#flaming moonlark

[the-witch-of-woods-beyond]

sophie should have been a pyrokinetic!!!!!! and i will die on this hill because what do you mean we could have had an arc where the black swan begin to reject her, and grady and edaline grow more distant because of their complicated relationship with fire, and all of sophie’s friends start to fear her after she loses control, and the council threaten another ability restrictor. and then maybe she goes a bit dark and is contacted by the neverseen again, but she’s in such a bad place that they manage to manipulate her and get her on their side and she runs away with them (and then she find out they were the ones who made her a pyrokinetic and maybe she was their experiment the whole time and the black swan stole her and covered it up and maybe she wasn’t the only moonlark???)

[worldsunlikemyown]

THIS!!!

From Book 1 itself, Sophie's been the one to give most sympathy to the plight of pyrokinetics. She's the only one who seems to recognise from the outset that banning the ability is like 'forbidding someone to breathe'. Her having this opinion on the ban would make her dynamic with Fintan really interesting — she would hate him for the atrocities, but the hatred would be coloured by understanding.

[fintan-pyren]

Sometimes, life is busy. You shouldn't let that stop you from enjoying a good book, but who has the time to read the same words over and over again?

For your enjoyment and convenience, I have removed all duplicate words from the first Keeper of the Lost Cities book.

blurry fractured memories swam through sophie’s mind but she couldn’t piece them together tried opening her eyes and found only darkness something rough pressed against wrists ankles refusing to let move a wave of cold rushed as the horrifying realization dawned was hostage cloth across lips stifled cry for help sedative’s sweet aroma stung nose when inhaled making head spin were they going kill would black swan really destroy their own creation what point project moonlark then everblaze drug lulled toward dreamless oblivion fought back clinging one memory that could shine tiny spot light in thick inky haze pair beautiful aquamarine fitz’s first friend new life ever maybe if hadn’t noticed him day museum none this have happened no knew it’d been too late even white fires already burning curving city filling sky with sticky smoke spark before blaze miss foster mr sweeney’s nasal voice cut blaring music he yanked earbuds out by cords you decided you’re smart pay attention information sophie forced open not wince bright fluorescents reflected off vivid blue walls amplifying throbbing headache hiding sweeney mumbled shrinking under glares now staring classmates pulled shoulder-length blond hair around face wishing hide behind it exactly kind went way avoid why wore dull colors lurked blocked other kids who at least foot taller than survive twelve-year-old high school senior perhaps can explain listening your ipod instead following along held up like evidence crime though probably he’d dragged class natural history balboa park assuming his students be excited about all-day field trip didn’t seem realize unless giant dinosaur replicas came started eating people cared tugged loose eyelash nervous habit stared feet there make understand needed cancel noise hear chatter from dozens tourists echoed fossil-lined splashed cavernous room mental voices real problem scattered disconnected pieces thoughts broadcast straight into brain being hundreds tvs different shows same time sliced consciousness leaving sharp pains wake freak secret burden since fell hit five years old she’d blocking ignoring nothing helped never tell anyone wouldn’t you’ve above lecture don’t give asked pointed enormous orange duckbill center how lambeosaurus differs dinosaurs we’ve studied repressed sigh flashed an image card front display glanced entered photographic recorded every detail recited facts twisted scowl classmates’ grow increasingly sour weren’t fans resident child prodigy called curvebuster finished answer grumbled sounded  know-it-all stalked exhibit next over follow thin separating two rooms block muffled grabbed little relief nice job superfreak garwin chang boy wearing t-shirt said i’m gonna fart sneered shoved past join they’ll write another article child teaches lame-o-saurus still bitter yale had offered full scholarship rejection letter arrived few weeks allowed go parents much pressure young end discussion so attending closer smaller san diego college year fact some annoying reporter newsworthy enough post local paper chooses ivy league complete photo freaked wasn’t strong word more half rules unnecessary front-page articles pretty worst nightmare they’d newspaper complain editor seemed unhappy story run place on arsonist terrorizing trying figure mistake bizarre white-hot flames smelled burnt sugar took priority everything especially unimportant girl most ignore or used caught sight tall dark-haired reading yesterday’s embarrassing black-and-white looked seen particular shade teal smooth sea glass beach glittered flickered expression gaze disappointment decide shrugged leaning closed distance between smile belonged movie screen heart did weird fluttery thing is pointing picture nodded feeling tongue-tied fifteen far cutest talking i thought squinted brown uh yeah sure say reason felt conversation accent british somehow crisper which bothered know are suck words soon left mouth course boys cute made mushy perfect returned told hulking greenish standing albertosaurus all its lizardesque glory me do think that’s it’s absurd

isn’t see saw small t rex: big teeth ridiculously short arms fine laughed i’ll get meet turned leave just classes kindergartners barreled fossil crushing screaming knock step whole realm pain kids’ stinging high-pitched needles many once angry porcupine attacking hands darted rubbing temples ease stabbings skull remembered alone reaction locked forehead pained imagined seconds hushed blood drain mean created plenty racket shrieks squeals giggles plus sixty individual chattering away gasped solved earlier everyone boy’s distinct accented speaking totally completely silent possible whispered widened moved whisper telepath flinched skin itch gave can’t believe backed exit reveal total stranger okay holding sort wild animal calm afraid froze my name’s fitz added stepping name searching sign part joke joking thinking wobbled spent seven find someone else world tilted sideways steady here looking twelve we better question: want air jerked bolted door stumbling shaky legs rhythm sucked breaths ran down stairs burned lungs bits ash flew ignored wanted space strange come shouted picked pace raced courtyard base steps wide fountain grassy knolls sidewalk got inside because poor quality footsteps gaining wait pouring energy sprint fighting urge glance shoulder halfway crosswalk sound screeching tires reminded both ways terrified driver struggling stop car plowed right die second blur swerved missing inches jumped curb sideswiped streetlight heavy steel lantern cracked plummeted instincts hand shot pulling strength somewhere deep gut pushing fingertips force collide falling gripping extension arm dust settled floated feel weighed ton put familiar warned bringing trance shrieked dropped without hurtled watch yanking split crashed ground impact knocked tumbled body broke fall landed chest stretched flurry questions swirling coherent idea sat replaying sense need witnessed miracle tighten panic let’s overwhelmed plan resist street reached intersection north zoo where crowd during firestorm running missed hearing changed terrifying scenarios involved government agents throwing dark vans experiments watched road ready bolt anything suspicious zoo’s massive parking lot relaxed outside milling cars happen witnesses slowed walk breath promise sincere easier opened hesitated supposed am trust won’t considered father sent specific age observe report always talk frowned disappointed himself does means expected threw what’s wrong touched eyelids suddenly selfconscious figured again awe us stopped whoa hang ‘one us’ frowning spotted fanny-pack-wearing within earshot deserted corner ducking green minivan there’s easy we’re human stunned speak hysterical laugh escaped repeated shaking riiiiiight insane trusting kicked stomped telling truth minute last listen plea humans vanished gone reeling leaned argued taking clear set pole minutes ago almost three managed finally saying alien erupted laugher cheeks grew hot also relieved compose elf hung foreign object belong visions tights pointy ears danced giggling expect guess stick wavy spikes rock star good crazy agreed refused serious frodo ring save middle-earth toys hid corners showed oh ought folded slender silver wand intricate carvings etched sides tip round crystal sparkled sunlight magic asking rolled actually pathfinder spun latch top dangerous you’ll faded depends take concentrate matter happens proof prove whisk land curious harm someone’s willed palms sweat fingers laced stupid tingled everywhere scanning warning look scowled bit tongue concentrated racing seriously become those silly girls counted raising facet beam refracted tightened grip forward warm tingling million feathers swelling underneath tickling giggle melted goo keeping oozing blanket warmth wrapped faster blink eye might squeaked stood edge glassy river lined impossibly trees fanning emerald leaves among puffy clouds row castles walt disney throw rocks kingdom golden path led sprawling elaborate domed buildings built brick-size jewels each structure color snowcapped mountains surrounded lush valley crisp cool

cinnamon chocolate sunshine places exist less appear forgotten released realized hard squeezing unable castle towers oddly our capital call eternalia heard shangri-la lost cities you’d stories rarely ridiculous things elves burst quiet gentle breeze brushing soft murmur traffic hammering unspoken very silence rising tiptoes view streets ghost town building towered others stones emeralds banner flying tribunal progress everyone’s watching proceedings council basically royalty holds broken law they’re deal laws well shook wrap cringing question funniest glared funny regained control try cling remaining strands sanity sun casting ray onto leaping hitched ride headed impossible infinite travel haven’t theory relativity stumped dumbest i’ve albert einstein huh dumb argue confident unnerving harder waited feather sensation dryer scattering directions until rubber band later shivering ocean whipping glowed carved moonlight failed passed bring herself true science book read confused observed ‘hey learned smug grin best minds begin comprehend complexities reality elves’ ahead slowest trump proper education shoulders sagged sank four scenery blurred whether tears entire lie nudged hey fault believed taught i’d done works bells chimed large gateway floor-length velvet capes draped tunics emerged followed creatures marching military formation rocky pants muscles prominently flat noses coarse gray pleated folds armadillo goblins signed treaty hating trembling dressed forbidden lumenaria worlds gnomes dwarves ogres trolls mentioning focused motioned farther squatting betrayed ancient councillors intelligent rule planning war ancients violence disappeared forbid any contact devices working defend race famine problems chilled frigid wind licking who’d known must’ve after eventually evolved myths simple yes peeked glowing crucial identity clicked spinning thousand loud clang gate stepped shadows sleek cobalt home jolted mom bus bland boring stole incredible blinding swept smoky fresh surprised recognized plain square houses narrow tree-lined house ask lived coughed handle putting pollutes planet these aren’t normal chemical smells usually wildfires smell barbecue melting cotton candy burn rain arsonists admitted pocket hoping notice dad wants knows neither important meant mystery he’s happy careful please shown today thank act family doesn’t suspect squared courage telepaths special ability rarer ones thirteen six months corrected liking youngest manifest start reverberated scanned positive waking hospital moment forget hooked kinds machines hovering shouting barely separate hold happening group adults haunted worry brows narrowed doing extra private keep wall weak hated bossed answering concerned action worked imagining stretching shadow mine blurted pale process hardest worries live fumbled answers long trouble knees link amazing will tomorrow panicked battered cluttered living phone she’s receiver having reeled daggers calling wandering worried police sorry stammered convincing horrible liar scared mom’s anger concern nervously curly guy realizing lies based freaking walked trolley train teacher guard ugh complained closing adult rubbed wrinkle appeared stressed upset safe stand weirdo understood dangers teased tormented bullied deflate wish trailed close rest sister slipped pin painful tight hug welcome honey dinner ten amy upstairs kitchen unease twist stomach worn linoleum pastel tacky knickknacks ordinary glittering kissed cheek shabby briefcase table how’s soybean wink baby apparently pronouncing thousands times lid simmering pots garlic cream filled handed silverware turn crackin’ scooted plopped usual chair nine role mastered opposite lower average grades popularity sisters wondered definitely powers lowered breathing: inhale exhale repeat care nickname dizzy must lay should eat skipping acting fettuccine night favorite rich sauce sudden nausea tug eyelashes chewed bite swallow fork official thanks great homework sprinted bed hiss shattered marty pounding fluffy cat sitting tail slunk settling lap marty’s purring

confront downstairs settle explained blonde chubby brunette screamed throbbed deeper ripped apart blinked related change lots adopted poked brought e l fudges plate cookies milk getting sick palm fever tired cookie stumbled routine crawled blankets wrapping pillow dreams kissing tucked tradition breathe ella yep elephant stuffed sleep tonight um guys hugged tighter hours labor endured switched birth daughter doubt wondering anymore dreamed keebler perfected recipes liked oreos drown vat fudge woke overrated morning quick shower jeans shirt buttery yellow stripes item closet self-conscious wear gold flecks admit clipped toyed lip gloss snuck check crept yard blinking stuck contained next-door neighbor perch middle lawn forkle rearranging garden tableaux nosy checking effect beady bored hers loved sentences complaining 911 obligated gnome fraction inch gives headaches yapping interrupted ball fur streaked barking spandex jogging shorts chased grabbing dog leash clumsy lunge kneeled stroking wild-eyed panting creature drew growled strained mad sister’s hates displaying several halfmoon wounds bleeding scar suppose willing carry blocks seems winked piercing certainly yelled jogger guy’s louder chaos wonder grab drag should’ve trick react stopping tracks side man straightened height quite intimidating ordered glowered promised snorted grumbling moving explaining whenever appearance waiting incident eyewitnesses frustrating confusing bell rang lurking scream demanded loudly heads bad flashing cocky rush blush unanswered tries creepy snatch slow replayed scene remember growling forkle’s quietly quieter we’ll we’d eyeing suspected impending mischief leap english ditch yesterday strangle pull disappearing fail willingly use telepathy brushed whispering pushed further test tested permission assignment frustrated matters invading offense scrunch nod movement nearby oak drowned could’ve sworn jogger’s campus gestured tree either imagine adjusted shouldn’t anyway who’s committee sidelong heat breaking automatically furious enjoyed caused determines grinned future shield surveyed surroundings metal nearly everglen leading doors absorbs directly likes privacy stressful doubted king kong faint click swung inward striking clearing growing midnight cape fastened clasp diamond-encrusted wings lean vibrant resemblance alden introduced bow curtsy shake greet shy pleasure prominent kidding unusual flush smiled embarrassed fire alden’s injury muttered son shared kidnapping considering such might’ve paranoid has touch rude assure love kidnapper searched reassure kindness agree placed gently jacket ticked indeed fascinating sounding triumphant perfectly specifically nexus forgot covered dug cuff coat clamped bracelet wrist twisting fit snug comfortable accessory single jewel rectangle symbols letters spelled gibberish odd decorate finality safety precaution break particles carried concentration circumstances bare early fools overestimate skills fade cautious answered lose yourself able fully reform pulls forever goose bumps dimple cleared throat prefer reproving send mission collect long-lost guests wiped blooming red pink purple rainbow perfume flowers dizzying testing qualify foxfire paused fungus insulted prestigious academy named represents glow darkened comes ‘fungus’ strongest talent kiss goodbye excuse proud attend accomplishment earliest levels develops abilities continue studies elvin sneak work knowingly chills mixed night’s troubling revelation sickening councillor bronte difficult impress feels upbringing lack disqualify surprises existed miffed votes squat brown-skinned huge tended fairy tale plants slantways shuffled carrying basket twinkling fruit guessing pictured men hats statues servants stare choose safer gardens enjoy privileged taste gnomish produce lunch treat dig slimy tubers slugs hoped menu peeled meadow elegant manor entirely intricately numerous turrets gables rose tower resembled lighthouse braided foyer prism widest hallway fountains spouted streams colored water hall dead-ended encrusted jeweled mosaic

diamond unicorns amethyst spoke wealth squeezed formal dining sheer silk curtains drawing chandelier waterfall shimmering crystals platters fancy goblets figures jewel-encrusted circlets plush thronelike chairs surrounding curtsied necks clasps keys horribly underdressed fabrics except disguise kenric oralie football player toothy princess rosy ringlets met smallest cropped features finger pairs floor laughter squirmed joined pleased shape it’ll transformed noticing autorepeat: scooting oralie’s one’s died yet hurt immortal trace sorrow bodies aging reach adulthood wrinkles belongs yourselves guest uncovered grimace strips glop goop tasted juiciest cheeseburger stuff mashed carnissa root umber leaf tastes chicken animals tone ate toxic waste squirming grimaced vegetarians horror vegetables cheeseburgers tells swallowed mouthful thud discussing openly respond kenric’s jaws dry remembering warnings stay begun eight pass mentioned learn relax bronte’s icy gust common announced jaw flushing chagrined incredulous impenetrable key sentence ‘almost breached guilt conscience sounds infallible thinks likely exceptionally lift weight telekinesis recovering embarrassment shrank goblet accident raised lifting invisible scoffed unimpressed limitations unlike physical confidence clue giving blew pretending imaginary extend sharper worth saucers applauded excellent praise couple glasses determined stronger ounce core empty collective gasp including breathed celebrate cramped strain knocking thunderous collision open-mouthed shock hollered sealed clapped language guys’ enlightened leaped instinctive interesting babbling teasing noisy gripped ‘soybean’ mispronouncing blushed chuckled beside dusting waved insisted sighed suldreen stretch line rare species bird puzzle solve uncomfortable coincidence convince decision barked shoving moonlarks vote otherwise fight favor final fragile lovely empath emotions extended grasped delicate fear confusion sincerity describe azure settles revisited till adjust invoke demand probe planned arranged quinlin busy decipher fun training looks iffy ‘bothered’ dad’s reluctant emptiness exploded choked saving colder implications ditched stall punishment atlantis nowhere patch white-capped waves signs seagulls screech poop hardly continent tide pool triangular slip slick shoes match gown begged status noble members nobility offices empire waist beaded neckline dress costume seeing clothes: tunic embroidery edges pockets sewn sleeves exact size sit boots completed thankfully knowing biana comparison changing subject ledge engineered catastrophe compartment revealing bottles label bottle whirlpool uncorked flung blast whipped faces roar churning ladies suggested worse gulped maelstrom beneath salty sprayed jump push count dignity drowning flailing idiot formed tunnel dipping weaving craziest waterslide starting launched vortex sponge licked toe pack kittens minus kitten sprang cushion smoothed wet incoming rocketed slightly squishy packed sand gleaming metropolis dome beyond soared skyline bathing radiating spires network canals interconnected arched bridges pictures venice modern clean despite bottom underwater muted hum background seashell ear build stores power precisely amount changes plated reflect firelight illuminate sink wandered shops renaissance fair women’s gowns shifted advertised two-for-one specials bottled lightning fast approval spyball applications strolled hybrid chicken-lizard invented main canal hailed carriages floating almond-shaped boat rows high-backed benches elbow-length steered bench reins skimming surface eight-foot-long scorpion deadly pincers reared curled sting eurypterid stroked shiny shell eurypterid’s slice emitting low hissing petted harmless carriage quinlin’s yours fiber mutant insect doom probed gritted pressing hideous sonden’s office thrashed heebie-jeebies commute while secure needs protection file highly classified business district windows tracing bearing names treasury registry interspeciesial services unreadable random strings runes nonsense writing

alphabet clueless chin jumble nah affected gap kid option country tests dropping member broad kelp ornamentation precise read: sonden: chief mentalist cube swiped elbow ping assurances humiliating bypassed receptionist dim damp stone desk dark-skinned chin-length seat ceremony unique understatement squirm handing lick dna unsanitary tiniest hologram center: rotating unearthly breathing prentice sacrificed double helixes sacrifice reasons fears hundred seventy-eight murmured began pacing invaded she’ll greatest keeper older midstep record share trained charge protecting currently hidden karaoke game sing off-key notes clearly eavesdropping strip slid winding stairway climbed oval footage brush projected chill aerial southern california lines circle area images deepened valleys ruled reflections note interrupting communicate waving warn turning overreacting glancing shuddered desperate kidnapper’s threatened easily implied nameless faceless entity quickly threatening authorities would’ve shivered accelerant chemicals leads lighting spilling oil blowing investigate council’s position here: takes visit babysitter decent equally spying steam secrecy existence discovered hoax search updated slight bypassing distracted evillooking matches keepers lagoon glint shimmery dunes lake west shore statue topped hollow iridescent film shimmered loop apparatus resemble bubble lifted clung shrieking levitate forming touching bubble’s rumble coming geyser shoot eleven crash below bobbed where’s scary pure joy popped whisked glaring gates flash strode olive contrast youth shone nerve summoning personal shorter intimidated difference sooner exiled clench fists backward tiergan aware opinion summoned convinced tiergan’s fierce crumbled crossing expert inventory widening whatever foxfire’s newest mentor puppy officially weirding becomes provide retired given persuaded return resentment mixture surprise hone assistance reasonable restrictions pretend opportunity silencing bet terrible mood mumbling mostly irresponsible manage choice benefit stares notify dame alina returning kept bruise meantime session listed remedial schedule lessons dummies correct assumption warmed tuesday brilliant panel everglen’s grounds sessions study student subjects one-on-one nerves one-onone succeed mention level grade relearning self-doubt heavier fragmented disappear explanation aside pleasant dis arguing overstuffed armchairs woman squealed snickered wife della pinched gesturing dear vanishers smiling musical hint della’s beauty tossed pursed heart-shaped parents’ combined gangly troll interceded borrow errands frumpy files requested denied request approve grady edaline case torn radiant parcels strobe unwrapped packages clasped cord neck choker pendant elf-y anytime fund’s activated fund register money standard dollars lusters laughing luster dollar crinkled ew insult afford differently limited seventy eighty makes sad curved window overlooking silvery floor-to-ceiling aquarium wingback facing piled books scrolls anxiety remind stacks newspapers circled crossed news removed drawer theories irritation super stuttered discuss faced solution allow ours they’ve effective immediately too-simple accept kick constant discovery longer unbearable loneliness friends grasping overwhelm areas access severely restricted dead deciding gravestones became vivid: grave tearstained draw suffer struck complicated relocated jobs erase tear obvious believing shutting function erased armchair scrubbed forbade sob occurred risking twenty alert plans clothes sees wiping focus bent unshed horrors cringed buried trembled bouncing busted eavesdrop grounded hugging worrying pouted pettiness bratty obnoxious pain-in-the-butt embrace struggles play daughters mouths senses hook hurry daze rememorize room: dusty available quilt mother tripped furry crouching releasing pathetic meow disk sleeping gas release drugging physically ill backpack slung giggled elizabeth clutching anywhere couch fingered ordering thirty crumpled burying recognize crouched smearing drool snot drugged sobs

overcame jerk washers bags regret bear slept finish hawaiian family’s limp determination taken fourteen cried assured stranglehold haunting gets hope personally oversee relocation flared wrung guardians title selected enthusiasm strangers elwin’s blue-crystaled temptation shiver raked bones orphan conservatory lead backyard security choosing saved ache suffering gift raise ended abandoned wipe elwin physician medical hate doctors brave regular nightmares brief stays struggled dragging direction drop free implying biana’s glare escape punch bathed gigantic glued cushioned cot syringe goes fidget spectacles scientist snapped painless orb flasher manipulate skilled orem vacker show eclipse biggest celebrations traditions damage permanent tensed food chance innocent cells dashing depending orbs squinting lenses stunningly lit dramatic expecting toxins research rifled satchel vials liquids major detox braced medicine syrups nectar unknown fruits tingly drink youth legends enzymes essential health refreshing downed contents gulp drank medicines list follow-up checkup whistled sometimes heated lame stinky stegosaurus shame horrified production wimp doctor phobia jumping needle strap bunch shots allergic how’d concrete nine-one-one unconscious genes kicking trigger bedroom canopied chandeliers room’s gotten deserve ruined chanting mantra shut pajamas tuck asleep belonging alive twenty-five catch breakfast clock shop furniture detoxes materializing clutched ghostly exotic heartbreaker fitted glamorous shopping explosion behold wardrobe outfits extras pick beat-up sparkly casual packing leaked days unpack hungry knotted sadly dampened preserve havenfield exciting jolie deny loss wonderful booming fenced-in pastures spread scrambled versions rehabilitation centers sanctuary protected trap nessie artist endangered gorillas lions mammoths extinct thriving herd woolly colonies saber-toothed tigers slack exists rob qualities provides thrive feeding hunt diet steep cliffs caves flower-lined using ropes lasso lizard neon beast protest drama queen husky male commanded beast’s heave feat twice snaarrll bucked guardian lunged tangled writhed losing balance verdi tyrannosaurus comments meeting jaculus winged serpent feeds support contain bloodsucking snake claws snout tremble lowering fangs glinted slobber motioning glimpse dinosaur-riding chiseled feather-covered james bond robin hood balding relate handsome feathery banged pet rub rex’s stayed docile unblinking separated verdi’s wound plugged slime death rot tuna fish combination kelpie dung bites jar swear edaline’s grady’s wary compared palatial estate mansion standards columns cupola roof entryway central upper floors cascaded ceiling wispy fabric turquoise amber curls similar circles fluff presentable rex picking playing rodeo cowboy nope wash staircase sadness lingered tea mallowmelt insist gooey cake fresh-baked chip soaked ice frosting butterscotch dripping hasty slices served nook grazing linens painted china homesick woken lushberry juice pop possessed conjurer form teleporting objects coolest unfortunately scraggly slurps burps letting friend’s ached grieve fished imparter simply strangled pounded reassuring deafening third star-shaped dangled glittery weaved carpet scent canopy occupied dressing bookshelves brightly volumes bathroom bathtub swimming biting awesome assumed jolie’s tour awkward delicious soupy pizza unpacking wrinkled scrapbook wherever welled remnants dried sixteen sunrise streaks blending mirror darken awake finishing hovered doorway interrupt riser shades clap bruises conjured bowl spoon banana bread tempted impose sloppy handwriting upside symbol corner: bird’s beak tickled babble scare extremely documents cipher moisture particularly believable prescribed drawn eager fidgeting ruffles simplest bought hi kesler groaned island mysterium identical mold vendors spices sweets buzzed crowded sidewalks working-class social rank ‘talent simpler correspondingly unfair born lesser lives type designed village avoiding whispers ruewen pretended different

store crooked nursery rhyme burps: merry apothecary belched maze shelves pills laboratory beakers bubbling burners rainbow-colored lab skinny tousled strawberry periwinkle blob tubes add amarallitine dex tongs vial experiment poured beaker sparked plume dirty gag concoction exclaimed hello ‘hello impersonation sludge eda scrap sheet kesler’s brother-in-law nephew practically monday al freaks dimples burped beanpole hooded cloak vika annoyance handiwork written girl’s bald scalp meanwhile stina ’cause twitched battling sell solutions sasquatch dent bony appendages children throttle hairoids stock week wailed ogre wicked misses responsible friendly rage here’s spat helping customers potent hat flinch useless buy countered retort stina’s oooh slammed fist timkin heks helps situation traditional absolutely brings stuffy nobles happier grinning mess tweak supplies armful worktable sneaky beard dex’s evil mortar pestle teach tingle attempt fifty-seven solo property collapse practiced checked displayed sliver percent chose he’ll hawk mentors monitor weakness expelled pushes transferred exillium swallowing bile mounting attack messy juline riveted gossip interruption interest hilarious bookshelf mounted cover camera summer flipping pages naked mouse suit disneyland dizznee photos honestly movies outlets flipped technology solar powered rifling sir conley’s luck lady galvin highest rate rig calming flooded seventeen gadgets chimes arrive uniform skirt leggings shirt-vest-cape combo laceup jerkin long-sleeved slacks waist-length superhero captain blueberry rescue meaning order demonstrate rid wimpy halcyon mastodons mascot birds storm mastodon ceremonies costumes glad idiots appealing crest triangle heart: scarlet eagle soaring talons chemistry equipment theirs adopting adoption adopt temporary enrollment manticore themselves parties dies span cope calmed orphans wylie whose recover connection blames wylie’s hanging leapmaster 500 lucky authorized 250 tons rotated five-story pyramid sharply angled u stained seventh amphitheater extensive fields grass hopelessly prodigies uniforms building’s finding ducked starts orientation principal reads announcements attendance collar track peal close-up stunning porcelain caramel-colored foremost whoever reekrod weekend mark punished fullest extent threat dangle continued detect ah spotlight hissed viper’s nest ssssssophie hole crawl concludes today’s nearest exception divided wing banners bore midflight halls quad throughout sparkling sapphire chatted doorways lining atrium spectacle creating marked rune locker mirrored lock uses gross faculty picks flavors pepper sneeze croak yelped stench rotten eggs dash diaper muskog wheezy snicker whirled towering mass frizzy cackling hags stalking hairs shave earth serum friday retorted raven swishing behavior phasers ashamed apologize obviously spend detention alexine stinks beet minions kinda frog fumes catching jensi rapid-fire speech talked buckets redder instructed honest ‘human girl’ ‘sophie’ whim elementalism pride backtracked twists turns drops warped wooden session’s zapped ‘zapped’ thunderclap eighteen tray electrocuted quiver conley hitting fluted botched sending tornado tornadoes mastering elements entering foods series stalls court mall recognizable eaten tables cafeteria whom discourage joining verge perceptible message clear: focusing bigger jensi’s acne braces fairly slicked greasy ponytails drooled setting bang c’mon dude unison ‘e’ duh drooly volunteered singed universe daunting exaggerated messing ‘dude’ killing explode cough pixielike rescuing tossing petite balled braids suicide overeager marella mare nicknames obeyed enemies honored pucker licorice lemon fan prettypants rather grumpy brat brother’s dreamy willpower copying sip looped defending dizznees triplets says ‘bad match’ genetically incompatible inferior aunt uncle superstrange celebrities famous vackers superimportant marella’s sympathy grandma heartbroken helpless veins hopeless cases guarantee scooping mammoth shudder awful afternoon feared astronomical

learning astin whispery complex maps planetarium effortless excelled hour survived approaching dragon hateful invited feelings letters: extinguished stuffing fill animosity deck ‘nice uncanny royal highness bothers remembers talented ‘deck beaming nineteen thursday disaster goal sandwiched colosseum pe vanity near door: sneakers ponytail owned ship slap reply lasted compare redek squish may fool stops idle threats grouped twos tromps manifested fifty-fifty manifesting mysterious remark required variable reign terror ‘everyone’ impressive jolt supervise caton titan god informed channeling supereasy channel parts body: heights speeds normally unimpressive attempts threes bumped defense appetite startled spaceship unremarkable studying superintently snapping scraping probing concept unsettling establish forcing eighty-seven puckered brow assume cheerful scraped intended drained steadying suggest ethics attached meganeura exercise annoy fidgeted cocked wanna buzzing dived vulture-size dragonflies patted freaky-looking bug blown gargantuan proportions creepiest disco balls grown monster enclosure phys ed intense emergency weirdest part: proven trustworthy receive assignments lectured responsibility detecting discover elite avoided mesmer nauseated wow sheesh inflicting curiosity won causes dara lecture: pyramids tidal army hairy hollowing himalayas strangest mumble creeped exile interested dying supertalented fundamental guilty underground eternity ruin fluke churned abandoning illegal washer alter dump brother secluded sorted reminding effort flavored flumes spritzed shove disturbing failing smirked alchemy pupil encouraging cracking melody ominous ingredients trophies gilded items pointy-toed suspiciously midas milky liquid dancing rushing rustle red-brown updo hunter silky decorated patterns swished slightest alkahest universal solvent stored itself dissolves wood flesh taxes substance alchemist wise teaching masters tincture poultice basic serums yellowed box flask jars iron transmuting metals recipe formula labeled instructions fiddled rechecked mistakes plunged whip fizzed rumbled jelly galvin’s exquisite dissolved luxurious damaged salvage welt healing ma’am murder retrieve afterward muttering incompetence flunk sprawled hallways stark ditching keefe gulon disheveled untucked popular belva crush blame 90 certain paid accidentally cue epic alina’s ugly crying treated whiter phobia consisted rooms: treatment beds brewing physician’s paperwork slinky scurried bullhorn demented ferret banshee adorable fellow dramatically wanting seize mmm-hmm acid mimed effects destroyed salve measured whap wash present laughs clarification confirming twenty-one embellished version destruction joked bottling anwen multispeciesial 324 faxon metaphysics complimented requests brown-eye create overnight granted incredibly challenging explosions occurrence unlearn lifetime knowledge levitating rainbows constantly messed highlight skill effortlessly amazed unwanted transmit else’s psychic photograph needing patient plague suspicion snotty maruca i-hate-sophiefoster club reaching growl jealous prettiest bedlam subdue chasing rabbits antlers swinging trunk lump verminion pen boosted mammoth’s trumpeted earthshaking squeal ringing mound timid twig hiiiissssssssssss uncurled rodent bulging hamsters rottweiler-size hamsterzilla trample japanese hamster cooed snaarrrlll impressed chase steer dashed catches fifty stupidest clod mud nailed grooowwwwllll fatal flaw pinned grunted press snarling squeeze verminion’s unlocked assortment spewed whined pile gloves shed trade trudged oversize squirrels rats identify burlap sack quivering snarl steeled shriek batlike heaved wool scratches leg outbuildings carefully organized veterinarian’s laid sterile spreading limbs smeared eyedropper dripped creature’s rewarded squeaky rumbling crackly purr smiles cage barrel soapy chain-sawesque snores vibrating brattail tuber sausage imp guessed six-inch venomous stings snoring vicious describing tame yetis outnumbered conked chipper iggy strand swell

generous hugs touches gestures glistened dubious trails twenty-two sharing congested warthog roommate snuggly sleepless spoil caring ultimate splotching championship sacks cheered sympathetic secretly celebrating partnered naturally teamed splotcher splattered loses winners person wins marks smugly win splotch splat deserved colorful prize contest pardon hopes wonderboy gagging rounds beat opponent knots backing aim ow raw telekinetic flushed compliment disqualifies pumped victory hotter cheering opponents experience duel beginner’s talents mighty competition grumblings battle odds experienced evidently four: sixes trella dempsey paired hopeful muster bested winner fluttered appears competitors betraying butt preference keefe’s chant ladies’ float clenched adrenaline surged audience back-up splotches rebound phenomenon weightless collided simultaneous fate collapsed twenty-three placing compress wincing muscle injured whermiwhahapped worse: laying banshees mortal danger stirred lucid winced stiff glands zinged collected rebounded bounce specialized hammered controls actual mix matched draining practice evenly awfully sidelines wobbling auditorium applause teensy annoyed copied blushing elbowing ribs tie protested declared excused lesson rejoin splotchers acted delivered p congratulations confirm bath lathering bathers soggy instinctively besides creased drive twenty-four meter one-third younger that’d wonderboy’s precious midterms score seventy-five recommend nissa tutoring consider tutor projection gagged flavor yell daily tore prattle chewy caramel peanut butter pouch cracker jack horse mane prattles’ unicorn pins collection examined digital 122 185 number eighty-five super-rare bitterness vaguely compute unexpected development century too-little-too-late branch other’s replaced beeline simultaneously sniff aw stuck-up snob wasted invite humiliate walking ambush capable teeniest details clanged cricket chirped embroidered satin sash wringing exhaled seeming makeovers wrestling polite fortunately braid flutter dirt pitter-patter eh sayin’ shooting quest grateful team jealousy guarded raid questers tagged sentry tabs isolate general nail targets listened softer instantly presence tremendous connected forest thundered vision racked credible crashing bushes partner deceive insists hasn’t secrets toes staying chain apologizing visitors sulking funk snipe wagged there’ve weekly jokes havenfield’s defied exams panicking passing guide narrowing shipped exam brass copper transmutations ideas challenges thwarted spilled gashrooms reek pored frozen cause shattering cheated accomplished cheat ideal dreading twenty-six tri-angular apex streamed pane angle reflection examining confessed forgave neutral violated ethical regulations expulsion suggesting argument ruling obey flourish bother violating reporting stifle closely icily respect authority advises wedding flapped nor pointless cheating tolerated huffed regrets confess serve minimum assigning becoming theme slipping unnoticed what’d gloomy atmosphere desks thumbs-up siren song appreciation art nature clapping earsplittingly shrill whine whale nails chalkboard toddler uncover broadening horizons claiming repentant company brand torture ballroom belva’s sirens dances edwardian claimed valin ponytailed promenade dancers valin’s sweaty chime stars shined brighter spit wickedly slobbery octaves fanned hmm irritated flattered scored points empathy forked smirk ironing holes stack detained increased practicing leaps eyebrow empaths powerful mundane purification vein easiest transmutation lockers traded twenty-seven banging annoyingly caps disqualified chorus groans nonstop cap smurf amalgam telepathic integrity wrote essay betrayal over debate automatic 100 last-minute mentally repeating tips negative vibes stress ethic claim fame skipped skip supportive doubting brag mercifully stalled magenta berries rusty discipline chosen purify ruckleberries fifty-five nasty impurities elderly human’s alchemists methods dive knife pierced berry dribbled pinky haggard glacial quarters

deducted mediocre performance forth whirlwind crack exhausted brutal slamming slumped that’ll public hooks presents spine cards schools hassle babysitters edged obstacle tugging stressing rigid suitable gifts jewelry charms charm twenty-eight unrecognizable streamers shrub toilet-papered tinsel confetti bubbles prizes popping appointment teal-wrapped package uglier hurrying plowing regain literally prying trademark smirks spoken sapphire-encrusted navy-blue intently hairstyle contrasted pristine infamous deflated wilted father’s oily insincerity resigned flame cassius lord performing unremarkably radiated apologies fos er disappointing scores fake critical said: creeps prize-filled prattles dwarf lollipop topple snappy comeback comment loser fails organize overflowing half-empty month misunderstanding shushed slim parcel chiming signaled parent-mentor conferences celebration feast unwrap snatching self ‘dear dance sometime vice president boyfriend rattled reader tease ribbon tapped gadget fingernail speaker thingies coloring dunno disbelief variety edible glosses speckled spider snapper plant fed spiders riddler writes riddle miniature violet thanked showing misty seventy-nine improvement range sensing tomato congratulated comfort sobbing partying included sneer party note: f snap k sugarplums boy-craziness necklace cuffs wristbands vanisher platter customs gelled perfection gym ornate immaculate alvar talks often rumpling fizzleberry wine juggling girlfriends hero beamed piddly quicksnuff emissaries tend conspiracy possibility myself pieced undivided swan’s curve pattern term replied active recently unauthorized investigation frustration twenty-nine alternate spending smelling clues accomplish consumed trapped counting resumed vacation finals received eighty-one eighty-three unacceptable prepared chorused poufy thrown towel drooped oven roasted frosters transmitting charts transmitted peed suffered rested cryokinetics freeze manipulating pyrokinesis mesmers inflictors monitored pyrokinetics inflict fire’s unpredictable truly forbidding pyrokinetic library surely three’s librarian banned archives libraries bust problem: section dire wolves peek promising bins mountain littered haphazardly spaces scan unrolled flip papers helpful lacy dulled childhood: strung lanyards dolls framed bone picture: breathtaking tragedy drinking leftover junk trunks piles unopened bin disturbed murky midterm roll scroll shelf sample starlight moonglade: fireflies flickering stellarscope upside-down spyglass view’s billions wad tag amaranthis memorized fourth lambentine bag spout wider scope knobs cluster dials stiffened lever thumb clinked rubini orroro azulejo cobretola indigeen scratching spectrum rearranged indigo zelenie isolated this’ll bluff scrounging elementine adjusting fidgety hummed shining teared welts frantic thirty-one blackish-purple blisters pot burns sprinkled powder adventure soaking numbs balm miserably regulate temperature palace crown nicer handful roots mutilating blades destroying bashing stubbornness reappeared ointment knelt furrowed fingertip rags longest hottest soapiest griffins discreetly boring-looking firecatching bode bundle solid downright incoherently darkly quintessence fifth element myth truest conditions blow metallic-toned bronze wildly flamed audible unmapped locations merit thirty-two platform thrones remotely procedure involving throne cushions tourmaline sturdy polished dotted onyx heard: clarette velia terik liora emery ramira darek noland zarina flicked mere evacuated three-thousand-year task undisclosed location trial salivating convict straighter dozen marched stationed bodyguards swordlike weapons belts fanfare blasted crowned amateurs seated sapphires shall world’s ungraceful consuming detector fuzzy lying endlessly jell-o hobbled astin’s honesty assigned emery’s argento auriferria pennisi merkariron styggis achromian slower plotting map cowering submit lists convenient judgment frightening hardened remained expressionless mediates telepathically consensus united aspirin unanimous

rise violates actions intentional accountable foster’s involvement addressing agreement millionth wished exchanged dimpling kiddo thirty-three banks sienna bark paintbrushes purfoliage palmae calls pures filter pollution freshest crispest tinge fuzzed hesitation observant instruction lurched sunset farthest councillors’ steadied emerald-encrusted circlet bowed pleasing honor beg refuse descryer response delightfully potential clamoring backfired speaks beginning optional 327 sensed crane sweeping peacock log dream softly regularly useful one-armed fiancé’s projecting vividly replace album dinner’s stroke retracted apology hurting tricks arches replica model thirty-four planted curl plotted page difficulties rivaled protect quieted los angeles hollywood trash conspicuous spider-man batman posed mann’s chinese theatre blended beams issued ‘forgot’ oblivious ourselves stubborn softened unwillingly seeped ‘got of’ ant pavement explore warring hurried consequences captured pleaded mercy prentice’s behalf oversaw shatters society metaphor insurgents rebellion kindest whatever’s decisions encouragement revelations ability-detecting exercises cornered superbusy insistent significant elf-ish onetime played envy tracked master tracking switch spots conspiracies investigating headway ignorance ever: permanently jarred conservation legitimate scientific principle nagging elixir nogginease limbium mineral supposedly resisted bike wheels giddy week’s supply unnaturally syrup absorb nauseating unfastening vest skin’s collapsing allergy dimmed cradling thirty-five fluttered chafed sandpaper wildhaired soothed sensations spectators cleaned vomit upright moaned allergies wits bullhorn’s trite soiled airtight vomiting swollen blotch-free humiliated undershirt noticeably absent dazzling alvar’s raptor disgusting decade spare injected steroids tied budge scolded showers heels crisis ushered deathly tough disasters blankly rests brothy soup elsewhere shadowy comforting yawn snuggled thirty-six squealing hundreds eagle-size pterodactyl somersaulted screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech stability rein speed momentum gained screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech torch pasture dispersed uncannily fried engulfed birdbath sparks jerking possess flareadon fire-resistant replay triggered animal’s cares octave higher killed resting flareadons volcanoes occur gildie strayed ‘flareadon female correcting wade debacle breaks wrestled socks shredded apparent vague emotion animals’ distances qualified lightened results defined iggy’s gildie’s paw tummy reward downy fury paled out-of-breath aura recoiling imperative vital violate risk humiliation fled her: cooperate freezing peered railing partial drifted bars errand thirty-seven mush nights begging blend processing forgetting tearing fluorescent locker: insider’s librarian’s timing shoe absolute librarians plastered sinking confirmed dog-ear chapter everblaze: unstoppable blind thirty-eight paper-strewn something’s ‘everblaze frissyn x stands detailed extinguish overruled excluded unheard indecision warred babies hatch extract unregistered code name: egg cast conventional purpose determine pregnant fertility posing implanted embryo manipulated outstanding retain discovering affects genetic anomaly renegades weapon ‘prodigy illegally forgiving messages suffocating choke word: controlled puppet issue triggers twilight proudly soothe facade crumble table: throaty fix drove wedge messenger delivering seal reseal rampaging limits chaise skimmed bead luminous nonluminous generated lumenite drilled clarify rip grubby paws riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip chunk possession skittered treasure retrieving tattered assess rug glue document accordance canceled thirty-nine heartbeat scrubbing choked-back muffle misery acknowledge gaping owe regardless charade  obeying command churn yeti ricocheted ooooookaaaaaaay slinking acknowledging attempting library-appropriate slothlike triple-check echoing phew scrutiny shrug candleshade overhead clipping playlist jarring numbness bass mature speakers bands sarcastic tune swirled seeping cracks triumphed

tiptoed rustled creaked padding crawling lonely forgive forty cheer stricken envelope headline: claims victims scrawl announcement corridor stark-white gulps sneaking suggestions weigh resolve admirer flood applying replacement heal eased uncertainty brothers recent discoveries recording spy undetected textbook dreaded licensed pathfinders restriction threatens ‘everblaze’ accusation fintan pricked balefire fintan’s requires fuel supported cosmic ‘fire ignite conclusive example surveillance ruining depths former dealing approved overrule objection trusted phantom rebels snatched emissary citizen confidential duly noted digging forty-one partly imprisoned sorting reminders pity tension distant lately preparing prejudice megacrush cave commands successful method unwrapping names: connor kate natalie freeman apply permit huddled thinner echoes evacuee note’s unquenchable abandon supporter afar forty-two stashed drawers ‘you threaten chaperone global dumped significance supplied clothing resistant fly willful punish facets stagger hills screeched tying pried displays seals survival glinting corneas swoop thickest raspy coughs locate singeing shift current overcome coughing inferno ouch thrashing clouded watery beads capped treats paced treating scorched angrier contorted squatted pee severe scalding plunked sticky-sweet healthy grim balled-up yelling homes camped affairs mesmerized desperation launching steal dumping tenderness justified reacts offer unintelligible agreeing concerns forty-three relatively illness actress w-what admitting lifeless freaky dumber connections traitorous resisting grasp peace decency furball storm’s appropriate cliff reveling shard clatter soothing relishing pulverized smithereens boulder violent frightened irrational fallen possibly smothered meaty cloaked swooped sickeningly nostrils sedative cursed rallied scuffle scuttled captor circulation rasped viselike lolled rescued forty-four bonds staging unfortunate complication fog scrambling muddled funerals pendants vise sweetness blackness necessary loomed constricted heaving choking gruff hyperventilating suffocates coated hacking nods croaked relocate stolen grunt syllable drugs mist strapped bound shivers eerie breathy wheeze venom trail gumption predicament footfalls disposed disappearance guts throb ignorant cackle toy reserve widen contorting poison ple clarity struggle overwhelming happiness rocked jostling rescuer foggy occasionally elevator altitude delirium parted flimsy fumbling promises caress weary forty-five searing heightened awareness sensory overload barrage cigarette butts alley surveying hideout interrogation kidnappers scoured alexandre desperately operates anyone’s him: upcoming rounded apologized broom peeking roofs yards landmark eiffel gaped graceful paris france french indian saris currency exchange robbing bank machine atm watches account measures ‘make work’ cameras covering buttons alarm bills robbed technopath froster internet café sandwiches cheese once-living boxy computers navigated web browser googled number-one result pont iii bridge seine lanterns shopkeeper sped excitement decorations horizon lamp nexuses lasts mathematics applied dawn forty-six melder stun evening strolls cloaks leader obscurer bends distortion coil rope goons goon pathways underestimate wire enhanced wishful swirl severing rapid duck whizzed seizure dusted flailed gurgling blank forefinger crescent shaped jagged cowl stumble scarred heft frenzy hatred writhing strengthened pumping pulse heavyset figure’s hideouts options battering crushed nearing tug-of-war lessened allowing glorious drift fading surrendered mind’s imagination funeral weariness overtaking hazy snow labored conscious sparkle freedom sweep forty-seven brightness peaceful wove persisted appeal surge newfound pooled aches splintered clearer enveloped strawberry-blond-haired numbing sedated tingles luxuriating gulping wetness numb shhh sniffled recognizing propped girly seasons faltered proves meaningful floppy snickers emergencies conversations flirting scratch

blasts streaking injuries concentration’s cell half-drained gaunt fleeing canceling flitted nuzzling scratched there’d yawned lights forty-eight covers washed sandor goblin bodyguard inflictor paralysis semiconscious incapacitated dormant trauma latent polyglot languages advance interrogated sandor’s bunny seven-foot-tall buffed-out overtime blindfolded seared monitoring proved arrested custody awaiting deaths tragic innocence error motivate condemning madness reluctance single-handedly now’s crescent-shaped recalled epiphany overweight swells digest explains operative guarding subliminal advantage activate developed who’ll address database detectives arson reigned supreme wisest greater questioned decades measure influential amok globe rejected imprison devastated uprooted supporters initiative resign outspoken recruited activity satisfied handled poorly kidnapped prisoner resolved disposal stamped justice voiced revenge birthday birthdays indefinite spans thirteen-year-old crushes plots rebellions grown-ups understands teenager accepted bargain relented insisting uncertain responding arrange forty-nine pedestal charges bylaws sub-bylaws committed transgressions minor tortured regal express safely accused drafting addressed firmly murmurs debated arguments raging attitude disrespectful rebellious overlooked gratitude however static rulers experiences inappropriate assign ‘already served’ sang admission din bursting provisional basis due aforementioned cannot proceed suggestion issues seats smoothing occasion fancier signaling require records indicate provided remain appreciated despised gladly nicely dipped textbooks someday squash toughest earn deserves murderous successfully fingering justifiably displeasure smirking retake propose alternative state events revealed therefore practical prudent career prospects shifting internal logical volatile qualifies majority erupting directing registered cuddly earned oneon-one immediate tangle concluded gathered twirling nudging trades sidestepped congratulate surviving multiple tribunals swirls diamonds feminine unlatch decides woven triply journey

[aphelea]

the superhero au: chapter two

Summary: The Moonlark is recruited by a mysterious team of rebels who, by all accounts, should have disappeared ten years ago.

Taglist: @gay-otlc @winterfireice @the-one-and-only-aroace

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So there’s a problem. 

Well, there’s always a problem, but in this rather specific case, the problem is a bit worse than usual. Four times worse than usual, actually, and dressed in dramatic black cloaks that must be horribly warm in the humid August air. 

(To be fair to them, Sophie’s costume is also black and for some reason half made of leather. So there’s solidarity, at least, in that she’s also sweating buckets tonight.)

“Moonlark,” one of them says, holding a flaming hand up to the sky. Together, the four figures stalk forward, trapping her in a sad little Eternalian alleyway. 

“What do you want?” she hisses in reply. Normally, she’s a hero of few words. But the rebels sending four goons, specifically for her? Not only is it rather excessive, it’s incredibly suspicious. 

The pyrokinetic slips a knife out of their pocket with their free hand, and their friends follow. As they push forward, the Moonlark calculates her chances of survival—she could try Inflicting on them, but with the ability being so new and unstable, she’d probably take herself down in the process. And what else can she do? Her Telepathy is, quite frankly, useless in this situation, and although she has a knife strapped to the inside of her coat, she doubts that she would be able to land a single hit before being burned to a crisp. 

Assuming they want her dead. 

(She’d rather that than be taken. What would Grady and Edaline think, if she disappeared on them?)

But it isn’t like she has a choice. As the four figures stalk towards her, she desperately racks her brain for any sort of solution—but there’s none to be found. Maybe moonlighting as a vigilante wasn’t her smartest idea of the summer. 

Another step. 

Her thoughts drift to her mother, sleeping peacefully in a land far, far away. Sophie had promised to come back, but apparently she’s making a habit of disappointing her mother, now. 

Another step. Too close . 

“Stop!” somebody yells, and the temperature drops to zero. Sophie’s head suddenly starts throbbing, and she struggles to keep her balance as the puddle of something below her freezes over. One of her attackers lunges, and they both topple to the icy ground. 

Sophie curses as her ankle twists beneath her. How can she possible explain this to Grady and Edaline? 

“Froster!” one of the cloaked figures suddenly shouts. Sophie barely has time to scramble back before another person jumps down from the roof—equally cloaked in black. 

Sophie rubs her eyes. If only night vision was one of her superpowers. 

(She’s got to be the only person in the world who wishes they had more superpowers.)

The new person’s hood falls back to reveal a strange face—covered in rock, with dark eyes set into the stone.

Sophie stumbles backward at the sight. 

Like any Eternalian resident, she knows the classical heroes well. Of course, there have been many cheap attempts at following their footsteps since—herself as the Moonlark included—but none have been able to live up to the Collective. They’re the kinds of legends told only in bedtime stories, to young children with superpowers. (After all, vigilantism is their only chance at greatness, without hiding who they truly are.)

And, only adding to the mysterious circumstances surrounding their last mission ten years ago, no-one has seen the Collective since. 

Until now, apparently. 

That’s Granite, Sophie realizes. Holy shit . 

Another figure drops down from the roof and joins the fight, but before Sophie can take the time to figure out which of the five heroes of lore she’s standing in the midst of, Granite’s gaze snaps to her. 

Go with Squall, he transmits. We can take it from here . 

Sophie looks up to find a glittering blue figure standing on the rooftop of the adjacent building, holding a rope. Gratefully, Sophie grabs it, and quickly finds herself hoisted up onto the roof beside the woman. 

“Well,” Squall says, and Sophie has to stop herself from gaping. This is the Squall, one of her role models as a child, the woman of whom she’d only seen painted portraits in storybooks. And now she’s standing in front of Sophie with a steely gaze. 

“What the hell is going on?” Sophie asks. 

Squall only shakes her head. “There’s no time. I’ll explain everything when we’re safe”—her eyes linger on Sophie’s masked face—“ Moonlark .” She pauses, then adds, “And don’t try to run. You’re too injured to make it anywhere.” 

There’s a part of her brain telling her not to go, to just simplify this whole situation and head back to her aunt and uncle’s home. But the image of her near-death is burned into her vision, and this is the fifth time that the rebels have personally attacked her. She can’t help her own curiosity. And if these legendary rebels have any way to help her…well, it’d certain be much appreciated. 

Squall doesn’t turn around again as she leads Sophie down to a car parked in the next alley down. Unsurprisingly, the car is black as night, and the person behind the wheel looks bored to death. 

“Physic,” Squall calls, knocking on the passenger door. The driver rolls down the window with a sigh. 

“Where’s the rest of you?” she asks, glancing around. 

Squall silently steps aside to reveal Sophie in all of her vigilante glory. 

The driver’s eyes widen. “My God,” she says, glancing quickly between the two heroes in front of her. “The Moonlark?” 

Sophie rather unhelpfully pipes up with, “Oh, actually, it’s just Moonlark, adding an article makes it seem far more formal—”

“—Doesn’t matter, kid,” Physic replies curtly, though her astonishment is still evident on her face. “I’m sure the semantics can wait until after we’re out of the Neverseen’s range of fire.”

Sophie blinks. “Sorry, the who?”

Squall doesn’t hesitate to push her into the back row of the car, then proceeds to jump in herself. “Don’t worry about who is who just yet,” she says. “We’re the Collective, that’s all you need to know.” 

“What?” Sophie asks, but she’s met with no response. 

Instead, Physic slams on the gas petal, and the car launches at light speed into the night. 

-

It’s nearly eleven and there’s been no word from Sophie. 

Dex can’t help but pace circles into his carpet—what is he supposed to do in this situation? What if she’s somewhere out in the streets, lying dead in an alleyway? He’d never forgive himself if he could have helped her. If only he’d designed her technology better. Maybe he could have saved her—

—No. There’s no point living in hypotheticals. It’s time for productive solutions.

Dex knows his cousin’s usual route along downtown. Her last stop, which she usually reaches around ten-forty, is just around the corner from his apartment building. And he’s only on the fifth floor, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get down to the street unnoticed. 

(He would never hear the end of it if the triplets caught him sneaking out.)

He double-checks that the triplets are asleep before turning on the radio, listening for any sign that Sophie may be involved in a struggle. 

“Folks, avoid the part of Fallon Avenue behind the shopping center—there seems to be a bit of a scuffle going on there. A fire was noticed by residents a little over two minutes ago, and police will be there to investigate shortly.”

Dex snorts. Police never do well with vigilantes, especially superpowered ones. If this fight involves pyrokinetics—and it sure sounds like it does—then the cops are in for a real treat. 

But that’s not the important part. The important part is that Fallon Avenue is the next street over from his, and exactly where Sophie is supposed to be right now. 

And getting into fights with Pyrokinetics sounds just like something she would do. 

After hastily putting together some makeshift climbing gear, Dex carefully opens his window to avoid any loud creaks. He grabs an old motorcycle helmet for safety and attaches himself to a pulley system that he’s rigged up, praying that his calculations are correct. 

Then, he closes his eyes and jumps. 

-

“Where are you taking me?” Sophie asks, once the car begins to slow down to a safer speed. She didn’t even know cars could go that fast.

Squall glances back at her. “Collective headquarters,” she replies. “It’s the only place that’s safe from the Neverseen, at this point.”

Sophie stares at her new, cold companion. “Right. Who is that, again?”

Physic snorts, and Squall sends her a stern look. “I think people more commonly refer to them as ‘the rebels.’”

“Technically, we’re also rebels,” Physic reminds her. 

Squall only shrugs. 

Sophie raises an eyebrow. “So, what, the same people that have been setting all those fires around the city are for some reason after me?”

Physic and Squall share an uneasy glance in the front row. “They’re building up to something,” Physic says quietly. “The final plan. And they know that we’re the only ones with the powers and experience to stop them.”

Sophie fiddles with her mask, itching to take it off. The cloth is sticking to her skin, after all of the stress and sweat of the past half-hour. “Great. Horrible. So what does that have to do with me?”

“Your recent… incidents have drawn the attention of a lot of powerful people.” Squall clicks her tongue. “Including us. And the Neverseen.”

“And the Council,” Physic adds. 

Sophie’s stomach drops. The Council . She can’t be arrested, not when she’s barely been in Eternalia for two months. Her mother had allowed her here because of the scholarship Foxfire had offered her, on one condition: that she never use her powers. It was the only way to keep her safe from prison. And, well…she may have broken that rule. 

But Emma Foster has no powers. She doesn’t understand what it’s like to resist the pull of the energy in your veins, to cut yourself off from the very thing that keeps you alive. She doesn’t understand that Sophie just can’t stop using her powers, not when they’re threatening to consume her. 

Telepathy was hard enough to deal with, as a kid. Her fully manifested powers, though—those are a whole different problem. 

“Luckily, though, I doubt the Council knows enough about powers to figure out what you are,” Physic says, taking a sharp, probably illegal left turn into some tiny, side street. 

Sophie raises an eyebrow, although she knows they can’t see it through her mask. “What I am?” 

“An Inflictor,” Physic says matter-of-factly. “That’s what we call your power, anyway.”

“But it’s rare,” Squall adds. “As far as we’re aware, there’s only one other Inflictor in the entire country—and our records are more thorough than any.”

“You keep records of superpowers?” Sophie isn’t quite sure what to think about that, honestly. To think that her name is in some book, somewhere, with all three of her abilities listed….it makes her shudder. 

Squall and Physic share another, indecipherable glance. 

“Wait,” Sophie says, registering Physic’s earlier statement. “How do you even know what I am?”

“Every superpower has its identifying mark,” Squall replies. “Vanishers don’t have reflections. Pyrokinetics have extraordinarily high body temperatures. If you know what to look for, it’s fairly easy to determine what kind of power someone has.”

“How do I get rid of it?”

Physic shrugs. “You can’t, not really. But with a lot of practise and control, you can learn to cover it up. Most Telepaths don’t have to deal with headaches, after a year of training. Wraith—he’s a Vanisher—can create his own reflection. And Squall’s body temperature is pretty normal, most of the time.”

Sophie raises an eyebrow. “And you?”

Physic responds by slamming on the brakes, and Sophie realises that they’ve turned into a dark garage. The lights flick on almost immediately as the car shudders to a stop, and a short, older woman appears to open Sophie’s door.

Sophie stares at her. It’s rare to see anyone without a mask, in this business, but perhaps this woman is far past fear of recognition. “Uh, thanks,” she says, sliding out from the worn leather seat. 

“Cal,” Physic says, tossing the keys between her hands like a juggler, “there a reason you’re meeting us out here?”

‘Cal’ glances around the room with a frown. “There have been some…developments.”

Squall mutters a curse. 

Sophie isn’t sure what to make of that. “Developments?”

Cal startles at her voice, and an apologetic smile grows on her lips. “Oh, Sophie! My apologies, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Calla.” 

As lovely as the name is, it doesn’t quite satisfy Sophie’s endless pursuit of what the hell is going on here . And…what had Calla called her?

No, that’s impossible. There’s no way that the Collective could know her name, not when she’s gone to ridiculous lengths to keep her identity a secret. That’s the only reason she wears the all-black ensemble that Dex had made for her—she would never wear leather gloves in peak summer of her own volition. But they protect her Enhancing and they keep her identity under wraps, so she deals with the sweat. 

“What do they want?” Squall asks, frustratingly vague. 

Calla’s gaze flickers for just a second over to Sophie, so quickly that Sophie almost misses it. But she doesn’t, and neither do Squall and Physic, who themselves share an equally indecipherable look. 

“Look,” Sophie starts, “somebody needs to tell me what the hell is going on here. Who is coming after me? The Neverseen?” 

“Apparently,” Squall says, just as Physic scoffs. 

“We all knew this would happen eventually. I told you all we should’ve mentioned it to Emma, at least get the kid some training—”

“Emma wanted her freedom,” Calla cuts in. “We agreed to keep her and her family out of this mess, and we’ve done so to the best of our ability.” 

“Well, our best clearly wasn’t good enough!” Physic snaps. “You saw what happened in San Diego.”

San Diego. Emma. Everything about this situation is becoming more concerningly familiar by the minute. “What happened in San Diego?”

Physic, Squall, and Calla share a wary glance, and Sophie decides that the moment she gets out of here, she’s quitting vigilantism altogether. No more cryptic messages, or supposedly-dead ex-heroes reviving themselves in her time of need. She’s already breaking her mother’s rules just by using her powers; Sophie can’t even imagine how angry she would be if she learned that Sophie was hanging around famously powerful rebels with the Council on their tails. 

So maybe a tedious, dry high school life is better than this. 

Squall says quietly, after nearly a minute of silence, “We think they may be looking for you.” 

“For me?” Sophie feigns confusion, but her blood runs cold. “Why would they look for me in San Diego?” 

The room is silent once more, and Sophie wants to kick something. 

Finally, Calla speaks up, casting wary glances at Squall and Physic beside her. “Moonlark,” she begins, “perhaps it’s about time we tell you the truth.”

[kittystalking]

Tierce Week Day 5

Hi, it's me, Kittys Talking. I'm still to late with this and don't have much because I'm trying out some ideas for Day 8 (wich is today, Hehehe).

Warnings: I think none, they were using swear words but I think I cutted that Part of.

Wordcount: 283

Prompt: Black Swan

Title: A Blanke Space

,,You don’t know what you’re getting into’’

,,Oh, trust me. I know exactly what I’m getting into’’ Tiergan looked in the dark eyes of his Ex-Lover. ,,No you don’t.’’ He hissed.

Prentice rolled his eyes at Tiergan.

,,This is exactly what I signed up for, when I became Black Swans Keeper.’’

,,You know what will happen’’, Tiergan said angrily, lowering his voice,,They will say you're insane. And Evil.’’

Prentice looked away and whispered:,, I know.''

Tiergan laughed a scared laugh:,, No, wait the worst it yet to come. They will exile you. You're getting locked up in prison and the council will make sure that some Telephats will break your mind, because they need to search for ,,rebellious'' Information.

Prentice looked like the words hit him hard. At a deeper point. That no-one should see.

,,Don't you think we are taking this way too far?’’

,,Ain't it funny? That you think this is the only way? It's gonna go down in flames. You have a son, Prentice. You have to put him first’’

,,I know!’’ Prentice shouted. ,,I freaking know that, Tiergan! But I can’t live with the knowledge that he will grow up in this homophobic, dumb world, if I don’t do this! Don’t you see? There is a Blank space. Something unmarked. A chance for change. And the Moonlark could change everything. Everything. She can make, no will, make the Lost Cities to a better place. He could show us incredible things. She could help to understand that love is love. Gay rights, right?’’

Tiergan shocked his head. ‚‚Don't say, I didn't said , I didn't warned you.’’ With those words he leaped way, leaving Prentice in his heavy thoughts.

[crymeariveronceagain]

Keefe being raised by the Neverseen and Sophie being raised by the Black Swan

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

OKAY OKAY AAAAAAAAAAAAH IM GETTING SO MANY IDEAS FOR COOL SOULMATE AUS DANG DANG DANG OKAY UM??? SHORT ONE IG???

The first time he saw the Moonlark it was on the battlefield.

Of course he would. That's what his life was like.

She stood in her black cloak, he stood in his.

Their eyes scanned each other.

And for the first time, as soon as they locked eyes, the world shimmered into overwhelming color around them. There was more than white and gray and black. There was green, blue, brown, red, orange. Smoke billowed up into the blue sky and yellow flames dusted the ground.

Keefe gaped.

Turned back to the girl, the Moonlark, the person he'd been raised to destroy.

"Shit," she said. "It's you."

"How am I gonna explain this to my mom," he gasped, still in awe of color.

"You're not," the Moonlark said, taking a step towards him across the flaming ground. She held out her hand, open, and he wondered if hse wanted him to cut it off, or she wanted him to hold hers. "We've got two choices here, Lodestar. Listen close."

"To what?" He didn't know what to think of her. "Kill each other or kiss each other?"

She shot an annoyed look at him. "You can come with me, and we run off together. Or, we split up and never, ever, ever mention this again to anyone."

"How do I know you won't use it against us," Keefe said.

She rolled her eyes. "I'm part of a secret terrorist organization. I can keep a secret as well as you can. And you know that this would ruin the both of us."

Keefe had nothing to say to that. He knew exactly what his mother would think if this got out. So he stared at the Moonlark, his soulmate, the person he was destined to love forever, the person he'd been created to destroy, and he mulled it over.

"Well?" she said, simply. "I've got two minutes before I need to get back to my..." she trailed off, shaking her head. "I have two minutes before they need me to be somewhere. Make up your mind now or never, Lodestar."

And he only had one thought than made sense in his mind.

He'd never cared much for fire, anyway.

"Let's go."

The Moonlark smiled, and pulled off her cloak. "Leave your knife, Lodestar."

He dropped everything he had, except for his tunic, in the dirt next to everything she had. No knives, no cloaks, no tracking necklaces, nothing that could tie them to their organizations.

Just two genetically mutated teenagers.

He reached out, and took her hand.

She let a tiny grin traipse across her lips.

And they ran.

They didn't look back.

[pedrito-friskito]

twelve months with the devil - chapter five: december - part iii

summary: your last days at the cabin with matt, truths are told and bodies are…explored.

warnings: mentions of trauma, canon-typical violence, depictions of violence, p-in-v sex, oral (m and f receiving), fluff, language (which should surprise no one)

a/n: the way the last 2k words of this came at me in a covid-soaked haze (yippee for me 🤒) it kind of wild but HERE WE GOOOOOO

murdock tags: @moonlarking @saintmurd0ck @mindidjarin (if you wanna be on the list let me know!)

(series masterlist) (main masterlist) (ao3)

Twenty minutes later, you’re both cleaned up, having moved downstairs and set up shop on a blanket in front of the fireplace. The cottage is a comfortable temperature, Matt sticking to his boxers, you in your underwear and his unbuttoned shirt. You sprawl on the blanket, a plate of waffles between you, pillows stolen from the couch cushioning the floor. And the bottle of Macallan, glasses left discarded in the kitchen, is nearly half empty.

“If I tell you this,” he says before he begins, holding the bottle towards you, “will you tell me something? From your past?”

You take a long pull on the bottle before setting it down again. “I will.”

He nods once, and you watch his face as it turns towards the fireplace, the flames casting an orange glow across his profile, shadows on his skin. A strand of hair has fallen across his forehead and you reach over to smooth it back into place. You make a little humming noise when he grabs your hand, fingers knotting with yours, and kisses the inside of your wrist before setting your clasped hands on the blanket.

“It was my mother,” he says quietly, his voice breaking on the word, and he clears his throat. “She left my dad when I was little; I don’t remember her, and she doesn’t remember me.”

Your brow furrows. “Then why…?”

“The woman who answered the door is her nurse, Marion. My mother…she has Alzheimer’s. She built a life, after she left us. Remarried, had more kids, made a new life. Her other kids all live out of state, and her husband died five years ago. Ever since that, every Christmas, I…” He reaches for the bottle, swigs, sets it down again. “I visit her around the holidays, see how she’s doing, bring Marion a Christmas gift.” His hand tightens around yours. “She thinks I’m her estate attorney.”

“Oh, Matt…”

He shakes his head once. “She’s not lucid often, according to Marion. And it’s gotten worse as years have passed. But today, she…” His voice cracks again, and you move the bottle out of the way, sliding closer to him on the blanket, adjusting yourself until he can lay his head in your lap, his arms twining around your waist. “She looked right at me. I felt it. And then she said my name. Matthew, my son. Then Marion came back into the room and she was gone again. Just like that.”

“Has she ever…?” You trail off, carding your fingers through his hair, your throat burning when you feel his silent tears on your thigh, hear the hitch in his breath as he continues.

“No, I never told her who I really am. Played along with the attorney thing, tried to give her some good legal advice. But then today…”

“I’m sorry, Matt,” you whisper, your hand still moving through his hair, the other going up and down his back. He cuddles deeper into your lap, flipping onto his back after a moment, his wet, blank eyes looking up at you. You just look back at him, your palm resting against the curve of his jaw, the other moving rhythmically across his chest. He blinks and a tear slips down his face, but you catch it with your thumb, wiping the trail from his skin.

“It all seems so small,” he whispers, “compared to everything else happening in the city. My problems, they’re not…real problems.”

“It’s not small,” you tell him, shaking your head, “and it is real. I wish it weren’t, for you. I wish there was something I could do to fix it, but I…”

“It’s okay,” he murmurs, and reaches up, his knuckles skimming your jaw. “Now you know how I feel.” You sigh, reaching for the scotch. It burns like hell on the way down and you grimace before setting it back down.

Slowly, Matt lifts himself out of your lap, turning to face you, reaching for your legs and adjusting you both until you’re sitting across from each other, legs crossed. Your hands fold awkwardly in your lap, fingers knotted together, and Matt puts one palm on your thigh, warm and smooth against your skin.

“It’s okay,” he whispers, “you’re okay.”

You nod, and open your mouth to speak.

When Pepper and Tony had come to get you, you were covered in blood, sitting in a police station.

You and Pepper are only half-sisters, on your father’s side, but until Pepper had reached out after your father died, you had no idea who she was. Your mother had you, and your brother — Andrew, with another man — the two of you less than a year apart in age. She’d never been the type to stick around, and you’d bounced from state to state as long as you could remember, rarely staying in the same town more than six months.

As long as you could remember, you didn’t have a father. Your mother had always referred to him as “the sperm donor”, having a similar moniker for Andrew’s dad, and she wasn’t the type of woman who enjoyed being pressed for information. You had learned quickly that Mommy didn’t like it when you asked questions, the earliest memory being a five-year-old meltdown resulting in a screamed “where’s my dad?!” and a backhand so hard it put you on your ass. 

It had been more than backhands, as you’d gotten older, and she was always careful to only leave bruises where no one could see.

Once you turned sixteen, you’d tried like hell to get as far away from her as possible, Andrew following you when he could. You were both resourceful, smart kids. You managed to get a full ride scholarship to the University of Nevada, Andrew found a job, and you were far off Mom’s radar.

“At that point, it had been almost eight years, since I’d seen her,” you say, your voice quiet. “And then there she was, on my doorstep.”

You haven’t told this part of the story to anyone. Not since…

Pepper and Tony had found enough details on their own, from the cops, and had put two and two together enough without questioning you. And Pepper had known what a piece of work your mother was, trying to support you when she could after your father died and she discovered you existed.

“I had a job, I was doing well in school, we had an apartment. Andy was talking about proposing to his girlfriend. We were good, and then all of a sudden, there she was. Strung out on one drug or another, going on and on about the debt she had, that people were after her, that she was in deep shit. She kept saying it, over and over. I’m in deep shit, you don’t even know.”

Matt reaches up, swipes his thumb beneath your eye, catching a tear you hadn’t noticed about to fall. His brow is furrowed, the hand on your leg moving to cover your still knotted fingers. “What happened?”

“I tried to get her to leave,” you say, swallowing hard when your breath starts to hitch. “Tried to call her a cab. She was crying and Andy was trying to get her outside, and then…” You suck in a breath, tears falling faster as the images replay in your head, the all too familiar feeling of terror crawling up your spine. 

“Hey, shh,” Matt murmurs, starting to collect your into his arms, pulling you into his lap. “It’s okay. You’re okay. You’re here now. You’re safe. It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me.”

“I do,” you cry, burying your face in his chest. “I have to tell somebody.” You heave another breath. “All these men broke through the door, yelling, trying to grab my mom. One of them shot Andrew, shot him right in the chest, grabbed her, and then took off.” Your voice cracks. “I held him while he died, right there in the living room, and I…I couldn’t do anything. I just started screaming.

“My neighbour called the cops, they took his body away, took me to the police station, questioned me. The only detail I remembered was that they all had tattoos on their necks, some stupid looking bulldog symbol. They made me ID a bunch of guys; turned out Mom had gotten mixed up with the wrong dealers, owed a whole lot of money to a whole lot of people, and the Dogs of Hell had come to collect.”

Matt goes still as a statue. “The Dogs of Hell.”

You nod, pulling back. “You know who they are?”

“There’s a chapter in New York,” he tells you. “I knew there were more in Nevada but I never…” His mouth drops open, eyes shining as he continues, “The man who attacked you that night, when I…he was a—”

“I know,” you say tearfully, pushing your face into your hands. “I recognized the tattoo. I probably could have gotten away myself, but when I saw it, I just…” You shake your head slowly. “I was right back in that living room, covered in my brother’s blood, and I couldn’t…and then you…”

A sob crawls up the back of your throat then, and you can’t keep talking, words getting trapped behind your teeth when you try.

“It’s okay,” Matt shushes you, holding you closer as you cry into his shoulder. “You’re safe. I promise you, you’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you, okay? Nothing’s gonna happen to you. You’re safe. I got you, okay? I have you.”

“I’ve been so scared,” you manage to say after a few moments, “that they sent him after me. The man that attacked me, what if they’re targeting me, Matt? What if they want me dead?”

He shakes his head, tightening his arms around you. “No. It’s a coincidence. I don’t want you to think anything different. He was a repeat offender. You got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nothing more. That man is behind bars now, and he’ll stay there for the foreseeable future. I’ll make sure of it, okay?” He lifts his chin, kissing your forehead. “You’re safe now. I swear.”

Matt kisses your cheek, then your nose, then your mouth, his lips slotting over yours as you wrap your arms around his neck, clinging to him with everything you have left. His forehead leans against yours when he pulls back.

“Now you know,” you whisper, your eyes searching his, glancing across his face.

“Now I know,” he repeats. “And now I know what to look for. The Dogs were already on my radar, but if anyone tries to get close to you, I’ll stop it. It’s coincidental, I know it is, but I’ll still keep a lookout. And the men in Nevada, the ones that shot your brother, did they…?”

“Life without parole, for the one that shot Andrew,” you whisper, squeezing your eyes shut. “The others only got a few months, but I was long gone by the time they were released. You’re sure it was a coincidence?”

He nods. “I’m sure. He had countless other victims, in the Kitchen and beyond. It’s all six degrees of separation, sure, but it’s a coincidence, I promise you. You’re safe. You’re safe with me.”

+

The snow doesn’t stop.

For four days.

You’re grateful, in a way, and more than content to wait out the storm in the comfort of the cabin, especially since you’re accompanied by Matt, who, since getting a taste of you when you’d first arrived, is intent to commit you to memory, any chance he gets. The days are a haze of sex and drinking and more sex, the pair of you spending the first two days exclusively in the bedroom, only leaving for bathroom breaks, more booze, or to search for snacks. 

There’s a lot of talking and joking; Matt’s an awful flirt and has endless work-related stories. You find them interesting, and he’s got such a way of telling them that it doesn’t surprise you in the slightest the cases he’s pulled off. He’s well-spoken and fuck, if he isn’t somehow more attractive when he recounts cases he was clearly passionate about, unable to pull the smile off his face as he tells you how he won, the evidence they tried to use again him, the look on his client’s face when the judge let them go.

You can’t help but pull yourself into his lap as he tells one about an early case he and Foggy took on, his hair mussed from your fingers and his glasses on the nightstand, sightless eyes not watching you but tracking your movements in that way that he has. His eyes are bright with passion, and the corner of his mouth quirks up as you slide yourself into his lap, your knees settling either side of him, hands pushing through his hair.

“When they read the verdict that she was innocent,” he’s saying, and you’re listening, you really are, but your hands tighten in his hair and you tug lightly, just enough that his head drops back against the headboard and you can lower your mouth to his already hickey-covered neck. “I wish I could have seen, in that exact moment. I couldn’t see her face, but I heard her heart pick up. She was so damn happy.”

You smile against his pulse, letting your tongue drag across his steady heartbeat. “Sounds like you picked the right line of work, Mr. Murdock,” you whisper.

“I must have,” he replies, hands reaching for you, one at your hip and the other in your hair, “seeing as it brought me to you.” Your grin widens and you ignore the roar of butterflies in your stomach. He must hear the change in your body, because he asks, “Too much?”

“No,” you mumble against his skin, and you pull your face from his neck to find his mouth with yours, nipping at his lips until he gives in to the need and rolls you both over, pinning you beneath him.

Matt doesn’t talk any more about his mother, nor do you about yours or your brother, and neither of you presses the other for more information. The stories seem to hang in the air above your heads, on display but out of reach, secrets no one else knows but the two of you. It’s both comforting and terrifying, and as the days go by, you can tell you’re getting in deeper and deeper with Matt Murdock. The lawyer, the vigilante, the enigma wrapped in pretty brown eyes and a prettier smile.

+

After the third day, Tony offers to send a jet to come pluck you out of the snowy landscape, but you’re both quick to decline. Foggy has a handle on things at Nelson and Murdock, and while you know Matt is itching to get back to crime in the Kitchen, he assures you he’s also happy for the break, and happy to be spending it with you.

Tony doesn’t pry, and says something about it being nice to see you out and happy since you came to New York, and especially after what had happened in the alley that night. “Be good to her, Murdock!” he calls on out on speakerphone, and you go to hide your blush, then realize it’s of no use. Matt just grins.

Later in the day, you head out into the winter wonderland, as it were, armed with a shovel and hoping to clear a path for the Jeep once the main roads have been clear for longer than an hour. Really, you just need something to do, and the cold gives your mind a break from the heat that seems to spark to life around Matt. It’s instantaneous, like lighter fluid and a match, when you so much as lay eyes on him, memories of the various encounters you’ve had over the last few days rising to the surface of your mind. It’s like you’ve been dying of thirst for ages, and the only remedy is his tongue down your throat and your body in his hands.

An hour or so of shovelling later, the snow starts to pick up again, and you all but launch the shovel into the banks that have formed either side of the driveway. Frustrated, you head back inside, stripping your wet gloves and hat at the door, toeing off your boots and shucking off your coat. All the while, your teeth are chattering, loudly, and it’s only a minute or two before you see Matt’s familiar form padding down the stairs, head cocked to the side. “You’re cold.”

The man hasn’t worn a shirt since you peeled it off of him your first night here, and honestly, it’s almost an affront. He’s ridiculously cut, and your eyes travel the length of him over and over as he makes his way towards you, hands in loose fists at his sides, stomach flexing as he inhales deeply. Your own head tilts to the side as he gets closer, eyes travelling over the different scars littering his body, memories sparking of the few you’ve traced with your tongue, watching his body react beneath yours in the bed upstairs.

He reaches for your hand first, fingers curling around your wrist, and you nearly gasp at how warm his skin is. You go malleable in his grasp, letting him pull you close to him, stepping out of the pile of wet clothes you’ve left by the door. He reaches for the hem of your sweater, yanking it quickly over your head, and then his mouth is on yours, hotter than hell, tasting like Matt in a way that make your toes curl in your damp socks.

It makes your head spin, how familiar he’s become to you so quickly. You cuddle close to his broad chest as he drops your discarded sweater to the side, and then his hands are on your back, skimming your spine, flicking open the clasp of your bra like it’s nothing. He moves to your waist then, dropping to his knees as you let the straps fall down your arms, tossing the bra to the side.

You make a quiet noise when his jaw scrapes along the curve of your stomach, the stubble lining his skin making it that more pleasurable, and when you look down, you see his eyes roll back, a growl rumbling through him as he bites at your skin, marking you.

Claiming you.

It sends a thrill through you as he manages to get your pants down over your hips, peppering your skin with love bites and kisses as he goes, his nose prodding your skin and teeth nipping at the elastic of your underwear. “I don’t even know why you bothered to put these back on,” he mumbles and you grip his shoulders as you step out of your pants, another bundle of fabric to add to the pile he’s created.

Your teeth are still chattering as he knocks your knees apart with his shoulder, reaches up to yank your underwear to the side, and licks a stripe up your core. It nearly makes you fall over, your legs instantly shivering — both from the cold and the pleasure that immediately floods you — but Matt is there to catch you, those strong arms keeping you upright, lifting your leg until it’s resting on his shoulder and letting you lean some of your weight onto him.

“Gotta get you warm,” he mumbles into your thigh after a moment, pulling back, giving you a momentary reprieve before he nips at your skin and goes right back in. His hands are everywhere, roaming your body, squeezing your ass, dragging gentle fingertips up the small of your back. You can feel his body heat enveloping yours, the soft sighs he moans into the core of you making the warmth flood faster, replacing any cold feeling in your body like magic.

It’s almost insane, you think somewhere in the back of your mind — four days alone with you and he knows your body like no one else ever has. He knows that if he squeezes your thigh when he sucks hard at your clit, it makes your whole body tense and a moan drop from your mouth. He knows that if he drags his fingers from the flesh of your ass to your pussy, wetting them with your first release and tasting it on his tongue, your back arches and you’ll grip his hair even harder than you already are.

He knows that if he gives you just a little bit of teeth, a little bit of pain mixed with your pleasure, you cum so hard you see stars.

What he doesn’t know this time, however, is that as soon as the haze of your own pleasure recedes into the back of your mind, slinking back to the base of your spine but already hungry for more, there’s only one thing on your mind.

His pleasure.

“I’m warm now,” you murmur, carding your hand through his hair, letting out a low moan of his name before you’re nudging at his shoulder. “I gotta do something, honey.”

He lifts his head from between your legs, and it’s truly a miracle you don’t cum again just from the look on his face. The shine of you on his lips and jaw, even the tip of his nose coated in you. His hair is mussed beyond belief, the product of your tugs and occasional yanks, and those eyes. Pupils blown wide as dinner plates, rolling around in his skull as he licks his lips, cleaning the taste of you from his skin, his breathing heavy and his chest heaving. You don’t miss the glimpse of his hand around his cock, now pulled free from his boxers and hard as anything. “Wha-?”

You ever heard the term cock-drunk? Well, if there’s one thing you know for certain, it’s that Matt Murdock is pussy-drunk. And heaven above, if it doesn’t make you feel powerful.

He lets you pull him to his feet, lets you push him towards the living room. He’s as malleable in your grasp as you were in his, and he listens well, sinking into the large chair. You lower yourself as he goes, reaching for the waistband of his boxers and shoving them past his knees. He makes himself comfortable, adjusting his hips and you dive forward, dragging your tongue up the middle of his scarred chest, his skin tasting of salt and sweat and Matthew.

And you need more.

Matt shivers when you kiss the scar on his left pec, moans when you do the same to the one on the right. Your hands roam just as his did, dragging your nails down his thighs, squeezing his muscle before moving back to his hips. His cock bounces between his legs, desperate for your attention, and he throws his head back and groans when you drag the very tip of your nail along his vein, swirling across the tip as you lean up slightly to kiss the column of his throat. Another heavy breath when you suck at his pulse, another dark mark adding the collection you’ve created on his skin.

Marking him, just like he’s been marking you. Claiming him, just like he’s been claiming you.

You’re safe, his voice plays on repeat in your mind, the groans and gasps falling from his mouth creating a symphony in your ears. You’re safe with me.

He nearly shouts your name when you take the head of his cock between your lips, your eyes flicking up to his face, twisted in pleasure, eyes screwed shut and that beautiful mouth dropped open. He grabs your wrist then you reach up to splay your hand in the centre of his chest, and holds it there on his skin. You can feel his racing heart, the heady up and down of his breaths, the way his moans on the inhale and groans your name on the exhale.

Matt sinks the hand not holding yours into your hair, the still-wet strands twisting around his knuckles, making your eyes roll back when he tugs just a little. A gasp gets caught in his throat when you sink down on him completely, his tip hitting the back of your throat, the salty taste of precum painting your tastebuds.

You moan at the taste, moving your free hand to the base of his cock, curling your fingers around what doesn’t fit in your mouth, dragging your nails across his balls. He keens, hand tightening in your hair, knees jerking and a sound almost like a whine meeting your ears.

“I’m gonna…” he starts, and trails off, the word dropping into another moan, his chest flexing beneath your hand, heart absolutely racing. “Oh, fuck, I’m…you’re…oh god.”

He cums with a loud, drawn-out moan that makes a spark of pleasure zip down your own spine, the beast he had momentarily sated rising once more, purring at the sounds he makes, the taste of his cum down your throat, the way he jerks upright and pulls you up when you try to suck again at his over-sensitive tip, immediately guiding your face to his and kissing you hard.

“You’re incredible,” he breathes into your mouth, lashes fluttering as you return his kisses, moving up so you can climb into his lap. “Incredible.”

+

That night, the snow stops.

You’re the first to notice. You’re astride him in the bed, his hands holding your hips in an iron vice, yours white-knuckling the headboard. He leans up to bite at your nipple and you throw your head back, Matthew dropping from your lips, and that’s when you see it.

“It stopped snowing,” you say, the words still half-gasped.

“Sounds like something to deal with tomorrow,” he mumbles into your skin, canting his hips up and rolling his cock deeper into you. “I’m not finished with you yet.”

+

You get back to New York around midday the next day, taking Matt straight to his apartment. He almost declines when you offer to walk him upstairs — you see the hesitation on his face, but then he accepts your arm with a tiny grin — and you can almost see the transition as you lead him up. The change from the Matt Murdock with no secrets, the one who’s spent the last four days baring his soul to you (in almost every sense of the word), to the Matt Murdock who nobody really knows, not truly.

“I’d invite you in,” he says when you reach his front door, “but I don’t wanna—”

“Trying to get rid of me that fast, Murdock?” you laugh, cutting him off.

“No!” he replies instantly, leaning his cane against the door so he can take your face in his hands, pressing soft kisses to your cheeks. “I was gonna say, I don’t wanna be presumptuous.”

You giggle, giving in to his soft pecks, looping your arms around his waist. “Just checking.” You turn your head at the last minute, catch his mouth with yours. “I should go home though; Tony and Pepper will be waiting.”

“Do me a favour and tell Tony that the whipped cream stain on the seat wasn’t my fault, please?”

You scrunch your nose. “I’ll think about it.”

He grins back, diving back to kiss your neck, tongue swiping over all the marks he left. “Oh, and tell your sister I’m not responsible for the hickeys.”

You bark a laugh this time. “You really think anyone is gonna believe that, Murdock?”

“No,” he mumbles into your skin, “but it’s worth a shot.”

There’s a brief silence, your eyes slipping closed as you inhale his scent, rubbing your hands up and down his back. He breathes you in just as deeply, nose against your pulse. “I’ll see you soon?” you ask. It’s an open-ended question, you know. There’s probably more than enough crime and (masked) punishment for him to dole out in the Kitchen. As for you, Pepper will most likely have a laundry list of things for you to slowly work through, still insistent on your gradual return to work. The thought of going back to it all, to going back out into the world instead of returning to a bed filled with him, makes your heart race.

And he notices, you know he does. “You will,” he whispers, and his nose drags up your neck until his lips meet yours in a gentle kiss. “I told you, you’re safe with me. I’m not going anywhere.”

Another kiss, then another, and then he’s fishing for his keys, unlocking the door easily and stepping across the doorway. He leans back, drops another peck to your cheek. “Bye.”

“Bye,” you whisper back, and slowly the door closes, and he disappears from view.

+

“What in the hell?” are Tony’s first words when you return to the Tower a half hour later. You’re instantly red, pulling at the collar of your sweater to hide your throat, but it’s no use. “What, did you and Murdock fight off a sentient vacuum cleaner at the cabin?”

Pepper bursts into giggles and just puts her arm around you. “Welcome back,” she whispers, linking her arm through yours and pulling you away from Tony’s blatant staring. “You had a good time, I gather?”

“We did,” you say with a nod. You both come to a stop in front of your door, and you push a nervous hand through your hair. “I told him.”

Pepper turns to you, her brows pinched. “Told him…?”

“Everything,” you say, and it feels like a weight has slid of your chest. “I told him everything.”

[e-dubbc11]

Slow Dance Playlist

Here is yet another Matt Murdock playlist, this one is all slow dance songs for food prepping, late nights when you can’t sleep, night out at the bar or just because. The Spotify link is below. Enjoy!

Slow Dance Songs for Matt Murdock

Hold My Hand - Lady Gaga

Tennessee Whiskey - Chris Stapleton

Tennessee Whiskey (yes again) - Luke Stapleton feat. Chris Combs

You and I - Lady Gaga

At Last - Etta James

Like Red on a Rose - Alan Jackson

I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) - Aretha Franklin

Take My Breath Away - Berlin

Cry Pretty - Carrie Underwood

Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton

The Chain - Fleetwood Mac

Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight and the Pips

Alone - Heart

Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron & Wine

Between You and I - Jessica Simpson

Closer - Kings of Leon

But I Do Love You - LeAnn Rimes

Only You’re the One - Lifehouse

Everything (Live In-Studio Version) - Lifehouse

(Sitting’ On) the Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding

Spilled Perfume - Pam Tillis

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World - Prince

Bring it on Home to Me - Sam Cooke

Lover - Taylor Swift

Crazy Love - Van Morrison

I Don’t Wanna Live Forever - Zayn and Taylor Swift

It Will Rain - Bruno Mars

Cry to Me - Solomon Burke

Perfect - Ed Sheeran

Photograph - Ed Sheeran

Once Upon a Dream - Lana Del Ray

I’ll Be - Edwin McCain

Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper

True Colors - Cyndi Lauper

You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling - The Righteous Brothers

Faithfully - Journey

Crazy For You - Madonna

Purple Rain - Prince

That’s the Way Love Goes - Janet Jackson

Eternal Flame - The Bangles

Something - The Beatles

Bound to You - Christina Aguilera

I’m With You - Avril Lavigne

Breathe - Faith Hill

The Way You Love Me - Faith Hill

Tag List: @freshabogados @skvatnavle @phoebe-danvers @moonlarking @shedaresthedevil @mindidjarin @matt-erialgirl @nelson-et-murdock @elgrandeavocados

Others that might enjoy: @1800-fight-me @sobachka-korol @mattmurdockspainkink @saintmurd0ck @wint3r-h3art

Please please tell me if you want to be added or removed from either list.

[thefruitsaladdemon]

KOTLC if the titles were like PJO

Sophie Foster and the Lost Cities 

Book 1: The Mystery of the Moonlark

Book 2: The Last Alicorn

Book 3: The Unstoppable Flame

Book 4: The Serenvale Plague

Book 5: The Battle of the Lodestar

Book 6: The Race to Nightfall

Book 7: The Sixth Element

Book 8: The Legacy War

Book 8.5: Forbidden Talents (and Series Guide)

[bookwyrminspiration]

FakeMintie here! (hi) To clarify, Gisorkle is both a ship and a long and complicated theory. To summarize:

Gisela and Forkle were in love

They were both members of the Black Swan and worked on Project Moonlark together

Gisela is Sophie's mother (Keefe is actually Oralie's son—he inherited his ability from her)

Gisela, like most polyglots, has a second ability. She's an enhancer. This is why Sophie is an enhancer, even though Forkle said he didn't intentionally give her the ability—she inherited it from Gisela.

Gisela wears fancy clothing to avoid anyone noticing that she always wears gloves—the same strategy that was suggested to Sophie when she first had to conceal her ability

Gisela and Forkle had a disagreement regarding the Black Swan's decision to modify Sophie's genes. Gisela angrily left the Black Swan, but not before they had already taken her DNA/eggs to create Sophie.

Forkle is still in love with Gisela. It's a lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers arc. My favorite.

!! hello, FakeMintie! I saw the ask you sent Cath and honestly I'm honored to have such an icon following me. also, this is absolutely fascinating hold on let me process. the kotlc fandom chaos is most active at night, apparently (at least it's night for me rn)

"Gisela and Forkle were in love." Ah, so that's who Forkman was thinking of when he was in Magnate Leto mode and he mentioned that he'd never been married and then spaced out really hard. he was just thinking about Gisela and what could've been. at least that's how I've interpreted it.

"gisela is sophie's mother" you lost me for a second but I'm back in. I'm down with this. Perhaps she left the project because she didn't agree with the methods the Black Swan were going to--wait I just realized that's what you said at the end of the ask. I should really read all the way through, huh. But maybe she needed that child still for some reason, hence Keefe. Wonder how she got him/the DNA for him though. Keefe being Oralie's son: they do both look similar, but that's based mostly in ability and hair color.

oo right gisela's second ability! that one's very interesting--i'd forgotten she'd had one. And the clothing hiding the gloves really does work with her style. she's just an elegant person; they fit right in. (note to self--need to find/make some fingergloves!! could embellish different pairs after different characters). Forkle actually suggests that to her specifically because he knows that's what worked for Gisela, but he always noticed her gloves. he noticed every detail about her--

but that's an interesting connection between an enhancer and sophie's inherited ability. we've been looking so closely for someone who's a telepath that we (or at least I) overlooked the enhancing! maybe shannon will pull an even bigger twist on us and it turns out she's a combination of two different eggs/embryos and actually has more than the standard two genetic parents. just food for thought.

that last bullet point really came for my throat. "lovers to enemies to lovers." that means they'll get together again...but how, i wonder? what will draw them back to each other? Forkle corruption arc as he joins the Neverseen? Gisela getting fed up with the Neverseen and leaving to do her own evil things but it's hot girl summer and she goes back to her old flame? so many questions, i have.

FakeMintie this is incredible. it sounds absolutely ridiculous at first glance but upon closer examination there's a lot of logic and thought behind it. Which makes it right up my alley. This scratches an itch in my brain I didn't even know was there

I will probably still think of gisorkling whenever I see the name tho

[theogony]

Charred Ashes - A Kam Fanfic

So it’s finally ready - my first piece for @kam-week-2020 !! 

( @enbies-and-felonies too cause she asked to be tagged, ily felony)

Prompt: Neverseen

Category: Angst 

tw: Blood, Fire and ashes, major character death, swearing, very very very much angst so be warned

Words: 1.8K

●～●～●～●～●～●～●～●～

Tonight, Tam thought, as he stared up into the vast expanse of the sky, the raven hair matted into a jagged braid, silver-tipped, dipped into the moon's shadow-

//But the moon is nought but drunk         -the stars nought but intoxicated And maybe that’s why he feels their call         -and wonders, and wonders, and//

-but not quite, he can’t help but think that’s it’s just one of those days, one of them where he’s just sick of being theirs. He walks, the streetlight and the smog of the forbidden cities a foreboding cloak, and when he traces the jagged scars ruminating just under the pale skin, cut and bled so many times, he can’t help but wonder if-

//tonight he could-        but not without him-//

-tonight, the embers bleeding, the hushed whispers and immense looks would finally, finally come to fruition. A boy with fury in his veins, a boy with charred bones in the tip of his tongue, a boy with a thousand years of heartache and now, a boy finally with an impact. 

After all, a year is a long time, but not so long with him.

                                              ︶︶︶︶︶︶༉‧₊˚.

It’s the fury of the adrenaline that keeps them both on their toes. Their hearts pounding, though far apart yet somehow connected, always in sync, and maybe that’s why the colours momentarily blur as a throwing star passes near to him, almost nicking his ear in the process. 

//Shit!-//

Purple blooms, much like the hyacinths he once fell in love with, similar to the lull which befell Apollo and he blows hard through the gap between his teeth, swallowing the crimson bile that rises in his throat as he yearns for again, and again, and again, the teeth marks as he bites down in nervousness soon melting into honeyed perfection of the perfect child, honeyed angel, perfect victim-

//You bloody idiot! Can’t you see-//

And tonight, Keefe can’t help but think that the walls will bleed.

                                               ︶︶︶︶︶︶༉‧₊˚.

Tam knows it, somewhere deep inside his bones, he knows and knows and knows, but somehow the bright sparks and the numbing pillars of flame still bring about an element of surprise. Moreover so when he realises the way he’s bound to the ground, light chains shackling him, a sorrowful glance from Glimmer as Gisela emerges from the flames, like an angel-

//And maybe deep inside he knows,

          -but purer angels have held on to faith less//

-And she backhands him, sending him sprawling into the gritty floor, swallowing dirt and blood and flames (flames!) and she spits, smiling and running as she slowly reaches out on fingernail, drawing the thinnest amount of blood and he flinches.

“You think I haven’t noticed you run around to the black swan? Ever since that moonlark, you’ve been infatuated with them, but going as far as to tell them our hideouts and plans?”

She slaps him again, carving her crooked fingernail up towards the already punctured skin, dragging, and dragging, and dragging and Tam can't help but whimper or stop the cold seeping through his bones, the worry jolting through-

“You think I haven't noticed you running back to them, although they killed your sister? Do you think I would not have been able to tell? That too, you dared hang around that child of mine, so brazenly, as though you were anyone and anything normal ?”

Pushing him onto the floor, he weeps, openly and brazenly, he’s not sure what for but it’s like there’s a fire surrounding the shackles that bound him as he pulls hard, desperate to run away, transported back to the cold, dreary mission where he first met Sophie and simultaneously to the last, where and Keefe both left, unspoken words but a quiet silence between each other as they let the light embrace them (but this light burns!)-

//and he’s six months younger and he yearns-             and the pain dulls because he’s running his lips over his, honeyed freckles set on warm fire, his smile golden           and together, maybe, maybe he thinks that riches maybe do exist//

And Gisela struts away with a resounding cackle, the flames dangerously close now, hanging and pushing him over the edge of perilous and delirious and perilous things, and he can’t help but wonder if maybe this is when the darkness chokes him

//Those flames are grander than the whole world, aren’t they?//

                                       ︶︶︶︶︶︶༉‧₊˚.

Maybe it’s just an intuition feeling or the sudden malicious smile on his mother’s face, but The Eye on the front of his cloak seems to somehow hum with pleasure as he starts back to the flaming warehouse, black cloak swishing behind him and he can’t help but press his hands to the small windowpane, jerking back in annoyance as he sees, hidden in an alcove, almost gone, almost numb, almost-

//nonononononononono-                       Not him! Anyone but him!//

And he's breaking the barricade, hands flung about and eyes wild and hair mused as he's frantically running, dousing the aurenflare wherever he can and running, running, running, running (Just not Him!) and maybe it's just the illogical nature of the situation, and momentarily, he spots another body, and his mind is lulled, soothed, comforted for a brief respite, the fire making his mind drip further and further away from everything-

//It's not-              not him-//

And then he's choked, the memories crawling under and burrowing, whispering sweet nothings as he's off again, running after the faint voice that always held him, and let him feel-

//Shitshitshitshitshitshitshit-                                Please just not him-//

And the walls close in on him, the memories yearning, and yearning and yearning in his mind, body, soul, heart, lungs, blood-

It's that fact that almost causes him to miss that fragile body at all.

                                    ︶︶︶︶︶︶༉‧₊˚.

Tam is dreaming. 

There's no other explanation for it.

But then he comes closer, and Keefe touches his cool palm, freckled and weathered, an ice pack against the blistered and burnt skin (flames, ashes, skin, bone), and maybe that's when Tam knows-

//Bleeding red footprints into the ground where flowers                                 grew to mask my suffering, but I heard the murmuring and you told me to                                 let it go, and I tried, I tried, and tried-//

bleeding, and haltingly, he lets himself feel and cry as he sinks in relief, the two boys joint in whole (the flames licked, but he didn't care he couldn't care) and he brushes, his chapped lips and ash like hands over the contours of Keefe's skin, memorising the features as he felt his eyes swell, and he's bleeding and it's all too much-

                                       ︶︶︶︶︶︶༉‧₊˚.

Keefe cries, the pain but a flicker in the back of his mind and he's numbed, his whole soul numbed as he pulls the boy with darkness in his skin, rebellion in his bones, fire in his heart and chants his name like a prayer, crying out to all saints and he pours emotion, all selfless and loving, all the word he couldn't say and maybe he speaks in it the short flutter of his lips on his and he's crying and praying-

// Nothimnothimnothimnothimothimnothim-//

And Aphrodite twists, her butterfly-like smile enlarging, growing and growing as her lips curl into a snarl and she laughs, a cruel sound behind his ear and squeezes, trapping him and he gives he gives he gives and he bleeds.

He kisses him more furiously, for that is how a dead boy dreams.

                                     ︶︶︶︶︶︶༉‧₊˚.

Tam throws himself into the action, falling limp in his expert like hands, wondering whether the bumps that appeared on his hands, gurgling and burning (and the flames lick him and they cry for him, and he mourns them too) hurt him too, and his golden like lips burn into his muscle memory, the clique like "American dream" and the beauty and all of Keefe burns, (he burns!) -~Keefe's hugs and his chapped lips and freckled hands and the dramatics of his speech. The tender touch of the cloth as he ran his once lithe and perfect fingers over his eyebrows, soothing him and letting the darkness comfort him like it always did to everyone else.

//Linh?-            -Shh... You're safe now

But you’re dead!-

           -aren’t you?//

And as he drinks in his last gulp of air, breathing just enough so that he could make it to the end of the tunnel, he comforts him, his beloved who he never could forget, the light in the darkness, the beauty in him, the entanglement and he laughs, his throat scratchy and pale-

"Hold me darling, just a little while."

//A year is a long time, but not enough.//

And that is how the flames finally drink him.

                                    ︶︶︶︶︶︶༉‧₊˚.

Deep down, Keefe knows as soon as Tam’s eyes flutter close, but he can't help but stare in shock at his pale, ash-covered lips, numbed but finally, finally at peace. He carries him out, the flames doing nothing but stoking but his anger, and the walls close him, and he falls, the memories forcing themselves into his throat, numbing and overpowering and too precious to keep. Aphrodite is cruel and leaves little but charred bones and a bony bag for him to mourn, his comforting scent never still lingering.

//and yet he lives, he lives, he lives but the walls are bleeding and he's joined them too//

And outside the burning warehouse, cracking and injured and broken, he truly lets himself feel and he cries, raw from the pain and the fierceness and he screams (and someone's hands hold him back) and he kicks and bleeds and cries, for that is what he happens when he truly feels, truly sees, truly cries, and the walls will bleed.

There will be more screaming and fighting, but it is hollow and weak and eyes streaming he escapes, and the walls are closing around him and even though he's free, presumed dead (the walls may just leave him dead) and he cries and feels, longing for the soft touch of his lips to his own, cracked and broken but two boys whole in their broken pieces-

//After the party, he and Tam are laughing,      finally alone, sharing whole lifelines in their kisses and he asks, Would you leave? With me?       My love, but why would you? My legacy- But what is there is none? The black-       They were idealists. The neverseen wants a world- With people like us?       Don’t run after the black swan, I swear this is our place, Here? Like this?       Together. Together and always fighting And Tam slowly nods, letting the painful words sink in.                                     “So it’s a no” And he replies needily, Please. Stay. For me.        And it is maybe then Keefe realises their love, for Tam does nothing but offers a chaste smile and nod, cloaked by the darkness and the emotions he hid.//     

And Keefe slacks against the wall, realisations choking him and he’s crying and crying and crying-

//How could he have forgotten how that soft smile turned a little strained, how could he have forgotten Tam had never wanted to fight? He always just wanted to live. So then how did Keefe restrict him, a noose tightening slowly around a marked child’s neck? How could he have been so blind?//

After all, laughter is bitter to the burnt mouth.  

─── ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.☪ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

(we’re done!!) 

This was super angsty and fun to write,,,,I'll leave you alone to mourn right about now >:)))

//Reblogs, likes and comments always appreciated!//

[kotlc-glitch-au]

🔥 - ily alana

The blue flames flickered out as Sophie stepped cautiously into the room. Everything went silent and every breath she took sounded like a scream.

"Hello, Moonlark," a voice, Councillor Fintan, said, echoing around the pitch black room. "I know what you're here to do. I really hope you don't think you're going to succed."

[worldsunlikemyown]

Flaming Moonlark Thoughts: Everblaze Edition

More parallels this time (mostly meta)

So the parallel storylines between Fintan and Sophie crop up most prominently in this, mostly through the ability restriction storyline

This. This is basically the same thing that happened to Fintan except that he was feeling too much grief to catch up with it until a few years later when he came out of his grief-induced isolation. And now Sophie is going through it without quite realising that she's living the same life as Fintan was because of her (quite reasonable) hatred for him.

And then her reaction to her new circumstances is that she 'would not let the Council think they'd broken her'. That's such a Fintan thing to do it hurts.

[rusted-phone-calls]

Jealous of you (Kam)

As she walks by What a sight for sore eyes Brighter than a blue sky She's got you mesmerized While I dieWhy would you ever kiss me? I'm not even half as pretty You gave her your sweater It's just polyester But you like her better I wish I were HeatherWish I were Heather (Oh, oh) Wish I were HeatherWhy would you ever kiss me? I'm not even half as pretty You gave her your sweater It's just polyester But you like her better Wish I wereI still remember third of December Me in your sweater, you said it looked better On me, than it did you, only if you knew How much I liked you

I remember when you first met me, when you teased me. I only hoped I hid my blush well enough. And when you started sneaking into Tiergan’s house to meet me, and only me, I was a mess.

 You teased me, flirted with me (yes, I know when someone flirts with me), we went to Atlantis together, and tried and failed to sneak into the Forbidden Cities to get some of the snacks Sophie kept rambling about. I thought you liked me, loved me. Apparently not.

but I watch your eyes

As she walks by What a sight for sore eyes Brighter than the blue sky She's got you mesmerised While I die

At first I thought you were pretending, pretending to love her because both you and I know love like ours, like Marella and LInh’s, weren’t accepted in our world. I thought you really did love me, planning to spend your life with me. But I should’ve known better, known that you didn’t feel what I felt.

I should’ve known you weren’t pretending, even before I saw the love in your eyes when you look at her. You never look at me like that. 

Why would you ever kiss me? I'm not even half as pretty You gave her your sweater It's just polyester But you like her better Wish I were Heather

I’m not blind or stupid, Keefe. Don’t sugarcoat it anymore. I know you gave her your paintings as a gift, the paintings you spent hours on. The paintings you won’t show anyone, even me. You stayed up late in the night for her, spent so much time on her. 

 You laugh with her, tease her, flirt with her, like you did me. I should’ve known I would always be the one left out, the one no one liked. Because ‘everyone changes’ is totally true. Because I’ll always be the emo guy no one ever wants.

Watch as she stands with her holding your hand Put your arm 'round her shoulder, now I'm getting colder But how could I hate her? She's such an angel But then again, kinda wish she were dead

I watch you stay by her side after she got her abilities fixed, stayed by her side continually. You did that for her. Yet you didn’t even visit me when Marella accidently set me on flames.

I understand. Sophie’s the moonlark, the perfect girl. I’m just a creepy Shade with ‘weird bangs’. She’s so strong, and she’s everyone’s role model. Everyone wants her to sit at their table at Foxfire, and all the adults want her on their side. She doesn’t have flaws. Your and her abilities match. I don’t fit in, I only cause problems, and I’m ‘too introverted’. Look at her, impeccable moonlark; then at me, useless, creepy Shade.

As she walks by What a sight for sore eyes Brighter than a blue sky She's got you mesmerized While I die

Why would you ever kiss me? I'm not even half as pretty You gave her your sweater It's just polyester But you like her better I wish I were Heather

Wish I were Heather (Oh, oh) Wish I were Heather

Why would you ever kiss me? I'm not even half as pretty You gave her your sweater It's just polyester But you like her better Wish I were

[tygertyger137]

MASSIVE LEGACY SPOILERS AHEAD. PLEASE DO NOT CONTINUE IF YOU DON’T WANT THEM.

reasons why legacy is Best Book

sophie and dex being best friends without any awkwardness

keefe hitting his dad with a door

ro

ro

ro

ro and keefe

amy foster and the force that she is

keefe and his adoration of e.l fudges

sophie’s growth into the role of the moonlark. our baby girl is growing up

the fos-boss

sophie laying the smack down on oralie

oh yeah i was right about sophie’s mom

speaking of moms, EDALINE FREAKING RUEWEN

like literally any time the words ‘mom’ or ‘dad’ are mentioned by grady and edaline i’m just 💕💕💕💕

sophie learning how to put aside personal differences (cough cough stina)

finally making headway on what keefe’s legacy is

LADY SOPHIE FOSTER OF TEAM VALIANT

literally how cool does that sound

sophie can inflict like the boss that she is

i was totally right about why sophie and fitz would break up. i’m still holding out for keefoster

very surprising but...stina

the alicorn babees

going to the forbidden cities

THE CACHE

learning about all the cool elemental stuff

going to space. i’ll admit i did not see that coming but i’ll allow it

lack of alden

alvar’s outsides matching his insides so he can go die a slow, painful death (but we all know he’s going to come back and sophie is gonna blame herself obvi and fitz may or may not freak)

sophie dropping gisela like a total (fos) boss

dex

dex

dex

dex

dex

finding out where all the lost cities are. not knowing that has bugged me the entire series tbh

sophie becoming a real leader. i felt like a proud mama every time she would remind herself to put others before her. i get that she’s just a kid but it’s super noble of her to look out for people like that

glimmer. i wanna know what’s up with that whole deal

tam is not dead or evil

keefe sassing gisela to the point of her cooking him in elemental soup

sophie and keefe eating cookies at the shores of solace

sophie’s fat finger gloves

QUEEN nubiti

king enki getting flamed by every intelligent species all at once. i don’t think we’ve seen the last of him tho

keefe being an absolute artist

in case it wasn’t obvious I REALLY loved this book and finished it in a day. I Started reading keeper when I was about 12-13, and i turn 16 in a few months. it’s been crazy growing up alongside such amazing characters, as dorky as that might sound. i’ve learned a lot about my own talents by fan art/fiction and i can’t wait for the next book!! shannon has me wrapped around her little finger...

[bronte-deserves-better]

Do you have headcanons/theories for Kenric? : )

Not as many as I do for Oralie, but I sure do!

- He’s the oldest of six children, which is a whole lot for the elves. Their parents are nobility and rather busy, so Kenric grew up looking after a whole lot of siblings. As a result of this, he grew up rather fast and never really got to be a kid.

- He graduated Foxfire with only decent grades despite being very intelligent because he was spending more time looking after his siblings than studying. He was still a talented telepath, though, so he ended up in a decent position in the Nobility as a Regent. He worked hard and ended up an Emissary after not too long, serving a similar role to Alden.

- When times get tough, he always faced them with a smile and a good joke. He was used to cheering people up and putting on a brave face.

- He never got his match lists because he figured he had other things to worry about and never really considered love until he met Oralie. He was appointed to the Council sometime after she was, and fell in love with her very quickly. 

- He loved to tease Bronte about being grumpy and Bronte was just confused like ‘why?? are you still hanging around me?? I’ve been nothing but rude to you???? shouldn’t you be going to hang out with Oralie who you’re literally in love with????’ and Kenric always said ‘well, you’re Oralie’s friend, and I love Oralie, therefore you will be my friend too’. Eventually Bronte gave up on dissuading him and just put up with Kenric’s friendly teasing. (Which he secretly didn’t mind that much, but Kenric never got to know that.)

LEGACY SPOILERS AHEAD

- When Oralie told Kenric she had been approached by a group called the Black Swan about an illegal project named ‘Project Moonlark’, he worried about her but supported her ultimate decision to donate her DNA.

- When Sophie came to the Lost Cities, he made sure to look out for her, both for Oralie’s sake and because she seemed very young and alone and he has that older sibling instinct of ‘must protect child’.

LEGACY SPOILERS OVER

- He knew how much it hurt Bronte to have Fintan’s mind broken and made sure to be there for his friend. He voted for the mind healing despite Bronte voting against it, hoping that it might fix some of what was wrong. 

- It wasn’t even a tough decision to push the rest away from the flames and tackle Fintan because no matter what happened to him, he knew he had to protect Oralie and Sophie.

I hope you liked my rambling! Kenric is a wonderful character and I’m always happy to share headcanons about him. (And sorry I didn’t get to this last night, I was exhausted and wanted to make this a good and coherent post.)