#but hey. its already buddy daddies friday here

[vero-niche]

when the anime titled "buddy daddies" that you initially put on your watchlist ironically turns out to be one of the most heartfelt and well written original shows of recent years, tackling real social issues in japan, grief, domestic abuse, parenthood and the definition of family, all the while having realistic childen portrayal, strong comedy and its overall theme being healing, and now seeing 140k+ people are following the tag:

[messyhairdiaz]

Fuck It Friday!

Tagged by @sibylsleaves and @rewritetheending ☺️

Continuing my fuck it Friday tradition of sharing something I started and then more or less abandoned. I’ve posted pieces of this before, early last year I think? For various seven sentence sundays, but I figured I may as well post the whole 4.7k I have. This is an au for the show From, and who knows, it comes back for season 2 in April so maybe my interest in it will return

Tagging! @elvensorceress @fiona-fififi @gayhoediaz if you feel like sharing something

It says a lot about the last few hours that Eddie’s day is already well and truly fucked even before the car crash.

The accident is just the cherry on top, really, the pièce de résistance to this shit-tacular day.

The tree across the road should’ve been his first sign that things were about to go south, but he brushed it off. Trees fall. It happens.

The black birds filling the sky didn’t exactly set him at ease, but they’re birds. Birds fly around.

“Did you know a group of crows is called a murder?” Christopher had helpfully supplied from the passenger seat of the RV Eddie had spent a stupid amount of money renting for the Diaz Boys’ Great Summer Adventure.

“I did not. But hey, maybe they were ravens,” Eddie had said as he’d carefully turned the RV around to find a detour.

“An unkindness then.”

“What?” He’d asked, distracted as he tried to get the stupid vehicle turned around on the narrow road without getting stuck in a ditch, but he got it done, and had looked at his son, the seven year old’s face uncharacteristically serious.

“A group of ravens is called an unkindness.”

And Eddie didn’t know then, why that had unsettled him worse than a murder, but by the time they’d driven through the same tiny town for the third time, passing by the same unsmiling faces, it starts to make a little more sense.

The near collision with a speeding Mercedes stops them from driving through a fourth time, as does the tree that spears through the windshield and traps Eddie in his seat, clipping so close to his ribs on the left side that it tears his shirt and probably takes some skin with it, but miraculously doesn't impale him.

He’s disoriented, a warm trickle of blood on his brow reminding him that he smacked his head on the steering wheel on impact. He blinks, the medic skills ingrained in him already running a checklist over his body. Possible concussion, likely mild, superficial cuts and scrapes from broken glass and the tree, his right wrist hurts like it might be sprained, possibly fractured, and there’s the matter of the RV being on its side, but he’s otherwise unharmed.

But very, very stuck.

He jerks his head to the side, panic rearing when Christopher isn’t in the seat next to him. His brain catches up, and he remembers sending Christopher to sit at the dinner table the second time around, when he’d stopped and asked a man for directions, only receiving a blank look in return.

“Christopher,” he gasps, voice breathy and weak with fear. How could he be so stupid as to send his son into the back of a moving RV, where there are no seatbelts. He hadn’t allowed it the whole trip, so of course the moment he does they’re in an accident.

“Christopher!” He tries again when he gets no answer. He takes a couple of breaths, forcing himself to remain calm. He stayed calm on the ground in Afghanistan, he can stay calm here.

He tries to twist in his seat to look into the back, but the tree hasn’t left him a lot of room to work with, and gravity in a sideways RV isn’t helping him either. He draws in a deep breath and shouts, “Christopher!”

There’s a moan, and the sound terrifies him and electrifies him in equal measure. “Daddy?” Christopher asks, sounding so small.

“Hey, hey, I’m here, buddy. Are you hurt?”

“My—my leg hurts, and I can’t move it.”

“That’s ok, if you can’t, don’t try to. Are you hurt anywhere else?”

“My head hurts a little. I think I hit the table, but it’s not bad.”

“Ok, that’s good, Christopher. Can you see what’s wrong with your leg?”

There‘s a pause, and Eddie has to fight down the instinct to start throwing himself against the tree to try to get back there, but then Christopher answers him. “I can’t see. I’m on my belly, and when I try to look it hurts,” he says, and Eddie can hear the tears and pain in his voice.

“Ok, don’t try to look anymore, I’m gonna call for help.” Eddie’s phone is clipped to the dashboard, easily within reach when there’s not a tree pinning him to his seat, but achingly far now. He curses himself for never enabling hands free mode when he last upgraded. He strains against the tree, reaching as far as he can, wrist flaring with pain, and his fingers brush the corner of the phone, but he needs another inch to grab it. He stretches harder, grimacing at the pressure on his ribs, but he manages to push himself up just enough that he’s able to snag it and pull the phone out of the clip, ignoring the burst of pain in his wrist. He leans back, ignoring the dull ache in his chest that’s sure to be a hell of a bruise tomorrow and unlocks his phone.

“Fuck,” he mutters under his breath. No signal. It doesn’t even say emergency calls only. He tries anyway, punching in 911 and holding it to his ear, but there’s just silence as the phone attempts and fails to dial out, connecting to nothing. “Fuck,” he says louder, and it speaks to Christopher’s state that he doesn’t tease his dad for swearing.

He pulls up the phone’s camera and switches to selfie mode, wincing when he gets a look at his face, more blood than he’d realized caked down the side. He allows himself one quick look at the cut above his eyebrow, deems it nothing pressing, and then holds the phone up, angling it this way and that, searching for his son on the screen.

It takes a moment, but when he finds him he sucks in a breath.

There’s a piece of debris jutting out the back of Christopher’s thigh, a dark ring of blood circling it.

——

Buck’s heart had sank when the RV had rolled through town the first time, but he hadn’t been able to stop himself from sending up a prayer to any god that will listen that he wouldn’t see it come through again.

It did, of course. And he’d watched as it stopped, and the window had rolled down, revealing an absolutely gorgeous man. He’d listened as the man had asked the closest person how to get back on the highway, and his heart had sunk further, remembering just two years ago when he’d leaned out the window of his jeep and asked the same question.

He’d watched as the RV had come through a third time, turning around at the diner and going back the way he’d come, just like they all try at some point.

The RV doesn’t come back immediately this time, and Buck doesn’t think a lot of it because that too, is par for the course. The man is probably pulled over on the side of the road, consulting a map, or trying to get a signal. If he doesn’t come back before long someone will be sent after him, probably Buck, and that’ll be that.

But then he sees the bloody woman.

“Oh fuck,” Albert says, sitting up straighter on the porch steps they’d been lounging on, and Buck’s up like a shot.

“Go get your brother, or Hen,” Buck demands, and Albert takes off, heading for the small clinic. Buck goes the opposite direction and intercepts the woman. Her knees buckle just as he reaches her, and he’s barely able to morph her collapse into a slow sit down.

“Miss, can you tell me what happened?” He asks, brushing her long red hair out of her face to try to find the source of all the blood. It’s almost funny how quickly he falls back on his firefighter training despite rarely having cause to use it in the past two years.

“RV,” she manages, her eyelids fluttering.

“Did your RV crash?” He asks, looking back down the road where she’d come from.

“Almost hit the RV. Both of us crashed,” she answers, and then passes out.

Buck’s hands go numb. She can’t possibly mean that she wasn’t in the RV. Two cars on the same day? It’s never happened before. He’s not sure there’s ever even been two in the same week. In the two years he’s been here only five cars have come before today, and the last one was months ago.

“What’ve we got, Buckaroo. Did that RV crash?” Chimney asks, dropping to his knees next to Buck and the woman, Albert right on his heels with a backboard.

“Yeah,” Buck answers in a daze. “But she wasn’t in it.”

Chimney and Albert’s attention snaps to him in unison. “What?” Chim asks disbelievingly.

“Before she passed out she said she almost hit the RV, and they both crashed. Fuck.” He shoots to his feet, his brain finally catching up with him. “There’s just a couple hours til sundown.” Buck looks at the sun and grimaces. They’ll be lucky if it’s even two full hours. “Albert, help Chim get her to the clinic and then get Athena and a med bag and come find me.”

“Where are you going?”

“To find that RV.”

——

It’s not hard, thankfully. The stretch of road doesn’t go very far in either direction outside of the town proper before you’re looped back in on the other side, and the woman’s Mercedes isn’t hard to spot wrapped around a tree. Buck checks it to make sure no one is inside, taking a moment to pop the trunk and grab a small first aid kit and roadside toolset before taking off again. Not much further he finds dirt kicked up in deep tire tracks, and if he peers through the trees he can see the back end of an RV on its side.

He slides down an embankment and runs towards the front of the RV.

“Hello?” He calls.

“Oh thank god,” someone says, and Buck recognizes the voice as the man who’d been driving. Buck’s got a half-formed thought that he hopes the man is the only person inside when the man dashes that by saying, “Please, can you help my son?”

Buck stops in his tracks and closes his eyes. The guy hadn’t looked much older than Buck, so his son must be a child. Buck wouldn’t wish this town on anyone, but a child? Fuck. He won’t be the first, and almost certainly not the last, but it aches to think about regardless.

Buck takes a steadying breath. “Yeah, I just gotta figure out how to get in there.”

Buck tosses the first aid kit and tool kit onto the side of the RV now serving as the roof, backs up a few steps, and then runs at the RV, jumping and grabbing anything he can hold onto to pull himself up. He looks around, but there’s just the driver’s door, the camper door presumably now on the ground. He carefully makes his way to the driver’s door, grimacing when he sees the tree speared through the windshield, sure he’s about to get a gory eyeful, but he’s thankful when he looks in the window and finds the tree has just trapped the driver and not run him through.

His eyes find the man’s face, sees the gash above his eyebrow, and the blood, but it doesn’t look too bad, and the man is lucid, his eyes clear and bright.

“Hey, my name is Buck. Are you hurt?”

The man shakes his head. “Not really, just fucking stuck. My son though…” he trails off, and he gets the sense that the man doesn’t want to say it aloud, whether he feels like that makes it real or if he doesn’t want his son to hear, he doesn’t know. “I’m Eddie. My son’s name is Christopher.”

“Ok, Eddie, I’m gonna get you guys out of here.”

——

Buck does not get them out of there. He climbs over Eddie and checks on Christopher, and Eddie hears him talking soothingly to his son, returning to the cab after a couple of minutes.

“How bad is it?” Eddie asks quietly, cutting right to the chase.

“It’s not great, but it could be a lot worse. I’m confident the debris missed the femoral, and I don’t think it hit bone either. But it’s all the way through and embedded in the RV. It’s going to have to be removed before we can get him out.”

Eddie won’t be truly satisfied until he’s out of this fucking seat and checking on Christopher himself. He eyes Buck, really taking him in for the first time, and his eyes narrow when he reads Buck’s t-shirt. “You seem to know what you’re talking about. Guess I’m lucky to be run off the road by LAFD. Awfully far from home though, huh?”

Buck looks puzzled for a second before glancing down at LAFD emblazoned in large letters on his chest, and then his eyes widen as he catches up with the rest of Eddie’s statement.

“Ah, no, I wasn’t driving the other car. A woman was, she managed to walk back into town.”

“Is she ok?”

“I don’t know. I left her in the care of one of our doctors, so hopefully. She told me the RV crashed, so I came running.”

Eddie’s brow furrows, and he feels a fresh round of blood squeeze out of his cut. “You live in this place, but you’re wearing an LAFD t-shirt. Are you even a firefighter?”

Buck shrugs and starts testing the tree for weakness. “As in, am I certified? Yes. Am I currently employed by a fire station? No, because we don’t actually have one. It’s—complicated,” he finishes, finding a weak spot where the tree forks. He pulls a small crowbar from the toolkit and goes to work, and after a few minutes of both of them pulling and pushing and levering, the smaller portion of the tree cracks loose and falls against the passenger side window, allowing Eddie to get free of the driver’s seat. He’s barely got both feet planted before he’s rushing to his son’s side.

“Hey, buddy, I’m here now.”

“Dad,” Christopher breathes, relief coloring his tone. “It hurts,” he adds, turning his little head to the side to look beseechingly at Eddie.

“I know, honey. We’re going to make it better as soon as we can.” Eddie feels Buck’s eyes on him as he carefully checks Christopher’s neck and spine.

“You a doctor?”

“Former army medic,” he answers, moving down to Christopher’s leg now that he’s satisfied he doesn’t have a spinal injury. The debris appears to be a twisted piece of metal, maybe part of the table, Eddie’s not sure, but it’s like Buck says, it’s embedded all the way through Christopher’s leg clear through to the wall of the RV beneath him.

The blood soaking into Christopher’s jeans has barely expanded since Eddie first saw it, and that’s good. Buck seems to be right about the femoral artery not being hit, and he’s pretty confident it hasn’t hit bone either. But getting it out is going to suck, and they’re going to need more than the little first aid kit Buck has.

“I couldn’t get a signal to call 911, can you go back to town to call for help?” He asks as he takes Christopher’s hand and runs his fingers through his hair, his heart aching as he takes in the tear tracks on his face.

“Albert should be here any minute with a med bag,” Buck says, as if that’s reassuring or a response to what he’d said..

Eddie blinks at him. “A med bag? That’s—no, we need to call an ambulance, get rescue out here with equipment, and an ambulance to get him to the hospital.”

Buck grimaces. “Yeah, so, that’s not really possible.”

Eddie shakes his head. “I know this is in the middle of nowhere, but someone will come. We can keep him comfortable until then.”

“No, Eddie, you don’t understand, I can’t go call for help. You had to have noticed you drove through town three times while driving in a straight line.”

Eddie snaps his mouth shut, because, yeah. But that’s not how the world works, that’s the stuff of cheap horror novels. “I just kept missing the turn is all. Must’ve been a switchback road, and the curve was so gradual I didn’t notice I was circling back around.”

Buck’s eyes crinkle with so much compassion that Eddie wants to puke. “Yeah, that’s what I figured too.”

“What the fuck are you saying?” Eddie demands, but before Buck can answer there’s the sound of someone coming through the woods.

“Buck?” A voice calls, and Buck stands, moving back into the cab.

“We’re in here, Albert!” Buck calls.

There’s the sound of someone climbing up on the side of the RV, and then Buck steps back for a young Korean man to climb down, a med bag thrown over his shoulder.

“Where’s Athena?” Buck asks, taking the med bag and dropping to his knees on Christopher’s other side.

“She’s coming, she said she had to get something. Buck—” Albert cuts himself off and both Eddie and Buck look up at him expectantly and he sighs. “It’s going to be dark soon.”

Eddie doesn’t miss the way Buck pointedly doesn’t look at him when he answers, “I know, Albert.”

Buck digs through the med bag and produces a small pouch. He pulls out a syringe and a vial, holding it up so Eddie can see that it’s a sedative. Eddie nods, and Buck fills the syringe with the appropriate amount.

“Hey, buddy, I’m going to give you a little shot that’s going to help you feel better, ok?”

Christopher’s face screws up, unhappy, but u fortunately the kid is already far too accustomed to needles for someone so young. “Ok,” he answers, and squeezes Eddie’s hand as Buck administers the shot.

There’s the sound of someone else approaching, and Albert scrambles up out of the RV to help a small but imposing Black woman climb down. He assumes she must be Athena.

“It’s getting dark, Buck,” she says, and Eddie watches as his shoulders tighten.

“Why does everyone keep saying that?” he asks, but that just makes Buck’s shoulders tighten further.

“These woods get dangerous at night,” Athena says, but Eddie knows they’re all hiding something, and although he’d found himself wanting to trust Buck from the moment he saw him, he feels like he’s on the defensive now.

But he buttons down his distrust. These people are clearly hiding something, but they do seem like they want to help. And he’s currently in desperate need of it.

“Can we move him? Get him to the clinic and deal with his leg there?” Athena asks, observing the scene.

Buck shakes his head. “No. The debris is pinning him to the wall of the RV, and it’s not as simple as just lifting him off it and carrying him out. Even without femoral damage we don’t want to risk that kind of bleeding.”

Athena nods. “Alright. What’s the timeframe then?”

“It won’t be done until well after dark,” he says, and Eddie watches as he and Athena seem to exchange some sort of silent communication. Athena sighs, and digs something out of her pocket.

“Guess you’ll be needing this then,” she says, letting the item drop from her hand. It’s a talisman of some sort, and it hangs by a piece of string from her middle finger.

Albert’s eye widen. “Will that work here?”

Buck grimaces, but accepts the charm from Athena. “No way to know but to do it. You two better go home.” Buck finally looks at Eddie again, meeting his gaze head on. “You need to go with them.”

Eddie can’t help it, he laughs. “Yeah, like hell.”

“Eddie, Athena’s serious. You don’t want to be out here at night if you can help it.”

Eddie raises his eyebrows. “You think hearing that will make me be willing to leave my injured son? With a stranger? Over my dead body.”

Buck looks like he wants to argue but Athena just says, “Buck,” and shakes her head when he cuts a look at her.

“I’ll stay too,” Albert says, and Athena barely gets out a snort before Buck’s arguing.

“No, you absolutely are not.”

“What if the talisman doesn’t work, Buck? I could help.”

“No you can’t, and you know it. Chimney’s probably going to be at the clinic tonight with the woman from the Mercedes, so you can help by staying with Maddie. But do not tell her where I am. The last thing we need is her storming off in the middle of the night to try to drag me home.”

Albert scoffs. “Like she won’t figure it out when I show up instead of you.”

“Then you’ll just have to make sure she stays put, won’t you?”

Albert looks like he wants to keep fighting, but it’s clear even to Eddie that it’s a lost battle, and Albert’s shoulders slump in defeat. “Fine.”

“Glad that’s settled,” Athena says. “But let’s get the windows covered before we go.”

“Good plan. Eddie, do you have any camping lanterns?”

——

Buck can read the helplessness written all over Eddie’s face. He’d told Buck where to find the lanterns and had sat, silent and stony faced, holding Christopher’s hand as Albert and Athena had stripped the bed for sheets and blankets to cover the windows with. He’d remained quiet as Albert had climbed out, as Athena had pulled him aside in the cab to squeeze his shoulder and mutter a quiet be careful, Buckaroo, and make sure he is too before hanging the talisman on the tree and accepting Albert’s hand to climb out.

It’s only once they’re gone, and Buck has returned to kneel at Christopher’s side, that Eddie speaks again.

“We have to focus on getting this thing out of my son’s leg. But once we have, you’re going to talk, and you’re going to tell me what the fuck is going on in this place.”

Buck meets his eyes, reads the determination there and knows there’s no getting out of it. Besides, Eddie probably hasn’t caught on yet, but they’re not leaving this RV until morning. There will be plenty of time to talk.

“Let’s get to work then,” Buck says, so they do.

It’s rough, and time consuming. The sedative Buck gave Christopher isn’t anesthesia, so he isn’t saved from the worst of the pain. More than once he sees Eddie wiping his own tears away seconds after wiping away Christopher’s.

Buck can tell it’s killing Eddie that he can’t be much help, but Buck takes on look at Eddie’s purpling wrist, on his dominant hand, of course, because why wouldn’t it be, and vetoes Eddie providing much more than moral support and occasional instruction.

It’s unfortunate, because as a former army medic Eddie most likely has experience with injuries like this, and while Buck did have to have emt certification to be a firefighter in Los Angeles, he’d only been on the job for two weeks before he’d gotten a call from Pennsylvania that had culminated in being stuck here.

But, eventually, it’s done. It’ll most likely need to be cleaned again in the morning when they can get to the clinic, and he’ll need antibiotics, but the obstruction is removed and the wound closed and wrapped. Buck sits back and wipes the sweat off his brow, glancing at the tiny gap in the sheets where the tree made it impossible to block the windshield entirely and is met with pitch black darkness.

“We’re not leaving until daylight, are we?” Eddie asks as he carefully arranges Christopher in his lap, the boy curling against his dad’s chest.

“We wouldn’t make it ten feet out of this RV,” Buck answers, gaze automatically finding the talisman. He hasn’t heard them yet, but he knows they’re out there. They’re always out there, once it’s dark.

“What is it? Bears? Wolves?”

Buck can’t help the bitter laugh. “Bears and wolves are survivable. No, this is something–something else,” he shrugs. “I know you want answers, and I’ll tell you what I know, but the first thing you need to understand is there are no answers. Least not any we know.”

Eddie’s jaw works for a moment. “Ok. Tell me what you know then.”

So Buck talks. He starts with his own story, how two years ago he’d just started as a firefighter in Los Angeles when his sister had called him from Pennsylvania, needing help. He leaves out the details of that, but he talks about how he went, loaded her up in his Jeep, and set out for California, when maybe twenty miles past the Pennsylvania state line, there had been a tree in the road.

“We detoured because of a downed tree too,” Eddie says, and Buck nods.

“We all did. Did you see the crows too?” Eddie hesitates, and then gives a jerky nod. “We all saw those too. And we all turn around, and we all drive through this tiny town. And then we all drive through it again.”

“When you say all…”

“I mean all. No one is from here, we’re all from somewhere else.”

“None of this is possible. You said you were just outside of Pennsylvania? I was in Colorado.”

“And Albert and his brother Chimney were in Oregon. Athena and her family were in Arizona. Everyone here was somewhere different when we drove into this town and never left.”

Eddie shakes his head. “That’s impossible,” he repeats.

Buck shrugs. “Yes, it is. But it’s also true.”

“Say I believe you about that. What’s with the talisman? What’s in the woods?”

Buck takes a deep breath. This is the hard part. If Eddie’s having a hard enough time believing him about the town at large, he’s not going to believe this next part at all. But he’ll have proof soon enough, because Buck knows it’s just a matter of time until they start circling the RV, it’s a wonder they haven’t already.

“There are things out there that only come out at night. We don’t know for sure what they are, only that they look like us, but they aren’t. These talismans keep us safe, keep them from coming into our homes unless we open the door for them.”

“Why would anyone do that?”

“Because they talk, Eddie, and they ask us to. And it can be pretty fucking hard not to listen.”

“You know what you’re describing sounds an awful lot like vampires.”

Buck nods. “Don’t say that in town though, makes people jumpy. I don’t know if that’s what they are, but they’re definitely similar. But if they catch you out after dark you’re not going to have two little mosquito bites on the side of your neck. They’ll tear your ribcage open and eat your heart.”

“Jesus.”

“I’m not saying any of this to scare you. You need to know, because you’re stuck here like the rest of us now.”

Eddie looks down at the child sleeping on his chest. “I don’t believe in shit like this.”

“I didn’t either, not really. You learn to adapt.”

Eddie looks past Buck at the talisman. “What happens if it doesn’t work for an RV?”

Buck doesn’t respond for a moment, weighing the repercussions of honesty here. But he can tell Eddie needs the truth, and can handle it, so he says, “We pray it’s quick.”

——

Eddie is awoken by the sound of nails scraping against metal. He doesn’t remember falling asleep, but the crick in his neck tells him it’s been a while.

He sits up, careful to not dislodge Christopher. Buck had turned off all the lights but one, but it’s enough light to see Buck standing a few feet away, crowbar clutched in a white knuckle grip.

“Is it—” he cuts himself off when Buck holds a finger up to his lips and nods.

The scratching moves along the side of the RV, and Eddie is all too aware that he can’t hear the sound of footsteps on the dry leaves, despite everyone else’s approach being announced by the crunch.

“Eddie.”

He jumps, because that wasn’t Buck’s voice.

[dontcare77ghj]

Now In Color

Wanda x reader x Vision

After Wanda and Y/N's newly discovered pregnancies, the three had decided to call Westview's doctor for a home visit. 

Doctor Neilson was a balding man, who's opinions were on the misogynistic side.

"Yep! Definitely pregnant. Both of you." The doctor determined after having pressed a stethoscope to both women's stomachs.

"Believe it or not, we actually figured that out already," Y/N said, shaking her head once the man's back was to her.

"This has just kinda taken us by surprise," Wanda explained, one hand clutching Visions and the other on Y/N's thigh.

"It's just kinda sudden. Quite suddenly, wasn't it. I mean, practically overnight. I mean, how did this even happen?" Vision stammered, causing the doctor to stare at him blankly. 

"You see when a man, a woman, and a woman love each other very much."

"Well, we're just tickled pink or blue!" Wanda joked, interrupting the doctor, as the three rose from the couch.

"You're at about four months now. Is that accurate for the two of you?" He asked, receiving nods from both women.  "I thought as much. We like to let the little ladies keep tabs on their growing babes with fruit." Neilson told Vision. "Makes it simple for them. At four months, the fetus is about as big as a pear. At five months, papaya. Six grapefruit, seven pineapple, and eight honeydew."

"So we both have pears?" Y/N questioned.

"You both have pears." The doctor confirmed with a nod. "The three of you must have been planning for months to sync the pregnancies up like this." He added with a chuckle.

"Hypothetically speaking, what size fruit would it be at say twelve hours?" Vision asked, causing the doctor to blanch.

"Pardon? Twelve hours?"

"Well, I think this line of questioning is fruitless." Wanda cut in with a forced polite laugh as she moved to stand beside the doctor.

"Hypothetically speaking, should we be concerned?" Vision asked, rounding the back of the couch, holding Y/N's hand in his.

"Hypothetically speaking, every new father-to-be gets nervous." The doctor patronized, slapping a hand on Vision's neck.

"Well, I have nerves of steel, so there goes your theory, Mr. Doctor." Vision said, pulling away from the man.

"Vis, why don't you see the doctor out?" Y/N suggested, wrapping her arm around her husband's waist.

"That sounds like a great idea." Wanda agreed, nodding at the two with a smile.

"Of course." Vision nodded. "Thank you so much for dropping by Doctor Neilson." He said, leading the doctor out of the house as Wanda and Y/N smiled at one another.

"Well, I'm just glad you caught me in time." The doctor commented once outside. "I'm taking the wife on vacation this afternoon."

"Oh, well, I hope you have a nice holiday," Vision told the man. "Hey, Herb!" Vision called to their neighbor.

"Listen, can you keep the news of the girls, you know, just between us?" Vision asked the doctor. "It's that everything's happening so quickly, and we'd like to keep the news just in the family now."

"Of course. Mum's the word." The doctor assured. "I'm off! Bermuda, baby!"

"Yes." Vision waved Neilson off before he was distracted by the loud sound of machinery to his right. "Hey Herb, I think you might've taken the hedge-trimming a little too far there, old chum!" Vision joked, watching as his friend cut into his brick wall.

"So, I have." Herb laughed, continuing his brickwork. "Thanks, buddy."

"Yeah, don't mention it." Vision said slowly, gnawing on his lip before turning away. "Huh. Darlings, the strangest thing just happened outside with, whoa Nelly!" Vision exclaimed when his wives turned around. "Are you both bigger?"

Wanda turned to look at her stomach but knocked the fruit bowl as she tried.

Vision sped over and caught the fruit before it hit the ground.

"What do you mean?" Y/N asked, looking down. 

"I can't actually tell from this angle," Wanda said, gazing down.

"I can't even see my feet." Y/N sighed, looking up and at Wanda's own stomach. "Oh, God." She said, causing Wanda to look up.

"Yeah, we could be a little bigger." Wanda nodded, seeing the size of Y/N's stomach.

"I can't wait to be a proud papaya." Vision joked, proudly holding up the papaya. 

"Not one of your best, Vis," Wanda told him with a grin.

"Ah, so you're admitting I'm funny?" Vision asked as Y/N took the fruit out of his hand and moved towards the kitchen.

"I don't think she ever said that." Y/N teased as Wanda followed her and stole the papaya out of her hands. "I'm not even sure those words have ever been uttered before."

"I've heard you laugh at my jokes before. At least once." 

"That's because we didn't want to make you feel bad," Wanda said, cutting the papaya into small chunks.

"The first lesson we'll ever teach you, little ones, is to pretend that your daddy is funny," Y/N said to her bump, one hand on Wanda's. 

"That seems rather dramatic, don't you think, darling?"

"No." Both women responded teasingly.

"You know what we should start soon?" Wanda questioned. "A nursery."

"I've noticed there are a large number of stores in the town square that cater towards babies and first-time parents." Vision informed the two.

"That's great! Perhaps we could go after lunch." Wanda suggested, snacking on the fruit before her.

"We'll need to make a list," Y/N suggested as she made herself a sandwich. "Of furniture, clothing, books, everything we'll need."

"I could write the list while you and Wanda have lunch." Vision proposed.

"That sounds like a plan." Wanda smiled at him sweetly. 

"I'm gonna make myself a coffee first. Do you want a tea, Wand?" Y/N asked, grabbing a coffee cup.

"You might want to make a tea for yourself," Wanda said. "We can't have coffee while we're pregnant."

"None at all?" Y/N asked with wide eyes, causing both partners to nod. "You are so lucky I love you, little one," Y/N said to her bump.

Hours later, the three of you had returned from your shopping trip and were beginning to set up the nursery.

Vision was sat on the rocking chair, reading one of the many books on pregnancy he'd bought. Y/N was organizing the boxes of baby clothes,  all of which everyone agreed they'd needed. And Wanda was using her magic to set up the rest of the room. 

The three of you had had a long conversation about the theme of the nursery, which room they would have, and whether or not you would need one or two. Eventually, the three of you had come to an agreement on the nursery's theme. And you had all decided that the babies could share a nursery.

"Nesting, the overwhelming urge during pregnancy to clean, organize and prepare the home for the new baby." Vision read.

"See? You're an expert already. We've got nothing to worry about." Wanda assured, floating a mobile out of its box.

"We have nothing to worry about? We have two babies due at the same time." Y/N said, folding a purple baby grow. "They're gonna team up against us."

"We also have to worry about morning sickness, mood swings, aching backs and feet." Vision read before jumping out of the chair. "Darlings, you should probably sit down."

"Don't be silly. We're fine." Y/N soothed the android. "Women do this all the time. This is a natural part of life."

"We're excited, Vis," Wanda said as Y/N moved to stand beside her. "There's no morning sickness or mood swings, just excitement. And happiness, and, oh!" Wanda gasped. Y/N's stomach had brushed against hers, and suddenly, both women felt kicking. 

"Kicking already?" Vision asked, dropping his book and pressing one hand to each woman's belly.

"It feels so weird. In a good way." Y/N smiled her hand atop Visions.

"It's kind of fluttery." Wanda giggled, her eyes shining with happiness.

After Wanda said that, the three noticed a quiet flapping sound in the room and turned to see the butterfly mobile had turned into real butterflies.

"Did I do that? I didn't mean to." Wanda said as Y/N reached out for a blue butterfly.

"Uh? Darling?" Vision asked, leaning his nose out, where an orange butterfly sat. "Hello, little fella." Vision chuckled as Wanda moved it off his face. "Well, if that was the first kick," He started as Wanda opened the window, and Y/N caused a gentle breeze to push the insects from the room. "That puts you two at about six months!" Vision gasped.

"And I thought you had super speed," Y/N commented, closing the window.

"I just can't keep up." Vision sighed. "Please don't misinterpret." He said as Wanda moved to stand before him. "I can't wait to meet you, little Billy!" He cooed, leaning down to Wanda's stomach.

"Billy?" Wanda asked, her nose scrunching up.

"Yeah. I just figured with two pregnancies, the odds of having a boy are at fifty percent." Vision informed her.

"Well, I was just thinking Tommy for a boy. You know, a nice classical, all-American name." Wanda explained.

"Yeah, Tommy, but there's also Billy, isn't there?" Vision said, causing Y/N to giggle. 

"After Shakesphere?" Y/N questioned, raising a brow.

"Of course! You know, "All the world's a stage. All the men and women, merely players." Vision quoted.

"Well, I guess there's only one solution. Leave it to Y/N," Wanda said, and the two turned to the woman who raised her hands.

"I like both names," Y/N said sagely. "But if it's a girl. I like Luna." She told the two.

"Well, we ought to decide soon. I estimate the babies are due, it's not a constant progression, assumingly logarithmic, but were I to graph the fetal development thus far," Vision muttered to himself while Y/N and Wanda shared fruit out of a bowl.

"They're going to be here before you figure it out," Wanda informed their husband.

"Nearest I can conclude is that Luna and Billy,"

"Luna and Tommy."

"Are due Friday afternoon." Vision concluded, looking slightly scared at the revelation.

"In three days?" Y/N gasped, eyes wide.

"Maybe we should sit down," Wanda said, rushing out to the living room with Y/N and Vision at her side.

Wanda and Y/N sat at the kitchen island, nursing cups of tea (to Y/n's disgruntlement) while Vision sat at the dining table, a baby doll in front of him.

"I think we have an understanding." Vision said, staring the doll down. "Start the clock." Vision stated, setting the toy down, and when Wanda pressed the timer, he began to change it at rapid speed. "Done!" He announced, raising his hands.

"A new personal best!" Y/N announced with a grin as Wanda clapped.

"Yes!" Vision exclaimed proudly. "We are nothing if not prepared."

"Ooh!" Wanda gasped, her hand flying to her engorged belly. 

"Sweetheart?"

"Darling?"

"Do any of your books talk about this?" Wanda asked, gently rubbing her bump. "It's not painful, but it's strange."

"A tightening sensation?" Vision asked, grabbing a nearby book and flipping through the pages. 

"Yep, that's it." 

"Yes. Where was it? Where was it? Aha! "Braxton Hicks contractions, also known as false labor, usually starts in the third trimester. Named after John Braxton Hicks in 1875." Vision began to recite.

"Sweetheart." Y/N cut him off as Wanda stared at him unimpressed.

"Sorry." Vision apologized. "Are you feeling any similar sensations Y/N?" Vision asked, rising to his feet as Y/N nodded.

"I just thought it was the baby moving," Y/N told her partners. 

"This is excellent! This gives us a chance to work on our breathing exercises." Vision said, now standing before both his wife's. "It should go like this." He added before demonstrating the breathing pattern.

Both women copied his breathing a couple of times, but it didn't work.

"I can still feel it," Wanda told him.

"I'm sorry." 

"Oh!" Y/N gasped, her hand clutching onto the counter tightly as the room began to heat up.

"Honey, turning it up a bit too high," Wanda said, fanning herself at the sudden temperature rise.

"I'm sorry, I just got so warm all of a sudden," Y/N said, wiping her forehead.

"Many women experience a change in temperature during pregnancy." Vision said before Wanda let out a loud grunt.

And that was the chaos began.

The kitchen tap began to run on high, the lights flickered, the fridge rattled, and the washing machine shook. All the while, the temperature remained ungodly warm.

"What the Dickens?" 

"Oh, it's so warm."

"What is going on?"

"I think we should perhaps abandon the kitchen." Vision suggested, grabbing both women's hands and pulling them out of the moving kitchen.

The three made it into the dining room when the lights began to get brighter and brighter until they all burst.

The three were now standing back to back, hands raised and ready to defend themselves when everything got quiet.

"It stopped," Wanda whispered, afraid if she spoke too loudly, it would start again.

"Good," Y/N said as her body temperature and the room got cooler.

"I'll go check on the neighbors." Vision volunteered before rushing from the house.

As it turns out, the neighborhood did experience the after-effects of the women's contractions.

The weather had changed from a spring day to what felt more like a summer's day. 

And many homes had lost their power.

"It appears the whole block is out." Vision informed the two as he reentered the house. "Oh, and be prepared to hear about the abnormal weather change."

"And all that was just from fake contractions." Wanda shook her head.

"Who knows what damage we'll cause when the show really gets rolling?" Y/N asked rhetorically. 

"Do you think they know it's our fault?" Wanda asked Vision.

"Our neighbors?" Vision confirmed.

"Well, yes. With all the close calls we've been having, it seems the people of Westview are always on the verge of discovering our secret." Wanda explained, causing both her partners to stop.

"Yes, I know what you mean." Vision murmured.

"But it's more than that, isn't it?" Y/N wondered as she and Vision sat beside Wanda on the couch.

"Mr. and Mrs. Hart with dinner. Outside with Herb." Vision mused.

"The thing with Dottie," Y/N added.

"I think there's something wrong here, darlings," Vision told his wives.

"I don't think you're wrong." Y/N agreed while Wanda stared between the two.

"Yes, I know what you mean." Vision murmured. "The truth is, we are in uncharted waters." He said as he and Y/N sat beside Wanda on the couch. "And you know what? I am as anxious as you both."

"We just don't know what to expect," Wanda said, getting nods from both her partners.

"Nope." Vision agreed.

"Will they be human or come out red and gold?" Y/N asked, causing Wanda to smile. "Or will they be a bit of both?"

"If they're anything like their mothers Luna and Billy will be perfect." Vision promised.

"You mean Tommy." Wanda corrected with a smirk.

"Maybe." 

Before the argument over baby names could continue, Wanda let out a loud gasp, causing Vision and Y/N to jump to their feet.

"Oh no, darling, are you all right?" Vision gasped, staring at Wanda with panic in his eyes. 

"This is a real one!" Wanda exclaimed, leaning back on the couch.

"What?"

"I thought you said Friday afternoon!" Wanda demanded as Y/N kneeled in front of her placed a hand on Wanda's bump.

"Well, I didn't consider that the timings between developmental benchmarks could be quite random!" Vision defended himself as he began to float in the middle of the living room.

"Both of you need to calm down!" Y/N snapped, rubbing Wanda's stomach gently. "Breathe, both of you." She added before demonstrating the breathing techniques Vision had taught them.

Wanda began to follow along, and when both women turned to face him, Vision copied them.

As he centered himself, Vision was able to control his flight and stand on his own two feet. Wanda and Y/N, who needed help up, moved to stand in front of their husband took one of his hands each.

"Better?" Wanda asked, pressing Vision's hand to her stomach.

"Yes, darling, thank you, it's passing." Vision nodded as lightning cracked, and it began to pour in the living room. 

"Oh, that's me." Y/N gasped, looking down. "I think my water broke."

"What?" Wanda and Vision gasped, now both soaked from head to toe.

"Why didn't you say you were feeling contractions?" Vision demanded as he pulled both women under a table. 

"I wasn't!" Y/N exclaimed before letting out a whine, hand flying to her stomach. "I was fine until I touched Wanda's stomach!" She cried as Wanda took her hand and squeezed it gently.

"Do you think the babies are connected?" Wanda asked as Vision gently placed his hand on Y/N's stomach.

"There is a great possibility." Vision nodded. "It would explain why both pregnancies have been moving at the same rate." He said. "I'm sorry, but is there any chance you could stop the rain, please, darling?"

"I think I'm the one causing this now," Wanda said. "My waters broke."

"Well, I was just reading about the advantages of water birth." Vision joked.

Y/N crawled from under the table, and while knelt on the floor, she flicked her wrists and stopped the water flow.

"Oh, thank goodness." Wanda sighed.

"Let me help you up, dears." Vision said, crawling out of the table and helping both women to stand. "There we are."

"Oh, what a mess." Wanda gasped at the ruined furniture.

Wanda caused the sliding doors to fling open, and Y/N created a wind to dry off the three and their home.

"That's much better." Vision commented. Before he could say another word, both Y/N and Wanda were letting out groans and curling over, causing him to rush forward.

"Sweetheart, do you think it's time to,"

"Call the doctor." Vision nodded, rushing into the kitchen while Y/N pushed Wanda into a chair and sat herself.

"Yeah."

"Yes, I do, dear." Vision said, picking up the phone before slamming it down in anger. "Damn, the phones are down, too. I better run." He said, rushing towards the dining room. "Except he might have already left for vacation."

"What now?"

"At a time like this?"

"Well, in fairness, darlings, the babies are approximately nine months early." Vision tried to soothe the women. "I better leg it. Will you be alright?"

"Yeah." Wanda nodded, breathing heavily through her nose.

"Y/N?"

"We'll look after each," Y/N said with a nod. 

"I will be back as soon as I can." Vision promised, pressing a kiss to both women's temples before speeding out of the house.

"Disguise!" Y/N and Wanda called, but Vision was already gone.

"You two really know how to make an entrance, huh?" Y/N joked before a chittering sound caused her to freeze.

"That's coming from the nursery," Wanda whispered, slowly rising to her feet and beginning to make her way to the room.

"Why are you going towards the scary noise?" Y/N quietly asked as she followed after her wife.

The two were slowly tiptoeing towards the room, barely breathing, as they tried to catch sight of the noisemaker.

DING DONG!

The doorbell rang loudly, causing both Y/N and Wanda to jump.

"Don't!" Y/N stopped her wife from getting the door. "No-one knows about this." She said quietly, gesturing to their bumps.

"Oh shoot!" Wanda sighed, rushing to the coat closest and causing two overcoats to float out.

When both women's bumps were significantly covered, Wanda opened the door to reveal Geraldine standing there with a smile.

"Wanda, Y/N, what's up?" She asked, looking the two up and down. "It's one hundred and ten degrees out. Are you making a fashion statement? Didn't you feel the temperature rise?" Geraldine asked, making her way into the house.

"Hi, Geraldine. You know, now is not really a good time." Wanda said apologetically.

"No, no, no, they're foxy. You'll have to let me borrow it sometime. Both of 'em." Geraldine said, talking about the coats both women were wearing. "But first, I gotta borrow a bucket."

"A bucket?" Y/N asked, cocking her head.

"Not to wear, to use." She clarified. "Somehow, all the pipes in my ceiling burst at once, and I gotta bail myself out," Geraldine told the two.

"I think you'll need more than one," Y/N commented.

"Just stay right here," Wanda told the woman. "We might have a couple in the kitchen. Y/N a little help?" 

"Of course." Y/N nodded before the two ran off into the kitchen.

"I think they're just under the sink!" Wanda called before letting out a little scream at a painful contraction.

"Guys?"

"Everything's fine!" Y/N called out as Wanda's and her coat changed. "Just stay there!"

"Are you alright in there?" Geraldine asked.

"Yes! Everything's fine!" Wanda called.

"We're just looking!" Y/N added before letting out a loud grunt at her own contraction.

"I'll come help!" Geraldine offered, and Y/N and Wanda could hear her footsteps rushing towards them.

"No!" The two exclaimed.

"No, thank you." Wanda corrected, pulling off her coat, urging Y/N to do the same, and covering her stomach with a fruit bowl.

Geraldine entered the kitchen and made a beeline to the supply cupboard while Y/N grabbed a book from the counter and hid her stomach.

"Would you look at that?" Geraldine asked, turning to face the married women.

"What?"

"Fruit." Geraldine grinned, walking towards Wanda's fruit bowl. "Thank you!" She said, taking an apple and throwing it to herself.

"Well, good luck with the leak," Wanda said as she and Y/N attempted to usher Geraldine out of the house.

"Oh, thank, oh! Say girls, I have got a question for you two!" Geraldine said, moving to the couch. "You know how I've been working that temp job, right?" She wondered, taking a seat. "Well, my boss, Mr. Haddox, he was going crazy yesterday." She began to recount, but neither woman could focus on her words. 

Neither woman could focus on Geraldine because right behind her, a stork was stalking around the room.

"Oh, look at me going on and on like you got all the time in the world." Geraldine sighed as she rose to her feet. "Let me go on and get out,"

"Wait, no!" Wanda exclaimed before Geraldine could turn around.

"Tell us all about the temp job!" Y/N demanded. 

"There's my girls!" Geraldine smiled, sitting back down. "So yesterday, my boss, Mr. Haddox, was going crazy working on the new slogan for that new breakfast cereal. You know, the one with the little marshmallow moon men?"

"Yeah, of course." Y/N absent-mindedly agreed as she stared at the stork, walking around the living room.

"Right, so it's about ten minutes before the big presentation, and Mr. Haddox has got nothin'. Nothin', that is, except the worst case of hiccups I ever did see." Geraldine continued her story as Wanda tried to vanish the stork.

But nothing happened. The stork didn't disappear in the cloud of red smoke. Instead, the bird flapped its wings almost angrily at the attempt. 

"I'm telling you he couldn't get one word out, let a whole pitch."  Geraldine laughed. "So I'm trying every trick in the book to help this poor man. I'm hidin' behind filing cabinets and jumpin' out when he least expects it, like, boo!" She exclaimed, causing Y/N to jump and Wanda to scream as she threw an orange at the stork.

"Jesus, you two." Geraldine sighed, clapping a hand to her chest.

The stork had run away after Wanda threw fruit at it, but it was now making loud chipering noises, causing Geraldine to jump to her feet.

"What was that?" Geraldine demanded, looking around the room fearfully.

"What was what?" Y/N deflected, tilting her head to the side.

"Did you not hear that?"

"I don't think I heard anything. Did you, Wanda?"

"No."

"It was like a chattering sound, like, um," Geraldine tried to explain.

"Oh, like a" Wanda made a chittering sound herself. "That was our new icemaker built right into the fridge." She lied.

Geraldine turned to face the kitchen before turning back with a smile. 

"Oh! You're fancy." Geraldine complimented, settling back into her seat as Wanda and Y/N chuckled nervously. "Let me get back to this story." She said before launching back into her recount.

It was getter harder for Y/N and Wanda to hide the fact they were in labor. Both women were stifling grunts and whimpers, only managing to do so by clutching the other's hand tightly.

Vision had to be back soon, right?

"So now, at this point, I am helping Mr. Haddox do a handstand under the water cooler because you know why not try a little upside-down action. Drink those hiccups away. And wouldn't you know it, at that moment, in walks the client?"

"Oh no." Y/N gasped as the stork reentered the room. 

"Oh yes. Oh yes." Geraldine nodded, oblivious to the bird beside her. "But you know me, girls, I keep my cool no matter what's goin' down. And I look at the client, and I look at Mr. Haddox's feet floating in the air next to me, and I look back to the client, and I say, "Gravity Os, launch into your day, the right way." Geraldine explains with a cackle, not noticing the stork pecking at her fish pants.  At her loud laugh and her shifting her legs, the stork runs away, back into the nursery.

"Oh, thank you!" Wanda laughs in relief as Y/N sank back into her chair with a sigh.

"Yeah, and that's what Mr. Haddox said right before he told me to clean out my desk," Geraldine said, taking a bite of her apple. 

"Oh, Geraldine." Wanda gasped.

"Surely he didn't fire you?" Y/N asked, shaking her head at the idea.

Despite neither woman really listening to Geraldine's story, she was still their friend. And they would hate for her to be disappointed like that.

"Oh, sugars." Geraldine sighed before a grin fought its way onto her face. "He hired me!" She exclaimed. 

"Oh!"

"Congratulations!"

"I landed a promotion!" Geraldine reiterated, standing with a wide smile. "And now that I've gone all corporate, I need some office supplies. Which brings me to my question. Do ya'll still keep those in your spare room?" She asked, moving towards the old spare room, now nursery. 

As Geraldine moved towards the open room, Y/N and Wanda jumped to their feet, Wanda putting her fruit bowl down and Y/N dropping her book. 

"Because I was hoping you wouldn't mind sharing with your good friend," Geraldine said, entering the nursery. The nursery where the stork had hidden.

"Is that what I think it is?" The woman asked, staring around the room with wide eyes.

"A stork, yes, we can explain," Wanda said but came up blank with an explanation.

"No, the cribs!" Geraldine exclaimed, looking at the two cribs with a smile.

But she never got her answer. Not that she really needed one as Y/N and Wanda let out loud grunts of pain.

"Oh shoot! I think it's time!" Y/N gasped, her hands flying to her bump as she hyperventilated.

"The babies are coming." Wanda panted.

"You're pregnant? You're both pregnant?" Geraldine asked, staring at her friend's now exposed stomachs in shock.

"Oh God, where's Vis?"

Vision was still running around town. One thing he'd forgotten to do before having left home was to check for Dr. Neilson's address. 

Dr. Neilson was still at home, dressed for his vacation but under the hood of his car.

"Ow!" Neilson grunted after he hit his head on the bonnet. "Bermuda awaits, and my car decides to poop out right at this moment." He sighed before slamming the bonnet down.

Before the doctor could further complain about the situation, the man jumped into the air as Vision appeared before him. 

"Mr. Vision!" He gasped. "Is everything okay with the wives?"

"Yes. Yes, very much so. So long as we hurry." Vision said, grabbing Neilson's arm and hoisting him onto his back.

Without another word, Vision was running home, Neilson secured on his back, not noticing the fact that Dr. Neilson's wife had been sitting in the car.

"But Stan! What about my brand new two-piece?" His wife yelled. But she was talking to no-one.

Vision was already rushing her husband to his home, a home where he would soon be able to meet his children.

Back at said home, Geraldine was panicking. She had had no idea that her friends were pregnant, and now they were about to give birth.

"Okay, Wanda, I'm gonna get you to the living room. Y/N, I'll be right back." Geraldine promised, taking Wanda's arm and pulling it around her shoulders.

"No worries, I'll be fine. I'll just try not to pop the kid out in here." Y/N grunted, sinking down onto the floor as her wife was pulled out of the room.

"Let's get you comfortable," Geraldine said, grabbing pillow's on the couch and attempting to set it up as Wanda sunk onto the floor.

"I think I'm just going to lay down right here." Wanda panted, making herself comfortable on the floor. "Where's Y/N?" Wanda gasped.

"I'm getting her now. I'll be right back." Geraldine promised, propping pillows under Wanda's head before rushing back into the nursery. "Let's get you up, Y/N." She said, gently pulling Y/N to her feet as the woman groaned. 

"With Wanda. I need to be next to Wanda." Y/N said through gritted teeth.

Geraldine didn't question Y/N's request as she laid Y/N next to her wife, assuming both women were feeling quite frightened at the moment.

And while that was true, there was something else drawing them together. 

The babies in their wombs seemed to be drawn to one another. The babies were connected. And even now, as they were so close to entering the world, they wanted to be near each other.

They needed to be near each other.

"Where's Vision?" Geraldine demanded as she grabbed pillows for Y/N.

"He ran to get the doctor," Wanda explained as the vacuum began to run in the background.

"He'll be here soon," Y/N added with a grunt.

"There's not enough time for that!" Geraldine denied. "You know the breathing, right?" She asked as she began to run around the house. "Girls, I can't hear you!"

But neither woman could respond as the pain was becoming blinding. And it wasn't like Geraldine would be able to hear over the chaos happening around them.

Photo frames were spinning, the fire was roaring, a violent wind was making its way through the house, and both women were screaming. 

Geraldine hadn't noticed any of the noise until she was rushing back into the living room and a light fixture crashed onto the table.

"I may be late to the party, but I imagine there is a logical explanation for this," Geraldine said, sitting before the women with a bucket and blankets.

"Oh, it's all perfectly natural!"

"Just like this! Everything's fine!"

"Hey, hey, hey. You are doing great." Geraldine assured. "You are doing great. The two of you are doing amazing. Look at me. Look at me." She demanded before demonstrating the breathing techniques.

"Wanda, I can't do this," Y/N grunted. 

"What? No, because if you can't do this, I can't do this. And we're too close to turn back now." Wanda said, reaching over and blindly taking Y/N's hand. 

"I'll say it's too late because it's time to start pushing," Geraldine said.

"What?" Both women gasped.

"Wanda, you're crowning," Geraldine informed her. "Are you ready? You're ready. Push. Push, Wanda, push." She cheered as Wanda squeezed Y/N's hand tightly and screamed.

The house was alive as Wanda pushed, and her screams seemed to drown out the chaos in the house as everything reached its craziest.

And when Wanda stopped screaming, and the house went quiet, a new set of cries permeated the walls.

"It's a boy," Geraldine informed the woman as she wrapped the baby up.

"Oh, hi." Wanda cooed as the baby was placed in her arms.

"Oh, Wanda, he's perfect." Y/n smiled, reaching over to grab his little hand.

Before either of you could say another word, the front door was slammed open, and Vision was now standing in the living room with Neilson behind him.

"Did I miss it all?" Vision asked, staring at his wives.

"Nope, you're just in time," Y/N grunted. "Please, someone tell me it's time." She begged.

"I think you're ready to push." Geraldine checked, causing Vision to rush to kneel between his wives and the doctor to move into action.

Y/N's labor was much less chaotic than Wanda's. The only side effect that happened was the wind that rushed through the house before their daughter was born.

"She's gorgeous." Wanda smiled as the baby was bundled up and placed in Y/N's arms.

"Hey, Doc, why don't you help me out in the kitchen there?" Geraldine suggested, wanting to give the three a moment of privacy.

"Everything's happened so fast today. It's like I've been flying." The doctor said as he followed the woman out of the room.

"Well done, girls." Vision said, brushing hair off both women's faces.

"Don't you want to meet your children as yourself?" Wanda suggested. Vision quickly looked around before dropping his disguise.

"You're so strong." Wanda cooed as she handed Vision the boy.

"Do you want to hold her?" Y/N offered their daughter to her wife.

"I'd love to hold, Luna," Wanda said, causing Y/N to smile.

"Hello there, little Tommy." Vision cooed at the little boy in his arms.

"Tommy?"

"Yes, Tommy." Vision smiled, causing both Wanda and Y/N to smile at him before Wanda let out another scream.

"What?" Y/N and Vision exclaimed, staring at Wanda in shock.

Vision handed Tommy to Y/N and rushed to lift Wanda's skirt.

"Oh! Good heavens! There's another baby coming!" Vision cried.

"Billy?" Wanda exclaimed as she handed Luna over to Y/N and began to grunt as the urge to push grew stronger.

"Push, sweetheart, push!"

"Thirty fingers and thirty toes." Nielson commended thirty minutes after the birth of the three children. 

Because of Billy's surprise entrance, Neilson had had to triple check that both women were okay and that there would be no more surprises that day.

He had made sure there were no more children on their way any time soon, that Y/N and Wanda could both feed all three babies and that they were both recovering well.

Now Wanda, Vision, and Neilson were each holding one of the babies ea while Y/N lay on the couch, exhausted after the day.

"You've got two healthy baby boys and one healthy little girl on your hands." Neilson complimented.

"Thank you, doctor." Wanda smiled, rocking Tommy in her arms.

"And thank you, young lady," Neilson said, turning to Geraldine with a smile. "I think you might have what it takes to be a nurse."

"Allow me to walk you out, doctor." Vision murmured, putting Luna into her bassinet and taking Billy from the doctor's arms and putting in the bassinet beside her.

"Oh, all right. As long as we actually walk this time." He said, causing a sleepy smile to appear on Y/N's face.

"We do owe you a debt of gratitude," Wanda said as she neared the bassinets.

"Big-time," Y/N murmured.

Well, doctor Neilson, I hope you're still able to make your trip." Vision said, leading the doctor out of his home.

"Ah yes, my trip. I don't we'll get away after all." Neilson admitted with a sigh. "Small towns, you know. So hard to... escape." He said, more to himself, before leaving Vision standing alone.

"Yeah." Vision shook his head before turning back to his home. He was about to reenter the house when he overheard Herb and Agnes hissing to each other.

"What is she doing in there?"

"I don't know."

"Howdy neighbors!" Vision called, causing both people to turn and wave quickly.

"Hey!"

"Howdy!" Agnes called before turning back to Herb. "Did you see her go in?"

"She just went right in."

Vision's curiosity was peaked. Which she were his neighbors talking about?

"Remarkable day we're having, no?" Vision asked, walking over to the two. "Did you lose power too?" He questioned Agnes.

"Oh, sure did." Agnes nodded with a sigh before plastering on a grin. "But, Ralph looks better in the dark, so I'm not complaining."

"Hi, Herb."  Vision said, looking at the man strangely.

"Hey, buddy." Herb nodded quickly, lowering his hand just as fast. Both Agnes and Herb were looking at him nervously, and it was unsettling Vision.

"Well, I'll just get back to the girls." He excused himself, turning away.

"Vision!" Agnes called, forcing him to turn back. "Is Geraldine inside your house?" She asked, shifting uncomfortably.

"Yes. Why?" 

"Why are you not tired?" Y/N mumbled, her face pressed into the couch cushions. 

"I must just be special," Wanda said, hinting at her powers.

"Not fair."

"Go to sleep, sweetheart," Wanda said, brushing hair off Y/N's face.

"No, I want to stay up."

"You're exhausted, Y/N. Go to sleep. I'll wake you if the babies cry." Wanda promised.

"Okay. I'll just rest my eyes." Y/N nodded, closing her eyes. Wanda gently pressed her fingertips to Y/N's temple and helped her to sleep. Ensuring that she only had good dreams as she slept.

"I gotta say, you two are such strong ladies." Geraldine complimented as Wanda moved back to the bassinets.

"Oh." Wanda tutted, waving the compliment off.

"Can you believe it? Twin boys and a little girl! You know they're going to be the most overprotective brothers when they're older." Geraldine said, causing Wanda to freeze.

Distant memories, memories Wanda had forced to the back of her mind, were resurfacing. Memories of her own twin.

Her own overprotective twin.

"I'm a twin," Wanda mentioned, eyes glazed over. "I had a brother. His name was Pietro." Wanda said, her accent slipping on his name. Wanda turned to stare back at her children with a smile before she began to sing a familiar lullaby. A lullaby her mother had sung to her and Pietro. 

"He was killed by Ultron," Geraldine said, causing Wanda to freeze. "Wasn't he?"

"What did you say?" Wanda demanded as a single tear slid down her cheek.

"She's new to town. Brand new." Herb told Vision.

"There's no family. No husband." Agnes added.

"There's nothing wrong with that." Vision said with a shrug.

"No home," Agnes told him.

"What?" 

"What did you just say?" Wanda asked, staring at Geraldine blankly.

"I said, you're such strong ladies," Geraldine repeated. "Should I say it one more time for good measure?" She asked, moving towards the couch. Where Y/N was still sleeping, unbeknownst to what was happening.

"Don't go near her." Wanda snapped, stopping Geraldine in her tracks. "What did you say about Pietro?"

"Pietro?" Geraldine questioned, tilting her head in confusion. "Hey, I'll take a shift rocking the babies." She offered, beginning to move closer to the bassinets when the babies started to cry.

"No, I think you should leave." Wanda shook her head, blocking the bassinets from her view.

"Oh, Wanda, don't be like that," Geraldine said, staring at Wanda as if she were the crazy one. 

"What do you mean she has no home?" Vision demanded, moving towards his neighbors.

"She came here because." Herb tried to say but couldn't finish his own sentence. "She came here because we're all,"

"She came here because we're all what? What're you trying to tell me?" Vision asked, staring at the two in confusion.

"What is that?" Wanda asked, staring at the pendant around Geraldine's neck.

"What?" 

"That," Wanda said as Geraldine held the pendant between her fingers. "That symbol."

"I uh, I'm," Geraldine stuttered, looking towards Y/N, hoping the woman would help her.

"Who are you?" Wanda demanded, moving to block her wife from Geraldine's gaze.

"I don't,"

"She came here because we're all," Herb began to say but stopped when Agnes spun to face him.

"Stop it!" She hissed, staring at him with scared eyes.

"Who are you?" Wanda repeated, staring at the woman in anger.

"Wanda." Geraldine shook her head as she began to take a step back. "I'm. Wanda, I'm," Geraldine stuttered, unable to tell her.

"Well, I better get going. That macrame's not gonna hitch itself!" Agnes said with a smile as she grabbed her bike. She gave Vision a wink as she rang the bell before rushing away.

"Herb?" Vision asked, raising an eyebrow. 

Vision wasn't going to back down. He needed answers, but Herb wasn't willing to give them.

"Catch you on the flip side, Vision," Herb said, grabbing his trimmers and rushing back into his home.

Without a second thought, Vision rushed back into his house, his disguise dropping when the door shut behind him.

"Wanda? Where's Geraldine?" Vision asked, rounding the couch to stand beside a sleeping Y/N.

"Oh, she left, honey," Wanda told him, not turning around to face him. "She had to rush home." She added, continuing to rock the babies with a blank face.

Miles away from the Vision home, on the outskirts of Westview, there was a loud crackling that ripped through the air.

The crackling continued until Geraldine was thrown through the electric barrier, and she landed on the ground with a crash.

Within seconds Geraldine's prone body was surrounded by loud noises, and a light covered her form.

She was surrounded.

Taglist is open throughout the entirety of the series.

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[fandomtookoverlife]

Friday night

Pairing: Hotch x reader

Gn!reader (if I missed anything please lmk) 

summary: you are a part of the bau and dating Aaron Hotchner, after a long week you go to the bar with the “children” of the bau. 

Note: italics are readers thoughts 

Warning: drinking, mention of guns, swearing 

Words: 2200

Category: fluff

A/N: idk what this is 😂😂 a short little cute thing about a night with the team and being loved by Hotch, what more could anyone want 😂 I hope you enjoy 

Don’t mind the fact that I am horrible with names when I say this is the only name I could come up with I’m not joking, I couldn’t for the life of me even think of another name. 

Other blog: @mac99martin

Masterlist

---

You looked over at the clock- 8:30. “Fucking shit.” 

Derek chuckled beside at his desk beside you, “you just realise the time sweetheart?” not even looking up from his report. 

You scoffed at his mocking tone, “whatever” bitterly you shot him a glare and stood up. ugh god, you haven’t stood up like 3 hours, internally whining you get up to get even more coffee.

“Oh! Hello, there my beauty!” the one and only, sunflower of a woman; Penelope Garcia, with a bright smile on her face despite being still being here at 8:30. She wrapped her arm around you into a tight side-hug as the two of you walked into the break room, smiling, because how could you not smile with someone like Penelope around. You rest your head on her shoulder letting yourself relax into her warm hug.

“Pennnny, why is there so much work?” you look up at her from your spot on her shoulder and give her your puppy dog face.

“Oh baby, I don’t know” she smooths down your hair, something you absolutely adore. Unsatisfied with her answer you sigh and fill your cup to the brim and take a very long sip. “Ooo! I know” you raise your eyebrows amused at her sudden outburst, “we are going drinking tonight!” 

You considered it a moment, it was Friday, you did just get back from a case yesterday, and you have been doing paperwork-all day… “Okay! I’m in!”

“Eeeeek! Okay, let’s go tell every else their Friday night plans!” 

You grab her hand and run out to the bullpen, yes your team was the only one left in the building-Again. No! No bad thoughts, only thoughts of drinking! “Alright, everyone!” you and Pen glance at each other smirking before turning back to the team whose attention you have now grabbed. “Penelope and I have decided what we are all doing tonight,” you say playfully but firmly.

“And what’s that sweetheart?” 

You direct your attention to Morgan as Rossi comes out of his office, “We are going drinking.”  

Derek smirks “Hell. Yes.” 

Penelope claps her hands and squeals  “Yes! Okay who else is in?” excitedly you both look around the room. 

“Well, I sure as hell am.” 

“Yay! Okay, we got Derek, Emily, who else, JJ?”

She considered it for a second while you started at her with an eyebrow cocked. “Okay okay, I’ll come.” 

Doing a 180 looking above the bullpen at Rossi, “how about you? And before you answer just know, there are no adults allowed.”

“Ya only stressed out sexy workaholic FBI agents that are going to act like teenagers all night”

Laughing you look back at Rossi, “Sorry kiddos, not tonight.”

“What? You’re seriously not coming?” Penny said in the saddest voice 

“Dave, come on, I was just kidding, pleassse.” you give another puppy face. 

“Sorry Bella, not tonight” sending you a smile before going back to his office.

Shaking it off you look at Spencer who is the last to answer in the vicinity, “and you?”

“Umm….I-” he looks like he’s about to say no when Derek claps his shoulder,

“Pretty boy’s in!” 

Spencer looked around at the team, “um, okay I guess I’ll come.”

“Okay everyone finish your last report and then we gettin our party on!”

“Alright, will do babygirl.”

Everyone turned back to their work while you climbed the stairs, knocking on the door and opening it, “Hey!” Aaron smiled at you and stood up as you closed the door behind you, and with the blinds already closed you put your arms around your boyfriend’s neck and pulls him in for a kiss, 

“hmmm” comes from both of you as you pull apart smiling. The team definitely knew about your relationship with your boss to some degree but the two of you hadn’t slipped up so no one has caught you-yet. Some of the team, more confrontational than others will give you looks, snide comments, but they don’t know anything. And you guys aren’t keeping it from the team, you’re just, riding the wave while it lasts. “So did you hear the plan?” playing with his hair at the base of his head. 

“Plan?” 

“mhmm, we’re all going for drinks,- minus Rossi.” he gave you a pointed look at that last part. 

“Is that why I heard Emily yell something about ‘sexy workaholic FBI agents’” 

You drop your head on his shoulder, shake your head and laugh, “Um...yes?” 

“Ya, I think I’ll pass.”

“Babe, come on, it’ll be fuunnnn.” 

“Mhmm, no”  

You went on your tippy-toes, moving closer and closer to his lips, whispering, “pretty please” 

He closed the gap between your lips softly, but deeply “no.” 

You dropped down and gave him a slight glare, which he smiled at. He kissed you again and went back to his desk, “if you’re not coming, you’re definitely not staying here all night.”

Sitting down at his desk, “I’m not, I’m simply waiting on the last of the reports, if a certain agent would hurry up and finish hers…” 

“Alright alright, I’m going,” walking over to his chair, “seriously don’t stay too late alright?” 

“Alright.” kissing him one last time, “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Of course.” smiling before making your way to the door, 

“Hey,” you turn towards him at the loving sound of his voice, “be safe?” 

“I will. I love you”

“I love you too” 

-

You return to your desk hoping you can finish your last report quickly and get out of here, “Hey, sweetheart,” 

“Yes Morgan?” replying sightly animated.

“Anything fun happen in there?” 

“No.” you glare, “I asked him if he was coming; he’s not.”

“Mhmm, sure.” turning back to his work and you do the same. 

-

“We got shots!” 

“Hell ya!” 

“Gimme gimme gimmie!” 

“Patience babygirl” 

“No.” penny grabs a shot and take it while the rest of you laugh, “woo!” 

“Alright our turn!” 

You all let loose enjoying some fun and each other’s company. Your look at the people around you, yesterday you had guns and people’s lives in your hands, right now, you were all smiling, enjoying yourselves and life to the fullest, you couldn’t ask for better people to do it with. 

-

It’s so loud in the bar and you’re all laughing so much you barely hear your phone ring, seeing it’s Aaron calling you is a little worrying, “Sorry, I’ll be back in a sec.” everyone looked around suspiciously but didn’t say anything. “Aaron?” walking outside,

“Hi Y/N!” 

A little taken back, especially with the alcohol in your system, “Jack?” 

“Hiiiiiii Y/NNNNNN” 

“What are you still doing up mister?” 

“Well daddy said since it’s Friday I can stay up so we watched a movie”

“Oh ya what movie did you watch?” 

“Well first we watched frozen and then we watched spiderman!” 

You laughed, you’ve watched each of those movies with him at least three times yourself, “that sounds fun, did you have popcorn?” 

“YA!” 

Oh my god isn’t he just the cutest fucking thing? you think your heart actually melts at his cuteness “So where’s your dad now?” remembering he’s calling from his dad’s phone, 

“Ummmmmmm….” 

“Jack?” 

Jack whispering, as if he wasn’t just yelling a few seconds ago, “he said its bedtime,” even quieter, “so I’m hiding”

You cover your mouth with your hand trying your very best not to laugh, composing your self, “well Jack that’s not very good of you” 

“Ya… but I don’t wanna go to bed” 

At that, you let a little laugh, “I know buddy… but what made you took your dad’s phone?” 

“I wanted to call you” 

You paused you were a little taken back, “and why is that?” 

“I don’t know, I like you, and my daddy likes you too!” 

That makes you smile, “well, I’m glad you both like me-” you were cut off by a gasp from Jack “Jack, you okay?” 

He whispered into the phone, “he found me.” and yet again having to put your hand over your mouth to stop from laughing, “I have to go” in a very rushed voice, “I love you.”

Your mind went blank for a split second, he had never actually said that to you, “I love you too” 

“Jack who are you-”

“Goodnight-” and the line cut off

Sitting down, your minds a little fuzzy and it’s not from the alcohol. A minute or two later your phone starts ringing again, “hey Aar,” you said, still smiling, you also expected this call. 

“Hey baby, sorry about that, um, what exactly was that?” 

You both laugh a little, “well apparently daddy was making him go to bed, so naturally he stole your phone, hid and called me.” 

“Naturally, sorry about that I know you’re out.”

“Oh don’t be he’s cute... he said he loved me”

“I know”

“I like that”

“Me too”

You both sat there smiling for a few seconds, what did you do to get such a perfect life? “alright I got to go, have fun, be safe, call me when you get home?”

“I will, love you.”

“Love you” 

-

“Hey sorry” you came back to the table smiling, which everyone was suspicious of but oh well, what are you going to do, I came here for a good time and I’m going to have one! 

“Who was that?” 

“Oh no one, what are we talking about?” picking up your drink.

“Actually we were just talking about how 27% of women in the US have slept with their boss.” immediately you choked on your drink and quickly trying to recover, but the damage was done

God fucking damn it Reid! Seriously you just had to throw me under the bus like that? 

You shot him a nasty glare, “ that was not what you were talking about.” 

“Nope, you’re right it wasn’t.”

That bastard is smiling 

Everyone is killing themselves, and you? You just down your drink, “Anyone want another?” 

Leaning against the bar you shake your head, out of all the people I did not expect REID to call me out. 

“Hey, sweet thang” you drop your head, 

“Derek.” you acknowledge him

“I gotta say I’m surprised, I really am, I didn’t expect Reid to be the one to call you out.”

You laugh, “Ya, Neither Did I.”  

“Soooo, you admit it?” Derek said, very amused 

“I have said nothing.” 

“Come onnnn, say it.”

“We should really get back to the table,” already halfway there.

“Oh come it’s not going to be better over there!” he’s not wrong 

“Y/N!”

“Oh, my sweet Penelope how are you?”

“NoNoNo you’re not getting out of this!” grabbing your arm

“Pen that’s my arm!”

“Y/N you have to tell us!”

“Emily’s right”

“Come on JJ you too, can’t someone be on my side.” 

“Absolutely not!”

“Soooo how long have you been together?”

Shit you look at the people around you, there’s no way out of this, “fine!” a stream of yeses and shrieks courtesy of Penny, “we’ve-” SHIT “we’ve been together, 6 months”

“6 months!”

“No fucking way!”

“Oh my god! How couldn’t have you told us!”

“Were you just on the phone with him?”

“Do you guys sneak into each other’s hotel rooms?”

You were doing so much drinking tonight. 

-

Somehow you made it home safely, but you were pretty drunk, I mean what did you expect 

When you woke up you saw 3 missed calls from Aaron and 3 text messages, ya you were a little drunk last night. After you’ve been awake for a whole 45 seconds you call Aaron, “Hey! Are you okay? you never called me back last night”

“Ugh” 

“Baby?”

“Shhhhhhh” 

“Alright I get it, I’ll be at your place in 30, with coffee” 

“Yessssss”  

-

And a half an hour later he showed up, with coffee as promised, using the key you gave him to let himself in, as you were not getting out of bed. “Hey,” in a hushed tone. 

“Hi” you smiled at him, you were still a little sleepy and probably hungover, he put the drinks on the table and you pulled him into your bed, he chuckled but laid down and you put your head on his chest, “mhmm” he’s so warm 

“Tired?” 

“Ya” 

“How late did you stay out?”

“I don’t know”

“You don’t know?”

You shock your head into his chest “uh-uh.” you laid there comfortably for a few minutes, you immensely enjoying the warmth and happiness that your boyfriend brings you, “soooo I got cornered last night”

“Cornered?” 

“Mhmm, about us, after our call I went back to the table and they called me out.”

“Oh really?” he was chuckling not only that it had happened but in the cute, sleepy manner of which you mentioned it, “actually, I didn’t think they would, figured they were just waiting for us to slip.”

You scoffed, “ya so did I. you’ll never guess who called me on it tho.”

“Oh?”

“Reid.”

“Seriously,” see it’s not just me that didn’t expect it to be Reid of all people, “I mean I thought Morgan or Prentiss but Reid?”

“Ya, I got caught a little off guard.” Aaron laughed “Hey!” you swatted his arm “don’t laugh! It’s not funny!” 

“Never.” he kissed the top of your head and started playing with your hair, you spent the next few hours lying, sitting, drinking, talking, the perfect morning, after a perfect night, with the perfect man, and the best friends anyone could ask for.

---

@spencers-renaissance

[yourmcu]

Wish You Were Here (ii)

Pairings: Tony Stark x daughter!reader, Peter Parker x Stark!reader (platonic)

Summary:

an Infinity War/Endgame AU where Tony Stark’s daughter (you) is one of half the population that vanishes in the snap, Tony finds out later on when he arrives back to Earth, devastated, then you come back like the others to help fight Thanos.

Word count: 3,115

A/n: (moved to the end of the fic!)

Warnings: angst, death, swearing, Morgan’s a cutie! and no seriously I miss him so much

read it on ao3!

Part 1

gif not mine! credits to the owner^^

Just like the others, you were brought back when the Avengers succeeded in retrieving all the infinity stones.

You're laying on the ground at the same place you were last time: Wakanda. Once you gain consciousness you struggle to get up, your legs wobbly.

“Hello?” You call out, but you're alone, can’t even contact anyone since your suit is out of power. You have no clear memory of what happened, just that you had an anxiety attack while Natasha held you, then you blacked out and - that’s it.

You felt a strong breeze and footsteps behind you.

“[Y/N] Stark,” a man’s voice says. “Come with me.”

The man is ancient looking, had a cape and his facial hair weirdly reminds you of Tony’s. “Who are you? And how long was I out?” You look at a sparking yellow portal far behind him, “did you do that?”

“Stick together and stick with Wong,” the man calls out before the portal closes. You have no idea who he was talking to since they already got in. “Doctor Stephen Strange. We need to find Pepper Potts and... get you suited.”

“I already am suited it’s just - no juice. What’s going on?”

“It’s been five years. It’s time, your father and the others need our help to defeat Thanos,” Doctor Strange opens up another portal to an unfamiliar cabin. Your eyes light up at the mention of Tony. “Quickly. We do not have much time.”

Five years? Unbelievable. That’s just insane. You like sleeping a lot but you couldn’t imagine being asleep for five long years.

“Are - are you sure we’re in the right pla - okay, sorry, don’t have much time, yeah,” you knock on the door when Doctor Strange gives you a stern and impatient look. It gets answered right away.

“[Y/N]? Oh my god,” Pepper says breathlessly. You could feel her sobbing while she hugs you tightly.

“Hey, you guys didn’t tell me you moved,” you frown. “Is all my stuff here? Mr. Strange wants me to get ready and this isn’t the only suit I have-”

“Doctor Strange.”

“It’s upstairs, last room on the left,” Pepper smiles as she wipes her tears. You nod and went up the stairs as the magic doctor told her everything.

All your stuff were in boxes and your spare iron suit was standing in a corner. You wiped away the dust off and checked if it was in good condition. It was ready to go.

You quickly charged the weapons and blasters on the suit, and you still needed to-

You hear a small gasp from behind the door.

Confused, you turn around to see a girl with an amazed smile on her face. “Y/N!”

You cautiously walk over to the small girl, “yeah, I’m Y/N, what’s your name?”

“Morgan,” she replies, then her eyes widen as she hides something behind her back. “Daddy said I can borrow your stuff as long as I put it back. They all look really cool.”

You still aren’t sure, but you start to put the pieces together in your mind: you were ‘gone’ for five years, this girl is living with Pepper, and if you guessed right, ‘daddy’ is Tony.

She’s your sister.

“It’s okay, and thanks,” she gives you a small hug which you return slightly, you feel a smile growing on your face since you find her really precious. “It’s nice to meet you, Morgan.

“Hey, so, there’s this weirdo man downstairs and he wants me and Pep - mom to do an errand for him,” you say to her once you remember you have to go. Morgan nods understandingly, “we can play and catch up when I get back, okay? That’s a promise.”

She runs back to her room and you get suited up, power at its maximum.

“Welcome back, Ms. Stark.”

“Glad to be. I missed you - actually, how Dad’s doing? Is he alright?”

“Mr. Stark had a concussion earlier, but as of now he is waking up again.”

“Oh,” you exhale and start worrying about him a bit. “Okay. That’s fine, I guess,”

Once you go back down a portal was already open and a nanny by the door (you assumed for Morgan). You fly right in before it closed up.

“Holy shit.”

There's armies coming out of many different portals, from people to aircrafts, to mutants. You all gather at the Avengers compound, or what used to be the compound.

“I forgot to mention,” you point out and Pepper turns to you, “That’s a pretty badass suit.”

You could feel Pepper roll her eyes from inside her suit. You follow her as she flies all the way to the front.

Your eyes dart everywhere to look for Tony. And there he is, getting up from the ground and flying back to the Avengers. He looks worn out, ragged, tired; you notice before his iron head covered him up. There’s so many people that you doubt he even saw you. God, you miss him so much.

Cap, Thor, Rhodey, Clint, Peter, Wanda, Bucky, Sam, Bruce - or Hulk, everyone was there, but where’s Natasha?

“Avengers!” Cap shouts, a hand extended as he catches Mjolnir without stumbling - whoa, what? - “assemble.”

That’s it. The battle begins.

It's your first time using your backup suit, you obviously didn’t have the time to test it out first. Good thing it works fine.

You're flying around, shooting enemies whenever they get in your way and helping anyone on your side who needed it.

What got you confused (not that you were complaining) was how the other Avengers were a bit too happy to see you than they normally should. You brushed it off though, they probably just love you so much like you love them.

“Aye, mind if you launch me? I need to be over there,” a raccoon holding a gun states and pointed to the direction. You recognize him immediately.

"Sure thing, bud,” you obliged, grabbing him, levitating off the ground and to thrust your iron arm forward like a cannon.

After a while the battle died down a bit and you saw Tony embracing Peter in a distance.

You smile sadly. Peter’s your best friend, but you really wish that it’s you who Tony was hugging.

Your jealousy fades when one of those giant flying Chitauri makes its way to their direction, ready to attack.

“Friday, activate the mega blaster,” you fly closer to the pair.

“Which one?” For fuck’s sake, Friday,

“The biggest one, please, now!” Once the blaster's out, you aim at the monster who's literally meters away from Tony and Peter and fire. When it crashes to the ground lifeless, you land beside them.

“Sorry, that was,” you pant, opening up your iron helmet. “It was literally going to eat you guys, so, uh, sorry for ruining the moment.”

Peter smiles, nodding and Tony looks at you as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.

He hadn’t seen you in so long that your sudden presence fucking took his breath away. You're here, alive and back. If you guys weren’t in such a situation he’d go on and tell you about all the things you missed.

“I’m probably in trouble, right? I mean.. look Dad, I’m in a battlefield,” you laugh nervously, shooting a creature from the corner of your eye. “In my defense, Doctor Strange was the one who came to me, I didn’t-”

You're cut off when Tony wraps his arms around you. Right now he didn’t care about your excuses as to why you were here. But if Tony from five years ago could see you now he’d definitely ground you for life and take away your lab privileges.

“You’re doing great.” his voice slightly muffled from the hug. You let out a squeak, not expecting that from him at all. Tony smiles and plants a kiss to your forehead. “I love you, kid.”

“I love you too, Dad.”

The battle carries on and you're being swarmed by more enemies. You got really beaten up as it went on - what really knocked you out was when Thanos’ spaceship rained fire.

Unable to get shelter, you try your best to dodge everything that came out of the ship. You could barely see anymore because of the chaos and the clouds of dust everywhere.

“Ms. Stark, you need to get somewhere safe! Your heart rate is also increasing dangerously fast.”

“Not - not helping, Fri-” you get cut off when one of the blue fires hit you on the head, sending you to the ground unconscious.

----

“[Y/N], come on buddy, you need to get up,” Peter. He found your body a while after he handed the gauntlet to Captain Marvel. The battle's still ongoing, but he’s focusing on keeping you away from it while he waits for you to wake up.

You quickly sit up and gasp for air, looking at your best friend. “Did we win? Did we - wait, Peter, look out!” You push him out of the way when a group of monsters make their way to both of you. They turn into dust before they could lunge forward, however.

“...what the..?”

He helps you up and the both of you run to where Rhodey and Tony are at. You nearly break down when you see the state he's in.

“Mr. Stark? Hey - Mr. Stark? It’s Peter... and look, Y/N’s here- she’s okay, sir-” While Peter tries to talk to him you kneel down beside him, placing a hand on his arm while you do your best not to cry.

Then he looks at you, mouthing it’s okay.

But you know it isn’t. On your part, anyway. It seems really selfish but you don’t know what you’d do without him. Tony has always been there for you, he always kept you going.

Pepper kneels beside you, gave you a reassuring look before looking at her husband. “Friday?”

“Life functions critical.” That makes you whimper, pulling yourself closer to Tony.

“Tony, look at me. We’re going to be okay. You can rest now.”

You nod, sniffling, resting your head on his shoulder lightly. “I love you. I’ll take good care of Morgan, dad. Don’t worry.”

When the light of his arc reactor goes out, that’s when both you and Pepper break down, comforting each other around Tony’s lifeless body.

----

Dresses really weren’t your thing. So were skirts and shorts. But you wore a short, black dress for Tony’s funeral. You didn’t care if you weren’t comfortable, it was for him. You’d do anything for him.

You barely got any sleep since the battle, you couldn’t now that he was gone. It didn’t feel right. You had no idea how to cope, how you could move on from this.

What made things worse is when Steve and Thor told you about what happened to Natasha, that’s why you didn’t see her in the battle. She gave her own life just to get everybody else back.

You must’ve zoned out again because Rhodey and Pepper are now setting something up in the living room. An Iron Man helmet.

“S’that going to be new decoration?” You force out a chuckle, sniffling afterwards, sitting down on the sofa behind them.

Iron Man’s eyes light up when Rhodey presses a button. You couldn’t believe what you were seeing. Tony sitting on a chair, a hologram.

He turns it off before hologram Tony could say a word. “That’s,” he sighs, “that’s for later.”

“I can’t do this,” you get up, running a hand through your hair. “I can’t. I’ll - I’ll break down, I know I will. Can I take a walk? Please?”

“Take your time.” Steve gives you a comforting smile.

Pepper nods. “Some air would do you good. Be back when it’s time, okay?”

You take longer calming yourself down in the woods near the cabin. You cried, you mumbled to yourself, paced back and forth,

Cause a picture is all that I have, To remind me that you're never coming back  If I picture it now it just makes me sad And right now I just wish you were here.

You stop when you heard leaves crunching. Peter just arrived, along with his aunt.

“Hey,” Peter silently greets, pulling you into a hug. It's obvious he isn’t getting any sleep either. “Are you okay?”

“Of course not,” you murmur, pulling away. “I should probably head back inside.”

“I’ll see you in a bit.”

You slowly walk to the porch, stopping when you hear Tony’s voice inside. You decide to just wait outside the door, you definitely don’t want to see his face, not right now, it'd be too painful.

“If we pull this thing off, and get everyone back,” Tony pauses. “Tell [Y/N] I left something in her room, yeah?”

Then he does the secret rhythm to a clap only the both of you memorized and knew.

You assume he’s done, since you don’t hear his voice anymore after that. Everyone goes out of the house and you hold Morgan’s hand as all of you walk to the lake for one last goodbye.

After that you talked to everybody who came for a while. Bruce, Steve, Clint and Thor tried to get you to look at the bright side, which you appreciated, you met the rest of the guardians who came, Doctor Strange who gave you a sympathetic look and apologized for your loss, and the guy you remembered Tony told you about, the one who helped him when his suit powered down and got stranded years ago. You made a mental note to ask him to hang out with you and Peter sometime.

“Hey... I’m heading to bed now,” you inform Pepper, Happy and Rhodey (both men were staying at the cabin for a few days) who're in the living room staring at the fireplace.

Before you go to your own room you check up on Morgan, who’s fast asleep. She's wearing her little Iron Man glove, pressed to her chest. She doesn’t deserve this.

Your room is still unpacked and they just sort of removed your bed from the compound and moved it here. You sit on the bed, already thinking of ways to move on that you know wouldn’t work anyway.

You remember your father claimed he had something for you here, so taking a deep breath, you clap the secret rhythm,

“Dad... you’ve gotta be kidding me,” you whine, covering your face with both palms.

Another hologram.

“Hey legacy,” Tony chuckles, looking at you. You shake your head at the ridiculous nickname, also avoiding his eyes, which you’re sure would make you cry if you did look. “I... uh, this is just a little video. For you. Sure you won’t see this but... I like to pretend I could still talk to you. I miss you, a lot.”

You fiddle with your hands, still not looking at him but you listen to him talk.

“But we’ll see. We’ll figure something out. I hope to see you soon, [Y/N]. I love you.”

He has both hands in his pockets as he looked at you with a warm smile, before disappearing.

But he reappears a second after.

“We’re doing it tomorrow. The... uh, time travel thing.”

The stress in his voice make you look up at him, but this time he isn’t looking at you. It seems like he was pacing while he recorded it.

“I just finished doing one of these for, well, in case I somehow die while we attempt to do it. If you think about it, it’s highly likely. Going back in time, yada yada, possibilities are endless,” he sighs. “But I figured I owe my firstborn a final message if that happens, right?”

“Honestly I feel,” he makes motions with his hands. “Bit anxious... right now. We were the only ones helping each other out when one of us felt this way but... seeing as you’re not here, I just have to deal with it.”

“[Y/N], look at me,” Tony crouches down to be in level with you, like he knew you were actually here watching this, like he was actually there, the one talking to you. But it’s how he programmed it. “You wanna know what my best decision in life was?”

“Yeah?”

“Taking you in,” he smiles. “When we fight you always bring up that I had the choice not to, and you were right. But guess what? I have no regrets.”

You smile, blinking back tears.

“You mean the world to me, I just feel like I don’t say it enough,” Tony cocks his head slightly, still looking at you. “We both have no idea what the afterlife’s like but that won’t matter, I’ll always look after you girls.”

“Speaking of which, your sister reminded me so much of you when she was first born, god, I still wish you were around for that. I know you’ll love her, she’s just brilliant. Take care of her for me, yeah?”

“Maybe there’s a way to get you back,” Tony sighs at your words, already knowing that it’s not going to work out. “I - I just need some time. I can bring you back, Dad-”

He places a hand on your shoulder. You couldn’t feel it, but you did feel a light breeze. “The deed’s already done, honey. Don’t worry about me. Come on, don’t cry,” he kneels in front of you as you let yourself go, crying hard into your palms.

Don't say everything's meant to be, Cause you know it's not what I believe  Can't help but think that it should've been me In the end, I just wish you were here.

You open your eyes when you hear a beep, even Tony turns around. The recording had ten seconds left. “The recording’s about to end, [Y/N],”

“I love you tons,” you whisper, looking up at him.

Tony smiles, caressing your cheek. “I love you 3,000.”

Yeah, they say you're in a better place, Either way I still wish you were here ‘Cause they say you're in a better place  In the end, I just wish you were here.

----

so here’s part 2. I miss him y’all, it’s missing-Tony-so-much hours for me

just like the first part, I got the title from this amazing song by Neck Deep which you can listen to here.

[taglist: @creation-magician​ (which I would like to personally thank for wanting to be tagged)]

[detroitbydark]

can we pretty please get a fluff blurb based on harrison giving you his varsity jacket that he wore in his insta post? please?

No warnings here. This is probably the tamest, most G rated things I’ll ever write and I absolutely love it. This is the first time in probably a month where I’ve really enjoyed writing something and felt like some of me was actually in it. Thank You!!  

So Here is the 1950′s AU no one asked for but I gave them regardless. I know it probably wasn't what you had in mind but I hope you enjoy it regardless.     

You glanced at your math book as the Wurlitzer across the dining room swapped out one 45 for the next. The Five Satins has just finished crooning on about what happened ‘In The Still of the Night’. As the next record falls into place you glance nervously past your milkshake to the teens a few booths down. You have to bite your lip to keep from sighing.

Harrison Osterfield, star athlete in just about every sport he went out for, sat with a few buddies and their girls. You tried to be inconspicuous as you watched him smiling and joking. You’d been borderline obsessed with him since the 4th grade when your family had moved to town and bought the dinner, back when he’d been the only kid that had made the shy little girl feel welcome on her first day in a new school. Of course, you’d faded to the background of everything soon enough. You’d been so timid at the time. Even as you’d both grown older and Harrison’s star had begun to shine he still offered you a smile in the hallway when you passed. 

 It was such a cliche. The bookworm in the love with the football captain.

The first few bars of the next song had you laughing and shaking your head as you glanced back down at your textbook.

“Why do fools fall in love, Frankie?” You muttered as Frankie Lymon continued to ask his questions. Somehow when Harrison was in the dinner the jukebox always seemed to play something that struck you just so. Coincidence, you were sure.

You closed your book as you glanced at the clock on the wall. Your shift was going to start in just a few minutes and you needed to put your school work away and get your apron on. As if to emphasize the point your Dad poked his head out of the kitchen.

“Anytime now, Peaches…”

You felt your cheeks flush bright pink as you heard the laughs erupt from the other table.

“Peaches? I would just shit twice and die!” One of the girls, Betty Markle, explained from her spot pressed against Harrison’s side. When you dared to glance over, cheeks burning with embarrassment, Harrison catches your eye and for a split second it was just you, those fabulous baby blues, and your skipping heart. 

And then Betty ruined it.

“Run along…Peaches.” She cackled, shooing you along with pristine hands and perfect fingernails. The kind that had never worked a day in their life. The kind that got to hold the hand of the star quarterback.

Making sure to keep your eyes averted you made your way back into the kitchen, hands fulls of homework and your empty cup.

“Everything ok, Peaches?” Your Dad asks with a cock of his head.

“I’m good, Daddy, just trying to figure out this math” you lied smoothly.

“You’ll get it Sweetheart. Lord knows your smarter than your old man.”

You give your dad a soft smile and a roll of your eyes before you slip your apron on and tie a loose bow in the back. Before you head out you slide your arms into your old worn cardigan. It was fall and a chill was in the air.

“Peaches, baby, Wanda is going on break can you help her with her tables?”

You give a nod as you scan the room. There’s four occupied tables with Harrison’s group being the closest to you. You start with the farthest hoping Wanda would be done with her break before you’d get to them.

The regulars smile at you as you refill waters and take orders. You bring a sundae out for the Horowitz’s with two spoons. They were well into their 80’s and honestly the cutest couple you’d ever seen. You hoped someday you had something even half as amazing as what they seemed to have. Mrs Horowitz chatted with you in her thick Austrian accent while her husband made short work of the whipped cream on top of the sundae, pushing the lone red cherry in her direction.

“When are you gonna find a boy to share a sundae with?” She asks conspiratorially. You shake your head. You hoped she wasn’t trying to set you up with her nephew again.

“Not on my to-do list right now.” You say, smiling shyly. You watch her eyes dart behind you.

“I think that young man over there would do.”

Without a second thought you glance over to find Harrison smiling your way. Your head snaps back quickly and the elderly woman chuckles.

“He probably just wants some more fries.” You explain quickly. “He always gets more than he orders to start with” you’re babbling now, praying that Wanda comes back. Mrs Horowitz hums as you continue “in fact, last week he came in and had two malts and three orders of fries. I mean, I don’t know where he puts it all…” you trail off feeling foolish and the woman gives you a soft smile.

“Maybe you should go see what he needs, no?”

You take a fortifying breath before you nod and turn. Your shoes squeak on the linoleum and you try to hide the cringe that hits you. Your shoes weren’t as pretty or as shiny as the other girl’s saddle shoes and weren’t nearly as trendy as the neat ballet flats you’d seen Audrey Hepburn wearing, the same kind Betty and her friend were wearing now as you approach their table.

For the most part the looks that great you are vaguely friendly but there’s a glint in Betty’s eye as you turn your attention to Harrison that puts you ill at ease.

“Hey, Y/N. How are you doing on that algebra assignment?” He asks throwing you off. Of course you knew he was in your class but you’d never realized he noticed you in it. You fiddle with a button on your cardigan.

“I mean, I think I’ve got it but-“

“I could use some more water.” Betty’s face is sour as she asks. She points to her glass as if you couldn’t see that it was half full.

“I’m sorry” you stutter out, turning quickly to grab a pitcher of water. You hear Harrison’s voice, gruff and irritated but you can’t make out what he’s saying. Betty’s face looks even more pinched when you get back, like she’s sucked on a lemon. Her arms are crossed tightly over her chest but you don’t care because Harrison is all smiles when he looks your way.

“So are you going to the game Friday?” He asks and you think it’s a real nice thing he’s doing trying to make conversation, be friendly. He must not realize that girls like you don’t go to football games. You shake your head, chew your lip (a horrible nervous habit your Mom had hated).

“I really need to work on the essay for English. Footballs not really my thing.” You try to explain. His smile falters. His buddies and the girls have begun chatting, seeming to have forgotten you, except Betty staring daggers. If looks could kill…

“Aww, come on Y/N. You should give it a try. You might have fun.” You watch him snap his fingers as if he’s just been hit with a brilliant idea. “If you come to the game I’ll let you borrow my practice jersey to wear.”

The table goes quiet with the exception of the strangled sound Betty makes in the back of her throat. You feel your face flushing as you try to stammer out an answer. How was he asking you to wear his jersey? As far as you knew Harrison Osterfield didn’t even know you existed. Those blues are probing you, like he’s willing you to say 'yes’. He runs a hand through his hair and, God above, you nearly swoon at his attention.

Suddenly there’s a wet splash and water and chocolate malt is splashing across the table. The pitcher is laying on its side as you suck in a sharp breath at the cold shock you’ve received. Your skirt is soaked and your white blouse is clinging to you in a way that makes you feel embarrassed and ashamed.

“What the hell, Betty!” Harrison is growling at the girl who holds her hands up.

“It was an accident Haz. Butterfingers, ya know.” You can’t even look her in the face. “I’m sure Y/N knows it was an accident, right?” her voice is saccharine sweet and as fake as the color of her hair.

“Y/N…” you don’t give Harrison a chance to say anything as hot tears prick at your eyes. You glimpse Wanda pulling her apron on from the corner of your eye. Her knowing gaze is already focused in on the table. She doesn’t try to stop you as you rush back into the kitchen and the small break room.

“I think it’s time ya’ll got your check.” She says firmly as Harrison watches the kitchen door swing on its hinges.

———

You sit in the back stoop for far longer than you should. Your dad stops out to check on you and ruffle your hair. You didn’t have a change of clothes and the chill of the air makes you shiver but it’s also cooling the hot rush of embarrassment you feel each time you think about what happened earlier. Wanda gave you the all clear after the group had cashed out but here you sat, not ready to go back to the scene of the crime.

If the ground could swallow you up whole you would happily allow it. You dread thinking about school the next day, about the smirk that Betty’s going to be wearing and the whispers and laughs you’ll hear in the halls. You let your head fall into your hands as you try to forget about everything.

“Um….hey, Y/N?” The sound of Harrison Osterfield’s voice has you sitting straight up. You move to stand and go back inside. 

“Please don’t go" His voice is pleading.

“Why, so you can laugh at me too?” You feel anger rising, flaming to life in your chest. Harrison takes in your narrowed eyes, holding his hands up in surrender.

“I come in peace, yeah? That was a messed up thing Betty did. I’m really sorry. Nobody else thought it was funny.”

Just as soon as the anger roared to life it’s flickering out. Your shoulders slump and you smooth your skirt. Your cardigan had taken the brunt of the milkshake while your blouse had gotten a couple splashes of chocolate but mostly the icy water. You’d be lucky if you could get the stains out of the cardigan. Wanda had mixed up a “fool proof" stain cleaner in the kitchen and it was currently soaking in a pot on the counter next to a pot of your dad’s famous chili. You shiver slightly as a soft breeze ruffles the hem of your skirt. 

“I suppose I can’t blame her for being mad” you say towing at one of the steps “her boyfriend offered another girl his jersey. Of course she was mad.” 

You jump when Harrison barks out a laugh. He quickly sobers when he sees you huff. 

“Y/N, Betty isn’t my girlfriend. We’re not together. Not saying that’s not what she wants but I…” He takes a couple steps toward you, stopping at the bottom of the stoop. “Come on, you’ve got to realize I’ve been trying to ask you on a date for months.”

You try to stop your mouth from dropping open because, for all your smarts, that possibility had never even crossed your mind. Harrison gives you a lop-sided smile as he comes to stand one step below you. His eyes are nearly level with yours and you allow yourself a moment to appreciate how they crease at the corners when he smiles.

“I was so sick last week-“

“I just thought you liked fries…?” You can hear the hesitancy in your voice. Harrison’s fingers bump against yours and you look down as he takes one of you hands in his, rising to the same step you’re on. His fingers are rough and calloused. His class ring is cool against your skin.

“After last week, I could die happy without ever eating another fry in my life. I just wanted to see you and… God, I was trying to get the courage up to ask you to come to the game but I just couldn’t.”

It’s your turn to laugh. Why would Harrison need courage to ask you anything? You ask him as much.

“You don’t get it, do you?” Harrison’s free hand brushes against you cheek and goosebumps run amok on your arms. He misinterprets it and before you can correct him he’s pulling his Letterman jacket off and draping it around your shoulders. It swallows you whole but its broken in and warm. And it smells like how you always thought he’d smell, leather and after shave, smoke from a bonfire.  “You are so beautiful and smart and…. I can’t keep my eyes off of you. The guys have been ribbing me forever about it. You really didn’t know?”

You shake your head dumbly. You’d missed that one for sure. 

“So you want me to go to the game friday…”

“And wear my jersey.”

“And wear your jersey.”

“Because you like me.”

“Loads” He gives you that 10,000 watt smile and you return it with a shy one of your own. “And afterwards you’ll let me take you for a bite to eat or to a bonfire or…. I don’t care. I just want to spend time with you.”

You’re Mom had read you fairy tales as a little girl. You’d loved them but you’d never once thought you’d be in one. That’s what this was.  “OK.” You say finally.  He looks at you like he’s won the lottery. You’d only ever dreamed he’d be looking at you like he was now. 

“Can I walk you home?” He’s nearly vibrating  with excitement and you feel the same way.

“Let me run inside and see if I can find a sweater to wear.”   

Harrison shakes his head, “Just wear my jacket. It looks good on you.”

[chicgeekgirl89]

With a Little Help: Chap. 1

Fandom: 911

Characters: Eddie Diaz, Christopher Diaz, Bobby Nash, Hen Wilson, Evan Buckley

A/N: A follow up for “Eddie Begins.” Because I’m in love with this man and he wasn’t whumped enough. 

                                   XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It’s amazing how many thoughts go through your mind when you’re dying. Because  despite his best efforts, he is definitely dying. There’s nothing but water all around him, some of which has now gone into his lungs, causing them to burn like fire. He’s cold, surrounded by eerie darkness, and he knows he’s drifting.  

The day he met Shannon. Their wedding. His buddies in Afghanistan. Buck. Bobby. His family. Christopher.

The one thing in his life he never knew he needed. 

Christopher.

The one good thing. 

Christopher!

His eyes shoot open and his limbs flail as panic overtakes the dreaminess. His son. If he dies here, if he gives up, Christopher will be an orphan. And he can’t let that happen. Not this time. Not after everything they’ve been through.

His muscles are like lead but he’s no stranger to fatigue so he pushes past it, forward, any direction he can and the next thing he knows, by some impossible miracle, his head breaks the surface.

Gasping, choking he sucks down lungfuls of cold, wet air. He half floats on his back, half splashes and flails toward the shoreline. It’s not graceful or pretty, but he’s not out of the woods until he gets out of this water and everything has gone pretty much numb making it hard to do anything but hurl his body forward with awkward lurches.

He drags himself up on the bank, still gasping like he’s run a marathon and all he wants to do is lie down and sleep for a year, but he can see and hear the commotion where the mouth of the well is and he has to let his squad know he’s all right so he pulls himself up onto his feet and stumbles his way toward the ruckus.

That’s when his legs finally, truly give out and he nearly face plants into the mud, but gentle, familiar hands are there to catch him and keep him upright. Buck’s face swims before him and Eddie tries for a smile, not quite sure he manages it. None of them look happy to see him, in fact they look completely horrified. “You never seen a guy covered in a little dirt before?” he tries to joke, but the words don’t quite make it past his lips. Instead what comes out is a string of jumbled nonsense that’s neither Spanish nor English and definitely doesn’t make any sense.

Oh. Not good.

Bobby and Buck have him on either side and they half carry, half drag him after Chimney and Hen toward the ambulance. He tries to help but his body no longer seems to be following orders.

“Nice and easy,” Bobby says as they lay him flat on a backboard. 

Then Chim and Hen are right in his face. “Let’s get this off of him,” Hen orders even as she’s already cutting through his shirt. “Buck get some blankets. Where’s that warm saline? He’s freezing!”

He really doesn’t want them to cut his clothes off since he’s now full on shivering, but before he knows it he’s been stripped down to his skivvies. Bless his abuela for always telling him to wear clean underwear.

He still doesn’t feel like he can quite get a full breath, which he tries to explain to Hen but she shushes him, listening to his chest as Chim stabs him with an IV. He’s so goddamn tired and he just wants to close his eyes but Hen snaps at him. “Edmundo Diaz don’t you dare go to sleep on me now!” she says forcefully, rubbing none too kindly against his sternum.

The shivering gets worse, even with the warm IV that’s starting to flood his veins. He feels his left calf cramp painfully and lets out half a groan. Feeling is starting to come back and with it a truckload of pain. It’s like he can feel every, single muscle in his body is screaming at him. “Hang in there Eddie, we got you,” Chim says.

Chimney who hardly ever does anything but smile, is looking at him with so much concern that Eddie wonders if he should maybe be more worried about his fate. “Christopher,” he rasps out. He’s got a will but it hasn’t been updated since Shannon…and now he panics. Who’s going to look after his kid if he dies? Why didn’t he think about this sooner? He’s a god damn firefighter, he should have a will that provides for his kid—

“Christopher’s fine Eddie.” Bobby comes back into view his hand sliding comfortingly into Eddie’s and he grabs it like a lifeline. “He’s home safe and now you are too. Just take it easy all right?”

If Bobby says it, it must be true. Things are starting to get a little hazy. He’s not quite sure what happened anymore. If he could just get some sleep—

Thank god for Hen and her ability to know everything because he’s barely started retching when she yells, “Get him on his side!” Hands pull him and he gags on

water, bile, anything that was in his stomach is now on the ground.

Wouldn’t that be a headline? ‘Local Firefighter Dies Choking on His Own Puke After Rescuing Child.’ Not the way he wants to be remembered. It almost makes him laugh but he can barely breathe let alone find the energy for humor right now.

“What’s he saying?” Chim asks.

“I think he’s praying,” Hen answers and it’s only then that Eddie realizes that indeed, prayers are slipping past his lips. Prayers he’d long thought forgotten, dredged up from the depths of his childhood Catholic school education, tumbling out as the realization of his mortality hits him like a truck.

Finally they wrap him in a blanket and lift him from the ground. “We’re taking you to the hospital Eddie,” Hen says, placing a hand on his arm. “You’re going to be just fine.”

The blankets and warm fluids help his mind to come back around and he stays conscious on the way to the hospital. But by the time they get there the coughing has set in. His body is beyond unhappy and doing its level best to not only expel the well water he inhaled, but apparently his lungs as well.

His painful breaths fog up the oxygen mask and he pulls it to the side so he can speak. “The kid okay?” he rasps to Chim who’s adjusting one of his IV’s.

“Good to go,” Chimney says, smile back on his face. Okay that’s a good sign, maybe Eddie’s not going to die.

The hospital takes forever. He’s not hypothermic but it’s borderline. His chest x-rays come back okay but not great. They insist on more tests and the sun is rising before they decide he’s stable enough to go home with lots of warnings about coming back immediately if any complications come up. He makes promises he has no intention of keeping and then escapes out into the morning.

Bobby is waiting for him. “Thought you might need a ride,” he says.

“Yeah, thanks,” Eddie says, gratitude flooding through him. He’s bone weary and all he wants is to do is go home, hug his kid, and pass out for about twelve hours or so.

“You feeling okay?” Bobby asks as he drives.

“I’ve been worse,” Eddie says cryptically, fighting sleep.

“I know you’re exhausted,” Bobby says. “So I won’t push. But if you need to talk, just know my door is always open.”

“Thanks Bobby,” Eddie says gratefully.

How he got so lucky to have this man for a captain he’ll never know. But he is beyond thankful to work with someone who cares so much. Who knows when to push and when to let up.

They pull up to the house and Eddie spots the babysitter’s car in the driveway. He’s supposed to relieve her and take Christopher to school but he can barely keep his eyes open. “Why don’t I take Christopher to school?” Bobby asks shrewdly.

The man has raised kids. He gets it.

“Nah,” Eddie says, taking a breath and trying to muster up the energy to unbuckle and get out of the car. “Shouldn’t take more than an hour.”

“Eddie, let me get this one,” Bobby says. “It’s no trouble.”

“Cap I—“

“Don’t ‘Cap’ me right now,” Bobby says kindly but firmly. “We’re family. You’ve had a rough night. This is the least I can do to help out.”

He gives in, both because Bobby’s right and because he’s truly not sure he’s capable of driving safely right now.

They go inside and greet Christopher who is, as always, ecstatic to see his dad and thrilled to be going to school with Bobby. “But why aren’t you taking me Dad?” he asks as he pulls on his backpack.

“I uh…” Eddie searches for words.

“Because I asked to take you,” Bobby covers smoothly. “It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to hang out with the 118’s only honorary firefighter. We have a lot to catch up on.”

Christopher accepts this answer and immediately starts telling Bobby about a science project they’re doing that involves Skittles as they head for the door.

Eddie doesn’t even make it to his bed. He collapses on the couch and within seconds he’s dead to the world. The next thing he knows Christopher’s afternoon carpool is honking outside.

He rallies for Friday. Truly he thinks he makes a remarkable effort to appear like a normal, happy dad in front of his kids’ classmates and teachers, all while feeling like he’s been hit by a bus. Every muscle aches and his chest still burns. Coughing fits are a special version of hell that cause every breath to be knifelike. Thank god Christopher has a playdate after school that involves dinner because by the time six o’clock rolls around he feels like death.

He makes another remarkable effort for bedtime, tucking his kid into his Batman sheets and kissing him goodnight before falling face first into the couch.

Christopher wakes him up in the morning. Well, wakes is a strong word because full consciousness seems like a real struggle right now. His head aches, his joints throb, and he cannot stop coughing. “Daddy?” Christopher asks in his sweet, singsong voice, patting Eddie gently on the cheek.

“Hey bud,” Eddie croaks.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah I’m just feeling a little…a little sick today,” Eddie says, following it up with a hacking coughing fit.

“Can we go get donuts?”

Right, it’s Saturday. They usually hit up their favorite donut spot. “I think we have to skip today,” Eddie says. “Sorry bud.”

“It’s okay. I’ll get some cereal.”

God he couldn’t love this kid more. He never complains, never pitches a fit, even when things don’t go his way. 

Eddie tries to get up and go help to make sure they don’t end up with cereal all over the floor, but his head pounds even more violently against his skull forcing him to lay back down with a stifled groan. God he feels like shit. 

He’s in and out of sleep, more in than out. When he’s awake he wishes he was asleep because breathing is so hard and his body hurts so much. Christopher might be talking to him and a part of him knows he should get up and take care of his kid, but every time he thinks about it his eyes drift closed.

The next time he wakes up it’s because someone is trying to break his ribcage. “Bobby?” he croaks.

[elisaphoenix13]

The Sorcerer's Cub (Ch.4)

"Boss. Peter is in distress."

Friday's voice breaks through the last haze of Tony's dreams and he was glad for it. They weren't dreams, they were nightmares, and if his assumptions were correct, Peter had one too. The poor baby. It was bad enough he had them as a teenager, but he was even tormented with them as a baby and it was very likely toddler Peter didn't understand.

Tony pulls his arm out from under Stephen as carefully as possible, a little surprised that the sorcerer hadn't already flown out of bed at the mere mention that Peter wasn't happy, but he was fast asleep. The only time he slept that deeply was whenever he and Tony had a nightly romp in the sheets and they had done that not three hours ago according to the clock on Tony's nightstand. With a sleepy sigh, he pulls on some pajama pants and shuffles out of the room and a couple doors down to Peter's bedroom while attempting to rub some of the sleep out of his eyes. Dealing with a fussy baby while half asleep was not ideal and he had to learn that the hard way with Diana. Especially since she had that phase when she only wanted Tony. Whenever Stephen tried to calm her, it made things worse and Tony not only had to console a screaming baby but also a heartbroken Mama Bear.

Tony slowly opens Peter's bedroom door so not to startle him anymore and finds him huddled in the middle of his bed, crying into the teddy bear that was almost as big as him.

"Bambino." He calls softly and Peter looks up from his bear, and then immediately holds his arms out to Tony. The man quickly walks over and scoops Peter up and cringes at the feeling of an unmistakable wet diaper. "It's alright kiddo. Let's get you cleaned up. Where's that night light Porcupine gave you, huh?"

That was a good question for the next couple of minutes as Tony searched for the small ball if light. He would have thought that finding a literal ball of light would be a piece of cake to find, but it was being elusive. It must be buried under enough to keep its light from shining through as he was sure that Quill was very much alive.

Just in case though, he asked his AI where the space pirate was.

"Downstairs asleep Boss. Should I wake him?"

"No Fri. Just making sure of something-aha!" Tony exclaims when he pushes aside a couple of pillows and a thick blanket to find the small sphere of light.

He hands it to the baby in his other arm who takes it with a wet sniffle and lays his head on Tony's shoulder, and Tony turns his attention to gathering a clean diaper. Peter only whimpered for a brief second when Tony laid him back down on the bed to change him, but as soon as he realized that his father wasn't going anywhere, he calmed down. With experienced speed, Tony changes Peter and disposes of the soiled diaper before moving Peter back up toward his pillows and laying next to him. He watches quietly as the baby holds the ball of light in his hands, and raises an eyebrow whenever it dims as soon as either of them look directly at it. Quill really thought of everything. He didn't want the light to hurt anyone's eyes if they looked directly at it, so it dimmed whenever Peter or anyone else looked at it.

"Bad dream buddy?" Tony asks quietly as he plants a kiss on the soft curls on Peter's head. When he nods, Tony grabs the previously forgotten teddy bear and places it on the ither side of Peter. "What was it about? Do you remember?"

Silence hangs in the air long enough for the engineer to start wondering if maybe Peter didn't want to talk about it, until the baby finally whispered. "It was dark. Couldn't move. Daddy wasn't there."

Tony wracks his mind for the nightmares that teenage Peter had told him about in the past, and it finally hit him that he had a dream about the building falling on him when he confronted the Vulture. It was the one nightmare Peter didn't talk much about. Not even to Stephen. He just told them what it was about but never went any further. Now his baby counterpart had given him a very important detail.

Daddy wasn't there.

Tony hadn't been there to save Peter. Granted, the teen shouldn't have been there in the first place, but he had been, and in nothing but a sweat suit. Peter was being crushed by tons of concrete and he had been terrified, hoping that by some miracle, Tony would know he was in trouble and come save him. Tony couldn't have known, but some illogical part of himself beat himself up over the fact that he wasn't there when Peter needed him. He had to dig himself out of his concrete tomb by himself, and go after the Vulture with who knew how many wounds...because Tony took away his suit.

"I'm sorry baby...but I'm here now. You know that right?" Peter doesn't say anything except roll over and cuddle against Tony's bare chest. "...Daddy had a bad dream too."

"Scary?"

"Very." Tony confirms but doesn't elaborate.

There was a chance that teenage Peter would retain these memories and Tony didn't want a description of his worst nightmare to be remembered. It was the one nightmare he didn't tell anyone, not even Stephen...or Rhodey. It was much worse than what Wanda had shown him all those years ago when she was still the enemy. Instead of the Avengers though, it was his immediate family. Stephen, Harley, Peter, and Diana. Dead. His mind killed them in so many different ways each time he had the night terror, but it always ended up the same. He couldn't protect them and they always ended up dead. It was so much worse than the whole deal with Thanos and the snap because in his dreams he knew there was no bringing them back. Even Cassie had been among their bodies because she had become like a daughter to him in those five years he took care of him when Scott was stuck in the Quantum Realm. The Avengers were his family, but his immediate family? They were his life. His reason for living.

"Where's Mama?" Peter asks as he rubs his eyes.

"Sleeping bambino. You're stuck with me tonight. That okay?" Tony says with a soft chuckle as he gently brushes away a loose curl.

"Uh huh." Peter replies with a yawn.

Tony pulls the covers over the both of them, fully intent on staying with Peter until a little after he fell asleep. Of course his plans fell through five minutes later because he was tired himself and fell asleep with a protective arm around his son. That was how Stephen found them the following morning. He had woken to Tony's side of the bed cold and bare, and his first instinct was to check Peter's room. When he found Tony curled around the baby in his bed, the sorcerer had quietly closed the door and went downstairs to start breakfast. Diana was the first to wake up and she had been happy to help Stephen make blueberry pancakes, Harley was next and surprised the sorcerer when he saw Peter in the teenager's arms.

"He was coming out of his room when I came out of mine." Harley elaborates with a slight blush while he sets Peter in an empty chair.

Stephen places a couple of freshly cooked pancakes on the plate next to Diana. "Where's your father?" He asks.

"Sawing wood in Peter's room." Harley grins and Peter frowns.

"Daddy's loud."

"Let him sleep. Breakfast will wake him soon enough."

The sorcerer turns off the stove and helps his daughter off the counter and they walk over to the table with a plate stacked with pancakes. Harley serves himself after Stephen serves the younger children and sets aside a plate for Tony, and leaves Diana to her own devices once he cuts her pancakes. Peter on the other hand needed a little more supervision unless Stephen wanted to clean syrup off of everything for the next week. Which he didn't, but syrup tended to get everywhere on a baby no matter how closely they were watched, so Peter would probably need a bath after breakfast.

"Babe, you better get your food before patatino eats them all." Tony says when he appears in the kitchen and leans down to give Stephen a good morning kiss.

"I can always make more."

Harley scrunches his nose. "Why do you always have to give me some potato nickname?"

"Because." Tony sits down and grabs the plate Stephen had set aside. "You were the one that threatened me with a potato gun, so now you get related names." He slips a couple of pancakes onto Stephen's plate before giving Diana a second one when she requests it. "How did you sleep piccola?"

"Like the dead!" The five year old responds enthusiastically and Harley snickers. "I have a light like Peter's that Uncle Quill gave me and it turned into stars!"

Diana shovels pancake bites into her mouth after Tony cuts it for her, and Stephen eats his own breakfast subconsciously, still focused on trying to keep the guaranteed syrupy mess on Peter. Maybe the table. The table would be easy enough to clean.

Tony grins. "Hey honey?"

"Hmm?" Stephen hums in question without looking away from the toddler.

"Have I mentioned you're a MILF?"

Harley chokes on his pancakes in surprise and starts laughing once he passes the danger of choking and Stephen looks over at Tony with a look of impassiveness. Diana thankfully wasn't paying any attention. Blueberry pancakes were more deserving of her interest.

"It may have come up once or twice." Stephen replies smoothly.

"It makes sense." Harley starts after his laughter dies down. "Mom's always eat last. You're definitely a mom."

"Whenever I get hurt, Mommy makes the hurt go away." Diana adds and Stephens eyes mist over when Harley agrees.

It was Peter that delivered the finishing blow though.

"I like Mama's hugs."

Peter had said it so innocently and with such a genuine (albeit a bit sticky) smile, that Stephen had to clear his throat and stare down at his plate and will away the oncoming happy tears. The kids went back to polishing off their breakfast, oblivious to how happy they made the sorcerer, and Tony just smiled in his direction when Stephen finally looked up at him. There was no teasing. Just a fond smile that nearly had Stephen looming down again in embarrassment. He had never been so glad to have been accidently called 'Mom' by Peter all those months (years to some) ago. Once upon a time, he was alone with maybe one friend. Now, he had many friends, three kids, and a husband...and he couldn't imagine life without them anymore.

"What do you think will happen if I go downstairs and shoot Quill awake with my potato gun?" Harley asks and Tony points at him.

"DON'T purposely piss off a god! Especially this early in the morning!"

"Uncle Quill will kill you." Diana adds seriously.

Even if this life is more hectic than it had been before, Stephen thinks to himself as he takes another bite of his pancakes.

[yrpspiritsintheshadows]

No Rest for the Innocent

The sun was setting. He had to hurry if he wanted to make it back on time. 

Just keep moving… Keep moving…

He wasn’t alone. Far from it. There was rustling in the bushes as he passed it. 

“AAARRROOOOOO!!!!”

Ken halted, backing away as a large wolf like creature lunged out of the bushes. It towered over the small child, snarling as they approached him, clawed fingers outstretched.

“G-Get back… GET AWAY!” He broke into a run, skidding down the hillside. 

Tree limbs snapped away as the creature chased after him, determined to not lose its prey. It was so close, he could hear its heavy breathing, see every detail.

Ken could see a rocky cave coming up. Someone was peering out of it, motioning for him to hurry up.

He didn’t know who it was but he kept running for it… Then he leapt off a large rock, stretching his arms out.

He looked behind him, shocked as shimmering green and grey wings appeared on his back. They fluttered, sending him skyward with a shriek as the creature lunged up for him. 

“STAY BACK-”

The creature howled, grabbing hold of his left leg, slamming him into the ground, the wings dissipating as fast as they had come. His ears were ringing, pain blooming in his leg as its claws dug in.

“Get away… Get away….”

Ken closed his eyes, letting out a shriek.

“GET AAAAWAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Ken was shaken awake as he screamed, going to scratch whoever it was shaking him. His wrist was caught. 

“Whoa, Ken, easy! Easy!”

His heart was racing, his eyes shiny with tears that ran down his face. It took a minute to realize he wasn’t in the forest anymore. He didn’t have strange wings or a beast looming over him.

Instead, he was in his bed, with his brother looking down at him. Okami was whimpering, licking his hand, trying to help calm him down.

“Hika…?”

Hikaru frowned, sitting on the edge of his bed.

“I heard you whimpering.”

Ken rubbed at his eyes, sniffling.

“W-What was happening?”

The older boy stroked his back as Ken threw himself across Okami’s side, burrowing his face into her fur. 

Hikaru frowned, sighing heavily.

“I heard you whimpering. You were trying to talk but it was like you knew… no one heard you.”

Ken whimpered.

“Sorry…”

“Don’t.” The teen gave him a reassuring look. “I don’t want you feeling sorry for having bad dreams.” 

That was pretty bad though… 

That was the third time that week that Ken had woken up freaked out.

Already the child’s head was bobbing.

“Stay…?” 

“You don’t wanna go sleep with Eiji and Carmen?” 

“Nuh uh…” He shook his head. “M’abig boy… And they worry…”

“Alright, alright, Pup. Move.”

Ken rolled to the side a little as Hikaru laid beside him, bringing the blanket over both of them.

“No more bad dreams are gonna get you this time. Promise.” 

Ken smiled tiredly, curling up against his brother. It had been a little weird getting used to having two big brothers… but he loved them just the same.

And right now, he was glad they were there.

“I love you, Hika.”

“Love you too, Kenny.” He kissed his head. “I’m not leaving.”

“Okay…”

Hikaru didn’t go to sleep until he was sure Ken was already passed out. 

Okami let out a sigh, laying her head atop Ken’s.

“Yeah, I know girl.” He rubbed behind the large dog’s ears. “I’m worried too.”

oooooo

The moon was full in the sky that night. The sun was setting, but he could sense it. Every part of his senses were firing as he broke into a sprint across the forest floor.

He had to find a safe place. A safe place before the moon came out.

Why am I scared of the moon? I like the moon.

Ken’s body was moving on autopilot as he moved, slipping and sliding down a hill, before bolting across the stream…

He knew this stream.

The sun's light faded as the moon replaced it. Ken fell to the ground, whining as he rolled onto his back to look back up at it.

Everything hurt… Everything hurt.

“NO!”

“Ken! Ken, easy! Wake up! Wake up!” 

Ken shook like crazy as he came to. It took him a second to note it was morning… Hikaru was still lying beside him, his hand on his arm, trying to calm him down.

“Hey buddy, it’s okay. I’m here.”

Ken sniffled, throwing his arms around him.

“I don’t like these dreams!” He whimpered.

“Oh, oh, oh…” Hikaru wrapped his arms around him, sitting up, rocking him. “Shh… I got you, I got you…”

It’s never easy growing up with gifts… Having freaky dreams, trying to figure out how to decipher them, whether or not they have any real meaning…

Ken sniffled, burying his face into his chest. 

“I’m sorry…”

“Hey, hey, what’d I say about this apologizing over dreams?”

“Not to?”

“That’s right. I’m here for ya, kiddo.” He stroked his back. “Your big bro knows a thing or two about night terrors.”

Ken sighed shakily, relaxing a little. This was getting old though.

“I have ‘em all the time…”

“Ken…” Hikaru frowned. “How much do the ‘rents know?”

“Um…” Ken looked down “Not… Not a lot?”

“You gotta tell ‘em…” 

“No!” He squeaked, shaking his head. “They’ll just-”

“Worry?”

Ken went quiet, nodding, pulling away. 

Hikaru laid a hand on his back. 

He knew better than anyone about trying to keep that type of thing in. To hide what terrors haunted one in their dreams when the world was quiet.

“Think about it, okay?”

“Okay…” Ken held out his hand, pinky outstretched. “Pinky promise you won’t tell on me?”

Hikaru’s heart sank. He didn’t want to. He really had no interest in keeping secrets from Eiji or Carmen. 

“Ken… You’re their everything.”

“Promise.” The boy insisted, giving a small glare.

Hikaru sighed, looping his pinky with Ken’s.

“Only for one week. If you’re still waking up like this by the time I get outta therapy Friday morning, you’re telling them. Got it?”

“Got it Hika!”

“Good boy.”

oooooo

Ken was listless, as he waited for Eiji to come get him from school. His head was foggy, his body exhausted.

“You don’t look so good, Kenny.”

“I know…” He sighed, ignoring the strange look he got from the teacher’s aid watching him while they waited on the playground. The child next to him gave him a worried look.

“You wanna take a nap?”

Ken’s eyes widened, shaking his head rapidly.

“No!” He blurted out before trying to calm himself down. “I’m… I’m fine. I’m really okay, I mean it!”

“Kenny…” The girl frowned, touching his arm.

“I’m really okay.” He smiled, exhaustion in his blue eyes. “I just had a bad sleep.”

“Two days in a row?”

“... Yeah. Yeah…” 

Eiji’s van pulled up as the man started heading for the gate.

“Daddy!” Ken called, waving as he stood up, trying to ignore how dizzy he was from the motion. If it wasn’t for the girl behind him grabbing his jacket, he would’ve fallen right down the slide. 

“Kenny…”

“I’m okay.” He waved, before climbing down, being as careful as he could be. “I’ll see you tomorrow! Bye!”

“Bye bye.”

Ken looked behind him, seeing her form steadily fading away for now, away from his view. He ran right to Eiji’s waiting arms.

“Hey, buddy.” Eiji hugged him tightly, scooping him up. “Have a good day at school?”

“Ahuh…” Ken yawned, rubbing his eyes. “A really… really good day.”

Eiji frowned, rocking him a little. That… wasn’t normal.

Ken’s never this tired after school. Not even on days where he had to wait for a good while for me to come get him. Did he not get his snack?

“Ready to go home? You hungry?”

“Mm-hm… I wanna play with Okami…” Ken mumbled, tucking his head under Eiji’s chin. Now that he was in his arms, he was having a harder time staying awake. 

“You can.”

The teacher’s aid walked up, giving the man a concerned look.

“Mr. Miyamoto… I don’t think Ken slept very well last night. He’s been like this all day.”

“What?” Eiji’s eyes widened. “Did he go to the nurse?”

“Yes. His temp came back fine and he didn’t have any other symptoms. Even after having his snack he just… hasn’t perked up.” She frowned. “Did he get his eight hours last night?”

Eiji frowned, bouncing him a little. Ken whined quietly.

“I did.”

“Shh...  As far as I know, yes. I’m sorry about this. I hope there weren’t any other issues?”

“No, no, he’s a little angel. He’s just… tired. I hope he feels better.”

“Yeah… Me too.”

Eiji glanced down at his son, cradling him close.

“S-See you.”

Don’t tell me…

He didn’t make a fuss out of it. Not at this moment, deciding that was a discussion for at home, where they could have privacy. All he did was buckle Ken into the car.

He couldn’t help but note the way Hikaru wouldn’t look him in the eyes. 

“Is Ken okay?” Hideki asked, leaning forward from the backseat. Ken wasn’t even looking directly at them, he was just staring off into space. 

“I have no idea.”

Hikaru rolled his eyes, shaking his head.

“Let’s… just talk about it at home, okay guys?” 

Eiji raised an eyebrow, sighing.

“Yeah… Let’s just go home, alright?”

“Right.”

Hikaru looked behind him, meeting Ken’s eyes. The little boy blearily shook his head.

Hikaru narrowed his eyes.

Oh, that is it. Promises be darned. he’s a mess! I promised Okaa-san I’d take care of my siblings and this isn’t taking care of him if it’s hurting him.

It was straight back to the house, Ken stumbling as he tried to make his way up the deck’s stairs to the front door.

“No ya don’t.” Hikaru scooped him up into a football carry, earning an annoyed squeak in return, Ken giving him a tired glare. “Don’t give me that glare.”

Ken growled a little, squirming.

“Put me down.”

Eiji hurried up after them, Hideki following at a slower pace.

“Hikaru, careful-”

“Don’t worry, I won’t drop him.” He opened the door, setting him down in the doorway. “There.”

Ken dusted himself off.

“Hmph.”

Eiji gave him a concerned look as he followed in.

“Ken, what’s wrong? You’re not acting like yourself.”

“I’m… FINE!” 

Eiji was taken aback. Sure, Ken had tantrums, but they were incredibly rare. Ken was panting a little, his shoulders shaking. There were bags under his eyes, his little hands curled into fists held at his side.

“Ken…” He knelt to his level. “Ken, kiddo, you gotta tell me what’s on your mind.”

“No!” Ken snapped back. “I don’t WANT to!”

“Kenny please-”

Ken growled, sniffling as tears of frustration welled up in his eyes.

“Nooo…”

“Kenny…” Hideki frowned. “C’mon, don’t be like that. Eiji just wants to help.” 

Ken sniffled, wiping at his eyes, looking down.

“I’m… I’m…” He whimpered. “I’m… Fine…” 

Hikaru knelt beside Eiji, squeezing the boy’s arm.

“Ken.” He narrowed his eyes, giving him a stern look. “You’re not okay. Just let us help you.”

Ken’s face fell, his legs were shaky as he fell into Eiji’s arms.

“I’M TIRED!!!” He cried out, sobbing. “I’m tired Daddy! Really, really tired!”

Eiji’s heart broke as he stroked his back. 

“Oh, oh, Ken…” His gaze softened, bringing him close. “Shhh… shhh… I know buddy, I know…”

Hikaru frowned.

“He’s been having night terrors. Really, really bad ones. Twice in a row last night too.”

“What!? Ken…” 

Eiji had hoped, the night terrors had ceased, not grown in intensity. He rocked his son back and forth in his arms, kissing his head.

Ken hiccuped, rubbing at his eyes.

“No sleep. No more sleep…” He whimpered. “It’s scary…”

“I know buddy, shhh…” He kissed his head again. “We’re gonna make it stop.”

“O… Okay…” Ken hiccuped, burying his face.

Eiji stood, concerned as he gazed at his youngest child. 

“I love you… I promise, we’re gonna make it all better.”

I know just who to call too.

[superwingthegreat]

The love story of Sparky and Remi

Chapter 7: Before the wedding(p2)

Previously of story: Jett, Donnie, Dizzy and Scoop is planning about prepare the wedding for Sparky and Remi. Scoop think they can't prepare with just they but luckily, they meet Astra and Astro and they agree to help. In the time waiting Astra and Astro go home, Rover received a call from Poppa Wheels. He called for Rover to tell him about the wedding. After Astra and Astro told him to help them prepare the wedding, Rover has called for Willy to tell he, Mira and Swampy about this. And Willy decide to call Paul and Badge to tell them. What happen next, invite you read the next part of story!

(Paul's phone ringing)

"Hello! This is Paul and Badge!" - Paul answer the phone.

"Paul, Badge! I want to tell you about very important news!" - Willy said.

"What?" - Paul ask.

"This Sunday is Sparky and Remi's wedding and we need you, Kim and Badge to help!" - Willy said.

"OK! We will help! But let me call Kim first!" - Paul said.

"Kim! Honey! Go out here! There are an important news for you!" - Paul call Kim.

"What happen, daddy?" - Kim ask.

"This Sunday is Sparky and Remi's wedding! Do you want to help us, Kim?" - Paul ask.

"Wedding? I love wedding! I will help you, dad!" - Kim said.

And Tiny Kim(Kim's support device shape like a bunny) are act like Kim to show its happiness.

"But Paul, I think Jimbo need to know this news!" - Badge said.

"All right! Let tell Jimbo!" - Paul said.

"JIMBO!" - Paul call loudly.

"What happen?" - Jimbo ask.

"This Sunday is Sparky and Remi's wedding and we need you and Sky to help us prepare the wedding!" - Badge said.

"Wow! Really? That's awesome! I will ask Sky to see she agree or not!" - Jimbo said.

"Sky! Jimbo here!" - Jimbo call Sky.

"What going on, Jimbo?" - Sky ask.

"This Sunday is Sparky and Remi's wedding! Do you want to help?" - Jimbo ask.

"Really? All right, I will help!" - Sky said.

"How about, Jimbo?" - Badge ask Jimbo.

"She agree to help!" - Jimbo said.

"YEAH! Awesome!" - Paul's Police Patrol cheers.

In Thursday , at the break time:

"Hey guys, come here!" - Jett call everyone.

"What happen, Jett?" - Everyone came to Jett's table and Donnie ask.

"OK! We will prepare the wedding like this design drawing board!" - Jett take out a design drawing board from his school bag and show its for everyone.

"Wow! That's look great! And we will prepare like this?" - I ask Jett

"Of course! We will prepare like we did in Sparky's birthday but I add some details for this design drawing board and its will look like a wedding!" - Jett said.

(School bell ringing)

"Oh! School time! Everything let the after school we will continue talk!" - Jett said.

After school:

"All right! Jett, you can continue talk!" - Astra said.

"OK! Now I will assign who does what! Donnie and Scoop, you two responsible for bring a needed material to make the stage!" - Jett said.

"All right, Jett!" - Donnie and Scoop said.

"Mira! You, Swampy and Willy will responsible for decorate the table!" - Jett said.

"We got it!" - Mira said.

"Astra! You, Astro and I will decorate the stage like we did in Sparky's birthday but its will be more special! We will add more ribbon and use glitter paper to make sparkling paper flowers to decorate !" - Jett continue said.

"OK, Jett!" - Astra and Astro said.

"Kim! You, Paul and Badge will bring a neon lights and a table to get wine!" - Jett said.

"I got it, Jett!" - Kim said and Tiny Kim is do like her.

"How about me?" - I ask Jett.

"And Dizzy, you will responsible for design and make a wedding costume for Sparky and Remi! But, did you done, Dizzy?" - Jett said and ask me.

"Oh! About my brother tuxedo, I done because I made from last week after my sister return to Paris,but about Remi's wedding dress, I has not done yet!" - I said.

"So, Remi's dress still not done?" - Jett ask.

"Yes! About the dress, I done but I need to decorate the dress and make some accessories for its!" - I said.

"OK! So,when will you finish?" - Jett ask.

"May be Saturday!" - I said.

"Saturday? All right, I wish you will finish its soon!" - Jett said.

"Thanks, Jett!" - I said.

"All right guys! We will start in tomorrow so don't be late and do like I has assigned!" - Jett said.

"WE GOT IT, JETT!" - We simultaneously said.

At morning Friday, everyone has come to World Airport's square to start the job.

"All right, now everyone has here, let's start!" - Jett said.

"OK!" - We said.

"But wait! We still not have materials!" - Scoop said.

"Oh yes! We still not have materials!" - Jett said.

"Here come materials!" - Someone is coming from the far and said.

"Hey! Someone is coming!" - Swampy said.

"That's Poppa Wheels!!!!!" - Jett said.

"I came, everyone! And I has some materials!" - Poppa Wheels said.

"Dad! You came back with some materials! We miss you so much!" - Donnie said in his happiness.

"Of course,I miss you too! My two little sons!" - Poppa Wheels said.

"OK! Now materials already, let's go!" - Jett said.

"YES!" - We said.

Everyone starting their job to prepare the wedding. Mira's Wild Team is decorating table with tablecloths, plates, cups, glass and forks. Donnie's Build-It Buddy is making the stage with materials Poppa Wheels brought and they make with a speed of light. Jett and Astra's Galaxy Wings is decorating the stage with some colorful ribbons and decorating paper flowers. Astra is launch colorful ribbons by her Launching Gun, Astro is using his Atomic Beam Gun to shape colorful glitter papers into sparkling paper flowers to decorating and Jett is hang on sparkling paper flowers to decorate the stage. And they do more special because this is a wedding.

"Hey, Astro! Come to help me hang on this banner!" - Jett said.

"OK! I'm coming!" - Astro said.

Astro and Jett hang up the banner together.

"Neon lights has come!" - Badge come with some neon lights.

"All right, Kim! Let's hangup this neon lights!" - Paul said.

"OK, daddy!" - Kim said.

"I will help you too, Paul!" - Rover said.

After that, Badge get the neon lights down and Paul, Kim and Rover together hang it up.

In that moment, I'm is decorating Remi's wedding dress with the golden and white pearls, yellow and pink fabric flowers. And I is making accessory for Remi. The tiara I make by silver and decorate by the bright yellow, pink and white jewels. Gloves make by white fabric and chiffon fabric. I think the dress will be complete at Saturday like I has talked with Jett at yesterday.

At the afternoon, everything still not done. Jett think we forgot something, its wedding cake and wedding rings so he call for my sister to ask her about the wedding cake and wedding rings.

(Zoey's phone ringing)

"Hello!" - My sister answer the phone.

"Zoey, it's that you?" - Jett ask.

"Yes! It's me! What happen, Jett?" - My sister said.

"Are you set the wedding cake and wedding rings?" - Jett ask my sister.

"Oh! I set wedding cake and wedding rings!" - My sister said.

"So, when it will be come to World Airport?" - Jett ask.

"It's Saturday and I and my parents will return to World Airport!" - My sister said.

"Oh,really? All right, we will wait! I hang up!" - Jett said and hang up.

"What happen, Zoey?" - Steven (my father) ask.

"Jett called me to ask me about wedding cake and wedding rings!" - My sister said.

"Oh! So we will come to World Airport tomorrow!" - Diana(My mother) said.

At Saturday, the wedding is almost done. And my sister and my parents has come to World Airport.

(To be continue)

Next chapter: Before the wedding(p3)

[joiesamevans]

A Day At The Gym

Who: Sam Evans and Mercedes Jones @sassymercyj

When: Friday morning, 8 am

Where: Campus gym

What: Shirtless Sam, lots of flirting

Mercedes had been up for hours when she finally made her way to the gym, wearing a pair of hip hugging pink and black work out capri's, and a matching sports bra and using an oversized T,  to cover herself up as she made her way across campus. Once getting to the gym, she stayed at the entrance waiting for Sam to arrive. She wouldn't lie and say that she wasn't excited to be spending time with him, while she had known him for a few years, they didn't really hang out one on one, it wasn't because she didn't find him attractive, it was just because she didn't think she was his type and to be honest a lot of guys around there only hung out with girls, when there was a promise of sex and though she knew he was different, she just didn't want to make a fool out of herself in front of him. Shocking herself by finally accepting his workout offer, she really was happy to see what he could teach her and if he did it shirtless that would make the entire experience even better. Plus it had been a long time since she had a really beneficial work out.(edited)

Sam walked across campus in a pair of basketball shorts and a tank since it was still hotter than the sun outside. Sometimes he really wished he could bring his horse up from home and just ride it around the city to create a nice breeze. He was excited to get to work out with Mercedes. It was always nice to have a work out buddy in general and all the better when it was a beautiful woman that he really got along with. Hitching his gym bag up on his shoulder, he smiled as he saw Mercedes waiting for him near the door. "You actually showed. I'm impressed."

When she saw Sam, she shifted her bag and nodded at his surprise, though they had talked about her coming to the gym she never really agreed to it. "I said I would come and I always keep my word." She said. "Shall we get inside?"  Pulling out her student ID she opened the door, holding it for Sam to take, then made her way inside showing her ID to the person at the front. Placing her hair in a messy bun she looked around.  "So what do you want to do first? I am here to learn." She said with a bright smile.(edited)

"I'll remember that," he replied easily, following in behind her. He knew most everyone who worked in here by now and offered them friendly smiles and a nod of the head, ignoring the pointed looks a couple of them were giving him since he wasn't alone today. "Always important to do some warm up stretches. I don't want you cramping up and suing me for pain and suffering," he teased.

Mercedes made her way to one of the work out rooms and tried not to laugh at the looks she was getting, she assumed its cause she was with Sam, but she couldn't be sure. "I wouldn't sue you for pain and suffering, I would sue you for misconduct!" She teased back. Putting her bag down, she pulled off her oversized shirt and glanced at him. "So whats first boss!"

"Don't mind them. They clearly have no lives." Sam rolled his eyes, but they still had the same sparkle in them they always did. "Boss, huh? I dig it." He pulled his water bottle from his bag before tossing the bag in the corner. Grabbing a couple mats from the stack, he laid them out beside one another. "Have a seat, stretch your legs out, and reach for the toes." He did the same thing himself to demonstrate. "So, you excited for Rush week?"

"If looks bothered me, I would spend my life alone in my room." She smirked. "Could do Sir too? Don't think you are a Daddy or Papi..." she teased. Grabbing her own bottle she watching him lay out the mats and sat down beside him. Reaching for her toes she gripped her sole as she got a good stretch. "Oh you have no idea. I love Rush week! And we are throwing a Party which I hope you plan on attending."

Sam sat up again, an offended look on his face. "I could be a Daddy," he declared just a little too loudly. He paused a moment and looked around, realizing what he'd said, and then burst out laughing. He bent one leg towards himself and stretched out to the side. "I mean... you know... maybe," he chuckled, a blush creeping up on his cheeks. Partying was a subject he could get behind though. "Oh, you know I'll be there. Gotta show the new kids how it's done."

Her laugh was louder than intended because she did not expect his response. Shaking her head she switched positions bringing both her heels in front of her and pushing them together before looking back at Sam. "So you want to be a "Daddy" or a "Dad -dy!" cause you know there is a difference." She rolled her neck as she straitened back up in that seated position. "Well I am sure you may have to be there since the Brothers are bringing the food and DJ i think... but its a 90's theme, gonna have spin the bottle, 7 minutes in heaven and all that good stuff. So you guys should have a great time."

"I kind of really want you to explain it to me now," Sam teased, though there was a touch of challenge in his voice as he winked at her. "I'm excellent at bringing the food. Especially if the food is Cool Ranch Doritos." He raised his eyebrows as Mercedes listed off all the activities. "Mix all that with some liquor and we'll have a real good time."

Mercedes  stood up raising her hands above her head as she gave him raised an eyebrow blushing at his statement. Putting her arms down she shrugged. "Well there is "Daddy", you know you get treated like a real dad someone who looks out for a person, people look at you as the go to dude for all issues and all that." She smirked cocking her head towards him. "Then there;s "Dad-dy"." She said with a twinkle in her eye. "And thats a dude who can get that whoa-daddy." She did a body roll.  "And heeeeeey daddy." She shook her hips. " and that good good daddy." She dropped it down low and picked it up with that last statement. Someone cat called and she laughed shaking her head. "Sorry but you wanted to know." Going back to stretching, she bent all the way down to the ground touching her toes. "I take it you like Cool Ranch Doritos? I mean liquor gives people courage to either do things they never thought they could or stupid things so either way..."

Sam made a little humming noise in consideration. "Probably not smart enough to be a regular Daddy then.  But all those other ones you said?" He offered up his own body roll that he'd been perfecting  since his freshman year. "I got that aaaaall day and night." He chuckled at himself and at Mercedes cool reaction. "Cool Ranch Doritos are my greatest weakness, girl. So either way it's gonna be a blast," he finished for her, nodding his head towards a couple of nearby treadmills.

Mercedes rolled her eyes Sam. "Don't make me slap you when we are having such a good time, you know I don't like it when you talk like that. I can see you being "Daddy." She watched his body roll and cleared her throat. "Umm yeah I bet you do." She bit her bottom lip, before turning away from him. It was getting a little hot. "You really shouldn't go around telling people your weakness, might give a girl like me some ideas." She said making her way to the treadmills like he nodded too.

Sam attempted to just shrug it off. "I'm just saying, I don't know if I'm like... the advice guy." He smirked slightly when Mercedes looked away, maybe just a little proud of himself. He couldn't deny that he loved getting a reaction.  He hopped on the treadmill and started it up slowly to warm up.  "A girl like you? I thought I could trust you!"

Mercedes shook her head. "You can be whatever and whoever you want to be, you just gotta see the you that I see." She licked her lips trying to shake off the warm feeling seeping through her body. "Well you can trust me, but you are begging for me to use cool ranch against you in some way..." She wouldn't say the way she was thinking because her mind was supposed to be out of the gutter, but Sam was not making it easy.

He tilted his head slightly as he looked over at her, his smile a little more genuine than just pure amusement. "And what exactly is the me that you see? Not that I'm fishing for compliments. I mean... maybe a little, but I'm curious too." He picked up his speed a little into an easy jog. "Hey, as long as I get the Doritos, feel free."

Mercedes started jogging at a steady pace, taking her hair down from the ponytail, and then putting it back into a messy bun. She didn't even need to think about Sam's question, she already knew the answer. Looking over to him she smiled. "I see someone who is more than just his hot body and cool demeanor, you are a kind soul, someone who is smart, funny, caring and sweet. You have an incredible voice, and when you get excited about something, like truly excited, its infectious and makes us all want to be apart of it." Looking away from him she continued to run. "You are also too hot for words and that smile is trouble, but I mean thats just my opinion." She shook her head smiling. "Well then I better stock up on Cool Ranch then." She increased her speed and ran in silent for a bit biting her bottom lip. "What do you think about me?"

Sam didn't even know what to say at first. They weren't things he heard very often except maybe from his parents, but that didn't really count since they were sort of biased. And sure, he had friends who liked him and thought he was cool, but not many of them really saw him that deeply. His smile returned at the compliment on it though. "Well, I think you complimenting me on my voice is a joke because you've got a voice that could make angels cry. And has made me cry. You're one of the smartest people I know. And not just like... book stuff. But real stuff. Like... emotionally smart or whatever they call it.  You're always looking out for everybody, which is awesome. And you really pay attention too 'cause you care. Plus you're smokin'," he added with a casual grin.

Mercedes shook her head. "I complemented you on more than your voice. But thats neither here nor there." She listened to him and tried to hide her blush by continuing to run. His words touched her and she finally looked over at him. "Thank you. Never knew my singing made you cry." It was all she could say. She increased the speed once more. "Smokin;? Is that a good thing?"

"I know. I just... don't know what to say to all that. Most of the compliments I get are about my abs. And sometimes my hilarious impressions." He paused for a moment, sucking at his water bottle while he ran. "Well, I don't just go around telling people when I cry," he laughed. "Of course it's a good thing. You're like hotter than a backyard bonfire."

"I get that.  But you should know, know that people see you, I see you." She slowed down on the treadmill and  came to  a stop, grabbing her own drink. "Yeah well I know I have a good voice just nothing to cry about." It wasn't true, many people cried on a song or another when she sang, at one point she thought that was enough...shaking off her thoughts she watched him run. "I do get the comment about your abs though, they are hot." She laughed at him for his comment. "I don't think I have ever been called smokin' before."

"Could you not make me cry while I'm trying to work out?" he teased, though it certainly had a touch of sincerity to it. "And you do not have a good voice. You have the most incredible voice I've ever heard and everyone needs to hear it." He slowed down himself, finally coming to a stop. He pulled his tank over his head and tossed it on top of his bag. Sure, it was convenient timing with the conversation, but he was also just sweaty. Totally.  "Well, that's just a crying shame. Cause someone should be telling you on the daily. I'm gonna do some weight reps. You down for that?"

Mercedes smirked. "I can try but I am just speaking the truth." She looked down to her hands, not wanting him to see the sadness in her eyes, sadness that came every time she thought about her past. He stopped pulling off his tank top and her breath hitched at the sight. Why was he that hot?  "Yeah maybe I should hire you for the job? Tell me how okay looking I am daily?" She said more breathless that she intended. Nodding she walked over to the weights to try and calm herself down. Half certain he was teasing her on purpose.(edited)

Sam didn't miss any of Mercedes reactions, both to his words and to his shirtlessness. He wasn't going to press her on either of them, but he took note of them both and filed the information away. "I'm happy to do it for free, but if you wanted to pay me in Doritos, I wouldn't complain about that either. And I believe the word I used was smokin', not okay looking," he reminded her. He grabbed a couple weights and started doing curls on one of the benches.

Mercedes smiled. "Cool Ranch Doritos for compliments? I mean I can see that working." She watching him doing curls and for a moment she just stood there mesmerized by him. "I think the only one who is smokin' in this gym is you. All the women are insanely jealous of me right now. Though we haven't given them a reason to be jealous." she said, though she would not be opposed to putting on a show. Shaking off her thoughts she sat across from him on a bench, if he could tease her with his shirtlessness then she could use the two gifts that kept on giving. Grabbing a few weights herself. She bent forward, giving him a clear view of the girls as she did her own  reps.

"Again, I'll give you the compliments anyway, but I won't turn down the chips," he laughed. "Except if I eat too many of 'em, I might have to spend even more time in here." Sam watched her intently, glancing around the gym at her comment to see if there was actually anyone glancing at them. He wasn't unaware of the fact that he got attention around here, but he didn't really react to it too often. He smirked as she leaned forward though. If anyone could get a reaction out of him, it was going to be Mercedes. "No, I guess we haven't. Not yet anyway."

"How about we do it like for every 10 compliments you get a small bag of chips. That way you still get them and you won't over indulge. Its a win/win." She said as she continued to give him a show, pretending she didn't know what she was doing. She didn't know why it was so easy to flirt with Sam but she didn't want to stop it. "On not yet? What kind of show are you trying to put on  dad-dy." She teased looking up at him as she slowly stood.

"I'm starting to think this might make me some sort of compliment gigolo," Sam chuckled. He chewed at his bottom lip as he watched her, trying not to be too obvious about it. His mother raised him to be a gentleman after all, at least until he was asked not to be. He followed suite when she stood up and moved to stand right behind her. He slid his hand down her arm until he met her hand where it held the weight, slowly helping her curl it back up toward her chest. "I'm sure we could think of something..."

Mercedes shrugged. "There could be worse type of gigolos to be though." She said with a laugh. Sam came behind her and her breath hitched. Feeling his hand slid down her arm, she shuttered not even hiding the effect he had on her.  Turning her head towards him she stared into his green eyes. "Oh? And is anything coming to mind?"

Sam couldn't argue with that, though he was starting to think he'd be any kind of gigolo Mercedes asked him to be at this point. He licked his lips as Mercedes looked at him, their faces dangerously close. "Nothing that won't get us kicked out of here. And... all the other gyms are so far away." He ducked his head down as he chuckled. "You're gonna get me in a lotta trouble, Mercedes Jones."

What was she doing? She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to  kiss him. But kissing Sam was trouble. She licked her lips with a soft smiled. "I mean what is life without a little bit of trouble Sam Evans aka dad-dy.  She reached over and kissed him on the cheek, then turned back to her work out. "So I think you need to hold me a little closer. Make sure I don't hurt myself."

Sam laughed again, shaking his head. Leaning in, he whispered near her ear. "You have got to stop calling me that in public or me standing this close to you is going to get awkward for a whole lot of reasons." His cheeks turned a faint pink at the kiss and his smile remained. He wrapped his other arm around her and let his fingers hold her wrists gently as he continued helping her through reps.

Mercedes bit her bottom lip with a smile. "I guess I could be persuaded to not call you that in public. I don't want things to get awkward for you." She let him wrap his arms around her and leaned back against him as he helped her. Heat grew within her body and she knew it was getting to be about that time she should walk always before something happened, and yet, she couldn't help but want to stay near him just a little bit longer. "You sure holding me this close won't cause an awkward situation as well?"

"Thanks for taking pity on me." Sam took a breath in as Mercedes leaned into him, willing himself to stay calm, so to speak. "Oh, it's a definite possibility. That's why I'm mentally building the world's biggest sandwich in my head," he joked, though it certainly wasn't a lie either. You gotta do what you gotta do.

Mercedes didn't know what got into her, she wasn't this bold, she wasn't like this but being around Sam, it did something to her. She bend down, pressing her backside against his front and dropping the weight. Standing, she faced him, running her hands down his arms the way he did her arm. "How is the sandwich making going now?"

Sam bit down hard on the inside of his cheek to keep from making a noise that would most certainly get them asked to leave. He gave in and let his eyes travel down her body and back up again. "It's, um, real.... tall right about now," he replied with a mischievous smirk.

Mercedes stood tall, still not coming close to Sam's height, bodies so close that one move and she would be in his arms. "I don't know what is is about you Sam." She said tempted to stand up on her tippy toes and kiss him, sit him on the bench straddle him and feel his hands all over her. But she also just wanted to stay in his presence keep talking to him, learning more about him.

Sam's hands naturally found their way to Mercedes' waist and rested there comfortably. They looked more like they were slow dancing down instead of working out, but he wasn't even aware of anybody else in the building right now. "Whatever it is... I hope it's good."

Her hands moved up his arms and she smiled. "I would lie and say the jury is still out on that but we both know its good." Her eyes went to his lips and everything in her told her to back away. She was setting herself up for failure, but her feet didn't step back, instead they stood up on her tippy toes, placing a soft kiss to his lips. She didn't care where they were, and if this moment was all she got, she would take full advantage of it.

Sam could sense her movements and leaned himself down a little to meet her lips with his own. Still a gentleman after all. His smile stretched across his whole face as he stood tall again and he was pretty sure he'd lost all ability to actually speak words. He was real good at the physical stuff, but the talking stuff always seemed to stop him up. "Well, I don't know about you, but this, uh... this is the best workout I've ever had."

Mercedes didn't know what had gotten into her but she was not mad at it, Sam kissing her back even for those few seconds made her day completely. She laughed nodding. "Best work out ever." She repeated. "I think we better go, because I am tempted to do that again."

Sam bit at his lip again and gave a little nod. He really didn't want their time together to end, but Mercedes was right about what might happen if they kept this up much longer. And he didn't want to mess up whatever was happening before it even started. Plus, he did actually have to get to class. "Probably a good idea. But I'll talk to you later, yeah?"

Reluctantly, she stepped away from him. "Yes you most definitely will talk to me later, as long as you want too." She turned to grab her things but stopped and turned back to Sam. Walking up to him she stood on her tippy toes to reach his ears. "Text me or write me later dad-dy. " Kissing his cheek, she grabbed her bag and top and made her way out of the gym with a smile on her face.

[doggonneit]

The Last Red Scribble | Part 2/2

Fandom: Haikyuu!!

Pairing/Characters: Kuroo/Tsukishima, Shimizu

Rating: T for Teen

Warnings: Abortion reference

A.N. This is the final part of the KuroTsuki Gift Exchange 2017, written for @moonislander on Tumblr. Hope you enjoy!

Italics is Tsukishima. Bold is Kuroo.

[Read on AO3]

Tuesday PM

(11:02) so i might be dumb

(11:05) If you have the mental capacity to figure that out, you paradoxically can’t be that dumb.

(11:06) i might not play in the match on thurs (11:06) i punched a guy

(11:07) Why the fuck would you do that.

(11:08) im a rational guy (11:08) but when things happen (11:09) they happen

(11:10) I changed my mind. (11:10) I’m not letting Tobio anywhere near you. You are the worst role model for him.

(11:10) hear me out (11:11) its good i swear

(11:12) …

(11:12) so at practice this newbie kept staring at akaashi (11:12) creepy but harmless (11:12) but then the dudes hand started wandering (11:13) so i socked him in the jaw (11:13) gotta keep the bros boyfriend safe right

(11:15) I’m sure Akaashi appreciates it.

(11:16) nah but bokuto did lololol

(11:16) The question is, how many laps did your coach make you run?

(11:17) dude i ran till i hurled (11:17) make me feel better? (11:17) *sad face emoji*

(11:20) The newly discovered dinosaur fossils in China have changed the way scientists understand the evolution of feathers.

(11:22) huh (11:22) not quite what i had in mind but cool

(11:23) It’s my job.

(11:23) youre a geneticist who collects dino dna from amber (11:23) YOURE GOING TO BRING THEM BACK

(11:23) I’m a research assistant.

(11:24) doesnt mean you dont know how

(11:24) Amber DNA is too deteriorated for any type of resurrection.

(11:24) but if you could (11:25) would you

(11:25) Yes.

(11:26) million dollar question which dino though

(11:27) Velociraptor, duh.

(11:27) not a t rex?

(11:28) T-rexes were lumpy potatoes with useless arms. (11:28) Velociraptors had claws on their hind legs for disembowelling prey. (11:28) You tell me which one’s superior.

(11:29) youre so fired up its great (11:29) keep talking dinos to me

(11:31) I would but I have articles to type up before tomorrow.

(11:31) what an aDULTY ADULT (11:31) doing his JOB AND HAVING PROSPECTS

(11:33) Do you mock young and successful people because it temporarily alleviates the worthlessness you feel on a daily basis?

(11:35) savage af

(11:35) :))))

(11:35) i never shouldve went to uni (11:36) dietetics then sports med? (11:36) regret tastes like ash in my mouth (11:36) fucking murder me

(11:37) That was very poetic.

(11:38) you like poetry?

(11:38) I don’t mind it.

(11:39) hypothetically (11:39) could bad poetry seduce you

(11:40) Hypothetically (11:40) No.

(11:40) damn

(11:41) I bet you’re the type of person to fall for sappy crap like that.

(11:41) damn right (11:41) in elementary school a girl wrote me a poem (11:42) we dated all the way from recess to lunch

(11:43) Your longest relationship, huh?

(11:44) all from a shitty roses are red poem (11:44) i bet you can do better (11:45) seduce me o seductive seducer

(11:47) Congratulations, I have literally never been less turned off in my entire life.

(11:48) to reiterate (11:48) 1. i am dumb (11:48) 2. regret tastes like ash in my mouth

(11:49) Mmm. (11:50) You know what else tastes like ash? (11:51) *image attached*

(11:53) oh baby (11:54) you could never taste like regret (11:54) now take that cigarette out of your mouth

(11:54) Yes, daddy.

(11:55) hjlfkllkkl (11:56) okay i need you to stop fucking with me its bad for my heart

(11:56) :)))))

.

Wednesday PM

(8:13) tsukki you cant just do that

(8:14) Do what?

(8:14) i almost rolled into an early grave

(8:14) I have no idea what you’re talking about.

(8:14) do you know what its like to turn around and see the brightest blueberry eyes in the entire universe

(8:15) Oh, you mean Akiteru taking Tobio to the recreation centre?

(8:15) I SAW STARS IN HIS EYES TSUKKI

(8:16) Tobio said he had a lot of fun. (8:16) I’ve never seen him so animated before.

(8:17) your son is adorable (8:17) i dont have favourites but hes my favourite

(8:17) Don’t spoil him.

(8:18) no promises (8:18) your blueberry son is everything that is good and pure in this world (8:18) im so proud of you

(8:19) Me??

(8:19) well you made him

(8:19) You must’ve slept through Biology in high school because making a child is a two-person job.

(8:20) clearly tobio got his good looks from you

(8:20) We literally look nothing alike.

(8:21) are you telling me tobio has two beautiful parents (8:21) lies (8:22) pics or it didnt happen

(8:22) ...

(8:23) i just realised how that sounded (8:23) and i in no way meant to ask you for a picture of you sleeping with tobios mother

(8:27) I have never (8:27) Laughed so hard in my entire life (8:28) I choked on my fucking tea.

(8:28) whoopsss

(8:29) But since you asked (8:29) *image attached*

(8:29) please dont tell me thats actually a pic of you two fucking (8:29) because i would be really weirded out

(8:30) That’s not a picture of us fucking.

(8:30) im trusting you okay (8:31) OH MY GOODNESS (8:31) AHAHAHAHAH (8:31) SHE IS SO BEAUTIFULLL

(8:31) She gets that a lot.

(8:32) im having a hard time trying to figure out if im jealous of you or her

(8:32) No point. We’re not together.

(8:33) i figured if you were you wouldve said something earlier (8:33) so let me guess (8:33) she cheated on you

(8:34) No.

(8:35) you cheated on her

(8:35) No. (8:35) Do I look like a cheater?

(8:35) hey i dont stereotype

(8:35) There was no cheating. Just unfortunate circumstances.

(8:36) one night stand accidental baby?

(8:36) Yeah, close enough.

(8:37) thats tough (8:37) it happened to my older sister too (8:37) but she ended up marrying the guy (8:37) they were like fuck yeah lets be a family (8:38) so now im the proud uncle of a literal ball of snot

(8:39) That was Akiteru when he held Tobio for the first time. (8:39) He couldn’t stop crying. (8:39) It was gross.

(8:40) dude was holding the future in his hands (8:40) of course he was crying

(8:40) You cried when you held your literal ball of snot for the first time, didn’t you?

(8:41) THIS ISNT ABOUT ME ITS ABOUT YOU (8:41) BACK TO YOUR ONE NIGHT STAND

(8:41) You need to be a level five friend to unlock my tragic backstory.

(8:41) well okay (8:41) what level am i at now

(8:43) Zero.

(8:44) what (8:44) how can you say that (8:44) we had an anniversary (8:44) your brother loves me (8:45) your son adores me

(8:45) My brother what now.

(8:45) did i forget to mention?? (8:46) we bonded over vball (8:46) now were texting buddies (8:46) we talk about you ALL THE TIME

(8:48) You’re lying. (8:48) Akiteru would never do that to me.

(8:48) you had a dinosaur nightlight until you were eleven

(8:49) … (8:49) Excuse me. (8:49) I have a murder to commit.

(8:49) tell akiteru i said hi!!

.

Thursday AM

(9:23) WISH US LUKC TSUUKIIIII

(9:24) You’re… Bokuto. The Bset Freind Foreber.

(9:24) YAEH YOU RMEMEBR ME (9:24) I STOEL KUROOS PHONE LOL (9:24) WE GOT OUR MATHC TODAY (9:24) HES PLAYIGN TOO

(9:25) Even after he punched that guy in the face?

(9:25) COAHC IS A GOOD UPTSANDING MAN (9:25) WHO DOESTN TOLERATE SEZXUAL ASSUALT (9:25) I ALSO MAY HAVE THROWN A TANTRNM ON COUTR

(9:26) I’m impressed. Good job.

(9:26) WE’RE RARIGN TO GO (9:26) LOOK AT US WE LOOKS O GOOD (9:27) *image attached*

(9:27) Yeah, you blurs look really good.

(9:27) OKAY OKAY WAIT (9:28) *image attached* (9:28) AKAASGHHI TOOK TAHT ONE (9:28) AWESOME AYYY

(9:29) Are those (9:29) Sleeveless red jerseys (9:29) ?  

(9:29) YAEEHHHH (9:29) WAIT THISS IS EVEN BETTER (9:29) CHEKC THIS OUT (9:30) HOLD ON

(9:30) *image attached*

(9:30) ...

(9:30) GROUP FLEX

(9:30) I

(9:31) LOOKGNI SEXY SMEZY RIGHT (9:31) ;)))))))))

(9:32) No.

(9:32) LIAR I BET YOU’RE BLUSHIGN

(9:32) Go warm up before your match.

(9:32) IM TELLIGN KUROO!!!!!!

.

Thursday PM

(3:16) a lil birdie told me (3:16) youre into (3:16) BICEPS

(3:17) It’s a lie.

(3:17) so this does nothing for you (3:17) *image attached*

(3:17) ...

(3:17) oikawa and akaashi (3:18) slender and toned specimens (3:18) 7.5/10

(3:18) You have got to be kidding me.

(3:18) dont be shy no judgement here (3:18) *image attached* (3:18) terushima and ushiwaka (3:19) terushimas built but ushiwakas got power going (3:19) 8/10 and 9/10

(3:19) I can’t believe you right now.

(3:19) *image attached* (3:19) these are bokutos (3:19) amazing right my boy is STACKED (3:20) 10/10

(3:19) Please stop.

(3:20) the real killers though (3:20) *image attached* (3:20) IWAIZUMI (3:21) look at that (3:21) he could choke me and id thank him 12/10

(3:22) Are you done with the meat parade?

(3:22) just one more (3:22) *image attached* (3:22) ME (3:23) what do you think??

(3:23) I’m not stroking your already inflated ego.

(3:24) i know for a fact youre not a blushing virgin (3:24) now stop being shy and rate me

(3:24) You’re ridiculous. (3:24) Fine. (3:24) Solid muscle. Good definition. (3:24) 9/10  

(3:25) only 9?? (3:25) im hurt im insulted (3:25) would it make a difference if i used a filter

(3:26) Why not.

(3:26) *image attached*

(3:26) Superb musculature, clearly the result of endless hours of hard work. (3:26) 10/10  

(3:26) i knew it (3:27) i gotta go rub this in oikawas face (3:27) he will rue the day he ever thought he was better built than me (3:27) text later okay

(3:27) Kuroo.

(3:27) yes dear

(3:27) You forgot to tell me. (3:28) Did you win the match?  

(3:28) YEAH LOL

(3:28) Congratulations.

(3:28) thanks babe (3:28) the thought of you kept me going strong (3:28) *heart eyes emoji*

.

Friday PM

(10:23) i wondered what’d gotten tsukki so riled up (10:23) and then i saw all the biceps (10:23) loolllll  

(10:25) im intrigued (10:25) who is this mysterious person with tsukkis phone

(10:25) ahh i’m yamaguchi (10:25) tsukki’s best friend (10:26) i may or may not have borrowed his phone when he wasn’t looking  

(10:26) devious (10:26) i like it

(10:26) ur going to like this a lot more

(10:26) oho?

(10:26) it’s friday night (10:27) which means it’s karaoke night (10:27) with everyone from work  

(10:27) there wouldnt happen to be (10:27) alcohol (10:27) involved would there

(10:28) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

(10:28) you bring great news friend (10:28) so what do i need to sacrifice to get a vid of tsukki (10:28) doing a drunken rendition of my heart will go on

(10:29) that’s a big request (10:29) tsukki hates performing (10:19) especially to cliches  

(10:30) okay but you do have the ability to make him to do so

(10:30) that depends on what ur willing to sacrifice

(10:30) you ARE devious (10:30) all right what do you want

(10:32) ur number and ur firstborn

(10:33) im devoted to tsukki just saying (10:33) firstborn no problem

(10:33) i want ur number bc i want to keep u accountable (10:33) not bc i’m interested in u, u loser  

(10:34) i can see why you two are best friends

(10:34) we have a deal??

(10:34) fuck yeah lets go

(10:34) gimme fifteen minutes (10:34) tsukki’s already tipsy on strawberry daiquiris  

(10:34) this is gonna be so good (10:34) lets go lets go lets go

(10:53) i am (10:53) a GOD (10:53) *video attached*  

(10:57) AHAHAHAHA (10:57) this is (10:57) the second best day (10:57) of my life (10:57) omg is this real its beautiful

(10:58) he is SO BAD, RIGHT

(10:58) is he better sober

(10:59) no but he can rap sober

(11:00) are you fucking with me

(11:01) nopee

(11:01) what do i need to sacrifice to see that

(11:01) u couldn’t afford it (11:02) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)  

(11:02) worth a shot (11:02) youre a true bro anyway

(11:03) why thank yoyiijkpll

(11:03) you okay bud

(11:03) What teh fuck

(11:03) tsukki?? (11:04) babe (11:04) so me and your bestie bonded too

(11:04) Waht the actual fuvk (11:04) I’m too drukn to typpe (11:04) You fuckign pick up whenm I call  

(11:05) wait what

.

Mysterious Phone Man Tsukki is calling…

“Uhh… hello?”

“I… I am going to… gouge your eyes out.”

“Holy shit, you’re slurring. You’re soo drunk.”

“Hi, Kuroo!”

“Shut up, Yamaguchi.”

“Sorry, Tsukki!”

“Kuroo, you shit. I sh… should’ve known you’d do something like this.”

“Hey, Yamaguchi was the one who filmed you!”

“Ohh no, don’t blame me, you enabler!"

“You know what, I’m not even sorry. That was wicked. Oh my god, I’m definitely in love.”

“What a complete dick… hole.”

“Aw babe, you’re so eloquent when you’re drunk. What did Yamaguchi give you, hmm?"

“JÄEGERBOMBS, WHOO!”

“Fucking disgush-- disgusting.”

“Then why’d you drink it, you dork?”

“Ughh…"

“Don’t forget you owe me, Kuroo!”

“Gonna kill you both.”

“I dare you. Come to Tobio’s practice tomorrow and we’ll have a fucking throwdown.”

“I’m going to be so hungover.”

“I double dare you.”

"Fucking… fine.”

“Wow, Kuroo. You’re really good at riling Tsukki up, you know that?”

“It’s a special talent. Now you boys enjoy the rest of your night. I’m going to watch that rendition one more time and laugh myself to sleep.”

“FUCK YOU, KUROO!”

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

“Aww, you guys.”

“YOU FUCKING--”

Click.

.

Saturday AM

(7:46) GOOD MORNINGGG (7:46) THROWDOWN AT 10 (7:46) DONT FORGET

.

Mysterious Phone Man Tsukki  is calling…

“Uh-oh. Am I in trouble?”

“I fucking hate you.”

“Soo… your head is pulsing, your throat is parched and you want to die in a hole?"

“I was unconscious. Unable to feel pain. Now I’m back in the world of the living.”

“Don't be mad. If you drag your ass down to the rec centre, I’ll get coffee for you.”

“...”

“Is that a yes?”

“Large black.”

“Black coffee? Are you serious?”

“It matches my soul.”

“O-kay, anything else?”

“Strawberry muffin.”

“Your soul confuses me.”

“And something for Tobio.”

“No shit, duh. Akiteru?”

“He can starve.”

“Still haven’t forgiven him for telling me about the dinosaur nightlight, huh?”

“And I’ll never forgive you if you bring it up again.”

“Bring what up again?”

“Good boy.”

“Can we revisit that conversation about kinks again?”

Click.

.

Saturday AM

(9:47) ive got coffee and muffins (9:47) hot chocolate for tobio (9:47) and a latte for akiteru bc im not an ass

(9:52) Fuck.

(9:52) i know youre mad at akiteru but no need to get hissy

(9:52) It’s not that. (9:52) We can’t make it to practice anymore.  

(9:53) ????

(9:53) Tobio’s mother is here.

(9:53) whoaa what

(9:53) I’m really sorry. (9:53) Especially since you bought breakfast. (9:54) I’ll pay you back.  

(9:54) dont worry about it lol (9:54) ill share it with the other guys

(9:54) Are you mad?

(9:55) kinda disappointed but not at you (9:55) its not your fault

(9:55) I really am sorry. (9:56) I need to go, but I’ll text you later okay?  

(9:56) no need to stress (9:57) practice is about to start anyway

.

Saturday PM

(1:28) Are you free to talk now?

(1:29) kuroos sperm bank (1:29) you squeeze em we freeze em

(1:29) That is disgusting.

(1:30) tsukki its time for the talk you never got when you hit puberty (1:30) what you must realise is that masturbation is healthy and natural

(1:30) We are not having this conversation. Ever.

(1:31) babe dont be embarrassed (1:31) one day youll have to have the same convo with tobio lololol

(1:31) Please don’t remind me.

(1:31) you doing okay

(1:32) I’ve had a shitty morning.

(1:33) id also be in a bad mood if i were hungover and my ex showed up uninvited

(1:33) She’s not (1:33) Whatever.  

(1:33) not... your ex?

(1:34) She can’t be my ex if we never went out.

(1:34) idk you had a one night stand with her

(1:34) It’s complicated.

(1:35) have i reached level five friend yet

(1:35) …

(1:35) im here to listen

(1:37) I guess you might be a level five friend.

(1:37) hell yeah

(1:37) I can’t believe this. I don’t even know you.

(1:38) im hurt (1:38) you just blessed me as your level five friend

(1:40) I don’t know where to start.

(1:40) lets start small (1:40) howd you meet her

(1:40) Shimizu was my senior in high school. (1:40) We weren’t close but we kept in touch after she graduated. (1:40) Study tips and stuff like that.  

(1:41) thats cute (1:41) sounds innocent

(1:41) It wasn’t ever anything more than that. (1:42) We just (1:43) There’s a lot to learn about yourself when you’re a teenager. (1:43) And we thought we could help each other out.  

(1:44) seems like you two trusted each other a lot

(1:44) We did. (1:44) Do. (1:44) But there was never a relationship. (1:45) We slept together but neither of us really wanted it.  

(1:46) what do you mean?

(1:46) I’m gay. (1:46) Shimizu’s ace. (1:46) We both cried afterwards. (1:47) Pathetic, right.  

(1:47) i dont think thats pathetic at all (1:47) you bared your vulnerabilities to each other (1:47) and learned something about yourselves in the process (1:48) it takes a lot of courage to do something like that

(1:49) I guess.

(1:50) so tobio was the result of that huh

(1:50) Yeah. (1:50) It was bad. (1:50) Our families were so pissed at each other. (1:51) They talked about abortion and marriage and all that shit.  

(1:51) i dont envy you at all (1:51) that mustve been a complete shit storm and a half

(1:51) Shimizu and I considered a platonic marriage. (1:52) But we didn’t want to do something neither of us wanted again.

(1:52) so wedding nay but baby yay

(1:52) Tobio lived with Shimizu. (1:52) Until she got a job offer in America. (1:53) She thought a new country would’ve been too much for him. (1:53) You know how that turned out.

(1:54) stomping sandcastles and chucking buckets (1:54) i still think tobios a champ

(1:55) Dickwad.

(1:55) i love you too babe (1:55) but seriously you and tobio have been doing a lot better (1:56) hes talking to you and his teacher said he was playing with other kids

(1:56) Tobio had (1:56) He’d settled. (1:56) He’d looked at me. (1:57) But one glance at Shimizu today and (1:58) It was like I didn’t exist again. (1:58) Fuck. (1:58) I can’t do this.  

(1:58) hey hey hey (1:58) tobio was just excited to see his mum (1:58) four months right (1:59) he wouldve missed her like crazy (1:59) he wants kisses and cuddles (1:59) doesnt mean hes forgotten his old man

(2:00) First of all, I’m not old.

(2:02) ... (2:02) second of all??

(2:02) I don’t have a second of all.

(2:03) LOLOLOL

(2:03) Shut up, I’m emotional right now.

(2:03) naww babe (2:03) youre just overthinking things (2:03) talk to tobio (2:03) hes five but he understands shit (2:04) tell him you love him just as much as his mum does (2:04) then throw in a vball reference or something idk

(2:04) You’re so helpful.

(2:04) even if tobio doesnt understand everything (2:04) verbalising will help sort out your emotions

(2:05) I thought you were doing Sports Medicine, not Psychiatry.

(2:05) i am an old man with decades of wisdom

(2:05) There it is.

(2:05) what?

(2:05) STRANGER DANGER.

(2:06) i cant believe (2:06) i walked right into that one

(2:06) Lol.

(2:06) feeling better?

(2:07) Yeah. (2:07) Thanks for listening to me vent. (2:07) It did help clear my head.  

(2:08) thats what level five friends are for

(2:09) I’m still sorry about missing practice this morning. (2:09) Can I make it up to you?  

(2:09) how about (2:09) lets do this properly (2:10) and go on a real date

(2:11) I (2:11) You want that?  

(2:11) youre intelligent witty and hilarious (2:11) you love your son and would do anything for him (2:12) plus youre the most beautiful person ive ever seen (2:12) theres no reason i wouldnt want to

(2:12) Wow.

(2:12) thats a very lacklustre reaction

(2:13) No, I’m just (2:13) Surprised.

(2:13) good or bad surprised?

(2:13) Good surprised. (2:13) I didn’t expect you to be so straightforward.  

(2:14) i have literally been calling you babe and sweetheart and dear

(2:14) I thought flirtation was an integral part of your personality. (2:14) Am I wrong to assume you flirt with everyone?  

(2:14) well no (2:15) i joke around a lot (2:15) but i mean it with you (2:15) youre amazing in every way

(2:16) I really don’t know what to say to that.

(2:16) how does this sound (2:16) you me and tobio (2:16) at the park tomorrow (2:16) picnic and volleyball

(2:18) You’d want Tobio there?

(2:18) of course hes my favourite (2:18) and also because hes important to you

(2:18) Nice save.

(2:18) so picnic?

(2:18) Yeah. (2:18) I’d like that. (2:19) Tobio’s excited too. (2:19) He says he’ll help make riceballs.  

(2:19) thats the cutest fucken thing ive heard all day (2:19) BOKTUO BRO HIGH FIVE ME IM GOING ON A PICNIC WITH TSUKKI AND TOBIO TOMORROW ADN IVE NEVER BEEN THIS EIXCITED IN MY ENTIRE LIFE

(2:19) Kuroo.

(2:19) uhh (2:20) wrong number (2:21) fuck it NO REGRETS

.

Sunday AM

(9:12) Hello, is this Kuroo?

(9:15) yeess (9:15) whos this

(9:17) My name is Shimizu Kiyoko.

(9:17) wait as in (9:17) tsukki and tobios shimizu??

(9:18) Yes.

(9:18) uhh hey (9:18) not that i dont want to talk to you (9:18) but why do you have my number

(9:19) I took it from Tsukishima’s phone. (9:19) Our last few conversations he mentioned your name and it piqued my curiosity.

(9:19) tsukki talks about me?

(9:20) He doesn’t think you’re a nuisance. (9:20) That’s very rare.

(9:20) what can i say (9:20) im charming when i want to be

(9:20) Tobio is quite taken with you. (9:21) That’s also very rare. (9:21) You’re the exception to the rule; I’m sure you understand why I’m curious.

(9:22) i guess but i dont know if theres much to say (9:22) we all just like volleyball

(9:22) Your influence helped smooth out their relationship.

(9:22) it wasnt much (9:22) i just mentioned vball and things went from there (9:22) it was all them

(9:23) You helped them find common ground in their lives. (9:23) I know how difficult it was for them beforehand.

(9:23) they wouldve figured things out eventually (9:23) theyre amazing as they are

(9:24) You sound fond of them.

(9:24) i am (9:24) tobios a good kid (9:24) and tsukki makes me laugh (9:24) mostly at my own expense (9:24) but i like that he doesnt hold back

(9:25) Tsukishima holds you in similar thoughts. (9:25) He’d never admit it but I know him well enough.

(9:25) so this conversation (9:25) are you basically sussing out whether or not im a piece of shit

(9:25) Yes.

(9:25) how am i doing so far

(9:27) You’re fine.

(9:27) oh thank god

(9:27) I don’t understand. You sound relieved?

(9:27) well youre tobios mum (9:27) and tsukki has a lot of respect for you (9:28) so your opinions pretty important

(9:30) I’m surprised. Not many others would consider that.

(9:31) idk it makes sense

(9:32) I’m glad Tsukishima found someone who accepts our unusual circumstances. (9:32) I was afraid my decision to keep Tobio would affect his future relationships.

(9:32) tsukki wouldnt care about people like that anyway (9:33) hed give tobio the world before he gave it to anyone else (9:33) but who wouldnt for a kid like that

(9:35) I think the same, but I may be biased.

(9:35) tobios earnest and hardworking (9:36) determined to challenge himself (9:36) you raised a good kid

(9:36) Thank you. That means a lot to me.

(9:36) its the truth (9:36) so i have passed your inspection or nah

(9:39) There’s a lot I want to say but I’ll keep it brief for both our sakes.

(9:39) yikes

(9:40) I care for Tsukishima and Tobio so much more than I can put into words. (9:40) I hope it means something that I think you’re good for them.

(9:41) oh (9:41) yeah (9:41) yeah it does (9:41) thanks (9:41) im not eloquent enough for this (9:42) but i care a lot for them too (9:42) and ill take care of them (9:42) for as long as theyll have me (9:42) for as long as youll let me

(9:44) I can see why Tsukishima and Tobio like you.

(9:44) tsukki only likes me for my biceps

(9:44) Funny. (9:44) Tsukishima is actually reading this over my shoulder.

(9:45) uh oh (9:45) is he sulking now

(9:45) A little bit. (9:45) He does have a weakness for muscles.

(9:46) I KNEW IT (9:46) AHAHAHAHAHA (9:46) hes never going to live this down

(9:47) Oh, I shouldn’t have let that slip. (9:47) Tsukishima’s mad at me now.

(9:47) bless his sensitive soul

(9:47) He’s telling Tobio to spike a ball into your face.

(9:48) what

(9:48) Tobio might actually do it.

(9:48) shimizu (9:48) i know were merely acquaintances (9:49) but help

(9:50) Strawberry shortcake. (9:50) It’s Tsukishima’s favourite.

(9:50) thats adorable (9:50) i owe you one

(9:50) Then take care of them. (9:50) Or I’ll take care of you.

(9:51) wh

(9:51) Have fun on your date. (9:51) Tobio will tell me all about it. (9:51) :)

[itsallavengers]

TALK STARKQUILL TO ME I NEED

Their meeting was a little less meet-cute and a little more,,, meet-ugly sort of thing.

Mainly because they both read the situation very badly and ended up trying to kill one another. Completely accidentally, but.

Still.

And really, can you blame Tony? Their ship does crash-land in the middle of a crowded highway, and barely manages to avoid civilians. Then they pop out, and they’re armed to the teeth, looking pretty threatening and...well... alien.

People end up calling (what’s left of) the Avengers- which happens, at the time, to be Tony and Tony alone.

Except the Guardians crashed in Florida; when Tony got the call he was in New Orleans at a science convention, and the suit was still in New York.

But he went anyway. Suit or no suit, he had to try. He was the only line of defence now, after... everything.

So, armed with a sophisticated watch-gauntlet and a gun he always kept tucked in his jacket pocket, he takes the jet and leaves to try and stop them from potentially, y’know, annihilating the world or whatever.

Except things don’t really happen like that, in the end.

“Listen, what are the chances you’re gonna do as I say when I order you to drop your weapons and leave?” tony asks wearily, as he holds the gun at the biggest guy’s weirdly patterned face and the gauntlet at the woman holding the largest gun he’s ever seen in his life. He doesn’t even bat an eyelid toward the talking walking raccoon or... the tree...thing.

Just another day in the life, at this point.

Although it would be kinda embarrassing if he ends up getting murdered by the raccoon. What the damn hell would they put on his grave? Here lies Tony Stark- saved New York, but unable to protect himself from the dangers of the Mighty Raccoon?

As soon as he’d spoken, about 13 different weapons were pointed in his face. Which hardly made sense, considering there were five of them and they all only had two hands. But whatever.

“How’s about we ask you the same? Except more forcefully, considering we got all the guns,” the raccoon said.

Tony rolled his eyes. “Where the fuck would I go then, what with me being a human being who lives here? Just fling myself into the void of space? And yes, tempting as that might sound, I’ve been there done that. Not as appealing as I would have thought, to be honest.” 

The five stared at him in confusion for a moment, before what looked to be the only actual human stepped forward, head cocked. His eyes were bright and beard scruffy- Tony thought it suited him.

Tony also thought he should probably focus on the task at hand, and his ever-growing chances of imminent death, rather than how pretty his opponent was.

“You’re just a human, huh?” Hot Scruffy Man asked.

Tony raised an eyebrow, and then pointed the gun at him when he took another step. “What gave it away? The fact that I have the same composition and structure as every other human on the planet? The fact I look just like you, who is also a human?”

“Half human,”

“What was the other half, pure asshole?”

“Actually... kinda, yeah.” The Hot Scruffy Man paused, and then shrugged. “Daddy issues.”

Tony had a brief moment to wonder what the fuck he was doing before an involuntary snort of laughter had escaped out of him. “Yeah- rode that train before, buddy- still doesn’t explain why you’re on the planet I protect, waving your guns around at innocent people and causing millions of dollars worth in property damage.”

The team in front of him paused, and then the man looked back at the green lady, who just shrugged and put down her gun. “We were told there was an imminent threat to your planet. We were in the neighbourhood, so we thought we’d come save you.”

Tony stared at them, contemplating. “Where are your sources from?”

“The fine NovaCorps,” Massive Bulked Alien Dude spoke up.

Tony squinted, running a hand across his forehead. “Am I… supposed to know what that means?”

“Fancy space police,” Raccoon told him.

“You seen any apocalyptic aliens round here lately?” Hot scruffy Man asked him again, slightly confused now. 

Tony just sighed. “Nope. And if there were, I would handle them. You can go back…wherever you came from, guys, it’s fine, Earth is fine-“

“You? You’re gonna protect the Earth? With your fancy little handgun and hand-firey thing?” The Raccoon laughed, and Tony scowled.

Luckily, because he had been counting the seconds in his head since he’d called it, he knew he was about to do something really badass, and it wiped the scowl off his face, replacing it with a little smile as he stared at the stupid talking Raccoon. 

“No,” he said, shrugging as he heard the familiar whirring sound of metal moving at hundreds of miles an hour up ahead of him.

The aliens looked up, one of them pointing their gun at the source of noise, like it would do anything. But in the space of a few seconds, it had already reached its intended target, slowing down just enough to not vaporise his body and wrapping around him, every piece fitting in a way that made Tony want to give himself a round of applause.

“I’m gonna protect Earth with this,” he said, raising his two repulsors and loading them right in the Raccoon’s little face.

There was complete silence for a second, before Hot Scruffy Man made a noise that should really, for the sake of Tony’s sanity, be kept in the bedroom. “That was literally the coolest and most attractive thing I have ever seen ever. In my life.”

Tony couldn’t help himself; he smirked and cocked his head Hot scruffy Man. “Sweetie, I appreciate the sentiment, but you’re gonna have to keep it in your pants until we can sort this out.”

Green Lady sighed, and walked forward to smack Hot Scruffy Man around the back of the head. “You know what we talked about, Peter- no flirting with potential targets. It’s in bad form.”

“This guy certainly hasn’t got a bad form,” Hot Scruffy Man- Peter- nodded over to Tony and smirked.

Green Lady sighed, and then turned to Tony. “Listen. You want to protect your planet. We want to protect your planet. How about rather than pointing our weapons at one another, we try and… you know, do what we set out to do?”

Instantly, the smile slide off Tony’s face, not that any of them could tell behind the faceplate. “I work alone. Sorry. You’re gonna have to l-“

And that was when the world sort of exploded around them.

Without even thinking about it, Tony shot forward and wrapped his arms around the two closest to him- the Green Lady and Peter- rolling them to the ground and hoping that the rest of his team, especially the more flammable ones, were okay. Green Lady yelled at the sudden-ness of his approach, but Peter just sighed. “Here we go,” he muttered into Tony’s shoulder.

Tony was inclined to agree, there.

Half-way through the battle, Peter AKA Starlord AKA Galaxy’s Number One Asshole asked him out.

Tony looked at him for a good four seconds before he got tackled to the ground by… (Dracula? Dracker? He was having to learn the names on the go, and his mind was currently on other, more explosion-based things) the Massive Bulked Alien Dude.

“THAT IS VERY UNPROFFESSIONAL, PETER!” He yelled, before looking down at Tony. “Are you well? I thought you may have been hit with a paralytic beam of some sort.”

Tony nodded, and then sat up. “No paralytic. Just your team-mate.”

Massive Bulked Alien Dude nodded wisely. “He does tend to have that affect on people.”

“What? Endangering their goddamn lives on the field?”

Massive Bulked Alien Dude paused, and then shrugged as he rolled off Tony. “I was going to say rendering people speechless with his idiocy, but that too.”

“Hey, that’s not fair, I’m actually clever, Tony, I promise! Boyfriend material, right here!” Peter yelled across the battlefield, looking over to them and grinning as he shot an alien in the back of the head without even looking.

“You’re a god damn alien!” tony yelled back exasperatedly, trying to keep the smile off his face as he jumped high into the air and then landed on an unfortunate opponent.

“Yeah- think of all the new tricks I must know, then,” Peter countered, winking as he dived behind a car and then threw what must have been a fancy bomb over the bonnet.

Tony’s mind briefly short-circuited at that (Holy mother of God) astute observation- but he quickly regrouped and fired a repulsor at an alien attempting to sneak up behind Rocket. “I’m gonna need a few examples before I agree to anything, sweetie,” he replied.

Peter laughed and opened his mouth, but then the Tree hit him over the head. “Ow!” he complained, looking betrayed.

“I have enough issues dealing with one distracted team-member whilst in the middle of a battle, I will not be dealing with two! Cut the flirting out!” Gamora yelled, as Tony watched her utterly destroy two different aliens at once.

“She thinks we should be ‘professionals’ and ‘focus on the mission’ when we’re in battle,” Peter said grumpily, wiping a cut across his face and then shrugging. “I respectfully disagree.”

Tony had to cut the conversation short again in order to swoop up and laser his way into the main hull of the ship that loomed barely even twenty meters over the battlefield, but he still had the team in the comm that FRIDAY had patched him into. “So what about Monday? You sticking around until then?” He asked.

Rocket swore at them down the line, but Peter just laughed. “For you, baby, of course I am.”

“Good. I’ve got a meeting with… let’s call him an ex. Be nice to have an excuse to blow him off.”

Peter whistled, “Oooh, want me to sweep you off your feet and declare battle with him for hurting you? I’m always up for it.”

“Much as I would like to see that, he’s kind of peak physical perfection. Plus I’d rather just make out with you,” Tony admitted.

“That’s fair. I want to make out with me too.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“Yep- welcome to the Guardians- we’re all assholes here. You’ll fit right in,” Peter told him.

“I am GROOT!” Came a rumbling voice that Tony could hear even off the comms, and he looked down in time to watch the tree grab Peter around the wait and haul him, flinging him up in to the sky with a yell.

It was a perfect throw, to be fair to Groot. Peter’s momentum cut out just as he was level with Tony, who grabbed his shoulders and lifted his faceplate, just for a second, in time for Peter to plant one on his mouth with a grin and a raised eyebrow, before he began falling again, right into Groot’s waiting arms.

Through the comm, Gamora just sighed. “Idiots. All of you.”

[lil-nct-scenarios-11]

NCT- A Strange Surprise || Gang AU- part 3

Group: NCT- all members

Theme: Gang AU

Type: series- fluff + angst

*Warning- this series will cover some dark themes such as abuse, drugs, and crude language so please read at your own discretion, if these themes make you uncomfortable at all, please do not read this 

Plot: You see Renjun all bruised up and he keeps denying who hurt him. After school, a family emergency pops up so you run to Renjun to stay with him. When he takes you to stay at a friend’s house, you have an unexpected guest.

Previous parts: 1, 2 

“Renjun, what happened to your face?” you ask as you run your fingers over his bruises softly. “Junnie, who did this? Is that Mark kid, I swear imma give a piece of my mind when I see him.”

“Haha, Y/N you’re cute when you worry about me but Imma ask for you not to worry just this once. I just uh... fell,” he lies with a cheeky grin.

“Oh and you really expect me to believe that? Why can’t you just tell me the truth Junnie? I understand that you couldn’t blurt everything about what happened to Jaemin but I’ve known you since we were 2, sure we haven’t really talked for like what, 3 years? But that shouldn’t change the bond and trust we shared for all those years. Look I don’t know what kinda friends you have now or the shit they do but guess what? I’m back and you can confine in me because shit I know you, I know when I have to worry about something. And your cute ass can bet that I’m gunna worry about you when you show up with a fuckin bruise on your face. So tell me what’s really going on here?” you say, holding his hands and looking at him, never wavering your eye contact.

His expression hardens, “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I can’t do that and besides class is gunna start so...”

“Whatever, I will have you tell me one day because I can’t continue to be your friend if you’re not being honest with me so...”

_____  

“Today I’ll be assigning a group essay, you’ll be free to choose your topic from one of the given options however I’ll be choosing your groups. In the first group over here, we have Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Y/N, and Renjun. You guys can go ahead and move now. Ok the next group, we have-” your English teacher drones on.

You pack up your stuff hastily and move into the area your teacher directed you to go.

“Ugh I don't wanna work with him/her, he/she’s hella annoying Jeno. Why do you even like him/her so much?” you hear Haechan muttering to Jeno.

“Shut up, you complain too much, just go with it and besides you’re not the only one who’s gunna have trouble getting along with the group. We got grouped up with those two, if Y/N wasn’t here I don’t know what we would’ve done honestly.”

“Yea true, but what can we do now?”

“Um, hey guys. I think we should just go join the other two,” you say hesitantly as you sling your arm around Haechan, who had a very disapproving look on his face. As you three sit down, you can immediately feel the tension between your two separate friend groups. The intense stare-off were starting to get to you so you decide to be one to speak up. “Ahem so uh, does anyone have any preference on the essay topic or-”

“You can just choose whatever, it really doesn’t matter, they’re all boring,” Haechan speaks out boredly as he looks at his nails.

“Um actually I’m interested in the one about solar power, what do you think?” Jaemin squeaks softly.

“Yea, I actually like that one too,” Jeno agrees, nodding as he glances at Jaemin.

“Yea, that one is alright,” Renjun adds in.

“Ok cool, that went smoothly. Um let’s brainstorm now, I don’t know what we’re supposed to be doing after that,” you nervously ramble.

“Yo, what happened to yo guys’ face? Your boy/girlfriends don't like you or somethin?” Hae asks abruptly.

“Hae! Don’t say that!” you exclaim.

“He just asked a simple question Y/N, you don’t need to get upset,” Jeno states quickly.

“You don’t-” you start.

“Y/N,” Renjun says softly as he places a hand on your shoulder. “It’s ok, haha we love to play rough so that’s why we look like this.”

“But-” you go off again but Renjun silences you by giving you a sharp glare.

“Haha yup, Renjun has always been like this,” you lie with a smile as you lightly punch Renjun.

“Well then,” Haechan says simply.

_______

As usual, you make your way to meet Renjun after school but this time you were alert and ready to see who would come calling his name today.

So far everything looked alright so you greet your close friend with a comforting hug before sitting down. “So I was thinking, it’s a Friday night and it’s been a long week so do you-” you get cut off by your phone going off. “Oh I gotta take this I’ll be right back,” you say as you walk away to answer your call.

As you find a quiet place to carry your conversation, Jeno suddenly finds Renjun sitting under the shade and he decides to go over to join him.

“Hey Renjun! I want you to drop Y/N.” Jeno boldly challenges as he swiftly walks towards to him. “We both know damn well that he/she can only be with one gang, yours or mine. So I want to you leave him/her because unlike you, I can introduce her to all my friends. Oh wait. I already did that, and we all agree that we want him/her to continue to be our friend so drop him/her.”

Renjun scoffs, “Are you really that dumb to think I’d give up my close friend that I’ve known since we were barely learning to talk just because I can’t introduce him/her to my gang? Wow, nice try buddy, it ain’t happening.”

“Why don't we just ask Y/N him/herself since he/she is coming back,” Jeno asks as he points to you. You come running towards Renjun and crash into his arms so you sob into his chest.

“Whoa what happened,” Renjun asks promptly as he rubs your back reassuringly.

“My.... arrested,” you sniffle.

“What did you say Y/N?” Jeno asks this time as he comes closer to turn you around to face him gently. You sob into your hands as you explain again, “My.. dad got...arrested.”

Both, Jeno and Renjun’s eyes go wide with shock and Jeno pulls you into a tight hug and smooths down your hair and you begin to cry harder. “Shh, we’ll figure something out Y/N. Do you know what happened?” Jeno asks.

You shake your head frantically and you pull yourself away from Jeno’s warm embrace to talk to Renjun. “Can I stay with you tonight? I can’t sleep at home all alone and you are the only one I know and trust.”

“Of course, my parents and I will take good care of you,” Renjun reassures.

You sniffle as you manage a weak smile, “Thank you Junnie.” You face Jeno to give a hug as you say, “Bye Jeno, I’ll see you Monday hopefully. I’m sorry you had to see me like this, I just met you and-”

“Hey don’t worry about it, this came up unexpectedly. Go, Renjun will treat you well. I’m sorry about what happened to your dad, hopefully you’ll be able to find out what happened to him. Bye Y/N.” Jeno consoles.

You smile frailly again as you wave lightly to Jeno as you and Renjun head home.

___

“Hey is it ok to stop by a friend’s house, you can rest there for however long you need and I know they won’t mind,” Renjun suggests.

You just nod feebly as you follow Renjun towards a small two-story house. Even from outside you could hear the utter chaos from within but it was nothing like the ‘good’ chaos you experienced yesterday. When Renjun opens the door and you step foot inside, everything suddenly goes deathly quiet as everyone’s eyes were on you, silently judging you.

A tall, lanky guy lurks in the corner with a can of Redbull in hand as he asks dauntingly, “So your daddy got arrested huh?”

You furrow your eyebrows as you look at Renjun then back at the giant, “How... how do you know?”

“It’s simple, no one comes here unless their mommy or daddy gets arrested and I know you only got your dad so you put two and two together. Anyways its finally-” Johnny goes on but you cut him off to talk to Renjun.

“Junnie, did... one of your parents.. get.. arrested?” You ask quietly, afraid to hear the answer.

“Oh he didn’t tell you? Both of his folks got locked up and it was pretty romantic the way they did it too huh ‘Junnie’? Anyways, like I was tryna to say before you cut me off, it’s nice to finally meet you. Oh wait, before I show you around, there’s one thing I want you to keep in your pretty little head, no one cuts me off. You only get this freebie but after that you’ll regret it. Ok now that’s done, I suppose you’re gunna be staying here now aren’t you?” the figure asks tauntingly.

“Uhh-” you begin as you hear and see a slim guy with purple-sliverish hair make his way to the living room, where you guys were.

“Johnny, why are you over here acting like a leader? If you wanted to be one so badly then you should done that when Yuta left!” The purple-silver guy spat.

Just then you hear a thunderous knock on the door. Another tall, lean guy with porcelain skin, dark black hair, and large doll-like eyes answers the door and his deep voice calls out with a  chuckle, “Doyoung, looks like your best friend is here.”

“Thank you Hansol hyung, but I can clearly see that. Well then, it's been a while Taeyong.” Doyoung smiles malevolently.

Part 4

*wait can we just take a moment to adore and admire this wonderful human that is Ji Hansol like he could ch with his sharp ass dance moves oml have yall SEENNNN the way dances its like he doesn’t have any bones tff, ok thnx for letting me have a moment lol

*shit I'm so sorry this is soo short and soo late but I saw a good cliffhanger and I went with it haha (ny anon this one is a legit baby one bc at least u know whos at the door ya know)

*I promise part 4 is gunna be out tomorrow bc what even is that schedule I made literally just last week and it’ll be much longer and interesting, just think of this as a set up and make sure to bring popcorn and snacks for tomorrow *wink wink* and you’ll probably meet all the reaming members soon (if you ever get confused who’s in which group then you can check out Teaser 1 and the chart should be helpful I'm sry its so blurry :( )

[dealersofatlanta]

Part 1: Chapter 1

Year: May 10th 2006

 (So everything happens fast because each chapter is leading up to present day) The story starts with Omari, Ace and Jade, they are not the only main characters throughout the story I will introduce the rest in total it should be 6 POVS this was really hard to write cause I have so many 1st chapter drafts. Idk if I wanted to do a book about the past or both)

  Omari: age 21

“(Georgia), We on the grind in (Georgia), All the time it isn’t nothing on my mind but (Georgia) We ain’t playing with ya (Georgia)” Georgia by Ludacris played in my car as we rode through the west side. It was just me, my mama, and my brother. My daddy died when I was 7, my mom was still pregnant with my brother Ace. We live in the worst projects on our side of town Wood Ridge. Niggas always get killed and robbed over here. I pulled up at the Citgo, my brother Ace hopped out. “Yo wassup O” A nigga I knew named Shy. “Wazzam Shy” I said dapping him up. “You still looking for work?” He asked. I nodded. “Something like that, what’s up?” I asked. He pointed over to a man in a Hummer H2, with the windows down. Money in The Bank” By Lil Scrappy in his car. “Yo I heard about him, niggas scared of him” I said to him. He waved me over to follow him to the car. “What’s up D, this is O. He looking for a job” He told him. The light skin dude with tats on his neck looked over at me. He looked me over one good time before turning down his music. “You need money huh?” He asked. I looked around my surroundings. “Yeah, uh we bout to get evicted and shit, and My mama struggling right now” I told him. He nodded. “You got a phone?” He asked. I nodded pulling out my Nokia. He slid up my screen to get to the key pad. He then passed me my phone back. “Holla at me around 6pm and Ima make something shake for you” He told me before rolling up his window. I looked at the phone. I see the name Demetri in my phone. I was walking back to my car when I see Ace sitting on the hood of my car talking to some bitch. “Yeah, you fine as hell shawty, let you up sometime” He said. She blushed. “Aight, Ima give you my number but if you going to call, call at 9 pm that’s when my minutes is free” She said. He nodded and let her put her number in his Metro Phone. I slapped the back of his head. “Nigga get the fuck in my car and stop fucking with these hoes” I told him laughing at how mad he got. Ace had a bad temper. Mama say he get it from Our father. We pulled up and the apartments. Bitches was already fighting outside in the parking lot. “Beat her ass Kita” Her friend yelled. Ace squinted his eyes and his eyes got big, he hopped out the car and ran over to the girls fighting. It was his friend Jade. “Aye nah yall chill” He said pushing the girls off. He grabbed Jade. “Nah uh Ace that bitch deserve to get her ass beat for fucking my nigga” She yelled. Jade spit blood on her air forces. “Bitch I told you your man and I aint fuck, he tried to get in my pants and I said no” She stressed. I shook my head and walked into the house. My mama Traci was on the couch watching Maury. I kissed her on the cheek. “Hey mama” I said to her. She nodded. “Where’s Ace?” She asked. “He outside with Jade” I told her. She sucked her teeth in. “Her auntie been running her mouth about that girl, saying she be fucking the whole apartments” My mama told me. “Anyways, I got a job. I mean I think I got one” I told her. She smiled and looked over at me. “That’s good baby, what is it?” She asked. I shrugged. “I got to call and see” I said. She nodded. Ace busted in the house with Jade. “Aye, boy what is wrong with you coming in here like that!” Mama yelled. He grabbed Jade hand and brought her into the bathroom. My mama shook her head. I stood by the bathroom door. Ace was cleaning off Jade. She had blood coming out her nose and a cut near her eye brow, and her eye was swollen. “You need to learn how to fight and stop letting these hoes jump on you shawty, better start clocking them hoes with a motherfucking bottle or something” I told Jade. “I told her to start carrying a knife, so she can gut them hoes” Ace said. I shook my head. Nigga was ruthless for no reason. I walked into my room and went to my stereo. I went through my CD’s I burned. I put the cd in the player and pressed play. “Créme de la créme homie, Top Shelf ya know. I like my beat down low down low down low down low, I like my top led back led back led back” T.I - “Top Back” blasted through my speakers. I grabbed my car magazine, took a pen and begin circling the cars I planned on getting when I get some big money. My Nokia started ringing. I looked at my caller id, it was my little shawty Jalissa. “What up Girl?” I asked. I heard her giggle on the phone. “O, you busy later?” She asked. I sat up on my bed. “Nah, why what’s up you trying to kick it?” I asked. She hesitated. “Something like that, T.I movie ATL just came out and I want to know if you trying to see it with me, maybe at Starlight on Moreland it starts at 10:15pm?” She asked. I smiled, I knew what she was getting at. “Sure, Ima pull up around 9, maybe we can get some snacks and some shit” I told her. I could hear her smile through the phone. “Aight bet” I looked at the time. It was 5:57. I started dialing Demetri’s number. “Yo who is this?” He answered. “This O from the gas station, I asked you about a job” I said. “Aight Ima call you back”. He hung up. I then got a call from another phone number. “Hello?” I asked. “What’s up O, rule # 1 the feds always watching so never call me about business or call anyone on your actual phone, Ima give you a phone when I see you, meet me tomorrow @ 12pm Ima send you my address” He said then hung up.

 Ace: age 15

 “Why you let the hoes talk shit about you?” I asked her. She was sitting at my desk at my computer. She was adding music to her Myspace. “They say

He do a little this

He do a little that

He always in trouble (and I heard)

He ain’t nothin’ but a pimp

He’s done a lot of chicks

He’s always in the club (and they say)”

“So, what?” by Field Mob played from her page. She shrugged. “Nobody going to believe me anyways”. I looked over at her. “So, you don’t be fucking these niggas?” I asked. She turned and looked at me. “No, why would you even ask me that, them bitches be lying. Niggas always trying to get in my pants. Even grown ass men�� She said looking at me like she regretted what she said. “Forget I said that” She said. “Why do you even care?”. I shrugged. “I mean, I don’t if you did but like you kind like my little sister so I want to know”. I said. She rolled her eyes. “Sister?” She asked. I nodded. “Yeah like I got to protect you, and shit” I said. She sucked her teeth in. “I don’t need your protection Ace, I can protect myself” She said. She got up and put on her shoes. “Well you the one always knocking on my window at damn random times of the night needing a place to sleep, like you ain’t got your own” I said to her. She pushed me out the way. I balled my fist up. I had a bad temper, and she knew it but when it came to her, I never showed her that side. “What you going to hit me?” She said she was holding back watery eyes. “Go ahead, I’m used to it” She said. I looked at her wondering who was hitting on her. Was she talking about fighting? “Thanks for having me over Ms. Traci” I heard her say before the door shut to the front door. I debated on going after her, but I didn’t. I looked through my contacts. I remember the girl from at the gas station. “Hey baby girl what’s up?” I asked. “Who is this?” She asked. “You forgot about me that fast baby, its Ace” I said. I heard her smile. “Ohhh yeah, Ace. You want to kick it right now? My mama ain’t home” She said. I got up slowly. “Oh, for real?” I asked. “Yeah, Ima send you my address. I live at the apartments right across from the gas station” She said. “Okay Ima slide through” I hung up the phone. “Hey mama I’ll be back Ima go to my friend Raheem house” I told her. She nodded. I went outside and started walking to the gas station it wasn’t too far from my house like a 30min walk. “Ace where you headed?” My homie Calvin said pulling up beside me. “To this bitch house” I told him. He nodded. “Get in folk, I take you” He said. I nodded. I looked at his outfit he had on all purple. “Where you headed looking like a got damn grape Fanta?” I asked. He laughed. “Man, this my colors” he said. “What you down or something?” I asked. He nodded “Yeah I’m down with Westside 5” He told me. I nodded. “Oh, for real, uh congrats I guess” I said laughing. He laughed. “Man, you goofy as fuck, but fuck with us though we always need new people” He told pulling into the apartments. I dapped him up as he stopped. “Thanks, Patna” He nodded. I walked up to shawty complex. Before I could even knock, she opened the door. She had nothing but a T-shirt on. “Took you long enough nigga” She said grabbing my shirt.

 I pulled up my pants and buckled my belt. “So, my mama going to be gone, around this time every Friday” She said. I smiled and nodded. “What school you go to I ain’t never seen you around” I said. She smiled. “I go to Jefferson Highschool, what about you?” She asked. I started laughing. “How old you is?” I asked. She was putting on her bra. “17, how old are you?” She asked. I smiled big as fuck. “I’m 15” I told her. She shook her head. “Boy you look 18, dang you must be in what 8th grade?” She asked. I nodded. “Yeahh you can be my cuddy buddy, you ain’t old enough to be my man” She said. I sucked my teeth in. “I aint gon hold you I just wanted to fuck, but Ima fuck with you” I grabbed my phone and dipped. It was about 8:12 when I checked my phone. Shit I got to walk by the crackheads and the dope boys just to get home. “Aye yo little nigga you down?” Some nigga asked me as I walked by. “Down for what?” I asked. “I seen you riding with Cal, he one of us” They said. I noticed they had on purple. “Man, I ain’t trying to bang” I told them. “You see all the nice shit we got man we can get you some money for real nigga” I noticed the cars they were next to and shit. I nodded. “Okay what I got to do?” I asked. “This”. Next thing I know these niggas start beating my ass.

 Jade: age 14

 I was sitting on the stairway near our apartment writing music in my journal like I normally did listening to Ashanti and Lloyd “Southside” on my CD Player. “Jade get yo dumb ass in here” My aunt Felicia said. I sighed and walked inside. I closed the door and went into my room. “It’s almost the end of the school year. You got what 2 weeks left before summer vacation. It’s about time you get a damn job and start paying rent around here, you got to earn your keep. Ain’t bout to live up in here rent free” She said in the door way. I scoffed at her. “I’m 14, I can’t legally get a job until I’m 16 that’s not fair” I stressed. She put her finger in my face. “I started working for my foster mother at age 12, she used to sell me for $50, and I would get 10%. So, if I can do it so can you, and what the fuck happened to yo got damn face” She said. I looked at her. “I got into a fight with this girl” She shook her head. “What you do now fuck her man, you just like your mama” She said. I sighed. “No and Why didn’t you just let foster care take me!” I yelled. She grabbed my arm. “I did you a favor, Me and your mama bounced from foster care to foster care. She begged me to never let them take you, so I took you in after her stupid crack head ass ran off. That’s least I could do for her after she fucked my man and had you” She said. I started tearing up, I tried to snatch my arm away from her. She pushed me on to the bed. “Like I said you have 2 weeks or Ima let your ass go” She said. She slammed my door. I hated my life; my life didn’t used to be like this. I had two parents a mother and a father. My dad used to be there all the time and then one day he just wasn’t. My mama couldn’t take the pain of him leaving so she got hooked on drugs when I was 5. She been clean off and on when my dad was around but when he left it got worse. My aunt to eventually take me in before foster care put me in the system because My mama had left me in the house one day when her and her boyfriend James was cooking crack on the stove. My house caught on fire while I was sleep. I ain’t seen my mama since that day. I decided to write in my journal again, that was my haven, writing and listening to music. “My Life” By Mary J. Blige played on my stereo as I cried. My Aunt Felicia busted into my room. “Get yo ass up and come eat and stop blasting music in my house” She said. I wiped my tears and went to go sit down at the table. It was Kraft mac n cheese and hot dogs cut up in it. My Aunts boyfriend Rodney sat down with two bags of McDonalds and they started eating. My aunt either cooked me this or beanie weenies, Ramon noodles with hot dogs or sometimes just some bread and butter. I kept my head down while I ate my food. “Jade clean this shit up while I’m gone. I want all that food gone by the time I get home or Ima beat your ass” She said. I nodded. She went over to Rodney, practically sucking his face off before she left. He got up and locked the door. He pulled out an apple pie out his bag. “Got you something sweet, sweetness” He told me. He slid it to me. Rodney was always nice to me but I knew something about him wasn’t right. “Thanks” I said. He sat in the chair next to me. “You know you are very pretty” He told me. I nodded. I got up quickly, as he grabbed my arm back over to him. “I ain’t going to hurt you”. He said. “Sit on my lap” He said. “No!” I yelled as he tried to get me to sit on his lap. I got my arm lose and ran to my room. I closed my door and locked it. I grabbed some clothes put it in my school bag and slid my window open. Rodney burst into my room. I quickly jumped onto the ac unit under my window. I ran to the other side of the complex, I seen Niggas was playing dice in the stair way as I walked to Ace complex. “What’s good lil mama you tryna sell some ass?” I heard. I shook my head. I got to Ace building and walked to the side of it. I tapped on his window. I ain’t see no movement. I tapped again. “So, you back?” I heard a voice behind me. It was Ace. It was dark, so I couldn’t see his face very good. He came over to his window and did something to it and it slid open and climbed inside slowly. He was wincing like he was in pain. I followed him soon after. “If I ain’t home and you need a place to lay your head just lift up the screen and slide. O taught me that trick” He turned on his light and I see his face. He eye was swollen, and his lip was bug as hell. He was limping around. I walked over to him. “Ace you okay?” I asked. He nodded. “I’m part of Westside 5 now” He said smiling with his teeth bleeding. He held up a shirt and a bandana. I shook my head at him. “You stupid, you got jumped in?” I asked. He nodded. “Yeah but they make hella money” I kept shaking my head. “You stupid as hell Ace” I told him. He sucked his teeth in. “Why you over here anyways?” He asked. I shrugged. “Cause I hate it at my aunts house” I told him. “She be hitting you?” He asked. I shrugged. “Sometimes, she said I got to get a job soon” I said. “I think she want me to sell my ass” I told him. He was in his boxers looking at me. “She got me fucked up, I ain’t bout to let you do that. I got you man. I’m get you some money” He said. He threw me a shirt and some boxers. “Well maybe I can get jumped in” I said. He limped over to me grabbing me. “Don’t say shit like that” He said. We looked at each other for a minute. “I’m just playing sorry” I went into the bathroom in the hall way to change. When I came back in the room. Ace was icing his face. I shut the door and went to lay down on the bed. “As long as I’m here I got you J” He said. I nodded. I put my headphones on and listened to my cd I had burned. “Nobody going to love me better, I must stick with you forever, nobody going to take me higher, I must stick with you. You know how to appreciate me, I must stick with you my baby. Nobody ever made me feel this way, I must stick with you” I was feeling the lyrics of the Pussycat dolls. I started writing in my journal.

[cumonbucky]

Joint Custody

Summary: Reader and Bucky broke up, having to share time with their kid which ultimately brings them back together.

Pairing: Bucky x Reader

Warnings: just fluff (maybe a lil bit of arguing) but just fluff

A/N: I was just sitting down, doing my school work when this cute/funny idea popped in my head and I immediately wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget. Hope ya like it :) I’ll edit later my dudes.

It had been about 4 months since you and Bucky had broken up from a three year long relationship. It was a nasty argument about him not being home enough due to all the missions he’d been going on with the rest of the team. Then, the argument shifted from one problem to the next. You told him you hated when he didn’t wash a dish after using it, he told you he hated how you weren’t affectionate with him anymore to which you responded with “how am I supposed to be affectionate with you when you’re never home?”. The argument went on, touching different subjects until you called it off, Bucky agreeing and storming out.

The next day he came by and gathered his things, leaving to the Avengers Tower where he lives till this day. You two somehow agreed to joint custody with your son, Zeppelin. You would have him Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and Bucky had him Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Today was Saturday and you were headed to the Tower to hand over some paperwork to Steve and Tony. You knew you’d see Bucky there and you weren’t too thrilled at the thought.

You make it to the Tower and go straight into the conference room where you knew Tony and Steve would be. “Hey guys.” you smile.

The two men look up at the doorway and smile when seeing you.

“Hey Y/N.” Steve says, walking around the table and hugging you.

“Hi.”

“Wow, you look great.” Tony comments and you chuckle.

“It’s from sucking the souls out from my enemies.” you flip your hair over your shoulder, causing the two to laugh. “Anyways, I brought over the files you asked for. They were a little tricky to get ahold of but I got ‘em.”

“You’re a life saver.” Tony says, taking the folder from you and opening it.

“Mhm. I expect food as a token of your gratitude. Chinese is always good, or if you really wanna seal the deal, Olive Garden.” you say. “You both know where I live.”

And with that, you turn to the door, Tony and Steve saying goodbye. While making your way to the elevator, you pass the conjoined living room and kitchen, seeing Sam, Wanda, Nat and Clint. You make a U-turn and enter the room, smiling when Wanda spots you first.

“Y/N!” she shouts, rushing over to you and engulfing you in a hug.

“Hey Wanda.” you giggle.

“I haven’t seen you here in forever! Nat and I were just talking about going out for lunch today. Do you want to come?” she asked. You look over her shoulder and wave at Nat who got up and hugged you tightly.

“Uh.. Sure, why not. I’ve got nothing else to do.” you shrug. The girls cheer at your acceptance and you look over at Sam and Clint. “Hey guys.”

They greet you back and you were about to talk with them when you heard that all too familiar voice. Spinning around you see Bucky standing at the counter with Zeppelin standing next to him.

“Here you go buddy.” he murmurs, scooping some food onto a plate and placing it on the floor for Zeppelin to eat.

“What are you feeding my son, Bucky?” you spoke, walking closer to the two.

Bucky’s gaze shifts from Zeppelin to you and he pursed his lips. “Food and he’s our son, Y/N. Not just yours.”

“I sent over food with him.”

“Yeah and he didn’t like it.” the brunette argued.

“Bullshit. He eats it at home.” you respond. “Have you been feeding him human food every time he comes here?”

“He likes it.” Bucky folds his arms.

“Wait,” Clint whispers amongst Sam and the girls. “They have a son?”

“Mhm.” Sam nods.

“Zeppelin.” Nat confirms.

Clint quirks an eyebrow. “Zeppelin.. The dog?”

“Yep.” Wanda nods.

“They got a dog two years into their relationship and four months ago, when they broke up they decided on this joint custody thing.” Sam explained, all their eyes on you and Bucky.

“Y/N gets him Monday through Thursday and Bucky gets him Friday through Sunday.” Wanda adds.

Clint scoffed. “I really need to come visit more often.”

“I can’t believe you would do this.” you shake your head.

“It’s just human food Y/N, sorry that he doesn’t like the shitty dog food you buy him.” Bucky rolled his eyes.

“He’s gonna get used to that and soon he’s not going to want the dog food anymore.” you sigh. “They make dog food for a reason - so that dogs can eat it.”

Bucky gasps. “Are you calling our son a dog?”

“He is a dog you gigantic idiot.”

Bucky kneels down to be leveled with Zeppelin who was done eating the food from the plate. “It’s okay, Z. Mommy’s just being a big meanie.” he says as he hugs the dog.

You sit on the floor. “And daddy’s being a dumbass because he’s feeding you junk food and you can get sick.”

Zeppelin pulls away from Bucky and turns to you, nudging your shoulder with his nose. He always did this when he wanted you to pet him. So you did.

Bucky glared at you. “I don’t always feed him junk food.”

“Oh really? Then please tell me what other foods you feed him that are healthy!” you respond.

“He likes carrots!”

“Oh! Thank god the only healthy food you give him is carrots!” you say in a sarcastic tone.

“He likes broccoli too - and raw eggs!” Bucky moves to a sitting position.

You look at him as if he’s gone mad. “Raw eggs!? Are you crazy Bucky? Zeppelin could get salmonella or E. coli!”

Bucky makes a face. “What the fuck is E. coli?”

You hug the dog. “It’s a bacterium that can cause serious infections.”

“Oh shit.” the soldier breathed. “Well good thing I’ve only given him eggs twice.”

“Today?” you snap and he glares at you even more. You look at Zeppelin a frown. “My poor baby. Maybe I should just take you home today.”

Zeppelin licks your face and barks happily.

“What? No! It’s my day to have him, you can’t just take him from me!” Bucky shouts and you roll your eyes, ignoring him.

Without you or Bucky noticing, Wanda, Nat, Sam and Clint left the kitchen, informing Steve and Tony who they bumped into, to not go in the kitchen because the two parents were arguing.

“I wouldn’t have to take him from you if we were still together.” you comment, keeping your eyes on Zeppelin as you spoke.

Bucky scoffed. “And who’s fault is that?”

“Shut up.” you hissed. There was a small moment of silence between the two of you as you sat on the floor with Zeppelin. You keep your eyes glued to the floor as you break that silence. “You didn’t even fight it. You just agreed and left.”

Bucky sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I thought that was what you wanted.”

“Obviously not. I still wanted to be with you.” you mutter, playing with Zeppelin’s fur.

Bucky exhales. “I miss you.”

“Oh really?” your eyes snap up at him. “Cause last time I checked you were using my son to pick up chicks.”

“Our son.” he corrected for the second time. “And it was one time. The chick turned out to be boring as hell.”

You roll your eyes. “Because that makes the situation so much better.”

“Listen,” he sighs. “I know some of the things that I said were out of line and I’m sorry.”

He wasn’t talking about Zeppelin anymore.

“I’m sorry too.” you say. “I was being stupid. We fought over you not being home enough then it turned into more. The break up was my fault.”

“It was.” Bucky agrees, causing a sharp look from you. “But these past four months have made me realize that I really miss you. I miss you yelling at me for not washing dishes after I use them. I miss us folding clothes with each other.”

A smile finds its way to your lips. “We never got that done. We’d end up throwing the clothes at each other.”

Bucky laughs, remembering the moments. “I miss when we’d dance around the apartment in just our underwear.”

“We probably looked like idiots.” you giggle.

“Probably.” he nods. “But cute idiots.”

You smile - and there was that god damn moment of silence again. You think back to all the good times you’ve had with Bucky, remembering when you two first adopted Zeppelin and how happy the two of you were.

You knew Bucky tried his best to be home when he could. He loved coming home to you and Zeppelin. But sometimes missions didn’t go as planned and you knew that.

“And I know that Zeppelin misses us being together.” Bucky broke the silence.

“Yeah.” you say. “He still waits by the door for you to come home.”

“When he starts missing you I have to show him pictures of you.” Bucky spoke, scratching behind Zeppelin’s ear - his favorite spot.

You smirk. “You still have pictures of me?”

“Well yeah I-” he lets out a chuckle. “I don’t even have a reason to support that.”

The two of you watch as Zeppelin lays down in front of you on his side, whimpering and nudging you with his nose. You and Bucky laugh, scratching his side.

“Do you think Z wants his parents back together?” you question, looking at Zeppelin with a smile.

“I’d like to think he does.” Bucky nods.

“So we should.. You know.. Maybe get back together? For Zeppelin’s sake.” you look over at Bucky. He’s already looking at you.

“Yeah. No kid - or dog should grow up with their parents separated.” he nods.

You both stare at each other, eyes drifting down to each others lips a couple of times. You guys stop scratching Zeppelin, much to his dismay, and Bucky lunges at you. You fall back on the floor with him on top of you, lips attached to each others in a longing kiss. Your hands find their way to his hair and you thread your fingers through the silky locks.

Bucky lets out a groan. Oh how he missed kissing you. It was interrupted all too soon by Zeppelin who tried squeezing his way between the two of you, thinking that you guys were playing around. You and Bucky pull away and turn to Zeppelin who licked your face then Bucky’s before barking. Laughing, Bucky ruffled his fur before standing up, helping you as well.

“So.. Are we back together?” he breathed out.

“Yeah.. Are you going to move back in with me?”

“I think it would be best. For Zeppelin.” Bucky nodded.

“For Zeppelin.” you repeat.

Again, you two stare at each other before your lips were on his in another kiss and again Zeppelin got excited and jumped up, barking. The two of you pull away and Bucky scoffed.

“This damn dog is a cock block.” he huffed.

You laugh and look down at Zeppelin who stared up at you and Bucky.

“Did you just call our son a dog?” you gasp.

Bucky playfully rolls his eyes. “Shut up.” he wraps an arm around your shoulders. “Lets go home.”

“What about your stuff?” you question.

“We’ll get it tomorrow. I just wanna be with you tonight.” he hummed, kissing your cheek. Zeppelin barked. “And Zeppelin too.”

A/N: Why am I so bad at endings?? Anyways, tell me what ya think! :)

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