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lastxviolet · 3 years

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Madripoor is for Lovers - Ch. 1

Summary: Y/N is a SWORD agent recruited to help Sam and Bucky track down Karli and the super-soldiers. When Helmut Zemo joins the team, he takes a special interest in her. The friendly union is wrought for disaster, but then things take a turn for the worst when Y/N is taken as collateral. Will Zemo keep her forever? Does she even want to escape? And what happened in Madripoor that made the whole thing so complicated?

Warnings: 18+ / eventual smut / kidnapping

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32878015/chapters/81589774

“Don’t scream,” a voice whispered in your ear, low and slow. “I do not wish to harm you.”

His hand wrapped around your mouth and the other snaked around your waist. The cool metal of a gun pressed into your ribs. He pulled you tight and fast against his body with ease.

You knew who it was, of course. It was the only person in the room not fighting in the pit of madness. The duel between a super soldier, the new Captain America, and the Dora Milaje hadn't been tempting. But it’d been him to grab your arm to pull you away from the fighting when Sam had yelled for help and now you knew why.

“Don’t do this,” you hissed against his hand.

Zemo pulled you backward, inch by agonizing inch.

You clicked your heels against the floor hoping to knock something over along the way. Anything to get Sam and Bucky’s attention. No one even glanced your way.

“None of that, Liebling,” he whispered, lips brushing your ear. His grip on your waist tightened as you passed through the bathroom threshold. What was worse, you wondered. Seeing your team; your friends disappear behind the closed double doors. Or the goosebumps from Zemo’s breath hot on your neck.

With his gun aimed at you, he knelt near the bathtub and pushed it aside to reveal an escape hatch in the floor. You watched him unlatch it and then smirk, surprised that his plan was going so well. That smirk made your blood boil.

“I’m more hassle than I’m worth,” you warned, casting a hesitant glance down the manhole.

He motioned for you to jump down first. “But you are excellent collateral.”

The noise of battle continued beyond the doors, much to your disappointment. They weren’t going to notice in time. Sam and Bucky had looked out for you but their alliance superseded any with you. Sam had only known you for a few months, and Bucky even less. You shot a prayer into the ether that they'd think of you if only this one time.

“You overestimate my importance to them,” you hissed.

Zemo looked up with dark and serious eyes. Usually, when aimed at you, they were less so. You wouldn't have considered him a friend, by any means. But in the last few weeks, he'd become a quiet, witty companion, who infuriated you less than most. Especially when Sam and Bucky spent most of the mission bickering about the plans you had made.

“Perhaps you underestimate yourself,” he cooed, shaking his head.

Sewage stink hit your senses immediately. This would not be pleasant. The drop was too short to give you the time to make a run for it. A second after your feet hit the ground, Zemo returned his gun to your head, with a smile.

“This way.”

Fighting was pointless, that much you knew. You hadn’t been recruited by Sam for your fighting abilities, as Zemo hadn’t been recruited for his. You were handy with a gun but tracking and strategy were your specialties. They’d taken you far in the military, and then as an anomaly investigator and agent with SWORD. And now, they’d brought you here, kidnapped, with a gun to your head in the back of Zemo’s car.

The driver was off towards the airstrip without any further commotion. You watched the road behind you, hopeful to see Sam or Bucky run up on the car. You could've even settled for a Dora Milaje with murder in their eyes and Zemo’s name on their tongue but it was empty.

Once on the plane, you sat in the furthest seat towards the back. Angry, hurt, and nervous, because despite all the warning bells, you’d trusted him. There was clear hatred between your teammates and Zemo but it was different between the two of you. You had no past or grudges against one another. It was silly now to think that that made you believe that there was an understanding.

“I hope you don’t think me indecent,” he murmured, gesturing to an opaque scarf in his hands. He avoided your gaze before wrapping it around your face. “But it would be unwise for me to trust you with my location. You are too intelligent for your own good.”

“Is it normal for wardens to flatter their prisoners,” you hissed, hoping to land a blow.

You heard him sit in the seat across from you and felt his foot brush yours as he crossed his legs.

“Prisoner,” he chuckled. “You are my guest Y/N and I hope that in time, you will find that I can be an excellent host.”

“In time,” you repeated, weighing the consequences of not putting up a fight when you could. How long did he plan to keep you?

He was quiet then, and so were you. The choice of words lingering between you. It wasn't until after takeoff that he spoke again. A glimpse of his face would've given you the clues you desired but the tone of his words was enough. His exhaustion from relentless thought weighed his voice to a deep baritone. Sluggish and soft.

“I have no intention of living the rest of my days in a cell,” he whispered finally.

You couldn't feel bad for him, especially when his freedom came at the cost of your own. It was clear then that confidence and swagger were a disguise, for survival. You’d seen glimmers of the real pain lurking beneath the smirks and fur coat but you hadn’t thought that he’d let it win. It wasn't a disappointment but somewhat a relief to go toe to toe with the real man.

“You can’t run forever,” you reminded him in a soft tone, trying to coax the shadow of humanity left in him out further.

“Ah,” he sighed. “It feels nice to know that you can be wrong, Y/N. For a moment, I doubted that you were human.”

The words lit an angry fire inside you. You couldn’t see him but almost heard the cavalier shrug he threw in for effect. The fabric over your eyes covered the tops of your cheeks hiding the angry flush. You hated him for making this complicated. You hated yourself even more, for not screaming when you had the chance.

Except for the occasional page turn, the rest of the ride was silent, which was unusual for the two of you. There’d been an instant dialogue since the very first time you’d met a few weeks ago. Since then, quiet moments had been rare.

________

The Baron’s private plane had landed an hour ago, but no one was on the tarmac yet. It’d taken you, Sam, and Bucky that long to come to terms with the uniforms chosen for the night.

“You know you don’t have to Y/N.”

You rolled your eyes and glared at Sam through the small airplane mirror.

“I’m fine,” you reassured him before going back to gawking at the dress. Tight but not too short, seeing as you were posing as a baroness tonight in the mission to Madripoor. Sheer black fabric slung over one shoulder, sewn onto a bustier underneath. Simple. Elegant. You’d never worn anything like it.

Sam shook his head, mumbling something about this being a bad idea.

“It’s better than the Air Force uniform,” you smiled, knowing full well that that’d get at least a chuckle out of him. It did, earning the both of you a glare from Bucky who was the worst off tonight.

“No time like the present,” Zemo called from the front of the plane. The men left you, bickering about whose outfit was worse. You tried to follow but the only piece of jewelry, a silver charm necklace, put up a fight.

“Allow me?”

Zemo’s voice made you jump. He leaned against the door, with a hand outstretched towards you. Now that half the audience to entertain was gone, he looked more forlorn; less self-assured.

You nodded, moving your hair out of the way before handing the necklace to him. He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes.

He did that a lot you had realized. After the fireworks at the beginning of the ride, he’d turned his attention to you. Smile bright, but the eye’s dead. One would think small talk was his forte but you knew better. It is an easy distraction; a way to put your opposition at ease. Regardless, you couldn't blame him for seeking to charm the only one on the flight that did not hate him.

“I don’t think that we met,” he’d stated, settling into the seat across from you. “Last time.”

“Don’t talk to her,” Bucky hissed. You knew he was trying to help but you waved him off, giving him a look that said ‘someone has to talk to him.’

“No, I’m new,” you’d told him, squinting at the artificial grin that didn’t leave his face. You guessed that conversation was difficult to come by in prison. It was a pity that he was an evil mastermind. His ability to fake friendliness rivaled the most talented US agents.

“How new?”

“A few weeks before you.”

His eyes twinkled at your commonality. They bore into yours, trying to decipher what you know of what he'd done. This look was how you knew the stories of his genius, were true. They scanned and shifted, guessing that you knew it all with one look. He was right, of course, and you thought that would be the end of it. Then, he surprised you. He asked about your family, schooling, job, passions, and interests. He spoke about the books he’d had in prison, and you teased him for even reading The Prince.

He smiled wider and wider as you spoke until Sam shot you a glare and you gave the Baron some excuse about sleep. But even when you closed your eyes, and curled up into the seat, you’d felt his eyes remain on your face.

Warm hands against your neck brought you out of the trance and back to the man who you should hate.

“It’s beautiful,” you whispered, watching his somber expression in the reflection.

“The sigil is — was, my family’s,” he stated, coming around to face you and fiddle with the charm. “You are playing the part of a baroness, after all. We need to make it believable.”

His lips curled into a soft smile at the royal word. A chill ran down your spine. Even though your conversation had been short, you hadn’t meant to enjoy it so much. Conversation was like pulling teeth with most of the people you knew, especially Sam and Bucky. And even when it came, it didn’t flow like this.

“There are worse roles,” you mused, shooting him a soft smile in return. “I could have to play the part of the mind-controlled assassin, or worse, the evil baron.”

He smirked. “Strenuous, yes. I have found that there is nothing more difficult to be, than yourself.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“You find it easy, to be yourself?”

“No, I don’t think that you are what you want us to believe.”

The words seemed to catch him off guard and you wondered the last person to show him any kindness was. Not that your words were kind.

Sam yelled some threat from the cabin about Zemo keeping his hands off of you, and you knew that your time was up. You ignored the pang of disappointment and looked up at the Baron's stone eyes.

“I am afraid that I will prove you wrong Y/N.”

You nodded and followed him out into the cold evening.

Low town was the target and as the four of you walked, the air was tense.

You nudged Bucky. “You ok?”

“Never better,” he sighed through gritted teeth.

A car appeared on the fluorescent bridge you were crossing as Zemo took his position next to you. Bucky stood on the other side of him, silent since you’d all marched out of the plane. You couldn't tell if it was memory that hardened his eyes or tonight’s assignment.

“You’re Bucky Barnes, born 1917,” you reminded the sullen soldier. “No more, no less.”

Zemo’s eyes squinted at your words, no doubt in disagreement but you avoided his gaze.

Bucky nodded and gave you a half-smile. It was as much as he could muster, especially when he had to become something he was trying so hard to forget. People have a way of finding their way back to themselves in time and you wondered how long he had left to go. The man who fought in WW2 was different from the man who fought against the Avengers. Both versions of him were different still from the man who'd turned silent in recent years.

“No matter what happens, we have to stay in character,” Zemo instructed as a car appeared on the bridge. “Our lives depend on it. There is no margin for error.”

You prepared yourself for the night ahead where you would look at the Baron with lust. It would feel strange to see him as something other than interesting and distrustful. Attraction to him was not far-fetched. He had a strong face and a sultry accent, but you stood on opposite sides of the moral spectrum in the end. Unfortunately, your realism in love hadn’t left you very open to romantic connections. From the little experience you had, it was clear that couples didn’t work if they didn't have a common goal. Yours was not the destruction of your friends and his was not to make the world a better place.

An arm snaked around your waist, cutting off the train of thought. You jumped and looked wide-eyed at Zemo.

“We are newlyweds, yes?”

His words sounded more like a question but a smile played on his lips. You nodded, unfamiliar with the feel of a confident man at your side.

“Right,” you confirmed, being the first one to break eye contact.

The car doors opened and you knew the driver was the first person to judge the performance. You let Zemo pull you towards the car and then hesitated as he walked to the passenger side. You glanced to the middle seat between Bucky and Sam in the back. Sensing your hesitation, Zemo pulled you close.

“Your performance has begun, Baroness Zemo.”

You smiled like he’d whispered a sweet nothing in your ear and drew close to return the favor.

“I’d keep my last name,” you breathed, earning a soft chuckle.

Despite the nerves, you let him pull you into his lap and tried your best to look lovesick. It wasn’t as difficult as you thought as his large hands held your waist, and one of your legs. He looked ahead, with a smug smile and ran small circles on your bare leg. The rush of goosebumps and the hitch of your breath gave you away within seconds. His smug smile turned devious in the reflection on the window.

“Das hast wunderschöne Augen.”

He whispered into the side of your head. You didn’t speak German, and even if you did, you doubted you'd want to hear something mundane or rude. Yet you could feel the hammering of your heart in each fingertip as he spoke in his native language.

A performance you reminded yourself. Two could play at whatever he was doing. You turned to glare at him before bringing a hand up to caress his cheek. The light scruff tickled your knuckles and you wondered what he’d look like with a beard. His brand of handsome wasn't rugged, even when he'd escaped the prison, he looked neat and clean. You rested your head against his shoulder and continued stroking his rounded cheeks. Being a few inches away from his face gave you a chance to study his features. It’d be good practice if you ever had to pick him out of a fleeing crowd, or a Madripoor police lineup.

Other powerful engines surrounded the car. Motorcycles with nosy drivers appeared in each window. He gripped your thigh harder, warning that the stakes were high, even here and it had to look real. A heat manifested between your legs, followed by a throbbing that you hoped he wouldn’t notice. It didn’t feel so much like an act anymore and in truth when ran your fingers through his hair, you did it out of desire. He sucked in a breath and gripped your waist like iron. The stern man didn't seem so impenetrable anymore, as your lips brushed his ear, following a sloppy pattern along his jaw. You ran your fingers through his hair roughly again and felt a slight gasp leave him. His eyes left the windows and found yours. Serious and challenging. His hand moved up towards the hem of your dress. The fabric put up less of a fight than you as he gripped your bare ass. He felt the heat then, releasing a noise from the back of his throat. His Adam’s apple bobbed and your kissing became frantic. Your lips buzzed from the pressure and his five o’clock shadow. His lips parted in anticipation but before you could make it, the car stopped.

Zemo released you immediately, nodding an apology to the driver. Pity, you thought, it felt like you were finally making him a little nervous.

Sam and Bucky averted their eyes as the group walked through the streets, trying to look normal. Again, Zemo slung an arm around your waist. You took this as your cue to drape yourself on his shoulder. He stared ahead like this was a death march and that a guillotine stood on the other side of the door with his name on it. He’d been here before, you remembered. The memories couldn’t have been pleasant judging by the way his mouth pressed into a tense line. Empathy came over you and you reached out to slip a hand under his coat to rest on his chest.

This broke the trance and he stared at you for a moment before a smug smile crept across his stone-cold expression. It would've annoyed you but not a second later, he reached up to hold your fingers against him. He pressed you into his sweater, rubbing each finger in an anxious pattern, the only sign of nerves at all. Even the heartbeat beneath his sweater was still steady and calm.

Zemo led you all through a packed crowd to a dim bar. The agent part of you wanted to stray from your role and look around to assess the situation. But your mind went blank as his hand dropped to your hip and guided you up against the bar. You faced a mirrored wall holding more extravagant bottles than you’d ever seen in your life.

Through the reflection, you watched Zemo claim ownership of his Baroness. Each of his hands gripped the railing on either side of you, pressing his chest into your exposed back. His large stature towered over you, but your eyes couldn't tear away from his hands. Their grip around the rounded corners was mesmerizing. In a flash, your brain conjured the image of him holding your legs apart with the same strength. You let out a shaking breath. The fur from his coat tickled your back, and you couldn't focus on his words to Sam as his breath hit your neck.

Disgruntled with the lack of vantage point, you turned in his arms, bringing your face a few inches from his. Intent on taking in the room, you rested your chin on his shoulder. People had noticed your group right away and hadn't stopped looking. You kept eye contact with some, all while kissing the Baron's neck. Only then, did you feel his heart rate quicken.

Zemo spoke to the bartender behind you, but you didn’t hear them. Again, he tested your boundaries by caressing your thigh underneath your short dress.

Newlyweds, you reminded yourself. Very horny, newlyweds.

Mesmerized by the raunchy crowd behind you, and the soft caress of his hand, you gave in again. You peppered wet kisses of longing against his jaw as he spoke to a man who’d come up on the other side of him. He swallowed hard but somehow, you doubted it was out of fear of the man that Bucky had in a chokehold a few moments later.

That was the last moment you remembered feeling calm that night. The moments after put your mission and lives in jeopardy. When the violence and fleeing had played out you'd realized that his hands had never left you. The safety of his grasp was far more dangerous than Madripoor. The feeling of relief when he’d found your waist again at Sharon’s party, had you kicking yourself.

“A very believable performance, Agent Y/N” he purred. “Well done.”

You smiled and glanced down at the few inches between the two of you. Drinking was not the best option tonight but it was too late. Vodka was already coursing through your veins.

“I’d call it compelling,” you smirked. “Not believable.”

He cocked his head to the side, eyeing you with curiosity and something else. Something ferocious that made you wonder why he didn’t have an army of devotees or a cult following. It was that look that made you question your willpower, for the first time ever.

“Why’s that?”

Exactly the question you’d been hoping for. He’d had the upper hand all night but that was going to change.

“Who would believe that I would actually fall for you,” you teased, tossing back the last of your drink.

That would’ve been the end of it for a lesser man but Zemo smiled, showing all his teeth. He was always intrigued by a challenge.

“Tell me, Y/N, who would you fall for?”

Your mouth went dry and although a smirk was still plastered to your lips, nerves rushed back in.

“As if I have time,” you laughed.

He returned the smile. “Gun to your head, then.”

The alcohol in your system whispered different answers. Irresponsible answers. Bringing them to fruition would give you more than you bargained for but you fought against them.

“I like nice men,” you whispered, watching his reaction. “Who don’t use animals for fashion.”

He chuckled and then a dark look passed over his face before he closed the gap between you. A step backward and you found yourself against a wall with nowhere to go. Zemo brought a hand to your neck, caressing the exposed skin and the chain resting there.

“Who says I am not a nice man?”

Now it was your turn to chuckle. “Your body count, history, profession…reputation.”

He nodded. “Ah, you mistake ambition and purpose for — cruelty.”

“I never said you were cruel. I know you don’t crave suffering. I know there was a reason…for what you did.”

He cocked his head again and pursed his lips, looking at you like a puzzle; something not yet solved.

The techno beat dissolved into a slower, bass-heavy, R&B song. The hand on your neck made its way down to your waist once again, pulling you in. You complied without a fight, letting the Baron lead you through a slow dance.

“Even I can be gentle,” he said after a while. “For you — I would even consider being sweet.”

The words sent shockwaves through your body, igniting every inch. He was a master of manipulation and a conniving son of a bitch who wanted your colleagues — friends, dead. And yet, your mind and body betrayed you. You squeezed him a little tighter and pulled in a little closer.

“And what about the fur coat,” you whispered, playing with the fuzzy material against his neck.

He surprised you with his laughter. He threw his head back in a genuine laugh and leaned into your neck to stifle the giggles.

“I have been in a prison jumpsuit for the last eight years, forgive me for my outdated fashion,” he cooed. You could feel the smirk against your skin.

“Is it real,” you asked, holding up the stupid furry flap.

“Of course. I am a Baron,” he responded, pulling you closer, staring at your lips.

#baron zemo #baron zemo x reader #baron zemo x you #the falcon & the winter soldier #baron zemo fic #zemo fic #zemo smut #zemo x reader #helmut zemo x reader #helmut zemo x you

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habaritess · 3 years

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I feel like we're watching different shows. the only episode I felt like it wasn't sam centric was the 3rd one and that I can comprehend because at the end of the day there are two people in the title but the other 3 have definitely been sam centric. he's the one who's gotten more screen time, I agree that we need to see him showing other emotions but also in the last episode we saw him getting angry. I must say I dont agree with the last paragraph,almost everyone of us loved that talk with karli

Let me explain what I mean by good character development. As of now, we have not gotten good character development from Sam. I’ll do that by comparing him to Bucky and Walker.

Bucky is a man who is in the midst of healing from his traumatic past as the Winter Soldier. He does so by doing both healthy(therapy) and potentially unhealthy methods( befriending the father of the son he killed to applease his guilt). He decides to go with Sam on his mission and while doing so, he has to confront more of his demons in the form of Zemo. In order to fool the crowd, Bucky had to pretend to be the Winter Soldier and while doing so, potentially ruining some of the progress he has made over the years. As the mission goes on, Bucky completely abandons the list of rules he must abey by, and he ends up seriously harming and possibly killing some of the people he is fighting.

Walker is introduced as an experience soldier who has been given the title of Captain America, something he takes seriously and wants to live up to in any way he can. While following Sam and Bucky, he becomes exposed to people he has never dealt with before, which are people with super human abilities. His weakness against these super soldiers becomes a sore spot for Walker because as much as he wants to be the hero, he can not go toe to toe with these super soldiers. This new insecurity and the former avengers disregard of him, causes him to become more quick to anger and act more irrationally. Walker gets hold of a serum and sees the potential to become someone like the original Captain America, someone who is capable. He chooses to take the serum after fighting against the superior but still fully human, Dora Milaje. Walker physical weakness, to him, goes against what a Captain America should be. To Walker, Captain America is the kind of hero who can face any challenge and save lives, and he cant save lives if he cant go against the best human fighters. After taking the serum and being confronted with the death of his best friend, Walker allows his insecurities and anger to overtake him and kill a pleading man in broad daylight..

Sam Wilson choses to give up the shield up due to his own conflicting feelings on America and what the shield represents. He is sent out on another dangerous mission and during this mission, he teams up with Bucky. Sam fights the bad guys who are super soldiers. Bucky decides to help break out Zemo, which Sam begrudgingly goes along with it. Sam is there as support, keeps Bucky under control, and tries to solve the conflict without violence. Now what the difference with Sam and Bucky and Walker? Sam, as of now, hasn’t had any development. He hasn’t had any development because he has not had to face anything that actually challenges him. Yes, Sam is put on another dangerous mission, but that isn’t anything new for Sam. Even if you just watch TFAWT and not the pervious movies, in the beginning it shows Sam on a dangerous mission as he tries to rescue some men from terrorists. There isn’t anything about this new mission that is made to specifically challenge Sam. It difficult as any of his past missions, but it not personally difficult. We see the same Sam that we saw on episode one and guys, that is REALLY problematic.

Note how Bucky not only had to confront Zemo, but he also had to pretend to be the winter soldier, confront the traumas of his past, and anger the very people who helped him out of this state by releasing Zemo, and potentially severing ties with the people who had his back. Note how these were all very personally challenging for Bucky and see how as the story progresses, Bucky evolves with it. Walker is faced with becoming the new captain america, fighting an enemy that is far beyond normal human capabilities for the first time, and dealing with the insecurities that come with his unfamiliar helplessness in this situation. What exactly has Sam been challenge with? Sam has been able to skirt any development because everything is familiar to him already. Dangerous gunfights and battles, yep, Sam been involve in it. Sam uses his skills as a veteran therapist to calm down Bucky and hopefully lead Karli to a more humane way to voice her grievances. What has specifically challenge Sam throughout this storyline? Nothing has, as of yet. This is why Sam is falling flat to me( and a lot of other people too if you pay attention to who people are actually talking about when it comes to this series). This shouldn’t be for the titled character. This is how you get a boring character.

Bucky actions have reactions. He deals with the consequences and he is growing as a result. He is moving the story along and progressing along with it. Bucky is the main character. He has progressed well in all four episodes. Sam has only had 2 good episodes, than he been stagnant for the rest. It was Bucky who decided to break out Zemo on episode 3. it is Bucky who had to confront his demons on episode 3. Sam used his awesome social skills to calm Bucky down and made a promised to Sharon, but nothing happened in episode 3 that actually challenged his character. In episode 4, Sam does what he usually does. He talks to Karli. Yeah, that's good and all, but it still not a challenge for his character. It is more of the same. If Sam doesn't face anything that actually challenges him personally, than he will continue to remain a one note side kick character like in the previous movies.

Just because a character has a personality, does not make them a developed character. Imagine the Lord of the Rings, but Frodo doesn’t go through anything challenging at all and he stays the same person from the start of the series, to the end. Imagine a Harry Potter where it just Harry going to Hogwarts with nothing happening at all, and Harry is the exact same person from the start of the year to the last. That is Sam right now. That is so many fictional black characters actually. They can make a black character with personality but when it comes to good character development, all of sudden they don’t know how to do it.

As far as his talk with Karlie, I’m just going to agree to disagree. The girl is a terrorist who blew up a building full of people. Why try to negotiate when the only future for her legally would be behind a jail cell? I would agree with you if she hadn’t of killed people, but she did. What, was Sam going to let her go if she chose to go a different path? It doesn’t make sense narratively speaking. Karlie has already reached the point of no return by killing people, so why would she be open to talking it out?

#sam wilson #sambucky #tfawts #the falcon and the winter solider spoilers #Bucky Barnes #stackie #marvel #captain america #the falcon and the winter soldier

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malereader-inserts · 4 years

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broken crown | xv

“Well, Acta deos numquam mortalia fallunt,” you looked at your boyfriend, “Mortal actions never deceive the gods, you’ve always done good things in your life - they won’t leave your side.”

“Hmh,” Harry responded, “You’re so wise.”

“Shut up.”

Word count: 1,961

< Previous |

a/n: thanks for reading this series!

Harry knew where to find you, it was somewhere in one out of the six cursed chambers made by Merlin to test you if you were worthy of his powers. He saw in one of the chambers a portrait of Merlin abandon, looks like he was angry to be left behind. What Harry not expected to see what a man sitting in another cursed chamber, wearing a crown cracked.

“Harry-” You murmured as Harry was taken aback at your voice, impressed that you were able to tell that it was in entering rather anyone else.

“Why are you all alone?” Harry asked, sliding in to sit next to you.

“Thinking, that’s all,” You hummed, “I figured out why Dumbledore gave me the compass.”

“Right...?”

“Lead me towards a Merlin portrait, who told me to break in the compass, now you’ll think me mad-”

“(Y/n), I was a kid when I found out magic was real, at this point I’m sure this won’t phase me.”

You chuckle, “This crown I am wearing? King Arthur’s, he foolishly wore the crown when he rode into his last battle because pride got the best of him - rather than his friendship with Merlin. Just shrunk down by Merlin to keep away in a compass.”

“He loved Arthur.”

“He still does,” You responded, you shrugged, wincing in pain, “God, I’m tired.”

“You can’t heal yourself, sweetheart?” Harry asked as you shook your head, “Well, I don’t expect you too, I heard from witnesses you almost blew the school in half - an energy ball someone said.”

You scoffed, smiling to yourself, “That wasn’t much really, it could have been worst and there would be more casualties. What took me out was figuring out that Merlin’s obscure spells were controlling blood, so I got a kick out of that though it makes me sound murderous.”

“You can say that again.”

You two stare at each other in silence before laughing.

“And there was a lot of protective shields going about,” You shrugged, your eyes threatening to close, “I said to myself fuck it if I can not bend the will of Heaven, I shall move Hell, but now upon inspection is a really shit way in life.”

“You got to let out that steam, you know?” Harry leans his head against your shoulder.

“Congrats on winning the war and bring peace to the world.”

“Thanks,” Harry spoke timidly, “I never thought I would achieve it.”

You kissed his hair, “There are moments in all our lives, where we are compelled to ask ourselves ‘how far are we willing to go for what we want?’ ‘how much are we willing to risk to sacrifice to endure?’ because it’s one thing to yearn for something, but quite another to find the strength to achieve it. You have a lot of strength and you’ve accepted your flaws as a wizard.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Harry asked, his tone of voice pitching higher looking at you bewildered, as you rolled your eyes and nudging his shoulder.

“Oh come on, Harry, once you’ve accepted your flaws, no one can use them against you. It’s a truth many people want to avoid - after all, most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it.”

There was silence between the two of you, the atmosphere was different - there was no rush to get back into fighting, the war is over and you could hibernate.

“Honestly, I thank god.”

“Didn’t see you as a religious person, Harry.”

“I’m not, but still, I’d like to think God was on my side tonight.”

“Hmh,” Harry responded, “You’re so wise.”

“Shut up.”

Harry chuckled, “So, what you’re gonna do afterwards? Now, this over and done with?”

“Travel... Merlin had a long rant about mystical things and try to be so mysterious whilst blatantly telling me to travel and teach the ancient magic wielders of the new modern types because they are stuck on ancient magic that they’re struggling to fend for themselves till the second coming of Merlin.”

“What about your dad? Me?” Harry asked, “I mean, if you need to go alone then I’ll wait for you, but I can come along.”

You smiled at him, “I wish, but believe it has to be an alone mission. Don’t worry, I won’t go right away.”

“Oh, that’s good,” Harry said, somewhat happily, “How long will you be gone? Weeks? Months?”

“Could be years, Harry, who knows.”

There was silence between the two of you, your broken crown slowly repairing itself, almost as if you had finally came terms to yourself - that you hold power to help people, you finally start to see your responsibility as your own. You’re no longer thinking you and Merlin’s protegee are two different people. You are one and the same.

“I’m bleeding.”

“You decided to tell me that now?!”

Harry hoist you up, as you lean against him, groaning in pain as you have an arm over his shoulders as he leads you to the great hall.

“Question...”

“Please not be a stupid one.”

“So, you’ll become a hermit then?”

“No.”

“But-”

“Don’t even-”

You got healed fairly quickly, a nurse who was loitering outside the great hall had happily healed you before she went back to tend the injured. Most of your joints were achy and you felt a little slow. But stretching didn’t hurt as much as it did before. Harry stood next to you as you looked at the inside of the Great Hall.

What used to be warm and grand, all fall to a cold ruined interior. You breathed out as Harry tugs you towards the family. When you had snapped out your trance as you see your dad hurling himself towards you.

“Ack!”

You felt his arms wrapped around you, as you caught him, wrapping your arms around him. There was a slight squeeze before release as your father holds you by the upper arms, inspecting you.

“Hello,” You replied nonchalantly as Remus looked mildly inconvenient.

“How can you be so calm?” Harry asked you as you shrugged, not breaking eye contact with your dad.

“I’m so relieved that you’re alive,” Remus breathes out, “You disappeared-”

“Yeah, sorry about that.”

“-and I thought you were dead, you could have told someone that you needed time alone, and not scare your poor old man like that.”

“Again, I’m sorry about that,” You give him a tight-lipped smile, “How’s Dora? Sirius?”

Remus moves to the side to see Sirius and Dora waiting patiently when Sirius catches you looking at him. you see him beam, eyes looking for a hug. You chuckled as you and your dad goes sit down with Sirius and Tonks whilst Harry leave you be, to talk to Hermione and Ron before promptly joining Sirius.

Oh, did you talk a lot, you talked about how you were going to travel the world and your plans for the future. Your father expressed his concerns and worries that you would be off-grid for a while and there might be no way for you to communicate.

For a really long time, you felt safe and at home.

This was starting a new beginning for you. A new chapter in your life.

5 years have passed.

Teddy is now five years old and is a talkative child, sometimes, when he sees pictures of you when you were little, he would morph to look like you sometimes enticing a heart attack from your father. The world is at peace, and Hogwarts was back to it’s greatest.

Of course, when everyone volunteered to help redo the castle. You did the most help, even adding more luxuries that McGonagall had scowled at you for, but also that she was annoyed that she couldn’t get rid of the little details due to a high arch of magic.

Harry gets letters from you, pictures sometimes or postcards. Rare times, he would get a gift, even just a box of chocolate from where you were currently located at the time. He gets excited to see your owl fly to his window, he gets excited to think you’ll be returning.

Ron and Hermione got engaged, your two best friends know you would have found out whilst you were travelling, after all, one evening at the Burrow. Harry had mentioned that you found out - causing the two to wonder how you found out that everyone started to think you were like Dumbledore who knows all.

You don’t.

You ran into Charlie when you were in Romania and he told you, but it’s a secret between the pair of you.

Your dad gets trinkets, things you think he’ll like. Books and types of chocolate. Sometimes you would gift the house with new home decoration. You’re 23 years old now. Five years can change the appearance.

So, on one of the nights that everyone had a family get together at the Burrow. They had not expected to see you with a staff and you waving about. Your bag on your shoulder, and a ring that vaguely looks like the crown you wore back when the war had finished.

“Is that (Y/n)?” Ginny asked, looking in the distant.

Everyone in the garden party stopped to look over where you were, you were nearing. Remus, Harry, Sirius, Tonks, your two best friends had a grin on their face. You haven’t changed that much other than the fact that you sported white silvery hair and tattoos.

“(Y/n)!” Teddy exclaimed as they hear your laughter.

Your younger brother wiggling out of Sirius’ hold and making a run-up to you. You let go of your staff, which stood straight, as you picked up your little brother.

“Hello, Teddy.”

“Daddy tells a lot of stories about you, you know?” Teddy says, turning his hair like yours, you grin at him.

“Oh, well shall we join them? We can stay by my side if you want.”

“Really? Uncle Harry says that you’re really cool, so can I?”

“Sure, bud.”

As you joined the family again, overwhelmed that the Weasleys were expanding as you found out there are new additions in babies. You congratulate Ron and Hermione’s engagement, they don’t ask how you found out. Even found out that Draco’s family has made amends with the Weasleys, Sirius and Tonks that they are now part of the family.

Harry noticed the ring on your hand, it was definitely the one you use to wear on your head. However, it was no longer broken. It was shining, newly polished. You looked at him with a glint of knowing, kissing him felt good again.

“Will you going away soon?” Ginny asked as you shake your head.

“Not for a while. I’m staying.”

Remus made a noise of happiness as he engulfs both of his sons. As you got around, catching up with everyone. Getting teased by the twins, having a conversation with Percy, and a good catch up with Charlie since you last saw him a year ago.

“So, the staff?” Harry asked, you finally found time alone, “Really turning into Merlin there, love.”

You give him a smirk, “I think it suits me!”

“You look like a prat.”

“Then I shall be a prat.”

Harry laughs loudly, kissing your forehead, “God, I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

The broken crown was fixed again. It will never be broken for the longest time, you’ll always have the world’s best interest, you’ll step up when chaos arises. Sure, you’re still young. But, wizards and witches live a long time, and you seem to have all-time in the world.

Tagged

@carefulthatsharassment-sir @lanlanlan020202 @hanniejji @dumbssbtch @lea-the-foxe @stan-joonies @littertortilla @purpleshusbandd @svnfiwer

#broken crown #Remus Lupin #remus x reader #remus lupin imagine #remus lupin x male reader #x male reader #Harry Potter #harry potter imagine #harry potter x male reader

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dansedan · 3 years

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HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DISCO ELYSIUM COMMUNITY HERE IS MY BOLERO/LATIN POP HARRY DU BOIS PLAYLIST FUCK YOU PAY ME

(liner notes and English lyric translations under the cut, listen-along with the playlist!)

(warning, LONG LONG post)

BOLERO ELYSIUM:

1. No Soy Nada- Harry mourning over Dora.

Translated lyrics:

[Verse 1]

My love, how I would like to have you with me

Turn back the clock and feel your heartbeat again

My love, how I wish not to be alive for today

And that you can be born again, walk your way

[Chorus]

And sorry for crying at your feet, unable to see your face

For the sake of both of us I’ll leave, if it’ll make you smile tomorrow

And now I know that I do not do you as well as I imagined

It is not me that you should love because I am nothing

[Verse 2]

My love, I never meant to be bad, I swear

And as much as I tried and improved, it is not enough for me

[Chorus]

And sorry for crying at your feet, unable to see your face

For the sake of both of us I’ll leave, if it’ll make you smile tomorrow

And now I know that I do not do you as well as I imagined

It is not me that you should love because I am nothing

It’s a good, simple angst chanson. Very accurate for a drunk idiot mourning over a relationship and self-flagellating.

2. Te Fuiste a Tiempo- battle-tested relationshit/partner-divorce

Translated lyrics:

[INTRO]

You could’ve killed me like this,

So cruel and merciless

[Verse 1]

You left on time

Because you were starting to be a necessity

How lucky was I

When fate gave me my freedom

You left on time

Because I was beginning to understand that you were a disguise

And with the cynicism of a mirage

You asked for one more kiss

[Chorus]

I hung a sigh from the spark of your hair

Like a comet that knew it was going to the ground

I gave you my wings when I was just taking off

I gave you everything and even neglected myself

[Post-chorus]

You could kill me (Ah, ah, ah)

So cruel and slow (Ah, ah, ah)

But it was better ...

You left on time

(The ra ra ra ra ...)

[Chorus]

I hung a sigh from the spark of your hair

Like a comet that knew it was going to the ground

I gave you my wings when I was just taking off

I gave you everything and even neglected myself

[Post-chorus]

You could kill me (Ah, ah, ah)

So cruelly and slowly (Ah, ah, ah)

But it was better ...

You left o-o-o-on time

From the point of view of both of them!!! fucking insane dudes. It’s an April fools playlist of boleros so I am not going to pretend to have nuance here they are pining cheesily. Jean and “I gave you my wings when I was just taking off/I gave you everything and even neglected myself” makes me see red. Plus the idea of Very Soppily switching Jean’s attempts at having Harry… Not Do What He’s About To Do as “one last kiss” is. Soppy and amazing ok shut up.

4. El Último Trago- the bender of apocaliptic proportions

Translated lyrics:

Drink this bottle with me

And after the last drink we’ll leave

I want to see what forgetting you tastes like

Without putting your hands over my eyes

Tonight I'm not going to beg you

Tonight you're really going to go;

How hard it is to have to leave you

Without feeling that you no longer love me

The years have taught me nothing

I always make the same mistakes

Yet again toasting with strangers

And crying over the same pains

Drink this bottle with me

And after the last drink, kiss me

Let’s hope there are no witnesses

Just in case you were embarrassed

If one day we accidentally meet again

Do not bend down or speak to me directly;

Let us simply shake hands

And let the people murmur after

The years have taught me nothing

I always make the same mistakes

Yet again toasting with strangers

And crying over the same pains

Drink this bottle with me

And after the last drink we’ll leave...

It’s the LAST DRINK hah see what I did there but also it’s a song about the foibles of drunkenness and drunken romantics so it’s very apt for harry trying to drown his Dora-related sorrows in alcohol. Poor mans. Also Dolores does just mean “pains” in here but. Dolores…

5. No Soy de Aquí Ni Soy de Allá- Amnesia (hah, get it. Geddit. Yes this is mostly here because of the name but LOOK THERE’S MORE)

Translated lyrics:

[Verse 1]

I like the sun, Alice and the doves

good cigars and bad ladies

Jumping walls and opening windows

And when a woman cries

I like wine as much as flowers

And rabbits, but not tractors

And homemade bread and the voice of Dolores

And the sea wetting my feet.

[Chorus]

I am not from here, neither from there

I have no age nor future

And being happy is the color of my identity

[Verse 2]

I like to always be lying in the sand

To chase Manuela on my steed

For all the time, to see the stars

With Mary in the wheat field

[Chorus]

I am not from here, neither from there

I have no age nor future

And being happy is the color of my identity

[Verse 3]

I like the sun, Alice and the doves

good cigars and bad ladies

Jumping walls and opening windows

And when a woman cries

Okay so hear me out: the stupid boiadero rugged macho man listing shit he likes to seem cool? So good for early amnesia Harry. This has Raphael Ambrosius Costeau written all over it. The mild mysoginy is only the cherry on top but all the random-ass nonsense lines that are just there to sound cool is perfect for Harry just. Saying shit and seeing if it sticks. Also the song bops so it’s here. Also like… “bad ladies” = klaasje thirst, “Jumping walls and opening windows” = the jamrock shuffle, “I like wine as much as flowers” = commodore red, forget-me-nots, “the sea wetting my feet”= Martinaise… ey? Ey? Ey?? Am I saying Jorge cafurne predicted disco Elysium? I don’t know but I’m sure saying SOMETHING. Also this would be a great ARB karaoke song.

6. Diez pasos hacia tí- getting to know Kim

Translated lyrics:

[Verse 1]

Life left us crossed

In a very casual way

You came like the sun

Stealing my shadow gradually

Any leak of light

Everything was a sign

Ten steps towards you

A thousand doubts over me

And the fear, naturally.

[Chorus]

You made me tremble like that (You made me tremble like that)

Like the moon over the water

And then I let go (And then I let go)

To embrace your gaze

And that's how I discovered you (And that's how I discovered you)

But it was in a kiss that I met you

Uh, uh-uh-uh-uh, ten steps towards you

Uh, uh-uh-uh-uh

Any leak of light

Served as a signal

Ten steps towards you

A thousand doubts about me

And the natural fear

You made me tremble like that (You made me tremble like that)

Like the moon over the water

And then I let go (And then I let go)

To embrace your gaze

And that's how I discovered you (And that's how I discovered you)

But it was in a kiss that I met you

You made me shake like that (You made me shake like that)

Like the moon over the water

And then I let go (And then I let go)

To swim in your gaze

And that's how I discovered you (And that's how I discovered you)

But it was in a kiss that I met you

Uh, uh-uh-uh-uh, ten steps towards you

Uh, uh-uh-uh-uh

Okay so clearly they don’t kiss YET but. We’re keeping on the theme of being very very cheesy and romantic because this is a shitpost playlist so here is a song with some vibes of slowly allowing yourself to trust someone who takes a bit of darkness from your life. “any leak of light”, “you arrived like the sun”, sunrise parabellum… also I love Harry being weak for Kim so “you made me tremble like that” is just. Yes thank you.

7. Soy un Corpóreo y Dentro de Mí Hay una Actriz Recién Titulada Llorando -superstar cop

Translated lyrics:

[Chorus]

I am a corporeal and within me

There's a newly graduated actress crying

I am a corporeal and within me

There's a newly graduated actress crying

[Post-Chorus]

And in the official photos

I appear smiling with the children of the place

And in the promo clips

The sobs that inhabit me cannot be heard

[Verse 1]

The show must go on

Experts indicate that it is the best

Two out of three recommend it

For your daily use

[Chorus]

I am a corporeal and within me

There's a newly graduated actress crying

I am a corporeal and within me

There's a newly graduated actress crying

[Post-Chorus]

And in the official photos

I appear smiling with the children of the place

And in the promo clips

The sobs that inhabit me cannot be heard

[Verse 2]

I have no other life than the one that sweats inside of me

And I don't want it to go, and I don't want it to go

It is that I have no other life than the one that cries inside me

And without her I am nothing, and without her I am nothing

[Outro]

And without her I am nothing, and without her I am nothing

OK SO THIS ONE IS HEAVY but for both the tentatively-affectionately-titled “terminal cop brain” that Harry (and Kim and Jean) suffer as well as a touch of his internal struggle with his own self-hate and depression AND Dora shit it is here. Superstar cop just needs to buckle up his disco belt and bring down the law (no he doesn’t he needs a lot of real actual help but uh. Okay harrier.)

8. Lo Mal que Estoy y Lo Poco que me Quejo- the jamrock shuffle around Martinaise

Translated lyrics:

[Chorus]

How bad I am and how little I complain

[Verse 1]

I always get up with my foot looking at the ground

The mute voice greets me from afar

He gives me his silence but I play the idiot

Looking in the mirror

[Verse 2]

And the mirror gives me its reflection without mine

I assume it and I continue but I do not trust myself

I self-diagnose without even minimal success

And so I get depressed

[Chorus]

How bad I am and how little I complain

I have my soul in quarantine and my body is broken

What pain, what pity and what torment

[Verse 3]

I go out to the sidewalks, my walking out of tune

My suitcase full of boulders

My smile upside-down from climbing so many stairs

Without getting anywhere

[Verse 4]

And history criticizes me because I'm always grieving

And I tell them ‘poor is he who hides his crying’

A brick doesn’t know how to cry

But it doesn’t follow a beat well either

[Chorus]

How bad I am and how little I complain

I have my soul in quarantine and my body is broken

What pain, what pity and what torment

[Bridge]

And how my whole life hurts

And the doctor has told me

That calls into question the truest truth

That I'm late to the niche

And that to each new pain I look for a placebo

[Outro]

My donkey, my donkey's love hurts

Because nobody loves him, only me

And grief greets me when I'm laughing the most

My heart is full of patches

My donkey, my donkey's love hurts

Because nobody loves him, only me

And grief greets me when I'm laughing the most

My heart is full of patches

Chin pon!

Is this not the most perfect song for the absolute insanity of mr. Du Bois? First, the catchy fucking tempo, let us enjoy how splendidly jaunty it is. Amazing. Then, all the stuff about the mirror, ESPECIALLY “And the mirror gives me its reflection without mine/ I assume it and I continue but I do not trust myself”. Also the line “And history criticizes me because I'm always grieving/And I tell them ‘poor is he who hides his crying’” feels so much like an argument between Harry and skills over Dora shit… this song is also just a bop.

9. Algo Contigo- falling in love with Kim (which is a canonical event fuck you)

Translated lyrics:

[Verse 1]

Do I need to tell you

That I am dying to have something with you?

Have you not noticed

How much it costs me to be your friend?

I can no longer get close to your mouth

Without desiring you in a crazy way

I need to control your life

To know who kisses you and who shelters you

[Verse 2]

Do I need to tell you

That I am dying to have something with you?

Have you not noticed

How much it costs me to be your friend?

I can no longer continue spying

Day and night, guessing when you’ll arrive

I don't even know with what innocent excuse to pass by your house, oh-oh

I have so few roads left

And although it may seem like a folly to you

I would not want to die without having something with you

[Verse 3]

Do I need to tell you

That I'm dying to have something with you, oh

Have you not noticed

How much it costs me to be your friend?

I can no longer get close to your mouth

Without desiring you in a crazy way

I need, baby, to control your life

Know who kisses you and who shelters you

I have very few roads left

And although it may seem like a folly to you

I would not want die without having something with you

[Outro]

(Something with you, something with you)

baby, I wouldn't want to die without having (Something with you)

Something with you (Something with you)

Sad the fate that awaits me without being able to get to know you (Something with you)

Something with you (Something with you)

There is no excuse, there is nothing I have to lose

(Something with you)

Like a slave (Something with you)

A slave forever, I wouldn't mind being

(Something with you)

Eternally slave (Something with you)

Girl, I wouldn't want to die without having (Something with you)

Something with you (Something with you)

Sad is the fate that awaits me without being able to get to know you (Something with you)

Okay so for one it’s pretty clingy as a romance song so it’s already perfect. We’re choosing to ignore it’s sung to a woman shhhh but look, okay. “I can no longer get close to your mouth/Without desiring you in a crazy way” is one of my favorite love song lines ever because I’m that brand of idiot but LUCKILY SO IS HARRY DU FUCKING BOIS OKAY so it makes me think of… devastatingly cool smoking Kim. I laughed a lot at the way “Day and night, guessing when you’ll arrive” paralleled a lot of my friends’ testimonies of getting really bummed out that Kim left with the body and they couldn’t hang out with him anymore. Also the sort of desperate air of “I have so few roads left/And although it may seem like a folly to you/I would not want to die without having something with you” also pings really nicely with Harry’s state of mind and inexperience and the assumed (reasonable lol) reaction that Kim might have at figuring out about this very unstable man’s pining after him. I almost had a different version of this song but despite the cheesiness of this rendition I like the way the ending lines devolve into… even more desperation. You go to therapy Harry, maybe you’ll get to smooch Kim if that works out…

4. Ya Sé- the final dream with Dora.

Translated lyrics:

[Verse 1]

I know ... that you don't want to see me, I already know

That you are tired of my way of loving

That you don’t understand me and my jealousy does you wrong

That my caresses no longer shine on your skin

And that my nights are full of anxiety

[Verse 2]

I know ... that you're with someone else, I already know

That you are calm and that you do not plan to return

That he has everything that he could never be

What are you saying that I have no dignity

That you don't care if I'm well or if I'm bad

[Chorus]

Oh Love! Sorry if I call you to hear your voice

Sorry

I know you’re hating me

I'm leaving now! I want you to know something:

My heart fled, it left, I lost it on your lips

[Verse 2]

I know ... that you're with someone else, I already know

That you are calm and that you do not plan to return

That he has everything that he could never be

What are you saying that I have no dignity

That you don't care if I'm well or if I'm bad

[Chorus]

Oh Love! Sorry if I call you to hear your voice

Sorry

I know you’re hating me

I'm going now! I want you to know something:

My heart fled, it left, I lost it on your lips

[Outro]

My heart fled, it left, I lost it on your lips

Okay so the final dream kicked me in the emotional nuts and this is such a fucking fitting song. I mean, the phonecall had already killed me pretty hard, and the idea of Dora’s voice being so stuck in Harry’s mind that he can immediately react is… it’s a lot. I like the lip imagery here too bc I’m a slut for parallels between Kim and Dora, sue me. The self-flagellation and repetition and just… “ I know what you’re feeling but I don’t care I’m feeling this about it” is so very fitting for the two of them… I just think about it a lot…

5. Ódiame- Jean again… Jean in Martinaise…

Translated lyrics:

Love, don't forget me

Please,

Hate me

Hate me as a mercy, I beg you

Hate me without measure or clemency

Hate, I want, more than indifference

Because resentment wants less than oblivion

Hate me for mercy I ask you

Hate me without measure or mercy

Hate, I want, more than indifference

Because resentment wants less than oblivion

If you hate me, I’ll be convinced

That you loved me well, with insistence

But keep in mind, according to experience,

That you can only hate that which you love

What is worth more, me, humble, you, proud

Or is it worth more, your weak beauty

Think that at the bottom of the burial pit

We’ll be wearing the same clothing

What is worth more, me, humble, you, proud

Or is it worth more, your weak beauty

Think that at the bottom of the burial pit

We’ll be wearing the same clothing

If you hate me, I’ll be convinced

That you loved me well, with insistence

But keep in mind, according to experience,

That you can only hate that which you love

But keep in mind, according to experience,

That you can only hate that which you love

OKAY SO THIS ONE IS JUICY AS WELL… the whole theme of hate vs forgetting is very directly a Harryjean dynamic but. Please consider the way that this song is very directly interpretable as Jean just. Straight up going into bargaining over the harry amnesia thing. Like, fuck, even if you’re gonna keep being a horrible abusive asshole and pushing me away, at least don’t go an forget me. WHAT A KICK IN THE FUCKING NUTS. Also love the Broderbund bullshit with “Think that at the bottom of the burial pit/We’ll be wearing the same clothing” because. Cop Angst and their equality as partners is Important To Me. Also definitely calling out Jean’s entire being with “ you can only hate that which you love”

6. Sí Po’- Inviting Kim to the 41st (gay)/post-mart domestica

Translated lyrics:

[Verse 1]

The stars aligned

You can't guess what happened

Do you remember that chore

That they had set me for today

[Verse 2]

Yea, see, I managed to run it for tomorrow

I have all the time in the world for you

Mmm mmm mmm

Yea, see, just today that you are also free

We will have all the time in the world to do

Mmm mmm mmm

[Pre-chorus 1]

It’s not like it was planned

Once it touches us

All the time giving up

Always going towards the crash

Meeting deadlines that do not exist in practice

Fulfilling goals that you never set for yourself

[Chorus]

"Let’s not go shopping, not today"

" Let’s not go shopping, not today "

You tell me and I’ll shop for you

" Let’s not go shopping, not today "

You tell me and I’ll shop for you

[Verse 3]

The weight of the glue

It doesn't make sense if it's like this

Dying with the excuse (From!)

That there is no other way to live

[Verse 4]

No, see, I want to spend more time with you

If a window opens I will take advantage of it

Mmm mmm mmm

Yeah, see, and now that you’re also free

We will have all the time in the world to do

Mmm mmm mmm

[Pre-chorus 2]

More than enough

And I fully complain

But the time of the world

It's not that long either

Meeting deadlines that do not exist in practice

Fulfilling goals that you never set for yourself

[Chorus]

" Let’s not go shopping, not today "

You tell me and I’ll shop for you

" Let’s not go shopping, not today " ("please!")

" Let’s not go shopping, not today "

You tell me and I’ll shop for you

[Outro]

With you I have the impression of being safe

That you don't always have to be doing something

LOOK. LOOK. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THE TROPE OF THESE TWO ACTING LIKE EMBARASSED TEENAGERS AND THIS IS MY SHITPOST APRIL FOOLS PLAYLIST SO I AM GOING TO THROW IN A COOL TEEN CRUSH SONG SHUT UP. I love the intimacy of just. Groceries for each other, “casually” making time for each other, it’s just the best. Also “But the time of the world/It's not that long either” is HNNG with full game spoilers but you know what. It is also sweet. Fuck you, they want to spend quality time…

7. Tartar de estár major- literally just a terrible cheesy “things will be better OR ELSE” credits scene type song

Translated lyrics:

Tell that old story

That despite everything some things remain

The moments lived

Memories that will remain

Deep in the soul

Nothing can make you forget

That we walked the same path

And the things that we did

It was because we wanted to be

Again in this place

Despite the mistakes

Despite the flaws and virtues

I keep in me the best

Moments that will remain

Deep in the soul

abandon everything and think no more

You can not forget what you lived

And your loved ones

They miss you when you are gone

They don't want to cry for you

Many times

we had to be apart

And feel that despite the distance

We feel the same as each other always

Nothing can make you forget

That we walked the same path

And the things we did was because we wanted to be

Again in this place

Do not overthink it more

There is always a reason

Trying to revive

Trying to be better

A song about memories… and being loved and values… and surviving through those memories and that love in order to try to become a better person……. That’s all I’m gonna say….

#disco elysium #fan playlist #silly

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kotalefanzu · 3 years

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Pitch Pearl ATUS AU- Part 3

ahahaha. i finally came back to wite the finale. WOOOO. im still sorry about waiting so long oof.

where we last left off, danny had a dream about phantom, in which he tells him about the creation of the natural portals. he leaves danny, saying that he’ll come running back soon enough. when he wakes up, jazz tells him that sam and tucker have gone missing.

danny takes a second to process that information along with the dream and his brain just shuts down. he goes on autopilot, acting like he didn’t hear a word she just said. jazz tries to snap him out of it to get some sort of reaction but when she actually looks him in the eyes, filled with exhaustion, fear, and helplessness, she realizes that he doesn’t need any more things to worry about and goes to tell their parents not to bother him.

when she leaves, he blankly goes through the motions as he normally would. just like before this all happened. he checks his phone with slight hope that they may have tried to contact him, but after realizing he spent ten minutes just staring at it, he puts it away and doesn’t check it again. the walk to school is nothing but a stream of consciousness and he doesn’t even really feel awake anymore. everyone is just a blur while his brain refuses to process anything around him.

he gets to class, looks at his friends’ desks, and notices two cleanly carved DP symbols on them. it makes him start giggling a little, then laughing loudly, before he sinks to the ground crying out of frustration and overload.

a town meeting is called in the middle of school. the missing children line up with the new influx of ghost sightings and they want to check to see if any more kids have gone missing. someone points out the danny got taken last and the two missing children were his friends. others bring up the lunchroom incident and start pestering him with questions, seeking answers. danny waits for his family to quiet everything down before explaining everything from his first day in captivity all the way to last night’s dream. many people want to push the blame onto danny for painting a target on their heads and force him to deal with it on his own while others want to use danny as a bargaining tool to save their lives.

the fentons reject every suggestion and say that the most important thing here to do if to protect the children and find a way to defeat the ghosts now that blocking their way into the human realm is no longer an option. they explain that giving danny up might be a trap if phantom was able to kidnap sam and tucker but didn’t head straight for danny. he is told to safe and not try anything.

the GIW are called in to work on locating one of the portals and storming the ghost zone to rescue the missing children. danny is desperate to help and spends most of his time reliving unwanted memories just to give any form of information that might be helpful. after a while they send him away to try getting back to normal life as he needs a form of distraction.

at lunch, he is cornered by the other teens who ask if he is really just going to sit there and do nothing. danny is hesitant to lead more children into the ghost zone where they could be hurt, but they are determined and at this point, he is willing to risk it. after stealing a bunch of weapons from his parent's old weaponry vault, he finds a natural portal and opens it. they get sucked into it and arrive in the courtyards of phantom’s keep.

the ectoplasm flooding his system is mildly overwhelming but he pushes through it and begins guiding everyone to the dungeons where they would probably be kept. he notices while navigating that strangely everything is the same as it ws before he left, from to the decor to the guard rotations. when they reach the dungeons, sam and tucker aren’t there. it confuses him. he tries to think about where else phantom could have put them and a small voice whispers, ‘check your old wing’. its actually easier to sneak back to his old wing due to all the times he has snuck in and out of it. while the rest of the group aren’t so used to the routes, following him makes it a lot easier. waiting in the common room of the wing are sam and tucker, posed like lifeless dolls and dressed in clothing uncomfortably similar to what danny once wore, though less extravagant. their skin is pale and lifeless and their eyes are glowing

perched on their heads are silvery circlets. danny motions for the rest of the group to stand behind him. sam and tucker slowly turn to look at them and another battle breaks out.

its obvious from how they are fighting that while they wont strike to kill danny, they dont care about sparing the rest. the group slowly works out a system of one half distracting sam while the other go to hold down tucker and remove the circlet. as soon as it comes off, the glow from his eyes fades and he stills like they pushed his power button. with one less person constantly firing at them, its a lot easier to do the same for sam as she can’t fight them all off. dash and kwan take up carrying the limp, unconscious people and they make off with their battle spoils to the portal.

danny reopens the portal and makes sure everyone gets through, doing a headcount. when he is sure everyone is accounted for and out of the ghost zone. he thanks them and seals it, locking them in the human realm with him on the other side.

it takes a while for the group to finally tell someone what happened and they start fearing how to explain to the two dead to the world people who still haven’t woken up yet. they finally fess up when jazz drives by and asks where danny is. they silently just show her sam and tucker and watch the emotions flicker rapidly on he face. in the end she settles on heartache and gives a weak smile, telling them that she’s glad they are back but wishes they could have brought her brother back as well. she is more forgiving when they explain that it was his decision and they didnt have time to stop him before it was too late.

back in the ghost zone, danny stares blankly at the sealed portal, wondering if he should just step through now before its too late. just as he reaches out his hand, he gets pulled in a tight embrace as phantom laughs in his ear.

“What did I tell you, Starlight. You would come running back into my arms soon enough. Let’s go back home. You’ll find I didn’t change anything when you left. We can go right back to how it used to be before. Like you never ran away from me.”

he stays huddled up in his room for most of the time, only coming out when phantom wants him to accompany him on an errand or when he has to attend meetings with phantom. the faces are familiar. he made a few friends during his captivity and while the circumstances are grim, its pleasant to see them again.

for starters, clockwork was a common face when danny began getting incredibly homesick. phantom had requested danny be allowed to view the present of his ‘loved ones’ lives and he had spent every moment he could watching them throughout the day and making sure they were fine. clockwork also had hilariously awful puns, though they werent allowed to actually say them anymore after phantom got jealous and forbade them from speaking to danny. danny still carried the one-sided conversations and it seemed to cheer clockwork up from the decree. princess dora, now queen dora, was also a good friend of his, often discussing with him the pain of living with overbearing nobility. she had done a double-take when he approached her and sat him down to calmly ask what happened, though he could see the tension laced through her. after recounting she took a long sip of her tea and looked him in the eyes. she told a seemly random story of her exploring her kingdom and hearing a bard singing about how the mighty dragon princess stole the dragon king’s crown and the mighty dragon queen took her dear brother down. the piercing look in her eyes before she moved to a new topic told him more than enough.

the few moments of reprieve they offered was not enough to outdo the lappet treatment of phantom that allowed for no rejection, but it was something and it was all he could ask for.

sam and tucker wake up finally after being in a coma for two days. after scanning the room filled with their classmates, parents, and the fenton family, they quickly realize the only one not there that should be is danny. sam is the first one to speak, immediately yelling at them for trading them for danny and going off about how they need to go back for him as soon as possible. dash defends them by telling her that its not their fault danny closed the portal before any one of them could drag his skinny self sacrificing ass through it. they cant reopen it without him.

sam quiets down after that and tucker takes out asking all the questions he can think of to find a way to fix this. there has to be a way to reopen the portal.

(a cut back scene to danny interacting with phantom. im not good with writing abuse mixed with love very well so go ahead and use your imaginations okay uwu)

sam and tucker also end up secluding themselves and working nonstop on trying to figure out how to save danny. jazz stops by every day to check on them and pass on homework and anything she hears about the ghosts to them. while they start cleaning up the room to take a break and finish schoolwork, sam trips on a piece of paper and is about to fall. only she is caught in mid-air and surrounded by a neon lime green aura, one similar to danny’s though his is a bluish mint. the aura dissipates and she hits the ground with a soft thud but everything stops as tucker and her look at each other in shock.

“That was you!”

“That was me!”

homework gets pushed aside again for experimentation and documenting. they might be able to reopen the portal after all.

#im so nice to characters #look at my kindness #arent i so nice #i edited this #less typos this time around owo #sorry there is going to be another part.#there is so much #danny phantom au #Danny Phantom #danny fenton #pitch pearl au #pitch pearl #tw: toxic relationship #tw: brain washing #part 3 #part 4 coming soon promise

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tomeandflickcorner · 3 years

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Falcon And Winter Soldier Episode 5- My Thoughts

Oh boy, this one might be a bit longer than usual. There’s a lot to go through in this episode. As always, spoilers under the cut.

It immediately picks up after Walker brutally murdered Nico in that crowded square. We see he’s taken off running, and ends up in some deserted warehouse of some kind. For a moment, you almost think he’s starting to grasp the gravity of what he’s done, but he’s then plagued by memories of his time with Hoskins, which only leads to him further slipping into insanity and convincing himself that he did what was necessary. That’s when Bucky and Sam enter the scene. They quickly figure out that Walker’s off his rocker. Particularly when Walker tries to justify his actions by claiming that Nico was the one who killed Hoskins, even though it was clear that Karli was the one who killed him. They do their best to try and help him realize that revenge is not the same as justice, but Walker isn’t willing to listen. Sam, slipping into councilor mode, attempts to calm him down. Unfortunately, if his words were having any affect on Walker, it all went downhill fast when Sam told Walker to hand the Shield over to them. Because Walker firmly believed the Shield was his rightful property, so he was not about to willingly give it up. So Bucky and Sam have no choice but to take the Shield back by force. At one point during this fight, Bucky gets momentarily dazed upon getting thrown into some sort of circuit breaker box, which also seems to briefly cause his vibranium arm to short-circuit. Of course, Sam can’t really hold his own against a crazed Super Soldier one-on-one for long, and Walker eventually has him pinned to the ground. He even destroys Sam’s Falcon wings. But just before Walker could actually kill Sam- yeah, he was actually about to kill Sam there!- Bucky recovers and rejoins the fight. Together, Sam and Bucky manage to pry the Shield away from Walker’s tight grip. Though they have to break his arm in the process. But even then, Walker isn’t backing down. Because he still firmly believes HE is Captain America. It takes a pretty awesome combo move from Bucky and Sam to take Walker down. Because not even a Super Soldier can withstand getting swung into a jet-packed fueled blow from the Shield. With Walker defeated, Bucky pretty much places the Shield at Sam’s feet, effectivly giving it to him once again, before walking off without a word.

So, after that pretty epic battle, the episode allows the characters, and the viewing audience, a chance to catch their breaths. Karli and the Flag Smashers have pretty much gone underground, making it impossible for anyone to locate them. Not that the government doesn’t try, as they conduct raids to all the GRC facilities that housed them, and even arrest the people that offered them shelter. But still, no sign of Karli anywhere. So Bucky and Sam decide there’s not much more they can do, particularly since they’ve been benched by the government officials. Even so, Sam still wants to do what he can in seeing this whole thing to the end. So he asks his friend and associate, Joaquín Torres (who we haven’t seen since Episode 2), to keep him posted. Although, Sam also leaves his broken wingsuit with Joaquín. Which is probably a reference to the fact that Joaquín took up the mantle of Falcon after Sam in the comics.

Of course, there’s still the loose end of Zemo. Bucky manages to track him down in Sokovia, at the memorial that was put up in honor of everyone who died there during the events of Age of Ultron. Which does make sense, since Zemo’s wife and children were among the casualties.

Now, I gotta pause for a moment to talk about something here. During the Previously On segment for this episode, we got reminded of a scene from a previous episode, in which Zemo seemed to be trying to shame Sam and Bucky for not ever visiting the memorial themselves. Maybe it’s me, but that seems kinda unfair. For starters, Bucky and Sam weren’t even involved during the events of Age Of Ultron. With Sam, I don’t think he was officially an Avenger at that point. He was part of the reserve team, if anything. And Bucky was in Romania, trying to reacquaint himself with his true identity while hiding from both the CIA and what was left of Hydra. Even if that wasn’t the case, when exactly were they supposed to visit the memorial? As of the events of Civil War, Sam was on the run as a fugitive alongside Steve and Natasha. And Bucky was in Wakanda, either in cryofreeze or going through mental rehabilitation. And then they both got dusted at the end of Infinity War, meaning they were erased from existence for the next five years. So when exactly could they have visited the Sokovia Memorial to pay their respects? Of course, I do get what the episode was trying to say, since the Avengers didn’t really do much in offering Sokovia any sort of relief efforts. (Though you could also argue that Tony should have been the one to handle that, considering the whole situation with Ultron was his own fault. And goodness knows he had the monetary means to do something, with him being the billionaire and all. But I guess that’s all semantics.)

Anyway, Zemo tells Bucky that the only way they can hope to stop Karli now is by killing her, but Bucky tells him they’re going to try to do things their own way. At this point, Bucky aims a gun at Zemo’s head. But it’s soon revealed that Bucky had previously made sure the gun was already empty when he shows that he’d removed the bullets beforehand. Which I guess was his way of showing Zemo that he was wrong about him. And that Bucky, despite being an enhanced individual (something that Zemo clearly hates), still chose to spare his life. At this point, the Dora Milaje show up, with the intention of bringing Zemo to the Raft, that prison we last saw in Civil War. Before Zemo is escorted off, he tells Bucky he took the liberty of crossing his name out of Bucky’s book, and that he doesn’t blame Bucky for doing what he thought was right. Wow, how magnanimous of him, right? Shame he couldn’t have extended this same level of courtesy towards the rest of the Avengers.

Still, I guess this means we’ve seen the last of Zemo. At least for now. Eh, good riddance, I say. I personally hope we never see him again, While I do sympathize that he lost his family, I still don’t like him in the slightest. On the other hand, I did like that Ayo indicated that Bucky is at least partially forgiven for helping break Zemo out of jail. Sure, she does tell him that he should still stay away from Wakanda for the time being, but she is calling him White Wolf again. Which indicates that their friendship wasn’t broken beyond repair. Before they part ways, however, Bucky tells Ayo that he has one more favor to ask of her.

Here, the episode begins to focus on Sam as he begins to head back home to Louisiana. But first, he makes a detour back to Baltimore, in order to sit down and really talk with Isaiah. Which enables us to really learn exactly what happened with him in the 1950s. Turns out, he didn’t get injected with the Super Serum knowingly He and a few other Black men were essentially used as guinea pigs, in which they were told they were being given tuberculosis shots or something when it was actually an experimental recreation of the Super Serum. But it seems that, for some reason, the other Black test subjects begin displaying some manner of unfortunate side effects to the Serum, which suggested it wasn’t stabilizing with them. Only Isaiah was able to successfully transition into a true Super Soldier like Steve Rogers. So when the other Black test subjects were captured behind enemy lines (because this was the time of the Korean War), the US government were simply planning to drop bombs on the POW camps, in order to prevent word of their little experiment from getting out. When Isaiah found out what they were planning, he took it upon himself to get those men out of there, in a similar manner to what Steve did in the first Captain America movie. Except he was rewarded for his bravery by being locked up like a criminal, with the US government conducting experiments on him to try and figure out why the Super Serum worked with him and not the other test subjects. They even told Isaiah’s wife that he was dead while making sure he never received any of the letters she’s sent him. In the end, Isaiah only escaped because this nameless nurse took pity on him and helped him escape by essentially faking his death. This backstory really is sad and tragic, especially when you realize it’s partially based on an actual historical event. Just try looking up the Tuskegee Experiment sometime. It’s really messed up. Anyway, Isaiah finishes his sad story by telling Sam that, regardless of what he might believe, the world hasn’t changed that much. And that not only will the world never accept a Black man as Captain America, no self-respecting Black man would even attempt to take up the mantle because of how America has always treated men like them.

With that advice still weighing on his mind, Sam returns home to rejoin his sister, Sarah, and his two nephews, AJ and Cass. So now we’re getting back to the subplot from the first episode, involving the failing family-run fishing business. It seems Sarah is still thinking it’s time to throw in the towel and simply sell their family’s fishing boat. The main issue with that is, because it’s all run down and in need of serious repair, nobody would even consider buying it. Fortunately, Sam has an idea. Remembering how their parents, who apparently died some time ago, had been long-standing pillars in the community and had often offered aid to their neighbors, Sam makes a few phone calls and gets the whole community to come pitch in and help repair the old fishing boat, thereby repaying the previous kindness of Sam and Sarah’s late parents. One of the neighbors even comes by with a brand new engine for the fishing boat. But then, just as Sam is wondering how they’re going to manage getting the heavy-looking boat engine off the back of the truck, Bucky appears out of nowhere, using his Super Soldier strength to effortlessly lift the motor up over his shoulders.

Bucky explains his presence away, stating he’s only there to drop off a crate for Sam, which clearly came from the Wakandans. It’s implied the contents of the crate have something to do with the favor he asked of Ayo. But then, Bucky ends up sticking around to help Sam fix up the fishing boat. Cue a boat repairing montage, complete with a song playing over the whole sequence. Bit bizarre we’re getting something like this in the penultimate episode, but it’s still pretty enjoyable. Particularly since we get to see Bucky and Sam actually bonding as themselves. And yes, there does seem to be vague implications that there might eventually be something between Bucky and Sarah. Although, I don’t know if I necessarily ship it. At least not yet. I’d need to see more of them interacting with each other besides just seeing Bucky saying ‘hi’ to her a few times before I make up my mind. Granted it would be an interesting thing to explore of course. Particularly since, to my knowledge, it would be the first biracial couple featured in the MCU. Unless you count Peter Quill and Gamora, of course. (And that brief thing that was going on between Peggy and Jason Wilkes in the woefully short-lived Agent Carter series.) At present, though, I think Bucky’s obvious affection towards Sam’s family seems more tied to his own memories of his life before WW2. When he wakes up the next morning on the couch (because Sam invited him to crash at the house instead of finding a hotel room somewhere), a genuine smile appears on his face when he catches AJ and Cass playing around with the Shield in the living room. Those of you who have read Bucky’s bio in the MCU wiki might remember that Bucky was the oldest child of four, so seeing AJ and Cass might be reminding him of how he used to play with his younger sisters. And interestingly enough, Sam’s sister’s name is Sarah. Which was also the name of Steve Roger’s mother, which is probably making Bucky feel even more nostalgia. (Side note- Bucky was actually sleeping on the couch. Which is a step up from where we first saw him in the first episode, where he was sleeping on the cold, hard floor. This is probably an indication that Bucky is starting to heal.)

Anyway, we then see Bucky helping train Sam in throwing the Shield around. They even set up an obstacle course of sorts, with mats being tied to a few of the surrounding trees. They briefly discuss the lingering issue of the Flag Smashers. There’s still no sign of Karli, but Sam promises to give Bucky a call when he gets a new lead, and Bucky promises that he’ll come back to assist Sam at that time. However, the main focus of the scene involves Bucky finally apologizing to Sam for giving him a hard time over the Shield in the first place, with him acknowledging how he and Steve didn’t really grasp what it might feel like to a Black man to be given the Shield. We also get an indication that Steve and Bucky did discuss Steve’s plans of retiring by staying in the past to live a life with Peggy after returning the Infinity Stones ahead of time. It was vaguely suggested in a read-between-the-lines sort of way at the end of Endgame, but it’s nice they confirmed that Steve didn’t just up and decide to do that on the fly. Bucky then starts opening up to Sam, admitting to him that the reason why he was so angry about the Shield in the first place was that, to him, the Shield felt like his last connection he had to Steve, who was the closest thing he had to a family. And that feeling has intensified now that Steve is gone. (Can we please get some clarification on what they mean by ‘gone,’ by the way? Did Steve actually pass away from old age offscreen? Up until now, it’s something they’ve only vaguely inferred to. Like maybe, maybe, maybe. But if that’s what happened, I wish they’d quit tiptoeing around the issue and just tell us straight out.) Anyway, it’s really cool that Bucky is talking to Sam about all of this. It does show that he truly does trust Sam. Especially more than he does that crappy therapist they forced on him. Just saying, Bucky was still denying to her that he was having nightmares, despite apparently having sessions with her for six months. But he freely admits to Sam that he is still having nightmares after only a week or so of them working together. If that doesn’t illustrate how poorly Bucky’s relationship with his government issued therapist was going, I don’t know what does.

As if getting how big a deal this is, for Bucky to open up to him like this, Sam once again slips into counselor mode. He tells Bucky that he shouldn’t put so much concern onto what Steve thought of him, because Bucky can’t let what others think of him determine his own self-value. Or something to that effect. He also advises Bucky to stop taking the easy way out in regards of alleviating his guilt over what he did as the Winter Soldier. Up until now, Bucky was only going after past Hydra agents to bring them to justice in an effort to make himself feel better. But if Bucky really wants to gain peace of mind, he should instead focus on helping the victims feel better. Which probably means that Bucky is going to go back and see that old man, Yori, from Episode 1 again and help him find closure by telling him the truth about what happened to his dead son. I admit, I’m really nervous about watching that scene unfold. Yeah, Yori does deserve the truth, but I’m scared about how he might take it. It would be understandable if he ends up blaming Bucky, sure. But at the same time, it’s kinda been rubbing me the wrong way how this show seems to be acting like Bucky is a reformed assassin who has to atone for what he’s done. No, that was what Natasha was. Bucky, on the other hand, was the world’s longest serving POW. Someone who was tortured and brainwashed by evil Nazi scientists who stripped him of his free will and autonomy. (And, if we consider the implications that Episode 3 gave us, we can also add sexual abuse to the list of things Hydra did to him.) Yeah, it’s only natural Bucky feels bad for what Hydra made him do. But that just indicates he’s naturally a good man with a good heart. I’m not exactly a fan of the idea that he should be made to feel like he should atone for anything he did. Because he was as much of a victim in all of that as the people Hydra sent him after. Still, if trying to make up for what Hydra forced him to do is what Bucky needs to do in order to forgive himself, then I guess I can support that. Do what you have to do to find closure for yourself, buddy.

Anyway, after Bucky leaves, Sam and Sarah continue to finish repairs on the fishing boat in preparation for selling it. But just before Sam is going to paint over the names of their parents, which is printed on the side of the boat, Sarah stops him. It seems she’s changed her mind about selling the boat, considering the boat is part of their family legacy. Which is something that Sam is relieved to hear, as he didn’t want to see the boat getting sold off, either. The siblings begin having a heart-to-heart, with Sarah telling Sam that, even though she’s always given him a hard time about the matter, she’d never thought he was running away from things whenever he went off to save the world and whatnot. She also tells him that she knows he’s been dwelling on what Isaiah said to him, but helps Sam make a decision involving the Shield. While Isaiah had good reasons for believing the way he did, Sam ultimately decides that the pain Isaiah went through would be in vain if nobody continued to fight for the future. And so, Sam decides that he’s now willing to accept the mantle of Captain America. Which leads to another montage. This time of Sam going through a self-training session with the Shied, with his nephews, AJ and Cass, helping out. The training montage ends with us seeing that Sam has become a pro at throwing and catching the Shield.

Of course, just when you start to think this episode is feeling like the series finale, with everything wrapping up and setting the stage for a future adventure, we get the reminder that there is still one more episode to go. It seems that Karli has been pushed over the edge after the death of Nico, as well as seeing all the GRC facilities raided and cleared out of refugees. And she is now out for revenge. Specifically, she plans to rally up what remains of her followers and attack the GRC headquarters, as they plan to vote on the Patch Act, which would force millions of people to relocate to their home states. To achieve this goal, Karli manage to join forces with Batroc, who had previously appeared at the beginning of Episode 1. Strangely enough, an earlier scene does suggest Batroc was actually hired to team up with Karli and the Flag Smashers by Sharon Carter, which only further indicates that Sharon is a bit shady. What exactly is Sharon up to? Is she a bad guy now? That would kinda stink, since she is Peggy Carter’s great niece or something. Talk about besmirching your family name.

Anyway, right when the Flag Smasher’s attack on GRC headquarters is about to begin, Sam gets a tip off from Joaquín, who had been keeping his ear to the grapevine in terms of the Flag Smasher’s movements. Apparently, the Flag Smashers coordinate their attacks via this coded cellphone signal, which Joaquín had figured out how to hack into. And he notifies Sam that the coded cellphone signal is now showing up in New York City. Sam seems to figure out what the Flag Smashers are about to do when he sees a news report on the TV about the GRC voting on the Patch Act that evening. Deciding to go and do something about it, he opens up that Wakandan crate Bucky had dropped off. The episode ends before we can see what exactly was inside the crate, though. They’re clearly saving that reveal for the final episode. Although, my boyfriend, who is also my viewing partner for this show, is a bit of an expert on what went on in the Marvel comics. (He even worked in a comic book/gaming store before we met.) It seems that, in the comics, Sam Wilson did end up getting a pair of Falcon wings that utilized hologram technology of some kind. So he’s theorizing that’s what it is. Still, we have to wait until next Friday to know for sure. Either way, it looks like this next episode will decide what happens with Karli and the Flag Smashers. I honestly don’t see how it’s possible to resolve things with Karli peacefully, though. She seems too far gone at this point. But I’m sure Sam will still try to talk her down, which only deepens my respect for him. And who knows? Maybe Sam will succeed, with Karli going the Coalhouse Walker route- agreeing to stand down in exchange for the promise of a fair trial, which would allow her to state her case. (Of course, I hope they don’t do things exactly how it went down in Ragtime. Because in that story, they pretty much promise Coalhouse that he’ll receive a fair trial, but the moment he surrenders himself, the police immediately open fire and shoot him dead. Which is not even remotely cool.)

Oh, and then there’s still the matter of Walker. Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him. Because even though Sam and Bucky effectivly took him down AND he received a dishonorable discharge by the US government, he still refuses to believe he did anything wrong. He’s convinced that he still deserves to be Captain America. While a small part of me does pity him, he really is displaying what appears to be a fragile White male ego. He even goes up to Hoskin’s grieving parents and sister and lies to them about how Nico was the one who killed their son, and that they should take comfort in the fact that justice was served. There’s also a mid-credits scene where we see he’s trying to make his own version of the Shield. Doubt its made of vibranium, of course. I Gotta say, I’m seeing a lot of parallels between Walker and Karli right now. Both of them have convinced themselves that they are 100% in the right, and everything they do is completely justified. Which naturally makes them both very dangerous. However, I’m mostly concerned by this mysterious woman. Contessa, or whatever it was she called herself. She approached Walker after his trial to tell him that he didn’t do anything wrong before giving him what appears to be a blank business card. (I’m guessing there’s some sort of secret decoded message on this business card that Walker will decipher later on.) I have no idea who this woman is supposed to be or what her goal is. I’m guessing she’s someone comic book experts would recognize, but my boyfriend/viewing partner, who is familiar with the comics, didn’t seem to recognize her name, either. So it’s a big mystery at this point.

Before I wrap up my thoughts for this week’s episode, there is something partially unrelated I should mention. For those of you who haven’t heard, Sebastian Stan’s latest movie, Monday, recently came out. And it seems that this movie includes Sebastian and his female co-star in a full-frontal nudity scene. From what I’ve heard, there have been some select individuals who have seen fit to criticize Sebastian’s appearance in this scene, because he wasn’t in perfect shape or something like that. If you were one of those select individuals who decided to body shame Sebastian after watching this movie? Grow up! Bodies come in all shapes and sizes. And to expect a male actor to have a completely chiseled physique at all times is extremely unrealistic, particularly when they’re portraying an ordinary person. The fact that people were acting like this is even more disgusting when you consider the fact that Sebastian Stan apparently already has some body issues. The fact that he was still willing to film this full-frontal scene despite those issues just illustrates his passion and dedication to his skill as an actor and the message this movie was meant to convey. He did not deserve to have his body objectified the way it was. Nobody does. So once again, this is me condemning the behavior of those select ‘fans.’

#falcon and winter soldier #falcon and winter solider series

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fearsmagazine · 3 years

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LAPSIS - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Film Movement

SYNOPSIS: In a parallel present, delivery man Ray Tincelli is struggling to support himself and his ailing younger brother. After a series of two-bit hustles and unsuccessful swindles, Ray takes a job in a strange new realm of the gig economy: trekking deep into the forest, pulling cable over miles of terrain to connect large, metal cubes that link together the new quantum trading market. As he gets pulled deeper into the zone, he encounters growing hostility and the threat of robot cablers, and must choose to either help his fellow workers or to get rich and get out. (by filmmakers)

REVIEW: When you think about the contemporary battle with Amazon that involves workers, unions, robots, and other technology, LAPSIS is the perfect entertaining thought piece to address these issues with a highly creative parable. It is a wonderfully craft dark comedy that is full of irony and satire that springs from the tragedy of these familiar caught up in a timeless drama.

I loved the way that LAPSIS clearly lays out how new technologies emerge that have a human component and as the technology evolves it becomes disruptive in how it treats and compensates workers as the corporations realize the workers will eventually be phased out. In our modern times it has become insidious as the workers are expected to perform like the machines that will ultimately replace them. Noah Hutton does an excellent job of integrating all these socially relevant themes into his screenplay and holds it together with an engaging cast of characters. Being from a large family from Queens, NY, I kind of know a character like Ray, a good-natured guy with family responsibilities who is always on the look for that one job with a big enough pay-off to just get him out from under things. Ray does not consider the consequences outside of trying to take care of his family obligations, until the world of cabling and the robots that could overtake him and steal his routes. As his eyes are opened he begins to see there is more at stake. Ultimately he must decide if he will just stay focused on his smaller objective or throw in with his fellow cablers’ fight against the corporation. It is a nicely constructed tale with several interesting characters that make this a timeless classic for the current working generations.

The cast may not include any A-list Hollywood celebrities, but it is composed of many talented actors whose faces you may recognize from their work on television or other independent films. They bring a lot of heart and substance to these characters that make them so recognizable, so easy to watch that the viewer easily slips into the story and goes along for the ride. They make LAPSIS a delight to watch.

Filmmaker Noah Hutton does an excellent job of creating simple situations and a low tech new situation that allows the viewer to stay focused on the human drama of the story. He writes solid characters, a timeless situation, and sets it up without any complications for the viewer to grasp. While the story addresses larger issues, he keeps the film focused on Ray. The film maintains a nice pace and he still manages to show Ray as a flawed and vulnerable character that we can feel for. When Hutton does up the technology we are introduced to these very simple robots. You kind of feel for them as well. While the humans can overcome obstacles and imperfections in the terrane of their routes, simple things can hang up the robots and require human intervention.

If the film itself wasn’t motivation enough to purchase the DVD, the bonus features absolutely seal the deal. There is an audio commentary track with Noah Hutton and the producers that offer some engaging insights into the film. There is a making of featurette that enhances some of the things discussed in the commentary and shows the creative genius behind the team. Then there is a bonus short “Guts” It si a documentary about Dr. Max Liboiron and CLEAR, a feminist, anti-colonial marine plastics lab in Newfoundland. Their science informed some of the ideas as well as filmmaking practices used in LAPSIS and was directed by Noah Hutton and Taylor Hess.

LAPSIS is an intelligent and witty contemporary science fiction story that offers viewers an entertaining, charming, and thought provoking experience. I truly appreciate filmmaker Noah Hutton’s creative spirit. I am totally looking forward to seeing his next film, “In Silico,” which is a documentary about neuroscience. In the meantime, I highly recommend picking up the Film Movement DVD of LAPSIS with all the bonus before it is sold out.

CAST: Dean Imperial, Madeline Wise, Dora Madison, Babe Howard,Frank Wood, James McDabiel, and Arliss Howard. CREW: Director/Screenplay/Composer/Editor - Noah Hutton; Producers - Jesse Miller, Joseph Varca, & Taylor Hess; Cinematographer - Mike Gomes; Production Designer - Alexander Linde; Costume Designer - Sandy Siu; special Makeup Effects Artist - Esther Kwon; Animator - Paris London Glickman. OFFICIAL: www.lapsisfilm.com FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: twitter.com/Lapsis_Film | @Lapsis_Film TRAILER: https://youtu.be/c1tpjgGIxm8 RELEASE DATE: Digital & DVD May 11th, 2021

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike) Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

#film review #movie review #lapsis #film movement #noah hutton #dean imperial #madeline wise #sci-fi #science fiction #social commentary #joseph mauceri #joseph b mauceri

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eternal-love-song · 3 years

Text

Colorful Cavalcade ep 1

Two childhood friends, a former Gym Leader, a Pokemon Breeder, and a psychic Pokemon trainer begin their journey across the region of Talon.

[Pokemon Journey, Original Trainers, Original Pokemon Region, Pokemon Training, Developing Friendships, Adventure, Childhood Friends, Psychic Abilities]

Wordcount: 11k

Episode 1, Treble in Cantor

It was a clear night. The stars were bright overhead, the moon was a sliver in the sky, and the sea spray misted over her face. The song of the ocean mixed with the roar of the fire, creating a peaceful lullaby for the night. Behind her, Cormac was stoking the fire, adding a little more warmth to the air. It was a beautiful night, the kind of beauty that she had spent her whole life enjoying. She wouldn't say that it ever got old, but lately an idea had been floating in her mind more and more.

"Hey Cor?" She looked over her shoulder where Cormac was still poking at the fire. His Corsola was sitting on his shoulder and the Pokemon looked at her before he did. She smiled. Her own Corsola was wading in the water not too far off.

She waited for his pink eyes, so very similar to her own, to glance her way. His white hair danced in the breeze and a few of the hibiscus blooms she'd placed in his hair were being blown away. She'd have to be more careful next time; it was uncommonly sloppy work for her. "What's up Orchid?"

She looked up at the sky again, stretching her arms out over her head as she weighed her words one last time. "What do you think about leaving here?"

"Leaving?" He sounded more confused than upset, so she chanced a glance at him. He was studying her, as if he'd be able to read her intentions out of the air. They had been friends for nearly all their lives, but he still had no idea what she was thinking when she didn't want him to. "What do you mean?"

"I mean..." she hesitated as she walked closer to him, holding out her arm so that Corsola could jump from his shoulder to hers. "Going on a journey. Across the whole region like other trainers do."

"You... want to?"

The surprise made it hard for her to properly gauge his reaction. She plopped down on the log beside him, facing the opposite way and leaning her head against his shoulder. "Yeah, I think I do. I don't want to go without you, though. It wouldn't be as much fun."

"You just want someone around to cook for you," he grumbled.

She giggled and nuzzled her head against him. She was probably ruffling the flower in her own hair, but she didn't much care about that. "That's not so bad, right? What would Dora do without you? Do you want her to starve?"

He leaned his head on top of hers. "She's not the only one that would be lost without me so I guess I have no choice."

Her smile widened and she couldn't help the burst of excited laughter she let out. "You mean it?"

"Yeah. Kora would be sad if I let you go alone anyway," he told her.

She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed as tight as she could. "You're the best, Cor."

"I kinda am the best, aren't I?" he shot back.

She shoved him and stuck out her tongue at him. "You'd cry if I left you behind anyway. This is for your own good."

"Yeah, alright. Whatever you say, Orchid."

She looked out at the sea where her Corsola, Dora, was making her way out of the water. She scooped the Pokemon up into her arms and spun on her heel in the sand, wisps of her pink hair falling into her face. "We're going on an adventure, Dora! Aren't you excited?"

The Pokemon made excited noises, along with Cormac's Corsola on her shoulder. Cormac watched as the three of them celebrated and she could tell that he was just as excited as she was, even if he was more subdued in showing it.

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

Cantor City was only a few hours journey from their sleepy beach town. Cormac barely saw any of it when they first arrived, following Orchid to a hotel where they could stay for the night. They spent a long time chatting excitedly from their opposite beds until she fell asleep, leaving him to watch the city from their window.

Honestly, there wasn’t much of a view. It was too late for the city to be too active and their room wasn’t high enough to see above the cityscape, but it was enough. His whole life he’d been able to look out his window to sand and sea, and now for the first time he was seeing something different.

Cormac thought he should feel something… bigger. He didn’t feel out of place or homesick at all, though. He just felt at peace. He was pretty sure that he could go anywhere as long as he had Orchid and his Corsola by his side. He could have stayed forever in his small town and never wonder what he was missing, and now he could explore forever with them and never think about going back.

With that thought drifting through his mind, he decided to go to bed.

Cormac was woken abruptly by something shaking his bed. He was startled upright, only to be immediately captured in Orchid's arms. That solved the mystery of what had woken him up before he'd had time to question it.

"Let's go watch the gym battles!" She squealed, bouncing slightly in her excitement.

"What?" He blinked a few times, trying to wake himself up while Orchid gently shook him.

"We've never seen one in person! Let's go!" She repeated excitedly. Her expression was bright, pink eyes shining with excitement and her hair already pinned up with a flower. Sometimes it amazed him how quick and early Orchid was able to wake up. Cormac could wake up early when he needed to, but it seemed like Orchid simply never slept.

"This couldn't have waited?" he asked.

"Who would want to?" she asked. "Aren't you excited?"

He wasn't sure if he was more excited than he was tired, but he nodded at her anyway. "Yeah, alright, I'll get up."

"Yay!" she cheered as she tossed the covers off of him and sprung off the bed. She scooped up Kora and Dora where they were sleeping on the table. He let himself fall back onto the bed with a yawn.

"Time to get up," he said sleepily to himself.

An hour later, after they were both dressed and fed, Orchid was leading him around the town. Both Kora and Dora were sitting on her shoulders, chatting happily as she led him by the hand and commented on everything. Cormac was torn between watching their excitement and the town around them.

There was a band of people playing music with their Pokemon in the town square and a few onlookers dancing. There were stall shops shouting for attention to their wares, selling souvenirs, food, and merchandise advertising the gym. There were people lounging about near the town well, a sea of calm amid the excited energy everywhere else. He could see a few buildings in the distance; a daycare, a Pokemon center, a pokemart, and their destination; the Pokemon gym.

"Something catch your eye?" Orchid was watching him over her shoulder. Kora and Dora tapping on her shoulder to tell her if she needed to move to one side or the other to avoid something in her path. The sight of three of them so close always made him feel warm inside. He squeezed her hand, reminding himself that he was just as much a part of this bubble of intimacy.

"Only everything," he answered. "How are you able to be so single minded?"

"I was watching everything out the window early, so I took in a lot of the splendor already." Her eyes wandered over her surroundings briefly before returning to him. "Plus, we have plenty of time to look through everything later. Right?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

The gym was wider than it was tall, with statues of electric Pokemon standing on top of each other framing the double doors. There was one person standing at the door that stopped them when they approached. "Challenger or spectator?"

"Spectator," Orchid answered.

He pointed to the side of the building. "Enter where you see the Jolteon statue."

"Thanks." They walked to the side of the building and she dropped his hand to push open the large double doors. "Wow."

The inside looked a bit more like a concert hall than a Pokemon gym. There were rows of elevated seating all around the room and a large stage in the center. The room was reasonably crowded and it took them a bit to find two empty seats in the highest rows. There were Magnemites floating around the room using Light Screen and Barrier to wall off the audience from stray attacks and the other trainers on the side of the stage were fiddling with instruments.

"Do you think the gym leader has their own theme song?" Orchid asked. "How cool would that be?"

"Pretty cool," he answered. Now that he was here, his eyes were glued to the stage. The challenger was already there, dressed in dark clothing and floating his pokeballs in the air. "Really cool."

Then the music hit. Two mohawked girls on drum and guitar started a heavy beat while a guy with spiked hair growled into the mic. The vocals were purposefully low, blending well into the music as the gym leader marched out and onto the stage. She was dressed in bright electric blue, with short dark blue hair cut sharply over her shoulders, and oval shaped sunglasses covering her eyes. There were gloves on her hands and black and blue stocking completely covering her legs. She flipped her hair and sparks shot up from the stage.

"Let's get this battle started already!" she said, tossing a pokeball into the air.

The challenger plucked one of his own balls out of the air. "Let's."

The announcer's voice erupted around them. "This will be a 3 on 3 battle. Whoever knocks out all three of their opponent’s Pokemon wins. Challenger Graham versus Leader Ahu! Begin!"

They threw out their Pokemon at the same time. The gym leader started with a Jolteon, the spiky Pokemon crouching low and letting out a hiss. The challenger sent his Pokeball spinning, sending his Girafarig into battle, the giraffe Pokemon scraping his hoof against the ground.

Beside him, Orchid was flipping open her Pokedex. "I've never seen that tall thing before, have you?"

Cormac shook his head. "I don't think it's very common around here."

Orchid giggled as she turned to him. "Can you imagine seeing that thing on the beach? It's got two heads!"

He laughed with her, but his eyes were quickly drawn back toward the stage.

“Show him what we’re made of, Jolteon!” The Gym Leader said, striking a pose and pointing at their opponent.

The Jolteon immediately launched into a Quick Attack, slamming into Girafarig's side and shoving it back. Girafarif’s hooves dragged along the ground, but it stayed on its feet.. Jolteon retreated just as Girafarig used Stomp, its spiky fur standing on end as it hissed at its opponent. Electricity danced along its fur for a moment and then a wave of thunder washed over the battlefield. Girafarig stumbled, a flash of static arced along its skin and brought it down to one knee.

The Gym Leader laughed, placing both hands on her hips as she smiled at her opponent. “There’s no shame in throwing in the towel, you know.”

“This battle has only begun,” Graham replied.

“Well, can’t say I didn’t try,” Ahu shrugged.

Girafarig glared ahead, but as soon as it tried to move a wave of static flickered through its body. Jolteon rushed at the paralyzed Pokemon, hitting it with Double Kick and knocking Girafarig on its side, back to Jolteon. The Pokemon made a small noise of pain, static still dancing along its spine.

“Hugo!” Graham called out, fist clenching at his side as he watched his pokemon.

Jolteon rushed forward at the fallen pokemon, only for Girafarig’s tail to jump up and snap at Jolteon, startling the pokemon with Astonish and causing it to flinch. Girafarig took the opportunity to get to its feet, eyes glowing as a rainbow of psychic energy blasted Jolteon. The Psybeam caused Jolteon to stumble, the pokemon trying and failing to shake off its sudden confusion.

Girafarig took advantage of Jolteon’s confusion to charge across the stage, slamming intoJolteon with a Zen Headbutt. The Pokemon was tossed across the stage, making pained sounds as it struggled to get to its feet. It shook its head desperately, trying to break itself out of confusion and failing. Girafarig galloped toward Jolteon, rearing up and stomping down on it with both hooves. Jolteon gasped, tried once more to get to its feet, and failed.

"Jolteon is unable to continue!" The announcer called.

The person on Cormac's right jumped up from his seat as he cheered. Orchid wrapped her arm around his, leaning closer to be heard over the crowd.

"Aren't you so glad we came?" Orchid asked. "This is so much cooler than on tv."

"Yeah, I can't believe it's this intense already," he answered. Kora jumped from Orchid's shoulder into his lap and he wrapped the Pokemon in his arms.

"Heh, don't think this is over yet," Ahu said coolly. "That was just beginners luck."

"I'm no beginner," Graham responded.

"Yeah, we'll see about that." She tossed out her next Pokemon. "Show him what we're about, Pachirisu!" The small squirrel let out a cry, its tail flicking behind him.

Girafarig lowered its head for another Zen Headbutt, but the squirrel Pokemon stared up at it cutely. Girafarig slowed down severely, apparently caught up in Pachirisu’s Charm attack, only lightly running into the smaller Pokemon. Pachirisu then rocketed back and forth across the field with Quick Attack as its tail began to glow.

“Hugo, watch out!” Graham called out, but it was too late. Pachirisu leapt into the air, swinging its tail and firing an Electro Ball, which scored a direct hit to the Girafarig.

Ahu flicked her hair over her shoulder as Graham recalled his Pokemon.

"Girafarig is unable to fight. The contestants are now tied one to one."

"Get him, Ahu!"

"Show that newby who's boss!"

The crowd was very excited and the music was only serving to hype them all up. Even on stage, the gym leader was tapping her foot to the song being played by the band. Cormac felt a little bad for the challenger. It couldn't be easy to have an entire stage against you.

"Do your best, Graham!" Orchid yelled out from beside him. It seemed they were on the same page again, but as always she was much more up front about it. A few people echoed her calls and she looked over at him with a smile. "I'd hate to see him get discouraged," she said.

"Every crowd should have someone like you in it, Or."

She smiled, sticking out her tongue at him. "Don't tease me, Cor."

Graham sent out an Alolan Raichu. "You can do it, Raichu," he said as he glared at Ahu.

Raichu charged at the Pachirisu. The squirrel Pokemon dodged and began to roll along the ground cutely, intending to charm it into letting down its guard. Instead, Raichu used Double Team, surrounding Pachirisu with clones of itself. Pachirisu looked around in surprise as Raichu approached, trying to dodge as one of the images surged forward only for the real Raichu to slam its tail into Pachirisu from behind.

Pachirisu glared as it picked itself up from the ground. It jumped to its feet and ran at Raichu for a quick attack, only for Raichu to dodge out of the way. Raichu’s eyes began to glow and Pachirisu was lifted into the air, flailing as it went. Raichu lifted its opponent high into the air before whipping its tail at Pachirisu, slamming it down to the ground.

“Don’t let them win so easily, Pachirisu!” The gym leader yelled.

Pachirisu gingerly picked itself off the ground. It ran in a tight circle before whipping its tail, causing stars to explode from the appendage and rush at Raichu.

“It used Swift!” Cormac exclaimed. He looked over at Orchid, who turned to smile at his excitement.

“That’s gonna be bad for Raichu then,” she said. “Think Pachirisu will make a comeback with this?”

“I don’t know. It’s taken a lot of damage,” he told her. The battle seemed really close though. He had to admit, he was rather glad that she’d dragged him out of bed for this.

Raichu ran quickly around the stage, trying to avoid the white stars tailing it. It dodged one, then two, but the stars simply changed course so that they could all converge on it at once. There was a bright light as the attack made impact and Raichu was knocked off its feet. Raichu rolled over to face Pachirisu, but didn’t get to its feet. Electricity began to dance across its fur before it released a powerful thunderbolt which hit Pachirisu hard. The Pokemon swayed a few times before falling to the side. It didn’t get back up.

"Pachirisu is unable to fight! Ahu is on her last Pokemon."

"Yeah!" Orchid yelled, clapping her hands at Graham's victory. The crowd seemed to be split now, a few worried murmurs mixed in with the supporting cheers. A lot of people were on their feet, the excitement building the longer the match went on.

The music changed, the vocals and guitar fading out as the drum beat picked up. Ahu grinned widely as she chose her last Pokemon and tossed the ball into the air. "Alright, you've earned the right to see my best Pokemon. Let's kick it up, shall we?"

The vocals became louder as the singer joined in again, followed by a long guitar riff. The music became more intense and faster paced. The crowd began cheering along with the song and it was clear that many of them knew the song well.

Orchid was watching the stage with the same excited intensity as the rest of the crowd, her head nodding to the new beat as she got used to it. Cormac found himself leaning forward in his seat, too, eagerly awaiting the rest of the battle.

Ahu sent out Luxray, the Pokemon locking eyes with Raichu and strutting back and forth across the stage. Raichu's eyes were glued to the Pokemon until it suddenly became dizzy and started swaying in place.

"Ah!" Orchid gasped softly beside him. "He's confused!"

"It used Swagger," Cormac said softly. The move definitely suited the trainer, so it was no surprise to see her stronger Pokemon start with it.

"No need to play with it, Luxray," Ahu said. "Put him out of his misery."

Luxray pounced forward and used Crunch, taking the Raichu between its fangs and chomping down on it.

"Raichu is unable to fight. Opponents are two for two."

"Flawless, Luxray," Ahu praised.

Her Pokemon stretched and preened, waiting patiently for its next opponent.

"They really put on a good show," Orchid said. "If I lived here, I'd be out to watch battles all the time."

"Yeah, they really go all out," Cormac agreed. "No wonder this place seemed so lively."

On stage, Graham recalled Raichu and floated another ball into his hand. "It's not over till it's over."

"Trust me, it's over," Ahu told him.

Graham sent out Reuniclus, the Pokemon floating before him happily.

"Give him a strut, Luxray," Ahu says, gesturing him forward. Luxray attempted to use Swagger once more, as Reuniclus raised its hands, generating a white orb of light and firing it at Luxray. The orb engulfed Luxray as it mechanically repeated the same motions.

"Great strategy," Ahu says. "That's really working out for you, I see."

Graham glared at her before turning to his Pokemon. "Come on, Blake! Snap out of it! Use Shadow Ball!"

Finally, Reuniclus shook itself and fired a shadow ball. Luxray narrowly dodged the blast, but its eyes were glowing and it was forced back into its former strut.

"Psychic!" Graham orders.

Reuniclus raised its hands and Luxray was lifted off of its feet and slammed into the ground repeatedly. Luxray struggled to its feet, growling as it glowers at its opponent, small sparks jumping along its fur.

Ahu points at Reuniclus as she yells out, "Discharge, Luxray!"

Luxray howls and lets out a powerful electric charge, hitting Reuniclus full force. It dropped closer to the ground, visibly damaged but still fit to fight. Then Luxray charges forward and lands a crunch, causing Reuniclus to fall all the way to the ground.

"Done and done," Ahu says. "Good job, Luxray." The Pokemon begins walking back to its trainer side.

"Not yet!" Graham said. "We're almost there, Blake! I know you can do it!"

Slowly, the Reuniclus is able to force itself off the ground enough to aim a focus blast.

"Luxray!" The Pokemon barely has enough time to turn before the force slams into it and tosses it across the stage. It slides to a halt at Ahu's feet. Her mouth opens in shock before she looks down at her Pokemon. Luxray doesn't get to its feet.

"Luxray is unable to continue! The winner of this battle and the Zap Badge goes to the Challenger, Graham!"

The crowd explodes in noise. Cormac is jostled into reality as Orchid throws her arm around him. "He did it! Did you see that? I thought the Gym Leader would win for sure!"

The music had come to a slow end and Ahu reclaimed her Pokemon. He couldn't hear what was said as the Gym Leader crossed the stage to give the challenger his badge. They must have turned their mics off, now that the battle was done.

Cormac slumped in Orchid's embrace. "That was crazy. I felt as tense as if I was the one battling."

"Wasn't it great?" she asked. "We have to watch more gym battles in person!"

"I don't know how Gym Leaders do it," he said. "I'd be exhausted if I had to do that all the time."

"Some people are just made for the stage," Orchid replied.

"Yeah." Cormac was still watching the stage though. The Gym Leader still had her eyes covered, so it was hard to tell what she was feeling, but she didn't leave the stage with the same energy that she had entered it.

Ahu hated the noise. The crowd became a near endless cacophony as she crossed the stage. She couldn’t tell if they were cheering for her or complaining about her loss, but she held her head up high as she left the room. She felt chased by the noise and tried not to show it. The heavy door slammed behind her. She ripped the glasses off of her face and tossed them to the ground as she let out a frustrated growl.

"That is unbecoming." Ahu jerked at the voice, turning to see one of the older gym trainers watching her. He had worked under her father and was hard set on upholding the traditions that were in place during his time. She tensed as he approached her, already annoyed at the lecture she knew was coming. He crossed his arms, looking down his nose at her as he began. "You need to learn how to take your losses more gracefully or be strong enough to win more often."

"I don't need this from you," she said as she walked past him. She only got a few steps away before he grabbed her arm.

"Wherever you think you're going, the gym's Pokemon aren't going with you.”

She shook him off, stomping over to the table and slamming the pokeballs onto it. She reached down to pick up her sunglasses on her way out. "Simsek, you coming with?"

There was an excited cry as a shinx came running toward her and she caught it in her arms with a smile. It was the only Pokemon in this gym that she could call her own and she never went anywhere without it, if she could help it.

"What about the other battles?" He asked.

"Do them yourself," she said before she hurried off. She looked over her shoulder at him before she walked out the door. "Jerk."

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

The Pokemon center was as lively as the rest of town. There was a Chansey trying to sing to a group of trainers, though it seemed not to be working, and Nurse Joy was bustling busily around the room. Chingling landed on his head and brought his focus back to the screen in front of him as he huddled further into the corner and held up the Zap Badge.

"I got the badge," Graham said with a small smile, equal parts excited and nervous. "Thanks for lending me Raichu."

The Alolan Raichu waved at him from his sister's shoulder. "Wow! Good job!" She cheered, offering him a few claps. "Are you really sure you want to send him back though?"

Graham scratched the back of head nervously. "He should be home with you guys more."

"That can't be the only reason," His sister frowned.

"I also..." He looked away from her. "I want to do this on my own."

"What? But you are!"

Graham folded his arms and flipped his dyed purple bangs out of his face. "I didn't raise Raichu, you guys did that. It wouldn't be fair for me to keep going this way."

She pouted and glared at him.

"Soon, Chingling will be ready for battle and then we'll go all the way to the top. Right?" He looked to where his young Pokemon was floating and it answered him enthusiastically.

She smiled at him then. "Alright. You two take care of each other, you hear? I'll tell mom and dad that you called."

"Alright. Talk to you later, sis."

The screen shut off and he let out a deep sigh. This was going to be a long journey.

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

"Oh! Oh! Cormac, look!" Orchid said excitedly, grabbing him by the shoulders and turning him around.

"Alright, what am I looking at?" he asked with a smile. His eyes quickly scanned the area around them, but everything was so busy that he couldn’t possibly tell what Orchid was looking at. She had been energetic since the gym battle and it was easy to get swept up in her energy.

"It's the challenger!" She answered, bouncing in her excitement, hands still on his shoulders. "We should congratulate him!"

She began to push him forward and he didn't bother trying to resist. "Oh? Sure you don't just want his autograph?"

"Well if you insist, I can get one for you," she said in a sing song. "But you should really get used to asking for what you want directly."

Cormac couldn't help but laugh.

The man didn't seem to notice their approach, so Cormac was able to get a better look at him. It was hard to make out the finer details when he had been so far away. His hair was black with purple dyed bangs hiding the right side of his face. His clothes, a mix of black and purple with the occasional gold accent, seemed much more formal than Cormac was used to. He'd lived his entire life on a beach though, so he wasn't an expert in fashion. Still, the outfit looked loose and unrestrictive and there were enough details to get lost in.

The man turned toward them just as they got close, his purple eyes widening a bit in surprise.

"Hey!" Orchid greeted over his shoulder. "We saw your gym battle. Congratulations on pulling off the win."

The man stared at them until the Chingling hovering beside him landed on his head, seeming to pull him out of his stupor. "Uh, thank you."

"It was a really good match," Cormac added. "You and Pokemon really did your best out there."

"Uh, yeah..." He looked away and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Well, they did all the work..." he replied quietly.

Orchid rushed forward, bouncing in place as she looked at the Pokemon on his head. "Aww, you have a Chingling too! It's so cute!"

"Chingling!" The Pokemon floated down to Orchid's height and she immediately pulled the Pokemon into a hug.

"You have a lot of psychic types. Are they your favorite type?" Cormac asked.

"I, um... feel a kinship with them..." Graham answered.

"Oh, I know what you mean," Orchid said brightly. "I've been around water types my whole life, so I feel really connected to them. I'm Orchid by the way. And this," she nodded to the Corsola on her shoulder, "Is Dora."

"Oh, I'm Graham. It's nice to meet you. And that's Poe."

She turned and gestured to Cormac. "And over here we have Cormac and Kora!"

He waved as Kora gave her own greeting. "I hope we're not interrupting anything."

"No, I wasn't doing anything," Graham told them.

"Oh, did you want to?" Orchid asked. "It's our first day in the city and we haven't done anything but watch the gym battle so far. What about you?"

"I haven't really..."

Orchid held the Chingling up to her face. "What do you say? Would you like to come with us, Poe?"

"Chingling!"

"One vote yes!" She smiled at Graham as she moved closer to him. "Would you like to come with us? You don't have to, but it's more fun to explore together." She looked over her shoulder at Cormac as she asked, "Right?"

"Right," he nodded. "I wouldn't mind getting something to eat."

"There was a Pokemon band," Orchid said, turning to him. "Do you think they're still playing?"

"They might be."

She looped her arm with Graham's and smiled at him. "Do you like music? I think I remember there being Spinda. I would love to dance with a Spinda!"

Cormac couldn't help but laugh as he watched Orchid pulling Graham along. It was always fun to watch others being swept up in his friend's current. "What do you say, Kora? Should we save him or let him be?"

The Corsola joined his laughter, so Cormac stayed a few steps behind them as Orchid guided them toward the band, chatting away excitedly.

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

Elaria was in her kitchen when she heard her door burst open. She jumped, nearly dropping the jar she was holding, fumbling to catch it before turning her gaze to Ralts. The Pokemon smiled at her and she sighed, letting her worry evaporate. If Ralts wasn't worried, there was no reason for her to be.

It was only a moment later, following the slam of her front door again, that she heard her best friend's frustrated voice. "I hate my gym!" Ahu yelled in place of an actual greeting as she stomped through Elaria's home looking for her.

Elaria put down the jar and pushed her work to the side, bottles and jars of gels and herbs moved safely to the back of her counter, replacing them with a teapot as she began to make a pot for her guest. "I'm in the kitchen, Ahu!" She called out, rather than allowing her friend to continue her search.

She could hear her friend practically sprint through the hall to reach the kitchen, slamming her hand against the wall as soon as she entered. "I hate my gym!" she repeated loudly.

"I heard you the first time," Elaria said. She placed a plate of cookies on the table for her. "What happened?"

Ahu let out a frustrated breath as her Shinx jumped up on the table and helped itself to a cookie. She took off her glasses as she sank into the chair beside her Pokemon, letting Elaria see the tired look in her eyes. Ralts climbed into a chair, onto the table, to put her hand on Ahu's head. Ahu let out a sad huff of a laugh and smiled at Ralts. "Elaria, your Ralts is so sweet."

Elaria went about pouring the tea and adding sugar to the tray before taking it to the table. "You look tired."

"I am tired," Ahu answered. "Every single battle is so over the top, I hate it. I have to stand there listening to my audience cheer for my loss while pretending to like the loud music and the stage lights, and then backstage my own coworkers tell me that I should be better and to stop losing. As if I lose every battle I've ever been in!"

Elaria pushed a tea cup toward her and Ahu pulled it close to her before dropping in a bit of honey. "I'm sorry to hear that, Ahu. I can't imagine how exhausting that must be."

"It's so frustrating! I wish I could punch every single one of them in the face!"

"I'm not sure that would help."

"I won't know until I try." She took a long sip from her tea cup, draining half the cup with one sip. "I'm gonna steal one of the guitar's and hit my father's assistant with it."

Elaria hummed and nodded as she sipped her own tea. Ahu always felt better after she got her aggressive energy out. It was usually better to wait her out.

"I'm gonna fist fight the next trainer that tries to challenge me. Pokemon and all."

Elaria reached out to pet Shinx, who practically purred under her attention. Ahu took really good care of her Shinx and it was always so happy whenever she saw it.

Ahu jumped up out of her seat, nearly knocking the chair over. "I'm gonna scream!"

"You already are, Ahu."

There was a pause before Ahu dropped back into her chair and pulled her teacup close. She was blushing as she held the cup up with both hands, hiding her face. "Sorry, I got carried away."

Elaria smiled at her. "I think you need to blow off some steam. Without fighting," she added before her friend could comment. Ahu looked away and lifted her teacup again to hide her face. "After tea, you can come with me to the daycare and play with the baby Pokemon. Sound good?"

Ahu nodded, the teacup still pressed against her lips despite not drinking it.

"Good. I'm going to clean up real quick and you can finish the tea."

"What? All of it?" Ahu asked with wide eyes.

"It's supposed to have a calming effect," Elaria told her as she rose from her seat. "So don't rush."

Ahu dropped her head to the table. Elaria giggled as she returned to the counter.

----

"So what do you like to eat?" Orchid asked. Cormac had watched the space between her and Graham grow quickly but subtly, startling with him hunching his shoulders the longer they walked and ending with Orchid unhooking their arms and walking backwards in front of him. Dora had made herself comfortable on Orchid's head and was chatting with Chingling floating in front of them. Graham had relaxed a little when Orchid let go of him, but Cormac suspected that the only reason he hadn't tried to leave was Chingling's chatting and Cormac walking somewhat behind him.

"I like sweet things," Graham answered quietly.

"You hear that, Cormac? He's one of us!" Orchid said excitedly.

The town was as lively as the first time they walked through and Orchid was a whirlwind. She gestured happily at stalls selling pretty trinkets or hummed along when they passed Pokemon singing. She and Chingling harmonized together a few times, which culminated in her scooping the Pokemon in her arms again and spinning around.

"Is she always this energetic?" Graham asked as they watched her.

"Yeah, pretty much," he answered. "You get used to it though."

"I can't imagine getting used to that," he admitted.

Cormac laughed. "I felt that way when we first met. There's something nice about having that much positivity around though."

Orchid paused in the midst of her spinning and waved at them, Corsola and Chingling waving along with her. Cormac waved back.

"Don't you ever get tired?" Graham asked.

"Yeah, of course I do." He turned to catch Graham's eye. "She can turn it off, you know."

Graham didn't look like he believed Cormac at all. He wasn't surprised though. When Orchid was in high energy mode, she could be a lot to deal with.

They caught up with her in a few more steps and she released Chingling, which went to rest on its trainer's head. "What are you guys in the mood for?" she asked, turning to point at a few specific stalls. "That stall sells Pecha Pie, those tarts are made from watmel berries, and I think those..." she drew out the sound as she squinted. "Oh! They have fruit kabobs!"

"I wouldn't mind one of those," he said.

"What would you like, Graham?"

"Um... I like the watmel berries," he answered.

"Great!" She reached out for his hand, but pulled back at the last moment. She blushed when she saw Graham watching, ducking her head and sticking out her tongue. "Sorry, I'll go get them myself," she said hurriedly and rushed off.

"What was that about?" Graham asked. The look of confusion on his face was so cute Cormac had to stifle a laugh.

"Isn't it obvious?" he asked. He started walking in the direction that Orchid headed, slowly so that Graham was encouraged to follow him. "She was gonna take your hand."

"Why?"

"Because she's excited and wanted to spend time with you," Cormac answered. "Haven't you ever held hands before?"

Graham didn't answer that, but the puzzled look remained on his face until Orchid came back to them. She had three fruit kabobs in one hand, one with just Watmel berries, and a Pecha pie in the other hand. She shifted the ones in her hand so that Graham's was in front as she held it out to him. "Here you go."

Graham actually smiled as he accepted it. "Thank you."

"And I got this so that we could share it later," she gestured to the pie.

Cormac took the pie in his hand as he leaned forward to steal a fruit from one of the kabobs.

"Hey! That could have been mine," she objected.

"If it was, then yours was tasty," he answered.

"Rude!" She blew a raspberry at him then laughed as she held the kabob out further. "I guess if you're going to hold the pie, then I can hold this."

Graham seemed perplexed as he watched them, but he ate his berries with a contented expression on his face.

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

Ahu was only slightly calmer by the time Elaria left her house. The exercise seemed to keep her calm and Ralts held her hand while they walked to keep her from taking off in a sprint. Ahu did that sometimes when she was especially restless, running ahead only to circle back for Elaria. Shinx was walking by her side and Elaria smiled down at the Pokemon for keeping her company.

"Hey, was there something going on at the daycare?" Ahu asked suddenly.

Elaria looked up at her. "No, why?"

Ahu pointed ahead of them and Elaria gasped as she saw a swarm of Beedrill around the building. "What on earth!"

Ahu dropped Ralts's hand and took off in a sprint. "I'll see what's going on there!" She said, Shinx rushing forward to run at his trainer's side.

"Wait! Ahu!" Elaria called. She bent down to scoop Ralts into her arms before running off after her friend, knowing she'd be nowhere near fast enough to catch up to her. "I wish she wouldn't rush ahead without thinking,” Elaria said softly to herself. “She only has Shinx with her right now."

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

"Hey! What's going on here!" Ahu yelled as she approached the daycare. Several Beedrill turned to look at her as Shinx leapt forward in front of her, growling as its fur sparked. She hated bugs and this was a nightmare situation for her, but she’d rarely been afraid of things that she wasn’t willing to fight.

The door to the daycare was ajar and after a moment a girl poked her head out. She had fluffy black hair beneath a bright yellow cap, a hair pin shaped like a button with two flowers attached, and bright red eyes. "Oh? Do you work here?" She took a step outside the doorway, revealing a matching yellow jacket over a white shirt, black shorts, ripped black stocking, and black yellow platforms.

"Wow, that outfit is cute," Ahu said without thinking.

The girl perked up instantly, standing on one foot and spreading her arms to show off the outfit. "Isn't it, just? I think it's super cute."

"Yeah, it looks really good on you."

"Aww, thanks! That really makes my day." The girl blushed slightly with the compliment.

Ahu's distraction didn't last long though. It was hard to ignore the swarm of Beedrill that was slowly closing in around her. "So hey, what are you doing here?"

"O-oh just..." The girl looked around for a moment, as if an explanation would fall out of the sky before she turned and ran back into the daycare, shutting the door.

"What the hell!" Ahu yelled, rushing to the door and banging on it. She turned the knob a few times, unsurprised to find it locked, before banging on the door again. "Get back out here!"

"Sorry, I can't hear you!" The yell was muffled by the door, but Ahu could still hear it loud and clear.

She began banging twice as hard on the door. "Am I a joke to you!" She screamed.

"Hey!" A male voice called from her left. She turned her head to see a guy dressed similarly to the girl. He was pale and blonde, with yellow eyes and his arms crossed over a black and yellow top. He had a similar hat and button pin to the girl, but his hat was brown and his flowers red. His pants were black with scant yellow accents and similar boots. Though all in all, Ahu thought the girl's outfit was much cuter. "Fury Attack."

At once, all the Beedrill turned toward her. "Oh fuck."

Graham wasn't sure what to do with himself. It was only midday and yet the hours had already been filled to bursting. He'd gotten his third gym badge and been dragged halfway around the town of Cantor by two strangers. Instead of feeling utterly exhausted though, he felt... kinda happy. It was fun and confusing and exciting, and he wasn't really sure why it had happened.

He'd watched Orchid dancing with his Pokemon and she hadn't gotten upset when he refused to dance with her. He'd talked to Cormac and wasn't called out for being too quiet or called boring. They'd bought him food and asked his opinions and it was... not something he was used to.

"Here, Graham." Orchid smiled at him as she held out a napkin with a slice of the pecha pie she'd bought earlier. After she had dragged Cormac into dancing with her and they'd both tired themselves, she'd pointed to a quiet spot near the town well. They'd settled there to rest, the two Corsola and his Chingling laying beside them as they passed out pie.

“Thanks," he said quietly. Neither of them seemed to mind how quiet he was, smiling just as brightly at him as they did at each other. It was nice. It was strange.

He didn't feel left out when they talked to each other instead of him and they always left him opening to join in, or else asked him something to pull him into the conversation. Not that it always worked. He wasn't used to having such energetic people around him and all the attention was still a little draining.

Leaning against the well with a slice of pie was nice though. It was good. He could close his eyes for a few moments and just... breathe. The stress of the battle, which he had anticipated for days prior, finally started to drain out of him. And the pie, when he tasted it, was delicious and sweet.

Halfway through his pie there was a bright flash of light in the sky.

"Whoa! What was that?" Cormac asked.

"It looked like lightning," Orchid said. "Probably a Pokemon battle."

Graham frowned. "That was a pretty big bolt."

Cormac got to his feet and his Corsola was quick to jump up his arm and to his shoulder. "Do you think someone's in trouble?"

"Hard to say from here," Orchid said. She turned to Graham. "Do you mind if we go check?"

"I don't mind," he said quickly. "If someone's in trouble, we should help."

Orchid smiled at him. She quickly wrapped up the remains of their pie, carrying both it and her Corsola. Cormac took off at a run and she waited to make sure he was following before sprinting off herself. Graham found himself keeping pace with her as he ran, feeling something warm settling over him despite the urgency.

They slowed down as they reached the Pokemon Center, where there was a rush of Chansey pushing stretchers through the door.

There was a girl with cyan hair running along one of the stretchers, tears in her blue eyes as she babbled to the Nurse Joy beside her. Graham stopped in his tracks as he recognized Cantor's gym leader Ahu on the stretcher, bruised and breathing heavily.

Graham didn't even think about it as he followed the group into the Pokemon Center. After exchanging a few more words, Nurse Joy followed the stretcher with the injured Gym Leader to the back, leaving the distressed girl behind.

"Hey, are you okay?" Cormac asked, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. Graham hadn't even noticed his new companions entering beside him and found himself glancing around until he saw Orchid, too.

The girl looked beautiful and delicate, her hair pinned up with a lacy veil hanging down past her shoulders and delicate blue flower ornaments. She was wearing a white dress, the skirt of which unfolded like a flower, a light blue sash around her waist and darker blue shoes on her feet. There were tears in her blue eyes and Graham felt stunned as he looked at her.

"It's terrible, someone attacked the daycare. My friend she... she was trying to help but..."

"That was the Gym Leader, right?" Graham asked.

The girl nodded. "Yes, my friend Ahu. She'd left the gym Pokemon behind though, so it was just her and her Shinx. They were outnumbered."

"Why would someone attack the daycare?" Orchid asked.

"They stole the Pokemon eggs. They could be doing anything." A Ralts placed it's hand on the girl's leg and she gave it a small smile as she reached out to take the Pokemon's hand. "I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Elaria. I work as a breeder at that daycare. I was on my way there when all this was happening."

"I'm Orchid. This is Cormac and Graham. "

"Did you see where the thieves went?" Cormac asked. His expression was hard and serious.

Elaria nodded. Graham was distracted from her following words by Orchid stepping close to him. "Hey, Cormac and I are gonna try to find these missing Pokemon. It was really fun to hang out with you today."

"What?"

"Did you see the look on Cormac's face?" she asked, nodding at her friend. "He's really determined right now. I couldn't possibly let him do that alone. I'm really sorry we didn't get to hang out anymore."

Graham felt like reality was crashing down around him. It was absurd to him that in such a short time he had gotten so used to these two that the thought of them leaving brought him up short. Cormac and Elaria were already at the door as she pointed to something in the distance and Graham felt something not unlike panic well up in him as Orchid turned away.

"Wait!" For a moment, he was surprised that the words came from him.

"What's wrong?" She looked at him so unassuming, completely opposite to when they'd first met, and he found him hesitating. It struck him that, unlike the first time, she wasn't trying to pull him anywhere and he could just... say nothing, let her leave, and go back to his own journey. He didn't have to get caught up in the whirlwind of these pink strangers.

Maybe that was why he found himself stepping forward and saying, "Let me come. I can help."

Orchid looked surprised but the expression melted quickly into a smile. "You want to help us?"

"Yeah, I do."

"We'd be happy for the help," she told him. "Thank you."

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

"It's empty," Cormac said as he came out of the daycare. As soon as they had arrived he had decided to go in and look for clues. Elaria had arrived after most of the commotion had gone down, so she could only tell them so much. There had been a retreating swarm of Beedrill, but Orchid couldn't see any sign of them. She and Graham had remained outside, the latter taking a quick walk around the daycare to see if anything would jump out at them.

Cormac was upset. He hated the idea of people and Pokemon being treated poorly. It wasn't surprising to her that he was rushing in this way. She was keeping herself calm in contrast, holding Dora in her arms as something to focus on. As a rule, they weren't allowed to both be upset at the same time.

"There aren't many ways they could have gone to avoid detection," She said. She pointed in the distance at the forested road that led to the next town. "Worth a look, yeah?"

Cormac nodded, taking point as they marched toward the forest. Graham was quiet, which seemed the norm for him, but he had this worried furrow in his brow since they left the Pokemon Center. There wasn't much she could do to cheer him up in a situation like this.

"Do you hear something?" Graham asked, stopping in his tracks.

She stopped, straining her ears to hear what he was hearing. "Buzzing?"

"Beedrill," Cormac nodded. "We must be close."

"Maybe we can sneak up on them," she suggested. They walked more quietly, adjusting their path to follow the buzzing until they began to see Beedrill through the trees.

"We're running out of silver paint," a female voice said. The three of them ducked further into cover and Orchid snuck her way around a bush until she was able to see a girl in a black and yellow uniform. She was holding a paint brush over a bunch of Pokemon eggs.

"Yeah, I'm starting to run out of blue, too," a male voice added. The male, when she peeked out far enough to see him, was holding an Alolan Meowth. At least, that was what she thought before she noticed the smudge of blue on its coin and realized that it had been painted. "Do you think we took too many?"

"Maybe we can get more paint before the eggs hatch," the girl said. "Pokemon eggs are like, really hard to hatch right? Right?"

"Well, we can paint the eggs anytime," the guy continued. "We should paint the rest of these Eevee, though. They need to look shiny if we're going to make a decent profit, Belle."

"I know, Gil." The girl reached out to pet a half pained Eevee. "They're so cute, though. I wish I could keep one for myself."

He chopped her on her head and she immediately reached up to cover the area, scrunching her face up in pain. A soft chorus of "Ow! Ow! Ow!" being mumbled under her breath.

"No digging into profits, idiot."

"I know that!" she whined. "You didn't have to scold me, stupid Gil."

"I did, too. You get carried away way too easily."

Cormac must have gotten tired of waiting, because a water gun blasted right into the girl's side, knocking her over.

"Who's there?" the guy asked, turning sharply and holding out his paint brush like a weapon.

Orchid crawled over to the girl. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, helping the girl up while she watched the guy search the opposite direction for an attacker.

"Yeah, that really smarted, though," the girl answered.

"Your name is Belle, right?" Orchid asked. "Are you almost finished here?"

"Yeah and that's Gil," the girl sighed. "Wait a minute..." Belle squinted at her. "I haven't seen you at the Team Midas base before, are you new?"

"Hey, let me trade you, real quick." Orchid reached out for the Eevee as Corsola jumped into the girl's arms

"Why do you have a--" she started as Corsola unleashed a water gun right in the girl's face, causing her to sputter and drop the aquatic Pokemon, but the assault didn't stop.

Orchid looked over at the guy in time to see him knocked over by Corsola's tackle. "Beedrill!" he yelled out, gaining the attention of the swarm hovering not far away.

"You can handle that, right Dora?" she asked.

"Cor!" Corsola nodded, before shooting water at the approaching Beedrill.

The girl was still sputtering and spitting out water from Corsola's earlier attack, so Orchid ignored her as she leaned down to check on the Pokemon. They all seemed pretty young, but aside from some being painted to look like shinies, they didn't seem harmed, just confused. She ran her hand over them in a comforting manner.

Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Gil flailing wildly as he was held in the air, Graham staring at him with intense concentration. That was pretty handy.

"Cormac, you were really impatient," Orchid yelled at him.

Cormac scratched at the back of his head nervously. "Heh, sorry, I got carried away."

"You should apologize to Graham for making him cover for you," Orchid said. "And now we have a bunch of Beedrill to deal with."

"I know, it was a bad move on my part," Cormac said apologetically. He reached for his belt for a pokeball, calling out his Popplio. "Icy wind, Popplio."

The Pokemon happily complied, taking a deep breath before exhaling an icy chill at the swarm of Beedrill. A slight frost began to coat their wings and a few notably slowed. The rest moved in swiftly.

"Blake, use psychic!" Graham called out. Orchid hadn't noticed him calling out any Pokemon, but she did see when the Reuniclus hovered above him, taking hold of one of the Beedrill and knocking it into several others.

"Oh, I'm so inconsiderate," she said, when she realized he was still holding the Team Midas member. "Let me help with that." She called out her own Pokemon, Dratini uncoiling elegantly between them. "Luna, can you be a dear and keep those two still for me?"

Dratini wrapped elegantly around the two, holding them in place. Graham let out a strained breath as he released his hold.

"Hey, let us go!" "No fair!" The two yelled.

"Not a chance," Orchid replied. "Officer Jenny would probably like to have a word with you two."

"No way, no way, no way!" Belle said loudly. "Gil, do something!"

"Sweet kiss, Eiry!" Gil yelled out. A Comfey poked its head out from under his hat, kissing Dratini and confusing her. She swayed, her hold loosening and letting the two fall to the ground. Gil grabbed his partner's hand quickly. "We gotta book it, Bells!"

"Stop!" Orchid's breath suddenly caught as she felt a sharp pain in her side. She looked away from Team Midas's retreating form to the Beedrill who’s stinger was being pulled out of her. Her vision swam.

"Orchid!"

She remembered the Eevee that was still cradled in her arms and turned so that her back would hit the ground when she fell and the Eevee would be protected.

She stopped being able to focus on the shouting around her. She'd forgotten how much it sucked to be poisoned and the thought made her laugh weakly. "Sorry, I... did it again..."

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

Graham was panicking. He'd failed to catch Orchid when she'd fainted and now he was looking at her like he thought she was there. Cormac might have panicked too, if it was anyone but Orchid that had fallen. Rules were rules though, so he forcefully put a lid on his temper and panic and everything else so that he could be calm. Orchid was better at acting calm when she wasn't than he was, maybe because it was so hard for him to get worked up in the first place.

He went to her side, lifting her head and feeling the back of it to see if there was a bump. "Can you take care of the rest of these Beedrill?" he asked Graham.

The man still looked too wide eyed and like he didn't know what to do with his hands, halfway reaching out but not committed. Cormac was a little annoyed that he was so nearby and let her fall. He pushed the feeling aside as Graham nodded, giving more orders to his Pokemon.

Both his Corsola and Popplio were still attacking, though Dora had come over to stand worriedly by her head. The Eevee in Orchid's arms also seemed to be watching her with worry.

"You always do this to me, Orchid," he mumbled as he reached for her bag. "I swear I'm going to stop letting you rescue Pokemon if you can't stop getting poisoned." He reached for the left over pecha pie, hoping that he could get enough of it in her to counteract the poison.

He propped her up further, sitting behind her to make sure she would fall over and crushing a bit in hand. "Dora, do you mind helping me wake her up?"

A quick splash of water hit Orchid in her face and her eyes fluttered. Cormac shoved the crushed pie into her mouth.

"Eat this or you're grounded," he told her.

She made a small noise of protest, though he was sure if it was at his words or having pie shoved into her face. He made sure to push her forward every so often so that she didn't get too comfortable and close her eyes. She gasped after swallowing the piece he'd given her and immediately crushed up more. There was another noise of protest, but her eyes opened, if only barely.

The Eevee was making worried sounds to match Orchid's, paws on her stomach as it watched her closely.

"She'll be fine," Cormac said. Then he repeated that in his head a few times for good measure. Orchid would be fine. She was always fine. She survived all the other rescues, so she would survive this one, too.

"They're retreating," Graham said.

Cormac looked up to see a few Beedrill retreating and a whole lot more on the ground. Dratini seemed to have come to her senses, too, slithering over to their side.

Graham looked awkward standing beside them, not sure what to do. After a few moments of looking around he finally asked, "Is she, um, is she okay?"

"...okay..." Orchid said softly.

Cormac let out a relieved breath and wrapped an arm around her chest as he hugged her, avoiding her injured side. "You have to stop doing that."

She leaned her head back on his shoulder, smiling at him and then Graham. "Sorry." She let one hand rest on Eevee while the other brushed against Corsola and Dratini.

"I can... um..." Graham blushed as they both faced him. He quickly reached for a pokeball and brought out his Girafarig. "H-hugo, can carry her."

"Thanks," she said softly. She pressed her hand against Dratini and the Pokemon moved closer until she pressed a kiss to it's head. "Thanks Luna." It made a cheerful sound as she pressed the Pokemon into its side and it went back into its ball.

Graham held a hand out toward her. Orchid didn't hesitate to take it, breathing out another thank you as Cormac helped push her to her feet. She didn't let go of the Eevee the entire time, nor did it stop watching her with large worried eyes. Graham helped her onto Girafarig's back and she leaned against his long neck in what looked almost like a hug.

"How will... we get these..." She paused to catch her breath, taking a number of deep inhales and exhales before she was able to speak normally, if more quietly than usual. "How will we get so many back?"

"Me and Blake can handle it," Graham told them.

"You're handy to have around," Orchid told him. She reached out for her Corsola and the Pokemon jumped into her arms, resting beside the Eevee.

"Popplio and I can herd the baby Pokemon if you can carry the eggs," he said.

"That sounds fine," Graham agreed.

Cormac pressed the remaining pie into Orchid's hand. "Eat more if you can."

She broke off a piece for herself and then gave a piece to the Eevee.

"And don't give it all to the Pokemon!"

She stuck her tongue out as she ducked her head. "Whoops."

Graham and Reuniclus floated the eggs while they led Girafarig forward. Cormac ended up with the other Eevee and Meowth falling all over him, clinging to his head and shoulders when they couldn't fit into his arms. Some of the Pokemon seemed fine walking on their own and he assumed it was the younger ones that were clinging to him.

Orchid spent an equal amount of time eating the pecha pie as she did sharing it, to the point that some of the Pokemon he was carrying squirmed out of his arms to walk alongside her in hopes of getting treats. Which they got. Cormac didn't bother to scold her as long as she kept eating herself and she looked like the poison was, if not out of her system, at least mostly gone.

Orchid and the Pokemon were all looked over at the Pokemon Center and he wasn't surprised to see Elaria still in the waiting room.

"Thank you both so much!" She said. "I don't know what we would have done without you."

"Don't worry about it, I'm just glad that we could do something," Cormac answers.

"How's the Gym Leader?" Graham asked.

Elaria smiled. "She's alright, just really mad that she wasn't able to do more. The couple that run the daycare are alright, too. They weren't poisoned at all, just lost their energy to leech seed, apparently."

"Good," Graham sighed. "That they weren't poisoned, I mean."

Nurse Joy came over to place a hand on Cormac's shoulder. "Your friend seems alright too, but we want to keep her here overnight."

He frowned. "Is she still poisoned?"

She shook her head. "Your idea to give her the pie was a good one. The poison is completely out of her system, but she's still really weak. Also..." she looked over her shoulder. Cormac followed her gaze to see Orchid in the back surrounded by Pokemon. "I think the Pokemon have taken a liking to her. Since they can't go back yet, I think it would be better if we let them stay together, don't you?"

Cormac felt himself finally relax, knowing that she was okay. "Yeah... yeah, you're right."

"Um, would you both mind helping me take the eggs back to the daycare?" Elaria asked. "I want to get the paint off as soon as possible."

"Of course," Graham answered.

"We can probably help with the paint," Cormac said, nodding to his Corsola. It would be nice to have something helpful to do.

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

The next morning Orchid was surprised to see Graham waiting for her in the Pokemon center.

"Hey, are you feeling alright?" he asked.

"Yep, I'm good as new!" She said with a little twirl for emphasis. "Just about to help take the Pokemon back to the daycare. Without me to wake him up, Cormac will probably sleep in so I figured I'd do something useful. "

"Oh, do you need a hand?"

"I wouldn't mind it."

Getting the Pokemon from the Pokemon Center to the daycare was a little chaotic. They were all very energetic, wanting to play more than follow along, and the Eevee she'd personally rescued had taken a liking to her. By the time they got them all to where they needed to be, Elaria had shown up at the Daycare to feed them and they ended up helping with that, too.

Cormac showed up with Ahu when they were done, having a friendly enough chat as they came through the door.

"It's you!" Ahu yelled, pointing at Graham as soon as she saw him.

"Um, hi?" he responded.

"You think you can walk back in here just like that?" Ahu questioned, putting her hands on her hips.

"This is the daycare, not your gym, Ahu," Elaria told her calmly.

"I heard about what you did," Ahu went on. "You think you can just show me up like that? Twice? I don't think so! I challenge you!"

Elaria placed her hand on Ahu's head. "You just got out of the Pokemon center and you only have one Pokemon."

Ahu blushed. "E-eventually," she added hastily. "I challenge you eventually. I'll get my win back, you'll see."

"Ah, okay?" Graham said slowly.

Orchid stepped around her to hug Cormac. "I hope you weren't worried when I wasn't at the Pokemon Center."

"Nurse Joy told me where you were, and Ahu was interesting company to keep," he answered.

Ahu smiled, tossing her hair over her shoulder and folding her arms. "You bet I am."

"Oh! Graham! I had a question for you." Orchid skipped back over to him, stopping herself before reaching for his hand. "You're traveling to get gym badges, right? Do you wanna come with us to the next town?"

"What?"

"Cormac and I don't really have much of a direction right now," she admitted. "We're just sort of traveling around, but you seem like good company, so we wondered if you'd want to travel together?"

"It's okay if you don't want to," Cormac added. "We just thought it would be fun."

Graham looked down as he considered it. "It... might be fun."

Orchid bounced on her heels excitedly. "So you'll come?"

"Yeah."

"Yay!" She jumped forward, tossing herself on him in an enthusiastic hug.

Graham looked at her with wide arms, his arms hovering in the air as if he was unsure whether to push her away or hug her back.

"Orchid," Cormac said.

She jumped off of him at the warning. "Ah, sorry! I got excited." She hit herself on the head lightly and stuck out her tongue. "Silly me."

Graham sighed. "What have I gotten myself into?" he asked him.

They parted from the daycare a few minutes later in relatively high spirits.

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

"Oh, did those nice trainers leave?" The daycare lady asked, looking around the room. Only she and Ahu were left, the gym leader pouting over her missed opportunity to battle.

"Yeah, a few minutes ago," Elaria told her.

"We wanted to give you all a reward. This Eevee in particular seemed so attached to that flower girl."

"I could catch up with them," Elaria said. "Ahu, would you help me carry the eggs?"

"Oh, uh, sure?" Ahu answered.

"Make sure the two of you pick one out for yourself, too," The daycare lady insisted.

"What? Are you sure?" Ahu asked.

"Of course. I'm grateful for all of your help and I'm sure Elaria will help you all take good care of them." The old lady came over to give Elaria a hug. "You've been thinking about a journey of your own,. haven't you? I'd hate to see you miss your chance. They seemed like nice people."

"Thank you."

Ahu ended up juggling three eevee eggs while Elaria carried two Eevees. It didn't take too long to catch up with the group and Elaria smiled at them all.

"Hey. We wanted to give you a reward. For all your help," Elaria said. One of the Eevee’s immediately squirmed out of her arms and jumped toward Orchid, who stepped forward to catch it.

"Aw, did you miss me?" Orchid asked. "So cute! I missed you, too."

"So holds the tradition of Orchid getting poisoned to rescue Pokemon and them falling in love with her," Cormac said with a shake of his head.

Orchid didn't seem to be listening as she twirled around with her new Pokemon.

"You're doing gym battles, right?" Elaria asked Graham. At his nod, she held out one of the eggs. "I hope this becomes a strong member of your team."

He hesitated as he stepped forward to accept the Eevee, which seemed happy enough to snuggle into his arms. "Thanks."

Elaria then took another Eevee egg from Ahu's arms and held it out to Cormac. "For you. Thank you so much for deciding to help me. It really meant a lot to me."

Cormac smiled. "I'm glad that I was able to help," he answered as he accepted the egg.

"You guys don't mind having a bit more company, do you?" Elaria asked.

"The more the merrier," Orchid said. Cormac nodded in agreement.

"I hope this doesn't put you out, Graham?" Elaria said.

"I'm a tag along myself, so I don't have room to complain," He said.

"Companion, not a tag along," Orchid corrected.

Elaria smiled. She took the last egg from Ahu's arms, swapping with the Eevee she was holding. Ahu looked at the ball of fluff that was pressed into her arms and smiled.

"You know what, yeah. Yeah! Me too!" Ahu declared. "I'll come along, too."

"What about your gym?" Graham questioned.

"They can figure that out themselves," she fumed. "It'll teach them to appreciate me more if I ever go back. Besides, I left all the gym's Pokemon behind, so it's just me and Simsek." She nodded to her Shinx. "Plus, I owe you a rematch."

"You don't owe me anything," Graham said.

"I owe you a loss," she said with a foot stomp. "Just you wait. When I have a team of my own, I'll put you in your place. And then I'll find everyone that earned a badge from me and I'll beat them too! And I'll get revenge on those Beedrill while I'm at it!"

Elaria put Ahu's head as her friend got louder and louder. "Forgive her, she's very energetic."

"Well, at least this journey won't be boring," Cormac said.

"Yeah, no chance of that," Graham sighed.

#ELS Writing #Pokemon AU #Colorful Calvacade #Fanfiction #Orchid #Cormac #Ahu #Graham #Elaria #Team Midas

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qandnoablog · 4 years

Text

Mercy (Marvel Imagine)

Title: Discovered

Pairing: There is no final pairing (since I follow along with the movies as accurately as I can) but [Y/N] does gravitate towards Loki

Warnings: Based on the movie - Avengers: Infinity War

Part: 14, [13], [12], [11], [10], [9], [8], [7], [6], [5], [4], [3], [2], [1] Short story: [3], [2], [1]

Key: Y/N - Your Name Y/L/N - Your Last Name

Word Count: 3,772

Summary: After being portaled away yet again by Doctor Strange, [Y/N] found herself face to face with danger. Though Titan was bad, having to battle Thanos and all, it was 8 vs. 1. Numbers no longer were on her side as she was thrown right into the heat of battle, without even a second to catch her breath.

Note From Author: Part 15 will be out soon! Thank you so much for making it this far and check back in a week for more!

Part 14 - Mercy

[Y/N] went through the portal as fast as it appeared. The movement was so sudden that she barely registered how she had stumbled and fallen onto a rocky, somewhat grassy, patch of dirt.

The sun’s warm rays of light blinded her, making her head throb in her state of confusion. She could hear several people fighting around her, but her vision was blurry from all the dirt that had stirred from all the movement. Just as she was blinking away the tears that formed from the particles in the air stinging her eyes, the ground below her rumbled. While still disoriented and nauseous from the sudden portaling, she finally saw the giant metallic, bladed wheels barreling towards her.

Just as she was beginning to register the imminent doom that was before her, she saw two people that were dangerously closer to the wheels than her. One of them she recognized and immediately jumped into action before she could even process what on Earth was going on.

Running forward, just in line with the two women who were bracing for impact, [Y/N] let out a wave of her powers to stop the oncoming destruction. The huge, metal contraption creaked and resisted her barrier but she let out a shout as she sent out more of her energy to stop the blades from coming any closer.

The two women, who were baffled on why they were unharmed, looked up and saw her fighting to hold back the machine. Natasha immediately knew who had jumped in to help while the other woman was still a bit confused, given that she and [Y/N] had never met.

[Y/N] wished she could have a better reunion with her friend, but this wasn’t the time. Her muscles screamed out in agony as her powers were pushed to the limit, but she ignored the strain and continued to push back against the enemy. Sweat beaded down her forehead and she knew that she could not hold the wheels back for long.

“I can’t-” [Y/N] gasped out, her knees already starting to bend from the force pushing back against her.

Just as her powers could not resist against the machine, another Avenger flew down from the sky to save them.

Red waves of energy surrounded Wanda’s hands and the wheels as her powers pushed the blades back and lifted them into the air. Glancing behind her at the oncoming alien army, she grunted as she sent the now-divided gigantic wheels backwards towards the horde of enemies.

[Y/N] crumpled onto the ground, panting heavily, as she looked up gratefully at another friend she hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Why was she up there all this time?” The only other woman [Y/N] did not know asked as she skillfully twirled her spear and brought it behind her.

While fighting alongside her fellow Avengers, [Y/N] was caught up on a few things.

One was that Bruce was safe and was able to contact Steve about the situation so that they could prepare for the oncoming invasion. The second was that they were currently in Wakanada, both protecting Vision and granting Shuri, King T’Challa’s - aka. Black Panther’s - genius sister, some time to safely separate the mind stone from Vision. And finally, the other woman that was fighting alongside them was the general of the Dora Milaje of Wakanda, Okoye.

Though already battle worn from her brush with Thanos and drained from holding back something that was beyond her capabilities, [Y/N] continued to fight back Thanos’ army. The three women were grateful for her arrival, given that any help against the numbers they were facing was a blessing.

“Guys, we got a Vision situation here,” Sam said through the earpiece that [Y/N] had received from Natasha, who often kept spares.

“Somebody get to Vision!” Cap yelled, knowing full well what the danger of those words represented.

“I got him!” Bruce confirmed.

“On my way,” Wanda added, but then she was suddenly attacked from the side by a familiar alien that [Y/N] instantly recognized. That was the female alien that was considered a “child of Thanos” and was there when Thor and Loki’s ship was attacked.

[Y/N] quickly leapt into action but before she could do anything to help Wanda, Natasha put a hand on her shoulder and pulled her back.

“Go help Vision,” she instructed as she turned her back to [Y/N] and headed towards the female alien. “We got this.”

“Got it,” [Y/N] nodded and quickly took off into the opposite direction, shrouding herself in a blanket of air and vanished from sight.

By the time [Y/N] arrived at where Vision was, she saw that he was outnumbered. It was a two vs. one situation: Vision against the remaining “children of Thanos,” one being the bulky alien from the fight in New York, when the pale alien was after Strange’s time stone.

Unable to alert Vision of her presence, the bulky alien swung his hammer towards her friend. [Y/N] instantly sent out her powers, her invisibility unraveling, and took the damage for Vision head-on. She winced in pain, her hands trembling at the force she absorbed, but bit down on her lip to prevent herself from making a sound.

Vision flew backwards, the force behind the attack still making him stumble back, though unfazed by the impact. A bit confused, Vision turned and saw [Y/N] standing not too far from him. Many emotions flashed across his face, but it finally rested on one thing. Relief.

“Oh, no. Oh, no you don’t.”

Bruce swiftly entered the scene, adorning the metal armor that was once used to fend off the Hulk. Though new to its mechanisms, he still preoccupied the bulky alien and was thrown to another location, a bit further from where [Y/N] and Vision were.

“Guys!” Bruce yelled through the comms, “Vision and [Y/N] need backup, now!”

Of course everyone stiffened when they heard [Y/N]’s name, but they quickly brushed aside their questions and were instead reassured that a fellow Avenger had arrived at the scene. Though Vision’s situation was precarious, knowing [Y/N] was there would buy them enough time for backup to make it in time.

“Vision, get back!” [Y/N] instructed as she sent out wave after wave of her powers to push the enemy away.

Once he was pushed back far enough, she sent out a blanket of energy and draped it over Vision. Though that divided her attention and powers, she made sure that Vision was hidden from sight so as to not sustain any more damage while she distracted the enemy.

His weapon was the most troublesome out of everything. She had briefly heard of Vision’s situation from Wanda in the midst of fighting off aliens, that it was capable of taking on Vision’s infinity stone powered body. However, the same couldn’t be said about the alien’s body. So long as she could land a few blows while avoiding the deadly weapon, he would not be able to advance.

Her powers were useless against whatever material was used to craft such a weapon, but she didn’t survive this long for nothing. Feeling the brush of death so close to her, her body acted on its own and dodged the blade from touching her skin. Her vibranium gloves helped protect her as she tried to block some of the oncoming blows away from any vital spots, but she was just not fast enough. The moment his weapon missed its mark, the alien shifted his body and swung out his leg and kicked her with enough force to send her back and bruise her bones.

She tumbled on the floor, rolling from the hit, as she coughed and gasped for air. Her concentration was scattered and the invisibility over Vision dissipated into the air. The damage she took couldn’t be stopped with her powers alone and her untrained body was having a hard time getting back up. While unable to move, the alien shifted his attention back to the now visible Vision, who desperately tried to gather his strength in an attempt to fend off his attacker.

Gritting her teeth and willing herself to move, her powers wrapped around her body and helped her to her feet. Surging with as much energy as she could muster, she sent out another wave of power at the alien. This fight couldn’t go on as she felt herself getting weaker and weaker. Vision was in no condition to fight and she was running out of time.

Damn it! [Y/N] cursed herself for being so weak as she continued to bombard the alien with her power. The more she fought, the weaker her attacks became. Sooner or later, it would only be a matter of time before she was truly unable to move, let alone fight back.

He viciously smiled, knowing that hope was dwindling inside her, but before he could revel in his victory, someone barreled into him and tackled him to the floor.

“Steve!” [Y/N] cried out, her heart blooming with joy at the backup that finally arrived.

“Get out of here!” He instructed both of them as he turned his full attention back on the alien.

[Y/N] didn’t question his authority and immediately made her way back to Vision. He could barely stand up, so she used her body to help prop him up. Although she was nearly drained of power, she could still use them to at least do this much.

“Go!” Steve commanded as the two struggled to get out of his way.

He fended off the alien, but both of them could see that Steve had expended a lot of energy to just get here. The situation was becoming dire and just when he successfully made the alien drop his weapon, the alien grabbed his throat and threw him over a fallen tree. There was only a second to think, but [Y/N] and Vision both had the same exact thoughts. With one nod, they moved together in unison, knowing exactly what to do.

Steve was at his last breath, his throat being choked by the alien before him, but not giving up. Just when he was losing strength to fight back, the head of a spear stabbed into the alien on top of him, plunging deeper and deeper into the alien’s chest. Steve coughed, gasping for air, as the alien released him and was lifted higher and higher by his own weapon.

Vision had the strength and [Y/N] had her powers. Together, the two had grabbed onto the discarded spear and impaled the accursed villain. [Y/N] was physically too weak to do it alone and Vision was injured and could barely move. With her helping him stand using her powers as support, he found the strength necessary to finally finish off this alien for good.

With the adrenaline wearing off, both of them could feel their legs give out. Vision was the first to stumble, and Cap quickly caught him before he fell down. [Y/N] had a bit more strength and gently slumped down to the floor, utterly exhausted from her combined efforts of fighting with Thanos, stopping the gigantic bladed wheels, and rescuing Vision. Finally, there was time to catch a breath.

“I thought I told you two to go,” Cap sighed, relieved to see that Vision and [Y/N] were okay.

“We don’t trade lives, Captain,” Vision answered, a knowing look shared between the two of them. [Y/N] clearly missed something, but at this point she didn’t have the energy to care.

“He’s here,” Vision warned, a foreboding feeling enveloping everyone who heard his words.

No, [Y/N] thought to herself as she realized what those words implied and recalled the state her friends were in when she was forcibly separated from them. No, Tony couldn’t have lost! No!

She knew exactly how powerful Thanos was. If he truly succeeded back on Titan, then that meant that he had not only defeated Tony but also obtained another infinity stone. He was more powerful than any of them could even imagine. Her eyes said everything she was dreading as she turned to Steve and he nodded to her, understanding what she meant without any more words.

“Everyone on my position,” Cap instructed through the comms. “We have incoming.”

If they were going to face Thanos, they needed everyone who could still fight.

The moment Thanos appeared out of the cloud of gray and blue smoke, [Y/N]’s heart fell. More of her friends were lost. She didn’t know how many more were killed by this monster’s hands, but she knew how ruthless he could be. How could they have survived if he managed to get his hands on the time stone? How many more friends did she have to lose by his hands?

“Thanos,” [Y/N] breathed, tears welling up in her eyes from both grief and anger. Her voice was so low that it was barely a whisper, but everyone around her heard what she said.

“Cap,” Bruce called, “that’s him.”

Their confirmation was all the team needed. The two people who had met Thanos face-to-face. There was no room or reason for doubt. All they could do now was steel their resolve and fight to the death.

“Eyes up. Stay sharp.” Cap took command and readied his new shield for another battle.

He was the first to charge. [Y/N] had no more time to think. She knew that there was no more time left. From the corner of her eye, she could see the overwhelming pain Wanda had on her face as she tried to desperately stop Vision from convincing her to destroy the stone embedded in his head. [Y/N] couldn’t bear to see the torment that her friends were feeling from this decision, from this sacrifice, so she directed all her attention onto Thanos.

This fight was different from the battle on Titan.

Thanos learned from his mistakes and didn’t take any chances this time. Not when he was so close to his prize.

He discarded his arrogance and instead fully utilized the stones in his possession more than when he was fighting Tony and the others. Barely lifting his own arms to fight, he just sent wave after wave of power. All stones, except the time stone, were exploited.

Bruce’s charge lost its force as his whole metallic suit phased through Thanos and was tossed towards the mountain, encased in the rocks and unable to move. Steve was easily thrown aside, T’Challa was knocked unconscious with one blow, and Falcon’s wings were disabled midcharge, all with the help of the infinity stones’ power.

Vision had finally convinced Wanda to destroy his stone, just as Rhodey was nearly crushed within his own Iron Patriot suit. Bucky was knocked down, Okoye’s spear was stopped and her sent flying, Natasha trapped between rocks that pierced from the ground, and the tree creature’s constricting branches easily snapped off.

Then, Steve pushed forward and used his own two hands.

Punch after punch, hit after hit. Though exhausted, Steve persisted and fended off Thanos. Their goal was no longer defeating Thanos. No, it was now to buy Wanda enough time. Enough time to… To destroy the mind stone.

With one swing, Thanos knocked Steve out of the way and continued on towards Wanda. With only [Y/N] left standing, she stood beside Wanda as the two sent a wave of energy at Thanos. Her powers were far stronger than [Y/N]’s but any support was better than none. Using the last of her reserves she could muster, [Y/N] sent out all she had to block Thanos so that Wanda could finally rid the world of one infinity stone. One less so that Thanos could not use it against the universe.

To prevent him from overwhelming them with the stones’ might, [Y/N] sent out her powers to prevent him from closing his gauntlet. She didn’t have enough power to pry it off his hand, but she did have enough energy to fight against his one arm. Sweat streamed down her forehead as she continued to struggle with Thanos, his monstrous strength making her grit her teeth as every ounce of her being was used to stop him from using any more of the stones’ powers.

Wanda’s attention was solely on Vision, though her powers were divided. [Y/N] did not look away from Thanos as he inched closer, but in her heart she knew that he would be too late. All she needed to do was allow Wanda just a little more time. And so her eyes never left the enemy before her. However, those last words… The last words of her synthetic friend did not escape her ears.

Her heart felt as though countless knives were stabbing into them and she couldn’t even begin to imagine how Wanda must have felt at that moment. Those words, so filled with love and affection, were directed only to Wanda. The hatred [Y/N] felt for Thanos only grew as she felt the tears rolling down her face. Such a tragedy, if it weren’t for this monster, would her friends ever need to make such a heart-wrenching decision?

No. Never would we have been pushed so far over the edge. He’s the root of all of this!

The blow was not small. The moment the infinity stone broke under Wanda’s powers, the blast sent all of them back. [Y/N] had expended too much energy and was flung further away but Thanos and Wanda remained close to where Vision had once stood.

She lay upon the dirt floor of the forest, her mind going blank. Her ears were ringing and she could barely make out any sounds. Still, she was alert enough to know that it was not the time for her to be laying there, defenseless, while her friend and Thanos still stood, but her whole body refused to listen. [Y/N]’s breathing was heavy, utterly exhausted from everything that went down, and all she wanted to do was close her eyes and rest. But she couldn’t do that. Not here. Not now.

Still, her body didn’t listen to her and soon everything went black.

[Y/N] didn’t know how long she had blacked out, but the moment she opened her eyes again, Vision was back and struggling under the hold of Thanos. The energy she previously lost was slowly returning and the scene before her eyes made a jolt of panic shoot her upright.

Didn’t Wanda destroy the stone? Then how- That’s when it hit her. The time stone!

But it was too late. Thanos had forced the stone out of Vision’s artificial head and threw the lifeless body aside. The stone fit perfectly into the final place on the gauntlet and power surged into Thanos. All infinity stones were finally in his possession. If someone didn’t do something fast, he would-

Several bolts of lightning crashed into the purple alien, sending him back with plenty of force to spare. Only one man could make such a drastic entrance!

“Thor!”

The God of Thunder raced towards Thanos from the sky, his whole body wrapped with electrical energy. With all his might, he threw his new weapon at Thanos who shot out the combined powers of the infinity stones, the two powers clashing with one another. However, it wasn’t what anyone was expecting.

Thor’s new weapon defied the unrivaled powers of the stone and continued to break through their beam of energy. It tore through such vast amounts of power and finally… It lodged itself right in Thanos’ chest. Such a wound, it would be impossible for him to be unscathed.

“I told you,” Thor said, his voice low and filled with rage, “you’d die for that.”

With those words finally out, he pushed the weapon further into Thanos’ body. The purple alien roared in pain, unable to withstand the additional torment, and could barely speak.

“You should have… You should…” He murmured at first, but who knew where he found the strength to finish that sentence. “You should have gone for the head.”

One snap was all it took. A bolt of energy rippled through the cosmos as Thanos finally completed his goal.

[Y/N] was the only one there who knew the extent of Thanos’ plans. She was the only one who knew what that snap signified. And just knowing about it made her stomach churn. She knew what was coming, but she hoped and prayed that it wasn’t possible. That what Thanos foretold would not come to pass.

“What’d you do?” Thor cried out, not knowing what that blast of power meant. Nothing had happened to him but looking at the tattered state of the gauntlet, clearly the combined powers of the infinity stones had been used. “What’d you do?!”

But Thanos did not reply. Instead, he used the stones and disappeared to parts unknown. The weapon that was once lodged into his massive body clattered onto the ground, the blade stained with the alien’s blood.

“Where’d he go?” Steve asked, holding his side as he tried to catch his breath. “Thor… Where’d he go?”

“Steve,” Bucky called out, looking at his arm that wasn’t holding onto his gun.

In just a matter of seconds, Bucky turned to ash and fell to the ground. His body didn’t even have a chance to hit the dirt floor as he became dust and was blown away by the gentle breeze. The sight stunned everyone and no one knew what was going on. Everyone but [Y/N].

Thanos’ words echoed in her mind, his sick, twisted mission replaying over and over in her head His act of mercy had been fulfilled.

That’s when [Y/N] felt something within her stir. She knew that Thanos had accomplished his wish and people everywhere were being erased from the universe randomly, being purged so the remaining few could survive. A completely random process, but half of the universe would not live to see that “glorious” future that Thanos had envisioned for them.

“Shit,” the words escaped [Y/N]’s lips as she brought herself to her knees and bowed her head in complete and utter defeat.

Her words were not loud, but they were heard by everyone that still remained. They turned to her, their eyes searching for answers, as they tried desperately to keep the feeling of dread from swallowing them whole.

“He did it. Thanos won.”

[PART 15]

Tags: @themeanestlittlewitch @stressedandbandobessed7771 @moistpotatobear @fxckingfat @e7here4l

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hurt-care · 5 years

Text

Okay, look, I’ve had this idea for AGES and I’ve finally written it. It’s not 18+ explicitly because of sexual content, but because it involves cannabis. So, proceed at your own discretion I guess?

Remus/Tonks, allergies

Everything ached.From the balls of his feet up to the hairs of his head, every centimetre of Remus' body felt hyper-sensitive. The prospect of getting up from his seat at the kitchen table was daunting, but the soft embrace of the living room sofa was much more appealing.

Pushing down on the table with his palms, he rose to his feet with a wince and took a moment to tilt his head from side to side, stretching the tight muscles of his neck. This was always the worst part of the moon; the recovery day after. Sometimes he didn't bother getting out of bed, but that always felt like the height of laziness. So usually he pushed through it, suffering the fire-hot nerve endings of his body burning in pain as they recovered from the full moon.

His wife, Nymphadora Tonks, looked up as he hobbled out of the kitchen into the living room. She sprang to her feet, nearly tumbling head-first over the coffee table in her haste to vacate the couch.

“Hello, love!” she said cheerfully, regaining her balance. “It's all yours. I was just warming it up for you.”

He gave her a wan smile and sunk slowly down into the cushions, breathing heavily. Cautiously, she sat back down at his side and extended a hand, gently raking in through his sandy greying hair.

“How are you?” she asked softly.

He shrugged and leaned his head back.

“Sore,” he admitted. “Nauseous. Achy.”

They'd made an agreement that he'd be more transparent about the transformation side effects. He'd become so accustomed to hiding them from people that it had been difficult to acclimate to being open about it. It'd been well over a decade since he'd lived with anyone that knew about his condition. It was a little different than school because of his access to Wolfsbane, but the physical pain of the transformation remained much the same. And with age came a longer recovery time as his muscles and tendons bore the strain of thirty-odd years of monthly injury.

“You can lie down if you'd like,” Tonks said softly.

He exhaled through his nose loudly.

“No, I'm alright,” he said.

Her mouth twisted into a slight frown.

“Do you want some of that muscle rub?”

“No, Dora, it's okay. I just want to sit here with you.”

She lowered her hand from his hair and gently rubbed his neck, gradually increasing the pressure on the tight muscles. He groaned softly but did not shy away.

“Have you ever smoked a spliff?” she asked, pausing on a particularly tender spot on his shoulder.

Remus laughed softly.

“I'm a child of the 60s and 70s, Tonks. Once or twice in my life.”

“I mean, have you ever tried it for pain? Like, it's pretty popular with Muggles now and my mate Archie at the Ministry swears by it for an old spell injury.”

“Mostly I ate a lot of Sirius Black's potent brownies and listened to records,” he said, closing his eyes as she kneaded her knuckles into a knot.

“Yeah, but shit's changed a lot since then. They've figured out how to grow stuff that's helpful for pain specifically.”

“Then, no,” he said. “It's probably been fifteen years since I have. Couldn't afford it on my own and no one I was hanging about with was giving it as a handout.”

“If I had some from Archie...would you try it?” she asked.

He opened one eye and peered at her, twisting his mouth into a judgemental smirk.

“Are you doing drug deals at the Ministry, Auror Tonks?”

She batted his arm lightly.

“It's medicinal.”

“And is this an 'if' you had some or 'I do have some'?” he asked.

“There may be a spliff in my bag,” she said with a laugh.

He shrugged.

“I mean, what's the worst that could happen? I get the giggles and eat a bunch of food and then pass out. A normal Tuesday with you.”

She leaned over and pecked him on the cheek.

“Good. I bet it'll help. Archie said it's great for nausea and headaches.”

“Check and check.”

Tonks flicked her wand and summoned her satchel from the front hall. It zoomed over to her and she missed catching it, sending it flying into the couch cushions at her side. Remus snorted in amusement.

“Shut up,” she scolded playfully. “Aren't you meant to be moaning in pain or something?”

“I am positively in agony,” he said dramatically. It was an exaggeration, certainly, but not entirely removed from the truth. His lower back and hips were aching with a dull, pounding rhythm that no heat or pain potion seemed to truly remove. And these days, he tried to avoid using pain potions. Partially because of the cost of them and partially because he didn't want to rely on them and then find himself without them again someday.

Tonks found the small hand-rolled joint in her bag and pulled it out triumphantly.

“Ha! The goods, Lupin,” she said, presenting it to him.

He took it and sniffed it, wrinkling his nose. A small tickle burned with a sudden urgency and he took a sharp breath.

Ngh'TSXHT!

“Ow,” he said after the sneeze, clutching his side.

“Bless you,” she said sympathetically. “It's meant for smoking, not smelling.”

With a tap of her wand, she lit the end and took a long drag. Exhaling smoke from her nose with practiced ease, she grinned at him and passed the spliff over.

He took it to his lips and inhaled tentatively, careful not to take in too much smoke in fear of starting a coughing fit. He exhaled slowly, tasting the old familiar flavour in his mouth and feeling the tingle of his throat and sinuses as the smoke drifted back out.

“Again,” Tonks instructed and he took another drag, harder and longer this time.

His nose was burning urgently now and he felt his eyes begin to water.

“You're going red,” Tonks said, giggling.

Ehh-TSCHXHT!

Remus sneezed urgently, shielding his nose with the back of his wrist.

“Ugh, fuck,” he groaned, rubbing his nose with his palm.

Ngh'tSCHHT!

Tonks carefully took the joint from his grasp and extinguished it.

“Remus?” she said, worried.

Ehh—nhh-TSGHHT!

His eyes were starting to swell and stream with tears.

“What the hell?” she said, leaning over to the end table to grab the box of tissues. “Here.”

She shoved a handful into his grip and he pressed them to his nose in time to catch another sneeze.

Ehh-GSHHHT!

He kept the tissues clamped to his nose and his itchy eyes shut.

“Remus?” she repeated, reaching over to push his hair out of his face. “Had this happened before?”

“No,” he growled from tissues. “But...hehh—hold on—ehh—ehh'tSGHHT!”

He erupted into an itchy fit of sneezes that tumbled out with frightening speed.

Eh-TSCH! TsgHGHHT! Ngh'TSCHH! TS'CHHTT! Ehhh..hehhTSGHHT!

Tonks watched in horror and then stumbled to her feet.

“Hold on, I'm going to find you an allergy potion.”

He sat on the couch battling the burning itch that threatened more sneezing while Tonks rattled through the medicine chest. There as a loud crash as she evidently dropped a potion bottle, followed by the sound of her cursing and then repairing it with magic. She reappeared a moment later with a bottle in hand.

“Here we go,” she said, sitting back at his side. He tentatively removed the tissues from his face and sniffled damply.

“Just a sip,” she instructed, tipping the bottle to his lips. He took a greedy swig, eager to soothe his itchy and parched throat.

“There,” she said, corking the bottle with its stopper. “It should only be a moment.”

As quickly as the attack came on, it began to fade. The redness in his eyes faded and the swelling of his nose and eyelids lessened.

Utterly exhausted, Remus keeled over sideways with his head landing on her lap and his legs stretching out along the rest of the sofa. She raked her fingers through his hair and muttered endless apologies.

“I didn't have any idea anyone could be allergic to a spliff,” she said. “I mean, I would have never...you just started sneezing and I was like 'oh my god his poor muscles' and then it kept going and-”

“Tonks,” he rasped, cutting her off. “It's okay. Please.”

“But-”

“You were trying to help. I should've realized that I'm much more sensitive to smells around this time. Sirius smoking cigarettes in the house back in the day used to set me off the same way. And then there's the hayfever...Christ, that's the worst.”

“I'm so sorry, love,” she said, leaning over to kiss the top of his head where it rested in her lap. “Feel better now?”

“Almost,” he said. “Still just a bit itch—hehh....ehh-TSCHHT!”

He shook suddenly in her lap, convulsing with a sneeze.

“Oh Merlin, bless you,” she cried, taking a tissue and dabbing at his nose.

He laughed softly.

“It's alright,” he reassured her. “I do feel a little...I don't know...looser maybe? Next time we'll try making brownies instead. I think Sirius had the right idea.”

She stroked his cheek affectionately.

“Alright. Go to sleep, love.”

He closed his eyes, drifting off as she massaged circles into his scalp.

#dustyfic

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relenafanel · 6 years

Text

Not Bad for the End of the World [canon!IW stucky]

So I wrote the thing. I am equally as surprised as you are

Bucky checked the time once he emerged from the shower. Steve’s ETA was still over an hour out, so he took a second to text him the brain emoticon to remind Steve to use his head and not get himself into any more trouble before reaching the Wakanda border. As if that would work. Steve never listened to warnings not to do something if he’d made up his own damn mind, whether Bucky was standing right next to him or not.

He wandered into his kitchen for a drink, water from his hair dripping down his back.

Bucky’s apartment in Wakanda was on the edge of the city, close to the fields he worked as part of his rehabilitation. The intention had been to keep him away from needless stressors, until Shuri had found him staring in wonder at the items in her lab, and the hallways leading out of her lab, and the city’s urban planning, and had realized that always being in open fields might be detrimental to his recovery. Bucky loved everything, from the open windows with the forcefields that kept insects out to the water recycler that didn’t waste natural resources.

It felt good to wash the sweat and dust off his skin. Normally, it felt cleansing and rejuvenating, but there was a weight on his shoulders at the knowledge that he was putting his armor back on and stepping back into the role of a soldier.

He was nervous, he realized, looking at the reflection of himself. He paused to put the feeling into words, flexing his left hand. He wasn’t scared to fight. He wasn’t scared to die, though his therapist still made a face when he said that. He didn’t want to, but it was a fear he’d moved beyond and accepted a long time ago. He felt confident about the arm Shuri made him, and about his ability to fight another battle without being triggered back to mindlessness. He wouldn’t lose himself by helping the people who had helped him.

He couldn’t place it. It hummed beneath his breastbone as he picked up his hairdryer and dried his hair, running his fingers through it to get it into place. He was in the middle of squeezing a bit of pomade in his hand so he could run it through his damp hair when he paused. And questioned.

Why did he want to look good when his hair would be covered in sweat and blood and gun oil and dirt in a matter of hours?

The only answer he could come up with was that it was an old habit from when he was just Bucky Barnes. He could remember having pride for his appearance on a daily basis, from doing his hair to shining his shoes, and everything in between. It made him smile to feel that again.

When he checked his phone Steve had texted Bucky a picture of a goat. What did that even mean? His best friend was such a dork, Bucky decided ruefully, sending back ‘I’m the brain, you’re the goat’ to him before starting the arduous process of getting into his uniform.

x.x.x.

“Oh!” Shuri said when she saw him, pausing what looked to be a very complicated process of rearranging her lab to give him her undivided attention. She reached over and tugged at a piece of his hair, looking thoughtful. “How long has it been?”

“Since?”

“A little under two months, I think. I remember, I’ve never seen my brother trounce someone so thoroughly at a game of ball.”

Steve. She was talking about Steve. “It’s been about that,” Bucky agreed, his lips curling up a bit at the memory. That had been a fun day. “Do you need any help moving things in here?”

“Not really,” she said, pressing another button on her tablet that made a wall collapse into the floor. Bucky watched it happen with surprise, because he hadn’t known she could do that. Cool. “Are you questioning my efficiency? Men tend to do that, whether it’s a physical strength thing or an age thing or a gender thing.”

“Not really,” he echoed with a shrug. “I’m just—” he trailed off with a wave of his hand. “Anticipating what’s to come.”

Her mouth turned up in amusement at something in what he said. “He’ll be here in half an hour. Just try to keep out of the way until then. Tell me about it later.”

Ooook. She’d probably be there for Steve’s arrival but…

Bucky was halfway down the hallway when he was able to put into words what Shuri had obviously seen immediately. That nervous excitement he was feeling was because of Steve.

x.x.x.

Jesus, and he’d told her he was Anticipating what’s to come.

x.x.x.

Bucky felt like finding the nearest waterfall and flinging himself off it. He’d survive, of course, but at least being waterlogged would be a good excuse to avoid his best friend who he was nervous to see. He both knew and had no idea where that came from. He’d spent 70 years not knowing Steve, and then another two both trying to forget and remember everything about him. He felt more solid about himself, and part of that was because Steve gave him the space to recover. Bucky could feel Steve’s need to rebel against that and always keep Bucky in his sights, but he had never let on besides a tightening around his eyes each time he left Wakanda and the energy radiating from his fingers that Bucky translated as a constant need to touch.

Then Steve, the man Bucky had met almost 100 years ago, and knew better than he knew himself – enough so that knowing him had broken through every piece of conditioning and trigger set in his head – had landed in Wakanda with one of Nakia’s envoys wearing a pair of jeans, a nondescript button-up shirt, and a beard.

A beard.

Bucky didn’t understand how he’d grown it. He couldn’t remember Steve shaving during the war, even though he could clearly recall the entire month the team had to share the same razor.

He spent a lot of time looking at Steve’s face. He’d even asked Shuri if someone had given Steve a hair-growth formula and had to weather her looking at him like he was crazy.

And maybe he was, because the beard was kind of sexy. Wasn’t that a thing to think?

x.x.x.

The quinjet landed, and Bucky watched from a distance as Steve and his team disembarked, met by T’Challa and Okoye. He watched them come forward and he could tell with 100% accuracy exactly what it had been he’d been nervous about all day.

And then Steve was right in front of him. Their eyes met, and locked, and Bucky could feel himself drawn forward. He couldn’t do anything but meet Steve halfway and reach for him. His heart was racing. He should be concerned about the pending danger, but all he could think about was this wasn’t the way you felt when greeting your best friend. This was the way you felt when you were greeting someone very different from your best friend.

Steve pulled him into a hug. Bucky could feel leather and armor and Steve’s body heat, smell the sweat of his neck, and feel the tightening of his forearm for only a second that told Bucky that Steve was holding back from crushing Bucky to his chest. It felt wonderful. That nervous energy was thrumming through his veins again, urging him to hold tighter and for longer, and to rub his cheek against Steve’s neck. The attraction simmered through his veins, and there was the nascent image of bare sweat-soaked skin flickering to fruition in his mind.

The hug was over too soon, and at the same time felt like it went on forever with each and every one of the people they knew pausing to watch.

“How ya been, Buck,” Steve asked with a smile, his hand moving with Bucky’s arm as he shifted his weight. Steve looked Bucky up and down, so quickly it looked like a health-status check, but with that broad smile it felt like something else. It felt almost flirty.

“Uh, not bad, for the end of the world,” Bucky smiled back at him, still looking at Steve’s face. He didn’t look like this was the end of the world. He looked like it was the beginning of one.

Bucky could feel that fond look across all his nerves, a tingle along his scalp and the way his hands itched to reach for Steve. Bucky’s timing was, as always, exemplary.

x.x.x.

“It’ll be soon,” Steve said, stepping up next to Bucky on the observation deck. A few of the Dora Milaje were up there with him, ignoring the wolf in their midst as they continued to do their jobs. He looked out over Wakanda and placed his hand on Bucky’s left arm. “The stillness before the storm. Do you remember—”

“Steve,” Bucky interrupted him, turning with his arm against the ledge so he could face Steve head on. Steve’s hand stayed on his bicep, his grip casual. “Shut up.”

Steve looked at him carefully, not saying a word. Bucky looked back. He didn’t want to lose Steve. He never wanted to lose Steve. He’d intimately known the fear of losing Steve all of his life, but it had never felt like the kind of precipice that came with attraction. Steve was a reckless danger-seeking idiot who replaced health problems with a superhero costume, and in all that time Bucky had never worried about losing him emotionally.

Bucky became very aware of Steve’s hand on his arm. Metal and wiring could only approximate skin, tissue, and nerves, and for battle Bucky had calibrated it so he could sense his surroundings. He could feel Steve’s warmth seeping into the metal in the shape of a hand, and he could sense the speed of his heartbeat. It gave him hope that maybe Steve was feeling the potency of Bucky’s presence the same way Bucky was feeling his.

Bucky licked his lips and focused his eyes on Steve’s collar for a second so he was able to ask the question he wanted to. “Are you nervous about the battle?” he asked, looking up to meet Steve’s eyes as he took a step into Steve’s place and touched Steve’s shoulder with his right hand? It was a calculated movement, one he could move out of if he needed to.

“We’re going to win because there’s no other option,” Steve said. “There’s never another option.”

Bucky studied Steve’s face in response to that, and Steve’s heart rate picked up at Bucky’s eyes on so intent on his face. It made it easy to lean in towards Steve, just enough that he could feel how close he was, the air around him emanating a sense of energy. It was nervous and reckless and anticipatory, and Bucky could sense it as Steve tilted his face in response to Bucky, following his movements so they lined up easily.

All Bucky had to do was give in to the fear of letting go. Bucky had fallen from a helicarrier after Steve once, in the very beginning. He didn’t remember what it felt like or making a conscious decision, but he knew it was right even though he didn’t know himself. He might know himself now, enough that leaning those last few inches in to kiss Steve was frightening, but the letting go and falling was the same.

It was right.

The first touch of their lips was soft, barely a brush. Steve inhaled in surprise, and Bucky tilted in so that it became more solid, still not pressing into Steve’s space. Steve’s hands came up to bracket Bucky’s face, his touch gentle.

Bucky could feel the beard tickling his chin, and he smiled into the kiss. Steve nipped at his bottom lip in response, a very slight chide. His breath was warm against Bucky’s skin, their lips became slick, the tender friction making everything a little sensitive.

Bucky opened his mouth so he could lick at the seam between their mouths and Steve moved, pressing Bucky backwards against the railing so he could take the opportunity to deepen the kiss. It both was and wasn’t the kind of kiss Bucky would have expected from Steve if he’d ever taken the time to think about it. It wasn’t filthy, not the kind of kiss that led to franticly tearing off clothing, but it wasn’t staid or boring, either. Steve kissed him like a man who knew he’d want to kiss him again and again, but might never get the chance.

So he wasn’t wasting it.

It felt amazing. Bucky could feel the delight of it up his spine, warming him from the inside out. He could barely breathe and could feel Steve pressing against his in a way that made him want to pull him closer and move his entire body against Steve’s so he could feel him head to toe. The kiss was slick and sharp, and fuck.

Bucky pulled away, and he was still smiling. He felt fond and happy and alive.

“Buck,” Steve said, reaching out and brushing his thumb over Bucky’s lip and then down his chin. He appeared a bit shell-shocked, but ecstatic, and his touch was reverent. He looked at Bucky like Bucky was his world, and Bucky found himself huffing in amusement because that wasn’t exactly a change.

“Steve,” he said.

#stucky #fanfiction #steve rogers #bucky barnes #infinity war spoilers #infinity war #that hug scene #fanfiction: drabble

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linzerj · 6 years

Text

should’ve, could’ve, would’ve

In an alternate version of reality, Thor aims for Thanos’s head.

(another foray into the mcu. read on AO3 here)

----

On Titan, Stephen Strange looks into the future to see all possible outcomes of this battle, and what it means for the war. There are 14,000,605 possible outcomes, and only one where they win.

But it’s how Stephen Strange defines ‘win’ that determines there only being one favorable outcome. In this version of events, everyone makes it out the other end alive. Tony Stark, Peter Parker, Steve Rogers, Thor, Bruce Banner, Natasha Romanoff, T’Challa, Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson, James Rhodes, Wanda Maximoff, Vision, Peter Quill, Drax, Mantis, Rocket, Groot, Gamora, Loki, and Stephen Strange himself are all alive at the end of the one, single, favorable, best-possible-outcome timeline. This is the path Stephen Strange tries to send them all down.

But after his surrender of the Time Stone on Titan, there are several ways the battle on Earth can go.

Even without the Eye of Agamotto, Stephen has been exposed to it’s energies long enough to tell that in this version of reality, the battle will go as it should for the most favorable outcome to come to fruition. Vision will fall. Thor aims for the chest. Thanos snaps, and half the world becomes ash, becomes dust.

After this, he recalls, the remaining heroes reunite, with Scott Lang and Carol Danvers arriving and playing crucial roles in setting things right. This is the sequence of events that will eventually lead to Thanos’s downfall and the restoration of the universe and the fallen, as it should be.

But in a universe just so slightly off from this one, Thor changes the outcome. In an alternate version of reality, Thor aims for Thanos’s head.

---

In this version of reality, they win too, but it’s at a higher cost.

Thanos’s body lays in the outskirts of Wakanda, bloody, lifeless, and still. Some yards away, Vision’s body lays broken, most of his head missing and mangled from when Thanos tore the Mind Stone from his head. Wanda has collapsed onto his body, sobbing.

Hundreds of Wakandan warriors also lay in the fields, having given their lives to stop Thanos. T’Challa and Okoye turn from staring at Thor and the giant purple body, and begin coordinating with the rest of the survivors to identify the fallen.

Thor remains, staring at where Stormbreaker is embedded in Thanos’s face and skull. He barely acknowledges Rocket and Groot and Steve, who are standing behind him. They’re staring too, but whether out of awe or horror is anyone’s guess at this point.

It’s Rocket who can’t stand the silence, and eventually breaks it. “So what are we gonna do with those stones now?”

“I do not know,” Thor replies slowly, trying to hide a tremor in his voice. “I…” He closes his eyes. “I should like to use the stones to restore those who Thanos has killed, but I do not know what effect this will have on the universe. And regardless, I think I would like to see if we can restore Vision, with or without the Mind Stone, before destroying any of them.

So they leave it, for now. No one can touch the Stones anyway, except Thor, unless they want to risk destroying themselves. A few Dora Milaje are stationed around the body and the Stones as Thor and the rest follow King T’Challa back to the palace to determine what happens next.

---

On Titan, Stephen’s eyes open and he drops from his meditative hover. “It’s over,” he announces, gaining the attention of their motley band. “They’ve killed Thanos on Earth. We’ve won.”

“How the heck do you know that?” Peter Quill asks. Peter Parker nods, watching the doctor, curious as well.

Stephen eyes Quill, then sighs and says, “I saw it, before, and sensed it just now.” And that’s all the explanation he gives.

Still, they all seem to believe him, for what it’s worth. Quill looks back at the rest of his group, including the blue lady, Nebula, who crashed a ship into Thanos halfway through their battle, and they all begin to head toward their ship, still somewhat shaken. Then Quill pauses, turning to watch as Stephen tries to shut Tony up and help heal the stab wound in his side with Peter Parker hovering nearby.

“Hey,” he calls, gaining their attention. “You guys want a lift back to Earth? We’ve got some medical supplies and shit too, so you can patch yourselves up on the way.”

The humans share a look, before Stark nods, turns, and says, “Thanks.”

---

When the Milano makes contact with Wakanda a day later and they get the clearance to touch down, the land around them is still littered with bodies. But these are the bodies of the Outriders, Thanos’s army; the people of Wakanda were efficient at finding their own so they could receive proper funerals.

So the ship touches down, and the Guardians emerge first. They are immediately swarmed by Rocket and Groot, Thor standing solemnly to the side with the Avengers. It’s Rocket who asks where Gamora is.

“She’s – she’s –” Quill can’t get the words out, so Nebula speaks quietly from behind.

“Thanos sacrificed her for one of the Stones. She’s gone.”

Their stunned expressions quickly melt into ones of grief. As they mourn in their little group, Tony emerges from the ship, followed by Peter and Stephen.

“So who got to kill the big purple ballsack?” Tony asks wearily, in lieu of a proper greeting. Thor turns from watching the Guardians, gripping Stormbreaker tight.

“I, but I only wish I could have killed him sooner,” Thor says. “He killed Vision, Stark. Ripped the Mind Stone right from his head.”

Tony breaks. “No,” he whispers. “God, no.”

Behind him, Stephen swallows before stepping forward. “Where’s the Gauntlet?” he asks. “Where are the Stones?”

Thor eyes Stephen, before deflating or relaxing, just a bit. “Ah, yes. You sorcerers guarded the Time Stone.” Thor sighs, turning to gesture towards the palace. “I brought it to the lab of the Princess Shuri. No one else has wanted to risk touching it. Even for me, all six stones together like that are… tempting, and volatile.”

Stephen nods, at this. “I could at least manipulate the Time Stone back into the Eye of Agamotto,” he says. “And while I did not meet Vision, if you are trying to revive him –”

“If Bruce and Shuri and Wanda aren’t already trying to get him back up and running you better bet your ass I will,” Stark cuts in, fists clenched at his side. Stephen studies him for a moment, then nods.

“Well. I can do my best to assist, both medically and magically, if you will allow it. And we should keep the Mind Stone safe, in order to revive him again.”

“Hey, magic man,” a voice cuts in, and it’s Quill, looking both lost and determined at the same time. “Nebs here –”

“I told you to never call me that.”

“– She says that the Soul Stone required a sacrifice of a soul for a soul.” Peter Quill pauses, licks his lips, before continuing. “I… we were wondering if you could take a look at the Soul Stone for us, and just – just see. If Gamora – if she’s there, somehow. Before you destroy it. Please.”

Strange blinks, and then nods. “I’ll call Wong to help,” he says, “and we will try. But I make no promises. If it truly is a soul for a soul, I would imagine you’d need another sacrifice to get her back out, if she’s even in there.”

“Just… let us know what you find, okay?” The heartbreak in Quill’s voice causes Stephen to soften, just a bit more.

“Okay.”

---

When Wong joins them, he and Stephen and Wanda are immediately asked to destroy the other three Stones – Space, Power, and Reality. Wong and Stephen debate over it with Thor, before they agree to it.

“It drastically reduces the risk of something like this happening again,” Stephen explains after it’s all said and done. The Soul and Mind Stones still rest in the Gauntlet, waiting for their turns to be examined. Vision’s body lays on one of Shuri’s medical benches behind them, almost completely repaired physically, but the neurons and coding are still a destroyed mess.

“Reduces, but doesn’t eliminate it totally?” Tony asks, crossing his arms. “I mean, you need all six to become a crazy powerful ultra-god, right?”

“Yes,” Stephen replies, “but even these three remaining Stones are powerful in their own way. Controlling the minds of others; altering time; and deciding the fate of people’s souls? Even with the other three destroyed, I can think of several beings that would look to amplify their own power with but one of the remaining Stones.”

Tony nods, thoughtful, before a light seems to go off in his head. “So your Stone – it’s Time. You could go back in time, if you wanted.”

Stephen swallows, licks his lips. He knows where this is going. “Tony, no,” he says. “I… if I could, I would. But going back in time on that big of a scale, it would cause too many ripples, contrast too sharply with natural law. It could quite honestly destroy our universe when we’re just trying to save it.”

“But…alright, but what about small scale?” Tony asks, gesturing to Vision. “Could you just – just reverse time on Vision only? Make it so he’s – he’s back?”

Stephen sighs, gripping the necklace housing the Time Stone. “Without affecting the rest of time around us? I’m good, but I’m not that good.” He breathes deeply. “The only time I’ve ever done time manipulation on a scale larger than messing around with an apple was restoring the Hong Kong Sanctum to prevent Dormammu from consuming our world. When I made a time loop to –” Stephen sucks in a breath. “– to repeat the same moment over and over and over until he went away, and left Earth in peace instead of pieces.”

Tony sighs, runs a hand down his face. “Alright. Fine.” He looks back at Stephen, then puts a hand on his shoulder. “Thanks, anyway.”

It doesn’t feel like he’s done anything worth thanking, but Stephen forces a smile nonetheless.

---

Peter Quill is impatient and emotional, so when he finds Stephen again it takes a lot of effort to remain outwardly calm as he asks, “Any luck?”

But he takes in the expression on Stephen’s face, as well as the other sorcerer Wong, and just knows the answer even before the sorcerers speak. “It requires a soul for a soul,” Stephen says quietly. “Her soul… it exists within the Stone, in a sense, but it is impossible to–”

“I’ll sacrifice myself if I have to,” Peter cuts in, desperation lacing his words. “Just. Please. She deserves to live.”

Stephen’s heart breaks a little bit more. “I’m sorry,” he says. “We still don’t understand it fully, but from what we do understand you need to sacrifice the soul of someone you love to wield the stone. That is literally all we know.”

“It may be possible to sacrifice yourself to free her soul,” Wong says softly, “but without her body, she will just be like a ghost, or so we believe. And we would not want to risk any more lives if none of this works.”

“I’m sorry,” Stephen says again as Peter’s heart shatters. All he can do is slump into the sorcerer and sob.

---

Tony and Shuri and Bruce stare at the mess of neurons, the mess of Vision’s brain, and slump in defeat. “I should be able to do this,” Shuri says. “I was so close, before…”

Tony takes a shaky breath. “It’s alright, kid,” he says, because he doesn’t know what else he can say. Beside him, Bruce puts a hand on his shoulder. Bruce knew that Vision was important to Tony. Bruce knew that Vision was all he had left of JARVIS. Bruce knew.

Shuri, though, bless her heart, she wanted to help him too. “I’m sorry,” she says, for the fifth time today. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Stark – Tony.”

“I could try inserting the Mind Stone back into his body,” Stephen’s voice says, and the three whirl around to see the sorcerer standing behind him, the fading glow of sparks indicating he’s only just opened a portal into the lab. “It might jump-start some of the neural connections that were severed, but I don’t know…how efficient it would be.”

Tony swallows. Opens his mouth, then closes it, thinking. Then he says, “Alright. We… we should try it, if you think it has even the slightest chance. For Vision.”

Everyone else in the room nods in agreement.

So they try.

But it doesn’t bring Vision back.

---

So they continue on existing. Thor has lost his people, his brother. Nebula has lost her sister, Peter Quill has lost his lover, and the Guardians of the Galaxy have lost a beloved friend. Wanda Maximoff has lost her love, and Tony Stark has lost his – his – his Vision. Wakanda has lost hundreds of good soldiers.

In an alternate version of reality, Thor aims for Thanos’s head. In this reality, they win, but they also lose.

---

There are hundreds of thousands of millions of alternate realities just like that. One little act has ripples throughout space-time. There are realities where the Hulk does not hide away and changes the tide of the fights. There are realities where Peter Quill shoots Gamora before Thanos can change his blaster to bubbles. There are realities where Gamora lets Nebula suffer and refuses to give the location of the Soul Stone, and realities where Gamora is successful in killing herself before Thanos can use her. There are realities where Peter Quill does not strike Thanos, either because he recognizes that he needs to wait or because someone holds him back or because he hesitates one extra second and that’s all Peter Parker and Tony Stark need to rip the Gauntlet from Thanos’s hand. There are realities where Stephen Strange does not give up the Time Stone for Tony Stark, and runs or continues to fight or even reverses time in an effort to save his new friends, save the world. There are realities where Shuri successfully removes the Mind Stone from Vision without harm, and Wanda Maximoff destroys it long before Thanos arrives. There are realities where they destroy the Time Stone before confronting Thanos. There are millions and millions of realities. They lose in most. They are partially successful in others. It’s all a game of should’ve, could’ve, would’ve; each action has an equal and opposite reaction. Butterfly effects. All of these realities exist. Stephen Strange sees all of these realities, and remembers them all too.

But Stephen Strange sees just one reality where everyone comes out the other side alive. They have to sacrifice much to achieve that end, but that is the reality in which they exist. The odds are 14,000,605 to one, but they’ll get lucky in this universe.

In other realities, it’s should’ve, could’ve, would’ve.

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iliketowrite1996 · 6 years

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Burn for Burn part 1- Challenge Day

THIS IS AFTER THE EVENTS OF ‘‘SPACES AND SECRETS’‘ Note- I imagine Adanya wearing something similar to what the Dora Milaje wear during the challenge day scene.

Note- SO, I wanted to introduce some new characters that will be fleshed out in later chapters. I also have never written a fight scene, so I did my best.

Note- I uses a translation machine, so if something is wrong, PLEASE let me know.

Warning- mentions of violence, nothing too graphic. Mentions of insecurity and nerves.

The roar of the crowd chanting is the only thing that she hears outside of the quinjet. Inside of the quninet, the only sound that can be heard is the sound of her breathing, deep breaths to calm her nerves that have her shaking from her head to her toes.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

This is a day that Adanya, the next ruler of Wakanda, has been waiting for her whole entire life. Or, rather, it’s the day that her baba has been preparing her for, her whole entire life.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

There have been over a thousand hours logged into training her for this moment.

She's read the books,attended the lessons, attended the events. Adanya knows how to behave,the behavior that is expected of her lines up with everything that her baba has been drilling into her head for the last twenty-one years.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

There if a fine layer of nerves sweat coating her skin, and it matches the fine layer of insecurity bubbling inside of her belly.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

‘’You are brave,’’ she whispers to herself, closing her eyes and clutching the sphere and the shield tighter in her hands, ‘’You are smart. You are strong. You are kind. You are beautiful.’’

She whispers these words to herself. The same words that her baba has repeated to her just about every day since she was three years-old. For eighteen years, he has been promoting self-confidence in her. T’Challa has always allowed her to make her own decisions, allowed her to be the one who decides her own life path.

Exactly one year ago, he’d sat her down and asked her if she was sure that she wanted to be queen.

‘’With all due respect, baba… as amazing as Wakanda is, I do see some areas where we are in need of improvement. I believe that I have the ability to help change those. Along with the help of my council, of course,’’ she’d beamed at him.

That was exactly one year ago today.

Adanya tries to channel that confidence, to remember that she is a woman with a plan, with a heart that loves Wakanda more than anything else.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

‘’Princess. Are you ready,’’ a member of the Dora Milaje, Kya,questions her.

‘’Yes,’’ Adanya opens her eyes the roar of the crowd seeming to get louder and louder as she does so.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

The quinjet door opens and she steps forward, out into the water and facing the crowd that has gathered for challenge day.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

She looks up to the crowd and sees hundreds of people, dressed in bright clothing. She sees her mother, and her brothers and sisters. Ado is watching on with a proud look, as is Abioye. Nyala, Abimbola, and four-year-old Afia are beaming with pride. Her mother has tears in her eyes, knowing that this day would soon come.

Adanaya notices Auntie Shuri and Grandma Ramonda, and her heart could burst with the joy and the love that she feels radiating off of eight of the nine people who love her more than anything.

The ninth person is her baba, the one that she must battle today.

‘’I, Aren, grandson of Zuri,’’ the young man begins, ‘’Present to you, Adanya Udaku. Princess of Wakanda.’’

The roaring and cheering and chanting of the crowd silences as Adanya kneels. She does the Wakanda salute as she rises, watching it be reciprocated by the citizens.

‘’I also present to you, The king of Wakanda, king T’Challa. The Black Panther.’’

She looks over to see her baba, and Adanya has to hide the smile that is threatening to break free at the man standing to the side of her.

He is smart, he is strong, he is brave. He is everything that she hopes to become as the next ruler of Wakanda, as the next Black Panther.

Her dad kneels as well, before sending her a small smile and returning to his stoic facial expression.

‘’The king will now have the strength of the Black Panther stripped away.’’

She watches as her baba has the strength stipped away as he swallows the heart-shaped herb. He rises moments later, looking every bit of a king as she knows he is.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

‘’Victory,��’ Aren continues, ‘’In ritual combat comes by yield or death. If any tribe would like to put forth a warrior, I now offer you the opportunity to do so, A path to the throne.’’

Each tribe shouts their cry before denying the chance to battle for the throne.

‘’The Merchant tribe, will not challenge today,’’ Chane's dad claims as he looks on.

‘’The Border tribe will not challenge today,’’ Bakari agrees, taking the role that his uncle once would have possessed.

‘’The River tribe will not challenge today,’’ Kamaria, Nakia’s youngest sister, exclaims.

‘’The Jabari tribe,’’ M’Baku begins, ‘’Will not challenge today.’’

‘’The Mining Tribe will not challenge today,’’ Ife’s dad states.

She doesn't miss the grin and wink that Jelani, M'Baku;s son and her best friend, give her after he is finished.

‘’Is there any member of royal blood who wishes to challenge either our king or our princess for the throne?’’

Everyone is silent, a stark contrast from the surprising battle for the throne that took place on T’Challa’s challenge day.

The beating of the drums ensue as Aren places one Black Panther mask on T’Challa, and Kya places one on her.

‘’Let the challenge begin,’’ Aren proclaims, hitting his staff against the ground twice.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

T’Challa advances towards his daughter, trusting the fact that she has been trained well for this day. He and Okoye spent a lot of time sparring with her and teaching her how to battle. He remembers she used to have trouble staying focussed on the matter at hand, but she has improved. She now knows him well enough to calculate some of his moves before he does them. T’Challa taught her everything that she knows.

But not everything that he knows.

He swings his own staff at her as Adanya blocks the blow of the wooden instrument with ehr shield, moving to strike back.

Blow by blow, she deflects hi , even landing in a couple of hits and sayings of her own.

The crows is cheering and she is fully aware of it. T’Challa is definitely not going easy on her, letting her show her full ability. She’s good, and he knows it. In fact, she is a perfect match for him in this area, as he has not been challenged like this since his fight with…

Not now. He’s not going to think of that now.

Her knowledge in combat is impressive, and she is definitely holding her own. SHe has that same look of determination her face that her mother gets, and despite the bruises and blood, she’s not giving up.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

So it’s a shock to everyone when one blow lands her on the ground, unable to breathe and struggling to take in air.

T’Challa’s resolve waivers as he watches her fight to stand.

After all, she may the princess and a warrior, but this is still his daughter.

She’s trying to force herself to her knees so that hse can stand, but it requires strength that she can not quite seem to muster up.

‘’Yield, Adanya. You have to yield,’’ T’Challa says quietly, so that no one can hear him.

She knows that she is meant to be queen. Adanya wants to make an actual difference, to unite Wakanda with the rest of the world eve more than her baba has. To be even half of the ruler that he is. Even with so many personal moments inside of the walls of the palace, he kept his cool as king. He rules fairly. Adanya knows that she can do that as well.

Perhaps, though, now is not the time.

So she yields. She yields and her baba helps her stand, pulling her into his arms and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

‘’It is quite alright. The throne will be here when you are ready.’’

She ponders those words later in the night, when she is sitting in the palace garden, looking down at the water of the pond as it reflects the millions of stars shining above her.

‘’My princess, how are you doing?’’

Adanya looks up to see T'Challa striding towards her, a worried expression etched into his features.

‘’I am alright, baba,’’ she nods, looking back to the water and skimming her hand along the surface.

The tear sting he reyes as he holds them back. It is ironic, because these tears of disappointment hurt far more than the wound that she obtained today.

‘’Itomba,’’ T’Challa signs, bringing his daughter's face to face him so that he can look at her, ‘’Ndiqhayiya.’’

He is proud?

‘’Ngoba?’’

‘’Why? Because you have done everything I told you to do. You remind focus. You matched me hit for hit, blow for blow. You were strong and toy were courageous. But, most importantly, you yielded.’’

‘’Baba,’’ she groans in disappointment.

‘’That means that you recognized what worked best for you, for your safety, and for your health. I have taught you well, as has your mother. She is every bit as proud of you as I am, Adanya. Just worried.’’

‘’I felt like I had disappointed you,’’ she reveals, blinking back the moisture in her eyes, ‘’I never want to do that. I just realized that maybe I am not ready to be queen. Not just yet. Wakanda deserves the best.’’

‘’Wakanda does deserve the best. And this country will find the best in you. I learned from my baba’s mistake, you will learn from mine,’’ he kisses her hairline, ‘’Ndiyakuthanda.’’

‘’I love you, too, baba.’’

He reaches into the bag that she hadn’t noticed he’d brought with him and produces something silver.

An exact replica of the necklace that he is wearing now.

‘’Your Auntie Shuri has been designing this for you since the day that you were born,’’ T’Challa places it around his daughter's neck, ‘’Fit for a warrior, fit for a queen.’’

‘’But baba, I-’’

‘’Will need it soon. You will be queen, soon,A danya. I have a feeling that you are more ready than you think you are,’’ he tells her, ‘’When that day comes, we will be ready.’’

Adanya allows herself to be pulled into another hug then, reveling in the warm embrace of ehr baba, something that has always comforted her ever since the time that she was a baby, the embrace that is full of love and pride.

She revels in the fact that her baba believes in her.

And, for now, that is good enough.

You watch out of the palace window that leads to the garden as T'Challa escorts your baby girl back to you, her eyes trained on the ground before meeting yours.

She’s grown so much in the last twenty-one years. She's a remarkable young woman, someone who is so determined that it often leaves you in awe. She has the biggest heart, and she is similar to both you and her baba in that way. She has an eye for politics, a mind for making things better. It’s way you are not worried about her.

You tell eh this as he brings you into a hug and you press a kiss to her weary face.

‘’I love you, Adanya. Do not worry, You will make an excellent queen when the time's right for you.’’

You know quite a bit about timing. TIming had to play a part in your marriage to T’Challa, in the way that you helped him rule the country and in the way that you handled messes in your personal lives. It was all about timing, how and when you reacted. It’s a lesson that took years for you two to learn, and now Adanya must do the same.

She thanks you, bids to you and her baba a good night, and heads off to bed.

‘’Ah, my queen,’’ T’Challa kisses your hand, ‘’What are you doing up?’’

‘’I could not sleep. I’ve been nauseated,’’ you grimace.

He raises an eyebrow, knowing what tends to be the source of your nausea in most cases.

‘’Stop that,’’ you laugh, ‘’It is not for that reason.’’

He places a hand on your stomach, chuckling as well,’’Can you blame me?’’

‘’I can,’’ you jest, ‘’I don’t, but I could. Anyway, I am not pregnant. I am sure of it. I believe that we stated that six children are enough, eh?’’

‘’I believe so,’’ admit, ‘’Although,w e did say that five children was enough. Then Afia was born.’’

You laugh then, throwing your head back and giving him the sound he loves more than almost anything else in the world.

‘’Come on, my love,’’ he pulls you in and lifts you up, carrying you bridal style, ‘’Let’s retire to our suite.’’

‘’Oh?’’

‘’Mhm,’’ he presses a kiss to your lips, and you let yourself fall deeper and deeper in love with this man, from the graying hair on his head to the wedding band made of vibranium on his finger.

The only thing that’s stronger than vibranium is his love.

At the moment, you’re perfectly happy with that knowledge as you drift off to sleep in his arms, wondering what he next day will bring.

The next day, Adanya is walking though Wakanda with Jelani, arm looped through his as two members of the Dora Milaje follow the pair.

‘’How are you feeling,’ he questions, looking to wear her purple dress is covering up the injury that she sustained.’

‘’I am doing better. I feel a bit sore and a bit weak, but Aunt Shuri knows what she’s doing. The worse of the injury is over,’’ she reminds him of her aunt’s use of kimoyo beads in healing others.

‘’I am glad. You did not see the look of worry on your baba’s face when you fell.’’

‘’I can only imagine. The man is so overprotective,’’ she rolls her eyes with fondness, ‘’I can’t wait to see what he does one day when I get married.’’

Jelani swallowed thickly, ignoring the heaviness of those words on him. He’s in love with her, his best friend, and he’ll never admit it. Not just because she’s stated that she doesn’t want a relationship right now, but because they both know it just isn’t in the stars for them right now.

Maybe someday.

But not at the present moment.

Adanya is content with her life at the moment. She has been doing a lot of volunteer work with you, enjoying the time that she gets to spend with her mother. She volunteers at Afia’s school a lot,teaching the children about their history and other great things about Wakanda.

Ado works with baba more in the way of charity work, but Adanya works with T’Challa in politics. He is always asking her opinion.

She has a hand in helping Ayo and Okoye begin to train Abioye, and she even play fights with Nyala and Abimbola in her rare free time.

In the last five years, she’s become very good friends with Chane of the Merchant tribe, Bakari of the Border Tribe, and kamaria of the River tribe, and Ife of the Mining Tribe. They are all set to take over as the heads next, right, except for Bakari, who has already taken over since his baba passed away three months ago.

She remembers words that her baba told her when she was sixteen, ‘’You are a good woman, Adanya. You have a good heart, and a good head on your shoulders. The good head on your shoulders will help you make wise decisions. Your heart will make you an empathetic queen. It may also make things hard on you. So, please, surround yourself with people that want the best for you. Even if it is not what you want.’’

She’s done that, surprisingly. While she is more withdrawn, Jelani is very social. He likes to be around others. He introduced Adanya to the others, and she’s found that she has a group of people who want the same thing for Wakanda that she does- a future just as bright, if not brighter, than the present.

‘’Just know that you always have someone on your side, my queen,’’ Jelani presses a kiss to her hand in the most platonic way.

At least in Adanya’s eyes.

Jelani will never admit that he’s in love with ehr. Not in words, at least. He’ll never let her know that he wants the best for her and that he believes that is him, because, quite frankly. Their friendship is not worth ruining this friendship. If it’s meant to be, it’ll be.

He’s not pushing anything. She’s got enough on her plate.

And what he entire nation of Wakanda is unaware of is that things are about to get a lot harder for the future queen.

And that the Udaku family better be aware.

Disclaimer- I do not own any of the Marvel Characters listed. I only own T’Challa and Reader’s children and a few other original characters- Nisa (not mentioned), Adanya, Ado, Abimbola, Abioye, Afia, Nyala, Jelani, Ife, Chane, Bakari, Aren, and Kya. All Marvel characters and fictional universes associated with them belong to their rightful owner

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