#finally another shipping moment when they're not threatening each other <3

[googleitlol]

There was more I wanted to add to this but I didn't have the time today. I'll just post it another day cuz I rlly wanted to at least get this part out so enjoy! This time partly from Sun Wukong's POV!

Dove Masterlist

TW: Gore

Fire

You turn over in bed and let out a heavy sigh. It took longer than you wanted to get away from that crowd, no thanks to that damn ape. You would have thought they'd show more interest in Tripitaka, but seeing as the monks have a hall named after Guan Yin herself, you can still see why they were so persistent in their questions and requests.

Still, using your gift so frequently in such a short amount of time can take a lot out of you. It doesn’t help that having so many people surrounding you like that is something you are unaccustomed to. Or maybe it’s just been a while since you’ve seen so many people all gather like that, it wasn’t a common occurrence in the celestial realm. Sun Wukong didn’t make it any better, flaunting your gift like it was his own.

At least you can finally get some rest and time away from the demon. Having your own room, even just for a night, is just what you’ve been missing. Even if you feel drained, at least you have the time now to keep to yourself for a long while and get some proper rest. Besides, you doubt the monks will be in your face as much tomorrow as they were today. You’ll feel better tomorrow.

~~~~

This night really was proving to be more entertaining than the Monkey King had hoped.

When his Master warned him not to show the old monk his cassock, he thought the man was just being paranoid. Never did he think the old man would be jealous enough to set fire to his own monastery! It’s actually hilarious.

After leading the two men away from the Dove drowning amidst those others that stayed in the monastery, the elder requested to keep the beautiful cassock in his own room for the night so he could properly admire it. Tripitaka was hesitant to agree to such a demand, so Monkey did on his behalf. How was he supposed to know their host had the potential to be an arsonist?

Luckily, Monkey King already has everything taken care of. Not needing sleep like the rest of his party, the Sage was already awake to overhear the elder ordering the other monks to set fire to the wing where their group was shown to their rooms. Monkey was quick to make sure his Master and his steed stayed safe, borrowing a cloak from a celestial friend to protect them from the fire. And with his master sleeping safe and sound, now he can have some… fun.

If these stupid people were so intent on setting everything ablaze, who would he be to stop them? In fact, why not help them?

The Great Sage hovers over the controlled fire, the bustling sound of feet thumping to and fro to feed it making him smirk. Pressing two of his fingers together, the demon begins to recite under his breath softly, his words cutting through the air swiftly before lifting his head to the fire. Taking a great inhale, Wukong blows out a great wind from his lungs, directly towards the fire. It took little time before he heard the screams, and he tries to stifle his laughter before outright bellowing as the flames spread to the rest of the monastery, growing out of control.

He falls back on his cloud, barking with laughter as monks run out of the building with blood curdling screams. Some have to be quickly put out, running with the fire catching their clothes. It’s too good! Did not one of them think this plot could backfire? It’ll certainly be the last time any of them ever try such a stunt with–

Oh, now this is interesting.

One figure runs back in, his companions shouting in protest as he ignores their calls. Does he not see that the monastery was now a lost cause? Is there something he left behind? Why else is he running back in?

Curious as to what could spawn such bravery, Sun Wukong follows the young monk back into the monastery, careful to keep back a few paces so as to not reveal himself. It wasn’t very difficult, the man seems laser-focused on whatever his goal may be.

It’s amusing to the King, the way the monk frantically ducks over collapsing wood and bounds over burning debris all while doing his best to cover his face to stop the fog from breaching his lungs. Wukong strolls not too far behind, casually spinning his staff here and there as the man rushes around corners and weaves through the burning building. It’s a shame fire can be so harmful to those who aren’t immortal. Then again, it’s always fun to watch things burn.

The monk begins to slow, seemingly arriving at his destination. It only then makes Wukong realise he had been led to where the fire initially started, the wing his group was staying in. He ran like a madman to get here? But why would he… shit.

Sun Wukong forgot about the woman.

Her sleeping quarters aren’t protected by the cloak. The realisation strikes him just as the monk approaches her room. Just before he can open it, Wukong jumps into action, revealing himself as he grabs the man by his shoulder so he could turn the monk to face him. Before he can even make a sound, Sun Wukong lifts him by his shirt and holds him with one hand in the air. The young man yelps in surprise before screaming once he realises who the one holding him is. Seeing his face clearly now, the Sage also recognizes him as the monk who had first approached Dove before swarming her with the others. “Sneaking into the room of a woman this late at night?” Wukong raises an unimpressed brow as the man struggles to pry the demon’s hand off his garbs. “And they call me an animal.”

The man continues to squirm, clearly distressed. “You monster! Don’t you see we are all about to burn?!”

The King laughs. “Oh, I know you will. The woman? I’ve yet to decide.” He takes a moment to look back at the door, weighing his options in his mind.

The man stops in his feeble attempts at freedom for a moment to cast a look of shock on the demon. “Isn’t that your travelling companion?”

“Not by choice.” Seemingly unperturbed by his current predicament, the monk continues to pick at the King’s fingers. Wukong almost feels impressed by his persistence. “She did a kindness today, she doesn’t deserve to burn!”

“Seriously?! Then why do I deser– you know, actually, I don’t care.” Wukong mumbles to himself, glancing back at the room again. Why did he have to follow this stupid monk back to her door? If he managed to forget her, he’d have the wonderful gift of her absence in the morning. But if Master finds out he had the opportunity to help and chose not to, he may just recite that stupid spell until his head cracks open.

With a long and exaggerating sigh, the Sage sets the monk down. “How dare you remind me she was here. Now I have to stop her from burning.” His grumbles barely even reach the man before he kicks down the door to her room.

Stepping in, he takes a moment to take the sight of her sleeping form in again. Smoke fills the air, heat roasting the room with the flames just reaching her door frame, and she’s still asleep? Wukong didn’t expect her to be such a heavy sleeper.

Crouching down, Monkey King grabs her shoulders to shake her awake. “Hey, wake up.” He shakes her a few times only for the woman to slump back, unbothered. It’s like she’s practically dead. Is she? The King slaps her before quickly jumping back in preparation for her shock into consciousness, but it never comes. Huh. He gets back up to his feet to leave, Master can’t be upset if she just died in her sleep.

A loud snore stops his plan just as he goes to exit the room. Dammit. “Uuuuuggggggghhhhhhhh.” Sun Wukong groans, spinning back on his heel to go for the woman. When Guan Yin convinced him to help on this stupid journey, he didn’t plan on babysitting two incompetent humans. With a roll of his eyes, Wukong scoops the girl into his arms before exiting through the window. That other monk can find his own way out.

Now with the woman in his arms, Wukong finds a tree just far enough from the carnage to enjoy it. Letting the Dove down onto the ground, he sits back against the tree to watch in peace as hysteria infects those that still believe they can put out the flames. Their attempts are laughable, the King had missed watching such chaos unfold. During the years before his conflict with the Heavenly Court, there had been many villages he and his army terrorised, and watching fires burn buildings to the ground was always one of the best parts. There’s always such a heavy contrast between the screams of the damned and the melodic rhythm of the flames, dancing in every shade of orange and red.

Wukong supposes that now, the serene feeling in his chest comes from more than just a simple fire. He glances down at the woman lying next to him, her presence, while not as powerful as when she uses the gift, is no less welcome. The Monkey King could feel his heart steady, his mind quiet, and a sigh escape his chest as the feeling of relaxation encompasses him. Were it not for her snide comments and deathly glares– as well as the shackle on his head– Dove might be nice to have around. If she was always this passive, he’d actually enjoy her company. It would be a lie to say Wukong isn’t curious about the bird on this journey with them. Not a question he ever asks her can be given a straight answer. If it wasn’t for her hostile nature, he’d be more inclined to feed his curiosity and speak with her more, but that stupid circlet is already enough of a headache and he’d rather not add to it. He’ll give her points for cunning, it was admirable, if not for the fact that it was at his expense. Nonetheless, it’s nice to be in such a soothing presence without all the usual threats and jabs. Something rustles in some bushes only a few paces away, Monkey King sitting up immediately at the sound. His head snaps to the direction of the sound, his eyes meeting another’s, black and round, with barely any white visible. He looks to the small round ears barely visible in the dark cover of shrubbery and snout of a bear’s before frowning. Before he can investigate, the creature is gone, heavy footsteps lumbering into the forest.

A chase? This night keeps getting better. Sun Wukong jumps up to give chase before nearly falling onto his face, tripping. With a grunt, he lifts his head to look back for the source of his descent, finding the woman’s arms wrapped around his waist. His once excited expression drops, an almost silent growl rippling from his chest. “Even while unconscious, she thwarts my every move!”

Sitting back up, Wukong takes her arms in his hands before the girl tightens her hold, a small grunt escaping her form as she does. The King blinks, frowning for a moment at her twisted expression before looking back in the direction the creature had run. There was no sign of it anymore. With a heavy sigh, Wukong shifts to lay against the tree once more and continues watching the flames. It was probably just an animal running from the fire. After one last glance at the woman now holding him in a death grip, he turns his attention back to the burning building, occasionally looking over to the wing where his Master sleeps to make sure the area covered in that old cloak remains untouched by the fire.

~~~~

Yelling echoes through your ears. Children cry loudly, using the backs of their throats to let out blood curdling screams. Fire erupts from every house and shop, surrounding the village as a mass of bloody flames jump from building to building.

You trip, looking down only for your eyes to widen, the lifeless eyes of the little girl who lived in the house next to yours staring back, red coating her neck and pooling under her head. The sight nearly causes you to freeze in fear if not for the barely audible sound of metal colliding. The sound is a warning, and it's enough to get you to your feet.

The Eyes, they followed you. Golden and dull. They followed you home and they brought the demons with them. A rhythmic clink of metal makes your heart stop, each clash feels as though it shakes the ground, turning it from solid earth to sand. Turning, you see a shadowy figure, the Golden Eyes glowing as they approach.

As fast as humanly possible, you run, stumbling as you do. The clinking of metal follows, echoing through your ear drums, growing louder and louder. You clutch your ears and fall to your knees. It only grows louder. Eyes shut tight, you curl into the ground, tears staining your face as you weep. The Glowing Eyes sear into your mind as you beg it to stop.

Hands grab at your arms, not claws or talons, but hands. You just barely get back to your feet in time to be dragged along to find a way to safety. Another child, a boy, takes your hand. "Come on, we have to go!" At his words, you cry out, failing miserably to pry yourself away from his hands in a desperate attempt to get away. You’ve seen this part before, you can never unsee this part.

The boy pulls you along, looking around for anyone that could help. Someone who could—

"Jie!" You shout, your throat shreds as though the claws of the demon impaling the boy with his weapon tore into your neck instead. You stumble onto your back as a blade pierces through the boy. His eyes are pleading, his scream deafening as the blade quickly retracts, allowing blood to flow from the wound. You call out only to find your voice now gone, barely a strangled gasp. A hand grabs your arm, pulling you to your feet.

"Stop! Let go!" "Aagh! Son of a—"

Your eyes snap open to find the bright morning sun bringing about a new day. The smell of ash and cinders hang in the air heavily, as though traces of a distant memory linger in your waking life. It takes your eyes a moment to adjust to the outdoor lighting before you frown. Outside? But you went to your room before going to bed. When did you get outside?

“I pity your pillow.” A groan from under you makes your eyes bulge wide, the figure of the all too familiar Monkey King underneath you and rubbing his jaw and– why are you holding him in your arms?!

You shout, jumping back and up onto your feet as he remains nursing his jaw on the ground. “What are you… why– when did–” Your face flushes from embarrassment before your gaze lands on where the monastery was only a night ago. “What happened?!”

“Attacks me in her sleep and doesn’t even ask if I’m okay.” The demon grumbles, rising to his feet.

You feel your gaze harden. “What were you even doing? Why was I on top of you?!”

Monkey King stretches, walking past you and towards the remains of the monastery. “I was busy saving everyone last night. But don’t worry, I can just let you burn next time.”

This despicable little– wait. “Where’s Tripitaka?!”

“AAAAAAAAAAHHH–!”

“Sounds like he’s over there.” Oh, if only you had Guan Yin’s patience.

[servenas-inner-fangirl]

Random Thoughts on Black Sails 2x3 in roughly the right order

I'm so here for Max seeing straight through all of Vane's bullshit

they could be the founding members of the "got their hearts broken by Eleanor Guthrie" support group

also Max bartering for Anne and Jack <3

Anne always looks so vulnerable during her sex scenes with Max

it sort of makes me sad??

Flint coming back to Nassau like "I was only gone for five minutes??"

Eleanor is so happy to see him T_T

I don't ship them but their friendship gives me life

I love that Flint can be honest with her

and then they have a fight, nooo

Flint all up in arms bc of Vane, meanwhile Vane is like Eleanor's least problem (and possible solution to another)

Flint in that flashback with Mrs. Barlow looking like an overgrown child in that shirt <3

rn this feels like Flint being aggressively pursued by a married couple as some sort of unicorn tbh

also it's so unusual to watch him fully smile

but I think I like his smirk more

Anne's and Jack's faces when Vane asks them to sit with him, I'm screaming

they're looking at each other like "Are we about to get murdered??"

but I'm happy they made up even if it was only for show

God I love that scene between Vane and Ned Low on his ship

"do your men even know you're here" the fucking CHEEK

but also I cheered so loud at "Mr. Holmes doesn't work here anymore."

every time when I think I can't like this man more

he was such a badass here (even if I feared for him for a moment)

and Ned Low finally got what he deserved when he threatened Eleanor

even though I didn't expect that to be resolved so soon

also I'm so here for everybody and their dog knowing Vane carries a torch for Eleanor

I've been spoilt enough to know they don't end up together in the end but damn if I don't ship them to hell and back right now

"I didn't do it for you" keep telling yourself that, buddy

also didn't expect to get another sex scene with them together, I feel blessed

are we actually getting a Max/Anne/Jack scene?!

final thought: If Flint, Eleanor and Vane could all agree on what they want for just a second, nobody could stop them. but NOO...

Flint, I love you, but can you please not?! that's my OTP in that fort!

[crispie-art]

New Episode of MLB and....

!!Spoilers Ahead for Miraculous Ladybug Season 4!!

So it feels like there's been a bit of a timeskip from what we've seen, between Master Fu leaving with Marianne and now returning.

Despite there being no real warning, I guess Hawkmoth is using two miraculouses at the same time now? While this was teased in the finale of season 3, it really feels out of place for starting the season. My thought when he fixed the peacock miraculous was not that he would use it himself, but have Nathalie use it again. So 2 against 2, except Nathalie doesn't get KO'd too quickly. Without the trailers I would have no clue why Hawkmoth suddenly looked like an edgy weirdo.

I thought Marinette was the only one who could use that many miraculouses for a long time and not get tired, but since Gabriel is an adult, it makes sense.

No shipping material this episode, to 90% of the fandom's disappointment, but lore's interesting. I never expected the writers to mention or even show the monk who was the owner of the original miraculous box. I don't know how he managed to discover Marinette had them so quickly, or that the box was even in Paris tho...there is probably a hurried explanation I missed, but the introduction of this character seems like a rushed way to fill up a plothole.

Edit: He has a scepter that's also a compass or something and probably must have come to Paris by jumping a lot or taking the plane, which is a funny thought

I feel like they could've dealt with the monk a bit better, fleshed him out a bit better than make his characterisation as 2 dimensional as Marinette's grandfather who got one episode. The monk feels like a bit of a replacement for Master Fu. And in all honestly, he could be really, really interesting if the writers gave him a chance with more episodes this season. This character would have a predictable, but really good arc where he comes to understand the new miraculous holders and how they face the challenges of the modern world compared to the more ancient ones.

Also I found it funny that Marinette is adamant that her and Chat shouldn't know each others identities but basically ignored a rule like miraculous holders not being guardians at the end of the episode. Which is actually a really, really good rule that makes perfect sense and should exist regardless of time. Give the box to someone who doesn't want power, and wants to help people and can keep a secret well. Not to a miraculous holder who can lose it the moment she runs into battle and risk it getting stolen from her own home.

Something I want to mention is that the writers seem to be repeating this emotional conflict that Marinette has every season. It's very predictable and resolved in seconds. Insecurities are not resolved that easily. And they're always resolved by Chat Noir, no one else. Not Alya, Nino, any other friends that Marinette has. In Origins, she is insecure about suddenly being Ladybug after saving someone's life, in the season 2 finale, she's insecure because she only has ChatNoir, in the season 3 finale, none of the other amigops are on her side, it's basically the same thing. These emotional arcs are really repetitive, and they're increasing every season so it doesn't feel like Marinette is improving in her confidence as a character. This might be leading to something, but right now it feels as though her character is degrading and she only needs ChatNoir for an ego boost and to act as bait half the time.

Another problem I have with this episode, IF this is the first episode of this season, is that Ladybug and ChatNoir have fought this HawkmothxPeacock akuma before, and the audience aren't able to see them struggle to adapt to trying to defeat it. Despite this threat development, we don't know what's more threatening about these mashup of akumas, or how the duo had to handle it the first time they came across it. So half the time, it feels like random things are thrown at the audience and we're just like..."wait...where the hell did that come from?", or "wait, when did that happen?"

Also I don't understand this either (image below), can someone explain? Or will it be probably explained in later episodes in a lore dump?

So all in all, this is honestly a rather shaky start to the season. I was really hoping for a stronger start and a better focus on characters, especially Lila.

I hope this won't become the SVTFOE final few seasons, because personally, I feel the writers need to step up their game a little.

[academicgangster]

I'm dying to know; how should Under Siege have ended, according to you? Please go into as much detail as you'd like!

Under Siege!!! One of the most ridiculously fun films out there, and definitely one of my top ten TLJ roles. :D

Sadly my laptop is not functional at the moment, so I don't have as many screencaps lying around right now as I do of Batman Forever, but @lunoki 's wonderful gifs are readily available!

Strannix and Krill absolutely make the film. Their dynamic as a villain duo is off the charts. They're joyfully intimate with each other, clearly know each other extremely well, and Strannix even seems acquainted with Krill's drag persona:

Their dynamic also evolves throughout the film, with a lot more depth than Seagal's whole thing. Krill helped Strannix orchestrate the takeover of his ship, and Strannix's very first action on succeeding is to pronounce Krill captain (ie. he gives Krill something he knows Krill has always wanted) - and yet the moment orders need to be given, Strannix is the one who's giving them, and Krill is right back to calling him 'sir', almost as though this is a dance they're used to, like this is natural and familiar for them, like it's something they've grown into over the years. Did they serve together in the navy before Strannix joined the CIA? All signs point to yes. These two have known each other forever. They don't always get along - they have an argument or two in-film - but they are deeply affectionate and they are, always, on the same side:

And so it's extremely telling that while Strannix is gloriously batshit throughout and makes a show of being 'unhinged', his decisions are all actually very rational and sane...until Krill's vessel gets blown up.

That is when Strannix goes off the deep end, that's when he loses his mind and starts to go wild talking about cartoons: when Krill dies.

So, finally, how do I think the movie should end?

1. With Krill surviving - let Strannix have his breakdown thinking Krill has died, but let Krill miraculously escape and be working on a device to bring Casey Ryback (Seagal's character) down.

2. With Strannix beating Ryback in the final fight - let the fight be brutal, but let Strannix finally kick the guy's ass, like he deserves. Maybe it's too late to set off the nukes or the controls are fried, but Ryback is dead and the ship is still his, so it's kind of a victory for him, still.

3. With Strannix and Krill reuniting - Krill didn't need to use whatever he was working on, because Strannix beat Ryback, but it is an emotional Moment for Strannix to realize Krill not only made it alive, but was trying his best to help him win against Ryback.

4. With CIA handler Tom Breaker getting his comeuppance - Breaker is the guy who tried to kill Strannix, causing all this trouble in the first place, and it's at his door that the consequences must rest, so I'd like him to get a threatening letter or parcel in the mail suggesting that Strannix and Krill are watching him if he ever messes with another agent under his handlership.

[paversandplatters]

||𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚎𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚂𝚑𝚎𝚎𝚙|| (2/20)

Apocalypse! Au (TW! Minor gore and cussing)

Reader x multiple

Chapter 2: The church

Y/n puts the vehicle in gear carefully making a U turn and starts down the road in a westerly direction. Her original plan was find refuge in one of the larger towns along North Florida’s citrus belt such as Lake City or Gainesville- still seems viable despite the fact that the engine continues to ping and complain- something has come loose during the plunge to the woods and she doesn't like the sound of it. They need to find a place to stop soon look under the hood, get their wounds looked at- rest maybe, maybe find some provisions and fuel.

“Hey look!” Nick speaks up from the shadows of the rear seats pointing off to the Southwest at the end of the lot.

Y/n drives another 100 yards or so and then brings the Escalade to a stop at the gravel shoulder. She kills the engine and silence crashes down on the car’s interior, it’s almost deafening. Nobody says anything at first- they just stare at the road sign in the middle of the distance. It's one of those cheap translucent white fiberglass ones, set on wheels with the big removal plastic letters still bearing the words “Calvary Baptist Church all welcome Sunday 9 -&- 11.”

Through the spindly Cypress trees and columns of pine that line the road, she can see the luminous white gravel of a deserted parking lot. The long narrow lot leads to the front of a building, it's broken stained glass windows partially boarded up. Its steeple caved in on one side and scorched as if its seen a bombing raid. She stares at the huge steel cross at the top of the steeple- which is covered with a patina of rust- has come loose from its moorings.

It now lays upside down dangling by the remains of its rotted hardware. She can't help but get very still while gazing up at the ruin upended cross, the symbolism isn't lost on her but it may only be the beginning. She never been one for religion but realizes that this may very well be a sign that they've been left behind and this is the rapture and the world is a purgatory now. They’ll have to deal with what remains like junkyard dogs or vermin stuck in a sinking ship.

“Remind me”she says almost under her breath not taking her eyes off the building in the distance one of the windows in the rear has a dull yellow incandescent glow, behind it the chimney is spewing a thin wisp of smoke into the lightning sky.

“how much ammunition did y'all manage to scavenge before we left Calhoun?” the two young men give each other a quick look

Nick speaks up “I have one of the 33 round mags for the Glock and a box of two dozen .380s for the other pistol and that's it..”

“That's more than I managed.” George grimaces “all I managed to grab ammunition wise is what was in the office which I think it's like 6 rounds, maybe 8?”She picks up her Glock from the seat counting the number of times she's fired since they left Calhoun she's got six rounds left.

“All right gentlemen ... I want you to bring all of it, all the hardware locked and loaded.” she opens the door “and look alive…”

The two men get out of the vehicle and join her in the Golden light of the dawn. Something is wrong, Nick notices His hand are shaking as he injects a fresh magazine into the hilt of his pistol

“Y/n, I don't understand” he says finally.

“what are we loading up for? I doubt there's anything in there but scared church people. What are we doing?”

But she's already started down towards the church- her Glock is gripped tightly in her hands, arms dangling at her side like a calling card.

“It's the end of the world boys there's no such thing as church anymore it's all up for grabs…”

The two young men glanced at each other for a moment before hurrying up to catch up with her. They approached the property from the rear, through the grove of sickly eucalyptus trees that mark the outer edges of the churches lot. She can smell the stench of menthol and ammonia in the air as she creeps across the weed whiskered gravel, careful not to make too much noise when her boots crunch under the stones. The light in the chapel's rear window has dwindled with the morning sun and the roaring of crickets fade now, the silence returns over making her heart throb in her ears.

She pauses behind a tree about 20 feet away from the lighted window ... With a few quick hand signals she rouses the two who are hiding behind a nearby oak. Nick moves out from behind cover carrying the pistol against his solar plexus like a vestigial appendage. George moves behind his friend wide eyed and jumpy flinching at the twinges of pain. These two are not exactly the crème de la crème in the world's new survivor class she realizes but perhaps she should see these young men as they truly are. Loyal partners, and friends- surviving all the same.

She issues another signal stabbing a finger at the rear of the building. One by one the three of them move toward the small woodside annex off the rear of the Chapel- she’s in the lead her pistol now gripped in both hands, now pointed downward. The closer they get the more the sun rises over the horizon the more they realize something isn't right. The windows of the building and rectory of the deacons quarters are lined with aluminum foil. The screen door has been ripped off its hinge and the inner door is nailed shut and crisscrossed with lumber. The stench of the dead permeates the air and gets stronger as they approach. She reaches the building first and she gently stands with her back against the boarded door signaling the others with a the tip of her finger to her lips.

They approach as quietly as possible, stepping lightly over the trash and dead leaves that are skidding across the back of the deck in the morning breeze. George stands just behind her, while Nick keeps to her side, both keeping weapons at the ready. She reaches down to her scuffed boot and pulls out a 12 inch Randall knife from the interlining. She carefully wedges the point under one of the boards near the door latch and Yanks.

The door probes stubborn. She pries at it repeatedly with the knife making more racket than she cares to but she has no choice they would make even more noise if they had tried to break through one of the windows. The nails give slightly the creaking sound amplified and the hushed daylight. She has no idea of what they're about to find inside this building but she fairly certain now that both humans as well as the dead inhabit this place.

Zombies don't build fires and the average survivor with the access to soap and water doesn't usually smell like death. The door finally gives and the two men moving closer to her, guns up now as they enter at the same time. They find themselves in an empty room illuminated by dim yellow light and the smell of stale smoke and Bo smacks them in the face. She crosses the floor, her boots making the floorboards creak. She makes note of the small potbelly stove still radiating the heat of the dying embers, the braided rug stained with blood, a desk littered with teabags, dishes, candy wrappers gossip magazines, a few empty 44 bottles and crumpled cigarette packs…

She goes over to the desk and looks down at the display of playing cards arranged in the classic poker pattern it looks like somebody, likely a hand full of people, were here only a moments ago and left in a hurry. A noise from behind the inner doors suddenly takes her attention. she whips her head around to the source, both men stand across the room gazing sheepishly back at their leader.

Again she puts a four finger to her lips giving them the signal to hush. The two mens eyes are aglow with nervous tension, on the other side of the door shuffling noises build, the telltale sound of dragging feet. There's also the reek of mortified flesh almost as pungent as the methane and it's getting stronger. She recognizes that a number of undead are trapped in an enclosed space. She turns and points to George’s shotgun.

Nick understands that he's supposed to blow the lock off the door and George is supposed to back them both up. Neither young man is very happy about this plan. Nick looks pale and George is drenched in sweat both of them nursing wounds and perhaps even internal bleeding. Neither seem gung ho about fighting off and undetermined number of biters. But she is an irresistible leader and the mere look in her eyes is enough to kill any dissension in the ranks. She holds three fingers up. She begins to countdown. 3, 2-

A loud crack sounds as a rotten hand covered with mold burst through the weak spot in the lumber.

Nothing in reality ever seems to play out the way George imagines it should. He trips on his backward shuffling feet and falls on to the floor. The pain in his ribs explode the injury jostled by the impact and at the same time another pair of hands thrust their way through the busted slats of the door. Looking up he sees she has pulled something from her boot. He watches as a dull gleam of a Buck knife strikes through the air. She drives the blade through the tissue and cartilage sawing through the bone it’s hands flopping to the floor as neatly as tree limbs being pruned.

George watches as he tries to sit up, the back of his throat burns and his body threatens to upchuck the paltry contents of a stomach. Things are moving quickly now, hands are flopping around him like fish on a boat’s deck, slowly growing still as the electrical impulses from the reanimated central nervous system drains out. George’s vision blurs his mind swimming dizziness gripping him as his wounded lungs labor to get air.

She's already scooped the fallen shotgun from the floor pumping shells into its breach with a single jerk of her arms as she turns back to the door George manage to get himself back up into a standing position kicking the ghastly hands out of the way . She slims a boot into the door and it implodes revealing the interior of a dark Chapel. Nick gets a fleeting glimpse of the sanctuary before the 1st blast shatters the tableau.

What was once a quaint little church with stain glass and pine pews now resembles an arbiter from the 9th circle of hell. The dead number in dozens maybe as many as 40 or 50 most of them chained to the pews with heavy chains. They react to the light of the outer room as if she had just turned over her oktan exposed a colony of vermin.

Insensate faces jerk towards the noise, some are decorated with spiked collars and others have large makeshift cage like muzzles. The scene gives a a sense of some sort of demented zoo or kennel for these reanimated cadavers. Stranger still, in that terrible instant before the first flash of the 12 gauge, it seems like somebody apparently tried to administer these beings after they were reanimated.

In front of each are dead birds morsels, pieces of roadkill or unidentified human remains are scattered in the pews next to each being. The candles still burn in the same sanctuary on the advert stands in the front room on the modest little altar. Somewhere the buzz of a live microphone drones. The air smells of modified sewage perfumed with rancid flesh and disinfected.

Nick gets one final glance at her before the air lights up- the look on her face is a mixture of sorrow, rage, loss and regret. It's the look of someone confronting the merciless abyss. Then the shooting starts.

The first blast flashes and takes the closest cadaver down in a puff of carnal tissue, the shell ripping through the skull and taking a chunk out of the wood above the door. Three subsequent shots happen, making their ears ring. Already covered with blowback her anguished face stippled and splattered, she now moves deeper into the Chapel and starts in on the others.

It only takes a few minutes, the air flashing like a fireworks display as she goes from pew to pew, either vaporizing skulls or thrusting her Randall knife through petrified nasal cavities before the things even get a chance to bite at the air. George staggers towards the open door to get a better view and he notices Nick just in the side Chapel entrance.

She has the strangest look on her face now as she finished off the last of the monsters with a hard quick slashes of the knife the gun has been emptied, 8 shells peppering the wall behind the heaps of moldering flesh. Completely slick with blood, her eyes burning with inscrutable emotions, she almost looks beatific as she dispatches with the last re animated corpse .

For one terrible moment watching this all from the doorway Nick thinks of a woman having an orgasm. She lets out a voluptuous sigh of relief as she impales the skull of what seems to be an elderly woman. The Crone sacks against the back of her Pew, she was once somebody's mother, somebody's neighbor. She may have once baked cookies for her grandchildren search for famous bread pudding add ice cream socials and laid to rest her beloved husbands of 47 years in the Cemetery out behind the rectory .

Y/n pauses to catch her breath staring down at the woman, head bowed for a moment, when all at once she abruptly stops and looks up narrowing her eyes. She cocks her head to one side and listens closely to something in another part of the building at last she fixes her gaze on George and so softly whispers

“do you hear that ?”

@the-wandering-pan-ace

[eagles-translated]

Season 3 Prediction Post | Felicia Kroon

This is the prediction post for Felicia in the upcoming season of Eagles! I will be making prediction posts for the other main characters as well.

I think Felicia is going to have a really tough time this season (as per usual, even if I would've liked to see her happy through this season).

The description of season 3 on SVT Play mentions that "Ludde and Felicia’s relationship is still affected by their history and it also turns out that their plans for the future are not entirely in sync". From this, I'm pretty certain that something is going to happen between her and Ludde that causes yet another rift in their relationship. I'm sure they'll spend at least a few episodes together before this happens, though. From these shots alone there doesn't seem to be any problems between them. They're also seen together at Ola's funeral (which will happen in the first episode of the season), so my prediction is that something will happen that creates tension between them but they won't actually break up. They'll spend time apart and maybe even take a break from each other, but they won't officially be over.

I think it would be too repetitive to have them break up again after spending a whole season apart. That isn't to say that they won't have problems—namely with Felicia's drug problems that still haven't been properly addressed, plus the abortion Felicia had that we still don't know anything about. During a fight with Jack, he threatened to leak Felicia's abortion to the press. We don't know when this abortion took place but I have two guesses to this. My first guess is that maybe she found out she was pregnant after she and Ludde broke up, and that she decided to have the abortion around the time when she ran off to the US. If this is true, then it makes sense that Felicia told Jack about it. When Felicia came back from the US in the beginning of season 2, she had virtually nobody she could talk to. She wasn't friends with Amie anymore, Elias was in Karlskrona, and her parents were right in the middle of a divorce. Felicia didn't even feel like she could talk about the divorce with her mom when they were together in the US, so she certainly wouldn't open up about having had an abortion. Being in a situation like this where she was really struggling and having nobody to talk to, I'm sure Felicia really overwhelmed. And when she reconnected with Jack and they got closer she finally had someone to talk to about all her problems and tell this secret to. All this was of course prior to Felicia finding out that Jack had cheated on her. The other alternative is that Felicia got pregnant after getting together with Jack, and then got the abortion. In season 2, episode 7 (conveniently titled Secrets) we see a scene of Felicia and Jack making out on a bed. Things are getting pretty steamy between them but Felicia stops Jack and quickly apologizes. He's confused and asks what wrong—it's not that she didn't want to do it or that she was still upset over the text Jack sent to his summer flirt Olivia, so what is it? We get the explanation that Felicia has a lot going on in her head and that things are tough for her. Jack says she can tell him anything and the scene ends there.

Maybe she'd just found out she was pregnant, and that's why she didn't feel like doing anything with Jack. It's very plausible that Felicia told him after the scene ends and maybe Jack knew she was going to get an abortion (or had already done it, prior to that moment, and felt ill because of that). Point is, that scene could be where Jack found out about the whole thing only to use it against Felicia later when his true colors came out. Anyway, knowing Felicia had an abortion at some point and that Jack will most likely use the information to ruin her reputation, maybe this is the reason for the drama between Felicia and Ludde. He might even find out from the tabloids and question her about it. I think when the news drop in these gossip magazines is when Felicia has her mental breakdown (or maybe the culmination of everything). We've seen a few behind the scenes shot of her being emotional and possibly having cried in a forest.

Here is that scene pictured in the trailer, where we see Felicia reacting to hundreds of comments (most likely) made about her from people on social media. There's also a shot of her running through the forest, maybe trying to run away from all her problems.

These are, from the looks of it, all hate messages. In the trailer we hear Felicia say "I'm so ashamed", which could allude to her being ashamed over the news of her abortion spreading. Maybe Jack even twisted the circumstances to make her look bad, which could explain why these comments seem so aggressive. When Ludde finds this out (maybe preoccupied with the whole trial where Jack reported him for getting violent at the party where Ludde hit him with a crutch and also his brother potentially getting out of prison) I'm sure this will cause a strain in the relationship. It would probably be really overwhelming to find out this secret in the middle of all that. I also feel like Ludde is the type of person to get angry over Felicia not having told him—in the trailer we hear him yelling "what the hell are you thinking?"—rather than being calm and collected over it. This could lead to Felicia's drug problems getting even worse. There's this shot of her in the trailer saying "What do you have?". This could be about anything, really, but it could also be Felicia going back to her bad habit of abusing hard drugs when she hits a low point.

I'd like to think that Ludde notices how Felicia is having a really tough time and helps her with the drug problem, but I doubt it. Maybe it would make more sense if her family helps her, considering how Mats knows a little about the struggles she's had and how Elias is aware of it.

There are two more shots in the trailer that I'm unsure of, namely these ones:

The first one is Felicia being caught off-guard after noticing a man having walked up to her. This could be Ludde or even Jack, who has been pretty absent from both trailers. Maybe he goes back to the US after the whole trial ordeal and having told the media about Felicia's abortion, or maybe not.

The second picture is Felicia reacting to something. She's shocked. I don't really have any guesses for what this could be except for maybe her seeing for the first time that her abortion secret is no longer a secret. But for all I know the abortion could be a way smaller plot point than I originally thought, or maybe even something that was completely made up by Jack?

To finish this off, I revisited this comment made by @elliephunk80 on an old prediction post i made on the final three episodes of season 2 where I claimed that Jack probably cheated on Felicia.

I really ship Felicia and Ludde but I hope you’re wrong about Jack being unfaithful. If she reunites with Ludde I dont like the thought of her going from one unfaithful man to an other. Can’t even think of what that would do to her… If that’s the way its gonna be I just hope she stays single for a long time to rebuild.

I think this is a really interesting point to bring up. Felicia and Ludde are framed as the main couple of Eagles and that they're destined to be end-game no matter all the obstacles they have to go through to get there.

But perhaps they're not really meant to be together? As the season description from SVT said, "[...] it also turns out that [Felicia and Ludde's] plans for the future are not entirely in sync". We also know how many problems these two have had from the relatively short time they've spent together as a couple. Maybe the best thing for Felicia is to be single and work on her mental and substance abuse problems, and the best thing for Ludde is to reconnect with his brother who probably needs a lot of support after getting out of prison.

Nevertheless, I'm really interested in seeing how season 3 turns out and how much of this was completely wrong lmao. My main hope for Felicia is just that she's happy and getting proper help at the end of the season, because I'm getting a little tired of how much the writers have been bashing her. For some reason Felicia always has it the worst—and I can understand to some degree why with her whole backstory and the pressure of being a public figure—but that doesn't mean we necessarily need three whole seasons to show how much Felicia is struggling. I really hope season 3 is when she finally receives the support she needs from the people around her.

[fujosh1dreamer]

Alright it's time for more of my controversial opinions on the she Ra finally, as some might know I didn't like it too much. To clarify I thought it started out really well at first and I was really excited to see where it would go, but by like episode 5 or whatever I just knew. It was sort of anticlimatic if I'm honest, and I have a few honest criticisms. Now I'm not gonna go through all these now, I'm actually just gonna focus on what I considered to be the biggest problem of season 5 and honestly the whole show.

Before I get into it this is just my honest opinions and if I hated the show I wouldn't have kept up with all the season and been a fan. I love she Ra and I really wanted to love season 5 I just couldn't. That's not to say it was bad, there was a lot of good stuff.

Also, also I am going to be talking about Catra and adora and their relationship. I'm not an anti or anything it's just a few comments about the execution. This is about Catra as a whole not just this one ship.

Let's begin: Catra has always been a well liked but controversial character back in seasons 1 and 2 her actions were fine, while harsh she was at least understandable to an extent. Most people who liked her wanted to she her growth and redemption. Me on the other hand I've never been a fan personally but I didn't mind her too much early on. Later, however is where the problems come into play.

In order for season 5 to have worked Catra needed to be properly redeemed because she's done some awful crap. And to make my case I'll list off a few things she's done: actively attacked adora and her friends on multiple occasions, took enjoyment out of hurting others and seeing the horde take over, stabbed entrapta in the back literally, threatened scorpia, and opened the portal.

Now I know what you're thinking, yes we know this, so what she's better now in season 5 she's redeemed herself. Yes at the end of season 5 Catra is redeemed but the question is how? And why?

Catra and her redemption story has been compared to zuko and his story. Which I think is a little unfair because it's just not on the same level. Don't get me wrong compared to other redemption attempts it's definitely a win. I don't wanna compare these two it's not necessary people learn and grow in different ways.

I didn't like Catra's redemption because it felt too easy. It didn't hurt and because it wasn't painful it didn't feel earned. However people who talked about Catra and season 5 talked about it making them cry and honesty it only made me tear up one and it wasn't ever in a scene about Catra or adora, or even glimmer. It was when entrapta was talking to mermista and she realized that everyone was mad at her. So maybe my emotions are just shot, or something.

Despite not like season 5 all that much I did however like Catra this season. I've never liked Catra, I liked her momentarily in season 3 before she started making horrible decision, but other than that I didn't like her. So in season 5 Catra was well written. And it's because of character interaction.

Something spop has always done well is showing us how characters interact and what their dynamic is which makes scenes more interesting and how Catra talked with everyone was great it felt natural, almost too natural. I get that our heroes are supposed to be forgiving they're heroes but it's one thing to forgive and another thing to forget completely. There are only two times Catra really gets called out for her previous actions. The first is when frosta bless her heart, punches Catra right on the face and this scene is played off for laughs because Catra brushes off the punch and also frosta apologizes because she didn't realize Catra is on their side now. They all just too adora's word about Catra being good now. Then she's confronted again by perfuma who's just upset about how she treated scorpia. Which was bad we'll talk about that later but she's done so many other things to get mad over. Like anyone remember when mermista's home got taken over Catra pratically led that siege, mermista was heartbroken she lost her home.

So that's issue one how she integrates easily into being friends with everyone else.

Next is...

Oof, let's talk about Glimmer and Catra. Them being stuck together was interesting because their situation helped them both grow and tested their resolve which is great. Their relationship is really well written. We just have one small, tiny problem... Catra killed glimmers mom!!!

Are we just never gonna talk about that I mean the opening of the portal in season 3 and the death of Angella are two really big issue because they're the point of no return for Catra and Glimmer.

Catra actively opening the portal to spite adora and potentially destroy the planet turned Catra from a simple kid making mistakes because of her circumstances to someone who genuinely doesn't care about the suffering and potential death of others as long as she can prove a point. It made her a real threat and a potential villain.

Angellas death made glimmer queen and it also made her cold and willing to seek vengeance despite them being the good guys. She was willing to take matters into her own hands even if it meant going a little too far. Both of these characters changed in season 3 and those continued into season 4.

So if these events had such a great impact why aren't they brought up??? Simple because we need a happy ending and that can't happen if we're talking about dead parents.

Out of all the people that Catra apologised to shouldn't glimmer be first on that list. Doesn't she deserve at least that much.

My next point and the one I'm probably most bitter about is Catra and scorpia.

It's safe to say their relationship has always been a little weird. In the very beginning of seems very one sided with Scorpia hanging onto catra's every word. Then with time we see that Catra does actually care about scorpia she just doesn't like to show it. Which is fine until you guessed it season 3 where Catra's character really falls down to the point of no return.

So let's recap throughout season 3 while Catra and scorpia were together you could see the beginning of something and honesty it was pretty cute. Then the ending happened and Catra attacks entrapta and threatened to do the same to scorpia and suddenly everything was broken. All throughout season 4 we see nothing but hurtful words from Catra towards everyone but especially scorpia who's just being loyal. Finally scorpia gets tired and she basically puts Catra through one more test involving Emily before deciding to leave.

This relationship was the one I was really looking forward to seeing in season 5, but all we get is one small apology in the last episode and that's it.

Throughout this season they pratically had scorpia and Catra forget about each other completely.

When scorpia left the horde she did it because she felt she had to in order to both save entrapta and Emily. She wasn't fully okay with her decision until she met the other princesses and realized they're nothing like the horde. Still she never forgot about Catra because scorpia's whole thing is loyalty so how did she just get over her feelings for Catra especially when doesn't know where she is and hasn't heard anything about her. I know the situation was dangerous but still.

It was all pretty upsetting. Moving on...

In my final moments I wanna talk about catradora and also a little about shadoweaver.

Shadoweaver died and well... I expected that you really can't redeem her. It's not impossible but no one would ever accept it because people can't really change and nothing can ever make up for the mistakes she made in the past and the way she manipulated people. It's weird how I can't tell of I'm talking about shadoweaver or Catra anymore. They did a lot of the same things and yet... Catra is never really blamed for anything. Same with Hordak the fandom blames him for crap all the time but when Catra hurts people it's okay. Shadoweaver and Hordak are different cases they're older than her, well let's compare glimmer in season 4 grieving over her mother and making mistakes and everyone getting mad and expecting her to be held accountable, why is there such a double standard for Catra???

Anywho Catra and Adora's relationship is apparently the only thing everyone cared about will they be together??? After season 3 the chances were very small, but guess what they ended up together. Honestly when I say I get a little annoyed around episode 5 it's because they made it really obvious they're gonna end up together happily ever after style. Honestly I don't have the energy after this long post to criticize it. I just wish it was a little more tactful in the beginning and less blatantly obvious. But whatever!!!

[natashaashleymarvelromanoff]

Im so glad you’re back  chapter 2

So here’s my second chapter!! I was originally planning on uploading this on Friday but I couldn’t help but upload it early!!

Next chapter should be up soon and I hope you enjoy this one!

Please leave a comment and tell me your thoughts or ideas

You can also read this fic on AO3:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19045453/chapters/45375688#workskin

  It's been 3 weeks. Or more specifically 22 days since the snap. Since they lost half of the universe. Half of the planet. Half of their friends.

All Natasha could do was work. She needed to do something. Anything. Anything that could help them.  She barely slept. Afraid to be alone in her bed having got so used to having her soldier there. She didn't even have sam or Wanda to keep her company either. They both were lost to the snap too. All three of her friends that she had spent the last 2 years with, they were gone. She could barely eat as well. Anything she did she couldn't keep down. Everyone left had noticed that the snap had affected her the most, just in the way she had changed since they had known her. Even Carol who she had only just met noticed how distraught she had seemed to the rest of them.

It took them a few days but eventually using the pager they found they were able to send the signal to her. And thankfully she came.

Carol felt for the woman. She had obviously lost someone important to her, they all did but she suspected it was more than just friends. She didn't want to ask Natasha directly, but she figured she lost the love of her life by the way she was reacting.

---

The white glow of the bathroom light stings Natasha's eyes as she looks up into the mirror. The blonde could barely even look at herself anymore, her own face, proof that she hadn't been taking care of herself. Bags under her eyes, the paleness in her skin. She could barely even keep food down for god's sake. She's experienced loss before, she'd been through battle, missions, and wars, but this, the aftermath of the snap. This had shaken her to her core.

Just as she observed herself in the mirror the ground started to shake. Almost like an earthquake. Almost. It wasn't the ground that started it, it was coming from above.

Rushing out of the bathroom in her room and Grabbing a jacket the blonde spy ran outside of the Avengers compound along with bruce rhodey and pepper. In the distance of the sky, she could see a small glow underneath a massive ship. It was Carol, she was back, she’d found them.

Once they had talked to Carol when she first got here, they had explained that some of their friends were still missing, on another planet somewhere. Rocket told her that he could help track his ship if she was able to go get it. It took a while but they worked to locate it and found it drifting in the middle of space. Once Rocket had confirmed it was his ship she left to go bring it back. They didn't know who she would be bringing back though. There was no way to communicate with the ship since it was damaged from the fight on Titan, they would just have to wait.

Natasha watched as Carol carefully brought down the ship and landed it on the field, she hoped they found more than 1 of them. Rocket had lost his tree friend Groot. She didn't want him to lose everyone. And god she hoped her friends were still alive.

Once the ship was steady, the ramp for the entrance came down. Stumbling from the inside of the ship was tony. Natasha instantly ran to grab him along with Rhodey. God she was glad to see him, she let herself smile for just a moment before she got closer to him, He was so thin, so tired. He'd been up there for too long.

“I've got you tony, don't worry.” Grabbing onto his arms to support him, Natasha let Tony use her as a crutch, whilst reassuring him that she could help him. He was gasping for breath, having almost run out he was gulping as much as he could. His mouth dryly trying to speak to her as they made their way down the ramp.

“I lost everyone. I lost the kid.” The man of iron sounded so defeated. Natasha let a tear fall at his words. The kid, Peter. Peter was gone. Peter was awfully sweet when she met him. God, He was only 17. Shaking her head at Tony she tries to give him a sad smile, trying to make him feel better.

“It's okay, it's okay, it wasn't your fault.” As they get to the bottom of the ramp, Natasha loses her grip on her oldest friend, letting him walk the rest of the distance to his love.

Pepper practically ran over, her arms wrapping around tony as she pulled him closer.

Natasha watched as they reunited, she couldn't be more thankful that she got her friend back but there would always be a small part of her that was jealous that they still had each other.

---

“He used the stones again?” Natasha asked the racoon. After giving Tony some treatment and letting him rest, the rest of the Avengers gathered in the common room, trying to formulate a plan. The rocket was explaining to them that the stones created a power surge, bigger than anything anyone has seen before. Something so unique that they would know if a power surge like that ever showed up again, it would be Thanos and the stones. Luckily he and nebula traced another surge, exactly the same as the snap on another planet. Far across the galaxies.

“You don't think he used them to kill people again do you?” Rhodey asked as he walked closer to the hologram in front of them.

“I doubt it. If that's what he had done we would've known about it.” this time it was nebula who answered Rhodey's question, her deep voice sounded pained at talking of her father.

“We need to get them back. If we get the stones we can bring everyone back. We owe it to everyone who’s not in this room to try.” This is it. Natasha thought. They finally found something. They had a chance. She almost thought she might have sounded crazy as she spoke since no one agreed straight away. Until someone did.

“Your right. We need to try. We have to.” it was Carol. Natasha could already tell her and Carol were going to get along well.

…..

Since Carol had brought tony and nebula home, rocket and the blue cyborg had been working relentlessly to fix their ship. And she guesses they finally did. All of the Avengers boarded the ship and strapped themselves in their seats, rhodey sat at the back, Natasha and Thor next to each other, Carol and rocket in the pilot seats and finally bruce and nebula sat down the front of the ship.

Rocket slowly flew their ship into the atmosphere and then suddenly slowed down, talking about how they were ready to hyperjump, or something similar, Natasha wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying. All she could think about was getting everyone back.

"Okay, which ones of you haven't been to space” the racoon spoke up. both her and rhodey raised their hands, and then looked at each other in almost a worried way.

“ Don't throw up in my ship.”

Then they jumped.

The Russian had never seen anything like it before, it was beautiful. Space just flinging past her at light speed as she travelled through the universe. Out of instinct, Natasha turned to her right, ready with a small quip about star wars. But when she realised there was nothing there except the interior of the ship, she slightly turned into herself. She’d almost forgot that he wasn't there. It was just second nature to her now to turn to her right.

A few seconds later the ship entered another hyperspace portal or whatever it was called.

They were here.

Flying out from the ship, Carol used her powers to fly out in the middle of space, turning back to the ship she told them she would look to see if he was alone or what they were up against. To see if he had armies or defence.

He didn't. There was nothing. No army, no defence, no satellites. Nothing. It's just him

----

Using the ship to enter the atmosphere they landed it quietly in the field.

The purple titan moved slowly around his farm, preparing himself food when suddenly he was attacked, but he didn't have the strength to fight back. They had overpowered him.

As thor and carol restrained him, Bruce and rhodey used their weapons and suits to threaten him to stay where he was, Natasha walked up through the door. Marching up to the monster in front of her, she asked him calmly, to give her the stones. He struggled to reply since carols arms were choking his neck but the words he could get out left her devastated. He didn't have them. He destroyed them.

“I Used the power of the stoner's to destroy themselves. Reducing them to atoms. They're gone for good. They served their purpose.” No One knew what to believe. All shocked from what they had heard.

“No. no, they can't be. Where are they.” Natasha shouted into his face, her eyes wet with tears, brimming, threatening to fall down her cheeks in front of this nightmare creature.

“I told you. They're gone. I'm inevita-” with the swing of an axe his words were cut off. Along with his head.

Natasha gasped as she watched Thanos's head fall to the floor in front of her. He was dead.

Looking up at the axe’s owner, her eyes fell on thor. His face showing nothing but sadness and guilt.

“What did you do thor?” marching over to the god, her body filled with rage and sadness, she stopped herself in front of the large god and angrily watched him. Waiting for his answer. All thor could do was look at her in sadness. In guilt and sorrow.

“Why did you do that?” she yelled. Then he felt a blow to his chest. Natasha had hit him. To the god, it felt like nothing. But to her, it was all her pent up rage being channelled into her fists as she hit his chest over and over and over again, at the fact that he had killed the monster that had the stones.

She got a few blows into his body as she raged before he grabbed her arms and pulled her into his chest, the Russian avenger had tears running down her face at this point and just fell into her friend's arms defeated. Thor knew she was mourning for Steve and all their friends, but so was he. That's all they could do now, and they knew it. There's nothing they could do. Just mourn. This was it. Their last chance and they were too late.

The ride home was silent. Natasha sat at the back this time on her own. All she wanted to do was be alone right now, as she waited to arrive home she Just silently cries to herself. There was nothing she could do. She lost everyone, her friends, bucky, sam, wanda, Steve.

This was it. There was nothing, no chance. She lost him for good this time.

Once they arrived back home, Natasha made sure she was the first one off. Practically running back to her room at the compound so she could be alone. Not even bothering to remove her uniform before she made it to the bathroom, Natasha immediately went for the toilet, hunching over it and throwing up. The journey of travelling through space being too much for her body to handle right now, she was tired, with everything she had been through it didn't surprise her she was coughing her guts up every day.

Standing back up from the toilet, Natasha pushed herself away and back into her bedroom, her small fingers pulling at her belts, buckles and zips, releasing her from the tightness of her suit. She had changed into more comfy apparel, it was almost midnight here, all she wanted to do was go to bed and just sleep to escape the reality she was living at the moment. But as she pulled back the covers, her eye caught one of the photos she had next to her bed.

It was of Cooper and Lila holding Nathaniel when he was just a few weeks old. Looking at the photo hurt her. When they came back to new york the first people she tried to check on where the Bartons. But she couldn't get through to them. And when they went to check themselves, her niece and nephews were nowhere to be found. Neither was Laura or Clint. She tried to make herself feel better by thinking maybe they had just left but the picnic bench left outside full of food, that hadn't even been touched and a bowl of salad on the ground confirmed her suspicions.

She’d lost them too. Just looking at their faces, she couldn't help but feel like the universe had been extra cruel to her, taking away her best friends, her godchildren, her soldier, her steve.

She's known them since they were babies. She was there for Laura when she needed help, even to go get her food when she was craving something, even to help Laura through her contractions when she was pregnant with Lila. She remembered every second.

As Natasha reminisced about Laura and the kids, she almost froze on the spot. Dropping the picture, she took a few steps back.

Natashas breathes were getting deeper and deeper as she let her mind race with the facts.

Everything she's been going through. She was tired, sick, more emotional, she hadn't cried this much ever, she assumed it was because of Thanos and losing everybody but this was different, she'd seen this before. With Laura. All three times.

But it was impossible. “I can't- it's not possible,” she whispered to herself. Not believing her own hypothesis. She needed to make sure. She knew for a fact it wasn't possible but she couldn't get the nagging feeling out of her head. If Laura was here she’d know what to do, Natasha thought.

Natasha waited about an hour before she left her room. She assumed everyone would be gone by now, back to their rooms, thinking about their lives and futures and what they were going to do know.

She was doing the same, she needed to know if it was true.

She had to know.

Heading down to the medic lab, Natasha quietly let herself into the clinical room. Rushing over to one of the holo-screens. She used her hands to activate the AI.

“Friday, I need to you to do a scan on me.” she took a breath before she spoke. She couldn't believe what she was about to ask.

“Of course miss Romanoff, is there something wrong? Should I alert the others.” Fridays Irish accent sounded out over the speaker com.

“No! Everything's fine, I just need you to scan me, I just need to make sure.” no one could know about this not right now.

“Yes miss Romanoff, what scan shall I perform.”

“An internal one, mainly across my stomach.”

“Certainly miss Romanoff. “

A light flowed down her body as the artificial intelligence scanned her. Slowly analyzing her internal organs for any signs of her suspicions.

“Your scan is complete.”

Once Friday had stopped talking, her scan glowed in the dim room.

There it was. In black and white. Well, the blue glow of the hologram.

PREGNANT - POSITIVE

Natasha couldn't help but let out a gasp of surprise. It couldn't be? How is it possible. This can't be right. No, it can't be, not without steve here. She refused to believe it.

“Friday run it again, you can't be right. Just run it as many times as you can. “

A few more minutes went by but it felt like a lifetime. She knew what Friday had said but she needs to check. She had to. There's no way she could do this right now, not without Steve. Jesus, as if life had not been cruel enough to her. Not only had her friends been taken but now she may face the possibility of raising a child, their child on her own. In this terrifying new reality, Thanos had created.  She was in the middle of thought when the sound of the AI popped up again.

“Miss Romanoff i re-ran the scan 3000 times. My answer is certain. You are pregnant. I estimate around 2 months.“

“But how is that possible. I'm- in… I can't have kids Friday. This can't be happening, it just can't.”

“I'm well aware of your medical history miss Romanoff but my results are not wrong. You are indeed 2 months pregnant.”

Slightly stumbling backwards Natasha stops against a table, her thighs just hitting the edge at her back. This can't be happening. She was pregnant with her and Steve's child. At the realisation, Natasha's hand subconsciously rested itself on her stomach, where her child lay. She didn't know how to feel. Overjoyed? If she was a normal person in a pre-snap world, then yes. Sad? She just found out she had no hope of bringing her friends back. Numb. that's probably the most accurate feeling right now.

She shouldn't be doing this alone. This was hers and Steve's child. He should be here. He was supposed to be with her when she found out. To celebrate with her. To promise her everything in the world. To protect her and their child. He should be here. He would have been over the moon.  The thought of her child and Steve almost made her sob. He’s wanted a child of his own for as long as he could remember and he finally had it, but he wasn't here.

Suddenly behind her, she heard a noise. Turning her head to find the source

Natashas face falls at the sight of Carol. The glowing words PREGNANT still in bold letters next to her. Carol looked on at Natasha with shock and sorrow in her eyes.

The Russian just looked at Carol in defeat. There was no way of trying to explain this now, and there was no point of denying it either. Natasha turned back round to the words in front of her as Carol walked herself into the room.

“Natasha I- I don't know what to say.” Carol nearly stuttered as she spoke. She couldn't even imagine what Natasha must be feeling right now, she knows Natasha probably didn't want her to know either.

“Neither do I, but I don't think there's a lot to you can say to be honest.” Natasha couldn't move. Still froze in her same position after Carol came in, her eyes welling with tears at the thought of her near future.

“That's probably true but I'll give it a try anyway because I think you might need it.”

“I know how hard today was for you. And I'm sorry about your friends and Steve. But I think you should consider this a gift. You still have a part of him with you now. I know it wasn't supposed to end up like this and you probably never planned this. But now you have a chance to raise this baby. Yours and Steve's. Not everyone is gonna get this chance. You should cherish it. And know you're not alone.”

You're not alone. Those words stick with Natasha, she guesses that it's kind of true. This was her baby, and with it, she'll never be alone again. She had her friends that were still here.

Nodding at carol once she had finished, Carol moved a bit closer and her arms widened a bit opening up so she could give Natasha a hug. Natasha couldn't find the strength to refuse so she gladly hugged Carol back. After a few seconds, Carol and Natasha let go. Carol held onto Natasha's shoulder to comfort her until she pulled away to leave the room.

It's a depressing next few days for the Avengers. For the past 3 weeks they thought they still could have a chance but now they know they didn't, it was just quiet.

The first person to leave was Carol. She explains that she needs to help other people in the universe and that she needs to tell them about what happened and now they know there's not much they can do, she's not much help back on earth. Everyone is understanding, mainly because they want to go their own way too.

Next, are Rocket and Nebula. The last remaining Guardians. The cyborg and the racoon tell the rest they want to get back out there into space, try and get information on anything that could help them get everybody back, and also to help others.

Bruce says he wants time to himself to work things out with the hulk. After their little domestic during the war with Thanos, they needed to sort everything out.

Thor, Natasha can understand the most. He needs to find his people and find them shelter on earth and take care of his people. Thor is their king and she respects that he has other people he needs to take care of.

And rhodey says he wants to go around the earth, helping people and spreading the word of what happened. And helping to deal with the government

And Tony, well tony right now is still trying to get better since he was almost starved of oxygen and food in space for 3 weeks, but pepper was adamant when she told them she's taking him home And they are staying there till he's better. Besides, there was nothing tony could do to help now.

Natasha, of course, accepts everyone's reasons, they have their own lives, she can't expect them to stay here in the compound forever. Once everyone discussed what they were doing, the Russian avenger told them she would miss them.

“what are you gonna do Natasha?”  Rhodey asked her, it took her a few seconds to reply with an answer but she knew what she would do.

“I'm gonna stay here, at the compound.”

Everyone else looks at each other in question, almost worried. She would be all alone surrounded by the memories of all their friends that are gone.

Noticing their looks, Natasha defends her decision to them.

“Guys, stop worrying so much, I can see it on your faces, I'll be fine. Listen I can stay here as ground control, you can keep me updated on everything your doing to let me know your okay and I'll return the favour, this means we can contact each other regularly and gather information. “  their remaining teammates look around at each other again, taking in the spy's words and agreeing to what she was saying.

Natasha made sure not to mention her pregnancy, it would make things a lot harder, she didn't want to stop anyone from going on with their plans. If she left the baby out, everyone could just leave and not feel bad.

Through the course of the next week, Carol, rocket, nebula, Bruce, Thor, Rhodey, Pepper and Tony all leave one by one. Leaving Natasha alone in the compound. Just her, a hundred rooms full of memories and her baby.