing the door behind them and leaving Y/N standing all alone.

Y/N was usually a confident person - she had to be as a waitress - but having six pairs of eyes staring at her so intently had her wanting to hide again. The beautiful blonde stood up from her place on the white couch and sauntered over to her. Y/N found herself looking up at the woman, who seemed to have legs for days and the most beautiful smile as she approached.

'I'm Raven,' she said, holding a hand out in greeting. When Y/N shook her hand, she gestured to the couch. 'You've come at the best time. We were all just about to discuss our gifts with one another.'

Y/N was quickly dragged to the couch and plunged into an in-depth conversation with the six. After only a few minutes, Y/N felt as if she'd always been there, talking and laughing and joking around and becoming more confident. Although, she couldn't compete with the blond boy with the smooth smile from earlier, now known as Alex Summers.

In the short time she'd heard him speak, she'd deduced he was the cockiest man in every room ever. No wonder he was put into solitary confinement, she thought when he mentioned he was picked up by Charles and Erik at his army base. He's probably been the instigator of more than one fight.

'We should think of some code names,' Raven suggested enthusiastically. 'We're technically government agents now. We should have code names. I want to be called Mystique.'

'Damn, I wanted to be called Mystique,' Sean, the red-head, groaned in fake misery, causing everyone to laugh.

'Well, tough. I called it,' Raven said, then her voiced changed as she physically did, eliciting gasps from the group as she now sat as an exact replica of Sean. 'And I am way more mysterious than you.'

The group gave her a round of applause as she morphed back into the beautiful blonde, but now that she'd revealed her gift, Y/N wondered if what she showed everyone now was her true form or just another disguise.

One by one they went around the room, showing off their abilities and coming up with names for each other. The mood somewhat soured when Angel asked Hank who he wanted to be.

'How about Bigfoot?' Alex jested as he took another sip of his coke. His condescending laughter communicated that it wasn't a nice joke, and that didn't sit well with Y/N.

'Well you know what they say about guys with big feet,' Raven said, eyeing his own feet before she continued, 'and, um, yours are kind of small.'

Alex's smirk dropped instantaneously as the group laughed and oohed at Raven's burn. Except for Darwin, who rounded the group back to the topic at hand.

'Okay, okay, settle down now,' he said. 'What can you do, Alex. What is your gift?'

'How about being burnt by women?' Y/N murmured just loud enough for the group to hear, earning another round of laughs and a hard glare from Alex. Y/N held his gaze with a smirk in challenge, taking a sip of her own drink. He might've been top dog back in army bootcamp, but Y/N didn't like bullies, especially if they were meant to be teammates.

Alex eventually dropped his glare, his whole demeanour changing as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. 'Um, it's just... It's just that... I can't do... I can't do it in here.'

'Can you do it out there?' Darwin asked, and when Alex hesitated to answer, the rest of the group started goading and pleading him to show his abilities. Y/N even found herself intrigued. What could Alex do that he needed open space for?

The group cheered victoriously as Alex gave in to peer pressure, put his drink down and climbed through the broken glass courtesy of Sean moments before. As Alex set up outside, Y/N joined the others who leaned out the broken window to watch him.

'Get down when I tell you,' Alex said as he lined up in front of the bronze statue that's head still smoked - courtesy of Angel's fireball during her demonstration.

'Get back,' Alex said, and Y/N leaned back with the rest of the group, but they all apparently were too intrigued and so they all leaned out from behind the wall to watch him.

Alex went to make a move until he realised the group hadn't listened to him. 'Get back!' he warned again, but when no one moved, he faced the statue again. 'Whatever.'

Y/N found herself gaping at Alex as he seemingly powered up, red rings of plasma rotating around him until he slung them out into the open space but uncontrolled. The last one hit the statue, slicing it on a diagonal that had its head and part of its torso falling to the grass in flames.

The group erupted in rounds of applause as Alex walked back to them. He appeared more confident now as his teammates applauded. Y/N figured he wasn't used to that. Perhaps that was why he'd been in solitary confinement as much as he had been.

'Well, I'm glad you did that out here,' Darwin said, looking at the wreckage slightly worried. 'You've caused... a bit of chaos.'

'I can't control it, unfortunately,' Alex said, looking at the damage he'd caused. 'I'm hoping that might change one day.'

'Don't be ashamed of your gift, Alex,' Raven said, resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. 'You're amazing.' She looked to the rest of the group. 'We all are.'

When Raven did that, Alex's attention fell onto Y/N again, a skeptical look on his face. 'So what about you? Do you do anything useful or do you just disappear when you get a little embarrassed?'

Y/N's cheeks heated with anger. Who the hell was he to judge her? He didn't even know her.

'At least I don't cause havoc with my gift,' she bit back, motioning to the flaming buildings and statue.

Where a normal person would look at the damage and wince with remorse, Alex had the audacity to look at his handiwork and laugh in amusement. 'Havoc. I like that. Maybe that should be my code name, except change the c to a k so it looks cooler written down.'

Y/N rolled her eyes while the others complimented how good a name it was. But she had to admit it was a fitting one, just a shame he turned her insult into a name for a hero.

Y/N released a sigh then held out a hand to the fires in the courtyard, concentrating on grasping the energy in the air. After a moment, small bubbles of white energy appeared and Y/N was vaguely aware that her new friends had gone quiet as she forced the bubbles to encapsulate the fires. With a flick of her fingers, the bubbles started shrinking, depriving the fires of oxygen and eventually extinguishing them.

When Y/N turned back to the group, she found them all gaping at her in wonder and shock.

'Well, that was cool,' Angel said, earning hums of agreement from the others.

'What exactly did you just do?' Hank asked.

'I don't really know what it is,' Y/n answered honestly. 'But, I think I can manipulate energy or something like that. I can create those force fields, and as you saw before...'

Y/N let the energy hide her, and she relished the shocked faces of her friends as they could no longer see her. Feeling cheeky, she ran at Alex then dropped and swiped his legs out from underneath him, sending him sprawling to the ground.

He landed with a resounding thud, his breath escaping him in a loud, 'Oof,' as he did. Only then did Y/N reveal herself, looking down at him with a smug smile.

'...I can turn invisible.'

The others clapped in appreciation of her demonstration while Alex looked up at her in annoyance. Y/N offered her hand to help him up and surprisingly he took it and together they pulled him to his feet.

'So what, you can control, like, the Force, or something?' he asked.

Y/N rolled her eyes. 'This isn't Star Wars, asshole. It's more like... I can feel the aura of the energy around me and I connect with it and then use it to my will.'

'That's it!' Angel exclaimed suddenly. 'That's your name!"

'What is?' Y/N asked, confused.

'Aura!'

'Aura.' Y/N tried it on her tongue. She had to admit, it had a nice ring to it.

'Aura, Havok, Banshee, Darwin, Angel...' Raven said each of their new code names as she looked at them, grabbing a drink for herself from the table. She looked to Hank. 'We'll find one for you soon, Hank,' she reassured, then pointed to herself. 'And Mystique.' She raised her drink high and everyone else did the same. 'Here's to our new life. Here's to being our true selves.'

'Here, here,' Sean said as they all clinked their drinks together in solidarity.

'So, what do you think?' Alex said just to Y/N as seperate conversations between the others started. Angel switched on some music and her and Raven jumped on the coffee table to start dancing.

'About what?' Y/N asked.

'Are you going to be your true self here? With us?' he asked, and there was a little challenge in his question, as if he really wanted to add Or are you going to hide away?

Y/N had so far lived her life in constant fear. But Erik and Charles said they needed her, that the world needed her. Perhaps it was time to stop hiding.

Y/N flashed Alex a small smile, reflecting his challenge in her own eyes. 'I don't think you could handle the true me, Havok.'

Alex's grin widened devilishly. 'Try me, Aura.'

1962 - X Mansion, pre-Cuba

It had been weeks since the C.I.A Mutant Division facility had been attacked by Shaw, that Angel had chosen his side, that Darwin had sacrificed himself in the effort to save them all, Angel included.

Egos bruised and hope extinguished, Charles had brought those who remained back to his mansion to train for the upcoming battle with Shaw. Which is what Y/N was doing with Raven when Charles entered the gym requesting her presence in the war bunker.

'You want me to what?' both Alex and Y/N exclaimed together in the bunker, gaping at Charles because he'd clearly lost his mind.

'You heard me,' Charles said nonchalantly, walking to stand in the middle of the room. 'I want you two to spar while you, Y/N, protect me. Expand your range of concentration so you can control different energies at once, manipulate numerous fields doing different things simultaneously. Alex now has the tools he needs to control his power so he won't be as volatile as he once was.'

'Hey now,' Alex said, clearly offended.

Charles offered a mediocre apologetic smile before readdressing Y/N. 'You have to push the limits you have set for yourself in order to become stronger. I can sense your full potential hasn't even been scraped at yet. How about we try today.'

Y/N looked between Charles and Alex, who also looked at Charles like he was crazy. But there was an air of truth to his demands. Shaw was no novelty mutant, and neither were Angel and the other mutants following him. If Y/N didn't do this, she would be their next victim, and what kind of teammate would she be if she died too early?

Y/N eventually nodded her agreement. 'Okay, let's do this.'

'You sure about this?' Alex asked her.

'Aw, is big old Alex Summers worried about hurting me?' Y/N taunted, though she didn't really know why. His concern was sort of sweet.

It disgusted her.

Alex's concern scrunched up in annoyance on his stupidly beautiful face. 'No. I just... Oh, screw this. Fine let's spar, L/N.'

Y/N went to stand at one end of the bunker and Alex at the opposite end. Charles planted himself right in the middle of the two, looking too casual for Y/N's liking. Did he really have that much faith in them?

'Whenever you two are ready,' Charles called out, rocking on the back of his heels in anticipation.

'Okay,' Alex said hesitantly as he fired himself up. His new chest plate helped him to control his plasma so he surely would hit the professor if Y/N didn't do something.

Just as Alex fired, Y/N placed a force field over Charles and the plasma blast bounced off it and straight back at Alex. Alex had to duck quickly as his own blast came hurtling back at him, and Charles let out a small laugh as the blast made a small dent in the wall behind Alex.

'Well this is going to be fun,' Charles said, and the fight truly begun.

Alex would sling shot after shot at Y/N and the professor, but Y/N deflected every shot and held the force field around the professor soundly. At one point, Y/N managed to to turn in visible while Alex was distracted and landed a few blows.

But Alex managed to knock her back, the blow forcing her to reveal herself. She had no time to worry about being exposed however, as Alex powered up for what seem to be one giant blast. Y/N managed to bring up a force field around her as the blast connected, but instead of bouncing up off it, the plasma seemed to sink into the force field.

Y/n looked around in confusion, feeling the energy flowing stronger through the force field and increasing with every second. She was vaguely aware of someone calling her name - it sounded like Charles - but the energy was becoming too much to hold up now.

Y/N let out a cry as she released the force field, and the shockwave it sent through the bunker sent both her and Alex flying to opposite ends of the bunker.

Y/N smacked into the solid brick hard, sending an intense throbbing through her head as she hit the ground. Her vision blurred and she felt drained of power like never before. Two blurry figures were in front of her, their mouthes moving but not saying a word. She thought they were saying her name.

After a few more seconds, her hearing came back to her as well as her vision, showing Alex and Charles kneeling beside her with worry on their faces.

'Y/N, can you hear me?' Charles asked, scanning over her body for any injuries.

'Are you okay? Can you hear us? Say something,' Alex said, eyes searching her face for any sign that she understood anything they were saying.

Y/N hummed in reassurance and his worry dissipated into relief. Alex quickly helped her into a sitting position as she gathered herself. 'Well,' she breathed out, giving Alex an amused smile, 'that was... fun.'

This elicited a laugh out of both men as they helped her to her feet. Y/N was very aware of Alex's hand holding her steady on the small of her back as they both listened to Charles.

'My! You two create quite the show,' he exclaimed with an enthusiasm that kind of scared Y/N. 'Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant work, you two. You have both grown in leaps and bounds these past few weeks. I daresay you will both be quite powerful when you fully master your gifts. Now, take the afternoon off, possibly head to Hank in the lab for some patching up and look overs. I will see you both first thing tomorrow.'

'He sounds like a professor talking to students,' Alex muttered after Charles had left.

Y/N shrugged. 'Well, we kind of are students, so I guess that would make him our professor.'

The two shared a small laugh and both their eyes slipped to his arm, which was attached to the hand that still pressed gently against her back. Alex quickly dropped his hand and Y/N took a decent step away from him. Well now it's awkward.

'G-Good fight,' Alex finally said after seconds of silence, unable to meet her eyes. He did the thing where he rubbed his neck and Y/N's stomach did a little flip at how cute the gesture was.

Quit that, she told herself, then realised she hadn't responded to him. 'Y-yeah. You too. Sorry... for sending you into the wall.'

'It's okay. I've been hit harder,' he said, and his cocky smirk was back. Something about his statement rubbed Y/N up the wrong way, like he was undermining her ability. That was a pretty decent fight they just had.

Y/N just huffed and stormed out of the bunker. 'Whatever,' she muttered as she left him behind.

'Hey,' Alex called out as he ran to catch up with her. 'What's wrong? You want me to apologise too? Okay, I'm sorry for sending you into the wall, too. There? Happy?'

'You know,' she started, stomping up the stairs that would take her to the first floor of the mansion, 'you can be such a jerk, Alex.'

'What are you talking about?' he asked, and he had the audacity to sound genuinely clueless.

At the top of the stairs Y/N finally stopped to let Alex catch up. She didn't care that he was taller than her, she looked up at him with annoyance in her eyes. 'You can never admit that someone could be better than you, let alone that they could be your equal.'

His face screwed up in confusion. 'What? That's not what I meant. Where did you get that impression from?'

'You think yourself superior to us all, and for what? We all have gifts, Alex. We are all special and useful and powerful. Yet you make fun of Hank, you belittle me. What is your problem?!'

Alex stepped towards Y/N, closing what little space there had been between until she felt his breath brushing her heated cheeks. 'You know, I was just about to pay you a compliment but forget it.'

'I wouldn't want a compliment from you, Alex. They're more like insults than anything,' Y/N said then stormed off.

'Princess!' Alex called out after her in a last ditch effort to have the last word.

'Jerk!' she answered over her shoulder.

'Coward!'

'Asshole!'

Y/N finally entered the lab and Hank was already looking at her crossed arms.

'You know, you two really need to take your fights outside,' he simply said, already reaching for his equipment to check her health.

Y/N raised a brow in a silent question, to which Hank responded, 'The walls and floors to this place aren't as thick as they appear.'

Downstairs where Y/N had left Alex smouldering, a certain telepath entered Alex's mind. Well that's an interesting flirting tactic.

'Oh, piss off,' Alex hissed aloud as he walked in the opposite direction towards his assigned bedroom. Y/N was the most aggravating person in existence. Flirting with her was the last thing on Alex's mind.

I don't know, I think you two would make a rather nice couple, Charles interjected again.

'I said piss off!'

1962 - Cuba Beach

Y/N was locked in a fight with Riptide when she saw Alex and Sean crash onto the beach, Angel having shot them down. As she went to attack, Alex shoved Sean out of range as he unleashed his uncontrolled plasma rings, his chest plate missing.

He caught her wings, slicing them in half and sending her flying to the ground, but as Alex helped Sean to his feet, Y/N spied Angel get to her feet, rage in her eyes and fire burning in her mouth.

Alex's back was turned. He would never see it coming.

Y/N, rejuvenated by the threat, turned back to Riptide and conjured up a large energy wave and sent it hurtling at Riptide. He tried bringing up a wall of wind to counteract it, but the wave was stronger and sent him into the side of the uprooted submarine. He fell to the sand with a hard thud and didn't move.

Y/N immediately ran for Alex and Sean, hands raised and conjuring up a force field around her friends just as Angel spat fireball after fireball at the two of them. The fireballs bounced right off the force field, angering Angel even more as she turned her attention to Y/N.

Before she could attack, Y/N trapped Angel in another force field, raised her off the beach, and sent her out over the ocean where she finally let the force field drop. It hurt her to hear her old friend's scream as she fell into the deep water, but Angel had done this to herself.

Y/N turned back to the boys. 'Are you two okay?' she asked, looking over them for any injuries. All she could find was Alex's bare chest and a hole in Sean's wing suit.

'We had it covered,' Alex said, his tone annoyed.

Y/N scoffed. She couldn't believe it. He was still being a self-righteous jerk in the middle of a battle?

'I just saved your life, asshole,' she said, stepping towards him in anger. 'Maybe you should be thanking me instead of complaining like a little boy.'

'Get down,' he said, his eyes on something over her shoulder, but she didn't care. He wasn't listening, but she would make him.

'Don't you tell me what to do you self-righteous jerk-'

'I said get down!'

Before she knew what was happening, Alex was pushing her behind him as he sent plasma rings at Riptide, who Y/N obviously hadn't knocked out entirely and was lining up to attack her from behind.

Riptide saved himself from being sliced like the statue back at the C.I.A. with a small tornado, but the impact from the plasma rings sent him flying over the submarine and out of sight.

'And I just saved yours,' Alex said as her tuned back to a shocked Y/N. He was panting heavily, obviously not used to exerting so much energy in such a short time frame. 'Now we're even.'

The way his words were haggard from his lack of breath made his voice raspy and Y/N hated how much the sound tingled up her spine pleasantly.

Y/N opened her mouth to retort at him - tell him how stupid and reckless and irresponsible and idiotic he was - but she couldn't find anything to say, and so snapped her gaping gob shut in indignation. The two just stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, eyes locked as so many unspoken emotions passed between each other.

Until Sean walked in between the two of them, shaking his head in disbelief. 'Damn, get a room, you two,' he said, his tone both disgusted and amused as he started walking back to Charles and Moira still on the crashed jet.

'We're not-' Y/N started.

'It's nothing like-' Alex interjected at the same time, but Sean was already out of earshot.

Y/N and Alex looked back at each other, both their cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Alex was the one to finally break the silence. 'We should...' he trailed off as he gestured after Sean.

'Right,' Y/N immediately answered, grateful for the change in subject. They still had a fight to win, otherwise the whole world would fall into another war.

Y/N and Alex followed Sean swiftly, happy to leave the awkward interaction behind them. But even after the fight, Y/N didn't know about Alex, but maybe there was a little truth to what Sean's words implied. It wasn't that Alex was unattractive. He was just... infuriating.

But he had saved her life, put his body on the line protect her. That meant he cared for her in some capacity... right?

1967 - X Mansion

'You're what?!' Y/N exclaimed, standing up from her seat in the middle of Charles' office.

'I'm sorry, Y/N, but I have no choice,' Charles said, his voice sad and exhausted.

Y/N should've seen this coming. She'd seen the signs. How Charles had let his hair grow out, how the shadow of a beard grazed his jawline. How he lounged in his wheelchair instead of sitting with his usual perfect posture. And the hope and colour of his eyes had faded to loss and hopelessness.

'Yes, you do,' Y/N argued, slamming her hands on his desk. 'You can choose to keep fighting. You can choose to keep helping and teaching. You can choose hope, Charles.'

'There is no hope left, Y/N,' Charles replied, dejected as he looked anywhere but Y/N's eyes. 'Erik was right. The world is not meant for mutants. The world does not want mutants.'

Y/N walked around the desk to kneel before his wheelchair. 'You can't truly believe that, Charles,' she said trying to catch his gaze. 'After all you have done, after everything we've been through, you cannot believe that. Look at what you've achieved!'

She gestured to the room, but she meant the school as a whole, whose corridors buzzed with students who possessed unique powers. Admittedly the numbers had dwindled significantly because of the Vietnam War, with most of the teachers and the older students being drafted. Y/N had managed to not be drafted so far, and had dedicated every second she had to teaching. She was now in her late 20s and had learned all she could as a student. It was her turn to teach the next generation what it means to be a mutant.

But regardless of numbers, there were still children who needed help. They couldn't close. They just couldn't.

'Please, Charles,' she said, placing a gentle hand on his cheek to guide his eyes to meet hers. He looked in so much pain - a pain Y/N couldn't see but she could certainly try to understand. 'There is still hope. There is still good in the world. We just have to find it again.'

Charles didn't say anything at first, and Y/N took that as a sign that maybe she'd gotten through to him. Since beginning her teaching career, Charles had become like an older brother to her. He hadn't given up on her when she didn't believe in herself all those years ago, she wasn't going to give up on him now.

But Charles gently took her hand away from his face and turned his chair so he faced away from her. 'Hope is a human error. I've already made up my mind, Y/N. I suggest you forget about all of this and go live what life you have left. God knows society won't allow you a full one.'

Y/N remained crouching, too shocked to argue, too horrified to be angry. As Charles turned his back on her - busied himself with his bookshelf - Y/N left the room in a daze, still unsure what had just happened. That's how she felt for the rest of the day as she taught and supervised, students constantly asking her if she was okay as she usually wasn't as silent as she was.

Y/N easily deflected the questions, but she couldn't ignore the breaking of her heart every time she spoke with a student, saw them master an ability, ask a question. How would she break the news to them? A more accurate question would be how could she? They looked up to her, to Charles, to all of them. Some of them had no homes to go back to, no families that accepted them or no families at all.

By the time the last bell rang, Y/N was on the brink of breaking down.

It was now late at night, the children well and truly asleep. But Y/N remained awake, walking the mansion, dreading breaking the news tomorrow during the assembly. God knew Charles was in no condition to break the news himself even though he was the headmaster. And Hank hated public speaking despite being a teacher. No, she had to do it, but she'd be breaking hundreds of hearts in the process.

As she reached the front foyer, looking around and remembering her first few days there, remembering the first few days of the school opening and it being full of enthusiastic and excited children, tears welled up in her eyes.

They'd just started to slip when the front doors clanged open. Y/N immediately went into defensive mode, her hands lighting up as her mutation activated

Alex threw his hands up in faux surrender. 'Whoa! Easy Y/N, it's just me!'

Y/N breathed a long sigh of relief as she let her hands drop. 'Jesus, Alex. You mind knocking next time? What are you even doing here? It's two in the morning.'

Alex was also a teacher at the school, but he sometimes slept off campus as his family home was just a few suburbs away. He usually didn't slip back in until just before class though so this encounter was a little surprising.

'I needed to see the professor,' he said, then his face scrunched with worry as he looked over Y/N. 'Were you just crying?'

Y/N quickly turned her back to him to wipe away the tears that had escaped. 'I'm fine. It's nothing.'

'No it's not,' Alex said, and he took quick steps until he stood beside Y/N. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and managed to turn her to face him. He looked down at her with such concern Y/N felt more tears welling up.

He was a dick. From the day they'd met he'd solidified that for himself. But the past five years had seen him mature, grow, change in ways Y/N had no idea he was capable of. She saw how gentle he was with the children, how fiercely protective he'd become of them.

And while they still clashed and fought like cats and dogs, they'd found comfort in each other more than once. They would always laugh on the terrace late at night as they had a nightcap, downloading their days to one another; Y/N would occasionally bring Alex food when she knew he hadn't made it to lunch because he was so busy with work; and Y/N would wake up sometimes from nightmares to Alex comforting her.

Out of all the original X-Men group, those two had become the closest. With Charles busy running the school, Hank busy with his lab, Raven, Erik, and Angel off recruiting for their Brotherhood, and Sean deciding to go see the world, Alex and Y/N only had each other.

'What's wrong?' Alex asked so gently. 'What happened?'

Y/N couldn't get a word out, her heartbreak finally bubbling to the surface as tears and sibs wracked her body.

'Hey, hey, hey,' Alex said as he pulled her tight to his chest, arms wrapping securely around her, hands rubbing up and down her back soothingly. Y/N clung to him for dear life, the only part of her body she could control as she continued crying. 'It's all right. I've got you.'

They stayed like that for a few minutes before Y/N had no more tears to cry. When she finally pulled away, there was a dark patch of tears staining his white t-shirt that he wore under a plaid overskirt. 'Sorry about that.'

'Don't be. Ever,' he said, and Y/N had never seen him so serious before. 'Now, what's wrong?'

'Charles is closing down the school,' she said, voice dejected.

'What?' Alex looked up the stairs then back to Y/N, confusion and anger morphing his features. 'I'm gonna go talk to him.'

He made to run up the stairs and no doubt give Charles a piece of his mind, but Y/N quickly grasped his wrist and halted him. 'You can't,' Y/N said. 'He's already made his mind up.'

'Like hell he has,' Alex seethed, making to leave again but Y/N pulled him back.

'Alex,' she pleaded with him, 'believe me if I could change his mind I would be up there right now doing so. But... he has no hope anymore. The war has dwindled us thin. He doesn't see the good in the world anymore. That's not something we can give back to him. He has to find that again on his own.'

Alex looked ready to argue, jaw clenching as he looked between the stairs and Y/N. But Y/N slipped her hand into his and squeezed it gently and his features softened. He rubbed the back of his neck - as he always did - as he let out a defeated sigh. 'So I guess there isn't any point in informing him that I've been drafted for the war?'

Y/N's eyes bulged and her heart rate spiked with fear. 'You what?' she asked, but she'd heard him correctly.

His jaw clenched as if he didn't want to elaborate. 'Got the call this morning. I'm just surprised it's taken this long for them to find me again.'

That's right. Y/N sometimes forgot he had been in the army just before they met. 'When do you leave?' she asked.

'Two days from now,' he said regrettably.

Y/N never considered herself an emotional person, but tears welled up in her eyes again. 'It's just not fair,' she said, breathless as she tried to keep the tears back. 'You deserve to be free. You deserve to be happy, Alex.'

'Hey, hey,' he cooed, using both hands to cradle her head and neck, forcing her eyes to meet his. 'I'll come back. I promise. And who says I haven't been free and happy?'

He swallowed thickly as his eyes scanned over Y/N's face, hesitating on her lips before looking back at her eyes. Y/N felt then something change. In the air, between them, possibly both - she couldn't quite tell. But the way he was looking at her, how he held her so preciously, had her heart racing.

'The past five years here have been the most free and happy I've ever been,' Alex admitted. 'Training and teaching with Charles and Hank... and you. You have given me a home away from home, a new family. You've protected me when no one else would; you've laughed and cried and fought with me, for me...'

He leaned in closer now, as if there was a gravitational force pulling them together. 'I will come back, Y/N. To you.'

Alex Summers was a dick, but he was also a kind and loyal man. A man silently laying out his heart before her despite their previous disagreements.

'Promise?' she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

'Promise,' he said, and with that confirmation Y/N stood up on her toes to lock her lips with Alex's.

His hands cradled her face still as he held her to him, their lips melding harmoniously as they kissed. This had been building in Y/N since day one when he'd flashed her that smooth smile that sent her stomach into somersaults. Every fight (verbal or physical), every conversation, every drink they shared, every looked that passed between them, it had all been leading to this.

They finally pulled apart but pressed their foreheads together as they caught their breaths.

'I've been wanting to do that for a long time now,' Alex admitted, his words breathless.

'How long?' Y/N asked, curious.

'Since day one,' he answered, then let out a small chuckle. 'I didn't know it at the time, and when I finally did I never wanted to admit it. I think Charles and everyone else knew before I did.'

'It was the same for me,' Y/N assured him, and Alex smiled brightly before he pulled her in for another kiss.

The rest of the night was spent catching up on lost time. Y/N was thanking Charles that all teachers' rooms were at the other end of the mansion to the students' rooms. Y/N and Alex managed an hour of sleep before the rays of dawn warmed them awake.

'We probably shouldn't have done that,' Y/N said, tracing a finger along Alex's toned stomach.

'We were pretty quiet, I thought,' Alex said, stopping threading his fingers through Y/N's hair to press a kiss to the top of her head. 'Though, you did get a bit loud when I-'

'Shut up, asshole,' she said, giving him a slight shove that sent the both of them into a quiet giggling fit. Once they'd both calmed down, Y/N returned to tracing Alex's abs. 'I mean, we shouldn't have done that because you're leaving in two days.'

'Yeah, we certainly have great timing, huh?' Alex tried joking but when Y/N didn't laugh, he sat up in bed bringing her with him. 'Hey, I told you I will come back. Nothing's going to stop that.'

'You can't assure me that,' Y/N countered.

'What was that whole thing about having hope?' Alex questioned, and when Y/N couldn't find an answer. 'I believe in us, Y/N. I have hope. You taught me that. I will come back. I promise.'

Y/N still had her doubts but she allowed herself to play into the fantasy that it would all end up okay, and she leaned in for another mind-melting kiss.

'Okay, Alex,' she conceded. 'But just know you're still an asshole.'

'And you're still a princess. But you're my princess.'

As the two got ready for the day, Alex asked, 'So what are you going to do? When the school closes down.'

Y/N had been thinking about it since Charles told her and hadn't been sure if it was the right thing to do, but she had to try. 'I heard that Raven has broken off from Erik and is going about their cause on her own. I'm going to go find her and bring her home.'

'That's going to be dangerous,' Alex said, his tone worried.

'And going to war isn't?" she countered. 'Raven is like my sister. I've got to help her. There is good in her, she's just angry at the world. You're right. I have to keep hoping, even if everyone else has lost it. Because we are worth it.'

She walked up to Alex to cradle his face as he had done so many times the night just gone. 'We are worth it,' she whispered.

Alex placed a hand of his own over hers, pressing it closer to his face which had only gotten more handsome over the years. 'You're amazing, you know that right?'

Y/N just smiled before bringing him in for another kiss. When they broke apart she took a moment to contemplate his face then laughed.

'What is it?' he asked, an amused smile on his lips.

'We're just two idiots, aren't we?' she said, her tone bordering on sad. 'All that time wasted on arguing. All seems stupid now in the face of danger and death.'

'I disagree,' Alex said as he took her hand and headed for the bedroom door. 'I wouldn't change that time for the world. I am who I am because of that time, and you were always so cute when you were mad.'

'Hey!'

1973 - X Mansion

Y/N breathed a sigh of contentment as she stood out the front of the mansion, all tidied up and ready to reopen.

'I forgot what it used to look like without the overgrown weeds and dusty windows,' Charles admitted as he looked over the entrance too.

'Now whose fault would that be?' Hank asked with a smug smirk on his lips, but it quickly dropped with Charles' side eye.

Y/N smiled at the familiar banter. It had been a long six years full of struggle and pain and loss since Charles officially closed the school. But a man called Logan from the future had convinced Charles of something Y/N had been unable to, and while Y/N hadn't be able to bring Raven home, she'd been able to help their future and bring Charles back to life.

It had taken a few weeks to clean the mansion up with just the three of them. They had no one else to ask. Logan was missing, Raven too. Erik had gone into hiding, and Sean and Angel and most other mutants had been subjected to and killed by Trask's cruel Sentinel trials. None of them had a chance to say goodbye, and that very thought haunted Y/N even now.

And Alex... Last time Y/N checked, Raven had freed him and other mutants in the army who'd been locked up from the rest of the soldiers for some reason. No doubt for experiments. Y/N had been on base that day, but she'd gone to another bunker with other mutants. Her and Raven had stayed behind after that; Y/N never got even a glimpse of him, but Raven said he was okay and that he missed her.

'That doesn't matter now,' Y/N said. 'What matters is we're doing what we were meant to be doing all along. Speaking of which...' Y/N turned to the two men kind of sheepishly. '...I actually can't start teaching again just yet. I have to go.'

'What?' Hank asked. 'Why? We need you here.'

'I know, and I have every intention of coming back,' Y/N hastily reassured. 'I just... I need to go find someone.'

'Who?' Hank asked, but Charles was looking at her knowingly.

'It's Alex, isn't it,' he asked, but it wasn't really a question. Besides, he'd probably read her mind.

Y/N nodded. 'He used to call me from base every two weeks, send letters once a month. But then the calls stopped coming about a year ago, and so did the letters. I didn't even know if he was alive until Raven and I went to his air base. But I didn't see him, and now I need to find him to see if he did make it home after all.'

Charles looked at her and he smiled, the action caught somewhere between pride and sadness. 'You really love him, don't you?' he asked softly.

Y/N found the same smile stretching across her lips as she nodded. 'Very much so.'

Charles chuckled softly as he looked away, then somewhere over her shoulder. 'Very well then, off you go. But... something tells you'll find him closer to home than you think.'

Confused, Y/N turned to follow where he was looking over her shoulder and saw a black Cadillac pulling into the driveway. It wasn't until the driver pulled up in front of the building and stepped out that Y/N realised what Charles meant.

Alex Summers stood facing her from the driver's door, smiling smoothly at her as he pulled off his aviators. 'Hey, princess,' he said, his tone somewhere between his usual swagger and pure relief.

Y/N flew down the front steps and over to him. He held his arms out expecting a hug, but all Y/N saw was red as she lined up to slap him square across his face. The sound was crisp and cut through the air, silencing even the birds.

Alex was stunned as he turned back to her confused. 'What the heck was that for?'

'How long have you been home' Y/N asked, ignoring him.

'Um, like, a month? I don't really know-'

'And you didn't call me? Let me know you were okay?'

'I was kind of busy consoling my family since I've been gone for like six years,' he argued, rubbing his cheek. 'And you seemed to be busy too. You know, saving the world and all.'

Y/N couldn't argue with that, but she still wanted to be mad at him. He had her all worried for nothing. 'You still could've called me.'

'I'm here now, aren't I?' He reached a hand out to clasp hers and she allowed him to puller her closer with it. 'Trust me, there wasn't a day that I didn't think of you, wishing I was back here with you. I'm sorry if I made you worry.'

His genuine tone softened her anger until it was nothing but relief and joy at seeing him. She pressed her forehead against his own and smiled. 'Like you said: you're here now, right?'

With that, the two connected in a long awaited kiss that reflected all their longing and love for one another. They were so enthralled with one another that they didn't hear a word of Charles' and Hank's conversation happening just a few steps away.

'Wow,' Hank said, trying not look at his long-time friends making out in front of him. 'Alex and Y/N. Not going to lie, did not see that coming.'

'Oh, I did,' Charles said smugly, though his eyes reflected the happiness he had for his close friends. 'From the moment they met, I knew they were inevitable. You didn't need to be a psychic to see that coming.'

1978 - Alex and Y/N's house

Y/N sighed as she unlocked the front door to her and Alex's house. They'd moved in together about a year ago, hating constantly going between the school and Alex's old apartment. He hadn't returned as a teacher to the school after the army as she had, and so found a place of his own. But one night they'd both realised they didn't want to keep figuring out whose place they would spend the night at. They wanted a place for themselves, and the rest was history.

Y/N kicked off her sneakers, grateful for the relief she felt as she walked into the lounge room where her feet sunk into the carpet. Alex seemed to have had an early mark from his office with the U.S. Military, as he was in the kitchen cooking. His soldier days were thankfully over, but he'd been promoted to a desk job which didn't really suit him but it paid well and he could actually try and make a difference from there. For both humans and mutants enlisted into the army.

'Hey, princess,' he said, stirring up some sauce that had Y/N almost drooling for.

'Hey, baby,' she said tiredly as she came up behind him and cuddled him, breathing out a content sigh as she attempted to meld into his back.

'Wow,' he said with a chuckle, 'no asshole today? You've definitely had a bad day.'

'Don't push it,' Y/N warned, but it was an empty threat as she didn't move a muscle. Alex was always so warm, and now that it was winter she craved his presence even more. 'You didn't have to make dinner.'

'I know,' he said nonchalantly, continuing to stir the delicious smelling sauce. 'But I figured if you weren't home by five, you'd had a hard day.'

'Aw,' Y/N cooed, squeezing his torso slightly tighter. 'Alex Summers, you can be so thoughtful, you know that?'

'Besides,' he said, finally putting the sauce bowl down and turning in Y/N's arms to face her, a cheeky smile on his lips, 'you take forever to cook and I want to eat at some point tonight.'

Y/N's smile dropped. 'I take it back. You are a jerk.'

'That's nothing new,' he said as he pulled her in for a loving kiss. Y/N really enjoyed their more fervent kisses - the ones that left her breathless and hungry for more because she just couldn't get enough of him. But this - the gentleness, the care, the love transferred between their lips - calmed and grounded her. Reminded her she was at the best place in the world: home.

'Why don't you go have a shower, relax, and I'll have dinner ready by the time you come out?' Alex asked after they ended their kiss, rubbing his hands up and down her arms in comfort.

Y/N shook her head. 'While that does sound like a wonderful time, I'd rather help you cook the rest of dinner.'

'You sure? It's nothing special or hard. I can handle it-'

'Alex,' she interrupted, heading for the drawer with all their aprons, 'I have spent all day at a desk or in a classroom looking at paperwork and marking grades. I want to help. I want to spend time with you. It's treat enough that you're home before the sun sets.'

She tied her apron up, rolled up the sleeves of her dress shirt and reached into the pantry 'Now, let's get this pasta cooking.'

The rest of the night was relaxed, with Alex and Y/N chatting about anything and everything while they cooked. They continued chatting during dinner, and Y/N laughed at Alex spilling red pasta sauce all over his cream shirt. Before they knew it, bed time had fallen upon them.

Y/N was just brushing her teeth as she was explaining how her day was going to go tomorrow. 'Now remember, I'm going on an excursion with the kids tomorrow to the national history museum so I won't be home until six, I think.'

When Alex didn't answer, Y/N asked, 'Alex? Did you hear me?' He didn't answer again, and so Y/N spit out the toothpaste and hurried back into their bedroom.

'Alex? Why aren't you-'

Y/N's heart almost stopped as she was met with Alex Summers on one knee, holding a delicate but beautiful ring up to Y/N.

'Believe me when I say I had a different plan in mind for this,' he said, eyes hopeful and the twitches of a fearful smile pulling at his lips. 'I had it all planned out and was going to do it when we go on our trip next month. But those places don't mean anything to us: here does. In our home.'

To Y/N's surprise, Alex's eyes welled up with tears as he continued his speech. 'Tonight was perfect, and I realised... that I want to have a night like tonight every night. You are too good for me, Y/N. I can be a jerk and an asshole and self-centred and rash - but you take it all in stride and put me in my place and I thank you for that.

'I love you, Y/N. And I want to love you - fight with and for you, explore with you, live with you - for the rest of my life. So, Y/N L/N... will you marry me?'

Alex never cried, so seeing him get emotional opened the floodgates in Y/N's own tear ducts. Y/N clasped her mouth as both sobs and joyous laughter escaped her, leaving her a blubbering mess.

Y/N wiped away her tears and flashed Alex the most loving smile she could manage. 'What do you think? Of course I will marry you, Alex Summers.'

Alex breathed a sigh of relief and his tears of joy finally fell as he stood up and embraced Y/N. Y/N couldn't hold him any tighter it seemed, couldn't pull him close enough even when there was no space left to close between them. But finally they parted and Alex slipped the delicate ring onto Y/N's finger. It shimmered in the low lamp light coming from their bedside and Y/N couldn't imagine anything more fitting.

'It's beautiful, Alex,' Y/N said, still sniffling.

'Anything for my princess,' he muttered into her hair as he held her close.

Y/N laughed into his chest before craning her neck back to look up at him. 'You're locked in now, asshole. No take-backsies.'

Alex laughed. 'Don't you know?' he asked, leaning down to capture her lips in another loving kiss. '...I was always in it for the long run,' he said after breaking away, warm breath fanning across Y/N's cool skin.

1983 - X Mansion

Y/N was just leaving her classroom when four students came flying by.

'Hey!' Y/N called out, and the four students stopped.

'Sorry, Mrs. Summers,' Jubilee said, a bashful expression on her face.

Y/N eyed who else was with Jubilee. Jean Grey, and the two new students: Kurt Wagner and her brother-in-law Scott Summers.

Y/N placed her free hand on her hips as she looked at them skeptically. 'And where are the four of you off to in such a hurry at this time of day?' she asked, noting how it was the middle of the day.

'Uh...' Jean started, looking unsure.

'We were just off to the library,' Scott interjected, his voice confident and full of bravado. 'To study.'

Y/N narrowed her eyes on Scott. Scott was not the studious kind, and usually she could read Scott like a book. But since his mutation kicked in and he'd had to wear the ruby quartz glasses, it was hard to tell what he was truly thinking.

'That's right!' Kurt added over-enthusiastically, and the others nodded in agreement.

Based on their adamant responses, Y/N knew something was up. But she released a sigh and waved them off. 'Okay, but don't study too hard then.'

'Yes, Mrs. Summers,' Jean and Jubilee said together, then grabbed Kurt and headed around the corner and out of sight.

Scott was just about to do the same when Y/N called out to him. 'Hey, Scott.' He stopped and turned, his lips pulled down in a frown, possibly worried that he'd been caught out. But she just smiled and said, 'It's nice to see you've made some friends already.'

Relief and genuine appreciation split his lips into a smile. 'Yeah. Me too,' he said, then he took off after the others, their laughter bouncing off the walls of the old mansion.

It genuinely made Y/N happy to see Scott making friends. He was usually the reserved type, making small rebellions but certainly not as loud as his older brother. He used to be the kid that got picked on at school, so to see him actively engaging with other kids was promising.

It was the changing period between classes and so all the students were milling about the halls as Y/N made her way down the steps to the front foyer. She had a free period so she was in no hurry.

What she didn't expect to see, once the children had cleared, was Hank and Raven of all people standing together in the foyer.

'Raven?' Y/N said in disbelief, a baffled smile adorning her lips.

Raven and Hank seemed to have been engaged in a serious discussion, but she returned Y/N's smile and opened her arms for an embrace. 'Hey, Y/N.'

Y/N accepted the offer and embraced her long-time friend tightly. 'Oh, it is so good to see you, Raven. It has been too long.'

'Yeah, since seventy-three I believe.' The two women pulled apart but held hands. Raven ran her fingers over Y/N's hands and her fqace changed to shock and happy surprise. 'Oh my God, you got married?!' she exclaimed, bringing Y/N's left hand up to inspect the delicate diamond.

'Yeah. Alex and I just celebrated five years,' Y/N said, her words taking on a sad tone.

'Five years...' Raven dropped Y/N's hand, a sad expression on her face. It was then Y/N recognised that Raven was in the skin she'd worn for years to fit in with society, not her natural blue. There was slight betrayal and hurt on Raven's face too.

'We tried finding you, Raven,' Y/N said, grasping tight to her friend's hands. 'I wanted you there. Truly. You just... Well, since D.C. I imagine you've been busy.'

Raven's betrayal morphed into shame. 'I'm sorry,' she said. 'I would've loved to have been there. For you.'

Y/N knew she meant it, and so she flashed Raven a smile and said, 'It doesn't matter now, though. You're here now, and it is so good to see you. Speaking of which, why are you here?'

'I came to speak with Charles about Erik,' Raven admitted, the two women finally releasing each other's hands. 'I think he's in some trouble.'

'I was just telling her Charles and Alex were out,' Hank added.

'Well, they should be back in the next hour, I think,' Y/N said. 'Why don't we wait in Charles' office until then.'

As they all waited, Y/N and Raven decided to catch up. They discussed everything from the school to Raven's personal missions as a vigilante for mutants to Y/N and Alex's marriage.

'I must admit, I always knew you two would end up together,' Raven commented, a knowing and cheeky smile on her face.

'No you didn't,' Y/N argued. 'Did you even know Alex and I back then? We fought like cats and dogs!'

'Still do, depending on the day,' Hank muttered as he drank his tea.

Y/N flashed him a hard glare before turning back to Raven.

'Oh come on, it was practically inevitable you two would end up together,' Raven countered, laughter dancing on her words. 'But I'm happy to hear you two are happy. You're some of my oldest friends and you deserve happiness.'

'Thank you, Raven,' Y/N said softly.

'So, how many do you have?'

Y/N raised an eyebrow in confusion. 'How many what?'

'Kids. I can only assume you've got an army waiting for you at home...' Raven quietened as she noticed Y/N's demeanour change. Her smile dropped and she sunk back into the couch more. 'Did I say something wrong?'

Y/N shook her head and tried smiling for her friend, but tears welled in her eyes. 'No, you didn't. It's just... Alex and I found out we can't have children about a month ago.'

'Oh, Y/N.' Raven didn't know what to say or do. She just reached a hand out was a grateful that Y/N took it for support.

'We've been trying since we got married,' Y/N explained, wiping the tears away before they even fell. 'When nothing was happening, we decided to go see a specialist. But I guess even being a mutant doesn't make us immune to human genetic failure.'

She gestured to the closed doors that led from Charles' office to the school beyond 'Besides,' Y/N continued fondly, 'I have hundreds of kids already to deal with,. Children of my own would just complicate that probably.'

Raven just hummed in agreement, but said nothing more. No doubt she could sense or even see Y/N only meant half of what she said. Y/N truly loved each and every kid at the school, but it broke her heart to know she'd never have a daughter or son that had her eyes or Alex's smile, her wit or Alex's bravery.

Before they could dwell on the sad matter any further, the doors to the office opened and in came Charles, Alex, and someone Y/N thought she'd never see ever again.

'Moira?' Raven said as the three entered the room, standing to her feet in shock.

'Raven?' Charles asked.

'I'm sorry, have we met before?" Moira asked, cluelessly smiling at Raven, then Y/N and Hank.

Soon enough, Raven and Charles needed to converse privately and so Y/N, Alex, Hank, and Moira stood in the foyer awaiting their decision. Hank took one for the team and took Moira for a bit of a tour around the school while Y/N and Alex stayed in the foyer to talk.

'Never thought I'd see you step inside these halls during school hours again,' Y/N said cheekily.

'My brother and Charles are the exceptions,' he said, and when Y/N pouted he added quickly, 'and of course my beautiful wife.'

'Hmmm, sure asshole,' she said, before allowing him to kiss her briefly.

'You know you can be so mean sometimes,' he said as he pulled away.

'That's why you love me though, right?' she asked.

'Hmmm, sure princess,' he mirrored her earlier comment, earning a light slap to his shoulder as they devolved into laughter.

'So, how's Scott doing?' Alex asked, genuinely concerned for his little brother.

'Don't worry,' Y/N reassured him. 'He's fitting in just fine. Although he said he was going to study just before...'

'Oh, he's definitely doing something he shouldn't be then,' Alex said.

After a moment of silence, Y/N said, 'I was talking to Raven just before... about us not being able to have children.'

The topic always made Alex more protective, and so he placed his hands on her arms and started gently rubbing them up and down slowly. 'You okay?'

'Yeah I'm fine, but it did get me thinking... why don't we look at adopting?'

Alex looked halfway between shocked and happy when she said it. 'Are you sure?'

Y/N nodded. 'Why not? There are so many kids in this world that have no homes, no families. We could be that for them.'

Alex smiled brighter than he ever had as he embraced her so hard he lifted her off her feet with joy. 'I love you,' he said as he finally put her down, then looked at her as if she was the light of his life. 'We're gonna have a family.'

Y/N nodded then pulled him into a short kiss, just as Hank and Moira finally came back to the foyer and Charles' office doors opened. 'Y/N and Hank, you are dismissed from classes for the rest of the afternoon,' he said. 'We have to find Erik.'

~~~

It all happened so fast.

Someone hijacked Cerebro and controlled Charles momentarily, taking over the world for just a split second. Raven, Hank, and Y/N were finally able to wrench Charles free of the power and then Charles commanded Alex to destroy Cerebro.

The incident left the whole group, except for Moira, panting and drained as they exited the flaming room. Charles was unconscious in his chair, giving no signs that he was okay.

Y/N sensed a change in the area's energy force, and looked down the hallway to where a portal was opening. 'Uh, guys...'

The rest of the group followed her gaze to where five figures stepped out of the portal, one notably being an old friend.

'Erik,' Raven said softly, realisation dawning on her face too late. He was not here to be friendly.

Before anyone could react, Erik reached out to Charles' chair and brought him in to their portal which was firing up again.

'Charles!' Raven called out.

The winged figure protected Charles as the others stepped in front of him as barriers. Not that any of Y/N's group chased after them - wait, one person did.

'Alex, no!' Y/N said as her husband ran past her. When he didn't listen, she chased after him.

'Alex!' Hank called out behind them.

'Hey, asshole!' Alex called out to the blue man standing out the front of Erik's group.

The portal reopened around Erik, Charles and the other figures, the blue man stepping out in front to say, 'All will be revealed my child.' His voice was haunting, echoing all around them in a way that emanated power. He was not a standard level mutant.

But Alex still ran, and Y/n sensed he was charging up to fight.

'Alex, don't!' Y/N was almost there, could reach him in another few steps.

'Wait!' Hank called out, but Alex was lining up, red plasma already bursting from his chest. 'Stop!'

Y/N finally realised Hank's fear. While she was trying to stop Alex from chasing after mutant much stronger than all in the room, Hank was more concerned as to what was just beyond the doors Erik and Charles stood before.

Y/N's fingers just grazed Alex's shoulder when he let out a powerful plasma blast. But Erik and Charles disappeared into the portal before the blast could reach them, instead allowing it to burn through the metal doors that lead into the jet hangar.

Y/N pulled Alex behind her as the explosion happened. She threw up her hands and conjured a force field that surrounded the entire hangar just as the fire was about to reach her face. The strain was immediate as well as the heat, and Y/N almost crumbled as the explosion bounced and rolled around in the bubble.

'Y/N!' Raven called out, and Y/N felt hands on her arm and shoulder as Alex came into view.

'Baby?' he asked, eyes apologetic and frightened.

'I'm okay,' Y/N managed out, breathing deeply as the strain increased. 'Get everyone out. Now.'

'We can't just leave you here,' Hank argued.

'We won't,' Alex answered. 'I'll stay with her. Let me know when everyone is out.' When Raven and Hank didn't move, Alex said, 'Go!'

Once they'd gone, Y/N said, albeit with a strain, 'You should go, too.'

'I'm not leaving you,' he said, the weight of his hand on her back ever present. 'Hank and Raven can get the kids out themselves.'

'I'm not just talking about the kids.' Y/N managed to tear her gaze from the swirling explosion just beyond her force field to look Alex in the eyes. 'Go find Scott. Make sure he's okay.'

'I trust Hank and Raven,' Alex said.

Y/N's hands shook and so she turned her attention back to the force field. 'Alex, I don't know how much longer I can hold this. And I'd rather you not be here in case-'

'Don't say that.' Alex moved more into her vision so she didn't have to break her concentration. 'I put you in this mess, I will see you through it. You're the toughest person I know, Y/N. If anyone can hold this, it's you.'

Y/N saw on his face he truly meant it, but her hands shook harder now and the fire was pushing against the field more. Y/N swallowed a groan because as much as she didn't agree with Alex, she had to try.

Every second counted.

But every second was torture.

In reality, it was only five minutes before Hank notified Alex that the school had been cleared. But Y/N's vision was starting to spot black and her entire body now shook. Sweat rolled down her face and exhausted tears threatened to spill over.

Alex's phone buzzed and he answered the incoming call. 'The kids are all out,' Hank said, his crackling due to the horrible service of the lower levels. 'We're coming back for you.'

'Don't!' Y/N strangled out, groaning as the strain increased. She was aware of Alex's gaze on her so she turned slightly to look him in the eyes and saw something that she didn't want to see.

Hank kept talking. 'What? No, we're coming back down-'

'It's okay, Hank,' Alex said calmly, his eyes never leaving Y/N. 'Just... keep them safe.'

'Alex, wait what-'

Alex ended the call and Y/N could've screamed with frustration. 'No,' she whispered. 'You're not staying with me.'

'You never planned on getting out of this alive,' Alex stated. 'Did you?'

'I've made my peace,' Y/N explained. 'You need to be here for Scott.'

'You are my wife, Y/N!'

'And he is your brother!' Tears finally spilled as her powers began to wain. 'He is young and scared and he needs his brother so please Alex, go!'

Pain and indecision whirled in Alex's eyes as he looked from her to the doors that would save his life. Y/N couldn't hold on much longer, but she'd make sure he would get out. Tears spilled down his gorgeous face. Even after all this time he still looked as he had when him and Y/N first met, apart from the hair of course.

Resolve and love and apology was on his face as he finally looked back to Y/N, and he said, 'Scott will understand.'

He was really doing this. He was really going to die with her.

'I can't protect us once I let this field down,' she strangled to say, tears and pain and regret threatening to overwhelm her. 'I have nothing left, Alex.'

'You've done enough,' he said gently, then manouvered himself to stand between her arms so he was face to face with her. He cradled her face in his hands then pulled his lips to hers for one final kiss. 'I'm sorry,' he whispered, tears streaming down his face.

'I'm not,' Y/N replied, and despite their situation she smiled as brightly as she could. 'We had a pretty good run, didn't we?'

That finally brought a smile to his face. 'We sure did, princess.' He looked into her eyes, his gaze unwavering and the way he held her was heavenly. 'I love you.'

'I love you,' Y/N answered, then her energy emptied completely and she fell into Alex's arms.

They held each other as fire engulfed them and the mansion exploded, unable to be torn from each other even at Death's door.

1983 - X Mansion, post Apocalypse Battle

Scott Summers stood before two headstones with X's on them that had been put up in the school's courtyard. Both had his last name.

Alex Summers

Havok

1941-1983

Husband, Brother, Friend, Hero

Y/N Summers (neé L/N)

Aura

1942-1983

Wife, Teacher, Friend, Hero

Scott took his glasses off to wipe his tears. He hadn't been able to fully process his loss thanks to Apocalypse, but now that the school was rebuilt and he was back at school, he was more than aware of Alex and Y/N's absence.

He felt a hand slip into his, and he put his glasses back on to find Jean smiling sadly at him. 'I'm so sorry, Scott,' she said, and he didn't need to be a mind reader to know she truly meant it. 'I never met your brother, but Aura - Y/N, spoke often of him and their heroics at our age. He sounded amazing.'

'He was,' Scott said, looking back to his brother's and sister-in-law's graves. 'He was my hero.'

'They both were heroes.'

The two teens turned to find Hank, Raven, and Charles - now bald from the battle - strolling and wheeling into the courtyard respectively. Charles didn't speak again until the three of them reached the teenagers. 'Even as children, I knew they would be heroes. And in a society where mutants weren't trusted, even feared... They saw the best in the world. Always.'

'They gave everything they could to this school,' Hank added, eyes watering behind his glasses as he looked over his friends' graves. 'They were some of the best people I know, even now.' Hank allowed a tear to fall but he laughed. 'Even if your brother was a bit of a dick, sometimes.'

'Only sometimes?' Scott said, and the group laughed and the weight of grief on Scott's shoulders lifted slightly.

When it grew silent once more, Jean said, 'But is this to be our fate? Where we fight for a world that doesn't want us? Is a premature death only inevitable?'

'Death is always inevitable, Jean,' Raven said gently, and walked up to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. 'But if Alex and Y/N proved anything to us all is that it doesn't matter what time we have on this earth; it's what we make of it. While we can, we will fight for a better future. For all of us.'

Jean nodded then turned back to the graves along with everyone else. Resentment and pain and loss roiled within Scott as he looked down at where his brother and sister-in-law rested. 'I wished he hadn't died,' he admitted, because that's all he truly wanted.

'Me too, Scott,' Charles said, wheeling up beside him. 'He loved you very much, though. Always spoke about you - about how you were to do great things with your life. I truly believe that, you know.'

'At least he died doing what he loved,' Scott said as he gestured to the rebuilt school. 'Protecting mutant kind.'

The group was silent for another few minutes, just reflecting on their times with the two people in the ground. Then Hank ushered the two teens back to class, and after sometime Raven left to go teach also.

Charles remained for a while longer, unable to leave his friends that he'd buried, that he'd gotten killed. Some small part of him wished he'd never sought them out to join the X-Men. They could've lived quieter lives, safer lives. But we wouldn't have been happy, Charles could practically hear Y/N say with that hopeful smile of hers, and Charles smiled at the thought.

And besides, if he hadn't recruited the two, Alex and Y/N wouldn't have met. And wouldn't that have been a true disservice to his students to never have witnessed such hope and love.

Or maybe they would have. After all, like he'd said, they'd been inevitable from the start.

And maybe Jean was right; possibly, a mutant's life was to inevitably end prematurely. But Raven was also right.

Charles touched Alex's headstone, then Y/N's, tears pouring down his face. 'Thank you, friends,' he whispered tearfully. 'Rest well. You've earned it.'

As the years went on, and the school took on more students and the gardens grew higher and wilder, Charles sought to personally keep his friends' graves clean and tidy. He told each student the tales of his fallen friends, the ones he was unable to bury as well. He made sure that the First Class of X-Men were not forgotten, and that their dream of a better future lived on in the next generation.

Sometimes, as he grew older, Charles saw a little bit of Alex and Y/N when he saw Scott and Jean. It broke his heart to know that Alex would never see his little brother become an excellent hero such as Alex, or that Alex and Y/N wouldn't grow old alongside him and Hank and Raven.

But their spirit lived on anyway, and maybe that was the inevitability of it all in the end.

[musclefantasytf]

Ultrazise crhonicles: Little big help

Erick was a young, skinny boy, constantly teased by his peers for his small size. He desperately wanted to have a muscular body like the other boys, but no matter how hard he worked out, it seemed he couldn't make any progress.

After a grueling training, Erick staggered into the locker room, feeling exhausted and defeated, but he knew he had to shower before returning home.As he changed, he noticed a tall, muscular, hairy man walking into the locker room. Erick was puzzled by the size of the man and could not help staring at him.

The man surprised him looking at him and asked, "Why that long face, boy?"

Erick simply shrugged his shoulders and told him about his difficulties developing muscle. The man laughed between his teeth, and revealed his name as Henry and told Erick that he had faced the same problem in the past.

Curiously, Erick asked Henry how he managed to become so big, Henry laughed between his teeth and revealed that he used to have the same problem. But then he reached into his purse and pulled out a bottle labeled "Ultrazise."

""Take a sip of this and you will be well on your way to becoming like me," said Henry smiling, handing the bottle to Erick.

Erick's eyes opened with hope and despair. He enthusiastically took the bottle and took a sip. As soon as the liquid touched his tongue, he began to feel a burning sensation running through his body. His temperature went up and sweat dripped down his face. Suddenly, He watched in amazement as his height increased to match Henry's. His chest expanded into two large muscle masses, his shoulders became as large as cannonballs, and his neck became thicker, making his voice lower.The transformation didn't stop there. Erick's triceps and biceps tripled in size and his legs became strong muscular trunks.He felt the pressure build up in his lower regions, and looked down to see hid manhood grow into a thick, long shaft, tight against his underpants. His balls got bigger and heavier, causing discomfort.His buttocks swelled into a round, firm bubble, causing his underwear to stretch to the limit, causing his underwear to burst freeing him from his tight prison, his face became more masculine and a thick beard sprouted on it. He could feel the hair growing all over his chest, until it became a lush, wild area, creating a pathway to his pubic area. He even noticed a slight layer of hair on his newly formed bubble butt.

Breathing with emotion and disbelief, Erick stood in front of the mirror, admiring his new body. Henry patted him on the shoulder, congratulating him on finally becoming a real man. Erick was amazed at his new self, but his thoughts were interrupted when Henry suddenly grabbed and squeezed his ass. Gasping in surprise, Erick felt a wave of pleasure sweep through his body.

Without warning, Henry plunged his face into Erick's ass, making swirls with his tongue that gave him chills down his back. Erick groaned with pleasure, feeling sensations he had never experienced before. After pleasing Erick, Henry turned it around and closed their lips, sharing a passionate kiss.

Erick couldn't believe what was going on. Not only had he transformed into a muscular and attractive man, but he was also experiencing desires he didn't know he had. In a daze of excitement, he allowed Henry to lead him into one of the showers.

Henry pressed Erick against the wall and removed his underpants, revealing his enormous and throbbing cock. Without hesitation, Enrique inserting his huge, throbbing cock into Erick's tight, hairy hole. It was a mind-blowing experience for Erick,

making him scream with pleasure. As they moved together, Erick couldn't believe how good it felt to be full of such a big, hard cock. Henry was an expert, he got all the right points right and took Erick to the climax in no time.

Then they lay on the ground, sweaty and breathless. Henry kissed Erick's forehead and told him he was a real man now.

[delilahcalicocat]

can I request: Judgement Day are attacked by Uncle Howdy & his group. They surround Fem!Reader & it looks like they’re about to attack her but it’s revealed that Uncle Howdy has recruited Reader. This shocks The JD (especially Damian). Reader leaves with her new family & blows a kiss to Damian. Damian wishes he had revealed his true feelings sooner. Please and thank u!

A/N: Yes. Just Yes. I love this idea.

♡~Should've Said it..~♡

{Ratin: Fluff}

{Warnings: Crying, Feelings of regret, Swearing, Kissing}

{Pairing: Damian Priest x Fem!Reader}

You were standing in the ring with the rest of the Judgement Day, Your arm linked with Finn's as per usual.

Suddenly the lights cut out and everything went to black.. when they came back on, The Judgement Day realized, Uncle Howdy and Alexa Bliss were standing on the apron.

Damian, Finn, Dom and JD were quick to exit the ring.. leaving you in there alone..

As Howdy entered the ropes, you put on a face of faux shock..

He looked like he was going to Sister Abigail you. Only to stop and pull you into a hug.

Alexa Stood behind Howdy, as Erick, Braun, Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis approach..

Howdy broke the hug and made you look at Damian, you blew a kiss to him before Erick, Braun, Gacy and Lumis went after The Judgement Day..

Alexa Bliss then hugged you, then the lights went out.

—————————— ⛧ ——————————

The Next week on RAW, you were seen in a therapy segment. You were speaking about your newfound self, until Damian came in. You seemingly snapped out of your trance.

Then Howdy came back in without a single word, you got up and left with Howdy.

You were also gifted a small plush kitten, you named Pluto. Since he had a yellow collar.

After the show, while on the way to your bus with Alexa.

You overheard Damian, Saying how he should've confessed his feelings towards you before this all happened.

"Y'know Finn? I really fucking missed my chance-" Damian Sobbed

"I really should-" "No.. Y/N, you stay with the shepherd." On the inside, you wanted to speak with Damian. But you were apart of Howdy's flock of sheep...

————————— ⛥ ———————————

On the Smackdown before Clash at the Castle, Howdy came out with you and Alexa to torment Finn and Damian.

Damian Only wanted you all to come to the ring...

"Go you two. I'm staying back." Howdy Ordered.

You and Bliss headed to the ring swiftly, you stood there on the rope.

Your gloves reading "Freedom" and "Reborn"

Just like Bliss' that read "Pain" and "Play"

Finn and Damian basically had tried to save Alexa, by becoming the Demon.. but Damian wouldn't awaken that...

"I'm sorry..." Damian said

Damian then kissed you, it was sincere..

You broke character for a moment to kiss him back, then got back into character and cracked him one.

Howdy watched in shock and Bliss backed off.

You now had a new story with WWE, you were apart of the herd for Howdy, but Damian could break that curse..

[the-great-empress]

Disney kings princesses PART III

Part I | Part II

Ppyong: *sad* His Majesty Satan no longer hits and kicks me as hard as before!

Sitri: His heart sounds sad and lonely

Astaroth: They sent him the photos privately

Jjyu:*In Belial's head* That bastard Glasyalabolas had it published in the news of the seven kingdoms!!!

Zagan:...

Ppyong: Zagan's face says "Miss Mc hasn't arrived yet to calm him down"

Leraye: *see Paimon* Do you have a plan?

Paimon: *Determination* Yes, but I need your help

Other nobles: *nod with determination*

Paimon: By His Majesty Satan!

Other nobles: By His Majesty Satan!!

Hours later, Satan was riding his motorcycle through the streets of Gehenna, looking for a distraction from the irritating photos he received. Every angel who crossed his path was brutally run over by his motorcycle.

Satan: *mumbling* Ha! I have a contract with her, they don't! *stops his motorcycle* ... Is that all we have?...

Paimon: UNDRESS HIM!!!!!!

Satan: Ah?

Suddenly a red ball hits Satan's chest and clung to him, it was Ppyong with tears of sadness

Ppyong: It is for your happiness, Your Majesty Satan, aye.

Satan: What the fuck?!

Suddenly the rest of the nobles of Gehenna pounced on Satan and proceeded to undress him, with Paimon carrying in his hands a beautiful and bright lilac dress, with the help of the others he managed to dress his majesty.

Satan: *angry and looking at his nobles* Why the hell did your put this dress on me?

Nobles of Gehenna struck down to the ground: For you happiness...

Satan: What?!

???: When's it my turn? Wouldn't I love~ Love to explore that shore up above~~?

Immediately someone carries Satan like a princess surprising him in the process, it was Mc dressed as Prince Erick in his sailor suit, she smiled at him causing the demon to blush in surprise.

Mc: Out of the sea, wish I could be~~~ Part of that world~~~

Mc:*kisses Satan's lips* Thank you for allowing me to be part of your world...

Satan: *Shock with a smile*

Paimon: *recording everything* Aww~

Satan: *excited* You call that a kiss?! *kisses her passionately*

Ppyong: I love happy endings, aye~.

Sitri dressed as Vanessa: *mumbling* I want Solomon to kiss me too...

[matchalovertrait]

Let's go back home now.

Transcript:

Noemí, Erick, and Ángel: Dulce!!

Noemí: Mija, you did wonderful.

Erick: You were amazing.

Erick: Look at our baby girl.

Noemí: You must be so tired after all that! Let’s go home.

Dulce: Amá, Dad, how can you guys be so happy right now? I didn’t win.

Noemí: Dulce, that doesn’t matter. We’re glad you got to experience this wonderful opportunity. You came and gave it your all, so of course we’re beaming with pride.

Erick: [Gets down at Dulce’s eye-level] Sweetie, look at me. I know you’re upset, but it’s like what your mother said: This was an amazing opportunity. Not everyone got accepted, but you did. They saw something in you, and who wouldn’t? My daughter is phenomenal.

Dulce: I guess so.. huh? Thank you, everyone.

...

?: Excuse me, I don’t mean to interrupt.

Mia: Hello Mrs. and Mr. Alegria. I‘m Mia D‘Angelo-Ramirez, the main judge of Diced Junior. Your daughter is quite remarkable. Can I please have a quick word with her?

Noemí: Oh! Yes, please, go ahead.

Dulce: Oh, are you here to give me more advice?

Mia: No, only words of encouragement. I don’t want you to think we only said that nice stuff for the cameras. I snuck away from the table just now to let you know that I truly believe you’ll make it big in this industry.

Mia: I’ll be watching your career closely. Don’t let me down, alright? Be smart with your choices. I have to head back now.

Dulce: You got it.

[yzeltia]

FFXIVwrite2024 5. Stamp

Featuring: A continuation of @erickgage 's The Calling Characters: Fuyu'li cen Zwhan, Ahi'a Zwhan, Azdaja, U'rahn Nuhn Expansion: Dawntrail Rating: G for Goofy Catboys Summary: Fuyu'li's past catches up to him. Notes: Thanks Erick for the inspo!

Fuyu’li tried to hold his breath as he hid behind one of the vibrant pillars of Radz-at-Han, Ahi’a and Azdaja held firmly in his arms, his palm over their snoots to keep them just as silent. He had come out of nowhere, tauntingly imitating the noise of one of Eorzea’s most wicked pests to frighten him. 

Fuyu’li feared this day would come. No matter what assurances of safety Vrtra promised him, he knew he could not escape his past. The crimes he committed, the people he hurt. No matter how much he had given back and intended to continue to do so. The damage he’d done…the damage he’d done too to the most dangerous person in the world…His fate would be inevitable. 

He shuddered as he heard the lazy steps of his hunter come closer, the man not even bothering to make it quick. Letting go of Azdaja, he hugged Ahi’a tightly, his sweet son that he’d just gotten over the shock of having making confused screes in his arms. “I love you and your father so much…but my time has come. One day your Auntie Natsu will tell you about all the bad things I did for Garlemald and then to her friends…I want you to know I was very sorry for it…And I have spent my whole life up to the point of your father saving my life trying to do better, be better. And I know I was confused about your arrival but know I love you- AH! A-Azdaja! OW! That hurts,” he cried out as the small red dragon started to bite his ear and drag him out of hiding.

Tumbling, he fell flat out onto the tile under him just as the Warrior of Light came from around the corner with a big cheshire grin. “Here you go, kupo,” the sounded out as he reached into his bag.

“P-Please! Not in front of my son!” Fuyu’li begged, hiding his arms over his face in preparation to whatever lethal force was about to befall him.

“Uh…is it something naughty?” the Warrior of Light asked in a whisper.

Fuyu’li blinked then slowly lowered his arms from obscuring his face, watching U’rahn Nuhn flip around the letter in his hand before holding it up to the light as if to try to see inside with a goofy grin. “Y-You’re here to…”

“Deliver mail of course,” U’rahn responded handing the letter over, “Courtesy of The Head of Resolve himself, kupo!”

Fuyu’li blinked, looking at the letter, finding it to bear Koana’s signet indeed to be upon it. Azdaja fluttered down, perching on his shoulder while Ahi’a fluttered around confused as to why his dad was so distressed over the nice Miqo’te that had approached them. “Oh. So then I’m not going to be punished?”

“Uh…no?” U’rahn answered, tilting his head. “Hey Hey! I still gotta head to Doma! See you arrround! Say hi to Varshahn for me, okay Azdaja? Thanks for using Postmoogle Mail Services, kupo!”

Azdaja screed then launched forward to swoop around U’rahn playfully before the other stuffed a bundle of mint in his mouth and teleported away. Fuyu’li just stared at the spot the other had stood in for a moment before flopping back onto the ground, letting the two dragons fly above him to make mostly concerned noises for him.

[crossroadsdimension]

I had so much fun watching Vash figure himself out today.

Knives woke him up to his Plant powers, and the first thing he does when he's aware is punt Knives out of that higher reality, straight through "Rem's" face. (Yes, I'm calling the plant construct Rem; it's shaped like her, it makes the most sense.) Watching him get punted through the vines and out the building? Hilarious.

But seeing Vash effortlessly control his vines and pull them back in, using that super-intelligent brain of his to condense and turn the gate into something he could hold and carry out of the city to detonate elsewhere safely? Genius! There's the smart Vash from the manga that I remember! And watching him figure out how to fly with his space-flower wing? Beautiful! Sure, it isn't feathered like it is in the manga, but it's still his wing. His beautiful, gorgeous wing.

And his hair spiking up into the manga's and old anime's style because his Plant abilities were awoken?? GENIUS! I bet that whenever he goes full attack mode now his hair's gonna spike up like that (or maybe the next time he gets a haircut it's just gonna jump up, no hair gel needed).

Not to mention the Angel Arm. I wasn't expecting him to create that on purpose this time around, but considering that he's using it to expel the energy-gate his brother wants instead of Knives using Vash to wipe out a city (which was his base of operations this time), it makes complete sense.

And did you see the bullets? They're covered in Plant runes, like how Vash alters his bullets during his final fight with Knives in Maximum. I wouldn't be surprised if Vash is creating them himself, or at the very least altering the ones he has so that he can fight his brother on more equal footing.

And Vash is willing to take his brother on now, too! Look at that determination as he fights, unlike the fear and panic we saw in Episode 3!

He's more in-tune with what's going on, what Knives is trying to do, what he can do, and -- guess what?

Vash has chosen the side of humanity. He has figured out what side he stands on. Finally.

The query that was introduced to him in Episode 3 from Knives, and Episode 2 from Rosa, has been answered. Finally, Vash knows that he wants to help humanity stand on their own two feet, despite what they've done to the Dependents, despite what they've done to him.

He has too much compassion and love for the humans, instilled in him by Rem, to want to turn his back on us now. He knows our darkness, but he sees the light in us, too, and wants to believe that we can do better. And so he has settled here, against Knives despite his want to have Knives at his side with him, too.

Because Vash has so much love in his heart, and he wants to give it to everyone, while Knives has so much love in his heart for his brother alone. The kind of love that turns into an obsession.

And as much as Vash wants there to be a reconciliation between them...it doesn't look like that's gonna happen anytime soon.

And now he's Ericks, living a quiet life, potentially without his memories, and with the guilt of killing July...and Knives' declaration that Vash killed Nai, right before the beam of energy took him.

I betcha that Knives meant he stopped being Nai the instant Vash pointed a gun at him, and "killed" the idea of being that innocent little kid that Rem tried to raise. But we're not gonna get that answer anytime soon.

Although we will get an answer, I suspect. Because if I know my manga...Knives isn't dead. Nearly dead, certainly, but not dead enough to be dead.

Who's ready for Legato to be a little bitch next season?

[lokisivy]

Charles Xavier X Fem!Mutant!Reader

Timeline: 1973 (X-men days future and past)

summary: you have a secret you kept from Charles after he got depressed and after stopping the serum he regains his powers and tries to read your mind.

warnings: angst, abortion and mentions of depression and panic attacks

your pov

It was another day like any other Charles getting drunk and trying to mask his sadness with sarcasm its been almost 11 years since Cuba and after losing his legs, raven, Erick and the school shutting down. he got so depressed.

i knew the moment he tried to pick me us at the bar with his mutant facts that he was the love of my life and i felt it too in him.

one of my powers are being able to feel others feeling.

i tried cheering him up with sex and romantic trips but he was still sad.

but then angel from the future named Logan came and told him about a future where all mutants are dying from robots made by Ravens DNA.

"Yeah I remember you now, I'm gonna say what you said to us before 'Fuck off' "

I was mad so mad i ran after him going to his rokm blowing at him

"What the fuck Charles!" i yelled at him

"what do you want now." he scoffs getting a syringe to take

"This man out there just said that the fate of many mutants lies on our hands and your fucking telling him to fuck off."

"How much longer are you gonna hide its been 10 fucking years you need to face the music Charles, bad things happen and we choose whether we want it to affect us or not." you yelled getting more furious at his calmness and unbothered self

"nothing matters anymore." he took a swing of the bottle of alcohol next to him

"What about me?" my heart started to ache I felt his love drift away everyday i dont if it was the sadness or him but i definitely felt something change.

he doesn't answer and starts laying on his back.

i was on the brink of crying at this point i couldn't hold it anymore longer

"Tell me charles!" i start sobbing i couldn't take in anymore of this emotional build up.

"because i never feeling any emotions from you when i'm around you!"

i falls on my knees crying out all my feelings that i've contained

i suddenly felt a warm embrace it was Charles hugging me cressing my head

"You mean the world to me darling."

"if anyone tried to hurt you i would feel sorry for what happens to them."

i hugged him back finally feeling the comfort i've been seeking all this time i sob on his shoulders

"I'm sorry i didn't acknowledge your feelings i was being selfish like you said but i swear i love you."

----

after a while Charles regained his powers and the time youve feared has come. before he took the serum charles would always get in your head and check on you. not that he didn't trust you, but you in fact told him too it was very handy when you were aroused he would give you everything you thought about.

when ever you didn't want him to read your mind you thought about something that could keep him out and when you did that he would give you the privacy you needed

you always thought about a garden of sunflowers where you were picking flowers.

after charles trying to find raven with Cerebro he got frustrated for not being able to connect to her.

"I cant do this." charles said

"No you can just try." logan said

he looked into logans memory and then drifted to me trying to tell me he wants to trying to read my mind

"Can I?" he looked at me

you didnt want to seem sus so you leaned down on you knees giving him acesses to hold your head.

"Why are you thinking about flowers, do you not want me to read your mind?"

"Yes.."

"What are you hiding Y/N?"

he hold your head trying to look past your memories

"Charles stop!" you try to get out of the tight grip but it doesn't work his grip is too tight

he got closer to the memory you wanted to avoid

he saw it all

you laying on a bed getting a the abortion

the pregnancy results

you talking to hank about it

"You were pregnant with our child and you killed it"

"Please don't say that charles." tears start to pool in my eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he said with hurt in his voice

"I'm sorry i swear i wanted to tell you but i thought that it was for the best not to overwhelm you and put pressure on you. you were always sad and angry it was the wrong time having a child." my voice cracked

"It wasn't your choice to make by yourself Y/N ! it was my child too!" rage filled his voice

"I'm so sorry i was scared how you would react i thought you might blame me for ruining your life i'm sorry." you cried holding his head close to you trying to make him feel your emotions

"Ruining? Y/N if i knew you were pregnant it would've given me hope, to be better."

"i didnt know im sorry please forgive me charles." you tried to feel his emotions bt he was blocking you.

"Please tell me what you feel."

"I'm afraid you wont like what you feel, you must already feel horrible about it and i need time to process it." he said cressing my head.

"You still love me right?" you asked scared of his answer.

"I still love you darling but you need to know that this is all new to me... Alright?" he tried reassure me but i sense a wave of hesitation in his voice.

i knew he wasnt okay i know he hates me for what i did im trying to accese his emotions but he keeps blocking me.

we left Cerebro and on our way to the plane i talked with hank.

"Do you think what i did was wrong?" i asked him trying to seek comfort

"I'm not in a place to say what you did was wrong because I think what you did was brave you knew it was the wrong time to have a child and you didn't want to gamble but hiding it from Charles was wrong who knows he might have changed for the baby made a better life out of it."

Panic rose to my throat, the moment I stepped into the plane you went to the bathroom Charles was already there and he noticed your panic

you couldn't breathe the air was stuck in your throat.

This is all my fault you kept saying to yourself

"Y/N what is going on are you okay?"

your heard Charles in your head "Charles... I'm sorry Charles it's all my fault I killed our baby it's all my fault." You cried you fell on your knees

You didn't notice Charles in the bathroom until he tried to hold your head.

"It's me it's just me dont worry, darling," he reassured you.

You turned to him hugging him burying your face in his chest.

"I'm sorry- i- it was a mistake I should've told you." you cried

yes, Charles was upset about the abortion but a part of him knew that he was too far down the rabbit hole he wouldn't have been supportive.

"I need you to calm down my love." he tried to pull your face to see it

"I can't- I-"

"Calm down." he gave your mind the order.

your breath slowed down. you stopped crying.

he wiped your tears off of your face. "It's alright my love you were trying to protect me I admit I'm upset about it but we can make more when we are ready I need you to promise me you won't hide from me something like that ever again," he said tucking some of the hairs out of your face behind your ears.

"I promise, I won't hide from your anything again," you promised him and you tend to keep it.

"It's alright I'm here my angel." you smiled at the nickname.

he took your hand and placed it on his head allowing you to feel his emotions and all you felt was love and protection towards you

"I love you so much." you laughed lightly kissing his lips.

You felt his heart flutter when you said that giving you the reply you need.

"I love you more." he kissed back.

excuse me if I switched points of view I'm too tired to care tbh

[whumpsmith-participates]

Medwhump May 2024

Day 25 - High fever

Kinda a prequel to Day 11 - Passing out and also Day 13 - "You've been very sick"

TW: minor whumpee (17), illness, fahrenheit, tobacco

@medwhumpmay

Erick was prone to infections. Between frequent injuries, less than ideal living circumstances, not quite adequate diet, and constant stress, it was nearly a miracle that he wasn't sick all the time. It didn't help either that he had the tendency to ignore any early symptoms, powering through so he wouldn't disappoint Fetch, or anger him. He didn't like to be called lazy or ungrateful, because he wasn't, so he avoided being seen as such.

Until his body forced him to stop.

Beep!

Fetch looked at the display on the thermometer, frowning a bit.

"A hundred and three," he said, "how long have you been feeling sore?"

"I think...since yesterday?" Erick said, pulling on his shirt a bit as the sweat was making it stick to his chest.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"It wasn't this bad yesterday," Erick said with a shrug, "I just need a nap..."

"Not so fast," Fetch said, "I want you to drink some water first and take an Advil. Then I'll go out to get you some ice to cool you down."

"Hrm...I'm sorry," Erick said.

"It's okay, I had nothing better to do anyway," Fetch said, "just get into bed, I'll sleep on the couch tonight."

Erick stumbled towards the bedroom while Fetch headed into the kitchen to get a glass of water. He found some b-brand ibuprofen in the drawer and took out a pill before heading towards the bedroom, where Erick was adjusting the pillow in an attempt to get comfortable. He helped the teen take a couple of sips to wash down the pill, before telling him to call if he started feeling worse while he was out.

Luckily it was a short trip to the store, and Erick slept through Fetch's absence. He quietly entered the apartment, putting some of the ice he just bought in a bowl and stuffing the rest in the freezer. He added some water to the ice and let it sit for a bit before finding a clean washcloth in the pile of unfolded laundry that sat on top of the machine.

He carried the bowl into the bedroom, setting it on the nightstand and dunking the cloth into the water, making sure it was nice and cold before squeezing most of the water out before laying the washcloth over Erick's forehead and eyes.

"Oh my god..." he groaned quietly, "thank you."

"You know the drill," Fetch said, "try to flip it or wet it again whenever you wake up."

"Mhm..." Erick just said, seeming to drift off already again.

Fetch just shook his head a bit and headed out, finding something to do to keep him busy, though he still checked on the teen frequent enough, making sure he drank water, or refreshing the wash cloth with a new layer of ice water.

After a couple of hours he checked if his temperature had gone down yet, only to find it had climbed to 104. He sighed, getting up and heading into the bathroom to begin filling up the bathtub. Once he was satisfied with the temperature, he plugged the drain and headed back into the bedroom to wake Erick.

"Hey, come on, sit up. I know you're tired, but we need to get your temperature down, okay?"

"Ow..." Erick groaned while Fetch pulled him into a sitting position.

He tried to lay back down while rubbing his eyes, but Fetch stopped him, grabbing a hold of his jaw to make him look at him.

"Where does it hurt?" he asked.

Erick pulled his head from Fetch's grip, rubbing his eyes again, before pulling his hands through his hair.

"I dunno," he said, "everywhere? My head..."

"It's just fever aches," Fetch said, secretly relieved, "come on, a bath will do you good. Do you need help getting in?"

"No," Erick quickly said, "no, just give me a minute..."

Fetch just nodded, but waited to make sure whether the teen would need a hand at all or not. He managed to make it to the bathroom okay, and then closed the door in his face.

"Don't lock it," Fetch said, "shout if you need me."

"I'm fine," Erick insisted, turning the tap off before the bath would overflow.

He waited until Fetch's footsteps had moved away from the bathroom door, before getting undressed and climbing into the tub. The water wasn't as warm as he'd liked, but the cooling effect was kind of nice too. The fog in his head cleared a bit, and the aches settled a bit as well, allowing him to relax.

When the water got too cold, he got out, draining the tub and finding Fetch had left some clean clothes on the edge of the sink. He dried himself off with a towel before getting dressed, already feeling a lot better. When he left the bathroom Fetch made him sit down and drink some more water, as well as eat some toast, and take his temperature again.

"Did I pick up another flu on the last job?" Erick asked, holding still when Fetch jabbed the thermometer in his ear.

"Something or other," Fetch said, "if it's viral we just gotta wait it out. If you don't improve it can be bacterial instead."

"Hrm..."

Beep!

"Back to a hundred and three," Fetch said, "hopefully it doesn't shoot up again."

"Can I...go lie back down?" Erick asked.

"Finish your water first," Fetch said.

Erick nodded, slowly sipping his water until he'd emptied the glass before going back to bed, leaving behind a half-eaten piece of toast.

Unfortunately his fever spiked again during the night, this time accompanied by delirious babbling, keeping Fetch plenty busy as he had to stop the teen from getting up when he was in no state to move around.

Luckily his temperature dropped a bit again after Fetch finally got him to go back to sleep, but they weren't out of the woods yet. He continued to fluctuate the rest of the day between a high fever and a concerningly high fever. And after another restless night, Fetch was beginning to suspect it might not be a viral infection after all.

He contacted one of his associates to try and get his hands on some broad-spectrum antibiotics, hoping they would be enough. At the end of the morning, he finally heard back, getting a location and a price. With a sigh, Fetch got ready to leave, checking on Erick a last time.

"Kid, wake up," he said, taking the damp washcloth off of his forehead and dunking it in the icewater.

Erick groaned a bit in reply, keeping his eyes closed. Fetch sighed, taking the wash cloth and dabbing a bit around his throat and on his chest before laying it back on his forehead.

"Did you hear me?" he asked.

Erick blinked his eyes open, looking over at Fetch, but not really looking at him. Fetch sighed. He couldn't blame him in his current state.

"I'm going to get you some medicine," Fetch said, trying to keep things simple, "try to remember to drink water. I'll grab you a couple of bottles so you don't have to get up for them, okay? You can just stay in bed."

Erick didn't reply. Fetch just sighed and patted his knee before going back to the kitchen and pulling a six pack of plastic water bottles from the fridge. He placed them on the nightstand in the bedroom, taking the plastic wrapping off so Erick could get to them easier in his state. When he headed out, he stopped by the door and turned back to the teen. He was still peering at him, but there didn't seem to be much thought behind his eyes at all.

"I'll be back before dinner," Fetch said, before heading out.

He wasn't. His contact made him wait, then he changed the location, and then he bitched about not getting paid enough. Fetch had to set he record straight, but the whole ordeal caused him to arrive home much later than he had planned.

He was already cranky about all the effort he had to take, he was hungry because he hadn't had dinner yet, and he really hoped Erick's condition wouldn't have worsened, or he'd have more cleaning up to do. With a sigh, he lit himself a cigarette before unlocking the front door and heading inside.

He could tell right away that something was off. The bedroom door was open, and he could see Erick lying in the doorway. Fetch cursed under his breath, throwing his cigarette on the stairs before rushing inside to check on the teen.

He seemed to have passed out, not responding to Fetch shaking him. His breathing was shallow, and he felt hotter than he had before. Fetch cursed as he dragged him back to bed, checking his temperature. It was over 105 again. He did get antibiotics, but he got the oral kind, and if the teen wasn't conscious, he couldn't take them.

"Fuck," Fetch said, pacing the room a moment before making a decision.

With a grunt, he hoisted the teen over his shoulder and carried him out of the room and outside towards his van. He propped him up in the passenger's seat, covering him with his jacket to keep him warm before putting on his seat belt. Whilst he walked around to the driver's side, he pulled out his phone and looked up a number, pressing his phone to his ear while putting on his own seat belt and starting the engine.

"Hey, is this the emergency room? ... Great. I'm bringing in a young man, late teens, spiking a high fever and unresponsive, I'm turning onto the road now, I can be there in twenty or thirty minutes."

He didn't give them any more details. He could think of a cover story on the road. They could worry about police poking around after Erick had been tested and treated.

I really didn't think I'd serialise any of these, yet here I am

Masterlist Main account

Taglist for the dynamic duo: @lavndvrr

[ero-heart]

Ok imagine main 4 meeting a retired!sheriff!reader but reader is a parent that's from Texas.

Reader was traveling to get to California with their two kids but the main 4 crash into your car since they thought you were sheriff as you try to defend your kids from them.

Let’s get into some action babyyy!! I actually don’t know how to write action very well so bear with me,, I hope you all enjoy it tho!

Also reader has a ex that shares custody with you cuz I need lore

Also your kids call you “wawa” as a gender neutral term for a parent and you WILL like it, wawa.

Cw: road accidents, violence, guns, mentions of orphaning

ROAD-TRIP

(Main 4 + retired sheriff reader)

(Mainly platonic but if you want to interpret as the start of something you are free to do so 😳)

You were driving home after picking up your kids from their mom, glad to find them safe and sound. Not because their mother was someone terrible but because the place she lived in was so dangerous, it’s considered the most unlivable state in the entirety of the US. Insane murder machines on the loose, zed outbreaks, multiple gangs and bandits that could take your life away if so pleased them (and their stomachs), not mentioning the GOL3MS,,, MAGS!!!! That was Nevada. Their mother is a fighter, she could protect them but if you had problems protecting lives as a sheriff OUTSIDE of Nevada, you feared that your ex might commit the same mistakes as you did. You don’t know how the sheriff over there has been keeping up, he did open a organization to help find resources for the citizens to survive, but it looks like the same shithole as always since Nexus first and second downfall.

The twins were sleeping right now, you take a deep breath, they were safe and there was nothing to worry about. You try and keep focus on the road, feeling a little sleepy, you should make a stop for some coffee, maybe the kids were hungry. As you were reaching for your map to find the closest roadside diner to your location, a truck pulled up beside you, you looked over to find a rifle pointed at you. You immediately hit the breaks, making your car out of shot as it fired.

“What was that wawa?”

You jolted as one of your kids asked, now awake.

“Nothing hon, nothing”

A loud “shit” could be heard at a distance and the truck took a heavy turn, now driving quickly at your direction.

“FF- DUCK,, duck duck duck duck”

You started driving backwards before turning the car around. You couldn’t believe you caught the attention of some psychos. Only in Nevada.

“Who are those??”

Your second kid asked as he looked through the back window.

“ERICK GET DOWN!!”

They immediately got back into their sit as you drove as fast as you could. But it was in vain, your perpetrators tailed your car, making you all jolt. Steps could be heard from the car’s ceiling, your face went pale when you saw it. Peeking upside down at your window, was the most dangerous man of Nevada. You frowned and drove your car in circles, trying to get Hank off of it as your kids whooped and cheered. But Hank kept persistent, he managed to break your window, the shards sticking on your skin as he squeezed himself into the car and wrestled you. Now, laying between the two car sits, you couldn’t see the road as this gigantic man tried to choke you.

“FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!”

“YOU CAN GET THEM WA!!”

Your boys cheered you, you didn’t knew what to do to keep your babies from being orphaned. Like HELL you were keeping them alone with this psychopath. Wawa bear mode kicked in as you tried to kick this guy. But nothing seemed to make an affect on him, it was like he was a literal wall. He got closer to you and said,

“Harder.”

“UGHH FUCK OFF!!”

Hank laughed as the boys “ooooed” at your naughty word, you wanted to smash this guy’s head so bad. But Hank was at advantage, he pried his hands off of him and grabbed your throat. Your eyes widened, it looked like everything was in slow mo. You could feel the car moving wobbly, the sweat on your head, your hat falling off of your head and the breath of the man on top of you. You looked him deep in the eyes, you knew you had no escape, you couldn’t even scream for your kids to look away, his hands held you tight, with no space for words. Suddenly, Hank looses his grip, he looked at you closer.

“Huh..”

As you coughed and gasped for air, your boy spoke.

“Hey wawa lemme help you!”

A loud bang sound could be heard, the bullet traversed the car’s ceiling.

“MY PISTOL DODO HOW-“

The car hit a stop sign.

You only managed to stay in place because Hank was on top of you, your kids were saved by the sit belts, Hank was fine apparently. Right after that you were engulfed by airbags. Everything was quiet until you heard a vehicle stopping right beside you. Hank opened the car door and brought you by the back of your head with him, seat belt and all despite your protests.

“Hay Hank! You got hi-“

You were shoved in front of a guy, who looked just as confused as you.

“Does this look like the sheriff to you?”

“Uhhh”

The man pounders, still looking at you, his breath smelled strongly of cigarettes.

“Uhhh..yes?”

“You stupid fuck.”

Hank huffs as he drops you to the ground, tou slid on the ground, still connected to the seat belt, another man comes and whacks the visor guy’s head.

“You shithead, how did you fuck this up??”

“Tch you agreed it was him too!”

“You are insufferable.”

You freed yourself from the belt, and run to see your kids. When you opened their door, you could only see wide eyed balls of energy.

“This. Was. AMAZING!!!!!”

“CAN WE CRASH THE CAR AGAIN????”

As you attended to your children, the three men were discussing with each other how bad they fucked up. Sanford turns to see their accidental victim hugging their hyper kids and their now destroyed car, he feel a pang on his heart.

“Hey you think we should help them?”

“No.”

Sanford rolls his eyes at Hank.

“Like, we did terrorize this whole family and broke down their car”

“Nuh uh, that was Deimos”

“Hey!! First of all it was you who caused all the physical damages!”

Deimos retorted.

“That bump on the back side of their car does not look like my doing.”

Sanford ignored his coworker’s bickering and approached the family.

“Hey uhh, sorry for causing all of this trouble we kinda thought you were someone else.”

You only looked at him, face full of glass shards, neck bruised, heavy eye bags. You just looked at him. Sanford sighs before adding.

“Look uhh, you were close to the bother, you were planning on leaving huh? Look, your car in this condition can not get you anywhere,”

“No shit.”

“Yea heheh…” this is awkward damn “look we can get you a ride to the place you came from, we can get you a mechanic too to fix up your car! You seem like you need a fix too! We have a almost trustful medic back at our base that can help you!”

You take a deep breath, there wasn’t nothing you could really do anymore, trusting these freaks might be a bad idea. But if their intention was really to kill you, they would already have done so. You relented.

You were now on the back of the truck with the most hunted man of Nevada and your kids playing around with some boxes. The two men you learned were Sanford and Deimos, were on the front driving and blasting some popular 2000’s rock band. Yea you can’t wait for this day to be over.

“There you go! As good as new~”

You were now patched up by the S.Q’s doctor, M.D Skinner. You thanked him for helping you and also checking up your kids. Walking around, you find the trio with another person, they seem like they are being scolded.

“So let me get this straight. You followed the wrong guy, to the BORDERS OF NEVADA, crashed their car, now promised to pay the mechanic too?”

They all stay quiet, the only one disinterested was Hank.

“You already lost enough resources, i better find sheriff’s head on that table THIS WEEKEND, we need that money. Especially now. I won’t help with the debt you put yourselves on.”

The man turns around and walks almost straight onto you, he stops himself before anything happens.

“Ah so it’s you, I suppose you heard the conversation, I hope you don’t take it personally.”

“Eh, I actually understand.”

“Hmhum, I apologize for the trouble my men caused. Do you have anywhere to stay?”

“My ex actually live close by, we are in good terms, she can come pick me up.”

“Well that’s good, we will provide you a cellphone for you to contact them.”

You thank him and wait as you observe your boys climbing Deimos like a playground.

[twoidiotwriters1]

Until The Very End -(WITS Sequel)

A/N: I'M BACK-Danny

Words: 2,269

Masterlist

Previous chapter // Next chapter

2013—2014

As far as everyone knew, Leon Regulus was a decent student at Hogwarts.

The accurate statement was, that Leon Regulus was the best student of his year, and to prove it now he had a Headboy badge. He was also Captain of the dueling club, and rather popular... and he didn't want his family to know.

He was still staring at his letter when Mel came down for breakfast with Lily in her arms.

"Morning," she said. "Is that your letter? We can go with the Flints—"

"Get mum," Leon said, eyes never leaving his letter.

"What?"

"Get mum," he repeated. "I need to talk to her."

Mel sat her sleepy daughter on the couch and approached. "What is it?"

The young boy reacted, jumping out of his seat and holding the letter behind his back. "Get mum and then I'll tell you!" Mel stared at him and he got even more alarmed. "Do not read my thoughts!"

"I'm not!" Mel tried to hide her laughter, chasing her younger brother around the drawing room. "I wasn't snooping! I was just trying to—"

"No, don't do that! You're too smart and you'll figure out before mum!"

"Reg—"

"Oh, bugger off, I'll do it," he complained, seizing his wand. "I'm allowed to do magic now, I keep forgetting it.."

With a swift flick of his wand, his Patronus—a border collie—ran out of sight.

"Now what, you'll avoid talking to me until Mum gets the message?" Mel smirked.

"You left a minor unsupervised—and that one likes playing with fire!" Leon reminded her as he rushed upstairs.

"Oh, Reg, don't be such a—"

Someone knocked on her door then, and Mel tensed. It'd been a whole month since Harry and Ron had gone away, and she was still waiting for news. She feared opening the door to a Ministry worker holding one of those dreadful burgundy envelopes, the ones reserved to notify the relatives of a deceased Auror.

Mel walked to the door and opened it, she visibly relaxed when she realized it was Emily Flint. "Hi, love!"

"Hi," the girl looked briefly over Mel's shoulder, she was holding her Hogwarts letter. "Is Leon still here?"

"Yeah, you want me to call him?"

"Yes, please. I was on my way already when he sent me his Patronus."

"Oh!" Mel blushed. "Oh, sorry, Emi, I think my brother made a mistake—"

"Hi, hi, hi!" Reg rushed down to meet the girl and stopped Mel from talking. "You got my message?"

"Yes," she smiles, but it looks a lot different than the way she usually grins at her friends. "I was actually on my way, I got my letter."

Regulus blushes. "Me too."

"I got great news," Emily continued, looking at them with excitement. "I'm the Captain of Slytherin's Quidditch team."

"Emily! That's brilliant!" Mel beamed.

"Dad wants to organize a dinner to celebrate my promotion, he asked me to invite you and your kids if you're, you know, in the right mood—"

"Of course I am," Mel pushed aside the little sting of disappointment when she thought of Harry, missing the milestones of people they cared about.

"We'll be there," Regulus said, looking anxious. "Mel, can you excuse us?"

She looked at her brother with a raised brow, but the boy just gave her a look to urge her to leave them alone. Once again Mel concealed her mirth and stepped aside. "Sure. I'll be in the kitchen with Lily."

When Mel's mother arrived, Emily Flint was still with Regulus upstairs.

"Hey," Mel started, lowering her voice so her children couldn't hear their conversation. "I can't believe I'm asking you this, but..."

"Your brother has gone soft over Erick's oldest daughter, yes," the woman smiled. "But Mel, need I remind you it's rude to talk about other people's love lives, especially when they're young?"

Mel made a face. "I stand by what I said back then, it was wrong of you to bet on my life. But I'm not betting, now I understand why Regulus was so eager to come and spend the summer here."

"Well, he's always liked spending the summer with you."

"But this year he's barely been here at all!" Mel pointed out. "He's spent every afternoon with the Flints—with Emily. They go to the muggle town and come back at dusk, beats me what they can do there that could be considered fun for teenagers—"

"Oh, Mel," her mother rolled her eyes with a knowing smirk. "You and Harry would walk around Privet Drive doing absolutely nothing most days, and you still had loads of fun."

She smiled at the memories of her youth, a warm fuzzy feeling spreading on her chest. "So this means our Reggie has a girlfriend now?"

"I don't think Emily would date him without having her father's approval first," her mother grinned. "And we would've heard something from Erick by now if she'd asked. He would've come to you vibrating with the need to share the news."

Mel laughed, shaking her head a little. "Well, at least it's the one boy that Erick has known since baby. That ought to ease his mind."

"Might not be as lucky with the rest of his children," Emily smirked. "He could have a Mel in his home."

The woman scowled. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, nothing. Just, you know... how every time you dated I would always find out through other people or months after it had started—"

"Well, maybe if someone hadn't bet on my love life, perhaps I would've kept them in the loop."

"Mum?" Reg's voice came from the hallway.

Mel and Emily both stopped and turned to him. Emily Flint pushed the older boy forward, and he stepped closer to them, holding his Hogwarts letter.

"Hi, boy," His mother smiled. "Everything okay?"

He handed her the piece of paper. "I'm Headboy."

"What!" Mel seized the letter and read it hastily. Beside her, their mother gasped and covered her mouth with both hands in shock. "Reggie!"

Mel pulled her brother in for a hug, her mother soon joining in. Leon laughed, face flushed, and held onto them, he was shaking.

"I didn't know you were aiming for that!" His mother exclaimed. "I mean, when you got the Prefect badge you looked annoyed—"

"He wasn't annoyed, he was stressed," Emily Flint clarified. "Layla's a troublemaker, and she was counting on him getting the badge."

"Ah, your father went through the same with us," Mel grinned guiltily. "I personally, didn't make his job any easier."

"Yes, he has a lot of stories," the girl giggled. "Anyway, if you are okay with it, I want to share my dinner celebration with Leon, I think he deserves it."

Regulus blushed and turned to his friend. "No, I already told you I don't want that!"

"I've been trying to convince him for a whole hour," Emily turned to the older women pouting. "Please talk to him?"

"It'll be fun, we can invite everyone! Harry..." Mel stopped, her husband wasn't around to celebrate with them. Emily—her mother—placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed.

"First things first, how about we all go to Diagon Alley and get your books? I didn't get to take Mel to buy stuff for her seventh year, so we'll all have fun with it."

"Why not?" Emily Flint asked innocently.

"Mel didn't go to Hogwarts a seventh time," the boy mentioned as shortly as possible. "Because of the war." Mel and Reg shared a look, the air in the room suddenly getting a little awkward.

Emily's face got so red Mel took pity on her. "I was so ahead in my lessons by the time I was sixteen, that going a seventh time wasn't needed, if I'm honest. The war saved me the hassle of wearing uniform for yet another year."

Emily smiled shyly. "True... though I like the uniforms."

"You look nice in them," Regulus offered, grabbing her hand and pulling her out of the kitchen. "Come on, I'll walk you out, Emie."

When the teens left, Mel took a deep breath and turned to face her mother. "I'm losing it, Mum," she pouted.

Emily hugged her, having to stand on her tiptoes to reach Mel's shoulders. "Still no news from Harry?"

"No," Mel sniffed, quickly drying her tears as they parted. "I have a bad feeling about this one."

"Been a while since the last time, that's all..."

Mel pushed her hair back. "It will never get easier, will it?"

Her mother's eyes softened, seeing herself reflected on her daughter. "My sweet Mel... the war ended so long ago and you still face everything the way Dumbledore taught you." Emily cupped her face.

"Is that... bad?"

"It's the only way you Dumbledores function, I've come to realize," the woman sighed. "But if you're scared, just say it."

Mel lowered her head and closed her eyes tightly. "I'm scared."

Regulus's family tended to go big when celebrating his achievements, and somehow Rita Skeeter always made it sound way more classless and embarrassing than it actually was.

Most people had doubts when it came to the reporter, but that didn't stop his classmates from teasing him about his rich relatives' traditions. Emily and Elizabeth Flint were overly protective of him as well as Teddy Lupin and Vicky Weasley, which was nice but still just as embarrassing, considering they were all younger kids. In Regulus's eyes, it was like having an army of toddlers defending his honour.

He was complaining about all this to the only person he knew would understand how it felt to be judged by things that weren't even his responsibility: Mel.

"So what do you recommend?"

"You know what I recommend," the woman grinned. "You're bloody good at charms."

Regulus wrinkled his nose in annoyance. "But I don't want to jinx or hex other people, that is beneath me."

"Exclaimed the prince," Mel laughed a bit. "Are you sure you're a Gryffindor? I never knew of a lion who didn't like fighting. Even your professor, Neville had his fair amount of fights."

"Well, maybe I don't see the point of getting my cloaks dirty with losers's blood," he rolled his eyes.

"Ah," she smirked. "So you're a haughty one, like my dad and his uncle."

"Can you be serious for a moment and help? There is a reason why I'm not asking Mum for advice, I already know she would also choose violence."

Mel laughed good-naturedly and then sighed, a smile lingering on her expression. "I'm sorry, Leggie, most of your family is a bunch of hot-headed individuals. If you want a mellower response, call Uncle Moony."

"I thought I was talking to Mellow?" The young man smirked.

The woman laughed again. "You are, but I'm afraid that when it comes to my little brother's well-being I don't necessarily act wisely."

Regulus hummed. "So you're sticking to your first answer?"

Mel pondered, looking out the window of her drawing room. It was almost midnight, and Regulus had to go to bed soon. So did she, but lately she wasn't sleeping all that well either way.

"No..." she shook her head before glancing back at the two-way mirror she'd propped up on a pile of books. "If I were Uncle Lu... I'd tell you to pay them no mind. You have good friends willing to fight your battles—though they shouldn't—so I guess... indirect intimidation."

Regulus chortled and raised a brow, shaking his head. "You're useless."

"I think half the Ministry would disagree," Mel grinned. "But that is definitely the mellowest answer I can give you. You're Headboy now, and you have that Sultens thing about you that just screams danger when you get angry. And you have the cold-blooded Black mindset, so really, I think what's best for you is to have someone to talk to so you get all that frustration out. Someone like a Flint, maybe?"

At her knowing smile, Regulus made a face and adverted his eyes, mumbling his response. "I know what you're implying."

"Good, that was my intention."

"I won't date Emily Flint."

"Yet."

"Mellow!"

The woman opened her mouth to reply but then she heard a sudden commotion right outside her front door, like feet stumbling to a stop and then some groaning. Mel tensed and reached for her wand.

"I heard something," she said quickly. "I'll talk to you later, Reg, see you."

Mel placed the mirror face down on top of the pile of books and got to her feet, turning all the lights off with a swift hand movement the moment her front door squeaked open.

"Don't move!" She hissed, prepared to cast a hex on the person if they refused to cooperate. "Who are you?"

The person groaned again and leaned against the threshold, mumbled "Lumos!", and Harry's face looked up at her. "I'm your husband."

Mel gasped, turned the lights back on with a flick of her wand, hurried to the man's side, and lifted his face up to examine the wound on his face, messily bandaged.

"What happened?" She breathed, trying to stay quiet so the kids wouldn't wake.

"I was lousy," he winced, stepping into the house and closing the door behind him. "Don't worry, I'm not dying—just a cut."

"Harry!" Mel exclaimed in relief, wrapping her arms tightly around him. He smelled like smoke and coffee. "Where's Ron?"

"Alive, better than I look," he groaned again. "It's alright, Mel, honest. They barely got my face..."

Mel cradled his face and her gaze softened, a tentative smile coming through. "So another scar, huh?"

Harry sighed, returning the smile with irony. "Nothing new," his hand reached up and traced over the ones she had down her jaw and neck. "I missed you."

The witch hummed, brushing his hair back and helping him take off the cloak. "You look tired, I'll run you a bath."

"It's midnight—"

"I've been going to bed at two in the morning anyway," she brushed it aside. "It's nothing..." Mel grabbed his hand and pulled him upstairs, lowering her voice even more as she continued with a playful expression. "I'll join you if you want."

Harry's whole face lit up at the offer, his smile turning genuine and slightly crooked. "How could I refuse?"

Next Chapter –>

Taglist

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[zoeywhumps]

"it's the only way"

"lyla, it's the only way! you know that erick will come for me, and when he does, you can finally get the proof. it's the only way he'll come out of hiding." kamora said vehemently.

"no! i won't risk your life!" lyla argued.

"it's not worth it, kam." una protested.

"i'll be perfectly safe. i trust you two. we have to take him down, one way or the other. the police aren't doing their damn job. we have to stop him before he kills again." she responded with a heavy sigh.

"if- if anything happens kam, i swear to god!" lyla burst out, throwing her arms around her friend.

"i'll be okay. promise." kamora said, knowing in her heart that it wasn't true.

an hour later, the trap was ready. kamora stood outside the home they knew erick was hiding in, her face not betraying her fear. there were cameras recording all around them, hidden in many places, ready to capture erick's guilt.

she knew that lyla and una were nearby, waiting for her to give them the signal.

she also knew that the signal would never come.

kam waited and waited, until finally, the door creaked open. erick and his cronies, william and tim, walked out. she clicked the button in her pocket to alert her friends to start recording.

"hmm.. what have we here? you're as cute as a button." william grinned.

"erick, i just wanted to ask you... why? why did you kill kathryn?" she said, not needing to fake the lump in her throat when she thought of her late friend's gruesome death.

"oh, poor poor kammy. you just don't get it, do you? the ecstasy when you watch the life leave someone's eyes? you wouldn't understand." erick smiled mischievously.

"it's not fair! you killed my best friend!" she was playing her part well, tears falling from her eyes.

"don't worry, baby. soon, you'll see her again." erick pulled out a gun, pointing it at kamora's head. "but not after we have some fun. get in the car."

kam looked over at their shiny red toyota. she feared it might be the last thing she ever saw.

"please! i don't want to die!" she whimpered, trying not to arouse their suspicions by being too willing.

erick snapped a finger, gun still in his other hand. tim and william approached kamora, one gagging her with tape as the other one restrained her. panic set in finally, and she tried to kick at them as they carried her to the car.

forgive me, lyla... una... i'm going to die here.

kam sobbed into the gag as they roughly tossed her into the back of the car, tim climbing in after her and tying her hands and feet with rough rope.

"it'd sure be a shame if we took you somewhere where you'd never be found," tim whispered in her ear. she shivered.

kamora tried to console herself with the thought that the cameras would have plenty of evidence to throw all three of them in jail. but all she could think about was kathryn's mutilated body, and how that could very quickly become her own fate.

the drive was long and frightening. she didn't know where they were going, and with every bump or jolt in the road, she was jostled around, eventually falling onto the floorboards so she couldn't even see out the windows anymore.

after what felt like hours, the car stopped. the doors opened, and erick picked kamora up in his arms, an unnerving smirk on his face.

"welcome to your last days, kammy." he whispered to her.

[snoelledarts]

ooh tell me about re-aliving!

Since someone already asked about it, I'll hand out another snippet! This was the original version of my long-fic, Grace of Gods, and it STARTED with Nico resurrecting Jason. Here's a bit from when Nico is looking for Jason in Elysium! (Sorry for how long it is! I really liked this bit LOL...)

It could be hours or mere minutes before Nico finally sees a face he recognizes. A young boy, probably about as old as Nico is now, with shiny black hair and a black eye-patch. The last time Nico saw him was at Camp Half-Blood, following Luke around like a lost puppy. What was his name? Erin? Erick? …Ethan! It was Ethan. Nico almost feels ashamed that he doesn’t remember, but in his defense his memories from before Tartarus are a little shaky at best. 

He remembers Ethan being smart. Particular, but not unkind. Before the war, Luke wouldn’t surround himself with anyone he thought was unkind. Broken demigods, maybe, but not villains. Luke was a beacon for demigods who wanted a second chance. It should have been clear from the start who was behind it all, really. 

Here, now, seeing Ethan sitting and chatting idly with the people around him, Nico has to choke back the guilt and sadness that crawls up his throat. 

They were all so young.

Sure, at the time Nico was younger, and these demigods were technically responsible for him having to witness war as a child, but Nico also would have witnessed war as a child if he grew up in Italy like he was supposed to, so he chooses to call that one a draw. (Though, he probably wouldn’t have had to fight in Italy. …Right?) 

Can this boy, who was clearly barely 17 when he died, really be blamed for being talked into raising Kronos? Can any of them be blamed for giving in to what they thought would be a better world for them? For their friends? 

And for his efforts, Ethan and all of Luke’s demigod followers who died in battle gained Elysium. Now that is fair. Kronos rotting in Super Hell forever while the children he emotionally manipulated enjoy eternal happiness? A wise and just decision. 

Funny, now that Nico thinks about it, Kronos was a really shitty villian. Exploiting angsty teenagers with mommy and daddy issues and then failing at exploiting said teenagers well enough that they don’t turn on you at the last second hardly counts as being a successful evil Titan. What a loser. 

Nico makes his way over to the small cafe table Ethan is situated at, sipping at a bowl of soup cupped gently in his hands. Scars crisscross like a star-map across his knuckles and the backs of his hands. They’re small enough that Nico has to wonder what caused them. They certainly don’t look like battle wounds. More serrations than cuts. 

When he’s finally close enough, the crowd parts and Nico sees a blip of messy blond hair seated across from Ethan. At first, he thinks it’s Luke. Until he remembers that Luke chose to be reborn. In fact, the closer he gets the more Nico realizes he couldn’t have been more wrong. The boy sitting across from Ethan is clearly younger than Luke was when he died, despite Nico not being able to see his face. He’s taller, more built compared to Luke’s lithe frame, and much paler. He also lifts a bowl to his face, and Nico catches a glimps of an SPQR tattoo on the inside of the demigod’s right wrist, which is strange because he’s wearing a Camp Half-Blood t-shirt, not a Camp Jupiter one. And the only person Nico knows who has both is…

“Jason!” Nico breaks out into a sprint. Gods, Elysium had really sucked him in for a second. All that reminiscing, he had almost forgotten why he was here. Or, rather, who he was here for.  The demigod sitting across from Ethan turns around slowly, mouth parted with polite shock, as Nico barrels through ghosts to get to them. 

“Sorry-- excuse me! Pardon me, if I could just,” Nico’s voice is apologetic but he doesn’t take his eyes off of Jason. The Underworld can be tricky, and Nico knows better than most that just because Jason seems close by doesn’t mean he is, or that Elysium won’t rearrange itself the second Nico looks down. Instead, he choses to run straight through any ghosts in his path at full speed, vanquishing quite a few of them with stock apologies. 

He’s panting by the time he makes it to the little table Jason and Ethan are sitting at, hands on his knees. Surely he’s not that out of shape, right? Must be a trick of Elysium. …Must be. 

“Jason!” Nico says again, unable to keep the smile off of his face. “Alright, time to go, come-on. The longer I’m here the greater the chances that I get caught.” He gives a polite nod to Ethan, and focuses back on Jason.

Looking at Jason’s face more closely, something is off. His eyes are so blue they’re almost white, nearly blending in with the rest of his sclera. Ghosts here are fuzzy at the edges, enjoying the timelessness of eternal happiness, but even taking that into account Nico is sure Jason did not look like this before.

Hesitation flashes across Jason’s features. “...Nico?” 

“Uh, yeah. It’s me-- What happened to your eyes?” Nico asks before he can stop himself. Practicing not filtering himself so much really has backfired quite a bit as of late. Nico isn’t so sure that was one of Will’s best ideas. But if it keeps Will from mumbling all day about “masking” and “Nico mentally draining himself” then he’ll take the consequences of his stupid thought to mouth connection.

“My eyes?” Jason asks, lifting a hand up to his face as if he had forgotten they were even there. 

He doesn’t get a chance to expand on that thought, though, because Ethan leans across the table and speaks up. “Nico di Angelo? As in, the little Hades kid who ran away from camp?” He’s looking critically back and forth between Nico and Jason, as a child of Nemisis does. 

Taken back for a second that Ethan recognized him, let alone can acknowledge him here, in Elysium, Nico dumbly responds with, “Uh, yeah?” 

Maybe demigods can see through the Mist enough that they retain it in death? Half the ghosts Nico just ran through acted like he wasn’t even there… Or maybe it’s just because he’s talking with Ethan directly? Nico’s not really sure, but he doesn’t plan on staying long enough to find out.

“Interesting… What are you doing here?” 

“What’s wrong with Jason’s eyes?” Nico asks, instead of answering Ethan’s question. Because he can’t. They both know he can’t. Admitting it out loud in the Underworld would be like using a megaphone to announce you are going to rob a bank outside of the nearest police station. Ethan seems to get it immediately, eye going wide and leaning back in his seat, setting his cup of soup down for the first time since Nico laid eyes on him.

Ethan raises his one visible eyebrow, a twinkle in his eye that makes Nico a little bit nervous. He opens his mouth to answer, a shrug halfway finished in his shoulders, but then his eyes glaze over and his posture drops. 

“Who are you, again?” He says instead. 

See, that’s the sort of greeting Nico was expecting. But now that it has come after their initial conversation, Nico can’t help but be a little nervous.

“Alright, time to go! Enjoy eternal life, or whatever,” Nico stutters out, grabbing Jason by the arm and pulling him up from his seat. “Oh--” Is the only protest Jason puts up, letting himself be pulled by the son of Hades through the streets of Elysium. “What’s going on?” He asks, as they round a corner. It’s the first hint of actual fear and concern Nico has heard. Which is strange, because he shouldn’t be able to feel fear and concern in Elysium.