#failing in love and getting stabbed and left for dead

[thegunslingerletmedrop]

[azure-enechelon]

I love you Acele: the organized crime refugee, survivor of violence, always on party drugs, the teenage girl hanging out with adult men because there's no better option, who makes weird conceptual sound art even after her boyfriend sells most of her equipment, who gets screamed at by a cop and decides to give him therapy, who somehow still thinks people are sweet.

I love you Cindy: the homeless artist squatting in the coalroom, who does massive street art challenging the occupation, belongs to a famously violent gang but likes people too much to go around stabbing most of them, and terrorizes the rich lady into leaving her block.

I love you Soona: the antisocial programmer, who loses her job and her dream and dedicates herself to finding out why, worries about the unemployed writers, moves her professional-grade computer into a busted-up old church to run science experiments, who lets the homeless ravers move into the church with her so she can use their sound equipment, who makes the ravers listen to her thoughts about elves.

I love you Billie: the working-class woman with an alcoholic husband, who shrugs off intrusive questions and accepts a hug for the sake of the working class, who tells the weird intrusive cop that he isn't a fuckupatoo after all, who sewed a blue lining into her husband's ratty old jacket to keep him warm.

I love you Lilienne: the single mom who survives selling fish to rich people she'll never see, who carries a sword around, who sees a cop that reminds her of her dead alcoholic husband and takes the time to be kind to him when she doesn't have to be.

I love you Isobel: the old washerwoman who has stayed when all her children and neighbors have left, who takes in the drifters and strays who pass through the village, who won't give them up to the cops even when they find a bullet in her spare room, who calls the cop a dark omen but also lets him stay for free.

I love you Elizabeth: the local girl who went off the law school and came back a firebreathing socialist, who can stop the head of the local gang in his tracks just by saying his name, who never concedes an inch to the cops, who will try to reason with armed mercenaries and put her life on the line to protect her people. Who will run the union one day if she lives.

I love you Neha: the dicemaker who bounced back from the death of her first dream, who makes dice into art objects (the cursed die!!!), who remembers all the failed businesses and weirdos, who knows how precarious the world can be, but moved into the most cursed building in Martenaise and made a corner of it into somewhere cozy, sunlight, and safe.

I love you women of Martenaise: you live in the ruins, one of the worst neighborhoods in an occupied city, the beachhead that no one ever bothered to rebuild. You live in grinding poverty, where every government and school of thought has failed even more than they have in the rest of the city. You refuse to let Harry intimidate you, but (some of) you help him anyway—not because he's a cop, but because he's a man who has hit rock bottom, and you all know what that's like. Some of you fight for causes and some of you make art and some of you care for your families, and all of you give what little you can spare to make your community just a little bit better.

[helliloveit]

Night Shift

Ok this is kinda crazy, maybe too much. It can be worse ngl 😅. Im a Frank girl but this guy… i can express more with him(? Like he’s so unhinged im not so worried about what he does is appropriate cuz he’s never appropriate so, well, proceed with caution.

Benjamin “Dex” Poindexter x reader

Warnings: Dark!Dex, defenseless!reader, insults, psychopath behaviors, noncon touches? (Not smut), Dex is obsessed with you, harming, choking, licking, stalking, angst. Dark themes, do not read if it triggers you, please.

W.c: 1k

Summary: You organize a stack of boxes in the scrappy shelter house you had been working for the last 3 years. Don’t get it wrong, you love your job —that feeling has been decreasing like a plane nosediving lastly. It all started when your employer, Ms. Marie, decided it was a good idea to give this gentleman an occupation. He goes by Dex.

You organize a stack of boxes in the scrappy shelter house you had been working for the last 3 years. Don’t get it wrong, you love your job —that feeling has been decreasing like a plane nosediving lastly.

It all started when your employer, Ms. Marie, decided it was a good idea to give this gentleman an occupation. He goes by Dex, you are pretty unsure if thats his real name.

I mean you are unsure about everything that involves him, he is creepy.

Countless times have you tried to rationalize with your boss, God-, you’ve found him killing a bird. Smashing it, smearing it over the ground with his very own shoe, not a single noise of disgust he vocalized, not even the flicker of commotion wet his eye.

Dead inside.

Since your boss is a very insistent woman, there’s not much you could actually do. You don’t blame her at all, she is the head of an orphanage, it is an organic unfolding that her heart goes tender every time a portrait of misfortune hangs on the wall.

In these case, a ex-fbi agent, kicked out of his position for episodes of psicosis and violent behavior, probably caused by PTSD and general trauma for such a tough job. The vacancy for a guard was open. Her eyes turned into stars.

There isn’t a reason you can call out to get him away from the job. Your boss is on vacations. You can’t open everyone’s eyes, he worked his charm neatly, all pearl teeth and wrinkles in the corners of his eyes, but is in the night, the night shift, the kids sleeping, the drowned silence, the dryness of the air, the nauseous flickering of the LEDS on the ceiling, his steps moving through the aisle in front of the small warehouse you were in now.

This last nights is when you are allowed to see how he really is.

And he sees how you really are.

Insightful. He fully remembers how your judgmental stare pierced prolonged on his face the moment his left eye twitched. The reason: Marie had advertised him to not get rid of flies by throw paper clips at them, it is as weird as impressive, regardless of that, scares the children.

It would had been fun. It would have been fun if you didn’t discover the milimetric cilidric extension of the clip stabbing directly on their tiny bodies to the cardboard. Would have even more fun if he just got to frighten you and not get your goodie ass to snitch to the boss.

You’re sure that since that day, the blondie always have a bone to pick with you, avoids you and the rare moments you get to be in the same place —usually coworkers meetings— never fails to have an odd with you, not verbally, no, Dex stares at you, eyes blank in that specific way a person who abhors someone would do.

That’s not enough to assert he is a total piece of shit, he is just weird or that’s the prompt you been cajoling yourself with to not deeply panic, even when you precise his icy hazel iris peeking through the ajar door… no wait— is he watching you?!

You sprint to fully open the door and look around. At the threshold you’re met with nothing more than the empty white aisle, you thought you heard his steps at the end of it so, what you saw must come from tiredness since it’s late.

Picking up the marker again you dispose yourself to the write down the content of the boxes on it surfaces.

You don’t get to uncap the sharpie.

Echo of a loud thud travels the path its end you are. Despite the cold sweat forming on your back you go, ‘it’s for the kids’ you repeat yourself for your own sake, you hold the marker for dear life and stand up from the small rigid bench to explore.

The old lights keep buzzing on top of your head, the stale smell of the old place made your heart accelerate its rate. Keep going, you just keep going checking through the wooden doors at your sides and… there’s nothing weird.

You get to the end of the L shaped aisle. No signs of Dex though. He should be on his place, outside, what he was looking for before then? That’s a question you should made yourself, but everything is so heavy, exhaustion tenses your spine, mind is numb. Back to work.

Like a robot, you walk down the route you forcefully went before. Your home is all occupying your mind when you see all the stacks you need to put together.

When you attempt to sit at the bench again, the door behind you closes on it own. Shit.

Maybe he wanted to play a joke on you but that theory dismantled itself the moment you turn around to face it.

Dex was there in the room with you, locked entrance at his back. A pocket knife in his hand.

You almost cry.

—“Okay, what the actual fuck is going on?!” Punctuating every single word of the question, your stomach quiver yet you are proud how firm your voice came out.

—“You don’t wanna wake up the kids, do you?” His lips crack with an uneven smile.

All this time, you were right. Fuck, fuck! He’s twisted! Like a fucking corkscrew. It is fair to say you are in utter panic.

—“I have a few things to tell you, but you need to collaborate, you need to help me, would you?” He whispers in such soft tone despite there’s nothing soft splattered over his features.

His eyes are low, appeased, pupils blown, flared nostrils, the collar of his black gear is untidy as if the tugged it down in a rush, you even discern the nail scratches over his neck- but there’s no time to catch the little details.

—“Okay, okay,” You raise your hands in faux surrender —“What is it?” You ask hesitant, one thought is executed before you can meditate on it, you try to grab a cutter lying over a box but,

he reaches you.

His hand slides across your cheek. Suddenly gasp for air when what seemed like a tender caress turned into a harsh grasp, gripping your jaw, straight into the bone. Definitely gonna leave a bruise.

The man doesn’t talk right away, remains staring at your face void of all color, his breath brushes your skin erratically.

—“You think you get to ruin all i have built,” he mumbles between gritted teeth. — “it makes me want to smear you all over the ground like that pigeon you were so loud about.”

He was so close it felt overwhelming. He wasn’t drunk, no alcohol smell, this is not okay.

—“What Dex? You want me to stay all calm and sweet when i see a guy doing something so unhinged in a place like a child shelter?! You must be fucking crazy.”

If you were going to die tonight, at least you’re gonna stand for your thoughts. It pulls a laugh out of him. —“Moral girl.”

—“If- if you’re planning on killing me now-“

—“Shut the fuck up.” He chuckles, as a warning.

—“It would be a fucking mess and you couldn’t even escape properly, there is cameras everywhere, they’ll be looking for you by the morning.” You are stressed, the words come out rapidly, it makes him harrow.

—“Shut up!!” Dex finally shouts.

Rage is crawling up his face in the color of red boiling blood, he shoves you back so roughly you feel the waves of the stunt coil back and forth within your rib cage.

Here stamped onto the wall, trepidation climbed up your limbs like burning ivy. You can’t help the tears welled in your eyes. You feel overpowered, incapable.

His fingers are still painting white over your masseter muscles, he nudges at it maliciously and your glare, holding his in a fragile act of courage, faltered—leaving salty drops slipping down your cheeks.

—“I think you get it now.” He almost slurs, hazel eyes fixed on your… lips?

Every alarm in your body is yelling at you to scream, push him, go away, but everything is happening so fast you don’t know what to do first. You shut your eyes closed again, exhaling to dilute some adrenaline build up in your blood.

When he gets that close is something you don’t quite notice immediately.

He licks the fresh path of tears on your cheek.

Sick fuck knew the business so well that before you thought about screaming the same hand clutched your neck with the right amount of pressure to not let anything out or in, including your voice… and your breath.

If what came before was a nightmare, then this is the night terror that leaves you adrift—aware you’re dreaming, yet unable to wake up. Trapped.

—“You get it, do you?” He asks full of cynicism, over your ear, warming it with his breath. You nod hysterical, the lack of air burning inside your lungs. It wasn’t enough for him.

—“Do you?!!” Dex half shouts, a harsh whisper, slamming you back against the concrete wall, you cry out, reaching his hand to scratch it. You can’t breathe.

He lasts another few seconds bathing in the sweet syrupy feeling of you not only surrendering to him but to writhe between his fingers.

You collapse onto the floor the second he lets you go. You reach up, fingers trembling, trying to soothe the irritated skin of your neck. Looking up, what coughs and tears allow you to see is the slightest of the smirks.

Son of a bitch thinks you won’t say a thing about this later.

That when he disappears through door behind him and go away, you won’t wait till the next day and call Ms.Marie and not hold a single thing about his fucking psychopath demeanor, how much of a danger he is to the children and other coworkers, what he did to you…

But oh… surprise.

When you actually do, the first thing you know is he was fired, yes, he was, and all the walking through the aisle yesterday was nothing more than… you don’t know. He had like bloody 2 weeks off but nobody noticed since the night shift was only you and him, occasionally Marie if she didn’t went on a month vacation like she did now.

You can’t quite name the feeling. That moment was, without question, the most haunting thing to happen to you in years. Realizing how helpless you are in such a tense situation.

Sleep schedule all fucked up, eating more than you should out of anxiety and rethinking your life choices. You wont let yourself get defeated, you won’t quit the job, you wont move away.

It eventually happens one day, 6 am when you finally get at home after a torturous walk from bus stop to here. The morning is chill, perfect to sleep, you’re so sleepy now, you open the main door and look down, and all the cozy feeling is drained with a straw.

His small knife pocket he never used on you, at your feet.

[lilacgaby]

title: death is inevitable, but why you?

pairings: katsuki x reader, midoriya x reader, todoroki x reader

summary: each boy has to live through their horrors, the horror of losing you.

notes: tw: death! blood! violence! angst no comfort! i warned you!

katsuki bakugō❥

this mission had been the most horrific one for ages. left and right people were being lifted out in body bags, rubble covered the corpses of many scattered across the field, even heroes had lost limbs in the fight.

the stench of blood was everywhere. the shimmering of the sun unfit for the splatters all around.

he wasn't faring any better, his hands torn from quirk overexertion, his ears hurting from the loud explosions. no, that wasn't it.

the screams of the people he couldn't save rang through his head, the crushing of bones and flesh emgrained in his mind forever.

he was walking now. to say it was mindlessly would be a lie, no. he was looking for you.

he hadn't seen you since this all started. he'd texted and called you but you hadn't picked up. he felt guilty for walking past the sobbing civilians picking up their loved ones, or whatever remained of them at least.

he picked up his pace at the sight. where were you? why were you doing this now? now when his heart was straining with disgust, now when his mouth was holding back the bile that rised to the back of his throat, now when his mind was running with things he'd never want to consider happening to you.

he finally saw you, kirishima right next to you as you laid on a wall. he let out a sigh of relief, as he slowed down his pace.

as he got closer, kirishima covered your body from his sight, confusing him. "move."

"no. turn around."

"what's your deal? move!"

"i don't want you to see this, and she wouldn't have either, so please--"

"stop talking like she's dead!" he yelled, his heart in his throat as he pushed past kirishima. but he wished he listened at the sight before him.

you were slumped over, eyes wide open with fear, yet blank and unblinking. your mouth had strings of blood, some clotted up already showing how far gone you were.

your shirt was damp with not only blood but tears, the puffiness around your eyes signifying it. your hands were bruised badly and it looked like a part of your midsection was gouged out.

he fell onto his knees beside you, his hand shakily trying to close your eyes, to at least give you that final peace.

but he failed even at that. what kind of boyfriend was he? his hands shook with hopelessness and fear. he failed. he failed and you died a horrifying death alone.

what could he do without you? what was he supposed to do now?

he let out a guttural yell of pain, as he shook over your body. he didn't want to believe it. but as kirishima handed him a ring and your favorite hair pin that you, before you died, left for him,

he was left with the finality of your death.

and he was all alone once again.

izuku midoriya𑁍

it wasn't supposed to have ended like this.

he should've known that the fame from his hero antics would back fire one day, he should've been ready, he should've been there. he should've been prepared.

he should've been more cautious, taken more warnings from the stories he'd pay no mind to. he never thought this would happen to him.

he shouldn't be here, attempting to comfort you with shaky hands as you lay in his lap, bleeding out from where you were stabbed in the chest. he doesn't know of a place where you weren't stabbed though.

your dress now ruined and torn as the madman earlier had managed to get a hold of you, his promises of money meant nothing to him as he slit wound after wound into your skin.

he shouldn't have to hopelessly pray that the small ministrations he'd been doing to your face were helping relieve the pain, even though he knew it wasn't.

if he'd known the date he'd planned for you would end like this he would've never let you outside again, selfishly hiding you from the world. if he'd known he could've have taken the blow himself, if he'd have known-

his words were cut off by his very own gasp at the visual of you looking into his eyes. you reached your clean hand up to his face, running your unbloddied fingers over his freckles. wiping his tears.

you couldn't speak, though you were trying to. he was radio silent now, hoping to hear anything from you. you were still clutching the knife in your chest, your other hand right over the hilt.

he didn't feel right to ask you to stay awake, to stay in pain just for him. it was all his fault. always his fault, always something he didn't do right.

"i..izuku. 's not your fault, stop.. stop thinking that." your face was scrunched up in pain, it was obvious that it hurt you to speak. it hurt you to do anything, what was he kidding?

you always read him clear as day, or was he really that predictable? he put his hand on top of yours anyways, wanting to bask in this undeserved affection. he took your words to heart though, to say it was his fault was now an action of dissmissing your final thoughts, thoughts you'd dedicated just to him.

"i.. i love you. 'k?"

he nodded, he said it back to you. he'd say it a million times if it meant you'd stay for just a second longer. if it'd meant that you'd stay with him.

he bent down so you could kiss him one last time. it was the saddest kiss he'd ever have, he never thought he'd know when his last moment of affection was coming from you.

but he did, and as he came back up, your hand had dropped from his face, onto the blood stained ground.

he held you, he held you until your shallow breaths became no more, he held you until your body had gone cold,

he held you until his once white shirt had turned red from your blood.

he'd hold you until someone forced him to let you go.

it's what you deserved.

shoto todoroki✩

he always knew your presence in his life was too good for him.

fate had a funny way of messing with him. everything good in his life had a price, a price he'd pay willingly or not.

getting married to you must've been the best thing he'd ever done. but the price?

your left half being completely destroyed, just like his.

and the worst part? you were still awake, your breath heavy and pained as you collapsed onto the ground.

your flesh was mangled, the wounds reaching all the way up to your neck. you looked to be in so much pain, your tears only making it worse it seemed, as you let out a scream as you raised your hand, the only one you had left, to try and soothe yourself.

the destination of your honeymoon a haunting background to the death that was overtaking you.

shoto had never felt so useless. he'd never been the best at comforting you, only his presence serving to help. but now as you screamt in utter torment in front of him, he could do nothing but fall onto his knees infront of you.

the water from your tears burned your open wound, so he used his ice on your right to try and help you.

"is this helping?" he said, when you finally started to go silent. your eyes started to open and close, you were forcing yourself awake. why?

"mhm." he knew it was a white lie, to try and make him feel better about himself. but he decided to believe it, just this once.

you stared at his arm blankly. it took a lot of effort to word anything, to even stay up straight was a marvel in itself. you muttered, "is help coming?"

he wanted to be honest with you, he really did, but he didn't think he'd be able to live with himself if he told you nobody could make it in time. so, he told a partial lie. he hoped you could forgive him in another life. one where you'd get to live the life you always wanted.

"y-yes. someone's coming soon." he saw the way your eye lit up slightly with determination. why were you fighting so hard.

three minutes passed and nothing had happened. your eye was getting heavier, the blood was coming out in less and less spurts. your face became dejected.

he knew you caught him in a lie. they weren't coming to save you, only to pick up your corpse.

a bitter smile set over your lips, the throbbing of your skin under your tears a blur as you finally gave up. he had been holding your hand tightly this entire time, his hand over the pulse of your wrist as he refused to look you in the eye.

and now you knew why.

"i.. i love you shoto..

b-but don't lie to me next time, k?" you proclaimed, before falling over with a sickening thud as you hit the bloodied planks beneath you.

he stayed holding your hand for a while. the heroes hadn't made it for another hour. he was glad for the only reason of being able to scream and wail over you in peace. of being able to let all his built up emotions out,

of being able to mourn the loss of his one true love, who even in the end did her best to comfort him instead. who toughed it out for him.

"what a joke." he muttered as he stormed away from your body, leaving the heroes circled around your cold corpse.

plans to get back your honor brewing in his head.

[tryingtofindava]

i saw the tyler fic u did where instead of him being impale, it was his gf! do you think u could do that but with aiden’s gf and the ceiling? 🫶

── SHE HIT THE FLOOR! NEXT THING YOU KNOW!

{[AIDEN CLARK X FEM! READER]}

A/N: is the title lyrics from Low by Flo Rida? Yes. Do I think I’m hilarious for this? Also yes.

: ̗̀➛Back to Source

Covering Ashlyn’s ears with your own shaking hands as she trembles from the crazily loud bangs coming from Taylor’s shotgun.

Watching as she shoots the ever loving fuck out of the creepy massive centipede. “… Yeah, uh- Tay, it stopped moving.” Aiden nodded with an uncomfortably big smile, though his semi assuring words fell upon deaf ears.

Giving her a thumbs up as he’s crouched right beside you while you help Ash, having a hand on your shoulder and giving you light squeezes to comfort you or himself, you couldn’t tell.

Taylor upon taking notice that creature is in fact dead…. Hopefully… She lowers the gun as Logan comes up behind her, grabbing her shaking hand soothingly. “We need to hurry in case it recovers.” He spoke reassuringly to the panting Taylor.

Watching the others rummage around the small office while you stood watch at the doorway, was a stressful experience having to keep watch to make sure no phantoms got in while also keeping an eye on Tyler (who was getting his bandages changed again by Ben.)

No one could find the keys… “Where are they?!” Taylor seethed, slamming shut another keyless drawer. “Coach must’ve moved them again!” The brunette complained while starting to rummage through another drawer.

“Does he move them often?” Ashlyn questions quietly, doing her own searching.

“Yeah, because idiots like Jay and Conner keep messing with them!” She scoffed. You would’ve giggled at Taylor being so frustrated for what seems like the first time ever if it wasn’t for your current situation.

You were leaning against Aiden who was fiddling with his army knife, flicking the blade out and flicking it back. “I feel a minor sense of Deja-vu.” He murmured in your ear while smiling to himself. It never failed to amaze you how your boyfriend could always smile no matter what was going on around him. “We have 3 minutes left,..” Logan called out to inform the group.

Ashlyn perked up at a certain sound her super hearing picked up on, she looked over at you and Aiden. “Guys, there’s a straggler.” Carrot-top warned.

Aiden sniggers, nudging you “Yeah, I can hear it running.” And with that he stabbed the smiling demon monster right in the face, making you cringe at the disgusting squelching noise it made as he pulled the knife out of the phantoms face.

“Got it!” Aiden hummed enthusiastically, skipping over to Ash to show her the black substance it left on his knife.

She of course rolled her eyes, ignoring the bleached blondes antics, her eyes falling back to you. “Is there anymore, Y/n?” She quipped in curiosity, still hearing phantom noises.

You peaked out the door, looking left and then right. “Uhhh… nope, we’re good.” You answered, looking over your shoulder at her.

The walls and ground shook, “Huh…?” You murmur to yourself in confusion. “EVERYONE GET UNDER SOMETHING!” You heard someone yell, you were too busy keeping yourself balanced to register anything else in the moment.

POP

The last thing you saw was Aiden reaching out to you, before the ceiling collapsed. “Y/N!” He shrieked, racing towards you.

That’s when it all went black.

“C’mon! Get her under the table!” Taylor helped Aiden carry you to the table, everyone crawling under it. Logan, Ben and Tyler hiding under the desk on the other side of the room.

Aiden cradled your body in his arms, rocking back and fourth with he was staring at your face in horror. Blood was leaking from your forehead, and it was also trickling from your nose.

Taylor, Ashlyn, Aiden and you all huddled together under the desk, everything was shaking violently. Aiden was on the verge of tears as Ash wiped the blood from your nose with her sleeve gently while her other hand was clasped tightly over her ear, that’s when he noticed your eyes were wide open and an unsettling grin stretched across your face.

In the real world Aiden shoots up from his sleeping spot, looking around the room until his eyes fell on your shaking form. “Y/N!” He yelled out again. Which caught the attention from the adults in the room over, including your parents/parental figure.

Before he could even get to you, the adults were already surrounding you. Trying to assist your violently thrashing form.

You coughed and wheezed, “I’m okay! I’m fine!” You assured the adults pushing hands away, while also trying to calm your heart and and breathing. “…I’m okay, really…!”

Aiden pounced on you, hugging you tightly, muttering incoherent words while pressing small pecks to your hair and forehead. You leaned into his touch, tears welling up in your own eyes just like his own.

“Don’t scare me like that again.” It was the first time you’ve ever heard him sound so serious…

[anghraine]

I was thinking about "Journey to Babel" for whatever reason, and about how I find Sarek and Amanda super intriguing both as Spock's parents and as a couple.

Like, before watching, I had the vague fandom-osmosis impression that Sarek is Spock's shitty, judgmental father who actually does care about him deep (deep) down and will come through in a pinch, but not much more than that. I'd gathered that his emotional world mostly revolves around being crazy about his wife while refusing to admit he has feelings about anything (and everyone sees through this).

I also had a vague fandom-osmosis impression that Amanda is the normal, supportive, emotionally healthy parent to Sarek's distant, disapproving one and that it's not entirely clear why she even stays with this asshole except some vague "well, she loves him, I guess."

But upon watching the actual episode, I was quite surprised by Amanda—not at first, when she does seem more or less as reported, but later, as the stakes rise and we end up with Spock anxious about Kirk's health (because he got stabbed nearly to death) and insistently upholding his responsibility to take up Kirk's role, while Amanda is anxious about Sarek's health (because he's nearly dead of a congenital problem) and insistently trying to use whatever influence she can bring to bear to save him (the parallel signifying nothing, I'm sure). And the way these collide is kind of heartbreaking, because "Journey to Babel" is entirely clear that her reason for staying with Sarek is not that she's vaguely loving but that she's every bit as insane about him as he is about her.

When she hits Spock for not risking his own life and that of hundreds of other people on board to donate a ton of blood to Sarek in an experimental procedure that may or may not even work and tells him she'll hate him forever if he doesn't do it, I was like... I mean, I get that it's a tough moment for her, yes. But also, what the fuck. This is your son, ma'am.

I don't hate her for this, to be clear. I was just surprised that Spock is such an obviously secondary priority to both of his parents rather than Amanda being The Normal One. Amanda has never been normal about Sarek a day in her life!

And ... I mean, Spock himself has repeatedly jeopardized the lives of everyone on the Enterprise for slim chances of somehow saving Kirk, well past the point when even McCoy was telling him to stop. Oh, and Spock led a different outside chance of saving Kirk that failed and left the Enterprise with only impulse power, and Spock's response was to keep going towards Kirk's location on impulse power and spend the 58 days it took him to get there barely eating or sleeping.

So, like, yes, I don't get the feeling that Sarek or Amanda are particularly good parents, though they love Spock in their very different ways. But I do kind of respect them for being the only TOS couple who I genuinely feel are absolutely unhinged about each other in the same way as Spock and Kirk. As far as TOS is concerned, I'd love to be a fly on the wall at their family gatherings.

[after-the-end-times]

Walk Through This House in Your Shoes (I'm supposed to love you)

Rating: T🦇Words: 2.9k🦇CW: mild action and violence, Steve kills a bat with Eddie's shield and spear, Nancy shoots Vecna🦇Tags: Fix-it, Soulmates, Body Swap, flirting, banter @steddiebingo Squares: Fix-it, Body Swap, Battle Ao3

Their attack on Vecna was failing. Vines were slowly wrapping themselves tighter around Steve, Robin, and Nancy. Eddie was running. They were supposed to win. They all thought they’d win.

Regrets and sorrow flickered through each of them. And in that moment, with bats swooping and a vine tightening, Eddie and Steve thought of each other.

Steve blinked and he was in the trailer park, bats swarming and attacking. No real weapon in hand. He pulled the spear and shield from his back, blocking and stabbing on instinct.

Eddie. My soulmate, huh? What’s he doing out here? Fuck. Not following the plan, of course! Gonna get himself killed.

Steve scanned the area for somewhere to hide Eddie. He only had a few minutes before he’d be back in his own body. There was another trailer home not far away.

He stabbed another demobat, the swarm screeching at him, and took off for the door. Mouths and tails nipped at him as he dashed across the packed dirt. Eddie’s body protested, lungs burning and side cramping.

Doesn’t matter. Long as I get him to safety, he can sit on the floor until I get back to him.

He reached the door and slipped inside, panting and shaking from adrenaline. He used Eddie’s shield, blocking the mass of wings and tails as he shoved the door shut, pushing his whole weight against it.

A tail whipped out, wrapping around an ankle, pulling itself through the crack just as Steve slide the door shut. Steve shoved the shield against the bat, trying to crush it to the floor, but the flapping wings shielded its body as the bat’s teeth bit at Eddie’s calf. Pain zinged up, stealing the breath from his lungs.

“No!” he shouted at the bat. He wasn’t going to let this thing get Eddie.

He stomped his other foot down on a wing, crunching the bones against the floor. The bat screeched, the sound piercing his ears, making his vision blur. But its teeth were out of Eddie’s calf.

Steve calculated where he had dropped the spear behind him, put his shield up, and dropped back on Eddie’s ass. His hand landed on the spear. He pulled it up, and shoved it right through its screeching, teeth filled mouth.

Garbled noises squeaked around the spear, one wing hung to the ground, the other trying to keep it aloft. Its tail released his ankle, attempting to whip upward. Steve slammed the edge of the shield down, pinning the tail down, and kept pushing til the shield met floor.

Steve pushed against the spear, using the leverage to get himself up while pushing it farther through the bat’s body. With a final spasm and its last prolonged squeak, the demobat lay dead on the trailer home’s floor.

He only had a few moments left before he’d be pulled back to his body and there were uncovered windows here, so Eddie still wasn’t safe.

What do I do, what do I do, what do I do- YES

Tornado safety protocols flashed through his mind and he ran to a bedroom. Yanking the top mattress off, he dragged it to the bathroom. He shoved it in through the doorway, folding it enough to get the door shut.

He slid down the wall between the mattress barrier and the shower and tried to slow his panting by pulling in deeper, slower breaths into Eddie’s burning lungs. But, Eddie’s body was unaccustomed to everything Steve just put it through and was still shaking from the adrenaline.

Sitting like that, he finally noticed the blood seeping into the jeans around Eddie’s calf.

He reached up to pull a towel off the bar above him and- a flaming molotov cocktail flew from his hand as a shotgun blast roared next to him. They were outside, no longer in the attic.

What happened to the plan? Whatever, just gotta finish this. Get back to Eddie.

Vecna turned to get away from their attack, trying to float around the back of the ruins. Nancy charged forward, gun up, and let off one last shot to the back of his skull. Vecna’s body fell.

They had won.

Robin leaped on him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Oh my god, how’d you know?! That was such a good call! He would’ve gotten away! How?!”

He tightened his arms around her waist.

“It was Eddie. He saved us.” He pulled back, glancing at Nancy poking Vecna’s body with her gun, and grabbed Robin’s hand. “Come on! We need to get back.”

He and Robin started jogging back towards Eddie and Dustin when a shotgun blast went off behind them, making them flinch to a stop. Spinning back, they saw Nancy lift her gun away from the hole where Vecna’s heart had been.

“This better be done.” Robin plops her forehead against his shoulder. “I hope the others are all safe.”

“We gotta go let Eddie out. Let’s go Nancy!”

“What? What’d’you mean let Eddie out? He should be topside!”

They were halfway back to the trailer park, when they heard the sound of crying screams coming from the distance, calling out for, and cursing, Eddie.

Dustin. He thinks- Fuck.

Steve took off at a sprint, calling out when he got near. “Dustin! Dustin, he’s alright! He’s alive!”

Dustin fell into him, shaking. “Where is he? How do you know?!”

“There’s a lot of that going around lately.” He heard Robin mutter as she jogged up.

“Come on, let’s go get him. Put your arm around my shoulders. Good, that’s good. How’d you get hurt?” He had his arm around Dustin’s waist, taking some of his weight, letting him take pressure off his ankle. He turned them toward the trailer home he left Eddie in.

“I had to jump back here when Eddie cut the rope!”

What the fuck, Eddie.

Steve makes eye contact with Robin and she and Nancy run off to remake a way for them to get back up.

“He left me! And ran out into those demobats! How can he be alive?! You can’t know that!”

“Dustin! I’m right next you. Take a deep breath in. You’re hurt, so maybe I should leave you with Nancy and Robin back at the-”

“No. No, I want to see him.”

“Ok, then. Just up here. Not sure he’ll be able to get out without help, so let’s-” They hear a rhythmic pounding coming from the trailer home ahead of them. “Ope, yep, come on.”

He gets Dustin inside, moving him around the dead demobat that’s taking up most of the floor space inside the door. “Stand here, listen for any yelling from Robin.”

He reaches the bathroom door, knocking a little pattern, and speaks through the door. “Eddie? Are you stuck?”

Eddie laughs. “I don’t even know how you got this thing in here! I’ve tried folding it and moving it and squeezing past, but I can’t do that and open the door. Think this is a two person show.”

“Steve?” Dustin asked, miraculously not yelling. “What does he mean, how you got it in there? What is it? Why can’t he get out?”

“A mattress. You know, like you’re supposed to do in a tornado when there’s no basement? Figured it would be his best bet if those things got though a window.”

Still speaking to the door, he didn’t see Dustin’s confused look morph through mental calculations until understanding finally dawned. “Ok, Eddie! I’m going to push the door open. Get to the side by the sink and push the mattress against the wall while scooching past toward me.”

He hears Eddie clap his hands. “Alrighty! Sounds like a solid plan, my liege! On three, then?”

On the count, Steve turned the knob, pushing the door open a smidge, Eddie groaned as he pushed the mattress away. Once the mattress was upright, he pushed the door hard, using it to hold the mattress up and out of the way. Eddie leaped out, favoring his bandana wrapped leg.

Steve waited til he was away from the door and jumped back, the mattress slamming the door shut.

He turned in time to catch Eddie as he threw himself into Steve’s arms.

He pulled him in, holding him tight, one arm around his waist, the other hand pushed into his hair. He spoke into Eddie’s hair. “Hi there. You ok?”

Eddie nodded against his shoulder. “Because of you. I thought I was a goner for a moment there and you saved me.”

“Robin says you save us all.”

Steve can practically feel Eddie trying to shrug the comment off, before finally letting out a long breath against his neck.

“Call it a draw?”

Steve huffed a laugh, his lower hand sweeping up and down Eddie’s back. “Yeah, man, it’s a draw.”

Eddie groaned and pushed back to see Steve’s face. Grinning, he tilted his head and fluttered his lashes at Steve. “Man? Is that any way to speak to your soulmate?”

Steve slid his hand from Eddie’s hair to cup his jaw, sweeping his thumb across his cheek. “Oh, I’m sorry. Should I have said honey?” Steve brushed a kiss to one cheek. “Darling?” The other cheek. “Dear” They leaned in toward each-

“Guys!”

Eddie jolted and Steve groaned, head tipping back. Dustin. Steve had forgotten they had an audience. And that they were still in the Upside Down. And that people were waiting for them. And, really, anything that wasn’t Eddie in his arms.

Steve stepped back from Eddie, clapping then rubbing his hands together. “Right! Well, come on, let’s blow this popsicle stand.”

Eddie groaned. “You’re such a dad, babe.” He leaned into Steve’s space. “Go on, tell us you’re gonna turn this hellscape around if we don’t behave.”

Steve grinned, matching Eddie’s lean, eyes flicking down-

“Seriously!” They jumped apart, looking over at Dustin who stood mostly on one foot, hands on his hips. “Do I need to limp back to the entrance? By myself? On a twisted ankle?”

Steve glanced over, meeting Eddie’s look, nodded at Dustin and shook his head with a smile. Eddie chuckled as they walked over to Dustin, lifting his arms over their shoulders until he was swinging between them, and they made their way back to the entrance.

Outside, Steve poked Dustin in the side with his free hand. “So dramatic, dude. Like you would’ve really left us. Not after you were sooo worried about Eddie. I think you like us too much.”

Eddie gasped dramatically, “Aww, were you worried about me? I’m touched! But, Harrington had me, so, ‘course he’d save me! No doubt in my mind. Not after you sang his praises all year!”

“Ugh. You guys think you’re so funny,” Dustin grumbled.

“So ungrateful, this kid. Wanted us to be friends soooo badly. And now that we’re soulmates? Insults! Tsk tsk tsk,” Eddie whispered over Dustin’s head, Steve chuckling at Eddie’s attempt to distract and lighten Dustin’s mood.

Dustin glared down at the ground. “Well, excuse me, I just thought you might want to make out with my friend somewhere that’s not giving us lung cancer! Oh! And maybe I want just get out of here to make sure all my friends are alive!”

Hot and cold coursed through Steve’s body, landing heavy his stomach. Fuck. Did they go too far trying to take his mind off everything? Was Dustin really unhappy with them being soulmates? Yes, it was sudden and unexpected, but he thought-

Eddie sent Dustin a chagrined look. “Shit, yeah sorry, kid. I was just- I didn’t mean-” He glanced over Dustin’s head to see how Steve was handling Dustin’s words. Not well, judging by those furrowed brows. “Yeah. Let’s get you guys out of here. Then you can spread the news that we beat the bad guy, ok? How’s that sound?”

Dustin glanced up at him and away. “El probably already knows anyways.”

“Maybe. If her powers are as awesome as you said they are. But you still need to tell them all what we did down here. We helped save the world, you know?”

Dustin grinned at the ground. “It was a pretty metal performance.”

The Munson’s door banged open as they came near, Robin looking frantic before seeing them. “Come on! We’ve got a sturdy pile of stuff to climb up!”

Robin helped take Dustin through the door, giving Steve a chance to hold Eddie back a moment with a hand on his chest. “You were really good with him back there, thanks for that.”

“Hey, I’m the one who put my foot in my mouth. Not sure you can give me much credit just for taking it out.”

“No, man, you were good. It’s a tough situation. He’s hurt and tired and you handled his attack a lot better than I would’ve.” Steve took Eddie’s hands, giving him a lopsided smile. “Doesn’t hurt that you being good with kids is really hot, dude- oh! Excuse me, my beloved.”

Eddie grinned, Steve pulling him in by their clasped hands-

“Steve!? What are you doing!?” Robin screeched, running over and barreling into him.

Dustin yelled from his perch atop the furniture pile, “Oh, yeah! That’s what they do now! Think we’re gonna have to put leashes on them and just pull them along!”

“What!” Robin whips her gaze back to Steve. “Dustin knows what’s going on with you? Dustin?!”

Steve laughed at her outraged expression, grabbing her and Eddie’s hands and pulling them to the furniture stack. “Well, honestly, I thought you’d already figured out it. Since it was Eddie that changed the plans earlier. You know, moving you guys outside? I told you it was Eddie.”

Robin scoffed, Steve helping to hoist her up. “I thought you meant, like, metaphorically. Since he was distracting those bats with his song and dance.”

“Excuse me?” Eddie sputtered. “Song and dance? I’ll have you know, it was majestic, what I did!”

“Yes, yes, baby. You were amazing.” Steve said, pushing Eddie to the tower by his hips. “Why don’t we settle this topside, hm? And then maybe you can give us an encore? And then maybe you could give me a private showing?”

Robin teetered at the top of the pile. “Ugh. Dustin was right about those leashes. Stop. Flirting. Let’s. Goooo,” she said, standing up into the gravitational pull of the entrance and falling upward.

“Alright, your turn.”

Steve boosted Eddie up onto the table, putting his hand up behind Eddie’s back to make sure he didn’t fall off backwards as he stood. Eddie turned around and reached a hand down. Steve smiled up at him and grasped his hand, letting Eddie help pull him up into the small space. Eddie’s arm went around his waist, keeping him from falling off.

Before helping Eddie up onto the nightstand, Steve glanced up at the portal above them and back to Eddie’s eyes.

“Hey,” he said gently, reaching up to cup his jaw, brushing a thumb across Eddie’s cheekbone. “Before we go back up, I just wanted-”

Eddie swayed in, brushing a barely there kiss to Steve’s lips. He swayed away smiling. “That?”

Staring at Eddie’s lips, he nodded very seriously and using his hand on Eddie’s jaw, pulled him in for a hard kiss. Eddie’s hand slid up into Steve’s hair, Steve’s hand wrapped tight around Eddie’s waist. The rest of the world, the Upside Down, anything not them ceased to exist as they breathed only each other, tasted only each other, knew only each other.

They pulled back panting, noses brushing, eyes still closed.

“Steve.” Eddie said breathlessly. “Can I just say? Wow, best soulmate ever.”

Steve huffs out a laugh, kisses him one more time and leans back.

“I think you’re pretty swell, as well.” He smiled gently, gazing at Eddie, swiping his thumb back and forth across Eddie’s cheek.

It hits him suddenly. The enormity of what he could’ve lost had they not switched places in that exact moment. Eddie could’ve died. He could’ve been eaten by those things. They might’ve never kissed, never laughed, never teased Dustin together. He could’ve lost his soulmate without ever knowing him.

Steve feels his smile slip away and he pulls Eddie into a hug, holding him tight, hands griping his coat and curls.

“When we get up there,” he says tucking his face into Eddie’s neck, “I don’t know what’s gonna happen, but I know that no matter what, we’ll face it together, ok? I’ll be right there beside you. Cops, Feds, NDAs, the kids, whatever. Together.”

Feeling Steve shaking with emotion, Eddie holds him tight and nods against Steve’s shoulder.

“Together. Like you said, baby, no matter what,” Eddie says, running his fingers soothingly through Steve’s hair. He pressed a kiss to the side of Steve’s head and leaned back, brushing his nose against Steve’s. “Now, as the cool dads say, how ‘bout we blow this popsicle stand, yeah? Go face the music and start the rest of our life?”

Steve smiled and brushed a kiss against Eddie’s lips. “Together.”

As they climbed up onto the nightstand and then the chair, Steve knew three things. One, Dustin would immediately bitch them out for taking so long; Two, Robin was going to interrogate him and Eddie so fully, she’d know the whole story better than they did in the end; and Three, he and Eddie would have a long life together, filled with friends and family, trust and laughter, but most importantly, love.

~fin~

tagging who commented on my WIP Word Game: @just-my-latest-hyperfixation @matchingbatbites

[devildomwriter]

Obey Me as Disenchantment Quotes #1

Lucifer & Satan: *Laughing maniacally*

Simeon: “While I question their evil motives, it is nice to see them happy.”

Barbatos: “Now announcing the triumphant return of our heroes from their quest that we all privately thought would fail.”

Mammon & Leviathan: “…”

Lucifer: “How do we even know it worked.”

Solomon: “Oh but it must have worked. Now to test it, we need a volunteer to kill you.”

Belphegor: “Dibs.”

Barbatos: “How can you keep messing up a recipe with two ingredients?”

Solomon: “If you ever run into trouble give them this note.”

MC: “Kill me?”

Solomon: “Thirteen gave it to me, now I give it to you.”

Leviathan: “I’ve been meaning to…but the thing is, I…so you see…well, I’m glad we had this talk. How bout you talk now?”

MC: “But you haven’t said anything yet.”

Belphegor: “Well I was waiting to tell you until after I was dead so I wouldn’t have to tell you.”

Mammon: “Now just keep holding on, okay. Just keep holding on.”

MC: “It’s okay, it’s okay Mammon, I always wanted to go out while I’m still young and hot.”

Leviathan: “I didn’t want to tell you because I’m terrified of female emotions.”

Satan: “No, no, no, I was mostly raised by Lucifer. And a bunch of friendly drunks down at the pub. They taught me the fine art of stabbing.”

Barbatos: “It’s just too painful seeing the truth all the time.”

Solomon: “Ah, that’s why humans tend to avoid it.”

Belphegor: “The profession left without me.”

Diavolo: “Oh, that’s too bad.”

Belphegor: “I blame myself, cause I didn’t even notice.”

Solomon & Barbatos: *fighting*

Asmodeus: “Guys, guys come on. I’m much more embarrassed than I am aroused.”

Asmodeus: “MC, you poor baby. What a horrific day you’ve had. Let’s have too much wine and forget about it all.”

Beelzebub: “How’d you become a weird talking cat.”

Satan: “You keep shoving waffles in your mouth while I think of an answer.”

Thirteen: “I’ll use my skills as a hunter and Raphael will use his diplomacy to stab them with a broom handle.”

Solomon: “I used to spend many nights up here. Watching the sky, the moon, the neighbors.”

Lucifer: “This is your home. You’re free to explore.”

MC: “Wow, what’s behind that door?”

Lucifer: “None of your business nosy.”

Mammon: “Maybe you were overcome by chimney fumes. It happens quite frequently in a place like this with no chimnies.”

Satan: “What family curse? You mean insanity?”

Leviathan: “No, don’t be crazy. But yes I mean insanity.”

Asmodeus: “You guys are heavy. Do I really need both of you?”

Solomon & Satan: “Yes!”

Asmodeus: “Damn, I hate democracy.”

Mammon: “I knew you could count on me!”

Simeon: “What’s this called again?”

Mammon: “A a massage. It’s like a light well intentioned beating.”

Diavolo: “You’re clearly upset.”

Lucifer: “I’m not upset!”

Diavolo: “You said that like you were upset!”

MC: “Come on Belphegor be reasonable!”

Belphegor: “Never!”

Satan: “We’re gonna have to wing this in a dangerously half assed manner.”

Mammon: “That’s the Morningstar way.”

Asmodeus: “There’s plenty of fish in the sea, Sol.”

Solomon: “Like hell am I marrying another fish woman.”

Lucifer: “Disappointment’s a form of caring.”

Diavolo: “Tell me, where are you from.”

Solomon: “A country setting, it’s kind of like a farm but more stabbing.”

Simeon: “This whole thing feels like a weird dream.”

Mammon: “Or scurvy. When does scurvy kick in?”

Lucifer: “Believe it or not I know what it feels like to be burned alive by a mob of idiots.”

Beelzebub: “Oh, sweet butter, you’re the only thing right with the world.”

Solomon: “Morning, Belphegor! Care to try my new cure all? It wards off the deadly plague.”

Belphegor: “I’m actually hoping for death. Thanks though.”

Mammon: “For the first time in my life I feel completely calm and—“

Mammon: *Gets attacked by hawk*

Satan: “I’ve loved you since the moment you killed my brother.”

Mammon: “You don’t scare me! I was born scared.”

[ilovedagain]

A short story about Damian Wayne and what colors mean to him.

"Maybe we should speak in a simpler way," the therapist said to the artist. After thirty minutes of stony silence, she was still trying to get the artist to say a word. "Talk to me about colors. What does blue mean to you?"

The artist's first thought was Richard. A man in black and blue who flew through the navy night sky, untethered by gravity. Skin mottled the same black and blue underneath his clothes. He tried to hide from everyone, burying his hurt deep. As if, perhaps, if he couldn't see it, others wouldn't see it too. He would guard his emotions, guard others—the fool—but he wouldn't guard himself.

"Guardian," the artist finally said about blue. He could talk about colors. He re-crossed his arms for the third time, aware of how obvious his discomfort was but unable to help it.

He knew how to face judgment, harden his heart and list his failings to superiors. But the therapist was nonjudgmental, asking him about colors, and he never learned how to guard against someone without ulterior motives.

"What about yellow?"

The artist swallowed. Yellow was the color of the cape he tried to steal from a boy who needed it as much as him. It was a flash of brightness in an unforgiving world where he had to fight dirty and vicious to earn his place. At least, that was the world before everything changed. Before the world softened around the edges and suddenly he was the dark, unforgiving one.

"Regret."

The therapist hummed. A soft, melodic sound beneath the crashing waves in his ears. Maybe she could hear how loud his heartbeat was because she didn't push him to elaborate. "Pink?"

The artist almost smiled. Pink was the tongue of his cat, stuck out in her sleep.

"Cute."

Unlike him, the therapist didn't hold back her smile.

"Black?"

That was an easy one. The color of mystery. The color of the void in his life; the empty space beside his mother. That void captured his younger self's mind, always wondering what the void was like. What it would make of him. The hard part was saying aloud, to the therapist, what it meant to him.

"Father," he said, and immediately regretted his honesty.

She nodded, not making a big deal of it.

"Red?"

The artist exhaled deeply. He thought of many things. The red of his eye-veins when he was stressed. The red blotches of blood blooming like roses on a white bandage wrapped and wrapped around a head wound, vaguely bouquet-like. The red-chested robins he found in his father's gardens and fed seeds as he sketched their innocence.

The red helmet of a man, who was really a boy, desperate and different from his family. Living despite all the odds saying he should be long dead by now.

"Life," the artist said. He let his arms drop, suddenly drained like a nurse had drawn a liter of his blood.

"Green?"

The artist froze. He stared at the therapist, wondering about her angle. Did she know where he came from—his hometown and its lifeblood? Was this the goal of her little game of colors, how she would finally glean his thoughts about his childhood home?

When he was a young boy, in a kingdom of sand and gold, green was everywhere. The green fields in a greenhouse of extinct plants. In the green eyes of his mother and grandfather, the very same eyes as his own. And in the green pools that restored life, a miracle he beheld almost daily.

He would stand before those miracle waters, anxiously waiting for his loved ones to emerge, contemplating mirages and how it must be a lie to restore life after death. And yet, his pets had survived a plague, his mother had survived a stab wound, and his grandfather had survived cancer. He was a child who believed he was lucky.

"We're finished here." He stood and left, fifteen minutes before the end of the session, disregarding the therapist's soft-spoken plea to wait.

Richard greeted him in the waiting room with a smile that vanished when he saw his face. He sprang to his feet, abandoning the magazine unceremoniously on the chair, and matched Damian's brisk pace out of the building.

"What happened?" Richard took a shaky breath when Damian ignored him in favor of speed-walking to the parking lot. Richard placed a hand on his shoulder as they reached the car. He bent his head to meet his eyes, but Damian stubbornly turned his head away. His eyes were so, so blue. "Dami, what happened?"

Damian knew, and he knew Dr. Dinah knew, that refusing to discuss that color spoke volumes, more than anything he had said during the session.

"Home," Damian whispered, feeling like a child crying on his first day of kindergarten. "Please, I just want to go home."

They didn't converse during the car ride home, though Richard stole glances at him, his unspoken words palpable in the silence. Damian fled to his room and spent dinner there. He was too restless to sleep and too exhausted to study. Tugged between the urge to fight and to freeze.

Like how all roads lead to Rome, he ended up painting. He set up an easel taller than himself and began mixing colors until he had every shade of green. He thought about home. His old home, the one in an unforgiving world where death was both constant and impossible, where pain was as abundant as gold, but at least the world made sense. The strong survived, and the strongest conquered. They even conquered death.

The scene he painted was a view inside a tower. Stone walls stretched up into infinite flights of stairs, with assassins lined up in rows on each level. The pool at the bottom cast a thick, green hue over the darkness. But the pool was an afterthought; the focus was on the walls of the tower.

He knew those walls well. They were made of bulging rocks that lay unevenly. When they were bathed in a green haze, Damian couldn't help but think they resembled cancer cells under a microscope. And that was precisely how he painted them: a tower with walls like tumor cells, splotches of assassins in the darkness, and the gaping green pool at the bottom.

Poison. Green is poison.

[s-4pphics]

idk what this is i just needed some sad shit so i wrote more post santa barbara really quick not proofread not edited okay bye love yall

People from the old world used to do it before everything went to shit.

Soulmates, y’know. Fallin’ in love and all’at.

‘S how I found my wife. By

Dating.

A bunch of bullshit. All respect to Maria and Tommy; but dating, marriage, possible children if no one dies from unmedicated childbirth… Then what?

Obtaining the honor of retelling your life accomplishment of having found a soulmate… who got ripped to shreds by hoards of mindless fucks. Just too star-eyed and dumb to sense danger despite it staring them in the eye. Tommy should know better; he ended up blind and handicapped and lonely, all for love. It’s a shock he isn’t as equally pessimistic.

Closeness. Intimacy. Being lovestruck in a time where its end is doomed, it’s all a fucking bullshit distraction.

Jesse would’ve hated what you’ve become, what Jackson’s become. You sense it everytime you look his toddler in the eye. What once was filled with hopeful solitude is now lost. Empty. A separate league of infected.

Life is now as depressing as death.

There’s nothing for humans. Nothing for all life. Simply following a dead trail until its abrupt end, right through the brain or chest, or slow and calculated. Until another discovers what the world has lost, kicked to the side and bloody.

JJ is awfully silent these days. Toddlers should cry and scream and laugh until their lungs fail them, but whenever Dina spoon feeds him mashed potatoes, he just swallows. Opens his mouth, swallows, and waits for the next bite. Dina excuses it, says that he’s patient like his dad, but whenever you look at him, and he looks at you, there’s a mutual understanding.

Everything is pointless.

One by one, residents vacant the canteen, leaving in silence to drown in labor, to sleep until their bodies wake from overrest. To cry. To hate. On a constant hunt for distractions.

When JJ finishes, Dina scarfs down whatever he’s left behind, barely grimacing like she’s nauseas. She hides her disdain well. All for her son.

She says goodbye so softly, pushing your untouched plate closer to you. Always encouraging.

She leaves with her baby on her hip. Your plate is shoved to its original position when she’s out of view. The sight makes you ill.

The potatoes and Ellie.

She’s the physical embodiment of everyone. Beaten and lost, functioning on autopilot. She wears it more than anybody, you’d argue. The heft of loss.

Her return from suicide is never lost on you. Wordless, bloodied, stabbed, bitten again—a secret you’re keen to—nothing was hidden or bandaged, not even her injured hand. She bared her battle for all eyes. You’ve never seen Tommy so hollow. That felt like ages ago. Shame washes over him whenever he looks at her.

Sometimes, you wonder if they still speak.

You could ask. She’s two tables down from you, just staring at her plate. You recognize Joel’s jacket. It almost swallows her.

By the looks of it, she’d hate company. He always liked mashed potatoes. Such a grandpa.

… And it clicks. Another day wasted on mourning. She’d definitely hate company.

The young years of rambunctious Ellie feel like a fever dream—sometimes you doubt ever experiencing them, but your scars are living proof of your ventures. Causing raucous and getting into trouble in the middle of the night. You two fought so often, but when you reunited… Pranks galore on the adults. Joel tried to hate them, tried to scold—to parent, but it never worked. Much too laborious to tame a rascal, too exhausting to parent without structure.

The distance only expands between you now. There’s always an ache when you catch glimpses at her. With her, for her.

And she feels it.

That could be why she hurts for you just the same.

[fakesimp]

Fiery Love

Warning !

Vox Akuma x Reader x Shu Yamino ; The use of Vox's 2.0 and 3.0 fit ; The use of Shu's 2.0 fit ; Mentions of Blood, Murder ; Unestablished Polyamorous Relationship

The world I wrote in this fic is Not Canon ! This fic took place in the Past timeline !

<- Part 1 ||

A/n !

This is getting interesting.

➶◜◝➴

Red,

All you see is just, red, blood splatters everywhere, dead bodies lies before you.

Some are also burned to ashes, a lot have happened in a span of 10 minutes, screams and cries of agony is what you heard in that moment.

And now it's silent, nothing but the sound of leaves rustling, the smell of blood made you want to barf, you couldn't look up at the two figures before you.

You've seen them in action, and now you're speechless, Good God you're now confused if you want to run away or stay. They both were looking at the scene they did before them, but then their body turned facing you.

"So, you're still planning to stick around?" Shu asked with the most casual tone ever, as if he did not just burnt these beasts, or yokais, or whatever that they're fighting with to ashes.

He burnt them just within seconds ! While Vox at the other hand, sliced them to half, and then Shu burnt them again.

Endless loop of Slicing and Burning, until there's nothing left behind but ashes.

Your eyes glistened as you look up at them, clueless on what to do, "I mean I don't mind to consume you all up, but since I have to share, I have to slice you to half" the thought of you getting sliced flows into your head, making you tremble under their gaze.

Vox took his sweet time wiping his katana, cleaning the blood off, before walking up to you, stabbing the katana down to the ground next to you as he kneeled in front of you, hand on your chin. He smiled mockingly at you, "Are you afraid ? Where did those confidence of yours go hm? I thought you were so eager to enter the forbidden forest." He said his grip on your chin tightens.

"Come on Vox, you're scaring them" Shu said as he approach both of you, standing near Vox looking down at you who's being held still by the Demon. "They were the one that's being so, stubborn upon entering, and now they have their tail in between their legs after seeing what happened." His golden eyes narrowed, glaring down at you with disappointment.

"It's human natures Vox, I already warned them about curiosity, but I believe they didn't listen thoroughly." Shu sighed softly before his violet eyes glistens under the red moon, your eyes look at Vox and Shu's. "You have a chance to run away you know?" Shu pointed out and chuckled, "You could push him away and turn, and then get those legs to work."

Your hands trembled as you held Vox's wrist, trying to push him away, but you failed. Vox could only sigh at you, he pulled his hand away from you, shaking the dirt off his pants. "I'll make this quick, just close your eyes and you'll feel nothing."

Your body refuses to listen to you, they're frozen under their dangerous gaze. You see Vox's katana being pulled out, by instinct you closed your eyes and prepared yourself for the impact.

But as you wait, you felt nothing came to you, instead you felt like someone is hugging you, a familiar scent goes into your nose, you recognize this smell.

You then heard a gentle whisper right next to your ear, "Such a cute obedient Human, stay still, don't open your eyes until I said so."

It belongs to Shu.

. . .

You don't know what's happening, you don't know where Shu and maybe Vox, taking you to. All you could do is just listen to the Sorcerer's command, and wait for him to say it's safe to open your eyes.

How long has it been? You don't know.

. . .

"Okay, you can open your eyes now" You finally heard his voice after this suspenseful silence between you, you no longer felt his warmth around you as you slowly open your eyes.

It was so bright, it took you a moment to be able to see what's going on, you blinked, and again. And you see a glimpse of pink, falling down.

Oh.

You're back at the house, instead of being in the dark, the sun is high up in the sky, shining down at you, Shu and Vox. You heard the Sakura trees rustling against each other, some of the petals falling down from the trees making the scenery look endearing to admire.

"W, Why am I here?" You hesitantly asked, as you look at the two who's now standing before you, their backs facing you, Vox is the first to turn his body to you, "Curious now are you, little human?" Vox said before taking a step closer towards Shu, whispering something before he left, walking into the house.

"Are you not tired?" Is the first thing Shu asked, "Why do you give up so easily?" He asked again, he looked over his shoulder, his violet eyes staring down at yours. Confused, also curious on why your doing this.

"I, I don't know.." You are also confused on why you kept on coming back to the forest despite you have confirmed the rumors, all you want to know is that, are they real or not. And you have confirmed it long time ago, so why do you keep on coming back?

"Hmm," Shu chuckled softly, and then you felt something on your head, you glanced up. To see Shu patting your head, the glint in his eyes seems, different. It seems gentler, also friendlier? The same look he gave you before.

"You're a lucky one," He whispered, "Because Vox will never delay soul consumption." Shu continued. He then took a step back, extending his hand out towards you. Waiting for you to put your hand on top of his, "You're staying over for awhile, since the yokais have seen you, it is not safe for you to go back." He then pulled you off the ground as soon as you placed your hand on top of his gloved hand.

"You'll only bring danger if you return back to the village," He glanced at the distance, before looking back at you, with his identic V-shaped smile. "You don't want that to happen now do you?" He asked oh so innocently, with the gentle smile plastered on his face. "N, No.."

"Oh how considerate of you," He smiled, "Thinking of others first before yourself." Shu lead you into the house, "Are you tired? Do you want to rest?" Shu asked as he slide the door open for you. "I don't think, I can sleep.." Your reply made the Sorcerer chuckled, "Fair enough, shouldn't have asked then"

You both then walked in silence, you don't know where he's taking you, but you didn't bother to ask where you two are going, you only eyed him curiously when Shu stopped in front of a room.

He glanced back at you, smiling for a moment before slide the door open, revealing Vox who's leaning against a floor table, a smoking pipe in his hand. He tilt his head back a bit, looking at Shu who's walking close to the table and sat across him. "Hmh, Of course you couldn't sleep." Vox said as he then look back at the backyard, there is one beautiful large sakura tree. It looks old, yet the beauty of it still last till today.

You sat in between the two, Shu sent out some, floating papers away, you stared at them glide away from the room you three are in. You recognize those, those are shikigamis.

Not long after the shikigamis left, they returned again, holding 3 cups, and a teapot. Shu whispered a thank you at them before snap them away, "Tea?" Shu asked as he already start pouring the tea into the cups. "Yes please, if you may.." You said as you watch him pour the tea into the last cup, "Enjoy your tea" Shu gently pushed the cup towards your direction.

The two of you drank down the tea, silence basked between the three of you, Vox who was smoking finally put down the smoking pipe, and drank the tea Shu poured down for him.

"Hmmm.. Finest quality, did you get it from the usual?" Vox cuts the silence, Shu hummed softly as he pour the tea again into his cup. "Yes, It is, they had a new set, I decided to bought some. The taste is quite nice.."

The two talked about tea, then other topics that you don't really know what exactly they're talking about but you didn't comment on it.

It was quite peaceful, hearing the two chattering, the sakura trees outside rustling, the birds chirping. It is a nice day.

. . .

You didn't realize the time pass so fast together with them, the moon already back up at the sky. "Let's get you to bed, who do you want amongst us to company you?" You stared at the Sorcerer, confused. "Huh? " Shu chuckled, "It's no good if you are left alone in the bedroom, don't worry, we have no plans on doing anything on you if that's what you're thinking" Your face immediately flushed red, "I-! I didn't even thought that way!"

Shu just laughed at your reaction as he lead you to the bedroom, the room have a terrace. "Well? Have you decided?" You were thinking so hard, you want Shu to company you because of how approachable he looks, but you're also curious about the Demon. You want to know more about him, you remember how soft his face when he talked with Shu about something he's fond of.

"I don't, know.." You frowned, "Can't you both, company me? Does that sound, too greedy?" The Sorcerer didn't say anything, he then let out a small laugh. "Two is better than one, hm?"

. . .

You're on the futon, the two is at the terrace, drinking tea, chattering in a whisper. While you in the room, getting yourself comfortable in the futon.

Soon, drowsiness falls upon you, slowly your eyes closes and you drifted off into the dream world.

While you are sleeping, the two are still talking to each other until silence occupied their conversation. Shu and Vox enjoying the silence, but then the Sorcerer broke it.

"You have no intentions on eating them aren't you?" Vox glanced at him, "No." He replied short, his eyes narrowed slightly, he then frowned upon the thought of 'consuming' them. "You are such a gentleman." Shu chuckled softly, "You should try go softer towards them, they seemed scared of you, you know?" He continued as he sip his tea. "Hmm.. Perhaps, maybe I could do that. Not now though."

. . .

The moon is still high up in the dark sky, and it is still red. It will took a week or so until this red moon phase completely disappear, Shu and Vox, have been protecting every village they could find. Defending them off from those Yokais who's looking for Humans to feast on, but of course humans doesn't know this.

They don't need to know, The two despise the thought of being worshipped. They would rather eat up those rumors of them being on the evil side, that's why they didn't bother do anything about those rumors going around.

. . .

"My, look at this delicious Human. Getting all greedy now are you? Not sharing them with us?"

"Now now, we have no plan on eating them"

Vox and Shu immediately whip their head towards the owner of the voices, the two figures walked out from the dark, one smirking while the other gave a soft, genuine smile.

"Miss me?"

"Greetings"

©fakesimp . 2023

How are we feeling guys? Lol I hope you guys like this part, though genuinely I am not even sure where this is going, but I have an idea, but it's kinda messed up lol.

|| Part 3 →

A/n !

Anyways ! The next part will be uploaded if this fic reaches 300 notes, again. Good luck !

"I am not real,

I do hope you remember that,

You still have that dumb smile, you like me that much huh? since the last time I paid a visit, you always have that dumb smile on your face.

What? Don't look at me like that, I'm talking to you.

Yeah you who's reading this? Tho I have seen a lot new faces, how fascinating."

[foolinafable]

i. slipping through my fingers

SYNOPSIS: He doesn’t know how to love. You know this and yet you would still give everything just to be with him- even for just a moment. Or the story of how you and Keith finally get together. PAIRING: Keith Kogane x Altean reader WORD COUNT: 3.1K TAGS: Slowburn, Angst, extreme cannon compliance SERIES LINK: a love as cold as ours

NEXT →

NOTE: Barely edited

Keith was always cold, you knew he didn’t mean to be- it was just who he was but it didn’t make this any easier.

You knew you felt something for him a long time ago much like Lance with Allura. You wouldn’t call it love or more like you couldn’t allow yourself to because how can you love someone that isn’t yours. Sometimes you even doubt that you are friends with him as his standoffish nature sometimes catches you off guard. So why in Altea would you even imagine having anything with him. Every time you see him it’s like a knife is being stabbed in your chest because you know that he could never love you the way you try to do him. 

He explained it best himself- how he prefers his own company and would regularly choose to be alone rather than with other people. You suppose it has to do with his childhood, where he told you for the most part he was all alone with no parents or family to stay and show him unconditional love.

Even knowing all of this doesn’t make it any easier- it doesn’t make you want to be with him any less, rather it just fuels your inner turmoil. It was hard enough being one of the only alteans left alive, your friends, family, nation and your king dead.

Honestly, you're only making it harder on yourself by falling for one of the only people in the universe that as he put it “Can’t love, and doesn’t want to.” 

You suppose this is why it was easy to say goodbye, well easier than you thought it would be.

He had been distancing himself from all the team, spending more time with the blade of Marmora, constantly failing to show up for the team. You were overjoyed for Shiro when he was able to reconnect with the black lion, the whole team was more than fed up with Keith's new non-committal attitude towards them and was happy to have a leader again.

So when Keith did show up, late as usual for a mission, you simply sat back and watched as the other paladins ripped him a new one about how important your work is even if he doesn't see it that way, as he claimed that the work he was doing with the blades was “more important” an audible scoff could be heard coming from you at that comment. Not even bothering to look at him when his gaze turned to you, knowing that if you looked at him he would see the sadness clouding over you, because you knew that now the black lion had accepted Shiro again, Keith wasn't needed anymore.

You zoned out as he told the team of his departure, joining in the group hug to say goodbye to him, but leaving it at that. Knowing that if you had a private conversation it would only end in your tears and his guilt because while you would give anything to be with him, you realised a long time ago that there is nothing that you could give to make that happen. You can’t make him want you.

Him leaving made it easier. Not seeing him every day like you used to and, honestly, having to work with him as you did only made your longing worse and without him here, well there was no room for those emotions anymore. The coalitions planning for the takeover of Naxzela had taken up everyone's time, it was the only thing you could think of, allowing you to put your feelings for him far back into your mind. Blocking it out if you will because there is no time for you to be moping around.

The day of the planned invasion came quickly, it was almost as if the time whipped past you, barely able to recall what happened during the time prior to this day, except for Keith's departure- that you believe will always be engraved into your memories. Nerves couldn’t help but rack you as you walked suited up towards your lion, it all just seemed too easy, a sentiment Pidge shared with you not even the night prior, her words echoing in your mind throughout the battle, you tried to rationalise it as this mission wasn't just Voltron they also had the rebels and the blade, so a lot more manpower. But, in your opinion, it almost seemed like the galra were not fighting for Naxzela but rather fighting to escape.

Voltron was leading the ground effort now, the blades and rebels working as artillery support via the Ziaforge cannons, all seemed to be going fine until Matt and Keith's cannons were remotely turned off by an incoming galra cruiser. However, Shiro was confident

“Naxzela is almost secure, the cruiser is going to be too late!”

Voltron battled with more ships on the ground, and like he said you only needed to take out the last of the heavy artillery then it was over. Lance and Pidge quickly created a shield on the left as per Shiro's instruction, blocking another heavy blast from the galrans, you all grunting at the impact of the large beam trying to keep the robot together and steady on the ground. Lance and Pidge were able to use the shield to push the beam back and you watched with a bated breath as the beam shot back towards the ship, destroying it completely. Voltron flew into the air, Hunk using his cannon to destroy the rest of the artillery support on the ground.

You all sat in your lions and watched Naxzela being blown up- a third of the galran empire gone in one swoop. Voltron landed on the ground again, somewhat unsteady. 

“Woah, did we cause that earthquake?” you heard Lance exclaim over comms as you braced yourself against your control panel.

 “I dont think so!” Pidge quickly replied as you all cast your gases towards the floor

“Something wrong” you mumbled slightly to yourself, eyes going wide when Allura agreed with you. Then the rumbling seemed to increase and alarms started blaring when Hunk halted

“Guys look over there” and the robot turned to see the ground rising behind you, large galran pillars with purple markings now towering over Voltron.

“Uh, guys, what are those?” Lance asked, trying to seem calm, but looking over at his video you could see the furrowing of his brows in worry as he looked up at these new landforms.

“We’ve never seen anything like this from the galra before” Pidge continued, eyes wide. 

“Are they weapons?” Hunk questioned while Pidge tried to guess 

“They look like some sort of generators'' 

You felt a heavy weight on you as you asked “Allura, can you feel it?” and she simply nodded, also confused as to what these were and why they were making her feel heavy and uneasy. 

“Stay alert” Shiro commented, feeling the nerves of his team as Lance interjected 

“I think we should get out of here! Pidge plot a course for our escape” but Shiro didn’t agree with the second in command 

“Hold off, we should try to find out what these things are'' You took a sharp breath as the pillars lit up with quintessence, the top of the towers sprouting out with some sort of electricity, and then the purple light spread across the atmosphere of Naxzela, creating a purple shield. 

“This can’t be safe” Hunk declared as the purple shield covered the top of the Voltron blocking the view of space. 

“Do you feel that '' Allura copied your earlier words adding “That wave of darkness” and you could, it settled deep into your body making you shiver when Allura started grunting out in pain.

Then a pressure came down upon the robot as everyone started panicking, you were no longer able to move your lion. Voltron quickly fell onto its hands and knees from the pressure as Pidge screamed 

“This energy field is holding us down! Gravity levels are spiking!” Shiro grunted before he commanded 

“We need to get out of here, if we stay here we will be crushed. So we need to focus” At his words you tried to dispel as much of your worry as possible knowing he was right- you wouldn't get anywhere being afraid

“Give it everything you’ve got and maybe, we can make it through this energy field”  he continued.

Then with all the paladins' might they were able to lift off the ground but soon after the metal of the lion creaked and they were brought right back down the ground, like a magnet. You could hear the screaming of the other paladins as you fell backwards mixing in with your own, and then Voltron crashed down onto the ground of Naxzela. 

“Is anyone able to move around?” Hunk questioned as Pidge quickly answered 

“Barely, but the gravitational pull is worse on Voltron” she grunted from overexertion then spoke again “Maybe if we can get down to the surface Hunk and I can figure out a way to interrupt the energy field!” you hummed in thought as Lance spoke 

“That sounds good, except for the zillion robot dudes still kicking around down there!” you all looked towards Shiro for some sort of guidance as he says 

“We are going to have to watch out for each other out there, tight formations, now let's move” Then he left the black lion. You all joined him in leaving your lions grunting heavily as you used your jet packs to get to the surface, parkouring off Voltron. You all jumped towards one of the pillars barely missing the lasers being shot at you, all quickly turning on your shields as you landed on the pillar bodies turned towards the shooters.

Pidge and Hunk quickly took refuge behind you four, trying to find out what was causing this energy, but they couldn't find anything so as Allura said you needed to follow the pillars down to the core in hopes of figuring it out Hunk was able to open the door to the pillar.

“It's open let's go!”  Pidge exclaimed and you all piled in, jumping down towards the core of the planet. “Woah” the green paladin spoke in awe you had made it to the bottom of the planet, a door opening up revealing a large purple orb, and you agreed it was certainly amazing to look at- whatever it was.

 “What is that?” Lance spoke your thoughts aloud

 “This is Zarkons witches doing” Allura commented walking closer to the large orb in the centre of the room 

“So this is the source of that dark energy?” you questioned as Allura nodded as Shiro looked up at the room 

“Allura, this facility, it looks altean”

“This is a decommissioned altean teafroming plant, somehow the witch has been able to reactive it remotely,” she confirmed his suspicion, you all walked closer to the orb, now in touching distance you couldn’t believe you had never seen this before on altea 

“Can you shut it down” the black paladin asked 

“I can try.” Allura put her hand towards the orb, a light of quintessence shining from her palm touched the orb when she screamed out in pain, the orb seemingly wrapped itself onto her arm in a vine-like structure. You all quickly called out her name as you grabbed onto her, trying to pull her away from the orb, all grunting due to its sheer power, luckily you were able to slowly drag her away, causing you all to fall backwards onto the floor when the orb let go of her. 

Lance quickly helped her up as she spoke “It’s too powerful” 

You all turned towards Hunk as he grunted, trying to get up, looking towards his hand “This soil- is weird, it's so white and powdery, like ground-up rocks or earth” You could see his helmet examining the soil, probably giving him a breakdown of the material when he gasped

“It’s Heximite!”

 Then lasers started shooting at you again, the soldiers from earlier had finally caught up to you, and you all quickly activated your shields with Hunk and Lance activating their shooters, shooting back at the galrans. Pidge quickly used her lasso to electrocute and bring down another soldier 

“What's hexamite? Some of us may have slept through chemistry!” Lance asked

Smiling at his antics you replied “It’s a highly explosive material” your own words making you stop in thought the words only now registering in your brain but Pidge luckily continued as you figured out what this meant

 “The whole planet is a bomb! One big enough to wipe out several solar systems!” Hunk then interjected,

“It’s under increasing pressure, and when it reaches the point of no return, the whole planet will explode!” 

Shiro tried to seem calm as he asked the next question “How long do we have?” 

Hunk while shielding himself thought  “Maybe twenty minutes'' 

While Lance continued to blast at the soldiers “We need to get off this planet and warn everyone!” As you took down the soldiers, more seemed to appear through the doors

 “Anyone within 10 solar systems of ours is going to get blown to pieces!” Hunk exclaimed. 

“They could take out Voltron, the rebels and the blade in one fell swoop!” Allura concluded as you gasped

 “It was all a trap for us and we fell right into it!” then you activated your jet packs as you tried to escape the soldiers as time was really running out.

 From within Voltron Shiro was trying to reach anyone through the comms, but nobody was responding. 

Shiro sighed “We’ve lost communications, Pidge, can you boost our signal?” 

 You could hear Pidge clicking buttons before she replied worriedly “No! There is too much electrostatic repulsion!” 

Worry was wracking your body causing your hands to fidget like mad as Hunk not so helpfully spoke “17 minutes'' 

Allura then spoke, “We have to get off this planet- immediately!” moving her controls as she was able to get the blue lion off the ground resulting in Voltron being able to stand straight, however, the weight of Voltron against the already pressurised ground make the rocks crack and fall beneath them, causing Voltron to fall further into the depths of Naxzela. 

“Oh no, we have fallen even further down!” Lance comentated as Voltron luckily landed on its feet seemingly in a deep cave.

 “15 minutes'' Hunk exclaimed to which you retorted

 “Really not very helpful Hunk!” your voice is shaking.

 “No, no! We can't die just yet!” Pidge willed. 

“Listen'' Shiro started “We have gone through a lot as Voltron, we just have to think.” 

Then it hit Lance as he turned his comms towards you and Allura

“You both felt the darkness at the start, and you both have a connection to the magic, you both must be able to get us out of this'' 

to which Allura stressed “We haven't been trained”

She was correct back on Altea you were both novices. You had only started your lessons when Zarkon attacked and Allura had been told by Alfor that lesson wouldn't be necessary for her as she would be too busy learning to be the future leader of the nation.

But maybe together you could figure something out you simply looked to Allura and Lance and nodded as you closed your eyes and focused on your energy and Alluras as the both of you connected to each other it was like your quintessence merged together and your powers began to seep out of the two of you and into Voltron, lighting up the entire robot, turning it back on and giving it more power, the whole lion became outlined by the quintessence the two of you exuded allowing voltron to fight against the pressure and lift off at an incredible speed, the power was able to break through the forcefield on top of Naxzela allowing your escape from the planet.

 You smiled at your success, “Thanks Lance '' but he shook his head 

“That was all you and Allura'' and you took a deep breath knowing that he was right. You and Allura are a lot stronger than you give yourselves credit for. Voltron made its way into space as Hunk shouted

 “We still need to diffuse that bomb” you all nodded in agreement as Shiro reached out to someone in the comms

 “Keith, can you hear me?” 

You somewhat gritted my teeth at the mention of him, not sure if you were ready to see him again as up to now you had been able to miss out on talks with the blade usually too busy campaigning on another planet with the rebels and sometimes other paladins for support on the takeover of Naxzella. Since he left you had barely even heard his voice and for the most part, turned off being able to hear Shiro's comms so you didn't need to hear his voice today, everything was so meticulously planned that you didn't even need to speak to know what Voltron needed to do anyway. 

“Shiro! Where are you? Is everything okay?” you heard his voice speak out 

“Not for long if we don’t stop Zarkons witch, she must be aboard that cruiser”

 To which Keith mused “I’m way ahead of you” You could almost hear the smirk on his face “and I brought some backup” You then heard Olia from the rebels speak out letting you all of their presence.

Shiro connected to Coran telling him to get as far away from Naxzela as possible he seemed confused until you and Allura interjected 

“Naxela is a bomb” she started 

“and it’s only a few minutes away from going off” you concluded

 “but what about you?” Coran worried as he looked at the pair of alteans

“We are going to try to stop it” you said gravely

 “we need you to do this'' Allura urged the older man to which he simply replied

 “yes, princess” but you could see the fear etched on his face that he would be the last altean standing after this. 

“Thrusters are at max power” Lance stated as Voltron flew as fast as it could 

“I sure hope we make it in time” Hunk worried, as Voltron got further away the time was ticking, sweat was rolling down Lance's forehead

 “We aren't going to make it in time!” when all of a sudden the purple aura encasing Naxzela faded away and Coran overjoyed commented

 “Naxzela is returning to normal! You did it” A breath you didn't know you were holding was let out in relief when Shiro congratulated Keith and the rebels on their work when he said something puzzling

 “It wasn't me, it was Lotor'' you and the other paladins looked at each other through the comms confused

 “The cannon on his ship was the only thing powerful enough to break through the shield.” After those words were uttered the galran cruiser transported itself away to another galaxy. 

Then you heard his voice

“Attention, paladins of Voltron and rebel fighters, I know we have had our differences in the past, but.. I think it is time we had a discussion.”

[tllgrrl]

Grimes 68 by @tllgrrl aka nefertiri jones

Summary: After almost 8 years apart, Michonne finds Rick Grimes, the love of her life and father of their children, and he brings her into the Civic Republic Military. For the time being: 1) She has to pretend to be someone else to avoid being seen as a threat; 2) He has to figure out a plan for the two of them to get out; and 3) They have to try and act like they’re strangers to each other instead of reunited lovers.

(The key word is “try”.)

* * * * *

*CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…*

The steel kill sticks striking against the brick wall rang in the parking lot of what was left of a post office.

A former postal service semi that now had protective grills over the windows led the next herd of the dead, or what the CRM called “deltas”— “delts” for short—into the large space on the one side of the harvest wall.

The shuffling hoard was drawn by the noise and flashing lights mounted on the truck.

*CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…*

The consignees readied themselves on the other side, and as the delts shambled to open spaces in the wall, each one was met with a blow that drove a sharp, prong-ended spear (“kill stick”) into its skull, followed by a twist of the wrist that destroyed its brain, effectively and finally killing it.

It was a repetitive, bloody, mind-numbing grind, and some said that it was brutal for the workers because it wasn’t easy to completely forget that the delts were once living human beings too.

Grimes had done his time at The Wall. He’d even become a legend with the number of kills he could rack up in a shift.

It was painted in big letters on the side of a nearby building, for all to see:

GRIMES 68.

He was also well-known for the number of attempts he’d made to do something no one else in the City wanted to do: Escape. Wanting to leave the safety and security of the CR so badly that he actually cut off his own shackled hand at the wrist, only to fail again and be brought back to the Wall.

Time and time again an officer in the Civic Republic Military gave him a chance to join up, and he refused each offer, preferring to be at the culling facility, killing the dead and planning his next escape attempt.

Then one day, he accepted the offer. He traded his Consignee jacket for a CRM uniform. Instead of using a kill stick, he got a fancy, deadly prosthetic hand with a retractable blade. He got all kinds of specialized training, all the perks as he rose through the ranks, and he never had to cull delts again.

But now, after having been gone for years, there he was. Back at the Wall. Watching.

Watching her.

The new consignee.

The dark-skinned Black woman with her hair cut short on one side of her head, exposing a beautiful profile; and locs cascading down just past her shoulder in the back and on the other side of her face .

The woman who, after her on-boarding interview, was designated a Type “B”, seeking safety, willing to work, and keeping to herself, but had the carriage and demeanour of an “A” who was always observing, was more than capable of defending herself, and being a provider of safety. A leader.

Word soon got around among the Consignees that the ex-consignee/now military officer known as “the famous Rick Grimes” had not only survived a chopper crash, but he’d started showing up at the harvest wall. Coming back to a place he’d gotten away from years earlier, only to return when a mysterious new consignee was brought into the CRM.

*CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…*

“Hey. Look who just pulled up,” said a consignee who had her red hair tied back with, of all things, a bright pink ribbon that was tied in a bow.

“Holy shit! ‘zat Grimes?” another consignee added, tying a bandana on his head, cholo style, then slipping on his face shield. “He doesn’t have to be here any more. What’s up with that?”

“Bethune’s not-so-secret admirer,” snickered the worker to pink bow’s left, stabbing his kill stick into a delt that sagged and dropped. “She doesn’t see him yet. But she knows he’s there. Watch. In 3..2..1.”

Michonne—known to the other consignees as “Dana Bethune” ��stationed at the far end of the wall, continued to methodically dispatch delts.

Then she stopped, looked over her shoulder, and found the tall CRM officer. Standing there, at ease, even with his helmet and face guard on, she knew he was watching her.

It seemed like they stood there, the only people at the wall. 5…10…15 minutes. Watching each other. Breathing the same air. At last…

3 seconds later, she turned her head back to the oncoming delts, and went back to work.

Behind her mask, the other consignees couldn’t see the small smile that graced her lips, or hear her whisper “I found you.”

Behind his mask, no one could see the CRM officer smile as he whispered “You found me.”

*CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…*

“You see that?” drawled the consignee to pink bow’s right, continuing to spear oncoming delts. “Somethin’s up with those two.”

“I know, right? For the past two weeks, he’s here. Same time every day she’s on shift, just before third break. Look at him lookin’. Even wearin’ the consignee jacket, the mask, an’ her hair all tucked in, it only takes him a second to find her. And a second for her to know he’s here. Like they’re—”

“Might could be that ass is imprinted on his brain!” laughed a big man nearby with a bushy black beard.

“Maybe it’s because she saved his life out there.”

“Peterson said somethin’ about that. It’s true?”

“‘parently so. His chopper went down. Got blown right outta the sky and crashed.”

“You serious?!”

“Word is it was a scrub with some kinda RPG an’ shit,” a consignee added to the story while wiping a splatter of brains and blood off of his face guard.

“Stop lyin’! How’d they even get that? After the Fall, CRM took over most of the bases out there with a quickness.”

“There was military stuff out in the wild even before everything went to shit. All kinds o’ stuff is still out there,” bushy beard opined. “Shouldn’t be a surprise all these years later somebody has a bazooka or some ordinance hidden away. There’s jeeps, even tanks here and there. I lived in one for a couple o’ months before I got found and brought here. CRM scoops ‘em up quick as they can, but—”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. So anyway, the scuttlebut’s that Sargent Major Loverboy there, an’ the other troopers jumped out of the wrecked chopper an’ the scrub starts firein’ on ‘em. The ones he could catch, he slit their throats…with a sword.”

“A what?” bandana scoffed, stabbing into what was left of the next delt’s face. “Get outta here with that BS, man!”

“I’m just tellin’ you what I heard! Grimes was about ta get got, when Bethune comes runnin’ outta the woods, grabs one of the dead trooper’s weapons and shoots the scrub!”

“Wow. Maybe that’s why he’s here all the time,” pink bow chuckled. “Hell, I’d be in love with her too.”

“Get in line,” beard snarked. “You really think those two know each other?”

“Know each other?” the woman laughed, stabbed a delt and shook its eyeball off of her kill stick. “I think they’re fuckin’.”

“No way!” bandana exclaimed. “She just got here!”

<<<Good work, Section 5 and 6 Consignees. Bethune and Clifton, please report to post-shift health check before boarding transport.>>>

“Think about it,” pink bow explained. “Grimes is an officer on the inside now and doesn’t need to be at the Harvest Wall any more. Who’d come back to this shit after their 6 years of consignment is up? Now, all of a sudden, he’s back. Out here almost every day. Why?”

She tipped her head toward the driveway and they watched Grimes remove his helmet and turn completely around to watch “why” aka “Dana Bethune” walk past, avoiding his eyes.

*CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…*

“Oh, yeah…” pink bow grinned. “They’re fuckin’.”

* * * * *

This bit of nonsense was inspired by The Walking Dead spin-off, The Ones Who Live - Episode 3: “Bye”.

Click HERE for the AO3 version.

Thank you for reading!

[dr5amatic]

AT THE GATES ,

a sentence starter prompts list comprised of quotes from the novel a reaper at the gates by sabaa tahir. please be advised that this list may involve topics including, but not limited to, murder, death, and violence. change verbiage as needed.

no harm shall befall you. i vow it.

i fear what you will do if harm comes to those whom you love.

i would destroy anyone who dared hurt you.

your heart is made to love. to give. not to take.

it's stupid to fall for a once-dead ghost-talker, i don't care how pretty he is.

who took him? tell me!

talk or die.

unless you're a fool, you'll agree that death would be preferable. i will make it swift.

i could never mourn them. i wasn't allowed to.

you nearly got yourself killed. is that not enough?

you have much to learn, and i do not know how much time i have to teach you.

go or don't, doesn't matter to me. but stop being woeful and useless. i don't have the patience for it.

you didn't ask for assassination. you asked for destruction, and destruction takes time.

you don't have to tell me if you don't wish to.

you don't have to come with me.

not a chance. never again. where you go, i go.

you will fail, usurper.

i thought we would have more time. i thought we'd find a way out for you.

i don't want to let you go. not yet. not so soon.

you are cruel, [name], to give a girl all she desires only to tear it away.

this isn't the end for us, [name]. do you hear me? this is not our end.

you've never been a liar. don't start now.

why are you lurking out there? are you spying on me?

you destroyed my life. you could have saved them. you—you monster.

what of you, [name]? are you not a monster?

fare thee well, [name]. i will see you once more before your end.

tell me what's going on. i can decide whether it concerns me or not.

how the hells are we going to get out of here?

i won't make a promise i can't keep, and neither should you.

any other threats? discussions you wish to waste my time with? none? good. then lets get the hells out of here.

you are new to your power, but that does not mean you do not have it.

i'm not going anywhere with you, not until you tell me who you are.

if i answer one question, will you stop being so annoying and let me get you to a safe house?

why did you not listen to me, [name]. why did you not learn?

what is the point of having muscles if you cannot carry things for others?

she penned a play. i can feel it. don't act the part she's written for you.

why are we not fighting back? night won't fall for hours. we need to use the light that remains.

first, you need to eat. you're irritable and i don't like talking to irritable people.

i can be your ally, or i can be your enemy.

we leave in an hour. come along or stay. it doesn't matter to me.

you must have a guard with you at all times. not because you are incapable, but because you must show your strength. there is strength in numbers.

what, you don't want to pass the time in conversation with me? i'm hurt.

who did this to you?

you're not dead, and you're not going to die. do you hear me? you're going to live. you're going to find whoever did this to you. you're going to make them pay. get up. get to safety.

i'll never let go of what i fought so hard to keep.

stay with me. you don't have to speak. all you have to do is stay awake.

off to get yourself killed again so soon?

i heard you got stabbed. thought i'd come yell at you for allowing it to happen.

some guard you make. you were fast asleep.

i don't know your secrets and so i cannot protect you when others try to ferret them out.

if you didn't need protection, it would be because no one saw you as a threat. needing protection is not a weakness. refusing to trust your allies is.

we're dying out here! while you dine on roast fowl and fresh fruit in a tower that doesn't belong to you.

you are so stupid! you're the only one i have. the only one left! did you even consider that before running into a burning building?

you do not know the weight of the crown. you could never understand.

will it always be chaos for us, [name]? will things never be normal?

if... if i change... if i seem different, remember that i love you. no matter what happens to me. say you'll remember, please—

you seek counsel. i am honor bound to offer it. sit, please. i will speak with you.

no one is safe. have you not yet learned this lesson?

we will see each other again. i swear it.

i'll make my own way. i don't need you.

why do you care so much what happens to me?

there are men back there who were counting on me, and i left them.

mercy, [name]. that is my order. i do not deserve it. i do not even wish it. but you'll give it to me anyway. because you're good.

you dare put those you love before all of humanity? you dare be so selfish?

no need for that. i didn't drag you through a hundred miles of caves so your first act upon waking would be to stab me.

you came for me. you dragged me from the claws of death himself. you have more good in you than you will ever acknowledge.

[tsuwabuki]

what if kobeni had a contract with famine?

1. she's the first one to mention starving in the infinity devil trap.

2. you could hide some foreshadowing under innocuous comments that anyone could make. it's not odd for a poor 20 year old girl to take comfort and enjoyment in tasty food. mentioning the hobby right after 'my devil is a secret' could be nothing, but....

3. someone on reddit mentioned a possible 'final girl' devil with kobeni which I love but I felt the kitchen knife mention would match better with famine. after all, we see falling devil act as a chef preparing a meal for famine. could expand that to kobeni.

4. after famine reveals her name at the aquarium, a kobeni bro makes his debut. also if the infinity devil was used by famine here, was it also used by famine the first time we see it?

5. what we know of famines motivations and context as a horseman translates well to a theory on kobenis abilities. they seem quite powerful when activated so you would need a powerful demon.

5a. ok so my theory. when kobeni is starved of enough good things (family, luck, companionship, safety, bravery, etc), to the point she is fully starved from her humanity, she becomes hyper competent.

you see her fail to reach this state in the hotel due to her clinging to humanity (feels bad about wanting denji dead, for stabbing aki, etc). I think she succeeds in reaching hypercompetence during the rhythm game bit due to being terrified and isolated, it just so happens that the hypercompetence went into playing the rhythm game.

the only other moment where kobenis devil contract ability(ies?) come into play is after her partner gets killed protecting her and she finds out her whole team has been wiped out.

5b. ok so how does this hyper competence after 'starvation' relate to famine as a devil? well the horsemen act as as symbols and metaphors for humanity/life to triumph over.

we see that supported by both conquest and famine taking the role of nurturing humans to become stronger. you could even make that claim for all devils but this isn't about that.

starving is supposed to trigger humanity's instinct to survive by Doing Whatever It Takes. this fits nicely to how I think kobenis contract functions and why she would accept a nerf on her life like that (and how it plays into mental health, childhood abuse, and how someone could choose permanent(?) self destruction at such a young point of their life).

the fact that we see her devil contract trigger (rhythm game) after she's already left public safety means she's stuck with that contract probably the rest of her life. she wanted to go to college but her neglectful parents forced her to pick between sex work and the equivalent of demon fodder.

and because we don't know anything about her contract, we don't know how much she gave up to have this power 😭 being starved of good luck sounds like a really bad longterm debuff even if you theoretically get really good luck at your most terrified moments.

i lost my train of thought here but I'll add one more tangential thing. fujimoto is showing multiple examples of what childhood abuse and/or lack of a stable life can do to someone and how those systems help, hurt, and trap them. kobeni is an example of something more grounded despite her being comedic relief and I love that contrast with her.

she was forced to join the military due to family pressure and economic situation, could not handle the mental strain and quit with a potential life long disability that could get worse over time. she gets a job at a fast food restaurant and has spent her life so far hopping from one toxic 'family' to another.

anyways. throwing kobeni famine contract into the theory pile

[multifandumbmeg]

I have seen some posts speculating about the nature of Adar and Sauron's relationship and I would like to throw my own hat into the ring...

I'm reading Daddy Issues. When I see Adar's rage at Sauron, his monologues and surprisingly earnest fashioning of himself as the "father" of the Uruk/Orcs, I see someone who is raging against what they see as a failed father. I speculate that is because Sauron actually fashioned himself as the "father" first.

But he was a bad one.

Sauron participated in the experiments that created the orcs with Morgoth. Adar also says he sacrificed many more orcs to further experiments for Sauron in his conversation with Galadriel in season one, which I presume is referencing the location she found in episode one. Then there's the flashback where Sauron tries to gather an orc army he's clearly disgusted by for yet another war and Adar has enough, finally just stabbing the guy, leading the orcs against him. Sauron in that scene is more like a dictator, but one might argue a narcissistic father.

Then we have that conversation between "Halbrand" and Adar in season 2, where he recounts Sauron offering him wine after being left on a peak seemingly for dead. Adar speaks about it with such intense bitterness as he attempts to get Halbrand- unknowingly Sauron himself- to tell him where Sauron is so he can finally kill him. The Sauron he describes is working for Morgoth, it sounds like. The thirteen were tortured, and then Sauron was sent in with the pretty face and wine to play Nice Cop and win them back over with his silver tongue. It worked. And the tragedy is, you can tell Adar sees it now, that he was manipulated and resents it, but you can also see that single tear from Sauron. This is one of those rare occasions he feels remorse.

But at any rate, I think Sauron was assigned the role of "Orc Dad" by Morgoth and more or less tried to keep it (even though he may not have even liked the idea of orcs/their creation) because it was useful to him, but Adar stepped up and usurped it successfully because he saw that they actually needed it. A real home, a real leader, a real parental figure who saw them as living beings deserving of existence, respect, and even love.

I think the two of them are an extremely rich text.