#either someone didn’t put it through the machine right or has just stolen the book or something

[fingertipsmp3]

Not to be one of those people who complains but why are the two library books I reserved 3 weeks ago (as the first person in the queue mind you. And both of them are popular books with multiple copies available) still not ready

[peter-pan-hoe]

My anaconda don't

Just some chaoticdumbass!reader antics my brain spat into my mouth this afternoon.

Pairing: Loki X reader

Word count: 1,200+

Warnings: swearing, mentions of mind control?, stabbings, sorry if you have ophidiophobia.

I also apologise in advance to anyone who doesn’t actually want to read this. You’ll have to scroll through the entire thing to get past it. My laptop has been fucking up and so I’ve had to post this from my iPad which is just the mobile app on a bigger screen and it won’t give me the option to put a “keep reading” cut. Sorry.

~~~

After all the nonsense with Thanos and the infinity stones, it had come to light that Loki had been under some kind of psychological manipulation at the hands of Thanos during the attack on New York.

Due to this revelation, while still under scrutiny, Loki had been allowed to spend however much time among the rest of the team as he liked, just like his brother.

Much to Thor’s delight, the team slowly warmed up to Loki’s occasional presence as he could find something in common with almost any member.

His quick wit could match the sass of Stark, A happy discovery that Tony made was that Loki also enjoyed a strong drink.

His combat skills he enjoyed demonstrating in sparring matches with Bucky or Sam.

Bruce he’d managed to bond with after the fall of Asgard and their time together after meeting again on Sakaar.

Natasha he truly respected after she managed to manipulate him into confessing his motives when the Avengers had him in holding briefly in 2012.

Clint was still very stand off-ish, understandable, and while Natasha had assured him there wasn’t a threat there, Loki didn’t try to win over the man, knowing full well the mistrust one would experience toward someone who had invaded their mind.

Being one to appreciate books and learning, Loki got along really well with Steve, and the two could often be found in the kitchen together either sitting in a comfortable silence while each read their respective literature, or sometimes in a discussion about something Steve had most likely grumbled about while reading the newspaper.

You, however, he had the best relationship with.

You’d joined the avengers shortly after Thanos had been defeated and the stones had been returned to their place in the timeline.

A former mercenary who’d been the private security guard to a local underground arms dealer.

When that arms dealer had revealed he’d been holding into some Chitauri weapons he’d gotten his hands on after New York, and that he’d decided to start selling them as he’d finally figured out how all of them worked and how to manufacture his own ammunition, you’d turned on him.

No amount of money or job security would convince you to allow those weapons back out onto the streets.

So you’d gathered up all the weapons before he had a chance to get the word out, apprehended the man yourself and taken it all straight to the Avengers compound where you handed him and the weapons over to Stark.

He admired your honour and obvious skill -given the thug was hog tied at your feet without a scratch on him, suggesting that you managed this quick and easy- and offered you a place among them.

You had accepted after being told there would be free accommodation in the tower to move into at your own leisure.

You and Loki often sparred and competed in the training rooms. You loved watching him delicately twirl his daggers around as if they were a part of him and not the deadly weapons you knew them to be.

He had taught you to do the same after you demonstrated perfect aim when throwing his beautifully weighted daggers at the targets.

You were skilled in hand to hand combat and many different types of weaponry but hadn’t taken the time beforehand for showing off or playing.

You were both witty and could go toe to toe in a verbal debate, often leading to someone (most likely you) drawing a hidden knife out to make a point.

You both also enjoyed a good prank.

And that was todays problem.

You were absolutely fuming as you walked into the huge kitchen looking for the God of Mischief and cracking your knuckles when you found him sitting at the table like he usually was, flipping through one of his many books.

You didn’t look to see who else was in the room but you could feel their eyes on you.

He didn’t look up when you walked in but you could see the amusement on his face.

Obviously sensing something was up, Steve looked up at you from his seat at the other side of the table as you strode from the hallway and across the room with the most determined expression he had ever seen on your face this early in the morning.

“Y/N?” he asked worriedly only to have you hold up a finger to silence him.

You didn’t even look at him as you stared down the dark haired god.

“Loki,” you stood in front of him and kicked the leg of his chair, effectively turning him to face you.

The amused look on his face never wavered as his eyes met yours, in fact his smirk grew as he saw the rage behind your eyes.

That tipped you over the edge.

“Thor?” You turned to where the huge man stood by the coffee machine. “Asgardians heal a lot faster than humans right?”

“They do,” he said carefully, not trusting your motives.

“How much faster?”

“I suppose a wound fatal to a human would be healed completely after maybe a day or two for an Asgardian,” he shrugged.

“What about Frost Giants?,” You asked as turned back to Loki noticing the smirk was still plastered across his face but there was something else. Fear? Unlikely. He definitely dreaded where this was headed however.

“The same if not faster,” Thor’s answer was all you needed.

Drawing one of your knives seemingly from nowhere, you brought the blade down straight into Loki’s thigh.

He hissed in pain and jumped backward slightly in surprise, the harsh noise of his chair scraping along the tiled floor piercing your ears.

He stared at you in shock as the others looked on in amazement that you’d caught the Trickster so of guard.

“What the-,” he began, but you bent down to get in his face and cut him off.

“Go and get rid of it,” you said firmly, pointing down the hallway you’d initially come from.

The smirk returned to his face as you seethed before him.

“Get rid of it now,” you drew another of your knives and pointed it at him. “Or this goes in your other leg,”

“But you said you liked snakes,” he feign innocence but his voiced dripped with what you could only described as sadistic joy.

When you woke up not a half hour before you stormed into the kitchen this morning you’d heard a strange thud coming from your bathroom.

A thud followed by the sound of the hand towel hanger, rattling on its fixture like something was running against it then the soft *plop* of the towel falling to the ground.

Confused but not (yet) fearful you rose from your bed and opened the door only to slam it shut immediately.

“When I said I liked snakes I meant something like a python, the cute little ones with fat heart-shaped heads and little puppy faces,” you were shouting at this point. “I did NOT mean a full grown anaconda left to knock shit over in my fucking bathroom. Go and get it out. Now,”

You stormed off in the direction of the elevator, heading for the training room to blow off some steam, leaving the team members who witnessed the early morning assault in shock.

“Where the fuck did you get an anaconda?” Tony finally broke the silence.

“I may or may not have stolen it from the zoo,” Loki replied plainly before cursing and wincing in pain and he pulled the knife from his leg, eliciting a small laugh from Thor who watched from across the room.

“Not fun being stabbed is it, brother?”

[peaceoutofthepieces]

Sink Or Swim

tag list: @cleocc @feeling-kinda-so-so @hopelessromanticvirgo @dreamy-slytherin @adora8 @lockerfivethreefive @painfully-oblivious @poeticinemaa @jjustonemorething @sassy-sara @wedarkacademia @coolguyssyndrome @hischbabe @suckerforsobbe @tayspots @starmansander @theah0lt @zoenneforever @invisibleme @chibibanane @odi-et-amo85 @watermelonlover-123

~^~

Wednesday, 17:47

Song: Troye Sivan - for him.

“This technically wasn’t fair, because I’ve only been here a month and I had no idea if somewhere like this even existed, so you can’t judge me too harshly.”

Jens is already smiling at him, shaking his head as he bumps their shoulders together. “It’s okay. It’s hard to live up to such a perfect first date, I get it.”

Lucas huffs, but he can’t help quickly glancing around. He isn’t sure why it worries him quite so much—even if they were overheard, it can be brushed off as a joke. Jens had said it jokingly. It would be easy enough.

There is no one close enough to hear them, anyway. Not a single person, as far as Lucas can see, is paying any attention to them at all. The rather cluttered place makes it easier, creating an odd sense of privacy even with the crowd along with the strangely intimate ambience of the neon blue lights. Lucas doesn’t feel so scrutinized in this setting, where everyone is having their own fun and doing their own thing.

“Can that be considered a first date when neither of us thought it was?” Lucas questions, both dubious and hopeful.

Jens shrugs, glancing around them as well as he walks slowly side by side with Lucas. “It can be. But an arcade is also a cool first date. It’s not what I expected.”

Lucas’s lips twitch, unsure which way to turn as he looks over at him. “What did you expect?”

“I don’t know. Snuck back into your room, maybe. Some more alone time.” Jens wiggles his brows.

Lucas snorts and gives him a light shove, smiling when Jens bounces right back to his side. “That’s up to you. Like I said, I don’t know anywhere. And it was short notice.”

Jens nods, and the conversation lulls as they stop at the change machine, before Lucas begins to get nervous for a whole new reason.

“Are you disappointed?” He twists his ring—the one he’d stolen from his father’s room, just for this occasion—around his finger as Jens turns to look at him. He’s frowning, and even though Lucas is pretty sure it’s at the question itself, he can’t help but grow more jittery. There’s a sudden, uncomfortable tightness in his chest. In an attempt to make light of the question, he adds, exaggeratedly, “Did you expect to be romanced?”

Jens rolls his eyes as he fishes his money out of his pocket, but there appears to be a more reddish tinge to his cheeks. “I thought you might be the romantic type. Maybe that you’d cook us a candle-lit dinner or something.”

Lucas raises a brow. “Serious?”

His nerves have turned into surprise, and it must show in his expression, as Jens laughs upon glancing at him. “I didn’t say that’s what I wanted, though.”

“Well to be fair, I probably could manage a burger and chips. I’m guessing that’s the dinner you’d want.”

Jens turns to him after feeding his notes into the machine and wipes away a fake tear. “You already know me so well.”

Lucas hums. “I also know there’s a cafe that offers such a delicacy right down the street.”

“You, sir,” Jens points at him, bright-eyed, “know the way to my heart.”

Lucas huffs a laugh and Jens collects his change from where it has clattered into the metal pocket. His fears haven’t been curbed, but he doesn’t want to press further and ruin the experience before it has even begun. He’d thought about a handful of other options. Taking Jens to a cafe or a coffee shop, booking them into the back corner of the cinema, retreating back to his room as Jens suggested. Every idea seemed too bland or too much. He didn’t want to force them into conversation across a table. He also didn’t want to feel like he was having to hide Jens away. This had seemed, somehow, like a safe middle ground.

He’s a little worried now that he has misjudged.

“Shut down whatever’s going on in there.” Jens snaps his fingers lightly in front of his face and Lucas drags himself back to the surface. Jens’s gaze is soft with a tint of concern. Lucas’s stomach roils. “I don’t know why you chose it exactly, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great choice. In fact it’s a fucking amazing idea.”

Some of the tension seeps out of Lucas at the conviction in Jens’s tone, and he’s left with a slight smile. “Yeah?”

“Luc, it wouldn’t have mattered to me what we do. It’s a chance to be with you. I don’t care about anything else.”

Lucas feels a flush creep into his cheeks. He waits as a small group of girls pass them before nodding agreeably at Jens. “That’s kind of why I chose this. Above anything I was just really happy to be friends with you. I like how easy it is. How I can just hang out with you and have fun. And to have it just feel chill.”

Jens’s lips curve up in a soft smile, and Lucas watches the entire process. “I like when everything’s chill, too. This is very chill.”

“More your scene than a candle-lit dinner?” Lucas teases. Even though it has come to his own mind. He can’t be blamed, surely, for having a few romantic or cheesy thoughts enter his brain when it comes to Jens. It might not be his thing, but that doesn’t mean that Jens doesn’t deserve to be romanced. Lucas, really, would gladly put in the effort.

It’s possible that this is another thing that stems from his slightly-less-chill mindset.

“Definitely more my scene,” Jens laughs. “I told you, you know me well. You’re full of surprises.”

Lucas brightens, feeling another blush creep into his cheeks that he fruitlessly attempts to stave off. He clears his throat in an attempt to retain some control before saying, “I just don’t know why you changed your money. This is my organised date. I should be paying.”

Jens sets a hand on his shoulder and uses it to pull him against his side as they begin walking again, speaking slowly. “You assume we’re only playing like five games and leaving then?”

Lucas is torn between leaning into his side and subtly stepping out of his touch. He can’t quite bring himself to do either. He also can’t help but flick his gaze around as he answers with a huff. “Okay, splitting is fair. But I’m buying dinner this time.”

“You say it like I’m going to argue,” Jens snorts. He drops his arm as they reach the middle of the aisle in order to turn and face Lucas, brows raised as he takes a few step backwards. Lucas’s breath slips out of him in quiet relief and aching loss. “What are we doing first?”

Lucas smiles at him. “Your treat, you pick.”

Jens rubs his hands together, grinning like a child before leading Lucas through the aisles until he finds what he wants. They start off with a few chance games that their change is wasted on, then move on to the slightly more adventurous areas, having a few competitive shots at skee-ball and basketball. They even have a simulated bowling game, which Lucas finds only slightly easier than actual bowling. The embarrassment is worth it for Jens’s responding laugh—which he valiantly tries to bite down—and the comforting kiss he presses to his cheek after a quick glance around. It makes Lucas’s cheeks flame and leaves him shoving Jens’s face away, heart racing a mile a minute with the pure affection in his chest.

It overwhelms him enough that he has to look away, swallowing down the tumultuous mixture of excitement and nerves that seems to be warring in him. He wants to pull Jens in and give him a real kiss. He wants to get out of sight first.

“Okay, your turn to pick something, because that was truly pitiful.”

Lucas narrows his eyes at Jens, but smirks slightly as he catches sight of their next attraction.

Air hockey.

It’s free, blessedly, as most things have been; Wednesday is a surprisingly good choice for a quiet date. Jens raises his brows as Lucas moves to one end and picks up the paddle, sliding it across the table testingly. “Really?”

Lucas hums.

“What are we, twelve?”

“What’s wrong with air hockey? My mom has always loved it, and she’s far past twelve.”

Lucas isn’t sure why Jens’s expression has gone suddenly serious until he, now stationed at the opposite side, says, “You’ve never mentioned her before.”

Then Lucas realises his mistake.

“Not that you have to,” Jens backtracks quickly. “Sorry, I don’t know if it’s a sensitive subject or—“

“It’s fine,” Lucas cuts him off, even though it is. Any mention of his mother strikes a nerve, leaves a panging ache. The idea of talking about her himself—even to Jens—feels too treacherous. Yet he feels that he owes something. “It’s, uhm. It’s just more frustrating than anything, I guess. They split up. My parents, I mean. So she’s back in Utrecht.”

Jens seems to have expected something worse. The sag of his shoulders makes Lucas glad he hadn’t given him the full story. Not today. “I guess it makes even more sense why you wanna go back so badly,” Jens says softly. “Have you talked to your dad about it again?”

Lucas lets out a breath as his own shoulders slump, shaking his head. “Not yet. Things are going good, somehow, at the moment. But I think once I bring it up that will change, and...it’s been kind of nice, living in peace.”

That earns him an understanding smile. “Still, you should try. It’s important to you. He’ll see that.” Jens slots the money into the machine and adds, “If not, I’ll come break you out and we can go together.”

Lucas smiles slowly. “Someone’s a rebel now, are we?”

“Just for you,” Jens winks at him, leaving Lucas to roll his eyes in an attempt to hide his blush. Jens taps the table impatiently, nodding at him through the screen. “Come on then. Show me how it’s done.”

It’s teasing, and his scoff is equally so when Lucas shrugs off his jacket first, tying it securely around his waist. Jens’s amusement doesn’t stop him from admiring, however. Lucas notes the lingering gaze on his collar followed by the sweep down his arms to watch the movement of his hands. Lucas has begun, happily, to notice Jens’s lack of subtlety in such moments of appreciation, and it never fails to leave him grinning.

“Really?” Jens questions again. “Air hockey requires this?”

Lucas merely raises a brow, challenging. “Ah, now I understand why you were against it. You’re just scared of losing a kids’ game.”

Jens rolls his eyes in vague disagreement. “They’re all kids’ games,” he mumbles. When Lucas only continues to look at him, he waves a hand in a gesture to start.

Lucas collects the puck from the pocket on his side and drops it on the table. He aligns it carefully before leaning down, shooting one last glance at Jens before taking his shot.

It fires right into Jens’s goal before he even has a chance to move.

Jens snatches his hand away and stares at the table before lifting his eyes to Lucas in astonishment. Lucas merely offers him a smug smile.

“Okay,” Jens says slowly, while, to Lucas’s pleasure, shrugging off his own jacket. “It’s on, Van Der Heijden.”

[thepatricktreestump]

Crush pt1 - peter parker imagine

crush masterlist

part 1 - study hall

               Although none of the other girls in your class would agree with you, you were convinced that Peter Parker was the most attractive guy at Midtown High. He had stolen your heart from the very first day of AP Chemistry, confidently answering some basic questions concerning the structure of carbon compositions, and you basically swooned. You found smart guys unbelievably sexy, and ones who were humble were twice as good. Parker was a quiet kid, very sharp and sensible, but also friendly and courteous. Unlike the other boys at your school, he wasn’t loud mouthed and cocky, throwing outrageous parties and trying to hit on every girl within a five foot radius. It was refreshing to see a guy your age not be obsessed with copying down your homework or trying to invite you to a college frat party. Peter Parker was different, and you liked that about him. You liked it a lot.

            He kept to himself and two his friends mostly, MJ and Ned, which made you more interested in him and his life. Most days he either wore these adorable blue V-neck sweaters or these goofy science pun t-shirts that looked as if ordered in a bulk pack from Amazon. He was a proud member of the photography club, robotics club, debate team, and Science Olympiad. He was one of the smartest people you knew, and in turn, that simply made him the most attractive. Perhaps it was your father who had established your high standard in boys, seeing as he dabbled in astrophysics and technological engineering as a hobby. He was Ironman after all, being an overachiever was practically a household expectation. You were pretty smart yourself, and although it could be looked upon as rude or inconsiderate, the truth was you liked to surround yourself with others who either matched or challenged your intellect.

               Since establishing your crush on Peter Parker, you strived to spend more time with him. You told yourself you could start it off as a friendship with a silly crush and see how things went from there. Towards the end of the class one day, you were determined to talk to the boy. The plan was to ask him to go over some of his notes with you, maybe make it a study date situation, hope he didn’t call your bluff. It wasn’t that you didn’t understand the lesson, you understood everything perfectly fine. Hell, you could probably speak stoichiometry in your sleep. However, you needed a good reason to introduce yourself, so you hoped for the best and decided to take a leap of faith. Nervously smoothing your sweaty palms down on your thighs and gathering your books up from your desk, you walked over to where he was talking to his best friend Ned. “Hey,” you tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around, staring at you with his soft hazel eyes, brunette hair swept up neatly, eyebrows raised in curiosity.

               “Oh hi,” he gave a warm smile and nervously cleared his throat. “What’s uh, what’s up?”

               “I’m y/n, I sit over there,” you pointed out as an introduction.

               “I think I’ve seen you around. Aren’t you Tony Stark’s daughter?” he cocked his head to the side and you groaned slightly, ever the exhausted with being immediately associated with your father.

               “Yup that’s me,” you sighed. “Uh, anyways, I noticed you seem pretty caught up on this lesson and I was having some difficulty understanding some of the concepts, I was hoping maybe I could borrow your notes sometime? If that’s okay?”

               “Oh?” he seemed surprised, but flattered, blush rising to his cheeks. “Sure! Of course. I’m Peter by the way, Peter Parker.” He gave a nervous laugh and then shook his head. “My notes aren’t the neatest in the world but if you think they could help, I’d be more than happy to lend you them for a night or two.”

               “Thanks,” you nodded. “That would be great. I think I’ve seen you in my lunch period too, so I could always just return them to you before class then.”

               “Yeah, yeah,” he agreed. “Or uh, if you wanted, we could always hang out at the library afterschool and I could explain it to you. Protein structural components can get a little tricky sometimes.”

               “For sure,” you chuckled, realizing how lame you probably sounded laughing over chemistry. “I’m usually free afterschool, as long as you’re okay with it, that sounds great to me!”

               “How afterschool tomorrow?” he offered. “Just for an hour or two?”

               “Perfect,” you couldn’t help but blush yourself. “Thanks, Peter. Really.”

               It felt like your heart was beating out of your chest as you walked away, envisioning his adorable smile still in your mind. He was so sweet, and kind, and understanding. Pretty eager too. You had to stifle a laugh as you heard Ned slug Peter on the shoulder and whisper shout, “Dude! You just scored a study date with Y/n Stark!”

               “See ya, Parker,” you turned around and winked, walking out of the classroom and towards your locker.

               The next day in class, you kept glancing back in your chair to look at him, smirking to yourself every time you caught him staring back. He was shy alright, and nervous, but it made him all the more adorable. That morning you made sure to fix your hair up and put on a little bit of lipstick, and after being thoroughly interrogated by your overbearing father, you were able to get out the door in one piece. It wasn’t that you were overexerting yourself into catching his attention, but you’d be lying if you said you weren’t hoping to have him compliment you. The rest of the school day, you caught yourself using the rest of your attention to calculate how much time was left until you could rush to the library and actually talk to him for once.

               “I thought you’d never show up,” you teased as he took a seat next to you at one of the tables, setting his backpack down on the floor and sighing.

               “Me either,” he groaned. “Ned wouldn’t stop bugging me about this being a date.” He gave a nervous laugh and turned to you, but you weren’t laughing. Instead you looked at him, smiling sweetly, unable to resist your temptation.

               “It can be a date,” you shrugged, opening up your textbook and waiting for a response, only to catch him dumbfounded, struggling to find words to say.

               “Oh, I mean- I-” he stammered and you chuckled.

               “I’m just playing with you, Parker,” you playfully reassured. “Now come on, open up those science notes so I can take a good look. I’m still lost on the GPCR structure similarities.”

               “That’s what doesn’t really make sense to me though,” he mused, doubtful as he instead swiped your notes across the table, reading them over and pointing at your diagrams. “I think you do. All of these are mapped out perfectly, and your comparisons are spot on.”

               “Well there’s no harm in getting clarification,” you replied, trying to grab back your notes but he held them out of your reach, narrowing his eyes. Peter didn’t buy it.

               “Why do you need my help, y/n? You’re literally the smartest girl in school. Your father is Tony Stark for heaven’s sake, you don’t need tutoring,” he insisted. “If anything, you should be tutoring me.”

               “You?” you scoffed. “Pete, you’re varsity on every academic team there is. No way.”

               “I just don’t get it,” he admitted. “Why’d you ask for my help? It’s obvious you understand the lesson perfectly fine.”

               “Well…” you blinked at him, shocked at how quickly he had seen right through your cover. “I uh, I don’t know.” Your face turned a bright shade of pink and you began to feel queasy. “Can I be honest?”

               “Of course,” he nodded, concerned but also curious as to what you had to say.

               “I just wanted an excuse to talk to you,” you confessed, embarrassed. “I always see you around and you seem so smart and you’re a part of all these clubs and teams and I don’t know…”

               He looked surprised, almost confused, but then smiled. “Me? Why me?”

               “I dunno. You seem really sweet.”

               “Thanks. You too.”

               “I was thinking maybe we could be friends? If that’s not too weird or-”

               “No, no that sounds, that sounds great,” he insisted, clearly flustered. He looked up at you, eyes sparkling, lips curled up in a smile. “You could’ve just asked you know.”

               “Yeah I’m uh, I’m clearly a fool when it comes to those kinds of things,” you laughed nervously, scratching the back of your head.

               “Well, since we’re here anyways,” Peter decided. “Want to do homework together instead?”

               “Sure,” you agreed. “That sounds great.”

               Both of you spent the next couple of hours solving Gauss-Jordan elimination matrices and memorizing resistance series equations. In a lot of ways, Peter Parker was just as much of a nerd as you were. It was comforting to know someone’s brain worked the same way yours did, excited to be challenged with theorems and calculations, determined to find solutions and build upon your already established intellect. When the library eventually closed, you walked to the cafeteria vending machines and grabbed some chips and sodas, exchanging conversation and making each other laugh with stupid jokes.

               “Sit at my lunch table tomorrow,” Peter invited after having added you on snapchat. “MJ and Ned will be there, and you can bring some of your friends if you want too.”

               “Okay,” you grinned. “Count me in.”

               Walking home, your entire stomach was filled with butterflies. Things couldn’t have gotten better. He was genuinely funny, and clever, and really sweet too. You hoped and prayed things would go well between you two. Practically skipping to the elevator, you tried to hide the stupid smile on your face in hopes that your dad wouldn’t pry too much. However, you instantly cringed when you heard JARVIS’ voice greet you as the doors slid open and you reached your floor.

               “Good evening, Miss Y/n. It seems that you have finally arrived home from school,” he chirped and you groaned, knowing what was to follow. “Your father has requested that I alert him upon your arrival, he has been inquiring about your whereabouts-”

               “Yeah, yeah, I know JARVIS,” you mumbled, setting your bookbag on your chair and frowning. “I came home late, I was at study hall with a friend.”

               “You are approximately three and a half hours late from your usual arrival,” JARVIS informed.

               “I am aware,” you insisted yet again, noticing your dad march towards you from a hall. Part of you was surprised he even noticed you were gone at all. Most of the time he was either out with the Avengers on a mission or cooped up in the lab working on a new project.

               “And where were you afterschool, young lady?” he inquired, arms folded, peering at you above the rim of his glasses.

               “I was at study hall with a friend,” you repeated, chewing at your lower lip, trying to play it off. “It took a little longer than I thought it would, I’m sorry.”

               “You couldn’t give me a call at least?” he asked, annoyed.

               “I didn’t think you cared,” you shrugged.

               “Well I’m your father, so I do,” he argued and you nodded, growing quiet and waiting to hear whatever scolding you had coming to you.

               Sometimes you wondered why he was constantly on your case. Maybe with him being an Avenger and all, always exposed to threats and danger, it translated to him being constantly worried about you. You knew it was just cause he cared, but at times, it did get a bit overbearing. You’ve learned by now to just nod your head and respond with “yes dad” and “I’m sorry dad” interchangeably.

              “Much less, why are you all dolled up?” he looked you up and down in disapproval. You glanced down at your skirt and sweater, remembering the way he had inquired about your hair and makeup this morning. He wasn’t wrong. You rarely ever put any effort into your appearance when it came to going to school. You usually threw on some jeans and a hoodie and made your way out the door. “If I didn’t know any better I’d think you were trying to impress someone.”

             “I’m not,” you lied, rolling your eyes. “I just felt like changing it up today.”

            “Uh huh,” he drew out. “Twenty bucks says your little friend at study hall was a boy.”

            “Dad!” you whined and he smirked.

            “That’s all I need to know,” he threw up his hands defensively, secretly proud of himself. “Hey kid, get your homework done and then meet me in the lab. Bruce has a project for you concerning some Dijkstra’s algorithms that are right up your alley.”

            “Lucky for you I already got my homework done in study hall,” you pointed out. “So let me grab a snack real quick and I’ll meet you down there.”

            “That’s my kiddo,” he smiled proudly. “See ya in a bit.”

[antihero-writings]

Stolen Sunlight

Fandom: Tangled | Tangled the Series | Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure

Summary: Arianna never thought she'd find herself afraid of a fourteen-year-old boy, but the events of Secret of the Sundrop won't seem to leave her.

She needs to talk to Varian in prison. Not for his sake...but for her own.

Character focus: Arianna and Varian

Notes: This is a fic I started writing many many years ago, during the hiatus between seasons 1 and 2. I intended to post it way back then, as a long one-shot. I continued to occasionally work on it over the years, however, it's proven one of the hardest fics I've ever written to edit, (mostly due to the amount of internal monologue).

I finally decided that probably the only way to get it actually edited and posted is to break it up into multiple chapters, despite the fact that it's essentially only one scene, and I feel like that messes with the format. Hopefully it'll help me edit, and end up making it easier for people to read too XD I might post the full version of this, unbroken up, too after I finish it. But I finally got fed up with my editing process and decided this was the only way.

I'm aware that plenty of other people have written Varian and Arianna fics over the years, but at the time I started this there weren't that many yet, and I worked so hard on this, I still wanted to post it, even if others have done things like it. Plus, I'm not sure how many people have written it this heavily from Arianna's perspective.

I hope you all enjoy it, either way! Please don't hesitate to leave a comment to let me know, if so!!

Chapter 1: Fractured Memory

Sun splinters through the castle windows, designing reflections on the newly polished floor.

When she walks into the library, her mouth drops open; The entire room gleams. That Corona sunlight bounces between the tiles, tables, and shelves like a little boy full of energy, laughing as he leaps around the room. 

It may be a royal library, but there’s usually still a layer of dust draped over everything, sealing up the gaps, and clogging up the stories. The servants try their best, but it’s hard to get into all the crevices between the shelves, the cracks between the pages. 

The tiles glitter, the shelves look new, the books don’t cough up dust when she lifts them, even a few of their bindings are mended. 

She stays a while to admire it before heading back for her room, and as she does, Arianna smiles, her gait almost dreamy—so like her daughter’s. 

Who would take such care to polish her library? She appreciates the gesture more than words can express, but she would like to say ‘thank you’ at least. 

A curious sight down the hall interrupts her wondering; a laundry cart, moving on its own. 

A very full laundry cart, that is…Cassandra doesn’t usually fill them so much.

“May I…help you?” she walks up to the cart, tilting her head, strands of hair falling to the side. 

“Oh, no, it’s fine! I got this!” the laundry cart replies. 

The ventriloquist reveals himself: a boy steps out from behind it. She guesses he must be one of Rapunzel’s friends, since she doesn’t remember seeing him here before, and he doesn’t exactly look like a royal servant, (despite the fact that he’s performing one of their jobs).

He pushes back his hair—black, with a streak of turquoise at the front—and smooths out his apron. Upon seeing her, his eyes widen with shock.

 “Oh!” he stumbles, attempting to bow too low, too quickly, “Your majesty! I-I am so sorry! I didn’t realize—!”

She laughs, holding out a hand to steady him. 

“Don’t worry. Please. I’m Arianna.”

“Oh—O-Okay. That…seems to run in the family,” he mutters beneath his breath. “I’m Varian.” He leans confidently against the laundry cart…which starts moving, so he pulls it back with all his strength before it gets out of hand.  

“Oh! Varian! Rapunzel told me about you!”

He freezes, his eyes trailing back to her, like people talking about him is usually a bad thing. “She…She has?”

“Of course!” she steps closer. “You’re the alchemist, right?”

He pauses, blinks, then his face breaks into the biggest grin. He clears his throat, rubbing fake dirt off his gloves, trying to hide his joy, as he looks back up at her. “Ten points to the lady in the crown.”

She smiles.

“Are you here for the completion today?” 

He nods. “I think I’ve got a pre-tty good chance of snagging that first prize if I do say so myself,” he pulls on his apron straps, then pauses, realizing how arrogant that sounds. “Not to uh…toot my own horn or anything. But it doesn’t seem like there’s anything like my invention in the running, so I think once Master Doctor St. Croix sees it he’ll be impressed! At least I hope so.”

“Well, if your invention is anything like the ones Rapunzel has told me about you’ll have no trouble snagging that blue ribbon.”

“Oh stop,” he flicks his wrist to wave her off, but is beaming from ear to ear. 

She notes that she may be encouraging him a little too much. The experiments Rapunzel has told her about aren’t exactly all blue-ribbon worthy. Or, perhaps they would be…if they all worked properly. At the same time, she isn’t sure labelling him as dangerous, and reckless is really fair. She and Willow had tried out their share of inventions, which often failed in a grand array of explosions. If they had worked properly, growing up wouldn’t have been as colorful. At least he was trying his best to help people with his inventions. Without the explosive failures, there was no room for fiery success either. 

 “Wait, shouldn’t you be there with the other contestants now?”

“Oh, yeah.” He says nonchalantly. “But I figured since I’m going second-to-last I’ve got a decent amount of time before I have to present. Cassi—Cassandra has agreed to be my assistant, so I’m helping her out with her lady-in-waiting duties first.”

“Don’t let her make you do all her work.” She says in a motherly way. Then gasps, “The library!” 

 He winces. “Did I do something wrong? I-I can fix it, don’t worry!”

“No, no!” she puts her hands on his shoulders, “So you were the one who cleaned it?”

“Yeees…?”

She pulls him into a hug. “Thank you so much.”—his eyes widen with shock—“I’ve never seen the place look so beautiful.” She releases him. 

“Oh!” he rubs the back of his neck and the smile turns sheepish.

“That must have taken you hours!”

“It was no big deal. Nothing a little home-alchemy can’t fix.” He says like a salesman.

“How did you do it?”

“Just a compound of my own invention,” he digs in his pocket and holds up a little, blue orb between his thumb and forefinger. “Most people don’t understand the more practical uses for alchemy.” he marches forward, hands on his hips, in a hyperbolic show of pride, making his voice sound deep, “that’s why I make it a mission to show the world the value of alchemy! To boldly go where no man has gone before!” he laughs, his pose collapsing, “Or something like that.”

No wonder Rapunzel had such nice things to say about him. There weren’t a lot of people out there who were so…genuine. People who cleaned libraries because they needed cleaning, who created solutions for problems simply because they needed fixing. 

 “Maybe one day you can teach me.”

“Really?” He drops the ball and it explodes into a sudsy mess on the already polished floor. “I mean, not that I think a queen should be doing housework! But…really?”

“Please,” she waves him off. “I wasn’t always a queen, you know. If Willow and I had had tricks like this maybe our house would have always looked like a pigsty. Sometimes I think we started going off on adventures just to get away from the smell.” She leans in closer, whispering behind her hand, “One time, I set the kitchen on fire trying to bake a birthday cake for Frederic.”

He laughs, then pauses like he isn’t sure he’s allowed to. “I guess not every queen is scared to get her hands dirty, huh?”

“Uh huh,” she puts her hands on her hips, “You should have seen the look on his face.”

“Happy birthday huh?”

“Now make sure to always send someone to Monty’s for his cake…spare us all.”

He fails to keep himself from laughing again, then pauses.

“Well… I really should be getting back to these chores. This laundry isn’t going to clean itself, amIright?” he bobs his head and walks backwards to the cart. “But it was really nice talking to you, your Maj—I mean,” he points, “Arianna.”

“Let me help you! This cart is too heavy to carry on your own.” she rushes over to the other end—he’s so thin, she’s afraid he’ll snap in two if he does all the chores by himself.

“No no!” he comes dangerously close to slapping her hands away. “I mean,” he smiles nervously, pulling his fingers close to his chest, realizing his outburst to the Queen. “I wouldn’t want you to get your…er…royal hands dirty…Right?”

She smiles. 

Well, if a little stubborn. 

“As long as you’re sure.” 

*

*

* The scene shifts, smearing like a painting left out in the rain. The reflection becomes more sinister; a glowing tower of amber, and encased within, a man reaching to the sky as if trying to catch rays of sunlight; as if light alone can break himself out of his prison of stained glass. The curtain to this godforsaken show is crumpled at the bottom. A giant machine stands in the middle of the room, made of metal, lightning, and cold, haunting music. 

The room smells like sulfur, and rust, and a lot of other chemicals she can’t quite place. Things from the earth which don’t smell natural at all. 

The same boy stands before her. The same, and yet…not the same at all. Along with the light from the windows, so too has disappeared the light from his eyes. The blue is something akin to moonlight; less the gleam of day, the reflection of the sunrise, full of hope, instead, more an eclipsed glow, shrouded by darkness. 

She feels that rusted metal, the cold in his eyes, wrap like icy hands around her ankles. 

She looks quizzically from her cuffed ankles to him. Doesn’t the warden usually cuff the prisoner’s hands? 

He seems to understand her confusion, because he answers her unasked question;

 “Please,” he scoffs. His eyes meet hers, and he smirks. The words, the smile, no longer contain compassion, they are manufactured with bite and scorn; “I wouldn’t want you to get your royal hands dirty.” 

He tugs hard on the chain, showing that it’s connected to the lab’s floor, as if saying to a toddler You’re stuck here, understand? He walks back over to his desk—littered with bottles, liquid bubbling and seething like his emotions, an array of colors that tell nothing of what they contain. 

If the color green is sleep, then what color is death? 

She looks up at the golden tower in the center of the room. She doesn’t want to, but she can’t look away. 

—Look away…like Frederic did, when people like Varian were crying out for his help against the rocks. Look away, like Rapunzel had to when the storm was coming, and Quirin was being imprisoned. Look away, like they all did after the storm passed.

 She still couldn’t believe her husband would, could do something like that. That was the reason she was here, the reason the boy was hurt, the reason…the mistake, the poorly made choice. 

No, she couldn’t think that way. Besides, she knew he had his reasons, that he wanted to make sure people didn’t panic, and he wanted to keep Rapunzel safe. It wasn’t his fault he didn’t fully understand the situation. 

And she would never blame Rapunzel. Rapunzel had had to make one of the most difficult choices of her life that day, had had to learn too much about being queen, too soon: that it was about choices, and sometimes those choices would be leaving behind the one, for the sake of the many. 

And the amber was the other reason, and that wasn’t Frederic’s fault...The amber Varian himself had mistakenly made.

Still, it would have been so easy. So easy to come back to him once the storm had ended. So easy...

So where did the fault lie, really?—

Was it amber? Was amber the color of death? Or just another kind of sleep? 

The boy’s eyes shift, glaring at her with nothing more than bitterness. 

Or was it blue? The color of the moon, a well-timed strike of lightning, an icy landscape. Was blue the color of death?

 “What are you going to do?” 

“Yeah,” he scoffs, “I’ll reveal my whole plan to you. Let me go into the tragic backstory of Varian,” he waves his hand grandly, “The poor boy, who lost his father to an experiment, a few rocks, a storm, and a princess’ broken promise.” He leans on the desk, resting his cheek in his hand in some mock-loving fashion, his eyes aimed on her like gunfire. “It’s simple; Rapunzel broke her promise.” He stands back up to his full height—which, admittedly, isn’t very high, but it’s more impressive from her place on the ground. “I tried asking nicely for her help, and I was denied.” He jabs a finger on the table to emphasize his point; the first sign of violence. “Now I’m going to ask” he smirks, tilting his head to the side, his eyes half-lidded in the dark, “not so nicely.” 

He pauses a moment, glancing at the chemicals on his desk. 

“I once said I’d teach you the ways of practical alchemy.” He reaches forward and takes up a flask. “Well, this isn’t exactly what I had in mind, but I will show you something.”

He walked over to her, holding the flask full of something green and frothy that smells like dog breath.

Was it green? Was death’s color the same as sleep? The colors of leaves and grass and everything everyone thinks is a sign of life. ...It would be a cruel joke.

“This is a little solution I like to call…Varium.” There’s something hurt in his eyes when he says the word. “You see, when it reacts with the rocks,” he runs his fingers along the black spire jutting through the wall between them—one could be fooled into thinking in an intrigued way, but there was something harsh in his touch, resentful in his eyes, “it has this tendency to—” he held it over the stones, the liquid trickling slowly downwards in the flask, teasing her breath to catch itself and fall. He turns the bottle upright, and bites his lip, closing his eyes, willing himself not to turn around and look at what this has done before. 

What he’s done. 

“Well, you get the idea,” he mutters, returning the flask to his desk.

She doesn’t have to ask, and he doesn’t have to finish. 

“You think if you threaten me Rapunzel will work with you?” there’s a bite to her words. 

 “Ten points to the lady in the crown.” 

She pauses as he returns to work, her eyes trailing along the chain, the floor, jumping onto the windowsill—the rocks interrupting her gaze at every bend and break of the room—searching for any way out, any chance at rescue, anything her husband and daughter could use against him.

Was death black? The color everyone thinks it is. The black of these rocks, the low blue glowing beneath them, destroying his home, destroying their hearts, their chances at friendship and…It surely seemed like it. 

“She won’t, you know.”

He raises an eyebrow as if to say oh, you think?

“Rapunzel.” She tries to urge her confidence, like a stubborn pet, to come out, but it shies away by the second. “She won’t help you.”

He smiles. “You make your hypotheses, I’ll make mine.”

“And what are yours?” her own eyes are half lidded. 

He thinks over his words. “She can’t…help but help. She always had this sick compassion about her.” After a moment he adds softly, “…but only for her kingdom.”

Anger, injustice, bubble within her chest. 

 “You don’t have to be like this, you know.”

“And she didn’t have to break her promise,” he tilts his head, “ya know.”

She grits her teeth, clenches her fist. “I met you once. What happened to that boy who—”

He laughs a little, cutting her off. “Yeah, well, he learned a couple things about the real world.”

For a moment, just one brief moment, there is something there. Something in his eyes, a memory, a reaction, like the chemicals. Something real, something lost, something hurt, something…something not this. Incased within a prison of blue—

And then that moment ended.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #401

“my love is just waiting to turn your tears to roses”

Do you typically do your makeup the same each time? Or do you like to change it up often? IF I wear makeup, it's essentially always the same. Who is the last person you were in a room with just the two of you? What were you doing? Yesterday with Mom. We were trying to find the best deal on Eco Earth, a substrate we're getting for Venus. What was the last really good book you read, and what was it about? If we're talking REALLY good book, then The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. In short summary, it's a dystopian future novel where women are now basically just objects used only for repopulation, even having their names stripped from them. They follow very strict rules as society has returned to horrible misogyny. As a woman, the "oh my god, this is possible" aspect of it is terrifying, and it causes such a sense of disgust and urge to ensure women rights always continue to be fought for. Do you feel safe in your country? For the most part, I'd say. I guess. There are places I'd feel safer, though. How many meals do you eat a day? Three. Have you ever performed a solo dance in front of a crowd? No, but I was supposed to my senior year in high school; the seniors at my dance studio were always welcome to do a solo in celebration. Mine was a modern dance to "Coma White" by Marilyn Manson, wanting to tell a story about depression and how being medicated could feel, but I eventually decided like halfway through learning the choreography that I was just too nervous to do a solo. Have you ever sung a solo? No. When you go to McDonalds, what drink do you usually get? Coke. Have you ever had to call and complain about a product you bought? No. Do you own a designer purse? Definitely not. I'm not wasting that much money on something like that. What’s the weirdest rumor you’ve ever heard about yourself? Apparently, Jason and I had a baby in high school even though I was obviously never pregnant. To my knowledge, it was started by his ex. Who is now a good friend of mine lmaooo. Life is funny. What was your favorite Saturday morning cartoon growing up? Pokemon, of course. Would you ever have an affair? Nope. Would you ever have a one night stand? Nope. Where you present at any major historical events (e.g. 9/11)? No. What are your opinions on marijuana legalization? Legalize it, but treat it similarly to alcohol in that driving under the influence is illegal and punishable, and I believe you should be of a certain age. How about abortion? I am pro-choice. I was pro-life most of my own life, but now I am very firm about a mother being able to choose if she wants to endure a pregnancy or not. Like, that is a MASSIVE life event that almost inevitably changes - and sometimes traumatizes - people. I do believe a fetus is its own body and not part of the mother's, but rather in the mother's, but the belief that a woman decides what she wants in her body is her choice, too. I'm not very fond of people treating abortion as a simple, regular form of birth control, like it's nothing but an "lol whoops," but I still believe it is ultimately her decision, and she should always be free of judgment for doing what is best for her. Do you wear skirts or dresses more often? Neither. I wouldn't dare wear a skirt more so, though. What do you think about tipping at restaurants? There should always be an expected minimum, imo, unless the person was truly, sincerely, genuinely fucking awful. Waiters do not have an easy job, fight me about it, and they're just trying to survive while putting on a happy, jovial face, all the while dealing with hungry people who can be such assholes. I believe the actual tip should relate to actual service, but again, give them something. Would you ever get back together with any of your exes? One, absolutely. The other would take a shitload of consideration and proper communication on his part. Do you have a preferred coffee brand? No, because I don't like coffee. Do you usually befriend your coworkers, or do you prefer to keep work separate from your personal life? IF I had a job, I'd like to build a friendship with those I have to engage with almost every day. What is something you frequently forget? Dates, ages, names, what I was about to do five seconds before I forgot... Pretty much everything. My memory is frightfully poor. Is there any drama currently going on with your family? No. When you take a nap, do you nap in bed or on the couch? In my bed. Were you raised by both of your parents? If not, then who raised you? Both; my parents split when I was somewhere around 17, though, but I'd say there wasn't much more "raising" to do at that age. Have you ever stolen anything? If so, why? No. Have you ever plagiarized someone else's work? Hell no. What's your most-used mode of transportation? My mom's car. Have you ever taught someone else a useful skill? Not to my recollection. Does seeing everyone else's 'perfect lives' posted on social media ever bring you down or affect how you feel about yourself? It actually does, honestly. Not ALWAYS, but if I'm being honest, it does most of the time. I've contemplated deleting Facebook for that reason, but with is also comes things that make me happy, and I think I'd feel even more isolated without it. What is your favorite Hostess/Little Debbie snack? This is SO impossible for me to answer. I loooove Hostess and Little Debbie treats. I want to say honeybuns, but I also love those chocolate cupcakes with the white swirls on top, as well as Twinkies. Very few exist that I don't like. Do you/your family buy loafs from the bakery or bagged on the shelf? We just buy bagged bread. What’s the best news you’ve gotten lately? My APAP mask is definitively WORKING!!!!! :') Mom got an app that connects to the machine via Bluetooth that monitors the effectiveness of the mask, evaluating many factors of your sleep, and it's detecting a definite decrease in disruptive behaviors or something like that. It is so, SO encouraging to know that. ^And, the worst? Hm. Oh, probably some news on something serious a good friend is going through, but I don't feel it's my right to disclose what. It's just a very worrying and potentially dangerous issue that I wish I could help her with. Would you rather receive (or give) flowers, chocolates or jewelry? I'd appreciate any, but my fat ass is drawn to the chocolate, ha ha. What *I* would give would vary depending on what the person liked. How do you feel about coconut? Smells lovely, but is otherwise gross. ^ Ever cracked one open? No, but omg I've always wanted to, haha. What’s the best thing about being your gender? I guess the fact it's more "normal" and "accepted" to show our emotions. Fuck that generalization, though. I don't give a shit what your gender is, you experiencing emotions is NORMAL and welcomed to be expressed. ^ And the worst thing? The ability to be raped and impregnated by it. Do you do your part to save the earth? I don't do nearly enough. :/ We recycle, but that's about it. Well, none of us DARE to litter either, but I still don't feel like it's as much as the earth deserves from its denizens. Who do you think should have their portrait on a bill? I don't know or care. Why did you last feel exhausted? Yesterday was my niece's birthday, and I spent essentially ALL day playing with her and her brother. I have a very limited battery when it comes to kids, and I was running on empty for hours. My anxiety was SO high and I really needed a break from them, but they're too young to really understand that Aunt Britt can only socially run for so long before I'm completely burnt out, and TRUST ME, I was there for sure. I didn't want them to think they did something wrong, you know? I just had to keep going. I slept like a baby last night though for sure, haha. Have you ever used emotional blackmail to get your own way? Wow, no. Has anybody ever used emotional blackmail on you? No. Who did you last worry about and why? Sara for health reasons. Are you currently looking for a new place to live? Not actively, but Mom and I definitely want to move. We feel very out-of-place here in the suburbs. Which would you prefer as a view; mountains or the sea? Mountains. Do you have a mouse for your laptop? (Assuming you have a laptop) Yes. I canNOT play games with a trackpad. Do you apologize a lot? Extremely excessively. When you get married what do you think you’ll put most of your focus and money into? Do you mean like, for the wedding? In that case, probably the venue. Being a photography buff, I want a place I think is really pretty to have pictures taken. What’s something you complain about frequently? My legs hurting, my weight, and being hot. Do you have anything planned for the summer? Nope, and that's fine with me. I'd rather stay inside away from the heat. Who usually makes dinner in your household? My ma. Do you have a blog? Just on Tumblr. Does anyone in your family snore loudly? My mother does because of gerd, and at least when my father still lived with us, he snored super loud, too. Do you want to fix anything with anyone? Yeah, a few people. What shows do you watch? Right now, only Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty. Whenever The Edge of Sleep comes out, I will 110% be watching that, too, because Mark is a key actor in it. :') Plus the concept seems super cool. Have you ever broken someone’s heart? I don't know. Who was the last person you had a conversation with on the phone? Me mum. Does the song you’re currently listening to remind you of anyone specific? No, given it has like... one lyric, haha. Do you own any TV show soundtracks? No. Last thing you did that made you feel like an adult? I mean I guess sign myself in at the doctor's. What’s your favorite picture of your mom? Dad? Oh my god, there's a candid one I got of Mom laughing when she was posing as my subject for a photography assignment, and I cherish it with ALL my heart. I want to share it with essentially the whole world, but yeah, I'm not gonna put my mom's picture here. As for my dad, I like this one I took of us at Red Lobster for his birthday a year or two back. Last TV show series you finished? Fullmetal Alchemist with Sara. Favorite flavor of cream cheese? Regular. What US state would you like to visit? Alaska. Last meal you made yourself? I put a chicken pesto thing in the microwave earlier for dinner.

[queen-of-deans-booty]

Doing It With A Smile

Characters: Jensen Ackles x Reader

Word Count: 1,648

Warnings: just major fluff

Summary: Your new neighbor is finding new ways to annoy you, and the last straw breaks before you go marching over to his place to sort it out.

Beta: she wants to remain anonymous

Author’s Note: If you have any requests, please send them in!

This is the December 14th fic for my 25 days of RPF Christmas with the prompt: “Look, I get that you go all out with Christmas decorations, but I can see your flashing lights through the blinds on my bedroom window and they’ve kept me awake the past few days…”

Feedback the glue that holds my writing together

Tags at the bottom

This is the perfect afternoon for reading your favorite book. The clock has a nice ticking consistency, your house is pet and kid-free (not like you had them to begin with), you’re in front of the window to give you a perfect view of the snow lightly falling, and nothing could ruin this moment. Plus, you have a perfect view of your neighbor’s house across from yours.

Jensen Ackles moved in a few months ago, but you’ve never had the opportunity to go to him and introduce yourself to him. When he moved in, you were traveling for work in Europe. When you got back, he was filming in Vancouver for his television show. You’ve heard of the show, but you’ve never watched it before. You like more medical dramas and documentaries, not whatever he’s on. Only recently has he moved back in for the holidays, but you haven’t had time to go over yet. Yes, you could go over now, but you really want this time to be allocated for peace and quiet.

You just finished the fifteenth chapter when you heard loud, obnoxious music come from Jensen’s house. It sounds like a band is rehearsing, but you know he isn’t in one. You’ve never seen a van used for carrying instruments, no other bandmates, and the only person you’ve seen walk into his house is his mother. Well, she looked like his mother.

The only way you can read a book is by complete silence or with rain/thunder sounds. This is breaking your concentration. You look over at his house is disdain, but it’s not enough to make you go over to him and tell him off. First, the music he’s playing isn’t that bad, and he’s singing along to it as if he’s got a microphone or a karaoke machine. Either way, he has a beautiful voice.

You close your book and rest your head to the glass window. If he sounds this good from across the street, you wonder how he’ll sound from inside the living room. If he can sing this well, what’s he doing on a tv show? Maybe when his show is done for good, he’ll make a career out of singing. You’d definitely buy all his albums.

Jensen hasn’t done anything to annoy you for the rest of the week. Today’s Sunday, which means coffee and newsletters in the morning. If it wasn’t so cold outside, you would sit in your porch swing and read the morning newspaper. Instead, you’re by the fireplace with the unopened newspaper with a rubber band wrapped around the middle.

Taking your first sip of coffee, you take off the rubber band and open it to the coupon section. That’s the first place you love to look to see what the deals of the week are, and then mentally plan your shopping list based on the deals. Flipping through the pages until you get to the right one, you gasp at the sections that have been cut out. Someone stole your newspaper and cut out some of the coupons. To add to it, they left a note of the ones they took, ending with their initials.

Jensen did this. You know it based on the scrambled JA written at the bottom of it. You know it’s him because the day you came back, he left some flowers on your price with a thank you note for welcoming him to the neighborhood. Both notes have the exact same writing. Oh, that little menace…

You could match right over to his place and demand the coupons be given back, but they are the ones that you have no business buying. He took some clothes offers, some coupons for meat, dairy products, and other things you don’t eat. You’re a vegetarian that doesn’t like animal products. He must not know that about you since he took those coupons.

You didn’t mind that he did that, but you would love it if he came over and asked like a normal person. Maybe tomorrow, you’ll steal his coupons and leave him a note to see how he likes it. You just shake your head and begin cutting out the ones you really wanted, and soon, Jensen was out of your head.

Last night killed your ass. Your work demanded you stay in the office until two am to get works done that could have waited until morning. You’re in the running for a big promotion, so you stocked it up to get you on their good side. It was tough, but you made it home and fell asleep easily.

Jensen hasn’t stolen any more coupons when he realized his little “prank” didn’t work. He might just be looking for a rise from you, but you’re not going to give it to him. It’s going to take a lot more than missing coupons and loud music for you to get mad.

You have to be at work at eight, so you have your alarm set for six-thirty. It gives you enough time to eat breakfast, watch some news, get dressed, and head out with just enough time to set aside for the morning traffic. Your room is dark, and the silence is giving you everything you need for a peaceful slumber.

You’re in a deep sleep when you hear the rumble of a lawnmower. It’s coming from across the street, and it pulls you right out of your dream. Your eyes open tiredly, and you look at the clock to see it reads 5:00 am. Who the hell us up at five am to mow their lawn? You get out of bed and creep over to your window and power outside. The sun is still down since it’s wintertime, but you can clearly see Jensen morning his lawn as if it’s normal to do so.

The lawnmower he bought is noisy, tacky, and it keeps dying every few seconds. It’s as if he’s never used it before until this morning. Why is he always bothering you? Sure, the music and the coupons were harmless, but it’s still annoying to be disturbed. If he does anything to annoy you, even with the smallest thing, then you’re going to go over to his house and sort it out like he should have done in the beginning. You would go over now, but you’re too tired to put on something and deal with his mess. Instead, you pull the curtains shut and head downstairs for some coffee.

The next few days have been quiet over at Jensen’s place, but you know he’s brewing something. He got out his Christmas lights and put them up. They are flashy, bright, and you love to look at them after the sun has gone down. You don’t like it when they are flashing in your room when you’re trying to sleep. It’s been happening the mar free days, and you’re getting really sick of it. You love looking at lights, but this is Jensen. Why he’s acting this way, you’ll never know.

It’s the middle of the night, and you just got into bed and settled down for the night. It’s Friday, which means there is no work tomorrow, but you still have a lot of personal errands to run that you’d rather knock out in the morning. You pull the covers up to your chin and close your eyes. Seconds later, blue, red, green, and yellow lights flash into your room.

You let out an annoyed scream and get out of bed. Jensen has turned on his lights, and they are flashy as ever. This is it, you have had enough of his antics. You’re putting an end to this now whether it’s midnight or the am. You grab your fluffy purple robe and throw it on before storming out of your house. Crossing the street responsibly, you pound on his door when you reach it.

“Jensen!” you shout. It takes five seconds for him to get to the door and open it. It’s like he was waiting there for you.

“Can I help you?” he asks nonchalantly.

“Yes! First, you play loud music. I didn’t mind because you actually have a nice voice. Second, you take my coupons. They aren’t ones I want, but still. If you want them, ask! Third, you mow your fucking lawn at five am when you know I came home at two. Now, it’s these lights. Look, I get that you go all out with Christmas decorations, but I can see your flashing lights through the blinds on my bedroom window, and they’ve kept me awake the past few days. Please, turn them off.”

“Okay,” he shrugs.

“What? That’s it?”

“Yeah, it took you long enough to match your cute butt over here and tell me off. I did all those things to get you over here.”

“Why?”

“So I can ask you to dinner tomorrow night?”

“Why didn’t you come up to me like a normal person?” you sigh.

“I felt a bit intimidated. My character is a lot better at things like this than I am. I’m sorry for annoying you I just wanted an excuse to talk to you.”

“Well, I'm not going to bite. Next time, come over to me during the day.”

“Deal. Will you still have dinner with me?”

“You’re such a dork. Sure, but I’m a vegetarian. No animal products.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he grins.

“Turn off these lights, and we’ll have a dinner date.”

“Done,” he says and pulls out a remote from his pocket. He turns off the lights with a smile.

“Thank you. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Y/N,” he chuckles.

Your leave guys house and return to yours. Slipping off your robe, you put it on the hanger and slide back into bed. It’s easy to fall asleep this time, but you’re doing it with a smile. You got a date with Jensen Ackles.

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[ahwuum]

I absolutely love freewood with mute! Ryan and bcs this is me, how about throwing some angst into it? Like Ryan and Gav went undercover and things goes just as planned UNTIL Gav mis-steps and their disguise was blown. One of the bad guys get to Gav when they were seperated and Gav didnt realise the bad guy but Ryan did and he tried to warn gav but oh god he cant talk and gav too far away to notice him and the bad guys aiming his gun at Gav and Ryan sprinting to save him but the gun when off...

Yesss I love this so much omg! I decided to write a little something for it quick, sorry it took a while aha

‘All clear?’ Ryan signs to him once they’ve creeped up along the walls of the complex to the entry door, waiting while Gavin checks the security cameras from his phone.

‘Yep, the loop’s started now, so we have a few minutes before the next guard makes his round, but it shouldn’t take much longer than a minute to transfer the files. Let’s go.’ Gavin signs back, grinning and giving him a thumbs up before reaching into his back pocket and pulling out the keycard he’d swiped from the guard at the gate and pressing it against the scanner.

Green light. Go.

They move quickly, quietly, the layout of the entire underground complex committed to both of their memories by this point. The server room they need to get to is down a set of stairs, through another locked door and then on the left.

It’s so easy it’s like they’re begging to have all their information stolen.

Bank details, safe house locations, weapons stache, upcoming deals, heist plans, active jobs, all invaluable information that the FAHC could definitely use. All conveniently held in the one server room in an underground complex that, sure, has plenty of armed guards and locked doors that you need a keycard to get through, but beyond that has almost no security.

It’s so easy that Ryan starts to think that maybe they are begging to have their information stolen, especially as they get further in and still come across no guards.

Of course, that had been part of the plan, only one guard making the rounds of this particular wing, and no foreseeable reason as to why any other guards would be down in this area. But it makes him nervous.

What kind of crew leaves their server room so unprotected? What kind of crew would even put all of their information on the one server that could so easily be broken into? What kind of crew—especially one this big—would leave just one guard standing watch at the only way into their secret underground complex?

He slows down only for a moment as his creeping suspicion becomes genuine concern and anxiety, head swivelling around as he tries to spot anything amiss around them.

In the time he takes to look around, Gavin’s gone ahead of him, unaware that Ryan’s stopped as he continues toward the door. He notices too late that Gavin’s going to open it, that he hasn’t come to the same realisation as Ryan and he’s going to open that door and get shot-

‘Gavin, wait!’ He signs frantically, trying to wave his arms in the hope that the blur of motion might catch in the corner of Gavin’s eye and he might turn to look.

In the moment he wishes desperately for his voice back. He hasn’t had it since he was a child, mouth probably doesn’t even remember how to form words anymore, but-

But if he could just yell, just get Gavin’s attention so he can save his damn life because he’s too far to run and stop him before he’ll open the door and his brain is running on too much adrenaline to remember that he could clap his hands, could hit the glass window next to him or-

Gavin presses the key card against the lock. Green light. Go.

He’s shot before he can even get the door fully open, body tumbling backwards like a doll being tossed onto the floor. Luckily, the door closes with him and Ryan’s bolting to catch up to him, picking him up bridal style and holding him tight against his chest as he turns heal and sprints in the other direction.

They knew.

They fucking knew.

Deciding the fact that their crew having a fucking mole is something he’ll be pissed about later, he instead focuses all his energy on slowing his brain down enough that he can remember the layout like before, remember what hallways go where so he can find an alternate exit because he knows that this crew isn’t stupid enough to leave the way they came in clear. There’s probably a dozen guards already waiting.

He can’t even let the rest of the crew know what’s going on; he doesn’t have a comm (for obvious reasons) and Gavin’s got lost somewhere in the chaos. They’re completely alone, no way to ask for help now.

Gavin’s practically limp against him, barely clutching onto him with trembling fingers as his eyes look around blankly like a drunk person’s. He’s gulping air like a fish out of water, rasping and coughing, blood dribbling out of his gaping mouth and rolling down his neck.

It’s not a pretty sight.

Ryan’s seen worse in all his years, sure, but nothing could compare to seeing Gavin with a bullet in both his shoulder and his gut.

They’re lucky he only got tagged twice, fuck.

It could have been so much worse. It could have been so much worse, but it also could have been avoided completely, if he had have just been able to warn him-

“Ryan,” Gavin rasps out, his eyes starting to focus more as the shock wears off a little, “Ryan, go through that door on the right.”

He follows without thinking (though perhaps he should have taken a moment to think twice about it considering the fact that Gavin looks ready to pass out), the door opening up to what looks like a break room. It’s small, with a tiny kitchen stuffed into the corner and a few shitty little tables scattered about.

It’s a dead end, they’re trapped.

He purses his lips and glares down at Gavin accusingly since he can’t really use his hands now, though he’s not sure if that even comes across through his skull mask.

“Yeah, yeah, you’re thinking I’m an idiot now, aren’t you?” Gavin laughs weakly, reaching up with a bloodied hand to give the side of his mask a couple of patronising taps, “but even when I’m shot I’m bloody brilliant; I might’ve just saved your life.”

Ryan looks down at him questioningly, then turns his gaze to the room. There really is nothing special in here; a fridge, a sink, some countertops with a microwave sitting on top, a few cabinets and a vending machine—nothing they can use!

He’s about to drop him on the ground out of pure spite when Gavin rolls his eyes, grabs his chin through the mask and tilts it upwards.

There, up on the wall right above the fridge, is an air vent.

He looks down at Gavin incredulously like he’s the biggest moron alive, deciding to set him down in one of the chairs so he can actually talk.

‘Are you an idiot? This isn’t like in the movies, Gav! There’s no way we’ll fit in there!’

“Relax,” Gavin says, holding onto his side as he slumps down in the chair, “don’t you remember what I said? This is an old building, industrial. Used to be a factory decades ago and they’re still in the middle of renovating. That means the vents are bigger, they needed them to be to pump out all the fumes right? Might be tight but you can do it.”

Ryan looks over at the vent. It is quite big, but big enough to fit a person? Let alone someone as big and bulky as he is? No.

He loves Gavin dearly, but he really does want to strangle the lights out of him right now for being this stupid.

“So you go, I’ll hold them off as long as I can, it’ll be impossible to take me with you in there-” Ryan cuts Gavin off as he’s pulling his pistol from his boot, grabbing his wrist and kneeling so Gavin is looking at his eyes through the mask.

‘I won’t fit. Won’t leave you either. We’re just going to have to fight our way out. Might be harder now since we’re stuck in here and they’re probably already surrounding us-’ Ryan signs, pausing as they hear sets of boots running past the door, ‘but I trust you to cover me. We’ll get out of this.’

“Ryan, just go! I’m already shot, I’m just dead weight to you now so stop being a prick and just-”

Ryan huffs, stomping over to the fridge, climbing up onto the countertop and reaching up to yank the cover from the vent. He tries to crawl in just a little, pushing against the fridge and trying to shove his shoulders through the gap, but no use. Like he’d thought, it’s way too small.

‘See?’ He signs as he climbs back down, returning to Gavin.

“Oh,” he says softly, “I really thought it’d be big enough… And this vent leads right outside near the gate, too! It would have been perfect. God, I’m so sorry Ryan, I’m such an idiot. I didn’t save you, I’ve doomed us both!”

Ryan sighs and kneels back down in front of Gavin, cupping a hand to his cheek for a moment. When he pulls it back, it leaves a trail of Gavin’s own blood on his face.

‘It’s alright, maybe those guys we heard run by earlier came from the entry. We might be able to double back and go out the way we came, now. Or we’ll just have to fight our way out. Either way, I’ll make sure we get back home.’

Gavin takes a moment, then nods shakily, resting his gun against his thigh as Ryan hooks his arm underneath his knees and picks him up bridal style again.

They open the door quietly, Ryan peeking his head and looking around down the hallway for any guards before deciding it’s clear and pushing ahead.

They hadn’t made it very far into the building, the set of stairs they came down only a few hundred yards away and their path seemingly clear for now as Ryan jogs in a beeline for the stairs.

“Here!” He hears a guy yell from the hallway next to them, any further yelling silenced with a shot from Gavin’s pistol. All it takes is that one yell, that one shot for everyone to know where they are. Ryan’s booking it as fast as he can, now, just hoping that Gavin can manage to still shoot with his signature golden gun shaking in his hands.

His eyes are starting to droop, now.

Pushing through the burn in his legs and his lungs, Ryan makes his way to the stairs, climbing up them two at a time as Gavin starts to slump more and more in his arms, the gun in his hands starting to slip a little.

Come on, come on, he thinks, just a little longer, just a little longer…

They burst through the entry door at the top of the stairs, making it out onto the concrete courtyard before Ryan hears the familiar whirring of helicopter blades.

He looks up expecting the worst, expecting this shitty fucking crew to have had another surprise hidden up their sleeve as a helicopter starts to dip down towards the compound. Then he sees their logo.

He’s never felt so much relief as when he sees that familiar, stupid duck painting onto the side of the FAHC’s very own private helicopter; it’s possibly only rivalled by the relief he feels at seeing their entire crew out in force.

Jack’s piloting as usual, Michael and Jeremy hanging out from the side and firing bullets at the guards flooding up from downstairs, Fiona and Matt he can see doing the same from the other side, and Geoff hanging from a rope ladder, extending his hand down to Ryan as Jack lowers the helicopter enough to reach him.

“I’ve got you, we’ve got you.” Geoff yells over the whirring of the blades, yanking on Ryan’s jacket and holding him close as tightly as he can as he climbs onto the ladder. It’s an awkward task, what with Gavin in his arms, but eventually he manages to cling on and keep Gavin tight against his chest, Geoff climbing up above them until he’s back in the helicopter.

They pull the ladder back up slowly, Jack quickly veering the helicopter away from the complex as bullets fly all around them, some nicking the side and some whizzing just below the rotors, barely missing them all.

Eventually they’re pulled up into the helicopter as well, Ryan cushioning Gavin from the fall as they flop onto the floor. He doesn’t even need to look at him to know that he’s passed out by now.

In fact he doesn’t want to look at him, knowing that all he’ll see is an all-too-pale face and copious amounts of blood covering them both. Instead he sits up, presses his back against the door that Michael’s just shut behind him and holds Gavin tightly in his lap.

They made it.

“We heard shots going off through Gav’s comm, came as soon as we could.” Jeremy says as Geoff moves back to his seat in the front and everyone starts buckling back in again, looking over at Ryan and Gavin with worry, “You alright?

Ryan takes a shuddering breath, peeling his hands off Gavin’s back carefully and wincing when they come back sticky with blood.

“No,” he signs, hands shaking, “No, I’m not.”

Ok this is done aa, thank you for this lovely ask!!

Oh and just as an end note: this absolutely never happens again. After this Gavin helps make Ryan a new comm that he can use different commands with to say different things when he can’t get the attention of the others and he needs to say something to them. It’s very limited but it’s basically just so they know to look at him/can be warned/can be given answers to questions when Ryan has to break off from the rest of the guys during a heist gone wrong or something

Gavin probably spends WEEKS on it non-stop after seeing how upset and guilty Ryan feels at not being able to warn him.

[tea-and-cardigans]

Broken Machine - Hacy - Harry x Macy

Read on Ao3

Summary: Post Episode 2x10. (Harry POV) An alternative version of how the events of episode 2x10 could have gone. Harry leaves the command centre, frustrated, angry and has an invite from Abigael waiting for him. But there is something holding him back.

 Harry braced himself against the door to the command centre as it slammed closed behind him. His body felt as though it was on fire. There was a rage that was building inside of him with nowhere to go. It had been happening more and more frequently and he had continued to try to ignore it.

 He could feel it burning through him when he threw Ray against the wall of the hotel room. A rage burning through him that there were another demon playing games with them. And then when it had turned out to be their actual father, and that he had stolen from a dead woman the rage had built up again.

 There was usually something holding him back, but it was like the lid had been let off and there was nothing to keep this rage in check.

 He could feel it building again when he had seen Macy with that billionaire, laughing, happy. The happiest he had seen her in weeks. And he knew that she deserved this, she deserved to be this happy, but there was that resentment that it wasn’t him that she was smiling at, that made her feel happy and wanted, but some stranger.

 His hand clasped in a fist by his side, released when Mel, pulled on his arm, pulling him out of his own thoughts and back to the matter at hand.

 It wasn’t a date she told him, but he knew better. He could see the way her face lighted up when she looked at the messages on her phone.

 He hadn’t lied to her when he told her that kissing Abigael was ‘a moment’ but nothing more. It felt almost like it was another person who had been down in that library with her. Who had her fingers running against his scalp, lips moving against his own. It felt like a dream.

 Was Abigael what he deserved. A poor copy of what he truly desired. Someone that he could pour all his feeling into, knowing that she would never be enough., not even close.

 He sighed, looking back at the door, wondering whether it was too late to go back inside. But something stopped him. He looked down at his phone, a text from Abigael that had been there for hours unanswered, an invitation, back to her apartment.

 He concentrated on his destination feeling the environment around him start to dissipate as his body was pulled through space. His body jolted as his feet landed on solid ground and he took in his surroundings.

 It was a quiet night, quieter than it usually was. He moved to the bar, signalling to the bartender for a pint of ale, before taking a seat at the bar. He rested his elbows against the bar, his head falling into his hands.

 He felt as though he was starting to lose himself. Something had changed since they had come to Seattle, whether it was the Darklighter, the revelations found in the Book of Elders or something else entirely there was something that didn’t feel right. He had found comfort in the familiar feelings that he had for Macy a remaining constant, something that he could be sure of in this constant state of change.

 “You look like you just got dumped mate,” came the gruff voice of the bartender from behind the bar, as the glass was placed in front of him. He recognised the accent as of the lower class of London, a little too like his doppelganger for his liking.

 “Something like that,” he answered, eyes focused on the frothy liquid in front of him as he took a sip.

 “We get a lot of that in here,” the man answered with a chuckle, before returning to the other patrons of the bar.

 He finished his drink and considered ordering another before deciding against it. Alcohol had the tendency to make his orbing a little wonky and paired with his current state of emotions he could end up anywhere and he did not want to have to send the inevitable text to Mel or Maggie to come and portal to rescue him from his own drunken stupor.

 He looked down at his phone again the message from Abigael remained unanswered, and now had a companion, yet another request for him to come to her and he couldn’t deny that he felt the pull. Deep in his gut. Until Macy’s words resonated within him again. ‘She’s dangerous, Harry. I don’t want you getting hurt.’

 At first, he had thought that perhaps while Macy didn’t want him she didn’t want anyone else to either, but that wasn’t Macy. She had only ever wanted the best for the ones that she loved. He should count himself lucky to be one of those people.

 He put the phone back in his pocket and left the bar, making his way to the alleyway where he could orb without risk of being seen. He appeared back at Safe Space, the office building largely quiet now, except for a few stragglers and he felt some concern about the apparent lack of security that was so plainly absent from the large building. He made he way back to the command centre, slightly relieved to find it empty.

 One blessing since Abigael had taken over as overlord was the dramatic decline in witches in danger, meaning that the vigilance with the map had given way, allowing them to focus their efforts on more pressing matters and looking at the bigger picture. Such as his darklighter’s return, and where Ray was giving all these artefacts to.

 “Harry?” A confused voice called out to him as he turned to see Macy entering from the library, a cup of tea in hand, as well as a book of spells.

 “Macy, I thought you would have-” he was sure that she wouldn’t still be here, that she would have taken the opportunity to go to him. Him and the simplicity that he represented. Whether she would maintain the pretence when she returned about simply ‘distracting’ him.

 “I was going to,” she tells him, placing her cup and book on the table, near the portal and map console.

 There was a thudding in his chest, those emotions and feelings starting to become dominating and powerful. The jealousy rising up in him that she had considered going to him.

 “I wanted to, but something held me back.” She looked up at him, her eyes soft, where he had expected to find a harshness that he deserved, that he had earnt. “You know, you told me that I know how you feel about me,” she said softly, her eyes avoiding his gaze as she looked down, deep breath in before they met his again. “But I have no idea.”

 Her words hit him like a freight train. How could she not? He had worshipped the ground that she walked on, seizing on every moment that allowed him a contact that was beyond what he should, she had even read it in his own mind while consumed by the raw power of the source.

 “You’ve never told me, Harry. How you feel. The only evidence I have ever had of your feelings is you kissing another woman. Someone we don’t trust, that is dangerous, someone who could very well get us killed.” Her head dropped again, “Could get you killed.”

 She shook her head before looking up again, and he could see that she was waiting for him to say something. Those words that had been swirling around in his mind for so long now they had almost become a part of him. She was waiting for him because she was right he hadn’t told her. Hadn’t let loose all those emotions and words that could never even come close to describing what he felt for her. He couldn’t even pinpoint where they had started, whether it had been when he had first accompanied to Galvin’s party, when he was trapped with her in that damn television show, or when he had seen her accept a part of herself that she was terrified of but had the strength to confront it.

 His hand reaches out for hers, his thumb tracing over her knuckles, finding comfort in the warmth of her skin, acutely aware of how distant they have been lately, and how much he has missed the simple touch of her skin against his own.

 “Macy, I care,” he took a deep breath, the words feeling caught in his throat. Even now as she looks up at him expectantly he can’t help the nagging self-doubt that he isn’t good enough for her, that he will never be the man she so deserves. “I care deeply about you. More than I should. More than a friend, or a confidante.”

 He feels her hand tighten around his own as he says the words he has been holding in for so long, worried about how they would be received, that she would be horrified, that she might pity him, reject him, move on to something better and whole.

 “Harry, I have been confused for so long,” she admits, her other hand reaching for his, fingers running across his palm before intertwining with his own. “I was scared, that these,” she pauses and he can see it now the fear in her eyes. That the confessions to each other could turn everything upside down, that there could be so much more to risk. His hand moves to her shoulder, as it has so many times before. His thumb running over the material of her jumper, and instead of turning away, creating distance between them, she leans into his touch.

 “These feelings could change everything between us, and the thought, the simple thought that you might not return them. It was easier, to pretend that they could go somewhere else. That I could feel them for someone easier, less risky, but it didn’t work, because they were less.”

 Her hand moved from his hand, up his forearm, leaving a blazing trail in its wake, and he is captivated. Her fingers move tentatively, brushing against his cheek as if she is testing herself, or him. He’s not sure but it feels more intimate than he could ever have imagined.

 “I thought,”

 “I know, and perhaps I should have said something, but-”

 “Then you saw me. With-”

 “Her,” her hand leaves his cheek and he misses the feel of her palm, the warmth of her skin as he can see her retreating inside herself again. That this could be another moment lost.

 “I didn’t lie, Macy, it was a moment, I, I was an idiot. A scared idiot.” He moves his hand to her waist, memorising each touch just in case he manages to screw this up royally and this is as close as he ever comes.

 Her eyes flit to where his hand rests, and he wonders if her heart is beating just as furiously as his is at the contact.

 “I want you,” he whispers, his other hand moving from her shoulder, where it has continued to trace patterns against the soft material of her jumper, to cup her face. “Only you.”

 Macy is the one to take the final leap, her lips brushing gently against his as she leans into him. A touch so brief it could be barely be called a kiss, but if that was all it ever was he would be grateful for it, have it etched into his memories for a lifetime. But it wouldn’t be enough.

 This is further confirmed when she presses her lips against his again with more pressure, more urgency, and he grips onto her. Sinking everything he had and had been holding onto into the kiss. The rage inside that has been for so long just bubbling under the surface is sated, retreating away from the light that she offers.

 They break apart, and Harry can’t resist, brushing his lips against hers, the temptation to feel the softness of her lips once more too strong to fight against. He doesn’t think now whether it will ever be enough. A smile breaks across her lips, as her arms wrap around him and he feels the overwhelming sensation that this is exactly where he should be.

 And that those messages on his phone will forever remain unanswered.

[concealeddarkness13]

A New Dawn Part 1

So, I recently came up with a thief character named Kai who has memory issues and a snarky attitude (here’s the post for the powerpoint to explain more about her and her world). I thought about how similar Kai and Rat (from @ratracechronicler‘s Rat Race Chronicles) are, so we decided to have a collaboration where Kai comes to Rat’s world. Here’s the first part! (You should totally also check out @ratracechronicler‘s first two books in the series: My Name is Criminal and My Name is Runaway; they’re awesome books: the story is awesome, the characters are fun, and there is so much awesome worldbuilding!) Also, tagging: @nightskywriter, if you’re interested in reading this?

I glanced over the book that was supposed to have info about the apocalypse that happened so long ago. For what seemed to be the millionth time. And it wasn’t like my glare could make the words become understandable. I had stolen so many alien language translation books, but none of them had any similarity to whatever this language was. I was still nowhere closer to learning more about it.

I flopped back on the ground and stared up at the ceiling, with music blasting in my ears. Who was I even kidding? There were too many people on this planet. I would never find my family. And why did I think that my memory loss and their disappearance from my life had anything to do with the fabled apocalypse and its consequences? I should just give up and settle down in some town, so at least I wouldn’t be so alone.

I blinked, and the building and everything around me vanished. I scrambled up on my feet and stared. Pure white buildings all around me, and people brushing past me, like they didn’t even notice me. And all the machines. Machines above me, all around me. Mechanical eyes watching me. I could barely see anything besides the machines. And…there were machines inside people’s brains. Like me. How? Where was I? I couldn’t be on my planet anymore. No one knew how to put machinery inside people.

To take my mind off all the questions, I forced myself to focus and walk against the flow of the crowd, quietly stealing from everyone I brushed past. They seemed exceptionally oblivious, so it was child’s play. But it helped me push aside the jumble of thoughts, at least.

Once I had finally calmed my racing heart, I pushed out of the crowd and down a side street with a lot less people. No one even gave me a second glance as I pulled up my hood and grabbed out the phone Taeo had given me years ago.

I pulled up Taeo’s number and tried to call him, but the stupid machine just said that it couldn’t get through. I frowned and stared at it. Nothing seemed to be wrong, so I really had to be on a different planet. Crap.

I slunk low and hid around the corner of one of the houses when I heard people talking up ahead. Everyone else around me had been eerily quiet, so those people who were talking must be special.

“Don’t worry, Eli, we’ll head out soon enough. I just have a few more things to finish up before we leave. Got to get some more supplies.”

“Fine.” I frowned as something lit up in my vision. The machines were strangely shaped as a human, but it wasn’t completely a robot. There was no way those machines could support a full robot, and anyway, some of those machines were doing things that weren’t needed unless they were supporting a human. What in the world?

Eli kept talking. “I just can’t wait to see more of Tersatellus. And I want to see how everyone’s doing. I know Vastate told the discipline ops to calm down, but I’m worried. You know how the others are…”

The first person laughed. “You mean how we are. Remember, you’re talking to a hardened criminal.”

I held my breath as they started to walk past my flimsy hiding spot. Maybe I could actually tail them and figure out more about where I was. But I couldn’t stop my gasp. Eli was the one who had all the machinery, and I couldn’t even see what he really looked like. All I could see was the machinery lighting up in my vision. However it had happened, the machines were working perfectly. It had been an expert job. Maybe I could even ask him how he had gotten those machines.

Eli turned his head toward me, and I shook my head and tried to dive for extra cover, but I had been too slow. Crap. I shouldn’t have let my curiosity distract me.

But they didn’t stop. I frowned and snuck after them. Either they knew about me or Eli hadn’t seen me, but I had to take the chance. If it meant that I would figure out more about this place…

I only got a little ways before the woman whipped around, and I turned away as quickly as I could, hunched over, hands in my pockets. Crap.

“Hey! Don’t you know it’s not polite to stare?” I turned around, and the woman was walking up to me. I backed up until I hit the wall and pulled out my knife. At least I had that with me still. If I tried to run, they’d just try to give chase, and Eli would most likely be able to catch up with all that machinery. I was trapped.

The woman pulled out a pocket knife of her own with a smile. “Howdy! You’re a little far from Stillstone to be acting like that, aren’t you? Not gonna make any friends waving that around.” She glanced around, eyeing the people around us who weren’t even paying attention. “There’s a strict no-crime policy everywhere else in the city but Stillstone.”

Eli took a step forward. “I don’t think you’re helping too much, Rat. She’s scared, and she also looks confused.” He turned to me. “What happened? Are you okay?”

“How do you have so much machinery?” The words blurted out before I could think much about them.

They exchanged a glance, and Rat turned back to me, her smile turning sharper. “Okay, sister, you just revoked your right to ask questions. Who are you?”

I stood up straighter, even though I stayed crouched a little, instinctively making myself look smaller, less of a threat. It wasn’t like I could run anyway. So, I might as well be truthful. “My name is Kai.” Rat winced a little at the name, and I frowned. “I have no idea where I am. One second, I was in my hideout in Valeria, and the next I’m in this crazy city with all the machines and even ones in people’s brains. How did that even happen? How did you figure it out? No one has been able to.” The words were just babbling out, my thoughts running too fast to stop it. “So, that must mean that this is another planet, where people are more technologically advanced. Are there any aliens on this one? What are those crazy machines above us? Why does everything around here always make me feel like someone’s watching me through a camera? What’s up with all the oblivious people?”

She lightly bumped the top of my head, and I shut up. What was I thinking? They probably thought I was insane. She glanced at Eli. “It’s so simple. Aliens. Rex was right all along.” I frowned, about to ask who Rex was when she turned back to me. “Okay. Let’s start at the beginning. Your name is Kai. And you have no idea what Tersatellus is?” I shook my head. “How about Earth?” I frowned and shook my head. She sighed. “How do you speak Boreas Vox, then?”

What was that? “Bor—what?”

“The language. We can understand each other. Your accent’s weird, but we speak the same language. How do you expect me to believe you’re from a different planet with that kind of evidence?”

Crap. How could I explain that? Before I could say anything, Eli turned to her. “Rat, I have an idea.” Rat glanced over at him, and he probably shifted on his feet. “…How do you know that I have machinery in me?”

That was easy to answer. I pointed at my brain. “I have a machine in my brain, and it points out machines to me. I’m the only one who has a machine inside me where I’m from.”

“Oh, makes sense, I guess…” I flinched at how sad he sounded. He glanced over at Rat. “Like you and Voxel mixed together.”

She snorted. “Our combined bodaciousness would rock the world.” She looked back at me. “And you’re trying to say that you’re from another planet? And we’re supposed to believe that?”

Before I could even try to think up an answer, Eli spoke up again. “But that’s what I’m thinking is maybe—do you remember what you were telling me Vastate told you about the First Order? How they had all that tech hundreds of years ago, and they’re so secretive, there’s no real way to know what else they did with it besides all the stuff to do with Tersatellus? What if they went to another planet? The ultimate isolation from the rest of Earth. They did terraforming, anyway. Maybe they even had pre-mainframes, and that’s…you know…”

Did he think that whoever this First Order was, was the reason I had something in my brain? Well, that could be true. I didn’t remember anything about what happened to get the machine in my brain. “I don’t blame you for not believing it. But I promise I have no idea about this Tersatellus or anything about your world.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Wow. Okay. Know what? All good. You’re from another planet, Kai. Splendid. I’m from a country that totally legalized all crime all the time in an area a few square kilometers, permitted you don’t do any crimes in the rest of the city, i.e. this one, because if you do, then the law comes down on not just you, but the illegal zone, called Stillstone, so let’s put the knives away before people get suspicious and the real bruisers show up.”

I hesitated, but they didn’t seem like a threat right now, so I put my knife away. Rat put her knife away as well with a grin. “Anyway, I got a beautiful idea. You’re gonna love it. Tell you what. Unlike the other Kai I know, you haven’t tried to kill me within five minutes of meeting me, so you’re coming with us. If you are from another planet or timeline or reality, you can learn the area a little. I happened to be giving a tour, anyway. Unless you were looking for something more, y’know, private.” She lowered her voice for the last part and eyed Eli suggestively.

Ugh. I rolled my eyes as Eli stuttered. “Gosh.”

Rat turned back to me, and I tried to hide my exasperation. “And if you are from around here but you’ve got your memory mixed up—and trust me, you wouldn’t be the first—showing you around should maybe help you find something to jog your ol’ brain lobes.” I winced, and she paused, staring at me. She didn’t trust me. “So, what do you say?” She gestured me forward with a grin. I started walking forward, still eyeing her, and as I passed her, she tried to slip her hand into one of my pockets. But I snatched her hand and held it tight.

She pulled her hand back with a smirk. “So, you’re pretty good then. I might actually come to like you. I might even forgive you for what you said about my partner in crime. But did you steal anything?”

I nodded and pulled out the trinkets I had stolen. I had only done it to calm my thoughts anyway. I didn’t actually need them. Rat whistled. “Not bad, kid. But no more. We’re only safe here because we keep the crime to Stillstone. We’re dead if you get caught with that. So, drop them.” As I dropped the trinkets and pulled out the rest I had stolen, she turned to Eli. “Are you sure you’re okay with a tagalong?”

I watched as he nodded. “Yeah. I’d love to have someone else along. It’s just…”

I jumped when Rat turned back to me, watching me with dark eyes. Was I not supposed to be watching? She sighed. “Do you even realize what you said?”

I frowned and thought back. What was she even talking about? I had already said a lot of stupid stuff. I cocked my head. “At what point?”

She rolled her eyes. “Ugh. You literally pointed out his machinery as the first thing you said to him. You don’t think that’s wrong? You hurt him!”

I flinched and looked over at Eli. “I…I’m sorry. It just blurted out. I didn’t mean for that to be the first thing I said. It was wrong.” If only I could even see his expressions. I didn’t know what he was thinking.

He shook his head. “No, it’s fine—”

Rat nudged him in the chest. “Is it really fine?”

He sighed. “I accept your apology. Thank you.” He paused and continued. “I mean, I understand why you would be curious, if the people on your planet really don’t have any machines in them. Here, it’s a little more normal, but I’m still an anomaly. I was…technically dead for seventeen years, but my brother was able to bring me back to life. That involved a lot of machinery, but all I want is for people to see me as human. That’s why what you said was a little, um, startling.”

I nodded. I was going to try my hardest, even though I couldn’t see any of his human parts. He was a nice person.

Rat nodded with a smile. “Now that that’s all sorted, we just need to get a few more things, and we can head out.” She started walking, and Eli walked beside her, while I trailed behind. I didn’t want to bother them.

But I had some questions. “So, we’ll be travelling around?”

She nodded. “We need to check up on some friends.”

Perfect. I’d love to learn more about this place. “And I’m allowed to go with you?”

She laughed. “Of course. I’ve got to keep my eyes on you.” She sighed and glanced back at Eli. “So, I guess we should start with Zenith.” He nodded. “Zenith…the home of the HQ buildings, where the government is seated. The biggest, most impressive city in Tersatellus. There was an earthquake recently, and a few buildings were knocked down, but they’ve bounced back from that. It helped that we celebrated the New Year recently. Everyone’s spirits are still high from those festivities. Now, there’s a community of criminals who are safe from discipline ops within Zenith’s borders, called Stillstone, so that’s where we live, since we’re totally criminals. Those “crazy machines” up there harness this thing called liquid lightning that powers all our machines. And that dark mass in the distance?” She pointed at a massive shadow looming over all of us. “That’s the Divide. It’s a wall that keeps us isolated from the rest of the world. And that’s about all you need to know about Zenith.”

If she talked to me again, I didn’t even hear her. We were back walking among all the other people, and I had to look around. All those people with machines in their brains. They seemed so oblivious. And some people, the ones who were more aware than the others, had machines in their eyes. Whenever their eyes passed over me, that mechanical gaze pushed down more on me. Those were probably the people looking for crime.

It was just so bright and crowded and huge. Cities back on my planet were impressive, but nothing close to the scale of this city. Buildings loomed over me, higher than I had ever seen. I couldn’t imagine living in a city like this. I felt crowded and completely invisible at the same time.

Rat whistled, and I looked over at her with a grunt. She was holding hands with Eli, and he was looking back at me as well. “I understand that there’s probably a lot to stare at, but I didn’t bring you along to just stare. What’s your planet, or whatever you want to call it, like?”

She didn’t believe me, but all I could tell was the truth. “Not as impressive as this. The city buildings don’t reach nearly as high, and no one knows how to put machinery into people, so I’m an anomaly. Aliens also live there, and I’ve learned about other planets, but not yours. The places I’ve been to have all been part of a desert, so they were dusty and dry, but the sand is all different colors. And the sunsets are beautiful.” A smile tugged at my lips, but I pushed it back. “I want to see the whole world.”

She nodded. “Sounds like nothing I’ve heard of. You could always be from beyond the wall, but it would be way too difficult for you to get here for you to just pretend that you just appeared here.” She frowned. “So, why do you want to see the world? Is it just because you’re curious?”

I shook my head. I had never admitted this to anyone, but there was no reason to not be truthful. “I am curious, but that’s not all of it. I…I lost my memory of before I was sixteen. I have no idea who my family is, and I have no idea what happened to separate me from them. I want to meet them, even though I know I have barely any chance of finding them. I have no clues or anything.”

Multiple emotions passed through her eyes before I could identify them, and she turned back to the front. “Can’t fault a goal like that.” She stopped at a shop and picked up some extra food and held up a thin machine that had multiple functions, such as transferring money. “This is a beacon, by the way. Do you have something like this in your pockets?” I shook my head, and she nodded. We kept walking. “So, you steal for a living?”

I nodded. “And I’m also trying to get enough money to keep moving around. What about you?” She had almost moved too fast for me to stop her when she had tried to steal from me, so she had to be good too.

“I used to, but I’ve been trying to straighten up, at least when I’m in Zenith.” She grinned over at me. “But outside Zenith, we can steal what we want.”

I let the smile come to my lips this time. At least I could do something familiar in this place.

We gathered a few more supplies, like fuel, and Rat and Eli led me to a sleek car that was parked a ways away. I slid in the backseat as Rat and Eli got into the front, and Rat looked back at me with a grin. “Next stop, Pike!”

[namjoon-koya]

Falling part 2

A/N: I had to change somethings about this but I hope you like it!! Also I used google translate for the Romanian and Russian so I don’t know if they’re 100% accurate! Sorry

Summary: instead of Bucky falling off the train, you were the one who had fallen and now you were in the hands of HYDRA until you escaped.

Pairing: Bucky x Reader

~~~~~~~~~~•

After you had found out that you knew Steve and Bucky you ran off away from HYDRA away from.. everyone, you didn’t want to be controlled anymore.

What had HYDRA stolen from you? You had no memories about anything you ran off to Romania, it’s been two years since you pulled Bucky out of the water you leaned your head against the soft couch as you remembered everything.

After that you went to museum in DC and that’s where you found so many answers, you were known as Y/N Y/L/N you were a doctor during the world war but you also fought along side Bucky and Steve taking down any HYDRA bases with them.

You narrowed your eyes at the picture of yourself, you hated it that it wasn’t you anymore.. you looked so confident and proud but now you just felt lost you didn’t have anyone yes you had Bucky and Steve but you were too afraid to go to them.

You smiled at the elderly lady who handed you apples “mulțumesc.” You thanked her as you walked away suddenly you came to a stop, a radio was playing in the background as people listened “Regele Wakandei a fost recent ucis de greșelile soldatului de iarnă.”

No that can’t be right! You weren’t there you were here all this time.. you couldn’t believe what they were saying. You quickly ran off back to your apartment rushing up the stairs once you opened the door you couldn’t believe who was there.

Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers the men who you fought aside with you were inside your living room you gulped as they watched your every move, you gently put your bag filled with apples on the table.

“Do you know who I am?” Bucky was the one who spoke up first, you sighed putting your hands on your hips “u-uhm I’ve read about you in a museum..” he only studied your face as he nodded.

“I didn’t kill him, if that’s what your here for.” You teared your eyes from Bucky and looked at Steve “well people think you did and now they’re coming after you.” He was right you could already hear police sirens in the background.

You quickly start gathering your things in a small backpack you’ve been keeping, you put in your journal that you kept whatever you remembered you wrote down not wanting to forget them.

Suddenly something crashed through your window, you looked down “shit! Steve!” You kicked it at him he put his shield on top of it as it exploded wait.. did-did I really call out for Steve? He was looking at you with hope in his eyes.

You heard people rushing up the staircase of the apartment, you secured your backpack on your back you clenched and unclenched your fist ready to fight your way out.

“Y/N! This doesn’t have to end in a fight..” Bucky looked at you, God now you knew why past self fell in love with him his eyes shined in yours you wish you two could spend more time but for now you needed to get away “it always ends up in a fight.” You pulled away from him.

Suddenly the door came crashing in, the police were yelling at you to get onto your knees you pushed your way out knocking out anyone or anything that stood in your way.

“Seriously?” You saw Bucky hold a policemen from falling down you shrugged as you jumped down to the last few levels on the floor, you looked both down and up the hallway window! Might not be a smart idea but I’ll get outside faster! You thought as you took a couple steps backwards finally you ran full force through the window.

The glass shattered around you; you landed on the hard concrete floor you saw Bucky and Steve jump out the building as well Suddenly you heard a helicopter it was shooting at you.

“Shit! Y/N!” Steve ran towards you using his shield to protect you from the bullets “Sam! You need to take down that helicopter!” You raised your eyebrow at him not understanding who he was talking to.

You saw a man fly above of you guys “Y/N you need to go!” You nodded as you begin to run off, Suddenly someone stood in your way you titled your head to the side he was wearing a suit he looked somewhat like a cat.

“Murderer!” He yelled out to you as he made his way over to you before you could defend yourself bucky quickly tackled him throwing punches into him “GO Y/N!” You hesitated at first you didn’t want to leave him or Steve you shook you head as you start running.

You dodged cars that passed your way unfortunately the cat-man was catching up to you-you heard a roar of a motorcycle “jump on Y/N!” Bucky held out his hand to you; you grasped onto it as he pulled you onto the motorcycle you wrapped your arms around his waist.

“Dammit! He’s still on our trail!” You turned your head around to see the man still chasing after you “not gonna lie I’m impressed..” you could’ve sworn you heard Bucky let out a deep growl.

The man jumped he was inches close of grabbing onto you but Bucky quickly turned the motorcycle he grabbed onto him by his neck before he could touch you “B-Bucky!” You let out a scream as he lost control of the bike it sent the both of you tumbling off of it.

Bucky has wrapped his arms around you protectively finally you both came to halt, you let out a long sigh as you laid on top of him, you could hear his heartbeat against your cheek “you alright doll?”

Your eyes widen you remembered somewhat of him calling you doll back then, you nodded you heard police sirens coming closer and closer “Y/N! You need to get out of here!” He quickly got up helping you “too late..”

Police men came out with guns yelling at the both of you to stand down, you looked back and saw the man in the cat suit being restrained as well; so was Steve.

You saw one of the police men grab roughly onto Bucky you let out a snarl “let him go!” You felt guilty why did they have to be arrested? They didn’t do anything wrong.. Suddenly you heard a loud noise of metal slam onto the street you looked up and saw a machine coming towards you.

“I suggest you relax!.. congratulations cap, buck.. your fugitives.” You grunted as you were picked up and forced into a glass box you watched as Bucky looked at you sadly, you turned your gaze away.

————

You reminded quiet as someone was speaking to you, he kept asking you questions after questions you’d either reply saying “no.” Or “I don’t know.”

He held up a picture of Bucky, you turned your gaze at him “what does he mean to you?” You didn’t reply he cleared his throat as he put the picture down on the table.

“солдат?” Your eyes widen as you looked at him “don’t call me..” you growled out “я верну тебя тем, кем ты был солдатом..” you shook your head “please no.. I don’t want to be that anymore please..”

He pulled out a book, he opened it and started reading words you felt your body shiver you knew what it was “no.. please..” you whimpered out but he still continued reading the words that turned you into that.. monster as you always described it.

Finally he read the last words, your eyes became dilated you growled out as you began to rip out the restraints holding you down, the man only snickered happily “Y/N!”

Bucky busted through the door as he looked at you and then at the man “what’d you do to her?!” He only smiled “what I had to do.. ASSET!”

“готов подчиниться..” Bucky shook his head “please Y/N! Don’t!”

“...убей его.”

Kill him.

[bullagit]

Finn and Poe!

i am 100 years late but let me tell you i kept this and i absolutely LOVE finn and poe. platonic, romantic, whatever, i love them. and the fact that rian johnson apparently couldn’t write them on an adventure together without them sounding interchangeable speaks volumes for how shitty he must be at understanding the characters! but that is another can of worms!

like their contrasts have always super fascinated me, idk. now with a cut bc it got a little long

poe, born to rebellion war heroes who were loving and wonderful parents. hearing stories of all the heroism and the jedi and the force and hope from hopelessness. poe, who inherited that undying passion for doing the right thing, for democracy and free will, who left the new republic navy because he KNEW something was wrong out there and that he wouldn’t be able to fix it within a government determined to ignore it. who is terrified that his parents fought so hard for nothing in the end, desperately trying to maintain his faith and good will, a die-hard for the resistance’s cause before he even joined up.

and finn, who was stolen young and raised in a cold war machine modeled around finishing what the empire started. order over chaos, no freedom over a single choice he got to make in his LIFE. no family, no genuine understanding of what a family is, how it should feel, no other filter to turn on the galaxy but the first order’s dictations. finn who put it all on the line, terrified from start to finish, because he realized the first order was WRONG and he didn’t want to be used as their weapon to terrorize innocent people any longer. finn, who was raised to fight for a war he always knew was coming, and never had a choice about, raised to shoot at his given targets until they one day put him down for good, and to believe that it was worth it for the first order’s cause.

their backgrounds and basic beliefs at the start of tlj should have been interesting and fascinating to see rub against each other. because it’s true, finn didn’t leave the first order because he wanted to fight them. he just wanted to get away. he wanted to make his own choice and live free. he viewed the first order as– almost inevitable? like, unstoppable, the single most powerful and terrifying thing in the galaxy, because that’s the only filter he ever had. you’re with the first order or you’re destroyed. poe thought finn was down with the resistance and willing to sign up for the cause, because finn is a good person who saved him and helped them take down starkiller. finn thought he didn’t want to hop from one army right into another. finn thinks that he can’t make any real difference anyway, and poe has the history to know that one person can change everything– especially finn, because finn saving him set off a whole chain of events that led to tfa’s plot happening.

they’re both kind but angry, they both want to help someone in trouble right in front of them, they’re both impulsive. but where finn is more prone to trying to hold things in (not good at it usually, with his open book of a face), more analytical, driven by anxiety and practicality, poe is more prone to wearing his emotions right out on his sleeve, following his first thought without necessarily thinking through his options. 

and i just think there’s always been so much potential for them in terms of helping each other grow and balancing each other out. when either one of them gets going a little too far on a course of thought, the other is generally exactly the right kind of person to help reel them back in. which weirdly enough tlj sort of helped showcase? aka poe “so we blow that one up” meets finn’s “it’s a nice thought but no we need a plan” and then finn’s “i’m going to help luke skywalker pvp the first order bare-handed because i have no middle ground between uninvolved or trying to throw myself away for a cause” meets poe’s “okay no that’s a nice thought too but what he’s doing is helping us escape”. 

they come from very different places in terms of background, mentality, and their emotional defaults! in a way that could balance out really well given the right situations! and i care a lot about that! so damn if i didn’t see a finn and poe adventure in the TROS teaser and think we might get some good fucking food for once in that regard.

[ceffythesquirrel]

Post Apocalyptic Sander's Sides AU

Hello! This is inspired off of @sidespart amazing art of Logan and Robot!Roman. Check notes for navigation (Poor princey.) I'm sure @sidespart had a completely different idea when they were creating that art piece, so this is just my take. If they ever do anything more with that universe, just know that this is completely separate and...yeah. XD

Warnings: Lots of death mention (nothing graphic), minor character death, explosions, terrorist attacks, let me know if theres anything else!

Roman - Backstory

M29-Ro-man was created a couple years before the apocalypse by a robotics genius. The dude just took a bunch of parts from the scrap yard, cleaned them up, put him together, and programmed him to be Roman.

He was just sitting in his garage lifeless for the longest time because he was one of the few robots with emotions that existed and the creator didn't really want him stolen or known about yet. Also he was solar powered and any contact with the sun would bring him to life.

Decided to give him as a gift to a friend/Broadway star who needed a personal companion to rehearse lines with on a daily basis. Thus the robotics genius programmed Roman with everything a robot should probably not be programmed with. He had emotions, the ability to learn and gather information, and the ability to adapt through different situations and circumstances.

When the Broadway star received Roman he acted like a human with a metallic body and an off switch. He couldnt physically feel since he had no skin. The creator also mentioned to the Broadway star that he was a little too boisterous and wasnt sure how to fix it, but once meeting Roman, he didnt mind at all.

Roman instantly took to the theatre atmosphere. He was told what to do, how to help his human companion, and practice with him.

When Roman was not on duty, he was constantly watching Broadway show after Broadway show, acting them out on his own. He would always study the one his human was performing in to the T so he could help him get his lines accurate.

So they were both pretty good friends. Roman had never experienced that robots under humans rascism until way later. He experienced it when he got fitted for a prince outfit, because the Broadway star thought he'd like it, (which Roman very much did.)

Roman can also sword fight he found out. Not because he taught himself, but part of a fencing bot's mainframe was welded inside of him.

Roman believes all other robots are stupid after seeing none that act like him. He knew he was special and had a tendency to act like it.

It all changed when the first terrorist attack of WWIII happened. Of course it happened at Broadway. There was a bombing causing most of the building to collapse.

Lots of people died including his human Broadway star friend. But, Roman would never know what had happened to him. When the bomb exploded, the roof of the room he was in collapsed and debris switched Roman off rendering him useless for a couple of hours.

This is where he meets Logan.

Logan - Backstory

He was an average kid with an average family. He had no siblings and was often left to his own devices. Its not that he didn't try to make friends, its just he wasn't that good with social cues. Some say he may have been autistic, but no one knows for certain.

He has always loved robots growing up, and wanted to be someone who worked with robots. Unfortunately, the robot industry was already deep into the golden age and it was a very competitive field.

Giving up on that dream, he went with chemical engineering instead. He still had a heart for robots though, and would always watch them work whenever he could.

He was under the belief that robots should stay machines and not advance into anything else. So when he saw the world's first emotion robot he voted and protested against it with every fibre of his being.

He read the book "I am, Robot" (book about Robots taking over the world) so it makes sense why he didn't like the idea.

He graduated as valedictorian of his class and went on to become a theoretical chemist. Not what he had planned to do, but it was interesting nevertheless.

He was in a research group of 11 other scientists who were working to develop the world's first force field. It was when they succeeded that it all went to hell.

They were presenting their work at the world fair in New York when the bombing on broadway happened. It was utter chaos as other attacks ripped through the city and people ran for their lives.

Logan acted on impulse rushing people to safety while staying a safe distance with his colleagues, until an explosion split them apart.

Because one of the scientists had a feeling this was going to happen she made the other 11 make a plan b so their work wouldn't be stolen. Of the twelve, six split up the force field plans.

Logan was one of those six and was running with the three hard drives that contained all the equations for it. In his lab coat mind you, that he forgot would make him a target. So he was running from chopper fire and was able to hide behind a building and dive under rubble.

He had no idea where anyone was or if anyone was still alive since it seemed WI-Fi and internet was down all across the world. Even television was having problems.

He was shaking with fear as chaos continued to reign outside so he went further deep into the rubble to seek some sort of shelter if he could and wait out the storm.

He took a wrong step and fell a story into the exact room Roman was in.

He saw the unique looking robot, covered in debris and was more scared of it than anything. Maybe it was another trap or a bomb, but after it didnt move for awhile Logan's curiousity got the better of him and moved it out from under the pile and get a better look at it.

It was dressed like a prince, and had a sword. Some robot.

When Logan switched it on his life changed.

Hardship to Friendship

Basically the exchange went like this: Roman sprung to action with his sword. Logan shrieked and fell over from surprise. He was already scared of what was going on outside and this did not help. Roman called out Logan on his nerdy appearance and his so-called want to steal an amazing robot like him. "Over my dead body Isaac Snoopin'!" And Logan is just too terrified for any of this so he just faints.

Roman is more confused than anything, but the impact of a bomb over head tells him something is definitely wrong. His eyes widen as he remembers his human friend and is about to go find him, when the conscious he had developed told him he shouldn't leave the scientist behind no matter how much he wanted to. Especially if he was an enemy, and in sword fighting you never take your eyes off your enemy.

So he picked up Logan like a rag doll and began searching through the ruined structure for the stage.

It was a tragic scene when he got there however. No one was alive and he couldn't tell anyone apart it was that bad. Another bomb could be heard hitting the ground nearby. Roman had never felt this amount of sorrow before so he just kind of sat on the ground rocking with his knees to his chest with sadness not exactly sure how to process the emotion, since he couldn't cry.

Logan came around about an hour later and Roman was still repeatedly doing the same movements. When the prince-robot saw Logan begin to wake up he drew his sword at him.

"YOU DID THIS!" "Wh-what?! Me!?"

"Who else could have accomplished this feat but a scientist?! You murderer!" Logan began trying to explain that he's just one person and could never pull off something this massive.

As they argued, the ceiling of the room they were in began to collapse and they dove for cover in the nick of time.

Just cue the whole scene where they are running together for their lives through the crumbling hallways somewhat screaming, somewhat Roman yelling at Logan, and somewhat Logan getting frustrated at this almost human who is blaming him for the ruining of his theatre and death of his beloved friend. Logan was in the same predicament since he didnt know if anyone he knew was alive.

Logan does take it too far when he says "This is why your kind should never have emotions!"

Roman had a temper so he wasn't thinking when he took his sword and swiped it across Logan's face. Cue Roman realizing he is capable of hurting others and shrinking back. This is not the robot he wanted to be.

"I'm sorry. That was uncalled for." Logan was more suprised that the sword had only nicked him in the cheek and not got him in the throat or anything.

The place they are in begins to collapse right after that too and Logan shoves Roman out of the way with a "You're forgiven!" when the floor begins to crumble underneath them.

The rest of it is just them talking/ introducing themselves with just a little more civility and trying to find a way out of the building. They finally do, but it caves in. Roman helps push with Logan and finds out he is soooooo much stronger than a regular human. He clears the way so easily that Logan's actually jealous of the robot.

So now they are running through the city above ground away from the commotion and start their journey as fugitives in an apocalyptic world. Logan doesn't know why Roman is sticking with him and frankly Roman doesn't either, but the robot has no other place to go. Also Logan is a scientist and Roman is still suspicious that he wants to take him apart and study him. Which isn't completely wrong but Logan is more preoccupied with running for his life right now.

They first run to Logan's apartment a couple blocks down while the chaos is still happening around them. He grabs items from his house like he's evacuating and changes from his lab coat into more casual clothes, still keeping the hard drives with him.

Logan and Roman barely escape from the place before a bomb destroys the complex behind them. Logan gets tired quickly as they run through the traffic, since he didnt really work out. So Roman just picks him and his bags up with ease and sprints off with the speed of two cheetahs combined.

That was the story of how the two unlikely friends met. Logan eventually tries to contact his other colleagues only to find out that only three of them were left, not including himself. Each of them held a piece to the force field, but the blueprints of the actual structure were lost somewhere. Roman and Logan had parted ways for a little while so Logan could go meet up with the other scientists, but found out it was a trap just to get the three hard drives he had. His other colleagues were dead when he got there.

Roman had went to find his orginal creator, but there was no sign of him anywhere. So he returned to Logan and busted him out of the trap and they went on the run again.

From there on, the duo became inseparable even if they did seem like they were at odds half the time. They were soon joined by others who found sanctity and friendship within their tribe of misfits.

Emile Picani: The Ex Vice President of the fallen United States that everyone loved more than the actual president. He had signed a secret deal with the illuminati but when New York got attacked he said "Screw it" and ran.

Virgil: A 21-year-old boy with unexplainable psychic powers the government had locked up for experimentation. He's a techie and is good at technology and hacking stuff.

Patton: An alien disguised as a human who might have accidently contributed to Virgil's psychic powers. He loves everything about Earth, except the violence and bad stuff.

Remy: A defective clone who knew he was more than just a science experiment.

Nathaniel: An ex-security officer who just wants to survive the apocalypse and the people he's with sure seem to know what they are doing.

Thomas: An old friend of Logan's with the safe house they all camp out at sometimes. He is the one with all the money and supplies they need to stock up on.

There is so much more I could do for this AU. If you want me to do Patton and Virgil's meeting or backstories let me know. I'm sorry this got so long. I just love this AU now. Again credit to the artist who made that amazing piece sidespart and hope you all enjoy!

[agentmarymargaretskitz]

To Make Our Own Future

Happy Birthday @noradarhkpalmer!!!! Have some Darhkatom Timeless AU!

AO3

“You sure you can trust that book?”

Nora Darhk nodded her head and closed the journal. She had lost count of the times she had read over it since that night in the bar. There were things in there that she was going to have a hard time doing. But after a lifetime of being brainwashed, it was time to make things right. If things worked out, everything she’d do in the coming months would be worth it in the end.

Her fingers ran over the golden initials on the cover. RP.

              When Ray Palmer answered the door to the Homeland Security agent in the middle of the night, he did not realize that his life was going to change drastically. He had thought the most exciting point of his evening was having a beer with Sydney in the kitchen while lamenting being passed up on tenure and how he felt like he was letting their father down. David Palmer had encouraged his sons to live up to his legacy before the tumors had been discovered and Sydney left the hospital to take care of him in the last few months. That had left Ray to carry on the family legacy at the university’s history department.

“You can always quit and go somewhere where people want you,” Sydney suggested.

“Uh-uh,” Ray shook his head. “Dad built the department. There’s no way I can leave it after working towards this my entire life. I can’t just throw my future away like that.”

“Quit worrying about disappointing Dad,” Sydney said. “Grow a backbone and make your own future.”

The words were meant to be comforting. His brother’s advice always was given with a barbed edge. It was Sydney taking after their father, whose high expectations sometimes warred with loving his sons. But as inspirational as the words were, Ray still didn’t want to let people down.

Ray was checking on David and looking at the picture of the Palmer men at their high school graduation. His dad was asleep as he usually was when the doorbell rang. Ray had gotten up to answer the door and was told that he needed to come with the agent immediately. Sydney had tried to get the agent to spill what was happening, but to no avail. Ray agreed to go and promised Sydney he’d be back as soon as he could.

              They took him to Stein Industries and had him sit in a waiting room. A woman with dark hair split by a blond highlighted curl was lounging nearby. She seemed tired as she told him she didn’t know why she was here either. The next person who entered the room, Agent West, introduced the woman as Kendra Saunders, a soldier who belonged to some sort of special forces unit. Ray and Kendra were then brought to a conference room and the rest was explained.

“Nora Darhk,” Agent West explained, pulling up a photograph on the computer with a list of information beside it. “Former NSA asset until a few months ago. Now she’s wanted for killing her parents a year ago. This is the first we’ve heard of her since then.”

Agent West pulled up a security video. Ray watched as Nora climbed the ladder to some sort of massive orb, a gun brandished in her hand. She stared at the camera before climbing inside an opening. Moments later, the orb sucked itself out of existence.

“What…what was that?” Ray asked as Kendra frowned and leaned forward.

              Martin Stein, owner of Stein Industries, made his entrance then and explained to him and Kendra that time could be bent back into a loop to send someone back to an earlier point. He was actually talking about time travel and had made a time machine without telling the government. To be more accurate, two had been made and Nora Darhk had stolen one of them. Luckily, the prototype, the Lifeboat, was still around and could be used to go after Nora and figure out what her intentions were.

“We want you to travel to this date and figure out why he’s there,” Agent West said as the Lifeboat was lowered into place before their eyes. “May 6, 1937, and an address for a tavern in Manhattan. Mean anything to you, Dr. Palmer?”

“The Hindenburg,” Ray answered automatically. “So Nora actually went back there?”

“Yes, and if she changes history, time and reality change too,” Stein told him. “Dr. Palmer, we need you to help bring Ms. Darhk down.”

“Why me? There’s tons of other history professors out there?”

“You’re world class, one of the best,” Agent West said. “You know local customs, you can blend in, and you still know what the outcomes should be. But I would think someone who loves history so much would do anything to save it.”

“And you can’t tell me you’re not a little bit curious about how this works?” Kendra added with a grin.

Sydney’s words came back to him. Make your own future.

Ray sighed and nodded. “Let’s go save history.”

              A young engineer for SI named Jax was the pilot for him and Kendra back to the time period. After taking a few minutes to gape around in shock and awe that they were in the past, the newly formed trio began to make their way into town. Kendra and Jax had to wait outside after getting too much attention in the bar, leaving Ray to work on his own. However, Ray found journalist Joe Boardman leaving and they managed to get him to talk with them. Boardman had seen Nora from the picture they’d been given from the security footage and informed them that she had been in the bar dressed as a man. She’d volunteered for ground crew duty to help bring down the Hindenburg.

              Thanking Boardman, they hurried to the landing field. Ray managed to get people looking for Nora with the lie that she was an infected patient that needed to be returned to the hospital, but she was nowhere to be found. He was so focused on finding her that he didn’t notice the airship landing until he heard the applause. Confused, Ray looked and saw not a zeppelin bursting into flames, but whole with people exiting it unscathed.

Nora had changed history not to make the Hindenburg explode, but to land safely.

Ray turned around, looking for Kendra or Jax before spotting a flash of dark hair slipping into a hanger. He took off after it, which was probably stupid given he was unarmed and she was dangerous. As soon as he entered the hanger, someone grabbed him from behind and forced him down onto his knees. Nora Darhk was standing away from him with another woman.

“She wants to speak to you,” the deep voice said in his ear. “If you cause any trouble, I’ll shoot you.”

Ray nodded before he was hoisted to his feet. Suddenly the grip released and then a man fell down next to him. Nora’s eyes widened before she and the other woman took off running. Ray started to run after her until Jax shouted out his name. Spinning around, he saw the engineer limping towards him with Kendra, who had a gun.

“Did she hurt you?” Kendra asked as Jax shut the door of the hanger so no one saw the body. “Are you okay?”

“She didn’t hurt me,” Ray shook his head. “But she just changed history.”

              In the hanger, Jax found a radio on the man Kendra had shot and started working on trying to rewire it to get in touch with Nora. Ray managed to figure out that Nora had stopped the Hindenburg from blowing up by getting the ground crew to carry the ropes instead of dragging them through the mud. After Jax discovered the radio’s insides had been gutted and replaced with something else, Kendra realized that it was now the detonator of a bomb and that Nora was still likely planning to blow up the Hindenburg. She’d kept the paper they’d gotten earlier with Joe Boardman’s article and found out the Hindenburg was flying back to Europe with a new passenger list. Among them were key historical figures that Ray recognized and knew whose deaths would severely impact history in the coming years.

“She didn’t want to blow it up when it landed,” Ray murmured. “Nora’s going to blow it up when it leaves. Why is she doing this?”

“Her parents were involved in the government and she killed them,” Kendra reminded him. “Maybe she’s working to take out more people in government in the past to ruin the future?”

“There has to be something more to it though, right?” Ray asked them. “There’re got to be.”

“Not always,” Kendra shook her head.

Before Ray could respond, police were suddenly swarming the hanger, putting the three of them under arrest.

              Getting out of prison was not easy, but Jax managed to make a good enough speech about how the world would change that gave Kendra the time she needed to open the cell and take out the cops with their help. From there, they had to steal a car and drive back to the airfield and get back on the ship. They ran into Joe Boardman again, who nearly turned them in until they told him about the bomb. He then agreed to help them, admitting he’d seen Nora come from the kitchen. By the time they found it, the Hindenburg was back in the air.

              Kendra and Joe stayed behind to defuse the bomb while Ray and Jax headed to the cabin to get the airship turned around. Ray fabricated a lie that they belonged to the Anarchist Black Cross and that they would detonate a bomb on the ship unless it was turned around. Their strategy worked well and the ship began to land again. However, just as they were about to touch ground, an explosion rocked the cabin and Jax started pushing him towards an exit.

              The jump down to the ground wasn’t very far thankfully. As he picked himself up from the grass, Ray looked around him. People were on the ground, screaming out for help. Others were running from the flames. Some were disoriented, staring at the burning wreck. Officers were doing what they could. This was history that he was witnessing in its raw state. Watching it play out was even more horrific than he’d imagined when he’d studied it.

Ray did what he could to help people before Nora Darhk suddenly appeared in his path.

“You and I have to talk,” she said, the gun in her hand glinting in the light of the blazing Hindenburg. “I need you to understand who and what you’re dealing with.”

Ray took a step forward. “I’m trying to figure this all out, Nora. I can call you Nora, right?”

The corner of her lips quirked for a moment. “You can call me, Nora, Ray.”

“How do you know my name?”

“I’ve learned a lot about you,” she explained. “The woman you call your mother is dead. You believe that you’re meant to be a historian just like your father, except you never really wanted that. You wanted to be a scientist.”

Despite the heat from the flames, Ray felt cold. He’d only ever told Sydney that, and there was no way his brother was working with this woman.

“I know that because of this,” Nora held up a journal and opened it for him to see.

Ray looked down at the pages, reading his own handwriting discussing the moon landing. “I didn’t write that…”

“Maybe not yet,” Nora closed the book. “But one day you will. Trust me, Ray.”

“Trust you?” Ray turned to the wreckage behind them. “Where we’re standing right now…I’m not sure if I can. Why should I even believe you? You stole a time machine, you murdered your parents! If you give me one good reason, I’ll talk with you and try to figure this out.”

“I didn’t murder my parents,” Nora snapped. “It was Rittenhouse. They betrayed me and my family.”

Ray frowned. “What?”

“When you get back, ask them why they really chose you,” Nora said. “And ask them what Rittenhouse is.”

“Why can’t you tell me that now?”

“Because that’s not how you-”

Nora looked up sharply and spun him around. Once again, he was forced onto his knees as Nora pointed the gun at Kendra, whose own gun was aimed at Nora. The fugitive told the soldier that she wouldn’t be able to take the shot. When Kendra did, it hit Nora in the shoulder. Nora fired back, but Kendra ducked and the bullet hit Joe Boardman instead.

Ray and Kendra ran over to him while Nora made her escape. They tried to keep Joe alive, but the bullet was too deep, and Kendra watched the man who looked like her dead husband perish before her eyes.

              When they got back to present, history had indeed changed. According to Martin Stein and Agent West, the Hindenburg now exploded on May 7 in the early hours of the morning. Three members of the Anarchist Black Cross had bombed it and had never been brought to justice. Joe Boardman and one of Nora’s lackies had been the only two casualties. Nora was still at large.

“Why did you choose me?” he asked, remembering Nora’s words to him once he explained that he’d talked with her after the ship went down. “And does Rittenhouse mean anything to you?”

“I have no idea,” Agent West shook his head, and that was the end of that conversation.

              Nora’s time machine said she was in present day again, but they didn’t know where or why she was doing this. Ray put forth a theory that he’d been pondering. Establishments were so much more fragile in the past compared to the present. Take them out then and they wouldn’t be there now. She was effectively trying to rewrite history.

“It doesn’t make sense how she’d go from killing her parents to this,” Agent West sighed as he looked at Ray, Kendra, and Jax. “None of you are to speak a word about this to anyone outside this room. Ms. Darhk still has the Mothership. If she jumps again, we’ll call you in to go after her. Until then, go home and rest up.”

Ray nodded slowly, then went to go change into modern clothes and head home.

“Good news is you didn’t die,” Kuasa said as she snipped the thread from the last of the stitches. “Plus you have a scar now.”

Nora wordless nodded her thanks as the other woman left the room. Once she was gone, Nora got up from the chair and retrieved the journal from the pocket of the coat she’d been wearing. Cracking it open, she read over the next encounter she and Ray would have that he had written about in the book. Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, another horrible thing she’d have her hand in. If he didn’t already hate her after tonight, then he would after this one.

She didn’t understand how the entries changed the further she got into the book. There was a purpose to these despicable things, a good one. But as she did them on the opposite side of Ray, she didn’t understand how he would see her as anything else than a villain. If they were in each other’s places, that would be how she’d see him.

With a sigh, Nora flipped to the last pages of the book, coming across what she’d dubbed the impossible photograph. The one with her, Ray, and someone else.

She had seen that time could change and wondered if it would affect the photograph at some point.

              By the time he made it into the house, Ray was ready to pass out on the couch instead of walking up the stairs to his room. If Sydney wanted answers, then he would have to wait for them until the morning. Ray was way too tired to be answering anything right now. Besides, if he couldn’t tell his twin, then he’d need the night to concoct a good lie to satisfy him.

“Syd?” he yawned as he opened the door and walked inside. “I’m back!”

There was no response, so he tried again as he wandered towards the couch in the living room. “Sydney? Are you with Dad?”

“Hey, son.”

              Ray stiffened and turned towards the sound of the voice. His father was sitting on the other couch he’d intended to crash on, an open book in his hand. There were no breathing tubes, no IV attached to his arm. David Palmer looked perfectly healthy, not wasted away like he’d been when Ray left the house.

“Dad?” Ray breathed, feeling a spurt of alertness.

“What was all that yelling for when you came in?” David asked, standing up and going over to the teapot. “Want a cup?”

Ray was speechless. His dad was okay. His dad wasn’t sick.

“Ray,” David frowned at him as he poured himself a new cup of tea. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re okay.”

“Of course, I’m okay, you know that.”

Ray stepped forward and hugged his dad tightly for the first time in what felt like forever. When he’d been sick and frail, Ray had always felt so scared about crushing David. Now, he didn’t have to worry about that for once.

“Ray, what’s going on?” David asked, hugging him before pulling himself back. “Is something wrong?”

He shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. But I don’t get it…how did the Hindenburg do this? How are you okay now?”

“Ray, I’ve always been okay,” David shook his head. “You’re not making much sense though.”

“That doesn’t matter right now,” Ray grinned. “I’m really happy to see you, Dad.”

“Thanks, Ray. Did you bring that girl with you?”

Ray paused. “That girl?”

“Oh, you know I’m joking when I call her that. But is she around?”

“Uh…no, just me,” Ray covered quickly. “Where’s Sydney? Is he sleeping?”

Something flickered on David’s face before he frowned and shook his head again. “Raymond, you keep talking about this person. Who’s Sydney?”

All the air felt like it had gone out of his lungs. Ray searched his father’s face for any sign of amusement, but none was to be found. Not to mention that David was never prone to joking around very much as he had gotten older. A horrible feeling began to come over Ray as the unthinkable occurred to him.

“No,” Ray shook his head and backed up. “Sydney? This isn’t funny anymore!”

“Ray, hang on, what’s going on?”

He ignored his father as he caught sight of one of the photo frames. Ray bolted over to it and picked it up. Earlier that night, it had been him and Sydney at high school graduation with their father. Now it was just him and David.

But that was impossible. You couldn’t just erase a twin…could you?

Ray dropped the photograph back on the table like it had burned him. “This is wrong.”

“Ray, what are you talking about? I’m starting to get worried, son.”

Before Ray could answer, his phone started ringing. He’d never been so grateful for the distraction before. “Hello?”

“Dr. Palmer? We need you back here,” Agent West said on the other end. “The car’s turning around to pick you up. Ms. Darhk took out the Mothership again.”

“I’ll be ready. Where did she go?”

              Outside of the Palmer house, a young woman stood beside one of the lilac bushes in the backyard. She watched through the window as the younger of the two men inside grabbed a photograph before setting it back down quickly. He was arguing with the older man before picking up his phone to answer it. When he turned toward the window, she quickly moved to hide herself behind the leaves. Still, she could see the worry on his face shift into determination before hanging up.

              The woman peeked her head out of the bushes slightly, unable to stop herself from smiling a little. Ray Palmer was grabbing his coat inside and telling David Palmer that he’d have to go. He would be gone for hours, still chasing after Nora Darhk with Kendra Saunders and Jefferson Jackson. Soon, David would be out of the house. Once he was, she could sneak in and take the pictures of the documents that she needed.

Her parents would need the pictures of as many old Rittenhouse documents as they could get to fight the resurrected organization in her time.

[12freddofrogs]

An Episode of a Batfamily TV Show

 Hey, everyone. I’ve been writing out what I would do if I was the scriptwriter for a Batfam show, and this is an extract from ‘Season Two’, the Robin!Jason era. 

I have a much fuller fic on Ao3 here, which includes episodes detailing how Jason got the job, a bit of Dick’s jealousy and uncertainty how to treat his new little brother, Sheila Haywood’s story being refined to fit television structure, that incident in Ethiopia, several flashes of dramatic irony, and tiny book-nerd Jason who despises Alice In Wonderland, much to the annoyance of both Babs and Jervis Tetch. Plus this episode, which is far more readable on Ao3 than tumblr, especially if you’re on mobile.

Season Two, Episode Nine - Double 

In one episode, Two-Face robs a casino.

Complete with hostages.

Batman is on the other side of the city, already busy breaking up a kidnapping.

Robin had been halfway home from the patrol, excusing himself to finish a book report for class, when the call comes in.

He’s close, and isn’t so easily lured by homework that he’d ever ignore people in danger.

Robin goes in alone.

The casino is styled with one main room, complete with a stage and dining tables across the floor from the slot machines.

Two-Face is standing in front of the stage, gun hold high. The crowds are huddled up, most of them still collected at their tables.

His speech is interrupted by someone singing, the chosen song starting slow. 

He turns around to see the Boy Wonder on stage, stepping lightly around the stand-up comedian who is sitting hunched at the back of the stage.

Robin had picked up a microphone from somewhere and is taking full advantage. 

He doesn’t do his whole song — three minutes is a lot of screen-time. He finishes a verse, just long enough to get everyone’s attention, before taking a seat on the edge of the stage.

Two-Face is unimpressed.

“You’ll excuse me if I don’t applaud.” He points his gun.

“Well, if I end up punching you today, it’ll probably be for different reasons.”

“So you’re Robin number two.” Two-Face sneers. “Heard so much about you.”

“What makes you think I’m new?”

“Gonna claim that you got shorter?”

“Wouldn’t be the weirdest thing to happen in Gotham.” Robin drops the microphone with a remarkable lack of respect for other people’s equipment and bounces to his feet. The stage means he’s looking down on Two-Face as he grins. “Or maybe I just got new boots, either-or. You gonna come quietly, or do I get to kick your ass first?”

Two-Face does not come quietly.

“You know you’re not getting out of here,” Robin warns. “The GCPD has the building surrounded, and Batman is — well, it defies the point of a secret if I tell you where he is, but he’s very close. Let these people go.”

 “I’m not done yet.”

 Two-Face grabs a man from the crowd — young, couldn’t be older than his early twenties, a small child with the same hair colour sitting at the same table. He drags the hostage up in one quick movement, a gun suddenly pressed to the man’s temple.

 Immediately there’s a batarang in Robin’s hand. “Let him go!”

 “And why should I do that, Boy Wonder?” Two-Face grins, as much as he can manage with his scarred face. “You asked how I’m getting out of here, and this here is part of my plan.”

  The man whimpers, a beg on his lips before Two-Face tightens his grip. “Shut up.”

 “You want a hostage?” Robin says, not moving. His mask eyes remain trained on Two-Face. “Take me instead.”

 “What?”

“I’d be much more valuable if you’re trying to get leverage over Batman.”

Two-Face pulls out his coin.

He has to yank the hostage in closer to himself, wrap the man’s neck in the crook of his elbow while holding the gun so that he has a free hand. It’s the kind of trap that would potentially be possible to break free from, but no smart civilian would attempt it with a gun to their head.

Robin is still standing on the stage, batarang at the ready, as the coin flips.

“Fine,” Two-Face growls. Robin slowly lowers his hand. “But you’re not staying armed.”

Robin’s expression doesn’t change, but he tucks the batarang away.

“No. Leave the belt.”

His glare darkens.

“I said—” Two-Face presses the gun tighter to his hostage. “Drop the belt.”

“Fine.” It takes one moment to unbuckle it. Robin drops it on the stage, kicks it behind himself. Then he glances away from Two-Face to look at one of the stage managers cowering in the same area. “Don’t touch that. It’ll electrocute anyone who’s not me or Batman.”

“And your earbud. And I know you’ve got lockpicks in those gloves, loose them too.”

Robin obeys, dropping his comm unit on the stage. He takes off his gloves and tosses them towards his belt. “So you know, there’s a limit to how much I’m going to strip.”

Two-Face releases his hostage.

The man rushes back to the table where his family is sitting.

Robin steps off the stage, dropping a distance taller than him without wincing. “Let’s go.”

Two-Face raises the gun to him. Robin doesn’t blink.

The two of them walk away.

 “What exactly is your plan for getting past the cops?” Robin asks as he’s escorted downstairs. He’s careful with his bare hands, making sure not to leave fingerprints.

“Shut up.”

“What am I going to do with this information? You made me leave my earbud,” he protests as they enter the underground carpark. “Besides, hostages tend to notice how you travel.”

Several of Two-Face’s thugs are already downstairs, packing a van with stolen money.  “Uh, is that Robin?” one asks.

Robin glances at him, waves his fingers like a ghost. “Boo.”

“Kid’s the best hostage we’ll get ‘round here.” Two-Face reaches into the front seat of the van and tosses a pair of handcuffs. “Put these on.”

“Since you asked so nice.”

Robin cuffs himself. Two-Face gestures and one of the thugs tightens it, to the point he winces.  

They drive off.

Robin is startled to notice Two-Face had a car meticulously degraded so that exactly the left half is scratched.

“What do you think?”

“It’s… a lot.”

He’s impressed despite himself that it turns out to be a distraction. One of the henchmen crawls in behind the tinted windscreen. Two-Face promises they’ll meet up soon.

Two-Face gets behind a much more ordinary two-door car, forcing Robin into the passenger seat.

The car drives off.

The decoy car goes first, tearing out of the service entrance.

Two-Face’s actual car is waiting patiently behind as several cop cars chase after it.

"So did you hire a racer or was it always part of your plan that guy goes to jail?” Robin leans back in his chair, looking more like he’s at the movies then a hostage.

Two-Face grunts. “If Henry makes it back, he makes it back.”

“Oh. Chance. Right, your whole thing. Gotcha.” Robin rolls his eyes as the car continues out. “There’s still plenty of police out there.”

Despite his observation, the two waiting police cars don’t do anything to stop them, leaving Robin confused and Two-Face smug.

They escape into traffic.

Robin keeps up a steady stream of smart-ass commentary throughout the drive.

“How does Batman put up with you?”

“I’m a lot less of a brat when I’m not handcuffed.” Robin lifts his wrists. “Wanna give me the keys, let me prove it?”

“How bout I try a gag, instead?”

 “Ooh, are you going to stop driving and leave me unattended while you check the back?”

 At one point, while chatting, Robin’s cuffed hands slowly creep towards the handbrake.

Two-Face has his gun in his face before he can try anything. “Don’t.”

Robin’s face sours, but he pulls back.

Meanwhile, Batman has arrived at the casino.

The man Robin traded himself for is giving a statement, and is appropriately startled when a black shadow lands in front of him.

Batman hears the story again and immediately swoops off.

The World’s Greatest Detective is able to find out how and when Two-Face got away.

He accuses the cops who didn’t chase of being bribed, and judging by their reactions (one tries to run), was right. When they babble that they don’t know anything more about Two-Face’s plans, he throws them at Gordon and gets into the Batmobile.

Batman’s chase is interspersed with moments of Robin and Two-Face.

“So do you actually know where you’re going?” Robin comments as they zoom through traffic. “Cause you seem to be doing about three loops to get there.” He wiggles his fingers, all the more obnoxious with his wrists bound. “I could recalibrate your GPS for you if you’re too old to work out how.”

Two-Face is driving with a gun pinned in one hand between the wheel and his fingers. The free hand lets go of the wheel and digs in his pocket. Without saying a word or looking away from the road, he takes out his coin and flips it.

He glances at the result, and puts it away without any further action.

Robin shuts up.

Batman tracks down ‘Henry’, the decoy driver.

He’d already been caught by police, so it wasn’t hard.

Henry gives his information up very quickly about Two-Face’s rendezvous point.

The first sign of Two-Face’s plan going awry is when they run into a road block.

He veers violently to avoid them.

“That wasn’t suspicious,” Robin says brightly as the rogue starts searching for another route.

Two-Face is getting more annoyed, which isn’t helped when the Batmobile shows up.

Cue a car chase.

Two-Face is too distracted to notice when Robin slips off his seatbelt.

During a particularly sharp turn, one that Two-Face had to hit the brakes to make, Robin takes advantage and flings open the door. He rolls, landing on the edge of the sidewalk.

Two-Face curses, but doesn’t go back.

Batman is more willing to stop. Robin leaps into the Batmobile and the tyres screech off again.

Robin’s belt, gloves, and earbud are sitting on the chair. He starts working on removing his handcuffs almost immediately, even as Batman starts talking about how risky it was. The lecture is occasionally paused with a particularly sharp obstacle as they chase a supervillain.

They eventually catch him.

Two-Face is arrested, the thugs are similarly caught, and most of the cash is recovered.

Later in the Cave, Bruce and Jason talk.

The general gist is that what he did was reckless, but overall, Bruce is proud of him. “Don’t do that again, though.”

The episode finishes with Jason finally starting on that book report he should have done hours earlier.

Ao3: Here

Tumblr post for chapter one (also involving a hostage situation - specifically, billionaire’s child Dick Grayson, rather than in costume): Here

[purpleoffbeat]

Cyberella

This is the old story of an unfortunate girl, who was treated like a slave by her step-family.

This is also a new story, one that cannot happen yet, a future fairytale for those who believe in the power of science.

This is the story of Cyberella.

Names matter not, for in the future everyone is catalogued by a terrifying string of numbers and letters. You are not the name given to you, you are yet another citizen in this incredible metropolis, filled with several dozen story-high apartment complexes, only reasonably reached by vehicles that defy gravity, an old technology of flying transportation, now several decades old.

Most still live that old-fashioned way of life, being born to two doting parents, living their whole life in an apartment fit for a small family. An unfortunate few are destined to live forever in the outskirts of town, where technology doesn't seem to ever catch up, where things are just a bit more difficult, but it's the kind of living the city-dwellers pity for a minute, and then never do a thing about.

Then there's those rare few who happen to be lucky enough to live in those regular houses, an ancient way of life nearly obsolete, now something only the most wealthy can afford.

It doesn't really matter how it came to be; what truly matters is the present. How a poor girl was unfortunate to lose both her parents and become the resident housekeeper (and metaphorical doormat) was nothing but another passing thought; the more pressing matter was the arduous chore at hand.

"How many times have I told you to update the house software! None of us have personalized A.R.T. Display management yet and it's all your fault!"

One of her step-sisters was once again complaining. Nevermind the fact that the last update had only come out that very morning, the Artistic Room Transmission Display had to be updated yet again and immediately.

"Cindy", as her step-family had named her, was just about to finish repairing the robot cook, but now a very different kind of task had just been imposed on her. Updating software was something even a 4-year-old could do. Tinkering with robots was so much more fun, even if they were part of the horrible daily routine. In fact, when given the very rare opportunity to take a break, Cindy would always read e-books about robotics, smart-house programming and occasionally networking. She swore there had to be a way to automatize all the robots in order to do her work instead, but it would be difficult making it seem she was working as always under the watchful eyes of her family.

Ah yes, family. A word that had lost all meaning since childhood. The ancient saying "you can't choose family" still held true today.

Yet again, someone was yelling at her. Thankfully, Cindy had learned how to tune out her family's demands while still knowing what she was told to do.

Throughout the house, you could easily hear the televisions, all tuned into one of the government-sanctioned news channels, and the newsman announcing:

"...has alerted through social media his upcoming birthday party, to be held in the Nightlife Nightclub, open to all young women who receive an invitation. It seems the event will not allow entrance to anyone else, and will last all night long, until sunrise. It seems the main purpose will be to find a suitable girlfriend and possible future wife for the "Prince". And now for the weather..."

Everyone had already expected this. The internet catches up on the gossip pretty easily, after all.

The "Prince" was none other than the oldest son of the current President. His real name, Christopher, was generally disregarded for the nickname he had received since young, "Prince".

The step-sisters had been talking about the event for far longer the news had bothered to. By now, Cindy was sick and tired of hearing about it. It's probably just another one of those irritating parties for shallow people to show off how shallow and superficial they are. Nothing of value to be gained from it.

All Cindy was looking forward to was having a quieter night, without her terrible sisters, but still with her mother. Maybe even go to sleep a little earlier, that would really be nice.

The day of the party eventually came, and with it the constant nagging by her family. She was ordered to help them with dressing up, putting on makeup and doing their hair, the usual every time they went out to some sort of event.

None of them looked particularly beautiful, but it was best to lie and pretend they've never looked so good, lest they decide they should give Cindy yet another sermon about respecting her family. How unfair, it seems they don't need to respect their housekeeper!

And they were off. Hopefully they would take a long time there. Their mother had already made it clear she would insist she belongs in the party, but it was obvious she would get thrown out quickly.

Cindy couldn't care less. Being home alone was a wonderful rare occasion, wasting this opportunity would be silly.

Just as she was ready to sit back and relax with a nice e-book, the doorbell rang.

Cindy grunted. It was probably one of her sisters, who must've forgotten something.

She reached for the door and carefully opened it, asking,

"Who is it?"

"A generous wonderer."

A cloaked stranger, just a couple steps away from the entrance. It couldn't be another one of those vendors, at this time of night?!

But then, the stranger removed the hood of their cloak, and Cindy couldn't help but gasp.

This stranger seemed to be an old lady, but most of her face was covered in visible circuitry, her cheeks glowing with the LEDs just under the outer surface of the skin. One eye was clearly an implant, but her smile was sweet and genuine.

"Good evening, my dear. I have come to change your life. I have all that you need for a magical night out. I have the clothes, the car and I have an invitation to that party for tonight. Will you let me in?"

Cindy couldn't believe it. What the heck was this stranger babbling about?

"Um, I'm sorry, but I don't have the time to listen to-"

The stranger put her foot in the doorway. A trick all vendors used, too.

"Ah, it seems you misunderstand."

With a sigh, Cindy opened the door just a bit more, but not so much the stranger could get it. Now, Cindy's whole body was visible, the old, ragged clothes, the messy bun her hair was tied in, the awfully dirty shoes. She looked like she came from the past. The 2020's, perhaps?

"Oh, my! Honey, the absolute state you're in! I will take care of you, I promise, please just let me in for a minute."

"Wait, hold on a second; who are you?! I am not allowed to let strangers in, but here you are, basically demanding I let you in?? I apologize, but I really cannot."

"Aha... Apparently, you still don't get it. Ever heard those kinds of fairytales where the poor girl dresses up all beautiful and has a happy ending? I am here to make that come true."

Cindy still couldn't really believe it. Surely, this was just another crazy old lady who doesn't even realize what she's saying, and-

The old lady then pulled a strange machine out of the pocket of her cloak. It almost looked like a phone, or tablet, but bigger and bulkier. It had a glowing hole at the top of it, clearly a modern scanner.

"With this I will give you the most beautiful clothes you have ever seen. Please, just give me a chance."

Almost like a reflex, Cindy opened the door further, watching the old lady tap on buttons on the screen of her gadget. Soon after, she pointed it at Cindy, who then started to glow as her clothes began modifying themselves. This was a very new invention, only reserved for the most wealthy. Clearly, this old lady was either a very important person in disguise, or she had somehow stolen the device from someone.

Either way, the transformation didn't take very long. Cindy was now wearing a beautiful blue crop top and a matching skirt. They were dazzling clothes, but also very easy to move in, which was perfect for a dance party.

She couldn't believe what she was seeing. The old lady hadn't lied!

"What is this?! How did you do that?!" Cindy was already more interested in how it worked than how she looked.

"It is all thanks to this, my darling. And I can make it so much better!"

The old lady was again tapping on the screen. Then, with the press of a button, Cindy's hair turned wavy and curly at the ends. As the mysterious lady handed her a small mirror, Cindy's hair also gained a few blue highlights, which matched her new clothes. Makeup suddenly appeared on her face. It looked just like it had been done by a professional. Beautiful dazzling accessories materialized on her arms and a necklace on her neck.

"Wow...! I've never looked this amazing in my entire life!"

"Oh, you poor girl. All young women your age deserve to feel this beautiful at least one in their life! But hold on a second, there's just one thing left..."

The last thing, her shoes, morphed and transformed into beautiful, glittering stilettos, which appeared to be made of glass.

"Now you're perfect. Your outer appearance finally matches your beautiful personality! Hahaha..."

"Wait, how do you know about me? Only mother and my sisters know about my existence... I have never met you! I need to know who you are!"

"Ah, you are just as curious as ever, my dear. You see, I used to know your parents. In fact, I was your godmother, before your step-mother took you from me. After your parents tragically died many years ago, I knew the right thing to do was to find you and help you. I work with the government, so I have access to the list of citizens of this area. They do not list your name, of course, but I knew how and where to find you due to the data logs with your citizen I.D. code. Does that answer all your questions?"

Cindy was flabbergasted. No wonder this strange woman knew so much about her! But more importantly, if she knew her parents, then she would know what happened to them!

"Oh, please, my parents, tell me what hap-"

"I know. I know... But today is not the right day to talk about that. We can discuss that some other time. Right now..."

She turned to let Cindy take a look at her car. It was clearly a flying car. Cindy couldn't remember the last time she rode on one of those!

"...We need to get you to the Prince's birthday party."

Cindy didn't even think twice. This was the best day of her life! She only took a moment to lock the door and follow the old lady to her car.

"Oh, by the way, honey, I refuse to call you "Cindy" like they do. What a terrible name to mock someone with!"

"Well, what is my real name?"

"Your parents named you Ella. And that is what I'm going to call you. And you can call me granny!" She laughed.

Ella! What a beautiful name. She had no idea she deserved such a wonderful name to go by.

"Granny" took off her cloak and got in the car along with Ella. Now, it was much easier to see the circuitry under her skin. Her left arm also looked like a prosthetic arm... It seemed she had cheated disease and death many times. Almost like a true fairy...

They reached the nightclub where the party was being held at. Granny handed her an invitation, and Ella was dropped off.

Ella had never been to a nightclub, and it was much more grandiose than she had expected. Lights and lasers of all colors filled the air, heavy with human heat and the loud music. Somehow, everyone seemed to be able to talk to one another anyway.

Ella expected to feel uncomfortable, but she had never felt so excited on her whole life. She immediately began moving to the beat on the dancefloor. All the girls were stunning, but none compared to Ella's natural beauty. She didn't even notice all the gasps and murmurs, and the girls gossiping about the girl they had never seen in their whole lives before. Ella was just focused on having the time of her life, the opportunity she had never had, truly feeling like she was living life to the fullest at that very moment.

She couldn't even remember how much time had passed, nor how her current situation came to be, but when she noticed, there was a handsome young man dancing by her side. So they began dancing together, with loads of people focused more on looking at them, rather than their dance moves.

At some point, the boy tried to talk to Ella. Unfortunately she couldn't really understand what he was saying, repeating "what?" several times.

"What... name?"

"Name...?"

"... your name!"

"My name is Ci- I mean, Ella!"

And right at that moment she noticed two girls, right next to her, just staring. It took her only a moment to realize: her step-sisters had figured out her disguise.

Shocked, she bolted to the entrance of the nightclub, her sisters following suit. The parking lot for flying cars was right next to the door, and Ella began immediately looking for Granny's car.

"Granny! Granny! I need to go home, now!"

"What's the matter?"

"My sisters, they saw me. Quick I need to be there and get changed before they notice!"

After coming back home, Ella asked Granny to turn her back to normal, and she did. Granny then disappeared to not be seen.

Not long after, the door opened and her sisters ran around the house to find Ella; she simply sat in her bedroom pretending like nothing had happened.

Ella hoped that at least they would go back, as it was only midnight, but much to her frustration, they stayed home. So much for a quiet night, or for a night out.

The very next day, the news began reporting about the Price wanting to find a certain girl he had met the previous night.

"... have a picture of the shoes worn by the mysterious girl. It seems she left the shoes by the entrance of the Nightlife Nightclub. How..."

Wait, what? The shoes? When did she drop them? Ella couldn't even remember.

"...has ordered for footprints and DNA to be gathered from the shoes to match with the mystery girl. Unfortunately, the footprint does not match any class A or B girls around the Prince's age, so a search is now being conducted as per orders of the President. In other..."

Oh no, this was bad! If they actually found out Ella was the mystery girl, she would be in trouble for her whole life! Mother would punish her severely, she can't even imagine...

And as she predicted, a group of investigators came to search for the girl. Ella's step-mother didn't allow for the group to investigate the house freely, lest the shoe match Ella's foot! Ella herself didn't want to be found out either way.

"Excuse me, but I would like to ask once more that you allow us to search the house-" the Prince himself had come with the investigators.

"Oh! Oh, my!" Mother was very surprised. "If you insist..."

And surely enough they found Ella, cowering on her bed, hoping she wasn't found out.

They tried seeing if the evidence matched either of her step-sisters. It did not, despite all their claims that they were, in fact, the one the Prince is looking for. They even tried to match with the step-mother, despite the fact that she had never been allowed once within the nightclub. A negative, much to no one's surprise.

But then came Ella's turn.

"I'm sorry but I was home the entire night... there is no way-"

"Please. I'm getting desperate." the prince was now talking to her directly. "I need to find my Cyberella."

"...Excuse me?!?"

Cyberella. As it turned out, that's what the Prince could've sworn he heard the mystery girl say, when he asked for her name.

Ella tried her hardest not to laugh. She had been about to say "Cindy" when she remembered her true name. It hadn't been her intention to give herself such a silly nickname.

"Um, well, okay. If you insist..."

The instigators gathered her footprints. It was a clear match. Everyone was surprised, except for Ella, who was pretending to be shocked.

"It is you...!"

"It has to be a mistake! I locked her- I mean- she decided to stay home! She didn't come with me and my other, beautiful daughters." the step-mother moaned.

But the Prince couldn't care less. His eyes were only for Ella.

And her eyes were only for him.

Despite Ella's terrible step-family, the Prince arranged for her to move to a nice small apartment. He convinced her to sue her step-mother for the horrible treatment she had given her, and helped her with all that she needed to live by herself, while the two started a beautiful relationship.

Granny had once come to visit. Promising to explain all that had happened, and help too.

And like all good fairytales, the good guys win, and they lived happily ever after.