#if I hadn’t been terrified (it was before I got out to Assess The Damage) I would’ve laughed DJFNWJDJJE

[adashofniallandasprinkleoflunacy]

kid hit my car this morning while I was parking for work and he looked fucking terrified coming up to me despite the fact that he was like 6’3 💀 he kept apologizing and it genuinely seemed like this was the first time something like this had ever happened to him cause he looked 2 seconds away from bursting into tears 😭

luckily it was just some scratches so I told him not to stress about it cause I’m not abt to give him a mental breakdown over something that I could literally paint over and he was like “are you sure?? are you positive??” and I was like “yeah dude it’s not like my rear bumper’s falling off, no worries!!” and he looked like he was abt to drop to his knees from relief he really said “god bless you” 😭😭😭

[noemitenshi]

Second chances

a post season 8 story by

NoemiTenshi and rebelbravado

Chapter 2 - Help

“You?!” 

The moment was complete chaos. Lee had taken out two walkers who were about to make dinner out of...Troy?! The other was being ripped to shreds by Wolf, their dog. Who had been barking loudly and was the main reason they found Troy in the first place.

“You know him?!” 

Ri’s voice pitched high even while panting as she called out to him across the clearing. Not long after the soft whirring sound of an arrow cutting through air sounded and she had shot the last walker just behind him. Lee glanced over his shoulder as it came down with a thud, arrow protruding from its eye socket. 

“Check the perimeter,” Lee ordered low instead of answering his wife. 

He listened to Ri’s rustling as he peeled back Troy’s jacket to assess the damage that had been done. Jesus, what the hell had happened to him? There was an iron rod –or something along those lines since it was oddly shaped– sticking from Troy’s abdomen and blood, so much blood. The kid was bleeding out. 

“All clear,” Ri breathed as she fell down on her knees on the other side of Troy, her hands trembling as they now saw what Lee saw too. 

“Ay, dios mío...” she blinked, and looked, and blinked as her hands started to tug back fabric or feel at the wound. 

“Ssh, ssh...” Lee hushed as Wolf –muzzle bloody and grimy– started to push his head against Troy’s arm. Troy who was now unresponsive. Lee put his arm around the dog’s neck and gently pulled it back into a half hug. “It’s okay boy, you did good.” 

“I...” Ri started, her face pure panic as she looked at Lee. And he knew that face. He knew that face and wanted to do anything he could to prevent her feeling that way. His wife was overwhelmed and scared. And from the looks of Troy she had every right to be. 

“Get the car.” Another order, to give her something to do and to make sure she wasn’t the one sitting here with Troy while he died. Which he was. He was dying. 

“But...” Ri started and Lee shook his head. 

“If he is to stand a chance I need you to get the car, right now, Ri.” 

Ri nodded frantically as she got up, her jeans and shirt already covered in blood. She disappeared with determined efficiency, followed closely by Wolf, giving Lee the chance to really look at Troy. 

Troy Otto. 

Alive. 

Or well...barely. 

He had thought him to be dead for a while now. Yet here he was, and even though he looked older –was older– he still looked young to Lee. His hair was longer now, making it look curlier than he remembered, and on the side of his face was an angry looking scar. It looked old, healed in ways festering wounds would. Ugly and ragged and like it had been a painful. 

There was a hole in his dirty jacket and when Lee pulled it aside it revealed blood crusted bandages. He was careful not to move him too much, quiet so he could listen to every strained breath still coming from those lips. They were getting raspier, their sound wet and strained. 

Troy’s desperate cry for help was still ringing in his ears. The kid had looked so scared, so lost. In such stark contrast to how Lee had known him in the past. And those eyes, god, those wide, wide eyes and the way they had looked at him. Had pleaded. 

No way in hell could Lee have denied him help, despite all that had happened between them. He simply couldn’t. Not with the state Troy was in, bleeding out and trying to crawl to …safety? Certainly he couldn’t with the way Troy had looked at him. So very terrified.

He’d seen that look before, the look of someone knowing their end was coming. But no matter how often he’d already seen it, it never got easier. To recognize this certainty in another’s gaze. To stay with them throughout because what else was there to do. That look had haunted him once before, when he’d come back from the war. And since the world ended it had haunted him again in all the people they hadn’t been able to save.

It had made him swallow uncomfortably, seeing that look on Troy’s face. Though now he wasn’t sure if that was the only reason he had felt – uncomfortable. Or no, not exactly uncomfortable. It had made him feel raw. And now, he thought that he’d seen something else in Troy’s look, too. Something that had made him feel like that. Something much more fragile. Almost hidden but not quite. Something like... relief? Relief the second their gazes had met. Or was he thinking that just because Troy had stopped struggling once he’d recognized Lee?

Not that the reason mattered. Nor did it really matter what it was exactly, he had seen in Troy. The only thing that did matter was that it had stirred something inside of him, something that had started to shift to where he would move heaven and hell to help this person –Troy!– and try his utmost to keep him from dying. Try even though it seemed so futile. Doomed to fail. That look of certain death was almost never wrong.

Even so he would try. Not only because it was the right thing but because Troy needed it, needed him. There had been such pain in those eyes, and not only from the terrible, terrible injuries but...what had been done to him?!

He couldn’t have been sitting there long when Ri drove the truck toward him at an alarming speed, coming to a halt with squeaking tires that left deep marks in the forest floor. She got out in one swooping motion, jumping down from the truck, her boots landing deep in the mud as Wolf barked from the passenger seat. 

“Roll him over to his side.” She was instant action as she moved closer, dousing a clean cloth in alcohol. “Here, wrap that around the rod, close to the wound.” 

Lee obeyed, finding calm in her again. 

“Fuck...” Ri said as she studied Troy’s back. “Okay, we need to get him in the truck horizontally. He’s losing blood too fast, if we sit him up again, he dies.” Her eyes shot up at him and she sighed as she sat back to tie her two braids together behind her head. 

Her hands rubbed her face and by the way she chewed on her lip Lee could tell she was thinking. But there wasn’t much time to think. 

“Ri...” he prompted low. 

“I don’t know if I can fix this...” she said quietly, more to herself but he could see panic rise again in his wife. “I don’t know if I can fix this,” she said louder now, looking at him again. 

Streaks of Troy’s blood were on her cheeks now and he could see her chest rise and fall a little too fast for comfort. 

“I don’t know what to do.” Ri’s voice was so small, slipping back to a dark place she had not been in a long long time. 

“It’s okay, let’s start with cleaning hm?” Lee tried, but when Ri didn’t respond right away he pressed on more urgently. “What do I use for cleaning, Ri?” 

He knew the answer. Of course he knew the answer. They had been doing this for years. Saving and mending and healing people. They had learned so much together. He knew but he needed her to focus on something simple first, something she did have answers to. It snapped her right out of it and her eyes cleared again, focus returning as she took a steadying breath and got up. 

“We gotta make that thing smaller.” Lee could hear her mumble as she climbed in the back of the truck then stopped herself and went “No. First we get him in. Then we can worry about whatever is sticking out of him.” She was talking mostly to herself although Lee was readying himself to follow her orders anyway. 

And so the two of them lifted Troy into the truck. It was a challenge to keep him completely horizontal, but Ri tried her hardest to match Lee’s strength there. The back of the truck was equipped for similar situations, or at least situations comparatively dire. Some mix between an ambulance a tank and a workshop, decked out with both medical supplies and small battery powered power-tools that might come in handy on the road.

As soon as Troy was put down on his side, Lee made sure he was comfortable, or as comfortable as he could be. He rolled up a blanket under Troy’s head and tried to get water into his unmoving mouth. 

“Hold him while I do this,” Ri asked Lee as she advanced with a multi-tool, switching out the saw blade for a sharper one with swift hands.

Lee fell deeper in love with his wife in moments like these, overwhelmed by this deep understanding that she was the one while she did what she can to save a life. This seemed to go completely unnoticed to Ri as she put the blade to –what was that?!– the foreign object sticking out of Troy and started to rid it of any pieces that were sticking out too far and could cause extra movement and thus pain.

Lee held Troy and the rod as still as possible from the other side. Once that was done Ri removed the old cloth that was now stained red, and doused another with disinfectant, putting it against the wound as best as she could before looking up at Lee again. 

“I need you to get us home, fast.” Her attention returned to Troy again as she put her fingers against his neck and started to count his heartbeats. 

Lee was already on the move, crawling into the driver seat, ignoring Wolf whining on the one next to him. Ri kept talking as she busied herself checking Troy’s vitals and getting him hooked on an IV with painkillers. She was prepping him for surgery just as she would when back at their camp, only they weren’t there yet, and Lee was unsure if they were going to make it in time. 

“When we get home I need you to get doc, a stretcher and people to carry him out safely. You go and set up blood transfusion right away.” 

“Ri, I’m not sure...” 

“I know. But we’re doing it anyway.” 

[indigosunsetao3]

A Reason To Try

Chapter 9 - The CDC

Masterlist of Chapters

Warnings: 18+ - No minors Please read the tags on AO3 for any of your triggers

Alex Keller X Original FMC 8.9k words - AO3 Link

Alex had pulled off the night before a little earlier than normal, wanting to keep away from the downtown scene in the dark. They had no idea what they were happening upon and while the CDC building was northeast of the actual metropolitan area of Atlanta it was still highly populated.

The final few hundred miles had taken them the longest to trek. The blockades were doubling in amounts with less space between but many of them were already abandoned. Less than ten days and everything seemingly fell apart which was either terrifying because this sickness was that deadly. Or sad because the government couldn’t keep it together even with all their protocols in place. Maybe it was both.

Alex had grown quieter the closer they got, his eyes ever on alert as he watched the area around them prepared for anything that they may happen upon. He had given Madeline the pistol that morning and had handed her an extra clip as he loaded himself up with the revolver he had taken off the man on their first night and the extra pistols Gaz had provided. Things in the car were tense, the upbeat music of the mix CD of hits from a decade ago wasn’t enough to ease it either.

Madeline itched to reach for Alex’s hand as they rounded a corner and found a horrifying scene right in the middle of the street. There was a pile of bodies, not a pile, a pyre, with smoke furling from the remains. They were charred and ashen for the most part, the few that hadn’t had their faces damaged showed signs of agony and panic. Others were obviously already things that had turned with bullet holes riddling their body before they were finally taken down with a headshot.

“Read,” Madeline snapped as she turned her head to look at Everett who was peering out the window. “Now,” she said as he kept staring. She twisted around in the seat and grabbed the book on the seat next to Everett and shoved it into his lap, drawing his eyes away from where he had been watching. “Read the next chapter then summarize it for us,” Madeline instructed with a soft smile. It had been one of many games she came up with off the cuff to keep them all entertained.

When Everett settled back into his seat and cracked the book open Madeline sat front again and glanced at Alex. He was watching her out of the side of his eye, assessing her to make sure she was keeping it together. She was, but barely. Breakfast was churning in her stomach and she had to press a hand on her stomach to physically keep it together.

“It’s probably going to get worse before it gets better,” Alex said quietly as he shifted in his seat a bit, adjusting from where he had been sitting so tensely in his spot. He hadn’t let Madeline drive the past few days, there were too many things to keep an eye out for and he needed her to keep Everett occupied.

For a six-year-old, he was mostly calm, and quiet when he could sense things were not right, but he was still a child. He had moments of scared outbursts, chattery energy, and grumpy stretches that seemed to draw on longer and longer each time. Alex understood, being cooped up in a car for this long was taking it out on him, he could only imagine a kid.

“I know, I’m just ready to be there. For this to be done.” Madeline sighed as she fidgeted with her braid, the one Alex did up for her each morning without prompting. Just like how he kept her close to him as night fell, tugging her to him to wrap her protectively into him.

Ever since the night in the woods when those things happened upon them Alex had slept side by side with Madeline, forgoing his front seat vigil. They were careful to not let Everett see, trying to keep whatever this was away from his curious and prying eyes. He would have questions if he saw it and neither of them had an answer as to what it was. It just felt natural to be pressed against one another in the depthless dark, legs wrapping around one another and Alex’s arms like vices around Madeline’s torso to keep her close.

Their body heat seeped into one another as they lay on the small bench every night. A soft comfort as they just tried to relax, get some sleep, and disappear from the reality they were in. They never spoke of the tender half-asleep kisses Alex would press against Madeline's neck as they drifted off, nor how she would sigh contently and squeeze his hand as if asking him to do it again. It was the dance they were both silently doing, a sweet distraction from the horrors they saw every day. As tensions around them rose, the more they sought one another out for comfort. Both needed more touch and just reassurance that they were alive and okay.

That morning Madeline had woken up just as the sun had crested the horizon and rolled on top of Alex who was already awake. They didn’t say a word to one another as she pressed her ear to his chest and let her hands slide under his shoulders to hold him. He responded in turn slipping his fingers just under the hem of her sweater to trace idle shapes on her lower back.

The goal of the CDC was almost within reach but neither of them would deny that the danger was about to increase tenfold. Until they were safely inside the building the risk of death and destruction was looming over their heads, coming ever closer every mile they drove. So, they enjoyed the last few minutes of silence and closeness together. Listening to one another breathe and the woods around them wake up with the dawn. When Everett stirred, they had broken apart with a longing glance and gentle squeeze. Neither of them knew what would happen once this mission was over but there would be time to talk later; when they were safe.

After a morning of switchbacks and a few high speed getaways as they happened upon a mob of things, they were finally at the gates of the CDC as the sun started its descent for the day. There was an active military presence at this blockade luckily which sparked a hopeful feeling in Madeline’s chest, despite the nerves of what these men would say. She was certain they had been turning people away constantly, shooting first and asking questions later as people got too close.

“Here we go,” Alex breathed out as glanced at the paperwork that he had laid out on the center armrest. Madeline had also fished out hers and Everett’s passports and laid them with Alex’s credentials since they would undoubtedly ask who they were.

Alex carefully pulled up to the blockade and rolled down the windows as a cocky young guy walked over. He already had a look on his face that said he had his speech prepared to tell them to fuck off, probably one he had told over and over again the past few days.

“CDC is closed,” the guy said as he peered into the SUV, looking over at Madeline before glancing at the backseat where Everett sat wide-eyed.

Madeline jumped as another man walked over to her window and looked in as well. Alex had told them to roll down all the windows so they didn’t seem like a threat and to stash all their weapons. She glanced up at the stranger doing her best not to squirm as his eyes flitted over to Alex who had strapped his vest back on. While had put his gun away it was still on display in its holster for all eyes to see.

“We’re with the military,” Alex answered simply and he saw the guy roll his eyes and heard the scoff. “Name’s Alex Keller, I’m escorting this family under orders from Captain John Price.”

“Sure you are. That’s what everyone says. Or your wife works inside and you need to get to her. Or maybe you’re someone important second cousin. Turn around,” the guy said dismissively.

“You’ve got most of it right,” Madeline snapped and she knew Alex had groaned internally. He had told her to let him do the talking but she was not going to let this guy, child really, disrespect them like that. “My sister works here. Josephine Martin,” she started and she swore the eyes of the guy standing at her window flared with recognition before he looked at his partner. “I’m her sister and that is her son Everett,” she explained pointing to Everett. “We’re expected. So go call whoever you need to call that has more authority than you. We’ll wait.”

Both men looked back at Everett for a second before going back to Alex and the main guy held out his hand for Alex’s paperwork. Alex handed all of it over and he turned to look at Madeline as they stepped away from the vehicle to go talk and review the information.

“I thought we agreed I’d talk,” he said with a small smirk as he glanced around at the people who were milling about. There were sandbag blockades built high up with machine guns poking out of the gaps with people manning them. Barbed wire was hastily rolled out all over and anti-vehicle hedgehogs were spaced around the area so the only way in or out in a car was where they were currently sitting.

“We did,” Madeline said with a small nod as she watched one of the guys radio to someone. “But they weren’t talking, they were arguing and you didn’t tell me I couldn’t argue.”

Alex chuckled and opened his mouth to say something else but stopped as the guys walked back to the car. The young guy handed the paperwork back to Alex before instructing them to pull forward and follow the left road up to the building. They would have to stop again outside the underground garage entrance to have the car searched before being allowed inside. Alex nodded once before rolling up the windows and waiting for them to step away before he hit the gas.

“Do you think mom is here?” Everett piped up from the backseat, the first thing he had said in many minutes. The hopeful tone in his voice broke Madeline’s heart as she turned around to look at him.

“I’m not sure E, maybe. But if she’s not we can at least find out where she is. It took us a long time to get here and your mom is much further away,” Madeline explained gently as Alex weaved up the road that led them further into the CDC campus. “Either way we’ll find out for sure,” she grinned and Everett gave her a small half-smile trying to hide his disappointment.

The car search was quick, the men instructing Alex to leave his weaponry in the SUV along with anything else that wasn’t essential; they could come get it later once they were cleared. They would be physically searched upon walking inside and subjected to a quick blood test to ensure that they weren’t infected. That instruction made Everett go wide-eyed as Madeline held his hand and led him through the underground garage, noting that the lights were on here which meant the CDC had its own power.

Another paperwork check stopped them outside a row of temporary tents set up before they were led to two tables. Alex was separated from them but Madeline tugged Everett into her lap as she filled out paperwork. It was all standard intake questions that someone would do if they went to the doctor, though this one had added notes about interacting with the infected. Madeline took in the fact that they asked if they had been exposed to any infected in the last six hours, so she assumed that the infection could take that long in some instances. That explained the Ranger.

“It’ll be quick,” Madeline said as Everett started squirming and saying he didn’t want the needle. She had to stretch his arm out and hold his head tight to her chest as the nurse stuck him to take a vial of blood. Madeline had to look away herself, the sight of the tubes filling up made her nauseous on good days. Everett cried and whined as the woman manipulated the needle but when Alex walked over with a pilfered lollypop E quieted down and took it.

“Where’d you get that?” Madeline asked indicating the sweet that Everett sucked on as yet another person came to retrieve them and walk them past another security checkpoint.

“I was a good boy, didn’t cry or turn green when I got my needle stick,” Alex joked as Madeline rolled her eyes. In truth, he had swiped it from the abandoned receptionist’s desk when they had walked by a few minutes before. He knew Everett was already upset at the idea of needles so he figured a piece of candy may ease the sting. “Why, you want one?” He asked as he pulled a second one from his pocket, twirling it between his fingers in a small taunt.

“Keep it,” Madeline answered with a laugh as Alex unwrapped it and popped it in his mouth. When Everett turned around to look up at them he grinned at Alex eating his own sweet before tugging harder on Madeline’s arm as if he were in a rush to get where they were going.

“Wait here,” the woman said with a small smile as she opened the door to a conference room. “We need your tests to come back then someone else will come by to get you for next steps.”

“Any idea how long?” Madeline asked quickly.

“Another thirty minutes or so,” the woman replied but before she could get out the door Everett piped in to ask about his mom. She assured him she would find out before leaving them in the silent glass room.

“Feels strange,” Alex said as he walked around to the windows to peer out them at the landscape in the rapidly setting sun outside. More buildings were part of the CDC campus and a road that led into the woods, but not much else they could see from this angle. “Being inside, getting out of the SUV.”

“If I never have to sleep in a car again it will be too soon,” Madeline answered with a small sigh as she sat down in one of the chairs and rolled her neck.

“I’ve had worse,” Alex said with a grin as he crossed his arms over his chest and stared out at the landscape for a few moments more before joining Madeline and Everett at the table. He pulled out a chair right next to Madeline despite the multiple other options. “But I won’t complain about a bed, hell even a couch.”

“Something a bit bigger,” Madeline agreed a bit quietly as she glanced at Alex. Everett had busied himself with a pad of paper and pen he had found, doodling as he twisted back and forth in the office chair.

“Agreed,” Alex answered, meeting her gaze. He watched the shy smile spread across her face and the nervous flush that spread across her cheeks with some satisfaction. Never admitting that he too felt the nervous jolt at the thought of getting her alone in a bed.

“How long are you going to stay?” Madeline asked as she twisted to face Alex more, feeling a bit more relaxed to not have to watch Everett every second.

“Kicking me out?”

“No…never,” she answered almost inaudibility. Living out of the SUV for the past days felt like a totally different world, like it was just the three of them. But now that they were back in some semblance of civilization Madeline wasn’t sure how Alex would feel.

Without the very real possibility of death coming for them at any second she wasn’t sure if he would back off. If he would reassess everything, rush to get back to Farah now that his job was done. That perhaps Madeline had just been a nice distraction for him, a backup plan of sorts. She wouldn’t blame him, not really, but the thought still stung.

“Unless I’m sent somewhere, I’m not going anywhere. As far as I’m concerned, I’m here until the mission is over. And mission isn’t over until Price gets back here with your sister. We’ll figure out the rest later. Life seems to be a day-by-day basis now, hard to plan when the world’s fallen apart.” He smiled a bit and reached out a hand under the table to grab hers but he didn't quite close the gap before the conference room door banged open.

“Dad!” Everett yelled out before Madeline could turn around. Her back had been to the door so she hadn’t seen him walk by the glass nor walk in with his smug grin.

Madeline tensed and turned in her seat to see that Garett Martin was in fact standing there, scooping up his son in his arms as if he were the dad of the century. No way. She rose from her chair, the blood rushing to her ears and pounding there, drowning out Alex’s voice.

Alex remained calm next to her as he also rose to his feet, doing his best to figure out what was happening and preparing to grab Madeline as she snarled.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Madeline snapped as she kicked the chair out from behind her and began to walk around the table.

“Language Mads,” Garett answered as he adjusted Everett in his grip as his son hung on his neck. “I’m here because my wife works here, and I was told my son would be brought here by an armed guard. The more important question is, what are you doing here.”

“Your wife!?” Madeline nearly screeched as she got near the corner of the long table. She knew the moment she had a clear shot she was going to slap the smarmy smirk right off his smart face. “The one you cheated on? The son that you haven’t even bothered to call for a year? Those two people?”

“Rich coming from the girl who couldn’t be bothered to come home to help when her parents were dying,” Garett answered before his eyes skated over Alex who had appeared at Madeline’s side and grabbed her arm to keep her from advancing further. “I left because Josephine told me to leave, not because I wanted to,” he answered, the lie sliding off his tongue as easily as breathing.

“Oh no, I know you didn’t want to leave. You had it good, fucking every woman who looked at you for three seconds while your wife busted her ass raising your son,” Madeline retorted, shaking her shoulder to get Alex to let go but he held fast. “How did you worm your way in here? What lies did you spew to these people?”

“No lies,” Garett answered as he set Everett down, though the boy held tight to his waist. He had no idea what his father had done, the lies and hurt he had caused. He was just a boy that missed his father and was craving any sort of attention from the man who had effectively abandoned him for a good time.

“When things went to shit I was already in the city,” he explained. He was a pilot for Delta and their main hub was Atlanta so it made sense. It also made it especially easy for him to have his secret love nest here far away from Boston with his revolving door of mistresses. “They called me.”

“I-“ Madeline started before switching tactics. “What? Who called you?”

“I’m still her emergency contact in her work file Mads,” Garett answered, the grin on his face growing wider as the implication set in.

Now it all made sense. Why the woman back in Boston asked where Everett’s father was, how she accused Madeline of snatching Everett away and leaving his father behind. They must have been in contact with the CDC already and were told that Garett and Everett were the ones coming. Communications had been crossed and unable to reach Josephine no one could get the clarifying information.

There were protocols in place for instances like this and while her sister had been methodical in everything in her life, when her marriage fell apart she did the bare minimum. It was too painful, too much emotional work, for her to change her name no matter how much Madeline bugged her to do it. And it seemed she hadn’t updated her personnel file at work which was now to both of their detriments.

“You haven’t spoken to either of them in over a year,” Madeline seethed as she began to shake. “You disappeared, leaving behind the complicated life of being a father and husband. But now that Josephine is literally saving your worthless ass you are suddenly going to play model father?”

“Isn’t that exactly what she did for you? Saved your ass over and over again when you got yourself in stupid situations? How is this any different? You use her just as much as I do,” Garett answered as Everett tugged on his shirt aching for some sort of affection. Garett ignored him and crossed his arms over his chest as he stared down Madeline. He wasn’t here to be Everett’s father, he was here to keep himself alive, gaming the system to his advantage.

“I don’t use her,” Madeline snapped though he wasn’t wrong about Josephine bailing her out multiple times. “I’m actually around. When you shattered your family I picked up the pieces. I’ve been with them since you walked,” she paused and gestured to Alex who was standing close to her side, having let go for the time being but prepared to grab her again. “He’s done more for your son in the past week than you ever have.”

“Well I’m here now aren’t I Mads?” Garett answered as he glanced at Alex, sizing him up. “You and your bodyguard, or fuck toy, whatever he is can go. After all, they only have so many resources, so much space…and seeing as you aren’t listed as her immediate family there just isn’t room or justification to keep you here.” he sucked on his teeth, sarcastically sounding sorry. “He might be able to stay,” he conceded with a nod at Alex, “they lost a few soldiers yesterday in an attack. I’m sure they could use an extra hand.”

Madeline froze, feeling her stomach drop through the floor at what Garett had just said. He was going to be staying here, with Everett, while she was turned back out to the streets again. To the mess. He wasn’t wrong about Alex either, he could be of use to them, another resource. But her? She had no significant skills to help.

There was no way to justify her staying aside from being Everett’s Aunt but if his father was here he had more of a claim of guardianship. They weren’t going to care about the fact Garett hadn’t been around this past year, he was on the paperwork, he was the father. And fuck he was a pilot too. So outside of taking care of his own son, he could fly people, resources, and places if needed.

“We’re not going anywhere,” Alex finally answered as he glanced at Everett who was tugging in earnest on his dad’s shirt. “I’m sure it’ll just be a quick discussion with someone in charge. Josephine’s boss perhaps,” he quirked a brow, “and we’ll get this cleared up.”

“He’s dead,” Garett answered flatly before swatting Everett’s hands away causing the little boy's eyes to well up with tears at the rejection. “Most of her team is gone. They haven’t been able to get a hold of her either,” he continued coldly. “Last I knew the rescue team had to emergency land and trek the rest of the way on foot through the jungle. Chances are they’re all dead at this point.”

“My mom?” Everett started but cut off as his father turned to glare down at him.

“Where did you hear that?” Alex pivoted for a moment.

“Listening,” Garett replied with a shrug. “They don’t tell me much but I’m sure if you ask you could find out more. There’s an office down the way they’ve set up for communications, well what’s left to communicate with. Most places went dark a few days ago.”

“I’ll be right back,” Alex said as he turned to look at Madeline standing there. She was pale with eyes as wide as saucers as she looked up at him. “Don’t leave this room,” he pushed out a chair with his foot and moved to sit her down in it, she didn’t fight him on it and collapsed into the seat. “And don’t let him goad you,” he tacked on as he bent down to place a hand on either arm of the chair to cage her in and force her to look at him. “Ten minutes, stay here for ten minutes and we’ll figure something out.”

“Talk all you want,” Garett answered as he listened to Alex talk to Madeline. “But it’s not going to change protocol.”

“Sit down,” Alex said as he walked around and cleared the space between himself and Garett in a few steps. “And shut the fuck up for ten minutes,” he warned as he loomed above him. Alex only had a few inches on Garett but his bulk and overall lethal calm seemed to placate Garett into silence for a moment. “And pay attention to your son,” he tacked on as Everett stood off to the side a bit staring between his father and Alex. “Kid’s terrified and you are not helping.”

Madeline sat silently in the chair, the information that had just been told to her racing through her mind along with new worries. It was as if she were paralyzed with fear, with panic, hell with surprise as she stared at Garett down the table from her. How could this have happened? How could he be here, threatening to turn her out on the street in this mess when he hardly deserved to be here, let alone taking her spot.

Then in her spiral, her thoughts went to Alex, at how he had just stated his mission wasn’t done until Price came back. And the second half of his mission was to defend the CDC, which meant he had to stay here. She was going to be alone. She was going to be out in this alone. Her breathing picked up into a rapid staccato that gave her a headrush.

“Sinking in?” Garett asked with a smirk as he peered at her above Everett’s head. He had tugged his son into his lap and was letting him doodle away in his lap. “How useless you are in this?”

“Shut up,” Madeline said though her voice was barely a whisper, the only thing she could get out between the squeezing in her chest. She was at the start of a panic attack and she couldn’t get it under control and Garett was just pushing her along it knowing that the worse she looked the better he’d seem to the staff here.

“I’ll take good care of my son,” Garett continued as he smoothed a palm over Everett’s hair, pressing it down where the cowlick stuck up at the back. “I can promise you that because him being here keeps me here. Keeps me safe,” he smirked, his cold gaze staring at Madeline as he continued to taunt her. “I was starting to worry a bit. When you didn’t arrive after a week the team was getting antsy about what they would do with me but you showed up just in time. So thanks for that.”

“Go to hell Garett,” Madeline answered as she fisted her fingers then stretched them out to get feeling back in them where they had begun to tingle. Her ears were starting to ring and she forced herself to take deep breaths to keep herself under control.

How long had Alex been gone? Surely it had been longer than ten minutes. Had he ditched her that quickly? After everything, now that she was no longer useful he was going to leave her? In her panicked haze, she wasn’t thinking straight and she hiccupped once, twice, as the room seemed to press in on her. She needed to get up, to move.

“I’ll get to stay here,” Garett replied simply as he watched Madeline spiral faster as she wound herself up. “While you go out into that hell again. Alone. That’s what you always wanted right? To be alone from your family, to be little miss independent forging your own way? Why stop now?”

Madeline shot up from the chair, stumbling a bit as her vision tunneled before she pushed toward the door. The room was too small, too hot, she needed fresh air, a moment to think, to breathe. Everett called out to her as she walked past but she didn’t hear it, she could just hear the pitch of his voice as she fumbled for the door handle missing it twice before finally twisting it open. She sobbed as she walked out into a hallway that was an even tighter space than the conference room and she twisted to find which way to go.

“Hey! Stop!” Alex called as he saw Madeline burst out of the room. He had been making his way back after talking with a few people. He saw her stumble in her haste to get away and he jogged up to her and grabbed her quickly by the shoulders as she heaved to catch her breath. “I told you to stay,” Alex said as he looked at her face which was tracked with tears.

“So you can leave?” Madeline babbled out as she tried to pull away from him. He was too close, too suffocating. "Leave me alone in all of this."

“Leave? Madeline what?” Alex asked as he held her firm as she shoved at his chest with her palms, though she shook too much for it to do anything.

“I can’t stay here. They’re going to turn me out,” Madeline sobbed as she continued to push at him, reaching up to his fingers to try and pry them off her. “I’m no use anymore. And your mission, you said it’s not over until John is back. But I can’t be here with you, I have to go. Alone.”

She couldn’t leave, she couldn’t leave Everett here, but she couldn’t take him either. He was safe here even with his asshole of a father. Garett would keep him alive because it was a mutual relationship; his son lived so he lived. If she snatched E and ran she would just be signing both of their deaths. She could barely keep herself alive on her own, what would she do with a child without Alex’s help?

“Madeline. Stop,” Alex snapped, his voice a bit louder and commanding. “Look at me and listen,” he instructed as she continued to try and pull away. “Look at me.” He stated again dropping all softness now.

She was circling in the very dark depths of a panic attack and Alex needed to get her to lock back on him, on some sort of reality and not the anxious thoughts in her mind. She glanced up at him as her fingers feebly continued to try and get him to let go and he grabbed her jaw a bit forcefully to force her to stare at his face. His fingers dug into the bone and he felt her flinch but he didn’t let up, hoping the bite of pain would ground her back. “You aren’t going anywhere alone. I’m not leaving you.”

“But your job. If I can’t stay,” Madeline tried as she shut her eyes and felt more tears slip down her cheeks. She gasped a bit as Alex shook her head and she opened her eyes to look back up at him again. His gaze was fierce, full of a quiet rage that would have made her take a step back if he wasn’t holding her so tightly.

“My job is to keep you safe. So if you go, I go,” he stated firmly. “We’ll figure it out, together. But I need you to calm down,” he continued as she stared at him wordlessly. “Keep it together for me for a little longer while we get this figured out. Then you can scream it out later, alright? Take it out on me if you need but not right now. I need you level headed.”

Madeline stared up at him for a moment longer before nodding faintly in agreement. When he let go of her jaw she reached up and wiped at the tears on her face and took a few calming breaths. She still couldn’t feel her fingers or her feet, but she could at least breathe again with Alex standing there next to her. She could keep it together for now while they figured this out and when Alex opened the conference room door for her she stepped in and glared at Garett who was grinning amusedly at her.

“Find out anything?” Garett asked Alex as he pulled out a chair for Madeline a few seats away from Garett to sit before standing behind her chair with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Enough,” Alex answered unimpressed as he glanced over at Everett who was still in his father’s lap.

Alex had learned that Garett hadn’t been lying about the team at least. They had crash landed in jungle about a three days hike from the small town where Josephine was two days prior. There weren’t any casualties in the 141, and unfortunately Graves also lived, but there were injuries that would slow them down. When Alex asked what had taken them so long to even get down to South America no one had any answers.

When he asked about the rest of the world, hoping for a scrap of news of Urzikstan all they said was the Middle East had fallen quickly and no news had come from there in days. Europe was barely limping by better than America and the only place that still had a semblance of order left that they knew was Australia. They had shut their borders quickest and while the infection made it there, it hadn’t been as widespread.

Alex had schooled his features as they continued to tell him what they could, keeping it together to not ask too many leading questions. He had no idea who he could trust in this place and he wasn’t about to lay his cards bare for them to take advantage of or potentially use against him. When their eyes were diverted to a screen to answer a distracting question Alex subtly pocketed another satellite phone that was lying on the table. He also eyed one of the laptops but he didn’t have anything to slip it into to take without notice, least not yet.

When the conference door opened again the woman that had led them to the room before was standing there looking a bit awkward. All eyes in the room landed on her as she stepped inside with file folders, each of the newcomer's names on it in neat print.

“Tests are back,” she stated before deciding to speak directly to Garett since he was the only familiar face there for her. She smiled a bit at the sight of Everett in his lap still doodling, looking at the picture of a perfect father with his son. “All clear,” she explained and waited as if all of them were going to breathe a sigh of relief. “We can go ahead and take Everett,” she started.

“Take him where?” Madeline interjected as she looked between the woman and Garett.

“Oh, to his room,” the woman stammered. “Get him cleaned up a bit, something to eat. While you figure out what-” she cut off as if unsure before smiling at Everett who looked at her a bit shyly before turning to Madeline.

“I get to stay with dad!” Everett said excitedly to Madeline, as if this were the best news he’d ever heard and they would all be excited. “He said there’s a bed in his room just for me, and I get a television. It’ll be like a sleepover!”

“That’s great buddy,” Madeline answered doing her best to not scream in panic. She felt Alex adjust behind her to put his hands on the back of her chair in silent support.

She didn’t want to let E go, to let him out of her sight. The last time he had been out of her sight he had almost been attacked and the thought set her heartbeat faster again. She knew he was safe here, with all the security, military, the ability for the CDC to lock down at a moment's notice.

But him out of sight meant she couldn’t be sure he was safe. She couldn’t just glance over and see his little face as he slept or how he scrunched his eyes in concentration as he read. Her chest tightened as she anguished over the next words, the next choice. It felt too tantamount, too big of a choice to let him go or make him stay with her.

“We’ll see you in a bit,” Alex filled in for Madeline, making that choice for her as she choked on her own voice. He could do that for her because he knew she agreed even if she couldn’t say it. It was the best choice for E to stay here even if it wasn’t the one they wanted. He was safe at the CDC and he certainly didn’t need to be around for the fight that was about to erupt. “Ask them for mac and cheese so you can stop pestering me for it,” he taunted as Everett made a face at him, completely unaware that this could be the last time they saw one another.

“I’ll save you some,” Everett promised as he peered at Madeline who just nodded at him, unable to speak.

When the woman led Everett out she started talking to him quietly before shutting the door behind her. The air seemed to leave Madeline’s body as she watched Everett walk past the glass walls before he disappeared down the hall. She fought the urge to lunge from her chair and sprint after him, to grab him and run. Run where she didn’t know but this couldn’t be the last time she saw him. She needed more time. Deserved more time. The grief slipped behind the rage that was building in her. The white-hot rage at Garett for everything he had done and continued to do to torture her and Josephine.

“So now what Garett?” Madeline asked into the heavy silence fighting back tears. “What’s next in your grand scheme?”

“No grand scheme, just following the rulebook is all,” he answered as he peered down at Everett’s drawing he had left behind. “I suppose next they’ll come kick you out now that Everett is away from here. Tell you thanks for bringing my son back to me but there isn’t any room for you. It’s not personal Mads. You aren’t the first person they turned away or kicked out.”

“Madeline,” Madeline said flatly as she glared at him and she heard Alex shift behind her, his clothes rustling as he adjusted his stance.

“Madeline,” Garett amended sarcastically. “They’ll extend an offer for him,” he nodded his head to Alex, “to stay since his team is on their way back. I’m sure he’ll get another assignment, find a new pretty girl willing to open her legs for him for a favor. He’ll forget all about you before the end of the week. If you make it that long to care.”

“Watch it,” Alex warned quietly. His tone was quiet, calm, but it sent shivers down Madeline’s spine.

“Touchy,” Garett stated though he had the sense to look a bit apprehensive. “I guess she didn’t give it up for you?” He turned his gaze back to Madeline with a look of surprise “gone soft for this pretty boy? Last I knew you would ride anything if they could do something for you.”

“You’re still jilted that I wouldn’t ride you,” Madeline said with a small laugh. “That I never gave into your filthy advances. I never told Josephine about that even though I wanted to, badly. I couldn’t bear to break her heart and tell her that her husband cornered her little sister at Christmas and asked if he could unwrap me like a present.” She raised an eyebrow at Garett’s shocked face that he schooled quickly, “you think I was too drunk to remember that?”

“You didn’t tell Josie because you liked the attention. Wanted me to pursue you, play into your game,” he chuckled softly. “I was stupid back then, didn’t realize what you were.” He shrugged and leaned back in his chair. “Not that any of it matters anymore. You’ll be dead by tomorrow morning. Hopefully, your sister is gone as well so both of you will be one less thing for me to worry about.”

Madeline wasn’t sure who moved faster, her or Alex, at Garett’s last words. She shot up out of her chair prepared to scratch his skin off his face and calculating how much damage she could do before security showed but Alex beat her. He moved around the back of her chair and cleared the few feet in less than three seconds.

“I warned you,” Alex nearly snarled as he grabbed Garett by the back of the neck and slammed his face down onto the table. “I could end it right now,” he pressed as Garett spluttered and tried to push up from the table with his hands. “Break your fucking neck without thinking twice,” he tweaked his wrist and watched as Garett’s head angled to the side and heard him gasp. “Or use this,” Alex tacked on as he reached down with his free hand, his strength outnumbering Garett with just one arm as he pulled out a lethal knife from his pocket. He fisted it and slammed it into the table a fraction of an inch from Garett’s eyes.

“Then none of it would matter,” Alex went on as the knife still vibrated from being stabbed into the wood. “You’ll be dead, Madeline will get to stay and I’ll be court-martialed,” he laughed. “Not the first time, I’m starting to collect criminal charges like medals,” he smirked. “Though I doubt there is really anyone left to punish me anyway. As you stated they need all the help they can get,” he reached up and pulled the knife free from the table. "I'll just get a slap on the wrist and be back to work before you're even cold in the ground."

Madeline stared at the scene before her. Her eyes darted between Alex’s calm rage and Garett’s abject fear. She wasn’t sure what she liked looking at more. The terror as Garett knew he was outnumbered was a delicious sight, to see him taken down a few notches by someone he looked down upon.

But watching Alex work, seeing that protective and carnal soldier slip out from under the charm and smiles, nearly made her knees weak. And that fact he did it for her compounded the feeling. He was risking himself and doing this for her. She knew if she nodded her approval at Alex as he looked at her for direction he would do it. He would end it, end Garett, and deal with the shitstorm that would follow.

“I’m sorry,” Garett finally spat out as Madeline didn’t move and Alex continued to hold him. Garett knew she was thinking about the options and his will to live was stronger than his ego. “I’m sorry,” he breathed out again before Alex shoved his head hard into the table and stood up.

Alex carefully slipped his knife back into his pocket before standing up fully and dragging Garett back to sit up again. He patted his shoulders jovially as if he didn’t just hold his life in his hands before turning to see people running to the conference room through the glass walls. Alex had marked the cameras in the room as soon as they had walked in, a habit from his training, but he didn’t care. He knew this was a lose-lose situation for him and Madeline and when Garett wouldn’t stop running his mouth he decided to make him pay for some of it.

“All good,” Alex said as he held his hands palm up in a surrendering gesture to the two men in uniform who entered. “Just a misunderstanding,” he explained with a grin as he looked over at Garett, the grin not meeting his eyes as he waited for Garett to agree.

“Yes,” Garett answered quickly, glancing between the guards and Alex. “Just, a miscommunication is all,” he continued, his voice returning back to its normal cocky tone. “While you all figure out your next steps, I am going to go check on my son,” he rose from the chair as if he couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Madeline knew if the guards weren’t watching he would have run out of the room like the coward he was.

“You take care of him,” Madeline warned more than stated to Garett before he could slip out the door. “You take care of Everett. He’s too young for all of this, he needs someone looking out for him,” she continued as she fought against the breakdown.

Alex had said she needed to be strong for now, that she could break down later, but they needed to keep it together in this moment. “Please Garett,” she tried to hide the begging tone in her voice but she knew he caught it.

“He’s my son,” Garett answered as if that were answer enough, putting on a show for the guards still warily watching Alex. “Of course I will. Thank you for everything. Truly,” he put his hand over his heart in a grateful gesture, “I do hope I see you again one day. That you make it out of this. That we all do.”

And with that he left, walking quickly down the hall and out of sight before Madeline let out a shaky breath. She didn’t know how much longer she could hold this together. The guards moved to the corner of the room stating someone was coming to speak to them. As Alex took a seat he nudged Madeline with his foot lightly to get her to sit as well.

It didn’t take long. The person running the building came into the room with a memorized speech about limited resources and not enough room. That they had to make hard choices about what they could provide to others and had to keep in mind the job at hand which was finding a cure. That the sacrifice of some could be the savior of everyone.

Most of it fell on deaf ears for Madeline but Alex listened carefully, asking questions here and there that Madeline didn’t hear as she stared at a spot on the floor willing herself to not cry. They gave Alex the option to stay but he told them no before they could even finish the sentence, he wasn’t going to stay when they turned Madeline away.

They provided them with a few supplies, offered up a little gas that they had to help them get out of the city limits, and gave them a map. The government had been actively working on safe zones and someone marked them out. They had no idea if the zones were still being worked on, communication had broken down and they only had information that was days old. Alex took the provisions they provided and paused at the communication room, Madeline dawdling outside of it, as he spoke to someone inside.

Alex knew he only had a few minutes left before Madeline lost it, before she couldn’t hold back all the emotions any longer. But he needed the damn laptop. He walked into the communication room with the bag of items, set it subtly on the table right over the closed laptop, and asked a few more questions about directions.

The workers were awkward in their responses, feeling weird telling these people where to go to try and stay safe while they were perfectly fine here in their little fortress. Even better for Alex. They didn’t look at him directly and were rushing their words to try and seem busy, eyes on their computer screens. When Alex scooped up his bag he quickly swiped the device without anyone looking twice.

“Don’t let him see you cry,” Alex breathed into Madeline’s ear as they entered the main lobby. Garett was one floor up looking down watching them. Beside him stood Everett, his hands gripping the railing as he stared down at them. Alex had seen them a second before Madeline did and he felt her stiffen in an attempt to steel herself.

“Aunt Mads!” Everett yelled, his voice a bit confused. “Aunt Mads, where are you going?”

Madeline swallowed once, twice, before turning around and putting on a brave face. E’s little face was apprehensive as he looked at her but she smiled nonetheless. She smiled because she knew he was safe, that he would be okay, she had done what she had promised her sister she would. She had been able to accomplish at least one thing.

“I have to go for a little bit,” Madeline lied through her teeth, smiling to keep the tears safely tucked in her eyes. “Alex is going to help me go find your mom,” she continued as she felt Alex’s steady hand at the small of her back in support.

“Wait,” Everett yelled as he looked around for the stairs. “I want to go with you,” he started walking to the right but Garett grabbed his arm and bent down to talk to him.

“You need to stay here,” Madeline continued, looking up at the ceiling for a moment to hold it together. “Get everything ready for her when she gets back. You’re going to have so much fun with your dad and we’ll be back before you know it.”

“No, I want to go with you!” Everett fought as he wriggled in his dad’s grip. “Aunt Mads, I want to go with you! I want my mom!”

The workers in the lobby had the decency to look busy and away from the scene as Alex guided Madeline toward the exit while Everett yelled for her. Alex flinched a bit as Everett switched tactics and started calling for him instead but he kept pushing Madeline forward, keeping one foot in front of the other. He knew the longer they waited the worse it was going to be for everyone.

As they cleared the heavy cement door of the garage, and it slammed shut cutting off Everett’s voice, Madeline finally let loose a sob. She slumped a bit in her steps and Alex wrapped an arm around her as he guided her to the car. She was faltering under the pressure and fear but he kept her upright in the short walk, his grip strong and sure as they walked.

“Climb in,” Alex said quietly as he held the backdoor of the SUV open for her. “I’ll take care of the stuff,” he continued as she scrambled in and went right to the backrow. He threw the bag and laptop onto the middle bench and shut the door to give her a second, busying himself with filling the tank with the gas can security had brought by.

Before he could even get the gas cap off he heard the gut-wrenching wail Madeline let out as she curled up in the backseat. He stood with his back to the SVU and leaned his head against the glass to give her a moment alone, to scream and cry it out.

He wasn’t sure how long he stood there for but when she grew quiet Alex threw the second gas can onto the roof and climbed in the driver’s seat. He could still hear Madeline crying in the back but he started up the SUV and put on some quiet music before pulling out. They would need to talk about everything that had happened, but not yet, not while it was so fresh and painful.

Alex had no idea where to go, his careful planning had ended with the CDC. He needed to get more information and come up with a new plan but night had fallen. The darkness settled over the city like a heavy blanket without a moon in sight.

They had to get off the street and somewhere safe, quickly, before their car drew too much attention in the eerie silence.

[milf-murdock]

Wrong Words

Simon "Ghost" Riley x 141!Reader

Summary:Terrified you’d been injured by a reckless decision of yours while out on a mission, Ghost is equal parts relieved and pissed to see you making light of the situation with your teammate. Ghost’s temper gets the best of him in the heat of the moment and he has to do some damage control to make it better. 

Warnings: Hurt/Comfort, language

The car hadn’t even come to a full and complete stop before Ghost threw open the passenger door and sprinted across the field where you leaned up against your own vehicle, laughing with your field partner, having just gotten back to base a few minutes ahead of Ghost’s team. 

“Are you okay? What happened? Are you hurt?” The panic dripped from each word as he assessed your state, eyes scanning your body for any sign of injury. He hadn’t been with you on the mission, but heard enough over the radio to understand that some serious shit had gone down—shit involving you and some reckless decisions. 

“I’m fine,” you tried to assure him, keeping your tone light and playful. “I was just being stupid.” At that you shot your field partner a look that drew a chuckle from you both. “It worked out though. We got what we came for, and I’m just fine.” You give Ghost your most confident smile in an attempt to smooth out some of those worry lines peeking from the open area of his mask. 

“That’s it? It worked out though?” Ghost mocked your tone. “You had me scared half to fucking death, babe. Damn near thought my heart was going to bust out me fucking chest, and that’s all you can fuckin’ say?”  His accent grew thicker as his temper got away from him.

“I’m sorry,” you scramble for a reply, taken aback by his sudden outburst. “ I didn’t think—“

“No, clearly you didn’t,” Ghost cut you off. “You didn’t fucking think, you never fucking think. You just run into these situations head first. And the only reason you’re even standing here in front of me able to brush it off is because you’re damn fucking lucky. God I am so fucking sick of you doing shit like this, completely oblivious to your own safety.” Ghost planted both hands on the front of his tactical vest as he glared down at you. Between his harsh tone, hurtful words, and aggressive body language, it was setting off a familiar flame in you, too. 

“Hey, watch your fucking mouth, Ghost. I’m not your subordinate, I’m your equal and more than that, I’m your fucking girlfriend.” 

“Not if you keep this shit up,” Ghost spit back on instinct.

He regretted the words the second they left his lips. But it was too late to take them back. 

There was a beat of silence. You couldn’t breathe. 

“What did you just say?” Your words were barely above a whisper, the hurt shining in your eyes. 

“I didn’t-“ before Ghost could even finish the sentence, you turned on your heel and stormed away. 

Not here, you thought to yourself as you clipped across the base. You didn’t care which direction you were going, not even an end destination in mind; you just needed to get away. 

Ghost was hot on your heels, calling your name. 

“Just a minute, come on,” he muttered, following right behind you. “I didn’t mean it like that, just, listen to me.” 

You couldn’t hear anything over the roaring in your ears. Your steps hurried,  fueled by your hurt and your growing rage. 

Without realizing it, you ended up in front of Ghost’s private quarters, perfectly secluded from the rest of base, just as he requested. You two had barely made it through the door before Simon grabbed your shoulder, desperate to get you to turn and face him.

You jerked under his touch as if you’d been burnt. “Don’t fucking touch me,” you spat out. 

Ghost raised both hands in the air, stepping back and ensuring the door clicked behind him. A click of lock and he was pulling the mask over his head, a stray hand coming up to run through his short blonde locks. 

“Love, just listen,” he stared at you with pleading eyes, terrified of how much this situation had gone off the rails. 

He was concerned, panicked, sent over the edge at the thought of you hurt, or worse. The same traits that he admired most in you—your bravery, your boldness—were also his greatest fears when it came to you—your recklessness, a carelessness for your own personal safety. He just wanted you to know how much you meant to him, how your actions and lack of regard for your own safety had him crumbling an absolute mess of a man. But he didn’t know how to tell you any of that.

Instead, he let his temper get the better of him, cruel words slipping off his tongue without a moment’s thought, and it was all slipping away so terribly fast. 

“That is not a threat that you just throw out like that, Simon,” the way you spit his name made him want to get down on his knees and fucking beg for your forgiveness. You never said his name like that. 

“I am not something you just throw out like that.” As much as you tried to control it,  you couldn’t stop the way your voice broke on that last syllable. 

Simon’s heart shattered on the spot. 

“Oh darling,” his words were soft, meant to smooth over the jagged edges you had left exposed. Risking contact once more, Simon stepped closer, tentatively bringing a hand up to cradle your cheek. A rush of hope flooded him as you allowed the contact. “I didn’t mean a word of it, not a single fucking word.” 

You closed your eyes as a tear fell from your lashes, tracing down your cheek only to be intercepted by Simon’s calloused thumb. 

“Come ‘ere,” he muttered, pulling you into his chest. It’s not the most comfortable with the tact vest, but he’s just thankful he didn’t have all his usual gear on. He needed to hold you close. 

One of his hands pressed against the back of your head, keeping you held against him, his thumb rubbing soothingly up and down the base of your neck. 

“I shouldn’t have said that. And I am so bloody sorry,” Simon said softly as he held you. “I was terrified something had happened to you. That you were hurt. I can’t—“ Simon paused, taking a steadying breath. “I can’t lose you.” 

At that, you pulled your head back, looking up into his eyes. 

“I’m sorry, Si,” you sighed. “I wasn’t thinking about that in the moment. I just wanted to make sure we got what we needed, no matter the cost.” 

“That is never the cost.” Simon interjected abruptly, a cold shot of panic running through his system once more at the mere thought of a life without you. Simon held one finger under your chin, tilting your face up so that you were looking at him. “You, and your safety, are never, ever the cost, understood?” 

You nodded your head before settling yourself against his chest once more, pulling him into you. “I understand, Simon,”  you whispered into his chest. “I’ll be more careful.” 

At that, Simon finally relaxed. His arms wrapped around you to hold you tight as Simon silently savored the feeling of your body in his arms. 

Masterlist ✧ Ask Box

[zintranslations]

Kaleidoscope of Death, Ch. 120

Kaleidoscope of Death by Xi Zixu Link to Chinese / Novel Updates

Chapter 120: The Thirteenth Door

Right after the new year, it came about time for Gu Longming to enter his door.

Ruan Nanzhu selected a sixth door hint slip, and on it was a name familiar to all—Minotaur. A monster from ancient Greek mythology with a bull's head and a human's body that guarded a maze.

In the myth, it was a creature of an extremely violent temperament born of a human and a white bull. Shut away in the Labyrinth on the island of Crete, it ate seven pairs of boys and girls each year. Then it was killed by a bastard son of Athens, Theseus. Point was, there wasn't much intel to gain about the door from a hint like this. Only once they went in and encountered the actual situation could they connect it to the hint on the paper slip.

Lin Qiushi also showed this hint to Gu Longming ahead of time. After Gu Longming received it, he expressed his thorough gratitude for Lin Qiushi, and Lin Qiushi too was forthright with a vaccination—he said that in this door, he could not be responsible for Gu Longming's life, and Gu Longming ought to prepare himself accordingly.

Gu Longming agreed to every stipulation, and said he had already prepared himself for never coming out.

Their time of entry was roughly the tenth of the lunar new year, when celebrations were trailing off, leisurely vacations were coming to an end, and everybody grew busy again.

Lin Qiushi readied everything and began to wait for the door.

The tenth quickly came. It was a bright, sunny afternoon, and few people were in the mansion. There was only Lin Qiushi sitting in the living room eating Lu Yanxue's freshly cooked pumpkin seeds. Lu Yanxue's culinary skills were, as usual, the best; the pumpkin seeds she fried up were flavored with the five spices and fragrant as all hell. Lin Qiushi could pass an entire afternoon with just a handful of the stuff.

Ruan Nanzhu had already gotten changed and was waiting upstairs. Lin Qiushi saw that it was about time, and so hoisted his hefty backpack and headed upstairs to go look for him.

Due to their last door, Lin Qiushi intentionally stuffed his bag with a great number of food items. Daily necessities from outside could be brought inside, but weapons that were more against the spirit of the doors were not. Guns and other firearms, for example, could not be brought inside.

Once you'd entered the doors, of course, there might exist some special limitations, like in the sanitarium door when the NPC told them the rule where they could not eat food brought in from the outside. The reality was that these kinds of limitations were rare, but all Lin Qiushi wanted to achieve was the principle of Better Safe Than Sorry. At any rate, the condition from the tenth door where they had to open a chest if they wanted to eat had left quite the shadow on his psyche.

Lin Qiushi entered Ruan Nanzhu's bedroom and sat with him on the bed for a while. Then he felt the atmosphere around him change. It took only the time of a blink for Ruan Nanzhu, who had been sitting right beside him, to disappear without a trace. Lin Qiushi pushed open the bedroom door in front of him and saw that what had originally been the hallway was now a series of twelve black metal doors. What a familiar sight.

He walked to the sixth door and gave it a tug. The next moment, Lin Qiushi was sucked in by an immense force. The scenery around him was also altering dramatically, and by the time he opened his eyes again, he could feel a faint rocking beneath his feet.

Lin Qiushi took a closer look, and discovered that he'd appeared on a large old ship. It was just about sunset, and there were black clouds frighteningly low in the sky, as if they were going to smother the horizon at any moment. Inky seawater tossed before him, blown into violent waves by the winds.

Lin Qiushi smelled the gamy salt of the ocean, and because of the excessive waves, the ancient deck beneath his feet was ceaseless in its swaying. He saw that on the floorboards, there were seaweed-clung creatures clutching at the wood, making for an immensely uncomfortable sight.

Lin Qiushi took a few steps forward and saw in the ship cabin a dim-glowing light. He followed the corridor to the interior, and heard miserable wailing coming from inside.

"Uwaaaa, why am I here? What the hell did you all do to me?!" It had been a while since he last heard these cries of a newbie—Lin Qiushi was actually a bit surprised. He spotted the crying person immediately. It was a young woman, wiping at her tears with her hands. "You goddamn perverts, you guys must have kidnapped me. I'm going to call the cops and have you all arrested!!"

Most people were listening to her sob in silence. Newbies, after all, only ever reacted in so many ways: most cried; some tried to run; and some, of the truly psychologically frail sort, came in and pretty much had an immediate meltdown.

Lin Qiushi stood where he was. He noticed that around this girl were a few people who didn't look so good, who also seemed in various degrees of panic. They clearly weren't prepared to enter a door, and were likely newbies like the girl. But at least they weren't wailing endlessly like the young woman, and were still calm in comparison.

Lin Qiushi's gaze searched through the crowd and very quickly found its target—a woman seated in a corner and smiling at him.

The woman wore a long dress—the same outfit Ruan Nanzhu wore before they came in.

Lin Qiushi had the script in his head, and he took his time approaching the woman and holding out his hand: "Yu Linlin."

"Zhu Meng." The woman took his hand and smiled. "The red thread of destiny found us inside this door, let's cherish this meeting."

Lin Qiushi couldn't help but laugh.

"Indeed. Let's cherish this meeting."

Really, this little drama queen of his—putting on a show even when there was no stage to be had.

Just as the two were talking, a young man came tumbling in through the door. Though his face was unfamiliar, his clothes told Lin Qiushi his identity—it was Gu Longming, who'd agreed to meet with Lin Qiushi over the internet.

Gu Longming was entirely soaked. Once he came in he began to curse under his breath: "fuckers, throwing me on a lifeboat—why don't you just throw me into the ocean huh? Goddamn jealous of my beauty or what—"

Though he kept his voice down, Lin Qiushi's hearing was superb, and so could easily hear all the crap he was spewing. For a moment, Lin Qiushi himself didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Of course, he didn't laugh. He only cleared his throat once and covered his mouth with his hand, swallowing down the urge to smile. Gu Longming's eyes lapped the gathered people and very quickly fell upon Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu. He came over with a bright grin, greeting the two as if they'd just met completely by coincidence.

As a matter of act, this little trick where they faked a chance encounter was only useful for the earlier doors. Once in the later doors, that old fox-spirit manifested in everyone, and not having a partner actually made you the odd one out.

As for whether or not somebody would identify them as part of the same crew, Lin Qiushi used to worry about that. Now though, not so much.

The cabin of the old ship wasn't big, nor was it bright. The only lighting equipment was a handful of tiny kerosene lamps overhead, flickering periodically with the sway of the ship.

The sky grew darker outside, and the number of people kept increasing. Finally, it stopped at the count of fourteen.

Everybody assessed their surroundings as they met up with their own teammates. The crowd seemed to be very quickly divided up into teams, with the handful of newbies left out. Without much choice, they had to make up their own team.

Just as the crowd grew noisy with discussion, a middle-aged man came in from the outside. His get-up looked a bit like a medieval pirate, and he carried a swaying kerosene lamp in his hand.

"Welcome to the Black Skerry," the man spoke. His voice sounded quite raspy, like the effects of long-term drinking or smoking had brought about irreversible damage to his throat. "I hope you all have a good time here."

After he finished saying this, he laughed like a maniac, and his high-pitched laughter, like fingernails scoring a chalkboard, sent goosebumps rising along the skin.

"In ten days, the Black Skerry will reach harbor," the man said. "Our voyage will end then, so please enjoy our wonderful time together."

Just as he finished speaking, somebody rushed out of the cabin. Lin Qiushi first thought that this person had gotten scared, but not long after, there came from outside the sound of violent vomiting—it seemed that some unlucky bastard was seasick.

"Where in the world are we?" The sobbing young girl had also been scared by the man before her, and she spoke: "are we filming a show? I'm really, really scared, can I please quit? I don't want to play anymore, I'm begging you…"

The man completely ignored her. He merely went on watching the crowd with a cool gaze.

The girl seemed to want to go up and take hold of him, but when she got to his side she suddenly stopped, face draining of all color. She then backed up a few steps, as if she'd seen something truly terrifying.

Lin Qiushi's eyesight wasn't as good as Ruan Nanzhu's, and due to the dim lights he didn't see a thing. It was Ruan Nanzhu who quietly explained the situation to him:

"That person's covered in some sort of black insect."

Gu Longming shivered.

"Is he dead or alive then?"

"I don't know," Ruan Nanzhu said. "Doesn't look too good either way."

Under typical circumstances, only the NPC who provided them with the key information was somewhat normal. If even that NPC wasn't normal, then there really weren't any normal people to speak of.

Lin Qiushi hadn't imagined that their door this time would be an ancient ship. And by the looks of things, the time limit was ten days.

"Come along, I'll take to to where you'll sleep," the man said. "It'll be dark soon…and it'll rain."

After this, he began that manic laugh again, and the group was even more disturbed.

The man brought them to the guest cabins and began divvying up the rooms.

Most of the rooms here were doubles, with a rare triple here and there. At first, Lin Qiushi was assigned a double, but Gu Longming brazenly went and found a man to switch room numbers with, strong-arming them into a triple.

"You'll bargain for even this sort of thing?" Lin Qiushi shot Gu Longming a look of admiration.

"Well I'm scared of dying, aren't I…" Gu Longming said. He didn't want to sleep alone, and though it wasn't quite right to be a third wheel, being a third wheel was much better than being dead.

Ruan Nanzhu’s smile was inscrutable.

"That's fair."

They'd planned to inspect the entire ship, but because the night was already so dark, moving about outside would be too dangerous. They would rest first, and wait until tomorrow to make plans.

And so the three got their key and went to their room, getting into bed after quickly washing up.

When Ruan Nanzhu went to change, Gu Longming took the opportunity to poke at Lin Qiushi, whispering, "yo, not cool man, how come you didn't tell me you had such a pretty girlfriend?"

Lin Qiushi answered a vague: "…mh."

"Oh she's stunning," Gu Longming said with a sigh. "If I had a girlfriend like that I'd want to stick around her every day too."

As he spoke, he looked to Lin Qiushi with an expression that was both envy and admiration.

Lin Qiushi watched him back and wondered how he would react if he knew Ruan Nanzhu was drag queen. Of course, it wasn't something he could tell Gu Longming now. Gu Longming was not yet part of Obsidian, and the fact that Ruan Nanzhu wore drag was Obsidian's biggest most vital secret…

After Ruan Nanzhu got changed, he came back inside.

"What are you two talking about?"

"Nothing," Lin Qiushi answered in brief. "He said you were pretty."

Ruan Nanzhu replied with a meaningful oh.

Gu Longming: "…" Why did a chill suddenly go down his back?

The beds on the ship all emanated a damp smell—very uncomfortable for the people lying on top. At this point, the waves and wind were getting bigger, and even the sleeping quarters were beginning to rock. Lin Qiushi remembered that ridiculously seasick, endlessly vomiting pal of theirs from earlier and thought that that guy was pretty much done for.

The sky outside gradually darkened in entirety, leaving only the bellowing winds and the sound of waves beating against each other. With his eyes shut, Lin Qiushi grew drowsy—but before he could fall asleep, he was woken by a sudden crack of thunder. It was like lightning had struck right above their heads. With the loud boom, all three of them awoke in an instant.

After that, it was the pattering pour of rain. The rushing rain and the howling wind—they seemed on the verge of destroying everything.

Their quarters rocked even harder. Lin Qiushi sat up in his bed.

Through the window, he looked to the black evening outside. He saw, however, two illuminated lights. It seemed like the only light sources on deck were kerosene lamps, but how did these lamps stay so bright in the middle of a thunderstorm…? Just as Lin Qiushi wondered this, he suddenly felt that there was something off about those two lights, and Ruan Nanzhu, sitting behind him, spoke up quietly:

"Don't look anymore."

Lin Qiushi, "hm?"

"Those aren't lights," Ruan Nanzhu said. "Those are eyes."

A pair of yellow, inhuman eyes. The owner of the eyes spied through the darkness with malicious intent, as if a beast looking for its prey.

Lin Qiushi instantly looked away, and asked, "what is that thing?"

"I don't know, I can't tell," Ruan Nanzhu said. "The shape is humanoid, but it doesn't seem to be human."

Lin Qiushi's brows lightly furrowed, but by the time he looked out the window once more, the eyes were gone.

Thunder rumbled on and on, and that stench of ocean salt grew thicker and more cloying.

Ruan Nanzhu climbed into Lin Qiushi's bed, and holding each other, the two very quickly returned to sleep. However, the only bachelor present Gu Longming didn't have such luck. Lying beside Lin Qiushi, he stared with plaintive eyes, thinking that in the following days, he'd be fed enough dog food to bloat.

The rainstorm lasted until dawn, and though the rain let up, the weather did not turn any sunnier. Black storm clouds still hovered over the ship, and when the alarm rang, Lin Qiushi actually thought it was not yet morning. He checked the time, however, and saw that it was 8AM. It was just still dark outside.

"Good morning," Ruan Nanzhu greeted Lin Qiushi.

"Good morning. It's so dark outside today."

"It's probably going to keep raining," Ruan Nanzhu said. He walked out onto deck with Lin Qiushi and watched the black waters roil underneath the ship.

Looking up, they couldn't see any land, only the endless swath of sea. Only the old ship beneath their feet felt like any sort of reality.

This sort of isolating environment was easily taxing on the psyche. Even for Lin Qiushi, the scene before them was discomforting.

"Come on, let's go get breakfast," Gu Longming called to the two.

"He's pretty thick-skinned," Ruan Nanzhu commented after hearing Gu Longming's call.

"Yeah," Lin Qiushi said. "His nerves are petty good."

Inside the doors, you didn't have to be too smart, but you definitely had to be brave enough. Before terrifying situations, fright could make a person abandon a large part of their cognitive abilities. The smartest person could lack a strong heart and still do worse inside the door than the obtuse, oblivious Cheng Qianli.

The three went to the dining area and found there an atmosphere that could very well be called lifeless.

Lin Qiushi didn't know why at first. After he saw the menu, however, he couldn't help but also feel a touch of depression.

All the ship offered was fish. And it wasn't even fresh fish—Gu Longming poked at a dead-eyed staring head with his chopsticks and said, "is this thing even edible?"

It was disgusting just to look at.

"It looks gross," Lin Qiushi said. "Try a bit?"

Gu Longming took a bit of meat from the gills and gave it a taste. His expression twisted.

"Fuck, did they deduct the food budget for this door or what? It's disgusting. It's like they’ve had it outside for three days. You try it?"

Lin Qiushi, "oh no, no thank you."

Gu Longming: "…"

The breakfast served in the dining room was, for the most part, stale fish. Aside from that there was only flavorless noddles and peas. The environment had already been vicious enough, but the food in front of them now was salt on top of the wound.

But Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu didn't care at all. After seeing the inedible breakfast they snuck back to their room and fetched from their bags the food they'd prepared.

Gu Longming watched as they pulled out a bottle of chili sauce, eyes bulging out.

"You guys even brought Lao Gan Ma? Did you come here to picnic?"

"Want some?" Lin Qiushi drizzled the Lao Gan Ma over some noodles they'd brought out of the dining hall.

"Yeah yeah yeah. More please." Gu Longming's expression was shameless.

With breakfast finally done, they got ready to search the ship.

There were a total of three decks in the ship, constructed a bit like the sailing vessels of the great nautical era of the Middle Ages. It was extremely old, was all, covered in the marks and traces of times past.

Beside that NPC, they didn't see any other crew members on deck; there was likely only the one NPC on the entire ship. Wait for the ship's return was the mission the NPC left for them this time, but Lin Qiushi had thorough reason to believe that if they couldn't find the door in ten day's time, this voyage of theirs would cycle back and repeat—and they'd experience the ten days all over again.

When Lin Qiushi climbed onto the second deck, he heard a sort of thumping sound, and was uncertain if Ruan Nanzhu and Gu Longming had heard it as well. So he asked, "did you guys hear that?"

"What?" Gu Longming didn't seem to have heard.

Ruan Nanzhu said, "I think I did, but not very clearly."

"I think it came from the corner…" Lin Qiushi followed the sound forward. "Let's go see."

But before they could get close, Lin Qiushi was hit with a thick, fishy stench. It was disgusting and nauseating to smell; fortunately Cheng Yixie wasn't here, or he might have passed out immediately upon smelling it.

The source of the sound and smell was the same room, and they were close enough now that both Gu Longming and Ruan Nanzhu could hear the thumping noise as well.

The three of them slowed their steps, and through the window, looked into the room.

It was a kitchen with knives and other tools hanging inside. The most eye-catching thing, however, was the dense masses of dead fish hung up on hooks all over the sides.

A person in an apron stood in the center of the room with their back towards them and head down. They were chopping something. After some observation, Gu Longming almost gagged, and said, "don't tell me he's making our breakfast—"

Ruan Nanzhu was very calm.

"It's possible."

Gu Longming did gag. He'd even had a bite of that fish that morning.

Lin Qiushi gave Gu Longming a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

This person in the kitchen, however, was the second living NPC they'd found on the ship.

The three of them stood watching in the kitchen doorway for a while, and saw that besides chopping fish, this person didn't do much of anything else. And so they decided to go see elsewhere first.

Very soon, they discovered a more peculiar room. This room was locked, and curtains were drawn over the window. It was quiet inside, but they could still smell that thick waft of stale fish. Lin Qiushi initially thought the smell had clung to them from the kitchen, but after a careful sniff, found that it was coming from inside the room.

"Do we go in?" Gu Longming was pressed against the window trying to look in, but he could see nothing.

Ruan Nanzhu gave this some thought, before saying, "let's try," and getting out a hairpin to pick the lock.

Watching his adept motions, Gu Longming's eyes widened. Then Gu Longming glanced at Lin Qiushi.

"Is this…is this a basic skillset that y'all come with?"

Lin Qiushi grinned as he joked, "yeah. You have to learn to pick locks if you want to join us."

As he said this, there was a click. Ruan Nanzhu really got the lock open. But oddly enough, after he unlocked the door and gave it a push, he found that though the door lock was undone, there was another lock hanging on the inside. The chain on that lock held the door closed, and they could at most manage a crack—it couldn't be opened at all.

"Wait," Lin Qiushi suddenly said, stopping Ruan Nanzhu from going up and pushing the door. "Stop for a second. There's movement inside."

Ruan Nanzhu halted, and just as he stopped mid-step, a hand, sharp-nailed and covered in scales, reached out of the door. And through that crack in the door, a pair of yellow eyes looked out, peering at the world outside with malicious intent.

Translator’s Note:

The name of the ship could more simply be translated as “Black Reef,” but “Black Skerry” sounds more like a ship name? Let me know if you think otherwise (or know if it’s a specific reference to something).

Lao Gan Ma is a brand of **hot sauce (edited: 7/26), as you can probably tell from context. The original next never uses “hot sauce” though, and just call it Lao Gan Ma in both the prose and the dialogue.

[Ch. 119] | [Ch. 121]

[too-gay-for-marvel]

one of us

a/n: I LIVE! listen. listen. yall know me well enough at this point to know that i make no promises about posting more stuff. i might post something in a few months. maybe next week. lets spin the wheel of fate and see what happens, shall we?

Request:  hi!! do you think you could write a prequel of sorts to i don’t need a hero? it’s one of my absolute favorites and i was wondering if you could write something angsty for the mission where the reader gets shot protecting wanda? <33 thank you!!

Word Count: 2546

Warnings: swearing, canon-typical violence

Pairing: Wanda x Reader

She hated you.

Wanda Maximoff absolutely, unquestionably, without a doubt hated you. There was not a single thing about you that she didn’t hate, from the stupid cocky look on your face to the way you refused to be of any help. You were supposed to be an ally now, not a nuisance.

And yet there you were.

Sitting across from her at the table and shooting her a look that made her want nothing more than to throw some magic right at your face. If she was lucky then maybe it would even knock you on your ass and she could wipe that stupid smirk from your face. It would almost make this meeting with you worth all the hassle.

“Does everyone understand their jobs?” Maria asked, bringing Wanda back to the table and forcing her to pay attention.

“Blow shit up and have fun doing it?” You asked even though that most certainly wasn’t your job and you knew it.

Don’t let them out of your sight. Maria’s voice rang in Wanda’s mind and, after a silent look, she gave a nod of affirmation. It didn’t seem as if you had noticed, and that gave Wanda a feeling of superiority. Technically it wasn’t a competition, and she already knew she was better than you, but to know that she could scheme about you in front of your face was something that gave her more joy than she would ever openly admit.

The meeting concluded without a hitch. You had even admitted - rather begrudgingly - that you were to do nothing other than keep the attention off of Wanda and Sam. In Wanda’s mind, that was a good start; you usually argued until you were blue in the face.

But with you agreeing, all Wanda had to really worry about was the upcoming mission. And whether you would keep to your word or not.

----------

By all accounts, and much to Wanda’s and Sam’s surprise, the mission had been going well. You had launched fireworks on one end of the building to cause a commotion while they had snuck in through the back. She had used her powers to distract the few guards left inside, and within minutes they had found what they were looking for.

In fact, the mission had been going so well that Wanda had been on the verge of asking if you were okay. There was no way you could have behaved for as long as you had, not without a proper motivation. But right as Wanda had lifted her hand to start her comms, an unusually loud explosion sounded off, quickly followed by guards running and yelling.

Heading in their direction.

“I knew it was too good to be true,” Wanda mumbled to herself.

Only seconds after Wanda had muttered her lack of surprise at the situation, the same guards she had heard appeared in the hallway behind them. Directly between them and their exit.

Of course, she heard Sam think. Very loudly.

It turned, very quickly, into an all-out brawl. Unlike you, they didn’t exactly aim to kill; if it was avoidable then they would. But that didn’t mean there weren’t still plenty of bodies lying on the ground, continuously making it harder and harder for them to leave.

“To the roof,” Sam ordered during a short lull in the fighting. “We can get an emergency evac from there.”

And before Wanda knew it, they were once again fighting and trying to make their way up the stairs. It wasn’t the most difficult thing in the world, not with her powers and Red Wing. But that didn’t mean it was easy either.

“Leaving already?” You asked over the comms, causing both Wanda and Sam to roll their eyes at the lack of seriousness in your tone.

“Just get to the roof,” Sam replied shortly, refusing to say anymore on the matter.

“When I’m ready.”

Wanda swore if she hadn’t promised Bucky not to kill you, she would have done it then and there.

It didn’t take long after that for Wanda and Sam to make it to the roof. He told her he was going to fly around and scope a potential landing, and Wanda agreed to hold down the fort until he came back. They both ignored the fact that you were nowhere to be found.

In typical Avengers fashion, the guards came back not long after Sam had left her alone. She wished she could have been surprised, but when it happens nearly every time, it loses it’s shock factor.

But this one was worse than usual; Wanda was, unfortunately, feeling overwhelmed. She knew the horde would run out of bodies eventually, but would that happen before or after Sam showed up? She had no clue, and that was something that terrified her.

Needless to say, she got her answer when an entire army made it up to the roof.

“That’s my cue,” your voice came over the comms, a little too cheery for the situation, but Wanda wasn’t going to answer. At that moment, she hoped you burned along with the rest of them.

An explosion rocked the building underneath her feet, sending more panic racing through her veins. Fucking idiot, she thought, you’re going to destroy the building with us still in it! More explosions followed suit.

“You’d better hurry, Sam, Y/N is gonna blow the building,” Wanda spoke clearly, but rushed. As terrified as she was, she knew it would do no good if Sam didn’t even understand her.

“Just a bit longer, I’m almost there.” She didn’t like that Sam sounded more panicked than her.

“Need a hand?” Your voice came through again, but it was drowned out by a roar that grew increasingly louder.

It was a missile. A missile that was going to hit the roof. The roof that she was standing on.

“Just move!”

Wanda was too transfixed by the missile heading her way to notice someone running toward her. Someone who quickly wrapped their arms around her waist. Her body tensed as her feet were lifted off the ground and she was suddenly launched off the side of the building right as the missile hit the spot where she had previously been standing.

Wind rushed past her ears, along with something that sounded like a scream. She couldn’t tell who it was coming from. The trip to the ground took only a moment, but felt like it was never going to end. Well, not until she forcefully met the ground, that is. The air was knocked out of her lungs and the person on top of her didn’t help.

“Get off me,” she grunted as she pushed the person off and sat up. Only when she was up did she notice it was you, new scratches on your face and blood dripping down your ears.

“You stupid Avengers, always in the way,” you mumbled just loud enough for Wanda to hear. Or maybe it was just muffled because of the deafening ringing in her ears.

“What the hell were you thinking?” Wanda shouted, pushing herself onto her feet and watching as you did the same.

“What do you mean, what was I thinking?” You shot back. “You were the one who didn’t move!”

“I didn’t need your help.”

“You almost got hit! By a missile!”

“And yet you were the one who launched it!” Wanda stepped forward, her finger jabbing into your chest as she talked.

“I saved your life!” You shouted back, throwing your hands up in indignation.

“You pushed me off a building!”

“Don’t criticise me! No one else was helping!”

“I didn’t need help from some wannabe hero!”

“I’m not trying to-” you were cut off by the sound of a gun, and your eyes widening. You both looked down to see a dark red spot near your hip, growing larger by the second.

You hit the ground before she could catch you.

Wanda looked past you to see one lone guard, his shirt still on fire and his skin singed beyond recognition. His arm was still up, gun pointed where you had previously been standing. She didn’t have to bother with finishing him; he collapsed, his body slowly burning.

She crouched down immediately, her hand moving to the spot on your hip. Her hands went to press on it; something she had learned from Maria and Natasha, something she hadn’t thought she would ever really need to know.

You groaned ever so slightly when she pressed harder, but aside from that you were silent and still.

“Coming in hot,” Sam said. She didn’t bother looking up, but felt the wind from Sam and the evac landing behind her.

Sam was quick in assessing the damage. He picked you up and carried you to the quinjet, getting you stabilised for the trip back. Wanda thanked the gods that it would be a short trip.

She hoped you would be okay.

----------

Technically, it wasn’t the worst injury someone had come back from a mission with. Tony always came back with multiple contusions, sometimes broken bones if he had been careless. Natasha and Clint were always a mess, having been absorbed in trying to keep the other safe. Hell, you had come back with worse injuries.

So why this one had taken so much out of you, Wanda had no idea. All she knew was that it had been four days and you were still unconscious. Even the doctors couldn’t understand why you hadn’t woken up. Sure, trauma could keep someone in a coma, but you had seen much worse. So why this one?

“Time for food.”

Bless that man.

Wanda looked up from her book to see Clint leaning in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. A signature look for him, she realised. But she noticed, strangely enough, that he did not come with food. Extremely rude.

“Making me scavenge for myself now?” Wanda teased as she closed her book.

“You could say that,” Clint shrugged. “You gotta get out of here for a few hours, Wanda.”

So that was his purpose.

“Not yet,” she answered simply.

“They haven’t woken up yet, won’t wake up while you’re gone.”

“You don’t know that-”

“-Wanda,” Clint interrupted, “they’re not waking up. Get some food, take a shower, maybe a nap. It’ll be fine.”

She looked over to you and just stared. Your face hadn’t really changed since they had gotten you back to SHIELD. No sounds, no movement, nothing. Maybe there was a new crinkle between your brows, but nothing to really indicate you were going to wake up. No matter how much she wanted you to.

Damn you for making her worry about you of all people.

And damn Clint for being right.

“Two hours.”

“Make it five,” Clint shot back, a smile tugging at his lips.

“Three.”

“Four.”

Damn him.

“Fine. Four. But not a minute more,” Wanda sighed. But, and she hated to admit this, Clint was right; she needed some time to recover. She hadn’t even left herself recover from the mission, instead coming straight to the medical ward with you.

Clint nodded once and waited for her to leave before heading into your room. Sweet of him to take her place while she was resting. It would at least give her some respite to know that someone was watching you while she was gone. Now she just needed to take care of herself and get back.

Well. Maybe after a bath.

----------

“Wanda wake up!”

Not the best way for anyone to wake up from a nap.

Wanda shot up out of bed and tried to blink the sleep out of her eyes. She was sure she looked like an absolute mess, and she could feel the knots in her hair. Oh god she felt terrible. Two hours was not enough time for a recovery nap. They better have a good reason for waking her up.

“Good, you’re up,” Clint huffed from the doorway. “Y/N’s gone.”

Okay. Pretty good reason.

She didn’t bother brushing her hair; didn’t even bother changing into clean clothes. It was fine though, she had slept in her mission clothes anyway. What was one more day, right? Besides, it gave her a bit of comfort that she at least wouldn’t be running through the hallways half-naked.

It was, for lack of a better word, pandemonium in the halls. The assumption was that everyone was looking for you; and that assumption was correct. If you hadn’t been such a damn nuisance to SHIELD in the past, maybe they would’ve just let you go.

So really, this was all your fault.

But that didn’t stop Wanda from making her way to where she felt she knew you had gone. There was no proof, but it was a feeling. A feeling that was similar to when she had known whenever Pietro had gotten into trouble. Not quite as strong, because nothing could beat twintuition, but it was still there.

And it was right.

Wanda didn’t know what to really expect you to look like after a few days of rest. But you looked a mess sitting in the dark cell. You were still in your hospital gown, and the gauze was still wrapped around whatever wounds you had sustained. The worst part? You sat curled up in the corner.

“Y/N?” Wanda stepped closer to the cell, but was met with a beeping sound that she was terrifyingly familiar with.

A proximity bomb.

She jumped back and waited for the explosion that never came. Instead, the beeping stopped, and you continued to sit in the corner. Her eyes searched for the bomb, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to find it. If you had hidden it, then you would be the only one who could get to it.

“Everyone is looking for you,” Wanda whispered, just loud enough for you to hear.

“Leave me alone.” Your voice was hoarse, and you let out a series of painful-sounding coughs.

“They’re worried about you.”

“They can worry about themselves,” you shot back, “I’m fine.”

“Y/N,” Wanda urged. She didn’t like seeing you like this. She hadn’t cared for you much, hadn’t even liked you, but this… this wasn’t you. “What happened?”

And then you turned. She could see the bruises on your face, the bags under your eyes, a look on your face that she couldn’t quite place. But your eyes… your eyes pierced through her soul in a way she hadn’t thought possible.

“You fucking heroes happened,” you replied, your eyes never leaving hers. “Couldn’t fucking leave well enough alone, had to bring me into all this fucking mess.”

“Y/N-”

“You wanted me in this fucking cell, now I’m here.” Wanda could tell you were running out of breath. “So leave me the fuck alone.”

With that you turned and stared back at the wall, your back to her. She couldn’t go to you, couldn’t help you. That bomb of yours would blow the both of you up if she got closer. And she just knew you were finished talking to her. You had made your decision, and she would just have to accept it. It seemed the team was right.

You would never be one of them.

[absolute-flaming-trash-archive]

Hurt Part 3 - Damaged Goods

This is officially turning into a long fic series. Thank you a million times to @my-child-gaara for beta reading this.

Pairing: Illumi x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 2′811

Warnings: Implied abuse/toxic relationship, Yandere behaviour, Manipulation, Graphic description of injury, Mentions of assault/noncon.

Part One, Part Two

-----

The longer the days went on, the more they began to blur together. That tended to happen when there was a lot of repetition. A constant repeat of routine that you would follow almost mindlessly.

To be fair, the daily regime was only a small part of what made the days fade into one another.

What was mostly the cause of it was the dissociation you were beginning to fall into to cope with the ever increasing visits from Hisoka.

You genuinely didn’t know how to act around the man anymore. What had started off as a relationship of supposed mutual respect had fallen apart over the course of a single evening, which he would remind you of and repeat frequently.

It wouldn’t happen every time he came to you. Sometimes it would be as it used to, where you would patch him up, albeit now with a heavy tension in the air, and he would leave. Other times it would be like that night all over again. You kept fighting him, of course, still unwilling to submit to a man who made it his goal to violently remind you that, in his mind, you belonged to him.

It was seemingly random. The only consistent indication of his possessive behaviour was that when you mentioned a friend or a coworker that you were getting close to, they would mysteriously disappear within several days.

It made you feel alone. Isolated.

Yet you still didn’t hate him… did you?

You’d think you would after all of that time. After what he had done. Everyone had their breaking point.

You honestly didn’t know if you had reached it, but were too numb to notice, or if you were truly that forgiving.

It was an endless cycle you would think about every night as you stared up at the ceiling, body still aching from how Hisoka had treated you.

Every cycle was eventually broken, though.

The clattering of books followed by the sound of something smashing broke you from your thoughts, making you instantly freeze.

Someone was in your house, and it wasn’t who you thought it was.

You had only one weapon in your room, a bat you saved for emergencies .

It would never do against someone like Hisoka, but for a burglar? You’d take your chances.

You threw the covers off of you, grabbing the bat and holding it above your head, approaching the source of the noise with caution; your breathing coming in quiet, shaky breaths the closer you got to your living room. 

When you rounded the corner, it was like time froze.

Like you thought, it wasn’t Hisoka.

Instead a man with the darkest eyes you had ever seen stood amongst the remnants of your fallen bookshelf, the shade of his clothes contrasting greatly against the paleness of his skin.

“Hey,” he greeted, his voice shockingly casual - as if he hadn’t broken into your home and ruined your bookcase. You adjusted your grip on the bat, narrowing your eyes at the man before you.

“What do you want?”

Your eyes flickered over the dress-like blue outfit he wore. It was in tatters, blood and dirt deeply staining the fabric. The gloves covering his arms were shredded, hanging over his arms like streamers.

“I’m in need of your services, it would seem.” Your eyes snapped back up to his lightning fast, knuckles white from your grip on the bat. The man sighed heavily at your reaction.

“Hisoka did say you were skittish, there’s no reason to be alarmed.”

The bark of dry laughter that left you at his comment surprised you both. “If you’re with Hisoka, that gives you less reason to be here, and if you touch me I’ll more than alarm you.”

“On the contrary, I believe it gives me all the reason.”

Awkward tension hung heavy in the air as the two of you stared at each other, both unwilling to move from your positions. His orb-like eyes shifted over to the now trivial seeming weapon in your hands.

Like hell you’d go down without it though.

“Put down the bat.”

“Will you leave?”

“No, I still need your services.”

“Then I’m not putting down the bat.”

The slightest twitch of his eye was the only indicator of the annoyance that had begun to creep through his system.

“If I offered you my name, would that calm you enough to treat me?”

You paused, mulling the thought over with caution. It would certainly make things a little smoother, in any case.

“I still don’t trust you, but perhaps.”

“Excellent, I’m Illumi Zoldyck.” The robotic cheeriness to his voice was anything but soothing as you watched him seat himself on your couch. “I’d like you to get whatever supplies you have on hand, as I believe you’ll need them all.”

His words went over your head as you processed the name given to you.

Zoldyck. There was an assassin in your house.

“Are you going to kill me?” The words slipping out before you could stop them, making Illumi tilt his head, his eyelids drooping slightly in boredom.

“If I were to kill you, you would be long dead already.”

His tone did nothing to soothe your nerves, despite the implication that the words were meant to be reassuring.

Another few beats of silence passed as you continued to examine each other. It seemed that you were at an impasse, and you had a feeling that between the two of you the assassin was the least likely to back down from his stance.

“Are you going to get your kit?”

You lowered the bat begrudgingly, the discomfort and confliction written heavily across your face.

Just this once, you decided, turning on your heel and walking away briskly.

You hurried into the kitchen, grabbing what you needed with shaking hands, taking deep breaths in order to calm yourself as much as you could. The deja vu you were feeling was horrible, and you’d be damned if you let history repeat itself, but you had been taught harshly and repeatedly that you were not as strong as you had initially thought yourself to be.

That certainly didn’t mean you were willing to give up just yet though.

You returned to Illumi with a bowl of warm water and your kit, kneeling to assess the damage. There were lacerations all up and down his right arm, shards of glass deeply embedded into the cuts along with bits of debris. The bruising that you could see wasn’t horrendous, but it wasn’t good either. You shoved your state of unease into the back of your mind as you tried to focus primarily on the injuries presented.

“What happened?”

“My initial attack missed and my target became aware of my presence. Extremely annoying, really, as my aim was not the issue and it was due to him tripping over an uneven surface. We fought.”

Illumi watched with unblinking eyes as you experimentally touched around his multitude of cuts before you nodded to yourself, standing up and walking back into your kitchen.

“I’m going to remove the glass from your arms before I assess the rest of you.” You returned with a small empty bowl and a chair in hand.

The deja vu was becoming more intense by the minute.

“I do have to ask though, what made you come to me?” - you sat down, grabbing the cloth from the bowl and gesturing for Illumi to give you his arm - “I’d imagine your family has their own collection of doctors due to your profession.”

“We do, however now that I now know about you, you were a closer and more convenient option.”

“Deep breath, this is going to sting.”

Your warning was acknowledged with a slight nod, and you pressed the cloth to his skin as gently as you could. Illumi made no motion to pull away as you carefully cleaned the area as best as you could.

“To be quite honest, I’m a little surprised that Hisoka mentioned me to you.” you murmured, lightly dragging the cloth over the wounds, removing as much of the debris as you could and tossing it to the side once you were finished. A few beats of silence passed while you pulled out a pair of tweezers and began sanitizing them with rubbing alcohol.

“Not hard to believe, Hisoka feels the need to overshare the details of his missions with me for some odd reason.” His voice unwavering even as you had begun to pull the shards of glass from his skin. “Each of them would end with the common theme of him coming to you for assessment of his injuries.”

You huffed, the sound of the glass hitting the aluminum bowl filling the gaps of the conversation. “I'm not surprised at that, just the fact that he gave you permission to see me. At least that's what I meant before.”

“He did not, I found you on my own.”

It felt like all the air in the room had been sucked out at his words, your wide eyes slowly making their way up to his face as adrenaline shot through your veins, mouth instantly going dry.

“What did you say?” 

“At any attempt on my part to find out where you lived, should I need to acquire your services, he would become very proprietorial and would not disclose any further information. Quite inconvenient, we’ve always had a give and take relationship, but apparently he does not wish to share you with me.”

You couldn’t help but flinch at his particular choice of words.

“He uhm” -you swallowed thickly, clearing your throat as you gathered your words- “he doesn’t know you’re here?”

“No.”

That knowledge was simultaneously relieving and terrifying. Relieving in the sense that Hisoka wasn’t sending the people who he worked with to you to patch up, or...sharing you with others.

It was terrifying because you had no idea how he would react if he caught you with Illumi in your home when he clearly didn’t want him there.

And he could come through your door at any moment.

You ran your eyes over his arms, weighing your options quietly while trying to steady your breathing. You had nearly removed all the glass, after that you just needed to put on an antibacterial ointment and wrap the wounds in gauze and derma wrap, and he would be set.

Anything that you missed would have to be treated at his home, you couldn’t risk it here.

“This knowledge appears to be disconcerting, is Hisoka an exclusive client?”

An airy, humourless chuckle passed your lips. If only he knew.

“I’m going to do what I can for your arms, however the rest I’m going to have to leave to you since I’m not well equipped for anything worse than this. Hisoka used up the majority of my heavy duty medical gear some time ago, and I haven’t had the time or the funds to go get more.”

Illumi blinked owlishly at you as you continued to work, your movements noticeably faster as you treated him.

Odd, but your reasoning was sound enough.

The minutes flew by as you removed the remaining glass, antibiotic cream covered gauze placed over each wound as you gingerly wrapped the derma wrap around his arms.

“Okay, I think you should be good now.” You breathed, shoulders relaxing as he stood, examining your handiwork blankly while you hurriedly began to pack your supplies up.

“I don’t think you have much to worry about otherwise, and once again I’m sorry for not being able to do-”

Your eyes widened as he began to peel off his clothing, your arms automatically rising in defense; cowering behind the little protection they provided.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, don’t hurt me please!”

The automatic words were barely understandable, leaving you in a fast, jumbled mess. Illumi stared at you in confusion, his tattered shirt still in his hands.

“Is this not your form of payment?”

Your shoulders relaxed slightly as you peeked out, your own confusion knitting across your brow at his statement, “Payment?”

“Yes,” Illumi confirmed, retaking his seat on your couch, “whenever Hisoka comes to you, you treat him, and once you are finished you two engage in sexual activities, from what I have gathered from what has been retold to me.” - the casualness of his tone made you flinch - “So I believed that was your form of payment for your services.”

The way he said it was so… detached. Like what he was saying was simply a matter of business being conducted, and nothing more.

To be frank, it horrified you.

“No,” you responded, fully lowering your arms to your side, shaking your head at his claim. “No, Hisoka and I have no such arrangement. He doesn’t pay me anything.”

“Eh?” Illumi tilted his head, bits of his dark locks falling in front of his face. “Well this will not do at all, how much do you normally charge for your services?”

You didn’t know what it was about that sentence that made you chuckle, but it bloomed into a full bodied laugh; tears springing to your eyes as you clutched your sides. Illumi continued to stare at you through your little fits until your laughter had died down, now only coming in short bursts of giggles.

“Mr. Zoldyck,” -you wiped a stray tear from your eye, giving him a small broken smile- “I don’t charge anything. I never have. I’m not a medically trained professional, my skills are only the result of a few first aid courses I took for my own safety and for previous jobs.”

“Illumi is fine.” He responded, pulling out his phone, beginning to type with one hand, “I shall send you compensation for the inconvenience I have caused you as well as of the damage to your home. What is your number?”

“It’s just a fallen bookshelf, Illumi, it’s fine-”

“I believe 30 million jenny is reasonable, is that sufficient?”

Your jaw hit the floor as you gaped at him.

You were stunned to say the least.

You stuttered out the number to your cell phone, still in a state of shock, “I… I don’t know what to say, sir, thank you.”

“Your gratitude is unnecessary, and once again it’s Illumi,” -he said simply, pocketing the phone in his pants- “you should receive the transfer shortly.”

All you could do was nod as you processed all of what just happened, the rustling of Illumi’s clothing as he redressed himself becoming background noise.

You ran a hand down your face, pausing over your mouth as you tried to figure out just exactly what to do next.

30 million. That was a lot of money, more than what you could properly explain away without finding some kind of excuse. The lottery was always a good go-to, but if you claimed that and word got out, then you’d have “friends” and “family” coming out of the woodwork, and you didn’t need that kind of hassle added to your already complicated life.

You could say that it was inheritance, after all you did have a fairly large extended family…

Only problem with that route was that Hisoka more than likely kept tabs on everyone connected to you.

Panic shot through your system at the reminder of the man, frantic eyes snapping back to reality and searching the living room for Illumi.

He was gone. Shit.

“Illumi?!” you nearly tripped over your own feet as you ran out of the living room, looking up and down the halls of your house desperately before landing on him, his hand hovering over the doorknob to your front door. You stopped a few feet short of him, heart still pounding in your ears from your initial anxiety.

“He can’t know you were here. Hisoka, I mean.” You fidgeted with your hands, unsure how to properly word the thoughts in your head. “If… if you ever need to see me again, you need to warn me you’re coming. No matter how serious your injuries are.”

You laughed nervously, offering the assassin a small hopeful smile.

Illumi blinked, studying you for a moment. Why you would be so worried about his associate was completely unknown to him. Well not entirely true, it was obvious he had mistreated you in some way, but that was no concern of his. Your request of him informing you as to when he would be coming could eventually prove inconvenient, however the subtle invitation that you were willing to treat him in the future would more than make up for it. If necessary, he could use the leverage of Hisoka’s ignorance against you if that were to change.

He hummed lightly, satisfied with his own reasoning as his lips twitching up slightly in a microscopic smile, meeting your own misguided one. 

“Of course.”

-----

Please tell me if you find Illumi ooc, as well as your thoughts. Yes there will be more parts in the future. 💛

Tag List: @prettycutebunny, @my-child-gaara, @yep-seeyalaterbranflakes, @shorkbrian, @mynameseri, @trash-writings, @biby-24k, @ao-writes-filth

[mochegato]

Nannyette

Chapter 1 - New Year’s Surprise

Tim rubbed his throbbing head as he made his way to Dick’s apartment.  It had been a ridiculously long night.  He left the Justice League party at the Watchtower early to patrol pretty much by himself.  Jason and Stephanie were on duty too but they were enjoying the night with the random revelers they found instead of actually patrolling.  And that wouldn’t have been so bad except they had missed an attack which hit the Wayne Enterprises building.  The culprits hadn’t gotten anything too valuable, just a few computers at the front desk, but Tim had to go in early to assess the damage, talk to the police, implement temporary protection, and start planning repairs.

All of which meant Tim hadn’t slept in quite a while, which wasn’t unusual, but this time it wasn’t for something he had fixated on. It was outside influences preventing him from sleep, which was entirely different, and caused significantly worse effects.  Still, Tim didn’t regret it.  He would rather be patrolling by himself and running on no sleep than in a crowd of people kissing their significant others and giving him sympathetic looks.  He didn’t need the looks.  He wasn’t dating right now because he didn’t want to be. He certainly wasn’t going to start dating someone just to not be alone.  He was already so busy he hardly got any sleep and he hadn’t found anyone worth giving up what little sleep he got.

But right now, he just needed to drop off a few things for Dick and crash in the spare room so he could finally sleep.  He made it to the door and started fishing in his pocket for the spare key.  After a few seconds of searching, his entire body froze.  It was hard to make out the voices but he could hear the words. “What do you think you are doing, young lady?  You get back here right now and take your punishment.”

Tim dropped the bag he was carrying and focused on getting the keys as quickly as possible.  He flipped through the keys, finally locating the right one with a relieved breath.  He slid the key into the lock as quietly as he could and slowly turned the key to unlock the door without notifying whoever was on the other side threatening his niece.

As soon as the lock was flipped, Tim took a deep breath to prepare.  He slowly turned the knob and taking a beat to prepare, he rammed into the door, flinging it open, ready to protect Mar’i.  Now inside, he saw an adult figure crouched low and ready to pounce.  A bit further he saw just the ends of his niece’s hair sticking up above the arm chair she was hiding behind.  The figure whirled around to face him.  He stifled the gasp he wanted to let out seeing her face. She was absolutely beautiful. But, that didn’t mean she wasn’t evil and trying to hurt his family, he reminded himself.

“Who the hell are you?” He demanded storming toward her.

She moved between him and the arm chair. “You’re the one who broke in here. Who are you?  What do you want?” She demanded, her eyes narrowing and turning steely.

“Uncle Tim!” Mar’i called, jumping up from behind the chair.  “Marinette, it’s Uncle Tim.”

“Uncle Tim?” Marinette asked with a gentle tone, keeping her steely eyes laser focused on him.

“Yeah, he’s Daddy’s brother.”  Mar’i nodded bounding to give him a hug.

“Just a second, Sweetie.” Marinette caught her before she could reach him.  “You know we haven’t called Daddy in a few minutes.  Can you run and grab the picture you made for him so we can show him on our call?”

“Yay!” Mar’i called out running to her room.

“You never said who you were.” Tim growled out.

Marinette held up a finger, already pulling up Dick’s contact information to video call him.  She hit Call and looked back up at him.  “I’m Mar’i’s babysitter.”

“Hey, what’s up Marinette?  Anything wrong?” Dick’s face showing up on the screen.

“For the most part.  Hey, is this your brother?” She turned the screen to face Tim. “And more importantly, is it okay for him to be here?”

“Yeah, that’s Tim.  He’s okay.  What’s going on, Tim?” He asked a bit confused.  “Why is my front door open?”

“I heard her threatening Mar’i.” Tim said coldly.

“Here it is!  Is that Daddy?  Daddy look! I made a picture for you.” Mar’i called running in the room with a drawing of her with her Mommy and Daddy, with Mar’i and her Mommy flying and her Daddy doing a flip with a smile on his face.

“That is beautiful, sweetie.  I can’t wait to come home and put it on the wall.” Dick encouraged her proudly.  His face quickly shifted to more serious expression.  “Now, Mar’i, sweetie, Uncle Tim mentioned he heard Marinette threatening you.  This is very important… did you do something to deserve getting threatened?”

Tim’s jaw dropped.  What the hell did he just hear?  Mar’i looked up at the phone with wide eyes.  “Oh, she definitely did.” Marinette said with an amused tone.

“Then go get her.” Dick said, mirth filling his command.

Marinette lunged for Mar’i, who squealed in excitement and ran away laughing.  Marinette laughed too and turned the phone screen back to herself.  “Thanks Dick.  We’ll see you in a little bit.  The plan still to be here around 1?”

“Yep.  That is the plan.  I’ll let you know if anything changes.  Thanks Marinette.  And Tim?” Marinette turned the phone so it was facing him.  “Close my door, please.  I’ll be home in a bit if you want to talk.  If you want to crash, you know where the spare room is, but good luck getting any quiet.  Bye guys.”

Once Dick hung up, Tim walked slowly over to the door and closed it.  He turned back to Marinette.  “What just happened?  What was the punishment you were supposed to administer?”

Marinette laughed disarmingly.  “Tickles.  I was going to tickle her.”

“Tickles, huh?  That’s the punishment you use?”  Tim raised an eyebrow at her, moving back closer to her again, this time approaching with considerably less hostility and more contrition.

“That’s the punishment for her transgression. There are levels.  Tickles are the first.”  She smiled wider at him.

“What’s next?” he asked curiously.

“Cuddles and maybe tickles.” She shrugged.

“Next?” The amusement was coming through in his voice now.

“Snuggles.”

“And then?”

“Ahh, the atomic option, num nums,” she answered playfully.

“I have no idea what that is, but that sounds terrible. People must be terrified of that punishment.” He grinned at her.

Marinette chuckled looking down.  She looked back up at him through her lashes.  “Oh, you know, Mar’i is a pretty good kid so I’ve only had to pull that one out a few times.”

He chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck again. “I’m sorry for bursting in and being threatening and for thinking you were going to hurt Mar’i.  You seem really good with her and really sweet.” He looked down quickly, cheeks reddening as he realized what he just said.

Marinette waved him off and smiled nervously.  “No, don’t apologize.  You didn’t do anything wrong.  I’m glad Mar’i has people willing to defend her like that.  It must have sounded scary for you hearing me and not knowing the context or being able to hear my tone.  I’m sorry for scaring you.  I think it’s really admirable you were so protective and jumped into action right away.”

“Um, you already heard but, I’m Tim.” He gave her a charming smile and held out his hand for her.

She shook his hand giving him a brilliant smile. “I’m Marinette.  It’s nice to officially meet you.  Would you…”  Before she could finish her sentence, she felt a weight slam into her back, thrusting her forward before the weight slid to the floor.  Tim reached out immediately to grab her.  He managed to get his hand behind her head and the other around her waist.  Marinette wrapped her arms around his shoulders as she fell.  He braced himself for the momentum, twisting as he grabbed her to relieve the force.  He managed to stop them without falling, but the resulting position looked like a deep dip, his face only a few inches from hers.

Marinette looked up at him with wide eyes and red cheeks. “Thank… thank you… for that.  I’m sorry.” She stuttered out, scrambling to stand up.

Tim waved her off, his cheeks turning pink as well. “It’s not your fault.  If I recall correctly, there was some interference involved.”  He said the last part in an exaggerated conspiratorial tone as he looked around the room.  Mar’i giggled loudly from her hiding spot and poked her head up to look at them.

Marinette narrowed her eyes at her playfully.  “I see you’ve chosen num nums.”  Mar’i squealed again and took off running to her room.  Marinette gave Tim an apologetic smile and started following her.  “It was nice to meet you, Tim.  I’ll try to play quietly with Mar’i so you can take that nap.  I hope to see you again.”

“No, that’s… I haven’t gotten to play with Mar’i this whole year.  I’d like to join you too, if you don’t mind.” He said sheepishly.  “Plus, I can’t wait to find out what num nums are.”

Marinette smiled brightly at him, chuckling shyly. “I’d love it if you did.”

  Chapter 2

[pastorpresent]

Summary: Dean and Sam have to go undercover at a dom/sub club

-0-0-0-

As they entered the club, Sam felt incredibly out of his depth.

He hated clubs with loud music and colourful lights at the best of times but this? This was entirely worse, in every conceivable way.

They made their way through the crowd of dancing people, and Sam's eyes didn't know where to look. Some were sat in booths, with leather clad subs perched at their feet or on their laps. His eyes landed on one dom as he drank his beer, his dick out with his sub on the ground sucking away obediently.

The entire club reaked of sex, sweat and vodka and he found himself even more uncomfortable than ever - especially in the tight leather booty shorts and mesh shirt Dean had put on him, complete with a collar and lead.

He had stared at the outfit dumbfounded when Dean laid it out on the bed for him, thinking he was surely just joking, but he had to admit he blended in.

"You ok, pet?" Dean called, tugging on the leash slightly to encourage Sam to stop lingering on the sights of the club and follow properly.

The nickname felt odd, but Sam knew it was necessary. They needed to be convincing - they had no idea if their guy was watching them, and if they blew their cover they'd be screwed.

"Yes sir." Sam responded, even if he really felt anything but.

He hated this place, and the prospect of spending an entire evening here was making him feel massively uncomfortable - and they has scarcely been inside two minutes.

Eventually they reached an empty booth in the corner, and Sam averted his eyes from the couple having sex a few feet away against the wall.

Dean slid into the booth and Sam followed, pressing up against him and staring at the floor. He really wanted to leave.

"Subs aren't supposed to sit on the furniture."

Sam could feel Dean wrap an arm tightly around his waist as they both looked over to the man.

He was leering at Sam in a way that made him uncomfortable, and had a young boy on his knees attached to a lead.

"He was about to sit on my lap, if you hadn't rudely interrupted." Dean spat out, and the man huffed, heading away with the boy crawling behind.

Sam felt himself pressing unconsciously further into Dean's side. Dean was the only thing that felt safe in this place.

"Straddle me, Sammy." Dean whispered against the shell of his ear, and it sent a shiver through Sam's body.

He obeyed, straddling his brothers lap and sitting close so they were almost chest to chest. It meant he could feels Dean's dick against his ass, and his face felt like it was on fire.

"Dean... I don't like it here." He said, quiet enough for only Dean to hear.

Dean nodded sympathetically, his fingers absently running over Sam's sides.

"I know, Sammy. But we need to stake out, see if Alex is really the one doing the murders." Sam knew Dean was right, but it didn't make him any happier about the situation.

A few beats of silence passed, with Dean sipping his drink and Sam trying to focus solely on his brother rather than their surroundings.

And then Dean was biting at his neck, tongue darting out as he licked on Sam's pulse point, and he would've jolted right off of Dean's lap if it wasn't for the strong hands holding his waist in place.

"W-what-"

"Shhh," Dean hummed, before leaning closer and nipping gently at Sam's earlobe.

"Alex is watching us. Think he's interested, just play along, 'kay?" Dean's breath was hot against his neck, and then his tongue and teeth were paying attention to that spot just below Sam's jaw and suddenly he didn't need to 'play along'.

His reactions were one hundred percent real, the way his hips grinded slightly, the way his hands gripped at Dean's shoulders... it was all too real, and Sam found himself really wishing they could've called Jo or someone in to take his place instead. This wasn't right.

"On your knees, bitch." Dean purred, and Sam decided he actually wouldn't like anyone to take his place ever. Not if Dean kept speaking to him like this, touching him like that.

It was overwhelming, damn dizzying with what it was doing to him. And yeah, maybe Dean was partly acting, but that lust in his eyes? His dick twitching in his pants?

That felt all too real.

"Now, brat. Don't make me say it again." Dean growled, nipping at Sam's bottom lip and tearing away some of the skin with his teeth.

Sam did as he was told, sliding down under the table between Dean's parted legs.

His inhibitions were gone, and he wished he had drunk tonight so at least he could blame it on that. But he hadn't, he was completely sober, and he knew Dean knew that too.

"Nice little sub you got there." Sam recognised the gravelly voice immediatly.

Alex.

He felt Dean's hand fell into his hair, and found himself relaxing again.

Then the fingers in his hair pulled, tugged him towards Dean's crotch and Sam found himself darting his tongue out to lick the denim.

"Yeah, he's pretty damn amazing." The compliment made Sam flush, and he reached for Dean's zipper.

"You rent him out?" Sam knew the question was coming. It was sort of the whole point of the cover. Get Alex interested in him, get Alex to take him, and see if he really was the one draining subs dry.

Still, knowing that didn't help. Didn't make the question any less terrifying, and not even the massaging motions of Dean's fingers were easing the tension in his body now.

"Depends how much you're paying."

"800. All evening, I'll bring him here at 9am you can come collect him tomorrow morning." It was bullshit. If Alex had his way, Sam would be dead in a gutter long before then.

"900, and we have a deal." Dean agreed, and all that lust inspired by Dean's hands on him earlier vanished, replaced by the nervous nausea from when they first entered.

"Deal." He watched Alex reach into his jeans, grabbing out a wad of bills and placing them on the table with a thump.

Dean's hand retracted from his hair, reaching instead for the collar around his neck. He paused first to squeeze Sam's shoulder, a silent assurance that he would save him, before gripping the leash and pulling Sam up and back onto his lap.

"Just don't damage him too badly." Dean said, handing the lead to Alex's grimy fingers, and it was all Sam could do not to panic.

"Of course." Alex smirked, climbing out the booth and tugging at Sam to follow. He didn't have a choice, stumbling after him with one last worried glance to Dean as he was pulled out of the bar.

-0-0-0-

"Where... I thought we were going back to your house." Sam said, because Alex might get suspicious if Sam wasn't questioning the alley he was being yanked down.

The same alley him and Dean had been in yesterday, assessing the scene.

Alex was definitely their guy then. Dean should be showing up any minute, he reminded himself. Repeated it over and over like a prayer.

Alex must've decided they had went in far enough, because suddenly Sam was being shoved into the wall hard, his scarcely covered body being scraped up by the rough bricks.

"So pretty... bet you taste even better..." Alex smirked, before ducking his head and biting into Sam's neck.

Sam cried out in pain, his flesh being torn away and leaving a bite mark as Alex took his fill.

Just as his head was starting to feel heavy from blood loss, a machete slipped clean through the vampires neck and decapitated the monster.

"God, Sammy. I tried to follow as quickly as I could but-"

"It's 'kay. J'st glad you showed. Saved me." Sam breathed, trying to move towards Dean but his head was swimming and his footing was clumsy.

"Woah, take it easy ok? Let's get you to the car." Dean murmured, wrapping an arm around Sam's waist.

And if Sam said "ok sir" rather than "ok Dean"... well that was obviously just the blood loss talking.

[brighteyewrites]

Words as Weapons

With a part of me gone And it’s hard to hold on to the person that I used to know And it kills me inside I am buried alive I am nothing but flesh over bone - The Drug [Egypt Central] Angstember Day 11 | Fandom: Overwatch (Pre-Fall) | Angela / Gabriel

AO3 | FF.net | Works

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Angela,” Dr. Port said as she rose from his couch. Angela didn’t think they had made much - if any - progress, but he didn’t seem to be concerned about it. He’d insisted on daily appointments for the foreseeable future; since this was his area of expertise, and she wasn’t really in a position to argue, Angela had agreed. “Tomorrow,” she replied quietly, before making her way out of the office. Angela stayed close to the wall as she made her way down the hallway, keeping her distance from others and ignoring their confused - or pitiful - looks. The sound of something thudding against the wall had her jumping, automatically putting some distance between herself and the noise. Quickly, she realized the sound had come from the opposite side of the wall - partially because there was nothing there, but mostly because of the raised voices she could hear. The words were muffled, but she would recognize Gabriel’s voice anywhere. He and Jack were fighting. Again. Before, she’d barge in there and do her best to mediate - or at least separate them. But, as she was now, she didn’t think she was in a position to manage either. She’d already had bad reactions to their raised voices; she didn’t particularly want to have another. But, if things were slamming into walls, she might just have to, anyway. Things had never gotten physical between the two men - at least, not to her knowledge. Oh, they could be absolutely vicious with their words sometimes, but the damage was always verbal or emotional. Angela approached the door carefully, doing her best to assess the situation before involving herself in it. As she got closer, she realized that the door wasn’t completely closed - between that small opening and how loud the men inside the office were, she could make out their conversation. “—ell me to calm down,” Gabriel’s voice snarled from the right, making her tense. That partial statement, mixed with things slamming into walls, made it easy to guess what they were arguing about. If they were fighting - physically - Angela could assume that Gabriel was the aggressor and that she - or, rather, her kidnapping - was the topic. Despite her reservations and the absolute terror it inspired in her, she knew that this couldn’t go on. The last thing she wanted was for them to fight about her capture - to allow it even more power than it already had. Angela took a deep, steadying breath; if she was going to go in there, it wouldn’t help anything if she were a wreck when she did it. “I trusted you.” His voice was still an enraged snarl, but it cracked with something sad - grief or despair, she wasn’t sure. After a moment, probably of him composing himself, Gabriel was shouting again. “You were supposed to keep her safe.” Before, Angela might have bristled at the words - she had come a long way from needing a dedicated protector, or so she had thought - but now, a small part of her couldn’t help but agree. “I should have known better,” Gabriel snapped, spurring her into action. The words were accompanied by another thud that had her wincing even as she reached out for the door. “You couldn’t even protect Ana; I never should have believed you could protect Angela.” Angela froze, eyes wide, as his words chilled even her. That was a targeted, vicious attack and a horrible insinuation. “What happened with Ana has nothing to do with this,” Jack snarled, matching Gabriel’s anger with his own. “We took every precaution with Angela. We did everything possible—” “It’s not enough. Have you seen her?” Gabriel’s voice demanded, cutting him off viciously. “No, you haven’t,” Gabriel answered his own question before Jack could even try to respond, “because she’s barely left her rooms. She’s terrified.” Angela frowned, even if she couldn’t refute the fact; she was terrified. Hands balling into fists, Angela reached for the door again - it was time to put an end to this. “They broke her,” her hands froze again as she took a shuddering breath. It was one thing to think they thought that about her, but it was another to hear it aloud - and from Gabriel no less. “There is no ‘enough.’” He’d continued, unaware that she had heard him - but his continued speech made it possible for her to move. It was fortunate that all she had to do was push the door open - Angela didn’t think her shaky hands could manage an access card or doorknob. “Get ou—” Gabriel’s voice cut off abruptly as he realized who had walked into the room; it was an act of pure will that she hadn’t ducked back out of the door, but it was a very near thing. Silence fell, thick and heavy, as she stood in the doorway - Angela had barely managed to take the two steps it had taken to get her just inside. She could feel their shocked gazes on her, though she didn’t turn to look at them. “Angela?” Jack was the one to break the silence. “Is every—” He cut himself off swiftly, changing the question. “Do you need something?” His voice was cautious and far more gentle than she’d expected him to be capable of, considering Gabriel still had him pinned to the wall. Angela balled her trembling hands into fists, trying to build up her courage to speak - and feeling foolish for it. She had been the one to force herself in here, after all. She could have left them to it; this new Angela was far more okay with avoiding conflict – with easy – than the old one. “I—” Angela swallowed, trying ineffectively to bring moisture to her dry throat. Instead of addressing the more painful words, the ones that cut just as deeply as anything her captors had done, she forced herself to focus on why she had come in here in the first place. “You need to stop.” It should have been a declaration - the old Angela could have shouted it at them, glaring with arms crossed as she dared them to argue. This new Angela could barely raise her voice louder than a whisper, incapable of looking in their direction as she gestured at the two of them with shaking hands. “Angela,” Gabriel started, voice notably softer as he addressed her. This wasn’t the first time she’d barged into one of their arguments - but she’d never been as fragile back then. That Angela could stare them down, hands on her hips, as she gave as good as she got. This Angela could barely keep from bolting out of the door at her back. “You didn’t need to come in here,” Gabriel told her carefully; he could clearly see her terror in her shaking hands and haggard breathing. Angela shook her head, a silent argument that was far less effective than her words. There were so many things she could say, but she couldn’t seem to get her voice to work. “I’m alright, Angela,” Jack offered into the silence. Angela glanced their way, eyes briefly resting on Gabriel and then Jack. Gabriel looked frazzled, but he had put some space between the two of them. Jack was straightening his shirt as if nothing had happened. “I’m not hurt.” Assured that they were both whole, Angela dropped her eyes back to the floor before her. Neither looked any worse for wear from what she could tell; hopefully, she had stepped in before any physical damage could be inflicted. Angela knew she had been far too late to defend any of them - herself included - from the psychological blows. “This fighting…” Angela started, voice quiet as she tried to figure out what she wanted to say - and what she could say. “It isn’t helping.” Angela hated to play on their pity, but she could handle it if it kept them from each others throats; the fighting was far worse and would be more than she could bear for long. Besides, it was close enough to what the Angela of before would have said - their fighting really wasn’t helping anything. All the arguing did was make it harder to work towards their common goals; their pride made them nearly impossible to work with some days. Angela wasn’t sure how Ana had managed them for so long, but it was exhausting. “Angela, you don’t understand,” Gabriel said, some of his previous anger tinting his voice. She bit the inside of her cheek and forced herself to remain still; he wasn’t yelling at her. It was fine. Instead, her eyes flashed back to his as anger filled her. “I understand what happened to me far better than you do, Gabriel.” The words were ice-cold despite the tremor in her voice. Gabriels’ jaw clenched against the reminder - as if he wasn’t the one who had started the fight in the first place. “Just,” Angela sighed heavily, the anger leaving her just as quickly as it had come, “please.” The plea in her voice had them both looking away from her shamefully. “Fighting about it will not fix anything.” Angela doubted anything could fix what had happened to her - especially if Gabriel thought she was broken. The two men were silent. Neither was willing to offer a promise of a ceasefire to her, not when they knew it would probably be broken. It was a courtesy they may not have extended to her before, but they both knew she was far too fragile to deal with broken promises on top of her wounded heart. Angela’s shoulders slumped. It had been worth a try, even if she had known it was fruitless. “If you must argue,” Angela muttered darkly as she turned towards the exit, “at least do it where no one can overhear you.” The last thing she wanted was for other people to hear those vicious words Gabriel had snarled at Jack. It was bad enough that she had heard them. “Angela,” Gabriel’s voice stopped her before she could leave the room. “What did you hear?” There was a quiet desperation in his voice. It hadn’t occurred to him until now that she might have heard what he had said. “I heard enough,” Angela replied, voice heavy with far too much emotion. Before he could offer any kind of apology or excuse, Angela stepped through the door and closed it firmly behind her.

One | Two | Three | Four | Five

[little-mad]

Downsides of Thievery Pt. 7

~ Previous Part ~ Next Part ~

It was evident to Rael that the man called Kaydin was warring with himself on what to do. Not only did he desperately want to make off with the human that could potentially make him wealthy beyond his wildest dreams, but he also seemed unwilling to back down from a challenge. He was no doubt prideful, something Rael could actually relate to. However, realistically Kaydin stood no chance of success. Without his partner as backup, he was unlikely to be able to even make it out of the woods.

Rael was banking on Kaydin being at least reasonable enough to know when he was beaten, because while Rael was fairly confident he outmatched the ruffian, he worried what a scuffle would mean for Gavin Stone. The human was so fragile, and if even non-violent movements from alteons could bring him harm, Rael could only imagine what could happen if he ended up in the middle of a fight.

As irritating as Gavin had been, and as much as Rael didn’t care for humans, he still didn’t want to see the tiny man injured. He was no sadist. Besides, the Emperor would likely be more than a little upset if he found out the human got damaged during transit. Gavin was a prisoner, but his punishment, whatever it may end up being, was to be decided upon and carried out by the order of the Emperor himself. Until such a time, Rael’s job was to keep the human safe and alive.

Kaydin narrowed his eyes. “What if I told you, you either let me leave or I kill the human?”

A flash of rage nearly made Rael reach for his dagger, but he just barely held himself back. This brigand, this scum, really had the audacity to threaten to kill Gavin? And how stupid was he? Killing Gavin would not only remove his leverage, but also the source of wealth he craved. “The only way I am letting you go, is if you return that human to me,” Rael informed Kaydin darkly.

So long as Kaydin used logic to make his decision, he would do exactly as Rael wanted. However, if he allowed pride and anger to rule him, Rael would be forced to take aggressive action. “A quick stab to the chest...and then I try to grab Gavin before he hits the ground,” he thought as he tried to plot out his plan of attack. It was far from ideal, but it was the best contingency plan Rael could come up with in the moment.

A long pause stretched out between the two alteons. Rael braced himself, ready to grab his dagger at any second. Kaydin wore a bitter scowl on his face, his hands gripping Gavin’s cage so tight it almost appeared as though he’d bend the iron bars. Finally, Kaydin spoke. “Fine, but just to make sure you don’t try to nab me…” In the blink of an eye, the dark haired thug tossed the cage up into the air.

Kaydin took off, but Rael didn’t see which direction he went, nor did he care. His focus was entirely centered on Gavin, who was trapped inside a cage that was quickly plummeting towards the hard ground.

What was only a few feet to Rael, was a deadly height to the human. If Rael didn’t catch the cage, Gavin would undoubtedly die on impact. The catch had to be precise, and it had to be as gentle as possible to prevent serious injury. Any failure on Rael's part could prove catastrophic to Gavin.

Reaching out both hands, Rael watched almost as if in slow motion as the cage fell right into the perfect position. With all the deftness years of swordplay and archery practice afforded him, he closed his right hand around the side of the iron enclosure while his left hand grabbed it from below. As soon as the cage was within his grasp, Rael moved his hands downward a bit in order to soften the blow and prevent an abrupt stop that could be injurious to the human inside.

Carefully, Rael lifted Gavin towards his face. He peered inside at the crumpled form of the small man, trying to gauge his physical state. Immediately, he noted the fact that Gavin’s chest could be seen rising and falling as a result of fast paced panting. There was no blood, and from what Rael could see, no limbs twisted or bent in a manner they weren’t meant to be. All good signs, but he would have to ask Gavin himself to be certain.

-

Gavin liked roller coasters just fine, going up and down hills while in a little car? That was great, he’d do it over and over again. What Gavin did not like were those big drop tower rides they always had at amusement parks. He really didn’t get what was so fun about having your stomach thrown into your throat. Ever since he first rode the Power Tower at Cedar Point when he was twelve, he had sworn off those types of rides forever.

Well, you know what’s even worse than a drop tower? Falling down from an incredible height while trapped in a cage, with no seatbelt, and nothing to guarantee you wouldn’t collide violently with the ground below.

There hadn’t even been a chance for Gavin to fully contemplate the possibility of his own demise during his terrifying aerial trip. While he was flying through the air, his mind had gone completely blank--it was nothing but an abyss of blind fear.

And then the next thing he knew, a giant hand came into view. Everything came to a steady, but still plenty disorienting stop. Gavin fell into a heap on the floor of his cage, his whole body throbbing with a deep ache. “I officially hate this dimension,” he moaned internally.

For several long moments Gavin did nothing but lay there. He didn’t feel like moving even a little bit, nor did he want to address the giant he could feel staring in at him.

Despite the fact that he had been pretty peeved with the guy previously, Gavin wasn’t upset with Rael at the moment. He had just effectively saved his life by catching him. Plus, Gavin was too busy directing his anger at the asshole that had thrown him in the first place to have any leftover for Rael. That being said, Gavin just didn’t feel like he had the energy for a conversation with the alteon at the moment. Believe it or not, a near death experience kind of took it out of you.

There was a stretch of silence where Gavin just remained laying on the floor of the cage, and Rael looked in at him without saying a word. Sadly, the peace couldn’t go on forever, and for once, Gavin wasn’t the one to disrupt it. “How are you feeling?” came Rael’s voice in an uncharacteristically soft tone.

With a low sigh, Gavin forced himself into a sitting position. He raised his gaze to meet Rael’s, taking note of the intense look in those vibrant teal eyes. “Pretty shitty, but I don’t think anything’s broken,” Gavin replied, glancing down to assess himself for any injuries. Despite the fact that his whole body was radiating with a deep ache, it seemed as though Gavin would get away with nothing worse than some nasty bruises.

“Do you think you can walk?” Rael inquired seriously. If Gavin didn’t know any better, he might almost think the guy sounded genuinely concerned.

Looking down at his legs, Gavin noted that his lower half seemed to ache slightly less than the rest of his body. It seemed as though his arms and torso had taken a brunt of the damage. “Yeah, I think so. Wh--” Before he could finish his sentence one of Rael’s hands shifted to the front of the cage. Long fingers took hold of the latch on the cage, and a moment later the door had been swung open.

Gavin blinked in surprise at the open door and the upturned palm that was placed just in front of it. “What are you doing?” he asked, a note of suspicion in his voice.

“Staying in the cage during the remainder of our journey will exacerbate your pain,” Rael stated, and Gavin had to agree. Being constantly bumped by the movement of the alteon’s leg had been standable before, but now that he was peppered in developing bruises, Gavin expected the experience would be quite miserable. However, the idea of placing himself in Rael’s hands was even less appealing. His past experiences with the appendages had been less than pleasant.

“I think I’ll take my chances,” Gavin responded, eying the giant hand nervously as if it would attack him at any moment.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Despite Rael’s impatient tone of voice, Gavin could have sworn he caught a hint of what almost looked like a regretful look in the alteon’s eyes. “I’ll be careful. I am not entirely heartless, contrary to what you might assume.”

While Rael had certainly left less than a wonderful impression on Gavin so far, he actually didn’t believe the giant man was evil. He was a jerk, obviously, but for whatever reason Gavin still chose to give him the benefit of the doubt. Even if Rael had only saved him for the sake of his job, Gavin found it difficult to think too negatively about someone who had just prevented him from falling into an early grave.

So, if Gavin was going to give Rael a second chance (or maybe it was a third chance at this point), then he’d have to make himself willingly walk out onto the alteon’s waiting palm. “Just gotta think of it as a nice comfy mattress that can’t, and definitely won’t, wrap around me and crush me.”

Using the bars of his cage as support, Gavin slowly pulled himself up to his feet. His legs still felt a little bit like jelly after the near-death experience, so he waited a moment to gather himself before taking his first step forward.

-

The last time Rael had held Gavin, it had been when he snatched him up into a fist. This time however, Gavin was walking on of his own accord. The sensation of miniature feet stepping onto his palm sent a shiver across his skin. It honestly tickled a little bit, but of course, Rael would never allow himself to outwardly show a reaction. So instead, he just watched with wide eyes as the little man anxiously situated himself.

At first, Gavin seemed to have no idea what to do once he was on Rael’s hand. He appeared to be on edge, and tensed up anytime one of Rael’s fingers twitched involuntarily--which was probably to be expected considering...past events. Finally, the human just plopped down in the center of the palm, sitting with his legs crossed and his hands fiddling nervously in his lap.

It was still so surreal for Rael, holding an entire person in his hand. The slightest movement on his part could have a huge effect on the human, especially considering it was an injured human. Gavin may not have any serious wounds, but he was still obviously in pain. After the treatment he’d been subjected to by Kaydin, it was no surprise. Therefore, Rael's previous attitude of uncaring indifference in regards to the human’s comfort, would have to be...adjusted.

While keeping the hand holding Gavin as still as possible, Rael used his other hand to re-attach the now empty cage to his belt. Once that was done, he turned his focus to the tiny person sitting on his palm. “I’m going to move my hand, so brace yourself,” he warned Gavin, who offered a weak nod in response.

With slow and careful movements, Rael shifted the hand holding Gavin so that it was held up against his chest. The benefit of this position was that his chest created a living wall on one side of the human. His freehand would serve as a second barrier on the opposite side of the hand on which Gavin resided. The goal was to limit the amount of places the small man could potentially fall off of, as well as keep him hidden from view in case of any more run-ins with other alteons.

“I kinda feel like you’re babying me here,” Gavin called up, tilting his neck back to meet Rael’s gaze.

Suddenly painfully aware of the fact that he was practically cradling a human, Rael felt his face begin to heat up. How the hell had it come to this? He didn’t like humans--he didn’t necessarily despise them, but he certainly never before would have imagined himself holding one in such a gentle manner. Rael groaned internally. “This assignment is beginning to mess with my head.”

[nerdypanda3126]

Playing with Fire – Ch. 5

Marinette helps Luka clean up before they go into town to meet her parents

Read on Ao3 

First Chapter | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Marinette scrunched her face against the early morning light that streamed into the opening of the tower. It might’ve been perfect for Luka—giving him more time in his dragon form before she’d arrived, and apparently he enjoyed basking in the sunshine, anyways—but for Marinette waking up this early so many days in a row was not ideal. She hid her face in what she expected to be Luka’s scales, but her cheek hit the cold stone and she jerked awake to find that Luka was no longer next to her.

A soft slink drew her attention and she looked up just in time to see him use a slender dagger to shear off a large chunk of hair by his ear. It fell to the floor in a clump and she realized he’d already cut several other sections.

“What are you doing?” she asked, bewildered.

He paused, the stone at his throat pulsing white as he figured out her tone and shocked expression. “I don’t like it when it’s long,” he explained, sectioning out another chunk of hair that was right next to the one he’d just done and an entire inch shorter. As he pulled the dagger up to it, she scrambled to her feet.

“No, no, not like that!” She stopped his hand and he turned to stare at her, the dagger still poised behind him. She blushed. “Here, let me,” she said, offering her hand.

He hesitated, his eyes flicking from her hand to her earnest expression, before he laid the dagger in her hand warily and turned back around, giving her access to the back of his head.

She took a deep breath and assessed the damage he’d already done. Not terrible—he’d at least started on one side and was working his way around to the back. But what he had done was choppy, flopping in uneven pieces. She could start there.

He flinched when the cold metal of the dagger touched his ear, but the knife was wicked sharp and she was able to drag it through his hair easily, taking smaller, more angled cuts as she went so it started to lay flat.

“Do you want to tell me why you got up so early to do this?” she asked as she worked.

He half-shrugged with the shoulder opposite the ear she was working on. “It was getting long. That’s all.” 

Another section of hair fell and she ran her fingers through what she’d done, fluffing it and trying to envision what it would look like when she was finished. “And the fact that we’re going to see my parents today had nothing to do with it?” 

“Why would it?” His words were meant to be nonchalant, but at the mention of her parents he stiffened visibly. 

“Because…” She focused on choosing her words instead of how soft and thick his hair was. “You might be nervous?” 

“No reason to be,” he said gruffly, “just going into a town full of people who hate me and want me dead, no big deal.” His sarcasm betrayed him. He was terrified. 

“They won’t know it’s you,” she said gently, letting another section of hair fall between her feet. “You don’t exactly look like the dragon they’re expecting, you know.” 

He hummed, but since she was running her hands through his hair again, she wasn’t sure if he was thinking or answering or just enjoying her touch. 

“How short do you want it?” She ruffled her hands through the back section that she’d finished, watching stray hairs fall as she did. He turned to look at her, and she found that he almost looked childish in his doubt. 

“I’ve never really thought about that before,” he admitted. “What do you think?” 

She toyed with the longer strands on the side she hadn’t worked on yet. “I don’t know, I guess I’m used to it a little longer on you. It suits you. Kinda… unkempt and untamed.” She started when she realized her voice had been drifting into a fond admiration. “But—I mean—if you like it short, that’s—I mean, it’s your hair, and I’m just, it’s what you want, there’s no reason for me to like—or! Not like, or, anything because why would I care what you look like because we’re friends and we’re… yeah. Friends.” 

She knew she had to be blushing and she looked away from him while she tried to get her fluttering heart under control. It was no use. He had to have seen her stone going haywire, stuttering from red to white to yellow to blue in quick succession. When she managed to turn back to him, he was watching her with those intense serpentine eyes, his stone glowing bright red.  

“So, short?” she asked, too brightly. He blinked at her, and for a moment she forgot that he wasn’t in his dragon form. Finally, he nodded and turned back around. They were both quiet as she worked. He only flinched again once, when she scraped the blade against the back of his neck to get the small hairs there. 

“Tell me about the tailor’s boy,” he said suddenly. 

The dagger clanged to the floor and she stammered out excuses as she bent to retrieve it, her stone bright white and crackling. He had a little smirk when she’d gotten herself under control. 

“A-Adrien? He’s… I mean, he’s my… friend. We’re friends. I grew up with him, and I tried to apprentice under his father, but I got emotional… once, it was once. And there was a fire and…” She rubbed his hair in between her fingers before she pulled the dagger through it again. 

“You were sweet on him, then?” 

She almost fumbled the dagger again and he hid a snicker behind his hand that made her blush flame to life. “What? No! I—Why would you think that? It’s—I mean, at one point, maybe, but it was a long time ago and besides—” She clamped her lips shut. 

“Besides?” he pressed. 

“Besides… um… well, the curse—I mean, the bond. It kept me from…" She sighed. "I didn’t want to hurt anyone.” 

He paused, his eyebrows furrowing in concern. “It kept you from being close to anyone.” 

“No, that’s not—” Tears sprung to the corners of her eyes before she could stop them and she brushed them away hurriedly. “Luka, listen, I don’t want you to keep blaming yourself for this. It happened. We’re together now and that’s the important thing and we’re managing it.” 

Her hands had come to rest on his shoulders as she talked, and he reached up to wrap his fingers around hers. “We’re together now,” he repeated. His thumb rubbed against hers before he brought his eyes up from the floor. “I guess I keep forgetting you already agreed to stay with me. But if you ever wanted… I mean, I’m sure the tailor’s boy—Adrien, you said?—I’m sure he’s nice.”

She blushed all the way to the roots of her hair and his small smile turned into a smirk. She pulled her hand out from underneath his and returned to her task, finishing up the last few sections she had left. When she’d finished, she blushed all over again. She did like his hair long, and she’d left it a little longer on top, but now that she could see all of his face and the curve of his jaw and his high cheekbones… 

All she could do was stare as he ran a hand through it at the side, the dark strands slipping over his fingers easily; as he gave her a bewildered grin, like he’d never imagined his hair could feel like that; and as a small crease formed between his eyebrows when he noticed that she was blatantly checking him out. Hopefully he didn’t realize that’s what was happening, although the flaming red stone at her throat probably didn’t help her hide it. 

She closed her mouth, but couldn't help her smile. “It looks good,” she managed to squeak. 

He chuckled and looked away from her, and she thought she noticed a pink tinge starting to bloom over the tops of his cheeks. “Thanks for doing it,” he said, more to the wall than to her. “I haven’t ever cared, you know?” 

“No, I hadn’t noticed,” she teased, gesturing to the barren space around her. The only decoration—the collection of armor along the wall—seemed to be more of a grisly reminder of his past misdeeds than anything else. His library and the lyre seemed more useful for passing time than for pleasure, and the pillows that had been destroyed had been his only luxury. He glanced around with her, his eyes seeming to fall on everything for the first time. 

Something inside her softened as he ran his hand through his hair again. "Maybe we could move these?" She pointed to the pile of armor. "I doubt they're pleasant memories." 

"I didn't really know what else to do with them," he admitted sheepishly. 

She tapped her fingers against her chin as she thought. “I’ll think of something,” she promised. 

She stepped forward and brushed some of the stray hair off his shoulders, straightening his tunic as she did before she caught a glimpse of his stone. Bright red. Like it had been the entire time she’d been cutting his hair. Ever since last night, when he’d thrown a hand out to her. 

Her hands stilled on his shoulders. He was close, so close. And standing there in front of her and looking at her like that. Her breath caught before she could help it. His long fingers reached up to touch her stone. Glowing like a hot red ember, matching his. Her fingers curled into the fabric at his shoulders and she bit her lip nervously. 

Hesitantly, he reached up and pulled her lip out from between her teeth, pausing after he did to swipe his thumb across it gently. His tongue darted out between his lips and he sucked in a breath before he leaned down.

She didn’t know what she expected, but her fluttering heart sank to her stomach when he hesitated and changed trajectory, his lips landing on her forehead instead of… 

He pulled away, smiling sadly, and paused again to look at her. “Come on,” he said softly, “we’d better head out while we have the light.” 

And with that, he took a step back and turned to lead the way down the stairs, leaving her feeling oddly bereft. 

***

He was quiet during their walk through the forest, and he kept glancing back, as if he expected someone to be following them, or as if he was going in the opposite direction of where he wanted to be. She slipped her hand into his at some point and he gripped her tight, pulling strength from her. 

When they arrived at the break in the trees that announced the edge of the village, he balked like a nervous horse, hiding in the shadows of the trees, holding her hand as if he was afraid to let go. 

“Please,” he said hoarsely, tugging her back with him, “please, just wait.” 

“Luka, nothing bad is going to happen,” she said, realizing as she did that although she believed that with all her heart, it was a promise she shouldn’t make. Still, she set her jaw and gave him a determined smile. “They’re going to love you.” 

He swallowed visibly, then shut his eyes and nodded. She took a step and felt him move with her, trusting her blindly. The thought gave her a small thrill of joy and of sympathy. They are going to love him, Marinette thought fiercely, pushing away the small ‘ because I do’ that was tacked on to the end of that. 

One or two people did double takes and gaped on their way in, and more than a few startled at the sight of her more than him, but she supposed that someone assumed to be dead appearing in broad daylight had that effect on people. She gripped Luka’s hand tighter and ignored them, making a beeline for her parents’ bakery before word could travel. 

When she got to the door, though, she hesitated. What was she going to say? How should she explain this situation to them? 

But when Luka squeezed her hand and she looked back at him, his eyes still slammed shut, it stiffened her resolve and she knocked firmly. 

“Dear, have we sold out yet? There’s someone at the door.” Her mother’s voice carried through the door and made Marinette choke up. She knocked again, and felt Luka take a step forward to stand next to her instead of behind her. 

When Sabine opened the door, Marinette watched as her face shifted from pleasant customer service mode to confusion to horror to happy tearful surprise within the span of a few seconds. She rushed forward and gathered Marinette into a tight hug, which Marinette returned as much as she could while still holding Luka’s hand. 

Sabine pulled away and wiped away her happy tears. “But, the dragon…?” she asked, more of a bewildered, “how are you alive?” than an actual question. Her eyes flicked to Luka with another question, but she seemed more interested in Marinette’s explanation. 

Marinette took a deep breath. “Can we come in? It’s kind of a long story.” 

“Of course, of course, yes, come in and sit down and tell us all about it.” She stepped aside with another curious look at Luka. Marinette hoped that the scales on his forearms and the serpentine slits of his eyes would escape her sharp notice for a minute or two more.

“Where’s Papa?” 

“In the back. I’ll fetch him.” Sabine hurried away and Marinette pulled Luka over to the small table in the corner of the shop. 

“So far, so good,” she reassured him. He nodded back stiffly. 

There was a shout and something in the back banged to the floor then her father was thundering towards her, picking her up out of her seat and spinning her around, kissing her cheek fondly. She clung to his neck like she had when she was three and he spun her like this all the time. 

“And this young man must be responsible for saving you, is that it?” Tom asked as he set Marinette back on her feet and charged at Luka, his arms open for another exuberant hug. When Luka’s eyes went wide, Marinette ducked in front of Tom and held him off. 

“Sort of. Actually, I never ended up fighting the dragon, Papa.” She glanced back at Luka. “But Luka did save me. A long time ago.” 

She dragged Tom over to sit next to her as she sat next to Luka, and Sabine slid in beside him. 

“I was a baby,” she started, the same way Tom always told her. “A tiny little thing, still all wrapped up in diapers.” She watched as the familiar words washed over Tom, his mood souring, and his glances at Luka darkening. She took another deep breath and continued. “I fell into the water, and no one else was around. And a very kind dragon…” At that she took Luka’s hand again, “he rescued me. He sacrificed so much to keep me warm until you came and found me.” She smiled fondly at Luka, and he managed a tight smile back, his thumb rubbing over hers. 

“But it came at a cost,” she continued, touching the stone at her throat. Sabine followed her movement and glanced over at Luka, to the matching one he wore, both currently a dull red. She saw the pieces connect on Sabine’s face, but she waited, her expression serene, for Marinette to explain. 

“Um, Luka and I…” She gripped Luka’s hand tighter. “Luka and I…” 

“We’re bonded,” Luka spoke up softly beside her. 

“Right, we’re bonded—married, kind of—and he’s the dragon and it’s okay because he doesn’t want to hurt me, or anyone, and he was only waiting at the tower for me to find him and he stayed away this whole time because he thought I was going to hurt him or you were going to but I don’t want to hurt him, and I don’t want anyone else to hurt him, I want to stay with him and I’ve already decided, and that’s that and…” She blinked as her torrent of words ran out.

Her parents weren’t moving, but Tom was glancing between her and Luka, and she didn’t know what to expect from him, how he would take the revelation that not only was the “thing” from his story sitting across from him, but that he was now a part of the family. Luka had gone completely still beside her and she knew he was probably expecting the worst. 

“Is that all?” Sabine finally ventured, reaching over to take Tom’s hand. 

“Um… well…” She touched her stone again and found strength from it. “I’m going back to the tower with him after we leave here. We just wanted…” Why was she crying all of a sudden? It didn’t make any sense, but then this felt like more of a goodbye than her decision to leave the first time had been. She brushed the tears off her cheeks. “We wanted to let you know. That I’m okay and everything’s okay. Better than okay. Maman, Luka is…” Her breath caught in her throat and she tried again. “Luka is the kindest, most sincere, the sweetest soul I think I’ve ever met. I’m so lucky he found me and…” 

Luka reached up and brushed her tears away this time, carefully sweeping them away from her eyes and cupping her cheek briefly before he pulled away. Sabine watched all of this with a fond softness in her eyes that Marinette recognized from when she looked at Tom. 

“We understand, Marinette, and if this is what you want, we’re behind you all the way.” 

Marinette gave Sabine a grateful smile, then shifted to look at Tom, who still hadn’t moved, hadn’t spoken, since she’d uttered the words “he’s the dragon.” 

“My daughter…” Tom started, then he turned and she was surprised to see tears in his eyes and a huge smile on his face. “My daughter is alive and in love and married and this is the best day of my life!” He lunged forward and wrapped both Marinette and Luka up in a tight hug. 

“Tom!” Sabine admonished him, rapping on his shoulder. “Let them breathe!” 

“Sorry, sorry,” he said, pulling back. “Gosh, I couldn’t imagine, I mean, can you imagine, dear? Little dragonlings running all over, with their little feet and wings and tails, and this young man could take over the bakery! Think about it! We’ll be the talk of the town! The only bakery with a resident dragon keeping the fires lit!” 

Sabine pursed her lips and Marinette hid her face in the hand that wasn’t still holding Luka’s, blushing fiercely.  

“Tom!” Sabine said again, “Slow down, you’re scaring the poor boy.” 

Marinette snuck a glance over at Luka and it was true the color had drained from his face, but he had a wide smile and his stone was a bright, happy blue. Something told her he didn’t mind the idea of a future family. Was that even possible? She blushed again as she thought it and turned to hide her embarrassed, pleased smile in Luka’s shoulder. His arm wrapped around her almost automatically and her stone was matching his again. A bright, happy blue. 

“Papa…” She groaned. “Stop it.” 

“Sorry, sorry,” he said again, but he didn’t sound very sorry at all. 

“Besides, Luka might have plans of his own, did you think of that? He might not want to run the bakery,” Sabine said then. “Luka, you’ve been very quiet, sweetie, is everything all right?” 

Marinette’s face was still hidden in his chest, but he rubbed at her back and she felt him nod. “Everything’s perfect,” he said quietly. “Thank you. And I’ll… take care of her. Always. I promise.” 

“Well, of course you will.” The fondness in Sabine’s voice hid a sly knowledge that Marinette wasn’t sure how to take. “I can tell you two are very close already.”

In front of her eyes, his stone cooled to that same glowing red it had been when they walked in. She pulled away to look at him and his eyes were shining. He didn’t say anything else, but she could almost hear his response echoing through her.    

“Are you two staying for dinner?” Tom asked then, bringing Marinette out of her happy bubble. 

“Um, I don’t think—” she started, glancing nervously at Luka, but he squeezed her arm and nodded, smiling gently. She couldn’t help but smile back. 

“Dinner would be just fine,” he answered, but his eyes hadn’t left hers and her heart was doing that weird flutter thing like it had before they left his tower. 

“Wonderful! Come with me, my boy, I’ll show you the ropes!” Tom reached over to clap Luka on the shoulder, and after one more squeeze of her hand, Luka slid out from behind the table and followed him into the kitchen. 

“Well, that went well,” Sabine remarked, then turned to Marinette with a sly smile. “And I have a feeling there’s more you want to talk about?” 

Marinette’s eyes were glued on Luka, standing next to her father in the kitchen, his stone back to bright blue, and she nodded. 

[longbottom-alice]

Who: @frank-orion​​

Where: St Mungos​

Tw: amelia's death mention

With everything that had happened tonight and everyone mourning the loss of Amelia, it was a little while before Alice had found out Frank had been seriously injured. She had instantly filled with dread, she was barely coping with Amelia being gone. She couldn't even think about the possibly of Frank not pulling through. It was too much. Before she could think it through, she was up out her bed and at the front desk demanding to know what room he was in. Using the full force of her Auror power she managed to get the information. She reached his room only to be stopped by a healer telling her that due to the extent of his injuries he wasn't having visitors right now. Alice saw red. No. She didn't care what she had to do, she was going to see Frank. "With all due respect one of my friends just got murdered tonight so I am getting inside that room" Alice's voice was raised, angry and full of desperation "he is one of my best friends- I have to see him- I just need to know he's okay- I have to know." Her voice started to crack. Alice sent a quick thank you to Merlin as another healer came round the corner asking after the one she was talking to. The healer looked at her, paused and then with a defeated sigh, left to follow her colleague. If St Mungo’s hadn’t been so busy right now, she probably wouldn’t have got so lucky.

Alice shoved the door open. She wasn't prepared for the sight in front of her. He was awake but he was covered in cuts and looked deathly pale. "Frank.." his name tumbled out of her mouth as tears began to roll uncontrollably down her cheeks. She moved tentatively closer to him, concerned at how bad things were going to look up close and irrationally afraid that somehow she was going to make it worse. She had never seen him look so fragile and it terrified her. She hovered at the side of his bed, trying to make herself function. "I only just heard- I would've come sooner" she was struggling to keep her voice steady between the stream of tears "but they- Amelia-." With that she let out a sob. “You're going to be okay right, please tell me you're going to be alright?" She couldn't help but trace her eyes across his injuries, her Auror instinct trying to kick in and assess the level of damage, but it was too hard to focus properly with her eyes so bleary.

[killian-spey]

Silk Blue Thread

[Cordelia/Reader]

Words: 961

Synopsis: Reader is a Pylean servant while Cordelia is Princess.

AN: If folks are interested, I’d love to write a pt 2. Any feedback is Appreciated! :D

Tags: @prose-for-hire

You were sat on the steps of the Pylean throne room, occasionally sneaking a glance at the Princess while you worked on some basic embroidery. You tended to get rather wrapped up in your work and it’d even caused you some problems with the guards before. You found this difficult to do now, with the arrival of the new Princess.

Princess Cordelia held a presence you hadn’t felt before in all your time as a servant here in Pylea. She wasn’t cruel, but also never weak. She held an air of confidence and power that proved quite extensive a topic in servant quarter gossip. Your few acquaintances here spoke of her with reverence, as though she were God. You didn’t see her this way; but you couldn’t help notice how beautiful she was. She seemed a tad frivolous, but you could tell she was a genuine and kind person.

You suppose you felt honored to be stationed in the throne room as a personal servant to the Princess, but it came with a ball of nerves and anxiety and pressure. You concerned yourself with your work, focusing on each stitch before you, trying to push your doubts out of your mind. You were very good at what you did, that was all that mattered. You were in the Zone, which is perhaps why you didn’t notice how the throne room had emptied entirely by the time you glanced up from your work, hours later.

It was sunset when you noticed. You’d come to a breaking point in the pattern and had glanced up at the sound of the closing double doors of the throne room. The heavy thud reminded you briefly of being locked into a cell. You discarded the embroidery entirely and stood from the stairs in a slight panic, scanning the room.

Princess Cordelia was staring at you, and for a moment you were terrified. She was lounging on her throne, picking absently at a seam on her blue organza skirt. She raised an eyebrow and you realized you’d been gawking. Your eyes fell to the floor as the silence broke with the sound of ripping and pulling threads.

“Oh god, I’m so clumsy. Could you help me with this?”

You fumbled with your small basket of supplies and made your way up the stairs. You kneeled in front of her and took the blue silk in your hands. You assessed the damage, which was minimal- but that’s not what concerned you. The seam had come loose on Princess Cordelia’s ring, and tangled itself up in the jewel seating. You hesitated, but gingerly cut the thread away from her skirt so she could move her hand away without doing more damage.

The skirt was hemmed in no time, but it felt like a frozen eternity under her gaze. She’d watched you work intently, occasionally asking questions about your work. You felt guilty, not having any fun answers for her. In reality, your job became quite tedious and stitches aren’t a particularly riveting topic for a Princess.

You tied off the new thread and began packing away your tools, eager to get out of the Princess’ way. As you rose from your kneeling position, the Princess gently grabbed your wrist. You froze in shock and met her eyes. You couldn’t help but think her smile was infectious, not to mention flustering.

“You still haven’t fixed my ring.” She crooked a telling eyebrow at you and you returned to the floor by her side, your own smile surfacing as you let out a nervous chuckle.

You pulled a small pair of rudimentary tweezers from your small basket and gingerly took her hand in yours, turning her ring with your thumb to inspect it. Her hands were distractingly soft, and the distance between you was even more so. It all felt so personal. Though, you supposed, she would not see it this way.

You studied the ring, finding it frustratingly complex. The thread looped almost impossibly around the ring, at several awkward angles and you found yourself wondering how in the Hells the Princess had managed these tangles in the first place. As you worked, you felt her staring at you. A mix of nerves and pride swirled in your chest at your position, but you carried on in silence, biting your lip and squinting in frustration when you got stuck. You tried to find the Zone, but to no avail. This thread was stubborn, but Princess Cordelia was more so. She insisted on getting to know you.

“You know, you still haven’t even told me your name.”

“Cows don’t have names, Princess,”

“Oh. Right...”

She paused a moment, her smile faltering a moment. You hadn’t meant to bring on this awkward silence, but luckily it didn’t last long.

“How long have you been a servant?” You opened your mouth to speak, but paused for a moment to think.

“Probably years by now, Princess.”

“Wow, you really have no clue how long it’s been, do you?”

You scrunched your nose a bit and shook your head. She was right, it’d been a long time, but in an exact measure, you didn’t know. You glanced up at her through your eyelashes and saw concern, perhaps even pity. You brushed off the butterflies and doubled down on trying to loosen the last of the thread.

“Well, it’s not so bad, Princess-”

“Cordelia.”

You snapped back up again, eyes locking with hers.

“What?”

“My name is Cordelia, you should use it,”

“I don’t think that’d be-” She stood up in front of you and your words trailed off into nothingness. She grabbed your other hand and lifted you to your feet. Cordelia’s eyes sparkled from the twilight and when she winked, you realized exactly how her ring had gotten so tangled in the first place.

“I could use a friend here, couldn’t you?”

[litwitlady]

Date Nights (5/5)

Read on Ao3.

Alex wakes up on Christmas morning at 4 am, unable to fall back asleep due to a mixture of nerves and excitement. Sliding out of bed slowly, he tucks the duvet around Michael and pulls on sweatpants as quietly as possible before heading into the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee.

While the coffee maker works, he plugs in the Christmas tree and the garland over the mantle, admiring the twinkling lights and carefully chosen ornaments. For Christmas this year, they’d gathered with their friends and family early and exchanged ornaments. Liz’s gift had been a cowboy alien, glow in the dark and bearing no resemblance at all to Michael. Rosa’s had been a beautiful glass bulb she’d hand-painted with the cosmos. Kyle’s a simple wood-carved Merry Christmas. Rosa had gotten a hold of it and painted it with various iconography of the holidays - lights, Santa hats, and reindeer faces.

Max’s had been a collection of simple red Christmas bells, their jingle light and tinkling whenever either of them accidentally bumped into the tree. Isobel’s expensive and crystal - a star with swirls that reminded everyone of the console tech in Michael’s bunker. Maria had given them a giant, purple eggplant ornament as a joke, but they’d still hung it on the tree anyway. Smiling fondly every time their eyes landed on it. She’d followed the joke with a gorgeous, brightly-beaded patchwork that she said reminded her of how she felt when their love bled over into her sight - colorful, lacking definition, and like the calm that only comes after the storm.

Michael and Alex had chosen the rest themselves. A mixture of whimsy and classic Christmas. It was hodgepodge and lacked any real thematic structure, but it was also beautiful, filled with love, and theirs.

Back in the kitchen, Alex hops up on the corner of the counter and sips at his coffee. He had planned to let Michael sleep in for once, to cook him breakfast and spend the rest of the day either in bed or wrapped in a blanket on the couch. Keeping his gift for Michael a secret until sunset. But that’s not going to happen. He’s too keyed up. Too anxious to wait.

Pouring a second cup, he heads into the bedroom and sets the coffee on Michael’s nightstand. He finishes getting dressed so that it’s less likely Michael will be able to seduce him back into bed, and then gently shakes him awake. It’s not even 5 am yet so he’s not surprised when Michael mildly panics at being woken up while it’s still dark outside. ‘What’s wrong?’ He reaches out to palm at Alex, needing to make sure he’s okay.

‘Nothing’s wrong, but I need you to wake up.’

Michael’s eyes crack open and he blinks away the sleep before responding. ‘What? Why? We were going to sleep in.’ His voice is soft and groggy.

Alex grabs the coffee and hands it to him, hoping the warm drink will lure him into a sitting position. ‘I know, but I’m too excited to wait. I want to give you your Christmas present right now.’

It works. Michael sits up to sip his coffee and stare at Alex skeptically. ‘You’re making me nervous. You’ve got that look Isobel gets when she’s about to do something she loves but everyone else hates.’

‘Wow, Guerin. And to think I was going to scramble eggs while you showered.’

‘I’m much rather you join me. Eggs can wait.’ He slides his hand very suggestively up Alex’s thigh but gets his hand lightly slapped before he can do any real damage.

‘Nope. I’m not letting you get me naked. Not yet anyway. Now, go get ready.’

‘Okay. Now I’m definitely worried. When have you ever turned down sex? I can’t recall a single time.’ Alex swats his ass as he heads toward the bathroom.

A few minutes later, Michael pads into the kitchen where Alex hands him a bowl of scrambled eggs smothered with melted cheese and freshly chopped chives. ‘Eat fast.’ Alex’s own bowl is already half empty.

He only takes a couple of careful bites. Not because the eggs aren’t good - they’re great. It’s just that Alex is not the big gesture type, and Michael’s not great at receiving gifts of any kind, large or small.

‘Alex?’ He doesn’t know how to ask what he’s about to ask.

‘Hmm?’ He’s finished his breakfast. Sitting on the counter, phone in hand. Probably texting all their friends Merry Christmas.

Michael takes a steadying breath. ‘This isn’t...I mean, this gift isn’t...a proposal, right?’ The thing is he’s racked his brain two days trying to figure out what Alex has been so anxious about. Two days of his brain circling back to this conclusion every time. A proposal. Some giant gesture. Something so unlike Alex.

And to be honest, the idea of marrying Alex isn’t what makes him nervous. It’s the idea that Alex is only doing this because he thinks that’s what Michael wants him to do or needs him to do or some reason equally as unsatisfying. Because Alex’s meticulous, risk assessing brain cannot possibly think getting engaged so soon is a good idea.

The look on Alex’s face is hard to read. He’s tucked his phone back into his pocket and his lips have thinned like he’s trying to smile but forgot how. When he finally speaks his voice is low. Undeniably sad. ‘No, Michael. It’s not a proposal. Not really. But I guess you could say it’s not not a proposal.’

Alex slides gingerly off the counter, landing on his left foot and unable to meet Michael’s eye. That’s when he knows he’s messed up.

‘I didn’t mean anything by that. I just don’t want you to feel pressured to do something you aren’t ready for yet.’

‘You still doubt me. That’s fair.’ He rinses his bowl in the sink, keeping his back turned. ‘Well, it’s a good thing I hadn’t planned to propose then. Maybe we should just head to the Pony instead. Help Maria set up the charity lunch.’ There’s a tremble in his voice that Michael hates.

Alex starts to walk past him, but Michael grabs his elbow, spinning him back around. ‘Hey. Hey, hey, hey. I don’t doubt that you want this as much as I do. But I do think you’d ignore your own feelings to put mine first. I want us to be on the same page. That’s all.’

Tears burn at the corner of Alex’s eyes. Michael reaches his hand up to brush them away, but Alex takes several steps back, swiping at them with the back of his hands. ‘You’re right. I don’t make big gestures. They terrify me. This terrifies me - that I did this thing without your permission. So I’ve been a nervous wreck for weeks. Worried that you would say no or laugh or something else you would never do but that my brain wouldn’t shut up about. And now, I’m pretty sure I messed up. Let’s just forget about it and go help Maria.’

He leaves the kitchen, grabbing his coat off the dining room table. Michael doesn’t move until he hears the front door open and close. The door slams shut hard enough that the windows rattle over Alex’s keyboard, and Michael’s knuckles whiten as he grips the countertop.

This scene an all too familiar memory. Emotions high and Alex skittering away.

Taking a deep breath, he tells himself no. This is different. They are different.

Alex hasn’t run away. He’s just outside waiting, getting some fresh air and calming down. Clearing his head. Because that’s what they do now. They take breaks when needed, but there’s no running.

Michael stuffs his feet inside his boots and drops his hat on his head, coat in his hand. He finds Alex exactly where he expects to, huddled inside his Explorer and the engine already running. When he opens the passenger side door, Alex even manages a weak smile. ‘Sorry.’

‘No sorrys.’ He buckles his seatbelt and reaches across to squeeze Alex’s thigh. ‘We have plenty of time to help Maria. I want my gift.’

Alex nods but doesn’t move to leave. He drums his fingers on the steering wheel, biding his time. Michael settles back in his seat to wait.

‘Promise me something.’ His fingers stop their tapping.

‘Anything.’

He shifts toward Michael as best he can with his seatbelt fastened. ‘If you don’t like the gift for any reason whatsoever, you’ll tell me.’

There’s no running and there’s no lying. ‘I promise.’

The drive out to wherever they’re going is quiet. Christmas music plays faintly through the speakers, but neither of them says anything. Michael’s not a fan of the tension between them, but the lack of anger or sharp words proves -- at least to him -- that they’ve really accomplished something by working hard to get to this softer place.

He watches Alex out of the corner of his eye. Eyes fixed on the road ahead and mind whirling. Every so often he takes a measured breath, loudly exhaling. The most obvious sign that he’s been back in therapy for a couple of months now. Michael aches to climb into his lap and soothe away all his worries, all his fears. But until he knows what this gift is, he knows he can’t.

About half a mile from Foster’s Ranch, Alex pulls the car off the road, coming to a sudden stop at the chained gates of the old Ellison property. Michael watches him climb out of the car and walk a few feet onto the ranch, ignoring the half-dozen no trespassing signs.

Worried that he’s about to have a panic attack, Michael follows him. Placing a comforting hand on his shoulder and studying his face. Nothing seems wrong, his breathing even. ‘You alright?’

‘Yeah. What do you know about Ellison’s Ranch?’ His eyes dart back to the locked gate.

It’s a strange question, but maybe he needs a distraction. Michael’s happy to comply. ‘Uh, Old Man Ellison was a bigger dick than Foster. Died earlier this year. No family so the property was supposed to go for auction. About a hundred acres, give or take.’ He shrugs.

‘Hundred and one.’

‘What?’

Alex motions to the wide open expanse ahead of them. ‘One hundred and one acres exactly. Homestead property, used by the Ellison’s for horse breeding mostly.’

‘Okay.’ Michael’s not sure where he’s headed with any of this. ‘Ellison hated trespassers.’ He points back to the signs. ‘His ghost is likely to murder us if we stand here too long.’ He laughs at his own joke knowing how much Alex hates even the mention of ghosts.

But Alex just keeps staring straight into the distance. ‘We’re not trespassing.’

‘Signs beg to differ. We should just keep going, Alex. There’s nothing out here but dirt.’ He turns to head back to the Explorer, hoping Alex will do the same.

‘I bought this place at auction last month. Signed the final papers Wednesday morning. We’re not trespassing. It’s ours. Merry Christmas, Guerin.’

Michael stops dead in his tracks, spins slowly around. Alex’s hands are now in his pockets, shoulders tense. ‘What?’ He rejoins him, wrapping his fingers around Alex’s bicep. ‘You had this kind of money?’

‘No.’ He risks a quick glance at Michael and then back out toward the mountains. ‘It’s the money from my dad’s estate.’

‘Your dad left you his estate?’ That’s the wildest thing he’s said all morning.

Alex snorts. ‘Fuck, no. He didn’t leave me anything. Left almost everything to Clay, a bit to Greg. His weapons collection to Flint. Nothing to me.’

That checks out. Entirely expected. But rage boils just beneath the surface of Michael’s skin anyway. Alex is and always has been the best of them. And even if he is biased, that’s still the truth. ‘Then how?’

‘The auction notice was in the paper one morning when I was having breakfast with Greg. We talked about it. I mentioned how perfect the acreage was -- meant more for residential living than farming or ranching. Mentioned wanting something like this for me and you.’ He smiles, a real one this time. Full-bodied and bright. ‘A week later they wired me the money. Greg wanted nothing to do with dad’s legacy, and Clay wanted nothing to do with any of us, really.’

Michael gawks at him. Mouth agape and eyes wide. ‘It was enough?’

Alex nods. ‘For the property, yeah. Razing that old farmhouse and building a home of our own? That’s going to be up to us.’

‘A home of our own?’ He knows he sounds like an idiot. Repeating Alex’s simple words back at him. But that’s the best he’s got at the moment.

‘I thought maybe we could design a space that works for both of us. A space adaptable to my mobility needs, roomy enough to have friends stay whenever they want. A home meant for a family with a couple of kids.’ He pauses, lets that sink in. ‘A dog or two. Maybe some chickens and goats out back. Horses, even. Since there are already stables.’

Michael steps behind him, pressing his chest into Alex’s back and wrapping his arms firmly around his waist. ‘Keep going.’

‘A workshop for you. One that’s not buried in the ground. Where the sun shines on your face and the stars guide you at night. A soundproof studio for me so I don’t bother anyone trying to sleep. And anything else, Michael. Anything else you want.’ His voice falters the tiniest bit, low and strained with emotion. Another measured breath. ‘It’s too much. Right?’

Yes.

But the thing is, Michael can see everything Alex described. The house, the workshop, the studio. Even the goddamn horses. And all of that is nice. Perfect. The best dream imaginable. But what sells him is the mention of kids. Their kids. Their kids growing up here. Safe and loved. Chasing after chickens and crying over skint knees. Michael holding his little girl’s hand as she wobbles down the steps desperate to run after the dog while Alex follows with their son in his arms.

Suddenly, his mother’s words come to him, unbidden from where he’d locked them away. The words he’d kept for himself. Don’t be afraid to fight for your own happiness, my love. How easily she’d seen through him and known exactly what he needed to hear.

So, he fights.

‘Yes.’ He whispers the words directly into Alex’s ear. ‘But we’ve always been too much. Me and you. Why stop now?’

Michael kisses down Alex’s neck and holds him tighter while the sun climbs higher overhead, illuminating the desert morning stretching out around them. Cars pass behind them on the highway and somewhere in the distance, a rooster crows. He replays the scene in his head again -- their little girl tumbling down the stairs, Alex snuggling their son into giggles.

Alex has made him this promise, and now it’s his turn.

‘Hey, Alex.’

‘Hmm?’ Michael knows he’s lost in his own daydream. Perhaps the exact same one.

‘Marry me.’

[tired-college-student-writing]

#WaynesAngel

The Maribat AU by @ozmav and @maribat-archive is all I can think about atm, so enjoy more of this

Summary- After Grayson posts a video on the wrong twitter, Damian feels like he should lose his social media privileges, and possibly his hand.

Part 1

Part 4

Part 5 (HERE)

This was a impusle write as I was trapped in a car for over 50 hours in three days. Please do not ask for another chapter. 

_________________________________________

Wayne’s Angel @FashionInGotham

Why is it weird that I’ve never met a Bat before? It’s not like Damian or the Waynes have ever seen Ladybug or Chat Noir or the Miraculous Team in Paris, and they’ve been in Paris a lot more than I’ve been in Gotham #confusion #AMERICAEXPLAIN

Jason Todd Lives @BestTodd

@FashionInGotham Whomst the Fuck is Ladybug and Chat Noir?? Also, Miraculous Team Sounds like some magical girl anime Cass watches

Call me Cass @CainYouBelieve

@FashionInGotham @BestTodd 🖕🏼

Wayne’s Angel @FashionInGotham

@FashionInGotham @BestTodd @CainYouBelieve They’re the Paris superheroes, they showed up almost five years ago to fight the little bitch of a villain, Hawkmoth and his stupid peacock assistant, Mayra.

Dick Grayson @AFlyingGrayson

@FashionInGotham @BestTodd @CainYouBelieve @ FashionInGotham WHAT?! Paris has heroes??

Wayne’s Angel @FasionInGotham

@FashionInGotham @BestTodd @CainYouBelieve @ FashionInGotham @AFlyingGrayson Oh yeah, I forgot that the mayor was trying to keep it a secret from the rest of the world #MyB But yeah Ladybug and Chat Noir have been there the longest but there’s also Abeille, Viperion, Ryuko, Pegasus, King Monkey, Bunnyx, and Badulf

Chloe raised an eyebrow at her friend as she saw the tweet thread that was quickly going viral, “You realize my dad is going to flip about this.”

“He deserves it,” Adrian pipped up from where he was painstakingly painting Kagami’s nails a deep burgundy.

The other teen heroes hummed in agreement as Chloe huffed.

“Well Yeah, but I was hoping to do it with a little extra flair than a twitter thread.”

Alix snorted as she finished up Kim’s banana yellow toes, drawing a crude smiley face on his big toe with bright blue, “She’s dating the youngest kid of the most influential family in the world and has like 100 million followers. Plus she called Hawkmoth a little bitch and it already has 90k likes. I call that flair.”

It was a surprise when Nathanial had had his freak out during his second battle,  against a Crimson Peacock event no less, and had called her Lady Marinette in front of the other temporary heroes, but had lead to many nights like the one they were having now. Onesies of each other’s heroes’ identities donned as they lounged around Chloe’s room, simply enjoying each other’s company after a long patrol. Chloe and Adrian had demanded they have a spa night, which is why everyone was either giving or receiving mani-pedis while they waited for their face masks to finish. It was nice, to have so much support outside of the masks, especially as they entered their final year in Lychee.  

Marinette rolled her eyes, “It’s only 98 million, Alix, and plus I figured four months after I made this account was long enough to make the slip up seem genuine. We need to catch Hawkmoth soon, or else this entire mess will get a lot more complex.”

They all frowned as they realized the truth behind her words. They were all facing hard decisions if they couldn’t pin the man down, not like they hadn’t already sacrificed so much to continue the battle. Max had already turned down graduating early and a full ride to MIT, citing his desire to graduate with his friends before moving across the globe. Luka had been invited to tour with Jagged, only to politely decline, telling the pouting rockstar that he wanted to do some soul finding first. Kim had given up a summer training camp with the French Olympic team. Alix had given up going on an expedition with her dad and brother, missing out on the chance to explore the dunes of Egypt. Marinette had turned down three internships at this point, one from Audrey Bourgeois, One from Raven Baxter, and lastly and most devastatingly, one from Edna Mode.

They needed to end this, before the overwhelming feeling of their futures slipping right between their fingers got them akumatized.

Tim Drake Offical @TJDrake

Seeing the demon spawn panic when he realized @FasionInGotham isn’t any safer from maniacs in Paris then she is in Gotham is strangely endearing and vaguely terrifying #whyismyfamilylikethis

Duke of Hazard @DoneWithTheRich

@TJDrake Like you and Barb aren’t frantically searching for anything you can find on the Miraculous Team and these weird-ass butterfly dude.

Call me Cass @CainYouBelieve

@TJDrake @DoneWithTheRich Bugout.com, It’s in French but informative.

Tim Drake Offical @TJDrake

@TJDrake @DoneWithTheRich @CainYouBelieve How did you find this before Barbs and me????

Call me Cass @CainYouBelieve

@TJDrake @DoneWithTheRich @CainYouBelieve @TJDrake Alfred.

The news swept up the story in an instant and suddenly the whole world was demanding to know what the Parisian Mayor had been thinking and why the Justice League hadn’t been involved.

It wasn’t long until the entire Miraculous Team was seated in front of the Louvre. Countless new agencies from around the world were present, eager to hear the story of the sickeningly young-looking heroes, but the one video that received the most views was the shaky camera videos that were uploaded to Marinette’s Twitter, as they shortened the two-hour-long Press conference into manageable clips that highlighted the most important points.

Wayne’s Angel @FasionInGotham

Full Lineup, Damn. Haven’t seen that since the last time we had a Scarlet Moth incident. For those who need context, this is like seeing the entire founding Justice League together to us Parisians.

The clip attached showed A panning shot as they introduced all of the heroes. Ladybug and Chat Noir sat in the center of the long table flanked by Vipirion, plucking his lyre absentmindedly, Abeille, glaring down her nose at the reporters, a beaming King Monkey waving excitedly, and an eerie serious Bunnyx sitting as still as a statue to their right, on their left was fierce-looking Ryuko looking ready to slice anyone who got too close, the calculating Pegasus, mumbling under his breath, and lastly the timid Badulf, struggling to keep his red bangs out of his eyes.

Wayne’s Angel @FasionInGotham

LMAO RYUKO #DRAGONQUEENSLAY

Don’t question Paris’ Heroes like that, they’re feisty.

The clip showed a British reporter demanding to know why the heroes hadn’t contacted the Justice League previously to gain their assistance in taking down the dangerous threat that was Hawkmoth.

You could Ladybug’s eye twitch at the condescending question, but before she could answer Ryuko leaned forward to the mic situated in front of her with a glint in her eyes.

“I apologize for my English,” She started, “I am not as versed in the language as some of my teammates. To answer your question on why we haven’t had the League’s help is because Green Lantern is a fuck.”

Silence filled the gathering before Chat, King Money and Bunnyx burst into giggles, the rest of the heroes struggling to keep a straight face. The media was staring at them dumbfounded until Ladybug finally leaned forward.

“I’m sorry for the outburst,” She started, lips still trying to twitch upwards, “But as Ryuko said we did ask for help. About five months into our heroship Chat and I received an answer from the League after trying for three months to contact them. The ‘help’ came in the form of Green Lantern coming and assessing the situation. Unfortunately for us, Hawkmoth is smart and when the neon green monstrosity of a hero flew in he laid low instead of attacking when a Leaguer was present. Without an attack and no physical damage present as one of my powers allows me to restore all damage done to Paris or its citizens, He decided we were powered children that were trying to get in the spotlight.”

“Getting lectured on wasting the League’s time and resources before he flew off really put a damper on us asking again,” Chat added in, toxic green eyes narrowed and laser-focused on the reporter, “So we handled it ourselves, gaining our own allies as we needed them. But please continue telling us how the League could have helped sooner if only we had asked for help.”

Clip after clip, ten of them total were uploaded into the thread. Explaining the worst battle the heroes had ever faced, the strength of their enemy, what the villain and his assistance could and would do, the worst attacks, the easiest wins, the ways that Ladybug and Chat chose their allies, but the last two clips seemed to get the largest reaction out of the audience, both at the press conference and the internet.

Wayne’s Angel @FashionInGotham

Not gonna lie, seeing my tormentors get put on blast by all of the Heroes is very vindictive #IsthatMean? #MaybeSo

“You’ve seemed to have shifted your support away from one local blog, to another over any official news agency,” One of the nicer reporters at the events said, “Is there a particular reason? And why the sudden shift two years ago?”

Chat’s face was strangely pinched, “Oh you mean why we switched from giving exclusives to the LadyBlog to BugOut? It’s quite simple. We go to the news sources we trust to take the information we are willing to give without worrying about ratings as their top priority. We tried going to Nadja Chamack at first, the local news anchor that we all hold a great deal of respect for, but the producers threatened her to get a ‘highly-rated’ interview. It led to her asking questions Ladybug and I thought were counterproductive to the reason we were invited to the interview and was trying to turn us into celebrities instead of allowing us to do the jobs we needed to. It was a similar reason we stopped going to Alya Cesaire, the Ladyblog editor.”

Ladybug took over here, “Miss Cesaire has the ability to be a very good journalist, but as her blog grew in popularity, so did her need for highly viewed content, this caused her to not only start posting more rumors and speculation than anything we’ve ever said but also to stop fact-checking with us things she heard. Even after talking to her about removing the content that was blatantly untrue and was told no due to the high ratings it had received we realized that we simply couldn’t work with her anymore.”

Abeille piped up in a low regal voice that was dripping with venom, “It really didn’t help that when we started interviewing with Aurora Beaureal from BugOut, shortly after my introduction, Miss Cesaire began a smear campaign against her, claiming she was faking her sources and videos publicly on her blog. Luckily we were able to shut that down quickly enough but it didn’t stop Miss. Cesaire from running into battle to distract us, and frankly, harass us for answers even after we told her no. It’s lead to more than one incident where she, other civilians, and even ourselves have been hurt.”

“Either way,” Chat took over again, “We want to support local news sources but only when they are willing to listen to our boundaries and work with us instead of trying to push issues.”

“Does that mean that info we found on the Ladyblog is not to be believed?” Another reporter called out.

“I would take anything after the first post about Lila Rossi with a grain of salt,” Ladybug said, only for King Monkey to snort and lean towards the mic.

“Yeah and if Lila Rossi is mentioned at all in the post just assume everything in that post is fake. Miss. Rossi is a known liar and problem for us.”

“Can you give us an example?”

Ladybug sighed before explaining, “The first time I heard of Miss. Rossi was an interview on the Ladyblog of her claiming to be my best friend. Now I very much value the secrecy I and my team have created for ourselves because it protects our friends and families, but even a lie about knowing me in such a public setting is dangerous because Hawkmoth and Mayra have proven that they aren’t above underhanded tactics to try and get the upper hand in our fights. I went looking for the girl to explain why she can’t say such things for her own safety, only to find her telling a boy that she possessed the Fox Miraculous in a public park. I will admit I called her out in a way that wasn’t very nice but either claim was enough to put her in danger, but both were painting a target on her back and it scared me that someone would do something to impress a boy. After that, she was akumatized for the first time and since then it has gotten even worse despite me apologizing the second I cured the Akuma. Some of her lies are enough to count as Slander if any of the celebrities she lied about knowing saw the posts, but no amount of persuasion seems to get her to stop.”  

Wayne’s Angel @FasioninGotham

Watching their powers without the looming threat of an Akuma/Amok is a blessing. They look so cool! #Love #Miraculous

The clip started with the heroes standing in front of the table, grouped differently than before. Off to one side King Monkey, Viperion and Bunnyx stood, Viperion holding a microphone.

“While we would love to an demonstrate our powers as requested,” He explained, “Our powers are not really good for demonstrations. Mine is known as Second Chance.”

He raised his hand and pulled the slider across his bracelet as he named it, a flash of pale teal light admitting from it, “When activated like I just did, it allows me to return to the point of activation at any time before I detransform in fifteen minutes as many times as I wish with only myself remembering the previous changes I have made.”

Without even acknowledging the startled whispers from the crowd, he handed the microphone to King Monkey, who offered a cheeky smile.

“So my power is called Uproar. It allows me to create a toy-like object that when it comes into contact with someone causes all of their abilities to malfunction.”

He goes to pull his staff from where it was strapped to his back only for Vipirion to stop him. A silent exchange passed between the pair before the taller hero nodded and handed the microphone off to Bunnyx.

“Viperion and I have a similar reason for our powers being hard to show off, only his is a little more versatile,” She started in a voice devoid of any emotion, swinging her pocket watch slightly, “I have the power Burrow. It allows me, and anyone I chose to take with me, access to a pocket dimension where I can travel to any point in time or space that I chose, past, present, or future. While you might see me fight during any battle I can make it to, my power is a last-ditch effort, as I would have to travel back in time to change the past if I do this assume the future is unsavable.”

The hush that falls over the crowd was quickly broken by Ryuko tapping her group’s microphone to draw attention to the opposite side of the stage where she stood with Abeille, Badulf, Pegasus, Chat, and Ladybug.

“I believe it’s best to not dwell on any one of our powers,” She told them, “Our powers are scary and knowing that they can be taken from us at any time and used for nefarious purposes keep all of us up at night, but we ask you to trust us to use them only for good.”

She waited a moment for the crowd o calm down before giving her own explanation, “My ability is known as the Three Dragons, the Water Dragon, the Wind Dragon, and the Lightning Dragon.”

She handed off the microphone to Pegasus, before calling forth the Wind Dragon and bursting into a group of clouds that swiftly blew around the stage before traveling over to the Louvre Pyramid and watching as the heroine reformed at the top, offering a small wave before the call for Water Dragon could be heard and a large dome of water formed over the entire courtyard.

Before she could call for her last form the snake hero grabbed the microphone, “Lightning Dragon is a bad idea, Ryuko.”

The heroine didn’t even question him, instead, vaulting off of the pyramid, the crowed gasped only for her to effortlessly land next to Bunnyx in a crouch, brushing herself off as she rose and turned her gaze to the horse miraculous user, who quickly explained his power before calling forth Voyage.

His cry caused blue light to circle his arm and he sent it towards the top of the still-present water dome, with a controlled flick of his arm.

The heroes didn’t even blink as the crowd filled with cries as the Eiffel Tower fell through the portal, Ladybug’s yoyo whipping out to direct it’s decent, the entire courtyard shaking as the 10k ton structure landed.  

“I’m up next!” Chat called out with a large grin, while the reporters didn’t seem to know if they should pay attention to the moved monument or the hero. His explanation was short since they were many videos of him using it but that didn’t stop the international reporters from screaming as Cataclysm swirled around his hand eating away at the Eiffel Tower, leaving a pile of rust in the crater

“Is-Is this much property damage necessary?”

Abeille shrugged, “No, but once we get to Ladybug, it’ll make more sense. Either way my turn.”

An unpleasant chill went up the world’s spine as she demonstrated how she could freeze all voluntary movement of her target on Chat Noir, who was still as a statue the second her stinger touched him.

Ladybug quickly took the mic and began explaining her powers. The world watched in amazement at her pulling a red and black spotted camera from thin air before she launched it into the air with a cheer of “Miraculous Ladybug!”

Suddenly a glowing swarm of ladybugs formed and tore through the air, covering Chat Noir, releasing from Venom, before healing the crater and rust from nearby, dissolving the water dome in the same instance.

If there hadn’t been so many people present the world wouldn’t have believed that so much damage was just repaired in the span of ten seconds, but staring at the unimpressed Parisians around them the world finally seemed to grasp the reality of the situation.

These children were past what one would even expect from metas, from aliens and superhumans like they had seen around the world already. These were heroes that were harnessing the very forces that made up the universe and fighting them at the same time. Bunnyx wasn’t exaggerating when she mentioned that sometimes there would be apocalyptic endings to their fights.

Instead of letting the knowledge stew Badulf step forwarded, twisting the microphone as he explained his power of illusions for the reporters.

With a short tune on his flute suddenly the group of heroes was gone, All that remained was a Sign thanking them all for coming.  Even after the illusion faded the heroes were nowhere to be found, having used the final demonstration as the perfect cover to sneak away so that no one could follow them.  

Wayne’s Angel @FasionInGotham

I must say I was not expecting such an outpour of love for all of Our heroes but damn am I pleased by it. Ladybug is our big name but the others are honestly way underloved in Paris, especially Chat who’s been there since the beginning. #MiraculousTeam

Quick Poll Who’s your favorite, everyone? Mine’s Chat Noir

Ryuko (19%)

Abeille (12%)

Ladybug (14%)

Bunnyx (8%)

Viperion (12%)

Chat Noir (15%)

Pegasus (5%)

King Monkey (5%)

Badulf (10%)

Call me Cass @CainYouBelieve

@FashionInGotham I like Badulf, he’s the newest correct?

Wayne’s Angel @FashionInGotham

@FashionInGotham @CainYouBelieve Yup! He’s only been around for four months, but he’s a pretty great fox!

Tim Drake Official @TJDrake

Fun Fact: I just heard Alfred swear for the first time while watching the press conference and it was to call Hawkmoth and Mayra an arsehole FLOB and his fucking Slag.

Never been more terrified,

Based on the faces around me neither has any of the other Waynes #AlfredisTerrifying

Wayne’s Angel @FashionInGotham

Why am I the go to person for everything Mircualous Team? BugOut.com is a great source if you want more info.

Still Queen Bee @BuzzBuzz

@FashionInGotham Probably cause you're most famous Parsian? Or cause you were a miraculous user once?

Jason Todd Lives@BestTodd

@FashionInGotham @BuzzBuzz IM SORRY?? DID YOU JUST SAY MARIGOLD HAD ONE OF THOSE MAGIC FUCKING GEMS???

Wayne's Angel @FasionInGotham

@FashionInGotham @BuzzBuzz @BestTodd That didn't come up in the conference did it? A few of the old users of miraculous got outed as heros so LB doesn't call on them anymore, but keeps tabs on them since HM and Mayra will try and emotionally malipulate them into getting akumatized. A few of us bonded over it.

Still Queen Bee @BuzzBuzz

@FashionInGotham @BuzzBuzz @BestTodd @FashionInGotham Its common knowledge in Paris, Mari, me and our other friend @NotaModel all had miraculous at one point, but HawkBitch found out so we can't ever use a miraculous again sadly. I had the Bee, Mari had the Mouse and Ari had the Snake

Dick Grayson @AFlyingGrayson

Why is Damian staring at a wall and not responding? What broke him? #Help???

Dick Grayson @AFlyingGrayson

@AFlyingGrayson Nevermind #HecouldnthaveanormalGF? #HolyShitMari

Wayne's Angel @FasionInGotham

So I can no longer say I've never seen a Bat before, just saw Signal and Red Robin, I think???

Gonna be real tho, I was expecting to see them in Gotham, NOT PARIS #wtf #Whyaretheyhere????

Marinette had barely sent the tweet before her phone was ringing.

"Are you being serious?" Adrian asked, in lieu of a greeting, "At least two of the Batfam is here?"

"Yeah," She whispered a bit numbly, eyes still focused on the roof she had watched them disappear from mere moments ago. It was far enough away that if she had been a normal human she wouldn't have heard them, but she wasn't a normal human, "Hey Adrian, Don't tell the team what I'm about to say, okay?"

"Are you okay, bugaboo?"  

"Questionable," She didn't even bother rebuking the nickname, "I think I might be dating a Bat."

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