#ive already forgiven you just please please never leave me alone again'

[gibbearish]

eternal conflict between disliking christianity bc raised christian so wanting to stay away from anything involved with it vs wanting to reread the bible treating it as a fiction novel and examining the characters

[jetii]

Promises Made (pt. 1/3)

Part Two | Part Three

Pairing: Crosshair x fem!Reader / Crosshair x Jedi!Reader

Words: 5,234 / 23,314

Tags/Warnings: 18+ only! angst, hurt/comfort, themes of grief/death/mourning, protective!Crosshair, everyone is bad at feelings, this part is at least 50% bickering, smut in part 3

Summary: Crosshair is back, and you're the only one who still can't seem to forgive him. When you finally have the lead you've been seeking since the extinction of the Jedi, you seize the opportunity to escape the constant turmoil his presence causes you. Of course, Crosshair has other plans.

A/N: This is my longest work yet, so I decided to split it up into parts. But if you’re just here for the smut, don’t worry, the emotional edging is worth it! It’s my first time writing Crosshair so please let me know how I’m doing.🤞 Part two will be posted same time next week.

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“I’ll be back before you know it.” You pat Omega’s head, smiling warmly down at the young girl as she clings to you. It hurt to leave her again, but you were going to be gone for a few days at most, not weeks.

Still, her grip doesn’t let up, and her gaze is turned downwards. Things had slowly gone back to normal since you all returned to Pabu from Barton IV, with the exception of Omega’s reluctance to let any of you out of her sight. 

That, and how Crosshair had been acting, which was to say he was avoiding you at all costs.

That was fine with you. The others may have forgiven him, but you weren't so ready to let bygones be bygones. You could tolerate being in the same room as him, but that was as far as you were willing to go. At least until you could figure out why you were still so upset.

And it was frustrating, not being able to put your finger on the cause of your irritation. Crosshair hadn't apologized, but you expected as much. He wasn't the type. You had already forgiven him for betraying the team and refusing to come back, but something was still keeping you from completely letting go.

It was unbecoming of a Jedi, you knew that, but you couldn't shake off your resentment.

It didn't help that his behavior was confusing. The day you got back, the others had gone about their usual routine. But not Crosshair. He was more quiet and standoffish than ever, but it didn't seem directed at anyone. It was almost like he was uncomfortable, and not just in general, but with being around you.

You knew he was spending most of his time by the water, though you never saw him when you went out there yourself. Just his rifle, sitting on the rocks.

The others insisted it was a good sign that he was taking the time to process everything. You didn't have the heart to tell them that you could still sense him through the Force whenever you went out, and his unrest was clear. The tremble of his hand, his uneven breaths, his mind racing, all of it.

The only other time you felt him was when you were alone in your room. You were trying to meditate when he walked past. You could feel his eyes on you, could feel him hesitating at the door, before he ultimately chose to move on.

The thought of confronting him made you anxious. You didn't know what would happen, and you didn't know if you wanted to find out. 

For now, you just wanted to keep your distance and get your anger under control. Leaving for a few days to take care of your own problems will give you the space you need, and hopefully, things will go back to normal once you get back.

"Omega?" you ask, trying to get her attention. She finally looks up at you, and you see the concern in her eyes. Your heart aches, and you kneel down, pulling her into a tight hug.

“I know,” she finally whispers.

She doesn't want you to leave. But you were.

The mission would only take a day or two, and then you'd be back. One of your old contacts had called in, saying that she had some intel you needed. You didn't have the full story, but that wasn't going to stop you from dropping everything to answer. You'd been waiting over a year for a call like this, and you needed to see it through on your own.

So you kneel, meeting Omega eye to eye. You hold out your little finger, and she sighs, unmoving. You wiggle it, drawing a soft laugh from the girl.

You’d taught her how to pinky swear not long after you rejoined the Batch. It was a sort of tradition between you and your Master, and him and his, and so on. 

The promise was more sacred than a verbal one to you, even if it was more juvenile than others. It meant that the person who sealed the deal was obligated to fulfill their promise, or face a lifetime of bad luck. 

Of course, you never believed that part, but you liked the sentiment behind the gesture.

"I promise I'll be back," you whisper, "don't finish Spaceworld without me, okay?"

"Okay," Omega mumbles, a weak smile on her lips. She takes your pinky with hers, and the two of you shake. "You promise you'll be safe?"

"Always," you tell her, low and serious.

Hunter watches the exchange, nodding his approval. He doesn't understand the point of the ritual, but he knows enough to know that Omega feels better. And that you'd keep your word.

Your eyes meet his and he nods, silently telling you to hurry and get going. You straighten and turn toward the Marauder, your bag slung over your shoulder, and start off.

Before you can step foot on the ramp, a voice stops you in your tracks, and your blood runs cold.

“You’re leaving?”

Crosshair steps out from under the shadow of the archway behind you, and you spin around. His eyes narrow when you face him, his hands clenched tightly around his rifle. He stands stiff, as though waiting for a fight.

You're surprised by his presence, surprised he's even talking to you, but your expression doesn't betray the shock. Your brow furrows as you regard him, trying to figure out his angle.

“I’m meeting up with a contact for a mission. I won't be gone long. Two days, maybe less, if everything goes according to plan." 

You don't want to explain further, and your tone leaves no room for argument. But Crosshair has never been one to listen to what you want.

He takes a step forward, his eyes flitting over to Hunter for a brief moment, before looking at you again.

"Who's going with you?"

You frown. "What does it matter?"

"Who's going with you?" he repeats the question, slower, a hint of anger lacing his words.

You're silent for a moment, trying to figure out his ulterior motive. You didn't want to tell him, but if he wasn't going to give up, it might just be easier.

"No one," you answer, the words spilling out. "Just me."

The second the words leave your lips, you know you've said the wrong thing. Crosshair's expression morphs into one of fury, his jaw clenched, his brow furrowed.

"You’re letting her go alone?” he asks, turning toward Hunter with an accusatory look. You bristle at the remark, the need to defend yourself growing stronger.

Hunter sighs, running a hand through his hair. He glances at you, and you stare back. You were determined to handle this alone, and while Hunter didn't like it, he understood. So you'd made a deal, the same one you made with Omega, that you'd return quickly and come back alive.

He gives a subtle nod, and you return it.

“I’m not ‘letting her’ do anything. She's an adult, she can do whatever she wants," he answers, crossing his arms. Crosshair's head snaps toward him, his mouth open, but Hunter cuts him off, "Besides, she said she could handle it, and I believe her."

Hunter's words should have made you happy, should have filled you with a sense of pride, but instead all you feel is dread.

If Crosshair had looked angry before, he was downright furious now. His expression morphs from shock to frustration, and his glare shifts from Hunter to you.

You're taken aback by the change. Crosshair had never looked at you like that, not even when he left the squad and you behind.

The look is gone before you can question it, replaced by a steely resolve. He stalks past you, his shoulder brushing yours as he climbs the ramp of the ship.

He doesn't say anything else, doesn't even spare a glance in your direction, and you stare after him, mouth agape, until you realize what he's doing.

"Absolutely not," you snarl, stomping up the ramp behind him. You move to grab his shoulder, but he shrugs you off. "You are not coming with me. I don't want or need your help."

Crosshair ignores your protests, dropping into the copilot's seat. He begins going over the controls, his brow furrowed.

"I don't remember inviting you," you snap. "Get out."

"Don't you mean thank you?" He doesn't turn to look at you, doesn't even spare a glance, as he answers.

"I will thank you when you leave," you seethe. You take a step forward, reaching for his shoulder again. You want him out, and if you have to drag him off the ship, you will.

But he's quicker than you, spinning around to catch your wrist. His hand trembles slightly as he holds it, his grip tightening for a fraction of a second before he releases you.

"You're welcome."

He turns away again, focusing on the control panel, and you growl, frustrated. You can feel your anger bubbling beneath the surface, and you know if you don't calm down, it'll spill over.

"Cross," you start, slowly, trying to keep the venom from your voice, "I don't want you to come with me."

"And I don't want you to leave, but here we are."

He doesn't sound angry anymore, doesn't sound anything, really, but his tone still sets you on edge.

"Look, I know you don't like it, but--"

"Then don't go," he interrupts, his fingers gripping the armrests.

You sigh, running a hand through your hair. This was pointless. He isn’t listening to a word you’re saying, and the longer you argue, the longer it will take for you to get off world. If you don’t get going soon, you’ll be late.

"Fine," you hiss, moving to the pilot's seat. "Do whatever you want."

"Good," he replies, his tone sharp. He leans back in the chair, his arms crossed. 

You buckle in and begin the startup sequence, ignoring him. You try to focus on the task at hand, but his presence is distracting, and it takes you a minute longer than usual to finish prepping the ship.

He's still tense, and so are you, but the tension is different. It's uncomfortable, the atmosphere too quiet and too loud all at once. Neither of you speak, and the only sounds are those of the Marauder starting up and the distant chatter of the others outside.

You focus on getting the ship into the air, and Crosshair stares at the ceiling. When you've cleared the planet, you set the coordinates and the ship jumps into hyperspace.

The silence continues. You hate it. You hate how tense things have been, how awkward, how strained.

You don't like him, not anymore, and he's made it clear he doesn't like you, but you were stuck with each other now. You were on a mission, and you didn't have time to sit and stew in your emotions.

"I have a job to do," you say, finally breaking the silence. "It's nothing major, just an exchange. Intel for credits. If you're going to come, then don't get in my way."

Crosshair says nothing, and you don't turn to look at him, but you hear him shift in his seat, the fabric rustling.

"Fine," he responds after some time, his voice quiet. "So what are they giving you?"

You glance over at him, startled by his sudden interest, and you're not sure how to respond. He stares back, his face blank, his expression carefully neutral. It's hard to read him, and while you can't sense any negative emotion from him, you don't trust it.

You fidget, wringing your hands in your lap. This was a bad idea. You shouldn't have told him. He was going to judge you for it, or worse, mock you.

You open your mouth to reply, but the words don't come out. What were you supposed to tell him? The truth?

No.

"Doesn't matter," you murmur, turning away from him.

You wish he'd let the conversation drop. You weren't ready for him to know. You weren't even sure if he'd understand.

"It obviously does, or you wouldn't be this worked up about it," he counters. His voice is quiet, but his tone is firm.

"I'm not worked up." You cross your arms, staring out the viewport.

"Sure you're not." 

You can practically hear him roll his eyes, and it makes you angrier.

"I'm not!"

"Okay, okay. Just calm down."

"Stop telling me what to do," you growl, shooting a glare in his direction.

"Stop being so stubborn, and I will."

"Why do you even care, anyway?”

He flinches slightly, and you can see his expression soften as you hold his gaze, watching as he searches for a response. It takes him a second, and you observe in real time as the walls go back up, his face morphing into a neutral mask.

"I don't."

"Then stop acting like it," you say, rolling your eyes.

He tenses at your words, and he doesn't respond right away. You think he's finally dropped the subject, but he pushes further, his tone cold. "Why do you need it?"

"It's none of your business."

"You're my business,” he says, quick and sharp.

Then, his eyes widen, and his mouth snaps closed. He's clearly as surprised by his response as you are, and the two of you stare at each other in silence, your heart pounding.

"Oh." 

You're not sure what else to say. The two of you aren't friends, aren't anything, but the weight of his statement doesn't go unnoticed.

You can't figure out if he means it.

You're not sure what to think.

"I mean..." he starts, but doesn't finish. He looks away, clearing his throat. 

"It's fine," you interrupt, not wanting to make things more awkward. The tension is back, and you hate it, but at least you've reached an understanding.

There's nothing between you, not anymore.

Crosshair's quiet, and you're grateful for the silence. You take a deep breath, letting the air out slowly. You'd have time to unpack that later, but right now you had to focus on the mission. You could worry about him when this was over.

After a moment, he turns toward you, his gaze flitting over your face. He doesn't look mad, and his expression is almost pensive.

Finally, he sighs.

"You're not going to tell me what it is, are you?" he asks, watching you carefully.

You shake your head. "You’ll find out when I get it."

He stares at you for a long time, his eyes narrowed. Finally, he huffs, slumping back in his seat. His resignation is a relief, and you breathe a small sigh.

"I have to ask," you begin, eager to change the subject, "what was the point of that little display?"

He raises a brow, glancing over at you. "Display?"

"With Hunter," you elaborate, "back there. I assume it wasn't just to annoy me."

He smirks, the corner of his lips curling upward. He tilts his head, and you try not to think about how it's the first time he's looked at you that way since everything happened.

"I was mostly doing it to annoy you."

"Of course you were." You roll your eyes. You don't believe him, not entirely, but you didn't doubt that he wanted to get under your skin. It felt like that was all he'd done since the beginning, and it was getting tiresome.

"But," he begins, leaning back, "if I can't talk you out of doing this, the least I can do is make sure you have backup."

You stare at him, unsure of how to respond. Your mouth opens, then closes, and you blink several times. What were you supposed to say to that?

"That's... sweet, I guess?" You don't mean for it to come out as a question, but the surprise gets the best of you.

He rolls his eyes and shrugs, and you're reminded of the old Crosshair.

The Crosshair who used to tease you, to rile you up, just because he knew it would make you laugh. The Crosshair who would sit with you while you studied, who would make you food when you were too tired to do it yourself. The one who loved his brothers fiercely, even if he was a pain in the ass. The one that you, despite everything, missed.

You didn't think he was capable of being like that anymore, but here he was, proving you wrong.

"Well," he says, shifting uncomfortably, "It’s my job to keep an eye on you."

You can't help but chuckle at his reasoning, though there's a hint of bitterness to the sound, and his scowl returns.

"It's not funny."

"Oh, come on," you reply, crossing your arms, still laughing. "It's a little funny."

"Is not," he argues, but there's no heat to it.

You snicker, shaking your head. It's not funny, but it's nice. Normal, even. It's the most normal conversation you've had in a long time, and the most normal Crosshair has acted, and it's almost like things are the way they were before.

"Whatever you say, dear." 

The pet name slips out without a thought, and you regret it the second it does. You wince, looking over at him. You hope he doesn't take it the wrong way, but he doesn't seem to notice. He just scoffs, a small smile playing on his lips.

You relax in your chair, letting the tension slip from your body. You'd almost forgotten what it was like, how easy things used to be. It felt good, and you wished you could keep that feeling.

"So," you begin, "are you going to be a good boy while we're there, or am I going to have to watch my back?"

"I'm always a good boy," he replies, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

You can't help but laugh, and his lips twitch upward, a hint of smugness coloring his features. It's an old joke, and it's ridiculous, but it feels good. You didn't think he had it in him, and hearing his sarcasm again was a welcome surprise.

"We both know that's not true."

"You'd be surprised." He stands, stretching his arms over his head. When he lowers them, he looks at you again, a faint smirk on his lips. "I can be very good, when I want to be.”

He brushes his fingers across your shoulder as he walks past, and the simple touch sends a shiver down your spine. You can't help the heat that rises to your face, and you're thankful that he's turned away from you.

You're left in a daze, your mind racing. You didn't think he was capable of having a civil conversation with you, let alone flirting. And yet here you were, trying desperately not to think about the implications behind his words.

It reminded you of before, before everything had gone to shit. Back when he could make you laugh in just a few words and make you blush with even less. He’d tease and flirt and push all your buttons, and it drove you crazy.

And you loved it.

You thought maybe you loved him too, at some point.

But he had thrown all that away when he abandoned the team. He had tossed aside every moment of laughter and affection and friendship, and he'd never seemed to care. And maybe that's what hurt the most, knowing he'd so easily let go of whatever it was between the two of you.

You'd tried not to think about him, after he left. You'd thrown yourself into the missions, and you'd tried not to look back. The others had done the same, you thought, but when Crosshair came back into your lives, they had forgiven him.

So why was it so hard for you?

The answer was supposed to be easy. You’d been the one he’d tried to kill, after all. But you knew it wasn’t his fault, knew it was the chip. You wanted to forgive him, and in a way, you had, but it still hurt.

Maybe it was because he had hurt you, not physically, but in another way. A deeper way. He had left you. He had abandoned the team, and he had left you behind, and despite ample opportunities, he'd refused to come back.

Or maybe it was because, after all that, after he'd hurt you and the people you cared about, you still couldn't bring yourself to hate him.

Maybe, deep down, you were worried that part of you still loved him.

Your head was spinning. You needed a drink, or a nap, or a distraction.

"Where are you going?" you call after him.

"To make sure Omega didn't sneak aboard," he calls back.

You can’t help but smile, shaking your head. He'd never admit it, but he cared about her. He'd probably deny it to his dying breath, if asked, but you knew better. And as you watch him disappear down the hall, a strange feeling blooms in your chest.

It's warm, and light, and familiar.

And for a brief moment, things almost feel right again.

Crosshair is, for lack of a better word, insufferable. He doesn't listen to a word you say, doesn't follow your directions, and has a bad habit of doing the opposite of what you tell him to do.

He also has a knack for making you feel like an idiot. It was something you conveniently forgotten about during your time apart, and now, you were beginning to remember why you'd fought so much in the past.

And the worst part was, he wasn't even trying to piss you off.

He was just...himself.

"That's not how it's done," he sneers, leaning against the wall. His eyes are on your hands, watching you clean your blaster. You know this game, and you don't want to play. So you do the one thing that always seems to get under his skin.

You ignore him.

You pretend like you haven't heard him, and you continue with your task. You can feel his eyes on you, but you don't look up. He sighs and huffs as you wipe around the trigger mechanism, he crosses his arms as you check the power cell, and you know he's getting antsy.

It isn't until you wet a swatch with solvent and push it through the barrel from front to back, and Crosshair makes a noise of disgust, that you snap.

"What?" you bark, your grip on the weapon tightening. You're not angry, not yet, but you can feel it creeping up on you.

“You’re going to damage the rifling,” he says, pushing off the wall. He reaches for the weapon, but you pull it out of his reach.

"I know what I'm doing."

"Clearly." He rolls his eyes. “If you keep doing that, you’re going to to end up with a misfire or a malfunction, and I don’t think either of us want that. Do you?"

You know he's right, but you don't want to admit it. "No, but—"

"Then give me the damn blaster," he says, reaching out again.

You consider refusing, just to prove a point, but his tone has caught you off guard. He doesn't sound condescending, or mocking, or even annoyed.

He sounds worried.

So you hand it over, and he takes it, his fingers brushing against yours.

"Just let me do it, alright?" he asks, and the frustration in his voice is gone, replaced by something softer.

You nod, watching as he sits next to you, his attention on the weapon. His movements are confident, practiced, and you can't help but notice the way his fingers move as he cleans.

You watch as he sets the blaster aside, grabbing the canister of solvent and a rag. Crosshair's movements are quick and meticulous, and he doesn't miss a spot. What took you nearly twenty minutes to accomplish, he completes in five, and his technique is far more thorough than yours.

“It’s a miracle you haven’t blown your hand off yet," he says, glancing at you out of the corner of his eye. “If this is what the Jedi were teaching you, no wonder the Empire wiped them out."

Any good will you were feeling toward him disappears in an instant. You bristle, your anger returning, and you glare at him.

"Fuck you."

"Maybe later," he teases, his lips twitching upwards.

You can't decide if his comment was meant to piss you off or annoy you, and you settle for a combination of the two. You're not sure why you expected anything else from him, but the joke hits a sore spot. The fact that he doesn't realize what he's said, that he doesn't understand what he's done, only makes it worse.

Crosshair's smile falls when you continue glaring despite the flush in your cheeks, and you can sense his frustration. He huffs, looking back down at the weapon in his hands.

He's quiet for a long time, his brow furrowed. Finally, he breaks the silence, his voice soft.

"Here," he says, holding the reassembled blaster out, its barrel glistening. It’s the cleanest it's been in months, though you won’t admit it out loud.

Crosshair had always taken great pride in the cleanliness and efficiency of his weapons, and seeing his handiwork in front of you reminds you of simpler times. You’d lost count of the amount of times you’d passed out from exhaustion after a mission or gotten too distracted, only to find your weapons cleaned and ready to go the next morning.

It had irritated you, at first. You hated having your things touched without permission, but eventually, you got used to it. It was nice, knowing he cared enough about you to do such a thing. Though Crosshair always denied it when you tried to thank him. As if it would be anyone other than him.

“Thank you,” you say quietly, and it’s genuine.

He looks at you, and there's a flash of something in his eyes, something softer than the usual indifference. But it's gone before you can decipher its meaning.

“Why do you still use that thing, anyway?" he asks. “It's a piece of junk. Don’t you have a lightsaber?”

You suck in a breath, his words cutting deep. Of course he would bring up the one thing you didn't want to talk about. You should have expected it. You weren't sure why it had never come up, but you should have known it would happen eventually.

He's staring at the blaster, and you know he didn't mean to hurt you, not this time, but the ache is there, nonetheless. The grief sinks in your stomach like a stone, heavy and cold, and your hands shake. You clench them into fists, hoping to hide the movement.

You've gone quiet for too long, and Crosshair knows he's hit a nerve. He turns his attention to you, and his eyes widen when he sees the look on your face.

You're pale, your expression pained. Your mouth is a thin line, your jaw set, and your shoulders are stiff. “No,” you say, your voice quiet. “Not anymore.”

He frowns. He looks confused, and for a second, he almost looks worried. "What happened?"

“I lost it.”

“What?" His voice sounds incredulous, as if the concept is inconceivable. "When?”

You bite your lip, trying to hold back the tears. You'd promised yourself you'd never cry over this again, but it was proving to be more difficult than you'd thought. It hurts, talking about it, and a part of you wants to shut him out. 

But another, bigger, part of you wants him to know. Maybe it's a test, of sorts. If he can't handle this, if he doesn't want to hear the truth, then there's no way he'd be able to handle the rest.

“On Kamino," you say, and your voice shakes, despite your best efforts. You pause, taking a deep breath. You close your eyes, and the memories come back, clear as day. "Around the same time I…” 

You can’t continue, but the words are there, lingering in the air. The same time I lost you.

His mouth forms a silent 'oh', and the room falls silent. You look at the floor, avoiding his eyes, and he does the same. You're not sure how much time passes, but it feels like hours.

He clears his throat, and the sound breaks the spell. You look up, and his eyes are on you, intense and dark. "I'm sorry," he murmurs, and the apology surprises you.

"Don't be." You shrug, but you can't shake the melancholy that's settled over the room.

"You should get a new one," he suggests.

You shake your head. “It wouldn’t be the same.”

Crosshair hums, and he turns away from you. He picks up the cleaning kit and places it back on the shelf. You watch him, wondering if that's the end of the conversation, and a part of you hopes it is.

But when he turns to face you again, his expression is pensive, and his tone is somber.

He sighs, and the weight of his words hit you, his voice quiet.

“You’re not the same, either."

You swallow thickly, unsure how to respond. You’ve had the same thought rolling around in your head for months, but to hear it spoken out loud, to hear it from him, suddenly makes it seem real.

Because he's right.

You aren't the same, not anymore. You hadn't been since the fall of the Order, since Crosshair left, since you'd lost everything. And you couldn't deny the changes that had been wrought within you, no matter how hard you tried.

"Yeah," you say, and the word is heavy on your tongue. “I guess not.”

You stare at each other, and a moment passes. It's an unspoken understanding, an admission, and neither of you can find the right words.

It's then that you realize that maybe he's changed, too.

And that, for whatever reason, makes you sad.

The silence drags on, and you're not sure if he's waiting for you to speak, or if he's waiting for something else. His eyes are searching, his mouth slightly parted, and he looks almost nervous.

Your heart pounds in your chest, and there's a pressure behind your eyes. You want to say something, but you can't think of anything. You're not sure if the urge is to comfort him, or comfort yourself.

You're grateful when you can feel the the hair on the back of your next prickle, a sign of something shifting in the Force. It's a distraction, a welcome one, and you take the opportunity to break eye contact. You stand to make your way to the cockpit, holstering your blaster as you go.

When you reach the door, you pause, glancing back. Crosshair is still standing in the middle of the room, his head tilted in your direction. His eyes are fixed on you, and he looks almost sad.

You swallow thickly and force yourself to speak. “We should be there in a second."

“How do you—“ 

He’s interrupted by the subtle lurch of the ship dropping out of hyperspace, and his confused expression turns to one of exasperation.

You smile, just a little, and Crosshair scoffs.

"Show off," he mutters, following behind you.

[lovelyteng]

Haunted Corruption Chapter 6 - Truth of Reformed Part 1: Befriended

(Fade as cut to night sky, pan down to Inhabitants walks on the Christmas Rose Park. Fade to Cal close-up as seems sadly.)

Cal: (narrating) I'm feeling self-pity when after I did it. It's caused like my wife was died while I got lost as self-doubt... (He looking Lucy who she holds his hand in happily; barely smiling in sadly while he continues narrating.) Well, my friends have been forgiven me when I've got infected by my friends as they're happy to me for join me.

Lucy: Uh... Cal?

Cal: Yes, Lucy?

Lucy: You've a lot of used negative emotions by yourself when you've been first lost at the chess challenge.

Cal: (sighs in sadly; regret) Yes, I know... I was alone since Betty died... I don't have a real siblings for my real family... While always left me... (Start sobbing and crying as walks and sitting onto box while other Inhabitants stops walks and looking him as they toward to him in worried as join him for sitting on the boxes.) It's all my fault!

Jose: (pats Cal's shoulder) Hey, Cal. It's not your fault. It's our.

Eis: (pats Cal's shoulder) Yes, he's right, Cal! You see... You finding a real family even adoptive family of group! And we're still be friends as never leave you!

Cal: (sadly while sobs) Yes... (Wipes his tears) That's why I always with you.

Fortstopher IV: That's what talking about, Sir Suresh!

Fortie VI: (in Cal's head) Yes! Woo-hoo!

Cal: (stops crying) Thank, guys! You know, there constellations for stars in the sky at night as looking that, right? (other Inhabitants nods.) Like one of us...

Sana: (realized) Wait a second, guys! Don't you think for same us about constellations?

Iben: Yeah, what is it?

Sana: Twelve Zodiac Constellations!

Inhabitants but Sana: (realized) Oh! Twelve Zodiac Constellations!

Cal: You're right, sister! We're Twelve Zodiac Constellations! (He and other Inhabitants laughing until stop as they heard familiar sobbing offscreen.) Did you guys hear that? (He and other Inhabitants shocking surprise from familiar screaming after sobbing.)

Bruce: (points at Haunted Funhouse) There! Inside Haunted Funhouse!

Cal: (nervously) Oh...! I don't likes that!

Eis: Then come on! (He and other Inhabitants hop off from the boxes and runs to Haunted Funhouse.)

(Cut to inside of Haunted Funhouse at the completed dark. Cal opens doors as he and other Inhabitants enter it in walk as step, they looking around while walking as their eyes was glowing from Vision Goggles.)

Voice #1: (in male kid high-middle tone; whispering in worried) I'm so scared! I can't see everywhere without light!

Voice #2: (in male pre-teen middle tone; whispering) Shh! I know! I heard someone inside it. Just keep away from them... (Sound of walking as away.)

Fiona: But I can see everywhere for inside with light.

Anjellica: (in Fiona's head) That's a night visions. You and your friends can everywhere in the dark for half-corrupted powers from me and my friends.

Cal: I heard that, Anjellica. We have a night visions! Also, I have a mind reading!

Inhabitants but Cal: (dumbfounded) Wow! You have a mind reading?!

Cal: Yes.

Haoyu: That's amazing! I wish has my visions' power without Vision Goggles.

Worville Wright: (in Haoyu's head) Oh, you will to have it.

Jose: Hey, Cal. (Holds up Survival Corn as gives to Cal.) Here, you calling to us.

Cal: (confused) Us? What do you means? (Fiona holds Picture of Fiona and Dolphin, Yuri holds Dome of Bug Case with Bugs, Haoyu holds Paper Airplane, Sana holds Birdhouse, Cass holds Paula's Daisy, Iben holds Wedding Ring, Attilio holds Clown Mask, Lucy holds Painting of Distorted Lucy, Eis holds Firefighter Hat, and Bruce holds Cleaning Cane as 11 Inhabitants give Cal.) You means I takes caring your items? To keep it as safely?

Inhabitants but Cal: Yes, Cal.

Yuri: Just be careful for this.

(Cut to Cal walks to the box on the cart as holds and pushes it to Inhabitants as they putting all items in the box, then he holds out Black King Chess Piece which Inhabitants gasp in surprised.)

Attilio: It's looks like you already be... (Fortstopher IV covered his mouth.)

(Cut to shadow of Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI appear as behind Cal who shocking to them which they feeling nervously.)

Fortstopher IV: (nervous) Actually, it's... uh... (Uncovered Attilio's mouth; To Cal as whispering) Sir Suresh, give me your King Chess Piece, please?

Cal: (confused) Okay? (He gives Black King Chess Piece to Fortstopher IV which takes it.)

Fortie VI: (nervous) We're just... excuse us... for second... (Laughs nervously along Fortstopher VI as they're faded away.)

(Cut to shadows of Nega-Bosses appear as behind Inhabitants who shocking to them which they feeling suspiciously.)

Hooverton: (suspicious) I thinking Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI seem acted... good and nice us even Cal.

Bruce: (shocking confused) Uh... What?

The Hydrac: (suspicious) We're just follow them without sound... (To Eis; glares as Eis scared) You stay here, Eisley. (He and Nega-Bosses faded away as moment to other Inhabitants looking Eis in shocking surprised not even Cal who feeling nervously.)

Cal: Well, his long name as others called that of his long name as I heard his name for I was child.

Eis: As I heard your name for your parents called you "Caleb".

Inhabitants but Jose, Cal, and Eis: (shocked) Caleb?!

Jose: Yeah, his secondary first name as I always called him with his long name.

Eis: As only be friends to call Caleb as his true long first name.

Cal: (sadly) But others calling me Calvin as my primary first name.

Eis: I was always responsible after your chemistry was highly extremely dangerous one as it hurts me with fire as school's destroyed. When I was healed as I'm went the school to find you at Grade 7 as high school but you're not here at school which you goes the other school as I don't know where you are, then I started guilty to I did you! (Other Inhabitants gasp in shocked.)

Sana and Cal: (shocked) WHAT?!

Eis: I went a middle school when School Reunion Day as I looked Cal until I saw Wally Darren doing Cal's new experiment as he got a plan, then whole school was fire! (Other Inhabitants gasp in horrible.) Everyone's out of school as I finding Cal but I found Wally which I found out his true color about school as I battle him until he's defeated, I'm continued to find Cal until I found him where he's stuck for his legs on heavy materials, during and after threw away materials while I told him for I'm caused him for my irresponsible as I apologize him and then Cal agreed that as I'm holds him for school was started break as I running to fire exit where it's been blocked as Cal told me about how unblocked door of fire exit, and then Cal and I finally out of school as survived!

Inhabitants but Cal and Eis: (quietly amazed) Wow...

Jose: Reasonable to that. That's why you always responsibility and when you become a friend of Cal.

Eis: (sadly) Yeah... (determining) But we're just following the people inside of this place! (He and other Inhabitants walk away even Cal pushes the cart.)

(Cut to Inhabitants stopped walking as looking 12 tunnels.)

Cal: Okay! Let's split up! (He and other Inhabitants nods and going through tunnels each one.)

(Cut to Mirror Hall where other room from Haunted Funhouse as Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI with silhouette of perfect shapes as they looking in panicked until sigh in relieved.)

Fortie VI: I thinks we're lost them like that, brother.

Fortstopher IV: (holds Black King Chess Piece as he and Fortie VI looking it in sadly worried) Well, we're finally freed of negative morality and understanding about human culture and society by this with Sir Suresh's saying about his true happiness from few years ago.

(Cut flashback to Cal's consciousness when Fortstopher IV crying and Fortie VI fall slowly from anti-gravity as holds Cal's box of macarons.)

Fortstopher IV: (flashback; crying) Nobody to me for being friend!

Fortie VI: (flashback) Actually... I got the box as Sir Suresh disappeared. (Holds Cal's box of macarons.)

Fortstopher IV: (gasps in surprised) What?!

Fortie VI: (walks to Fortstopher IV) He's left it as dropped it. (He opens the box as he and Fortstopher IV gasp in surprised as inside of box was one lemon cheesecake, four red velvet macarons, and four cinnamon roll macarons.) Wow! Sir Suresh brought this box! (He and Fortstopher IV notice White King Chess Piece floating and glowing mix of red and indigo layers.) Wow, White King Chess Piece was floating and glowing.

(Cut to White King Chess Piece as unknown figure appear with glowing indigo holds it as stopped glowing figure and White King Chess Piece as revealed was Illusion Cal who looking and holding White King Chess Piece in happily.)

Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI: (shocked) Sir Suresh?! (Fortie VI runs to Illusion Cal but phases him which he and Fortstopher IV confused shocking) Huh?!

Fortstopher IV: I thinks he was illusion, Fortie. Just listen to him.

Fortie VI: Okay...

Illusion Cal: (flashback; happily) I finally understand that! Winning or losing doesn't matter for I wanted! I'm so happy about children playing it while I'm teaching them as they're winning or losing as I forgot about past glory as never doing that again! (Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI start shaking and hold their head as closing their eyes.) I realized about I got a first lose of chess... (Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI start glowing mix of red and indigo layers around them.) It was... (Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI start groan and grunt.) ...My past mistakes! (Rises up White King Chess Piece as start glowing of dark violet.)

(Cut to Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI screaming and open their eyes with completely fill of dark violet as they floating as dark aura come out and flying into White King Chess Piece which it covering black from bottom to top until it filled as Black King Chess Piece while Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI stopped screaming and close their eyes as they falling down as lied down on the ground, then Illusion Cal fades as disappeared with red and indigo sparkles as Black King Chess Piece floating and glowing mix of red and indigo layers. Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI groaning as wake up as open their eyes, and then stand up as rubbing their head.)

Fortie VI: What's happened, brother? (He and Fortstopher IV gasp in shocked surprising as Fortie VI covered his mouth.)

Fortstopher IV: (shocked worrying) Brother? Why you calling me?!

Fortie VI: (uncovered his mouth) Because we're connection with Lance's magic and Sir Suresh's DNA! (He and Fortstopher IV gasp in shocked realising.)

Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI: (shocked realising.) His DNA?!

Fortstopher IV: I thinks we're twins as I was first one as oldest and you were second one as youngest of Sir Suresh!

Fortie VI: (gasp in realized) Which means...

Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI: (happily) He have a real brothers! (Shocked confusing) Huh?! What?!

Fortie VI: (shocked) Why we're acted like this?!

Fortstopher IV: I thinks we've been removed our negative morality from Lance's magic as it went into (Points at Black King Chess Piece floating to he and Fortie VI.) that piece.

Fortie VI: Hey, brother. (Walks and takes Cal's box of macarons as back toward Fortstopher IV.) Macarons?

Fortstopher IV: Sure. (Fortie VI passes three red velvet macarons him and holds one as start eats it but he and Fortie VI shocked as looking each other; shocked.) Hey, brother?

Fortie VI: (shocked) Yes?

Fortstopher IV: (still shocked) I thinks we've got understanding about human culture and society from Our Bishop's memories and morality! (He and Fortie VI gasp in realized.) I thinks we did hurts him when we have a dark aura!

Fortie VI: (gasps) Oh no... (He and Fortstopher IV looking Black King Chess Piece and then each other in worried.)

(Cut to present as end of the flashback, Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI looking Black King Chess Piece on the Fortstopher IV's hand in sadly.)

Fortstopher IV: (sadly) You know... Sir Suresh wanted a real siblings as never be alone.

Fortie VI: (sadly) Yeah... He's just always be friend. I wish be like Sir Suresh being friend as never alone.

Fortstopher IV: (still sadly) Me too... (Black King Chess Piece start floating and then glowing mix of red and indigo layers as he and Fortie VI start floating which they scared.) What's happening?!

Fortie VI: (scared) I don't know, brother!

(Black King Chess Piece shoot Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI with red and indigo magic while Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI screaming loudly while other Nega-Bosses with silhouette of perfect shapes run and then looking Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI in horror. Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI covered them as unshown with light aura, then flashes of light explode as massive wave of light aura which Haunted Funhouse turned on all of light even Cal falling down on the ground as wall broken as another tunnel, then he stand up and looking broken wall as new tunnel.)

Cal: (shocking surprised) Huh?! (Runs as pushes the cart going new tunnel.)

(Cut to Mirror Hall which mirrors was all scattered while other Nega-Bosses shocked expression for moment and then Cal arrived as enters it.)

Cal: (still shocking surprised) What's going on here?!

Fortstopher IV: (offscreen; happily) My Bishop! You're here! (Cal shocked expression as looking as same Nega-Bosses.)

Fortie VI: (offscreen; confused) Sir Suresh? Are you okay? You're looking... worry.

Cal: (still shocking surprised but worried as points at Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI) Just... looking... yourselves... (Picks and holds big broken mirror to Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI.)

(Cut to unknown shapes of Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI as they holds big broken mirror as looking their reflection as revealed was their human form as they're screaming and then each other in horror while Cal and Nega-Bosses screaming in horror. Cuts in one to Inhabitants heard the screaming in echo. Cut back to Cal, Fortstopher IV, Fortie VI, and other Nega-Bosses continue screaming until they stopped by Cal start shouts.)

Cal: (shouts in loudly) STOP! EVERYONE CAN HEAR YOU!

Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI: (worried) Sorry!

Cal: I can't believe! (Notice Black King Chess Piece stopped floating as falls on his hand.) This piece was my Corrupted Source! And you finally have a human form!

Fortie VI: Yes! Also... I kind of likes this! Look! I got a hat! (To Fortstopher IV) And you got a crown!

Fortstopher IV: (notice his crown on his head) Oh right! I liked this form as same of Sir Suresh!

Fortie VI: Yeah! Because his DNA!

Cal: My DNA? You have my DNA?

Fortie VI: Yes! I thinks me, my brother, and my friends was made of you and your friends' DNA and Lance's dark magic!

Cal: Cool! Nice saying, Archie!

Fortie VI: Archie? What was that?

Cal: Your human name, brother.

Fortie VI: Cool! He knows his brother to me!

Cal: You means... I knows my brothers to you of both?

Fortstopher IV: I thinks we need full name for our human name. Just thinks... (He, Cal, and Fortie VI start thinking.)

Cal: (ideal as snaps his fingers) I know! (Points at Fortstopher IV.) Your human name is Christopher IV Suresh! Chris is your short human name!

Fortstopher IV: (happily) That's perfect!

Cal: (points at Fortie VI) And your human name is Arthur Ford Suresh! Archie is your short human name!

Fortie VI: (happily) Oh! I loved it!

Cal: I telling our closest friends about you but we don't telling you!

Fortstopher IV: Well, not all of our closest friends, brother.

Cal: (shocked confusing) Huh? What did you means?

Fortstopher IV: My friends still have a negative moralities yet, My Bishop.

Fortie VI: They will get us.

Cal: (shocked) What?! (He and his brothers notice other Nega-Bosses who glares at them.)

Inkabelle: I know you two was befriended Cal and his friends!

The Hydrac: Which you both removed negative moralities!

Princess Marey: You both have understanding about human culture and society from Cal's memories and morality!

Cuckoo: And then you both have a human form!

Cal: Run! (He and his brothers runs as gets stuff.)

(Cal gets tool box, Fortstopher IV gets mine cart, and Fortie VI gets motor, then they back to the cart as building cart with tools as finished was Motor Carts as they're hop in of front cart as Cal presses the blue small button as pop out and covered of glass dome for carts and then he presses the red big button as start driving as out of Mirror Hall.)

The Grim Creeper: They're getting away!

Barktholomew: Get them! (He and other Nega-Bosses chase them.)

(Cut to Suresh Brothers on the Motor Carts as Cal driving it on the hallway)

Cal: We're on the hallway!

Wormsworth: (offscreen) Come back here, you nasty boys!

Fortie VI: (looking mirror as reflection of other Nega-Bosses; worried) Brothers! We've been problem about that!

Cal: I got idea! (Turns to left as drive away, cut to 11 Nega-Bosses runs to left side until stopped for dead end.)

Purrla: Hey! They're just headed to left side of path! Meow!

Hooverton: Just finding them, youngsters! (He and other Nega-Bosses runs away.)

(Pans down to below the floor as revealed location called Winter Mine as Suresh Brothers on Motor Carts as driving on the ground of Winter Mine which they looking around.)

Fortie VI: Wow! Winter Mine looks like Iben and The Grim Creeper's stage set world!

Fortstopher IV: Indeed, brother! (To Cal) So, you still finding exit of Winter Mine, Sir Suresh?

Cal: Not yet... (Suddenly, he and his brothers hear baby voice crying.)

Fortie VI: (worried) Ah! What was that?! There's baby monster in the mine?! (He and his brothers notice shadows of big one holding small one who crying. He screams.) There's snow monsters in the mine! (Hugs in tightly to Fortstopher IV in worried.)

Fortstopher IV: Ouch!

Cal: Wait a minute! (shocked) Ben and Elie?! (Cut to Ben walks as light on him as holds Elie who stopped crying as she looking Suresh Brothers in happily; To Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI) See, brothers? They're never scared you. (Fortie VI let go Fortstopher IV who rubbing his arms.)

Fortie VI: Who's Ben and Elie?

Cal: Ben was Iben's fiancé and Elie was Iben's youngest daughter.

Fortie VI: If Elie was youngest daughter of Iben and Ben, then who oldest child?

Cal: Ward was Iben's oldest son! You knows, he helping Bruce to cleaning the sidewalk at the park.

(Cut to Ben and Elie as Ben holds Elie as walk toward to Suresh Brothers.)

Ben: Hi, Calvin! You have a two people, they like... you as your face like brothers to them.

Cal: Ben, this is Christopher IV and Arthur Ford. (To Fortstopher IV and Fortie VI; whispering) Just don't used your real names! Just used human names!

Fortstopher IV: My name is Christopher IV Suresh! Anybody calling me Chris for short as Cal's younger brother and Archie's older twin brother as middle one of Suresh Brothers!

Fortie VI: And my name is Arthur Ford Suresh! As calling me Archie for short! As Cal's youngest brother and Chris' younger twin brother as youngest one of Suresh Brothers!

Cal: And Chris' older brother and Archie's oldest brother as oldest one of Suresh Brothers! We are...

Suresh Brothers: Suresh Brothers!

Ben: Nice of you and your introduction as new one, Calvin! (realized) Oh! I knows where exit of Winter Mine and where's Iben?

Cal: First, thank you to help us. Second, she's up with her friends as finding two people inside this.

Ben: That's means...! There's my son!

Cal: (shocked) Ward?! He's inside Haunted Funhouse?!

Ben: Yes, Cal.

Fortstopher IV: If Ward was one of two voices...

Fortie VI: Then who's people inside along Ward?

Cal: (suspicious) Hmm... That's voice sounds... familiar. (Gasps in realized) Flint Glover!

Fortstopher IV, Fortie VI, and Ben: Huh?

Cal: A boy who saved from fire of building by his uncle Eis Glover who trying to brave from his fear of fire to save his nephew!

Ben: Then come on! (He and Elie hop on the front cart of Motor Carts as back seat, notice box on the back cart.) Cal, what was that?

Cal: My closest friends gave me their special items. I keeping it safely from any dangerous.

(Cal starts driving along his brothers, Ben, and Elie as Motor Carts moving to turn the right while pans to Darren Family creepy smiling as Willy holds walkie-talkie as speaking to it.)

Willy: Tora, I found Cal! Inside Winter Mine! As he gets his friends even he have a two brothers. Also, they're heading exit of Winter Mine as finding Ward and Flint!

Tora: (speaking through of Willy's walkie-talkie) Great! Good luck! (Hang up of Willy's walkie-talkie.)

Wally: Okay, guys! Let's following them and then we're removing to Cal's covered!

(Darren Family laughing echoes as fade to Suresh Brothers looking each other in worried while Darren Family's laughing throughout echoes, pans to back cart of Motor Carts, them fade to inside the box as Inhabitants' items start glowing mix of Nega-Bosses' main color theme. Cut to silhouette of 11 Nega-Bosses looking and walking in slowly to Suresh Brothers, Ben, and Elie on Motor Carts in smiling evilly.)

11 Nega-Bosses: We just be a friends, Suresh Brothers! (Laughing evilly.)

(Cuts in one to Inhabitants heard the laughing in echo as feeling worried. Fade out as pitched black screen.)

To be continued.

List of Chapters

First

Previous

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[flowingriver24]

Okay I’ve posted this on A03 before, but also wanted to post it on here, because I’ve been thinking about this...

That was why...

Walsh sighed when he woke up. He knew this was going to happen one day, but he was still disappointed that today was finally the day. He looked around the room until his eyes landed on Jimmy. He was tied up, thankfully unharmed.

"You find a way out of this yet?" he asked.

Jimmy shook his head, "No yet. I'll think of something.”

Walsh pulled on his own bonds to make sure that he couldn't get out of them, but they were too tight. He looked at the door when he heard a noise.

The very person they had sent to take down, Jason Waterson, walked in with a few men. He looked at them raising his eyebrows, "You don't look like much. But I heard you almost pulled down my whole organization."

"It wasn't very hard," Jimmy said.

Walsh almost groaned in frustration, sometimes Jimmy could make terrible decisions. He could never resist bragging about his skills. But as much as that annoyed Walsh, he wasn't going to let the man get tortured. He had been through it before and he had no wish for Jimmy to experience it.

Before anyone could step over to Jimmy, Walsh said, "And where do you get your men? They can't even take a punch."

One of the men growled, walking over to him, punching him.

"Let's see how many you can take then."

When Walsh woke up, he was lying on the ground of the cell. He groaned, sitting up. He looked around until his eyes landed on Jimmy, who was unharmed.

"Oh finally you're awake," he said. "I have a plan to get out of here, next time they take you out, just get me a phone."

Walsh raised his eyebrows, that was going to be hard to do, but he could manage it.

"Can I have your jacket?" he asked. He could feel the beginnings of hypothermia coming on.

Jimmy frowned, "Why? It'll get ruined like your jacket, so what's the point?"

Walsh sighed, "Forget it."

They spent the rest of the time there in silence until Walsh was dragged out again.

******

This time when Walsh woke up, he was in a hospital room. He recognized it as OPI medical. The nurse walked in, checking his vitals and adjusting something on his IV.

"Jimmy?" he asked him.

"He's perfectly fine. He's doing a debrief," he said.

Walsh relaxed, leaning back. Jimmy's plan had failed when one of the men caught him trying to smuggle a phone. Luckily, he had already sent a message to the director with their location which he had managed to get out of Waterson. That had been the last thing he remembered. He'd have to ask Jimmy what happened.

Jimmy never comes down to visit him. He spends a few days in medical before they release him. He runs into Jimmy on the way out. They look at each other for a few seconds before Jimmy says,

"When will you come back?"

Walsh sighed, "I need at least two weeks."

Jimmy makes a face. He opens his mouth to say something, then changes his mind, turning around and walking away without another word. Walsh isn't surprised that he doesn't even acknowledge anything that happened, that's just how Jimmy was.

But a small part of him wished for a small thank you, or someone to talk to about what he went through. His old team would have stayed with him and helped him with his nightmares. But Jimmy never seemed like a person who would do that. They were very effective partners and friends, but they weren't too close on a personal level and ever since his wife had died, JImmy seemed even more distant.

He left the building, driving to his apartment. Maybe he'd call his old army friend. Instead, he ended up on the couch, watching a random movie.

Walsh woke up from a nightmare a few hours later. His heart is pounding and his breaths are coming quickly. He waits for several minutes until he calmed down enough to grab his phone and call Jimmy. He doesn't pick up. Walsh sighed, sliding off the couch. He grabbed his keys and left the apartment, driving towards Jimmy's house. He rung the bell and heard Jimmy yell,

"Get the door, Angus!"

He sighed in relief, he should go, he knew that Jimmy would be upset that he came here. But he can't bring himself to leave. So he waits for Angus to open the door.

He was surprised to see that Angus' eyes are red-rimmed. It's obvious he's been crying. Walsh wasn't good with kids, but he still asked,

"Are you okay?"

"Who are you?" Angus replied, sniffling.

"I'm a friend of your Dad's. I came to see him."

Angus looked at him like he was trying to see if he was lying or not. Eventually he must decide that Walsh is telling the truth because he stepped aside to let him in.

"Please don't tell him I was crying. He doesn't like that," Angus whispered.

Walsh froze. He knew it must be tough for Angus after his mother died, but he could never imagine Jimmy saying something like that to Angus. It probably had something to do with the fact that Jimmy thought showing emotions was a weakness.

"I won't," he managed to say, before walking into the study. He had a few things he needed to talk to Jimmy about.

*****

The next years don't improve much for Walsh. They are still just as effective in their partnership, but the longer Walsh spends with him, the less he liked Jimmy. He mostly ignored it anytime Jimmy said something ignorant, but sometimes he's amazed at the things Jimmy says despite working for OPI. It's like he does things just for appearance. And it seemed to be working. He had already been promoted a few times and now, rumor was, they were considering making him the next director.

Walsh's blood boiled at that thought. He had done so much, he had saved Jimmy's life so many times and yet he didn't get any recognition for anything he did. He should have also been promoted, but he was always getting injured due to Jimmy's crazy plans. Jimmy hadn't even thanked him for anything, for putting so much trauma onto himself. The one time he had mentioned it, Jimmy had dismissed him, saying what had happened "wasn't a big deal."

And why were they making the person who abandoned his own son a director? That spoke to what kind of person Jimmy was. Though the agency might have appreciated the fact that he chose the job over his family. Jimmy had claimed he was trying to protect Angus, but Walsh knew better. And he had paid a visit to Angus, from a distance, and seen how he was doing. He had left quickly, it was almost unbearable to see the heartbreak and sadness on Angus' face.

He knew that this place wasn't for him, not if they let someone like Jimmy stay in charge. And he knew saying something about it would probably end up landing him in a hole somewhere, like the hundreds of criminals he had helped catch. He had started checking out his options at  other places, CIA, FBI, but he had a feeling that he would end up in a similar situation. No, he needed someplace where he knew he would be appreciated.

It almost seemed unreal, what he was about to do, but he knew there were no more sides, no good and no evil. It was just a show, an illusion. He knew, with all the information he had and his skills, he would instantly earn the respect of the cartel. Finally, Walsh felt like he had a plan. He was going to make Jimmy regret everything he did during their partnership.

*****

Walsh wasn't particularly surprised that Jimmy and Angus escaped and burned down the compound. He should have kept better watch on them. But he was surprised by Angus. He couldn't understand how Angus had forgiven his father, let alone work for him. But he had seen a hint of his insecurities in his eyes when he mentioned how Jimmy had never talked about him after he left. He supposed he could use that to his advantage. For now, he just needed to make sure he could find both of them...

[verobatto]

Destiel Chronicles

(Vol. XXIII)

It was a love story from the very beginning.

When you're more than family

(6x16/6x18/6x20)

Hello my friends! How are you??? We have this chronicle and the next one, and we'll be officially finishing season 6!!!

I want to give thanks to my friend @agusvedder she made the gifs for this meta, thank you girl! 💕

Ok, I'm gonna talk here about an interesting parallel I saw between Rufus/Bobby and Dean/Cas, I consider this a huge proof to settle Destiel as a romantic relationship. I'll take episode 16, 18 and first part from 20.

But let's start for once! Enjoy!

Episode 16 as a foreshadow for Leviathan and Castiel's possession

Episode 6x16 "And then there were none" we had two specific situations foreshadowing what will happen by the end of this season.

I want to talk first about the foreshadow of the arrive of Leviathan inside Castiel's vessel.

Pay attention to this piece of dialogue...

BOBBY: So, we're talking about, like, a monster that gets in you?

DEAN: It's like a Khan worm on steroids.

SAM: You mean like a parasite, something that took over your body.

DEAN: Worm crawls in you, worm crawls out.

RUFUS: Monster possession? That's novel.

SAMUEL: Or that thing's still in you, and we can't trust a word that you're saying.

This was foreshadowing Castiel's Leviathan possession, a monster that gets in you, is clear here the parallel, and then Dean saying "worm crawls in you, worm crawls out" is what will happen with Cas at the beginning of season 7.

Episode 16 as a foreshadow of Dean and Cas break up

When Sam faces Samuel, there's an interesting quote there, that can be seen as a foreshadow too...

SAMUEL: Just because you're Dr. Jekyll at the moment doesn't mean you can get all high and mighty. Don't forget, we spent a year together.

SAM: Yeah, we did. We're blood. And you still sold me out.

Sam is claiming here to his grandfather, his family, because he betrayed them. Cas is family too, and they have been together for a large period too. So the betrayal will hurt deeply. But mostly to Dean.

Now, let's jump to the interesting conflict between Rufus and Bobby. There was something in their past, something huge that hurted Rufus and he couldn't forgive Bobby.

Read the following dialogue...

BOBBY: Yeah, s-shut up a minute. I'm trying to say something. It was my fault – Omaha.

RUFUS: No. No, it wasn't.

BOBBY: No, I should – I should have listened to you.

RUFUS Well, hey, that's categorical, Bobby.

Think about this, Bobby here is CAS mirror, and Rufus is Dean. Bobby/Cas is regretting something he did in the past that hurted badly to his best friend. And that quote... Is what Cas would feel at the beginning of season 7 when he will try to get Dean's forgiveness.

Okey.. let's continue...

BOBBY: I – l-let me just get this out.

RUFUS: Bobby, we've had this conversation already, okay?

BOBBY: No, we haven't. I never said I'm sorry, Rufus. I – you lost her because of me, and I—

RUFUS: Bobby, I said we've had this conversation already. And you could blabber all day...And it wouldn't change a thing, Bobby.

I saw this and I was like... Of course, this is talking and yelling Destiel all over the place. This is a blantant foreshadow of Dean and Castiel fighting.

Castiel trying to convince Dean, and Dean too hurt to listen. Cas saying "I'm sorry" and Dean "This won't change nothing" , I know you remember this ... The next episode are so sad that my heart hurts.

Ok, but... The scandalous thing isn't this parallel... But Dean's own words...

Cas is more than family for Dean... That's why he won't forgive him

Ok... This was an enlightened discover here (sorry if someone else has seen this before, come and share your thoughts) but... When Dean listened what had happened between Rufus and Bobby, and when he knew Rufus has never forgiven Bobby.. this was what he said...

SAM: So, what happened?

BOBBY: It was Omaha. It was my fault. And he never let it go.

DEAN: Well, he should have.

BOBBY: You don't know what I did, Dean.

DEAN: Doesn't matter.

BOBBY: What do you mean, it doesn't—

DEAN: (...)We're gonna spend it wringing our hands? Something's gonna get us eventually, and when my guts get ripped out, just so you two know, we're good. Blanket apology for all the crap that anybody's done all the way around.

SAM: Some of us pulled a lot of crap, Dean.

DEAN: Well, clean slate.

SAM: Okay.

Two things with theses words Sayed by Dean...

1) Dean thinks family and friends deserves forgiveness, no matter what they did. Ergo... If he thinks that, why he couldn't forgive Castiel's betrayal? Isn't Castiel family? His best friend? Like a brother? Why then he didn't forgave him? Simply, because for Dean CAS IS MORE THAN A FRIEND, AND MORE THAN FAMILY. This is just logic, my friends and a huge proof of what the writers want us to see, a big subtext of how Destiel was written romantically. In his own words we will hear him say too in 7x17 (Reading is fundamental) that what Cas did, he doesn't know why, but he couldn't forgive him. And he will say too, that never had happened to him before. You need more proofs?? Dean is in love with Cas. But he still doesn't admit it. (He will in season 8).

2) He says when his time comes... He wants to know everything is ok with his friends and family, so everything has to be forgiven. Ok... That would explain why when he was about to die in that mission to kill Dick in season 7, he forgives Cas.

Ok, now, following the same idea, we had this sweet snack, brought by my dearest friend Agus, I was screaming like a crazy lady when she told me this... Pay attention... In Dean's words too...

Episode 6x18 "Frontierland" Dean and Sam travel in time to track the Colt.

DEAN: I know where we can find one. March 5, 1861. Sunrise, Wyoming. We'll "Star Trek IV" this bitch.

Ok, Dean... Star Trek... Men on space... You'll be an astronaut or something like that...

Immediately after this... Dean prays to Cas...

DEAN We got a guy who can swing it. (Dean stands up, and prays) Castiel. The, uh, fate of the world is in the balance. So, come on down here. Come on, Cas, "I Dream of Jeannie" your ass down here pronto. Please.

(an angel appears in the vessel of a blonde woman)

DEAN: Jeannie?

Ok, not Cas, but... Wait a second... Why are you an astronaut and Cas is Jeannie? We all know what happened between them... Yeah... The fell in love with each other!!! *Screaming*

Then I died and Agus went for the dragon balls to resurrect me.

She will add something in the comments beacuse when she showed me that "thing" she found ... I died again. So. Agus, be responsible.

Now, just to give a closure to episode 6x16, another petit foreshadow...

Sam and Dean will lose his second dad

At the end of the episode, the boys are alone looking at Rufus's grave.

And then...

Here a sad prelude of Bobby's death in season 7.

Dean's blind Faith in Cas

In episode 6x18, we had a curious situation, Jealous!Dean strikes again, when he prays to Cas but the one answering is his lieutenant.

She is angry with the Winchesters brothers, because she thinks they call Cas just to use him for their capricious desires.

But in the middle of that discussion, Cas arrives.

The tone in Dean's voice and his facial expression is yelling jealous, that's not the point here now, but just wanted to mention it, because is our jam.

Fine, now... In this same episode we see Cas walking into the dark side, and we have this dialogue with his lieutenant...

RACHEL: Castiel, I've been hearing things. Things I don't want to believe. Just tell me if it's true.

CASTIEL: If what's true?

RACHEL: You know. Your dirty little secret.

CASTIEL: I have to defeat Raphael.

Cas is willing to anything to defeat Raphael.

RACHEL: Not this way, Castiel.

CASTIEL: Rachel.

RACHEL: We put our faith in you, and...look what you're turning into.

CASTIEL: I don't have a choice.

RACHEL: Then neither do I.

Rachel is disappointed with him, her leader is working with Crowley.

We see this scene, and immediately we are worry too about Cas behavior and future.

But the most hurtful and beautiful episode from the whole season was 6x20, The man who would be king, written by Edlund, this episode was an oasis for Castiel's fans. Here Cas talks directly with us, Edlund describes the character he created and explains why he's doing what he's doing.

I divided the episode in two parts, I will talk here about Dean's blind Faith, trust, in Cas... Is very heartbreaking watch him trying to believe in Case till the last second. Because CAS was more than family to him.

So, first of all... This scene...

If you notice Dean's face. He's worry about Cas. He's worry because his brother and Bobby suspect about him, and he feels between CAS and them. He tries saying that to him. Because he still trust him, and he is sure if something is wrong, Cas will count on him. And the longing stare, so Destiel here. Cas is struggling with telling or not the truth, and Dean is expecting some answer. This is sad and angsty my friends...

But Dean isn't the only one feeling himself between two poles, Castiel is too. When he arrives with Crowley, the King of Hell makes him notice he knows about it...

Crowley says this, knowing how it sounds. It sounds like a romantic thing. And he did it on purpose. So, Crowley is presenting Cas and Dean encounter inside the Impala as a romantic scenario.

Now... Let's go with Dean arriving to Bobby's house...

Ugh, that. He still believes in Cas, he is giving himself excuses to kept his faith on him, the same happened when CAS leave him alone on Purgatory, or when the angel didn't scape from there, he invented in his mind excuses, because he loves Cas so much, he never would expect betrayal from him.

And Cas being there, hidden, listening to his friends, as if he was a spy.

And this quote here...

This is sadness, because he's watching Dean trying so hard to be loyal to him, imagine the war Cas was having inside of him. He felt he was still the Winchesters's guardian, but at the same time, he had HIS MISSION, and nothing goes before CASTIEL'S MISSION.

If you're not crying so far... I have two more things Dean says because he loves and trusts in Castiel....

SAM: Yeah. So what now?

DEAN: We'd call Cas.

SAM: What?

DEAN: This is usually the point where we would call Cas for help.

BOBBY: We talked about this.

SAM: Yeah, Dean.

DEAN: I mean, when there was no one...And we were stuck - and I mean really stuck - he broke ranks. He has gone to the mat cut and bleeding for us so many freakin' times. This is Cas! Don't we owe him the benefit of the doubt at least?

Yeah... Let's cry... Even with all the evidence, Dean believes in him. Cas is Sam and Bobby's friend, but for Dean, evidently, HE IS MORE THAN THAT.

So they prayed to him... But Cas was there... Listening hidden... And didn't come...

DEAN Castiel...Come on in.

CASTIEL But I didn't go to them...Because I knew they would have questions I couldn't answer...Because I was afraid.

Edlund shows us the whole time Castiel's inner war... His feelings... His suffering.

And Dean... Dean still believes in him... Because here you have another invented excuse he gave himself...

To Conclude:

6x16 was full of foreshadows for Destiel fight, the arrival of the Leviathan inside Cas and Bobby's death. It also showed us what Dean thinks about forgive family or friends. Ergo, and because he couldn't forgive Cas, Cas was more than that to him.

6x18 gave us a romantic parallel with the astronaut Dean and Cas/Jeannie.

It shows too Cas in the dark side.

6x20 was a beautiful episode written by Edlund, showing us the intimacy of Castiel's thoughts. The POV is exquisite, and explains perfectly why Cas was doing what he was doing. Edlund defends his character, and writes a romantic and angsty chapter.

Dean believes in Case against all the evidences, just because he loves him. And Cas is more than family to him.

I hope you like this, see you in the next Chronicle!

Tagging @magnificent-winged-beast @emblue-sparks @weirddorkylittlediana @michyribeiro @whyjm @koshisekisen @legendary-destiel @a-bit-of-influence @thatwitchydestielfan @misha-moose-dean-burger-lover @lykanyouko @evvvissticante @savannadarkbaby @angelneedshunter @trickster-archangel @dea-stiel @bre95611 @thewolfatmydoor @charlottemanchmal @neii3n @deathswaywardson @followyourenergy @dean-is-bi-till-i-die @hekatelilith-blog @avidbkwrm @anarchiana @mishka-the-angel-of-saturday @dickpuncher365 @vampyrosa @xsghn @foxyroxe-art @authorsararayne @anonymoustitans @mybonsai1976 @love-neve-dies @wildligia @dustythewind @wayward-winchester67 @angelwithashotgunandtrenchcoat @trashblackrainbow @deeutdutdutdoh @destiel-is--endgame @destiel-shipper-11 @larrem88 @charmedbycastiel @ran-savant @little-crazy-misha-minion @samoosetheshipper @shadows-and-padlocked-hearts

If you want to be tagged, just let me know.

Previous season 6 Chronicles:

Vol. XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX, XXI, XXII.

Buenos Aires, August 7th 2019 10:05 PM

[the-kipsabian]

*rolls o v e r* I want angst for UpbeatDreams: Especially just unsure Nate trying to cope with his feelings and trying to seek on what to do with just out right saying it? He would jus try to hint to his friends ( like mads or kit ) about the possibility of liking Ayu but he always back out and just plays it off as nothing when he’s questioned about it directly? Plus things probably get so chaotic when Natemare strikes, like the soft boy doesn’t have a lot on his plate already-

oh poor soft bois mmmmmwhy does asagao!nate come with so much angst he was supposed to be a pure happy boi lol

➭ nate is. actually really good at figuring out his feelings for people, like pretty early on he realizes that he wants to befriend ayu, then be closer to him, and eventually hes like heck yeah there are real feelings here! nate just. has hard time putting those into words and telling them to other people? not only just like the target of his admiration, but everyone. if someone asks if he likes someone, hes just gonna shrug and not admit them to anyone else than to himself

➭ so while he thinks talking to his friends about this and wanting to date ayu and take him out and smooch the violin boys precious little face, nate just. cant get anything out of his mouth? he starts with like ‘hey can we talk’ like somewhat serious actually and when he is sitting down with whoever he wants to talk about this nate just pulls a joke or two out and changes to subject (”hey i actually just wanted to ask about homework” “do you have any recent fave songs im looking for new stuff to cover” etc.). and people do notice that.. hes not being super genuine about what he wants to talk about, but since people know nate mostly as a very open person, they dont want to push the issue cause if they see its something he doesnt want to talk about, they are afraid pushing it will make his open personality die down and shut him off tbh

➭ only when its natemare it gets honestly out there. but with natemare’s case, since people dont take him super seriously with what he does and what he says (cause he throws around a lot of stuff and says things that people know not to be true and he jokes about everything terribly and yeah), it just kinda gets lost in translation. its taken as a cruel joke when nate(mare) goes on a ramble in ayu’s face how much he likes them, and that just. honestly doesnt end too well tbh (if we wanna combine this with the bffnate canon, this happens either during the halloween party, so kit will hear about this later but isnt present when it goes down)

➭ so ayu and nate have somewhat of a fallout at this point. ayu is hurt by the things said to him cause even tho it was basically a confession, the way it was framed it sounded like a condescending joke, hes just. nope ayu is just done with nate. who still does their best to get everything in order between them, like he doesnt really know what he did that hurt ayu so badly (probably multiple mutual friends are really yelling at him at the point cause nate what the hell) and he just. wants to make things right. and hes trying to also fix things between him and kit at the moment and its all such a mess and ugh

➭ and after the feather incident with kit, nate finally gets the courage together to actually make the decision to talk to ayu and try to fully figure it out. cause if what he did hurt kit like this, my god what could have this done to the boy he Liked? so nate finds one of those days where ayu has secluded himself to the recording booth with his violin, and nate tracks down this violin boy so its just the two of them in the studio and. hes going to take this chance to talk to ayu, nate is so determined to do this, like usually he gives in if people dont wanna do something with him, but my god he just NEEDS to talk with ayu no matter what

➭ so its. kinda awkward. ayu doesnt wanna be there with the boy who hurt their feelings like that, nate wants to know whats wrong.. and ultimately after a somewhat heated conversation ayu lets it out cause hes just exhausted and wants nate to leave him alone cause he cant take it and just. blurts out everything that natemare told him about nate feelings for him that halloween night and ayu is trying to keep himself together while nate just quietly stares at him like. i said that? cause thats. all true tho im sorry it had to come up like that but its true

➭ and like ayu is getting anxious but he allows nate to hug him cause the sincere concern over this crying boy and the apologetic eyes nate have are genuine and ayu can sense that and nate just. stands there with him in the booth holding him close and petting his hair like. im sorry i did all that. it didnt mean to let it out like that, ive been wanting to tell you but not this way nope this isnt how i wanted to make it happen and im so sorry it came out so wrong but. i do like you. forgive me please?

➭ ayu is kinda hesitant but nate is seriously sorry and wants to better himself so. he is forgiven. to which nate responds with a happy smile, another quick hug to ayu and a kiss on the cheek, promising to leave ayu to play in peace again but they should have breakfast tomorrow together and nate leaves him there all confused and blushing cause was thAT A KISS AND A DATE INVITE???

(➭ the following morning they have breakfast together and nate. sneakily finds ways to hold ayu’s hand whenever he can, during breakfast and walking to class and it just. kinda builds up from there tbh. slow and steady and they like never exactly talk about it being official or anything like that, it just kinda happens little by little over time aaaaaa)

[dazeyrains-blog]

Cold outside - A fluffy Hayffie one shot. (Hey, it's Christmas)

"You're late" Haymitch said, making his way up to Katniss and Peetas porch at the same time as another familiar figure

"And you're here" The figure replied, just as surprised when they eventually met at the front door.

"Trinket"

"Mr Abernathy"

"Its been a while"

"Only a year since last Christmas"

She was cold.

"Yeah...last Christmas. When you left early"

"And you didn't bother to come at all..."

And she was bitter.

Effie turned to the door to knock but Haymitch suddenly stopped her, sliding his fingers around the wrist of her raised arm until she halted.

"Can we...start over?"

Effie dropped her arm reluctantly. The gift wedged in her other arm was heavy as she adjusted it against her hip.

"Why not" she said bluntly and he sensed hostility in her tone too.

Haymitch looked at her as she looked at the door. They could both hear the commotion inside, the music, the children, Katniss calling to her mother, Peeta laughing, an array of chatter and laughter from other guests...

They'd been passing ships for the last three years Effie and he, both of them purposfuly avoiding the other but neither of them understanding why.

She was angry with him, she knew that much. He'd called her a coward for staying away so much a few years back and she hadn't yet forgiven that... Even though it was said out of anger after she had missed the twins birth and the naming ceremony. It hadn't been her fault, she worked hard to keep Cinnas fashion line going, she couldn't just bail whenever an occasion arose. He had apologised, many times, just not to her. He'd done it through Katniss or Peeta and unfortunately for Effie, it wasn't good enough. So she had stayed away, she'd kept herself busy....She had been miserable. No matter what, she knew she still cared about him. Cared about his health, his well being, his journey in life. She had thought about him alot...and she had hated that.

Of course, he had thought about her too. Sometimes when he had least expected too. She would pop into his head at the most unusual times like when he was making coffee, or stacking fresh logs on his fire. Then he would wonder to himself about how she was or where she was. Then he would quickly shake the thoughts out of his mind, because, why should he care...

"Let's just...get tonight over with" she added, but she hadn't meant it hurtfully. He could tell by the sadness in her eyes "Then we are out of each other's hair for another year"

Before he could argue she had knocked on the door. They waited together in silence as quick footsteps approached.

"Effie! Haymitch!" Peeta beamed "You came... together?"

In unison, they quickly replied 'No'

"Well, good timing" Peeta continued "we're just about to start a game of charades before dinner"

"Great...a game" Haymitch said unenthusiastically, which made Effie purse her lips.

"A game sounds like wonderful fun" she declared, passing Peeta her gift, saying it was for the whole family. Then, just to add fuel to the fire, she turned back to Haymitch, spying his baren grasp "I notice you've arrived empty handed"

Peeta swallowed, waiting for an argument to erupt. He closed the door slightly, not inviting them in fully just yet. He then looked at Haymitch, waiting for a harsh reply to come but...much to his and Effies surprise, Haymitch just smiled and held his hands in the air.

"You got me, Princess" he said, equally turning his attention soley on her "But then, I already left the new play set that i hand carved in the back yard for Peeta, Katniss and the kids to see later on...as a surprise, so...thanks for ruining that one."

Effie went crimson.

This situation was not getting any better.

Suddenly Peeta had an idea...

"Well...please, do come in" he offered, but as they both made their way towards the threshold, Peeta stopped them and pointed upwards "But don't forget the Thistletweed tradition" he grinned, knowing that Haymitch had caught on straight away to his devious plan.

"Excuse me?" Effie replied in confusion "The what?"

"Peeta..." Haymitch warned, but Peeta was having none of it.

"What?" He said innocently "It's a tradition that's been around for centuries Haymtich, you know it's bad luck to pass under the Thistletweed without respecting tradition...don't you"

The boy grinned as Haymitch shifted uncomfortably

"Ive strict orders from Katniss not to let anyone inside without adhering to the tradition..." Peeta carried on "You know how suspicious she can get. I'll let you explain to Effie, Haymitch and I'll see you both inside shorty" and with that, Peeta left them at the open door, taking his gift inside with him.

Effie looked at Haymitch inquisitively, awaiting his version of the so called district 12 tradition that she clearly had never even heard of before now.

Haymitch sighed, knowing full well he couldn't get away with a lie as she would only ask someone else later. He turned to face her again.

"See that, princess" he said, pointing up above their heads to the bundle of what looked like dried weeds hanging above the door frame.

"That's Thistletweed..."

He waited for a response, some sign of recognition but Effie remained none the wiser.

Haymitch rolled his eyes.

"Look...It's an ancient tradition ok. One that states that any man and woman, unrelated, who happen to pass beneath the leaves of the Thistletweed, must share a kiss before taking a further step"

Effie blinked and her jaw fell open at the words "share a...a kiss?"

"Yeah... those who do are said to enjoy a life of fulfilment, but for those of us that ignore the tradition...are doomed to a much unfulfilled life, and condemn those they love around them the same fate"

He rolled his eyes uncomfortably, shoving his hands into his pockets, waiting for her to laugh out loud...

But she didn't.

"Oh" she replied simply taking in the story and remembering the promise she made to herself a few years ago about this place, to respect the odd and baffling ways of district 12 and their folklore tales. Especially after they had granted her permission to return here after the war...

"So...you have to kiss me?" She asked

"Well, I have to ask you first...you can refuse"

"And if I did?"

"Then life goes on, whatever, it's a stupid tradition, let's just go inside-"

"No!" She said sternly, wrapping her hand around his wrist "tradition is tradition I suppose" she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and took a deep breath in anticipation "We wouldn't want to bring bad luck upon our friends now, would we?"

"Guess not"

"Well then..."

"Well then."

He looked at her for a moment as she looked at him, the two of them silently figuring each other out.

"Well Princess, may I kiss you?"

That name again. She clucked her tongue and rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I suppose you may, and don't call me prin-"

His lips caught hers in one quick swoop.

The kiss felt rough and a little forced at first and Haymitch must have felt it too because instead of pulling away and making the kiss short and simple he allowed himself a second or two to adjust the pressure of his lips against hers, stepping in towards her a little more and gently, slowly guiding her lips apart for a deeper kiss.

As the two of them stood there, both eagerly trying not to make their kissing technique an utter disaster, seconds flew by into a whole minutes as their mouths slowly moved in a rhythmic pattern against oneanothers, his hands came up to cradle her face as he felt the sweet tip of her tongue, slip across his, sending an ache down his belly and into his groin.

They carried on like that until they eventually heard a throat clear beside them and suddenly, they were awake again, fully conscious of the fact that they had been kissing one another...like, really kissing one another, outside, on the porch, in the snow, for nearly 5 whole minutes.

"I...ah...I see your done arguing" Peeta smirked "We're all waiting, so we can begin the game but I'll...um...I'll distract them a few minutes longer" He closed the door again, leaving them alone

Effie cleared her throat. She could feel the burn at her chin from his stubble and it made her feel warm inside.

"We should...head inside" she said and Haymitch cocked a grin.

"I really can't stay..." he said suddenly and Effie was stunned

"What? What do you mean...can't stay?" She replied, fearful that it was her fault, the fault of the kiss

"I have to go away..."

Away? Where? Away away or back to his house away? She was confused

"But it's Christmas, Haymitch, where are you-?"

"This evening has been..."

And then it dawned on her

"Sooooo very niiiice"

"Oh, Haymitch!"

He laughed, watching her turn pink again

"You will never change!" She said, and it took her a few seconds but she eventually warmed to the joke, and found it quite funny.

She hit him playfully.

"If every kiss we share comes with its own song, you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be burning every piece of Thistletweed in sight!"

"Every kiss?" He grinned "So, they'll be more?"

"Don't push it, 'baby'" she winked "Come on, it's getting...cold outside"

~ Fin

Merry Christmas and a happy New year xxx

[kadywicker]

inifnity war spoilers ahead please leave now if u dont wanna see em

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you had WARNING

anyway heres a rough outline of my thought process thru the movie from what i can remember 

a dude walked in wearing a justice league shirt and it was the biggest power move of the evening

rip heimdall u truly were the hottest bitch in the mcu

i already saw the spoilers that loki died but im still in mourning. my chaotic twink son :( also him tearing up when thor was getting tortured was like, possibly, one of the worst things to happen to me this evening. and his “you will never be a god” and “we will see the sun rise again yet, brother” like i’d rather be dead.

wheres valkyrie you fucking bitches

i know marvel has been trying to make me care about pepper and tony for like.... the entirety of the mcu and in theory i enjoy it but in reality i just heavily do not care

walked into this w out watching dr strange bc i refuse to so seeing him was very unpleasant for me :/

the second that one fuckin... servant of thanos guy showed up that tony called squidward i just burst into fucking laughter bc oh my fucking god. he looks like one of the star wars prequels aliens. i didnt know how i was supposed to react to that??? what the fuck????? kin? 

at least this time tony attempted to get peter away from the fight ig??? also like okay i kno its a running gag but did the russos have to make peter reference old movies like what 3 times in this movie and once in their last one like please..... Please. its done. its over! 

look...... look. look! look. i have made MULTIPLE posts on this website about how ugly i think chris evans is. especially when hes got his weird short, spiky hair. ive made this very VERY clear. i thought i was clear on this, myself. but let me tell u the fuck what when steven grant rogers showed up covered in complete darkness and caught a spear that moves at the speed of light w no hesitation and then stepped out of the shadows i only had one thought: please raw me

also i still dont care about wanda and vision but did wandas accent get slightly less bad or is this just exposure

drax’s reaction to thor was um. Me. also it was this scene that made me realize that ppl saying that the russos reset thor to his previous characterization and that he was nothing like ragnarok thor i....????? hm???? idk i thought he was p in character from what we saw in ragnarok? like did u all expect him to be super light and happy go lucky immediately after his entire planet died and his brother died too like. what.... did u Want. hes still not as grimdark as dark world and he still has the ragnarok vibes but w added “Lifes a Fucking Nightmare So Im Going to Joke Until Someone Murders Me :)” which is just honest to god me, so

oh also in an above part when tony pulled out a flip phone to call steve the dude next to me loudly hissed “what? a fucking flip phone-?” and his wife shushed him. i wanted to lean over and inform him that it was the phone from civil war and if hed been paying ATTENTION he wouldve known that

things arent going to be in much order after this bc im tired and its all a big jumble in my adhd brain but thats okay. its been 6 years and i still couldnt tell u the entire plot of the avengers, so.

tbh the effects in this movie were really fucking gorgeous like.... all the different planets’ scenery was so goddamn beautiful. like idk how to spell it so im not gonna attempt but the planet that gamora died on was literally so fucking pretty i was stunned into a silence what the FUCK was that beautiful nonsense

not enough steve and bucky interaction bc marvels personally out to get me, a known gay

i cant believe buckys a fucking goat farmer like ohfa sdfhadof ?????? just let the man feed his goats in PEACE 

didnt love the whole “thanos really loved gamora” bit but like it makes sense ig. if thats what he thought love was? altho that definitely doesnt mean she loves him or shouldve ever forgiven him bc uuuh Yikes. anyone w abusive parents knows that kind of possessive, overbearing love. and it might be some fucked up twisted form of it but it aint good.

but whoever they casted as baby gamora was spot on? 

when red skull lifted his hood i literally whispered “oh my god” and the lady next to me started laughing at me. 

also while there was a good amount of fighting i rlly appreciated that it wasnt All Fighting and just there to show off that they had cool special effects. like.... it was mostly story and for someone who doesnt give a shit abt action sequences it was v relieving that i didnt have to parse through 2 and a half hours of watching someone do cool but impractical stunts 

man idc abt wanda and dont like mcu natasha bc of the actress but when that chick was like “youll die alone” and natasha said “shes not alone” and then kicked ass i rlly just. hm. thats lesbian.

anyone else agree that when strange said mournfully that there was only one outcome and then said that giving up the time stone was the only way, its basically just telling us that this was all planned and it Will work out fine bc he knew that this was the one path that would lead to them winning. like..... im at least 99% sure thats whats going to happen, here.

steve and bucky may have said 2 sentences to each other but steve reaching out to grab a handful of buckys ashes w a stricken look was literally the worst moment of my entire life and i plan to sue marvel for emotional damages bc that was fucking terrible and i cannot BELIEVE they made me watch that idc if bucky comes back im fuckin pissed

also thats literally every team iron man member to realize that the accords were bullshit and if its 2018 and u still think the accords were right/a good thing i honestly do not know what to tell you

fuckin..... im lookin at captain marvels powers and shes cool and all but hows she gonna save all this........ now im even more curious abt what her movies gonna bring like ???? hello??????

also the only time the theater clapped or cheered was when steve showed up and literally same

i know all the dust ppl r coming back but alsof uc kin......... that was brutal

idk i dont have much 2 add im very sleepy but

i liked it a lot and im excited for the next movie. there were some things that i thought were in poor taste but like..... thats what i expect from every marvel movie, so. im pleasantly surprised by how good this was. idk why but during it it kinda like.... it had the same vibes as return of the king????? like i dont know Why but it has a very.... lotr movie feel to it. but w the staple marvel jokes. idk how to feel about that. i think its good? im not sure. get back to me in a few days after the movie highs worn off and if i still like it then its got my stamp of approval. 

[snickerl]

Blutendes Herz IV

XF fanfiction

Blutendes Herz (Bleeding Heart) is not really a consecutive story but the chapters build upon one another somehow.

Part I can be read here, part II here. Here you will get to part III.

Author's Note: When I was done writing this, I realized that the ending was difficult for shippers to swallow (and I consider myself one) although I tried to give it a positive connotation. So I decided to do with the ending what I did with the opening and I wrote two different possible plots. Therefore, if this closure scenario upsets you, stay tuned for one more installment to come. It will take a different path at the fork our protagonists come across below the cut.

You're sitting on the couch together with your favorite human being. She's pouring you a third cup of tea.

"Thanks for bringing me my favorite tea, Mulder, but you don't have to find excuses every time you come here. Next time, just give me a call when you're in the area and drop by without any of these stupid pretenses."

You scratch the Mexican blanket, the Casablanca DVD, and the funny little porcelain fox she once bought at a garage sale off your mental list. "I hate coming with empty hands, Scully," you reply, not telling her that deep down you're afraid that just you alone is not enough to make your visit worthwhile. That's why you always bring her something she'd left at the house when she moved out.

Just when you started to relax a little, you hear a distinct knock at the door. Your pulse instantly accelerates because of the foreboding sound, whereas she seems to be a picture of calm. "Sounds like Mark. What does he want? When has it become out of style for a man to give a woman a chance to dress properly and freshen up her makeup before he shows up at her doorstep?" she whines, tying her robe tighter. She combs through her hair and rubs her cheeks. You want to tell her that she looks perfect the way she is, that she doesn't need makeup or perfectly styled hair to be beautiful, but you only give her a short, apologetic shrug and sink deeper into the couch cushions, wondering what excuse he might have to drop by at her place just like that.

"Sorry for coming unannounced, my love, but I missed you so much and a man can only wait so long. Impossibly another whole day."

Alright, no pretenses from his side. He's painfully frank about why he's here and his open infatuation is like a cold fist squeezing your heart.

Before Scully is able to reply something, he licks the words off her tongue with a juicy kiss. He shoves her backward into the living-room, his lips glued on hers, maneuvering her to the couch you're sitting on. He obviously plans to engage her in a veritable makeout session, maybe even more, because he clearly wants to plant her flat out on the comfortable piece of furniture. Unfortunately, your long legs are in the way. You try to pull your feet back, but there's not enough space, so you can't prevent him from stumbling over them.

"What the..." he hisses. It takes him a moment to assess what has just happened, but then his facial features morph from utter surprise into boundless fury in a matter of nanoseconds. "You? What the hell are you doing here?" he bellows at you, clearly not pleased at all to see you.

As there is no real justification for you to be here other than that you, like him, simply wanted to see her, and you doubt he would be amused by this one, all you can come up with is the same excuse you gave her earlier.

"I brought Scully a box of tea she forgot at our house." If this feeble attempt to explain your being here wasn't so damn embarrassing, you might have burst into laughter at how ridiculous you sound. But you don't feel like laughing, and neither does he.

"What? You brought her tea? A year after she left you? Are you kidding me?" His voice has become louder with every word. In the end, he's yelling at you.

"Mark," the receiver of the tea intervenes, "would you calm down, please. There's no need to shout like this."

"Who knows how many times I've seen him here? Four, five? And how often has he been here without me even knowing? Huh, Dana?"

"You're not seriously expecting me to give you an account of who I meet with when you're not around, are you?" Her eyes indicate quite clearly that his boring questions are pissing her off. You've never seen her eyebrows melt into her hairline like this, and you've been at the receiving end of her indignation countless times. You're an expert, actually, on what she looks like when she's mad.

Mark is unwavering tough in his current state of anger. "You're entertaining other men in your pajamas when I'm not here, Dana, and it's supposed to leave me cold? Really?"

Your breath is halted. Of course, he doesn't know that Scully in a robe was so common to you even before you became romantically involved that it really is no big deal. Actually, you haven't really noticed she was in her pajamas when you got here until she said she would go change quickly and you told her not to be silly. You saw each other in hospital gowns, nightwear, undergarments, naked more than any other working duo on the planet, so seeing your former spouse in a pair of flannel PJs underneath a thick white terry cloth robe isn't inappropriate one bit. For you, that is. His attitude varies slightly from yours.

"What are you implying here, Mark?" Scully asks tight-lipped, although it's pretty obvious. Regardless that he is miles off target with his suspicions, you feel a pleasant twitch in your groin. An unexpected, yet very pleasant one.

"He's more to you than just a friend, right?"

There, he speaks it out. His voice is weirdly distorted when he draws imaginable quotation marks into the air pronouncing the word 'friend'.

CLOSURE A - Shippers Beware There Be Sea Serpents In These Waters!

It takes you a moment until you fully comprehend what his innuendo is an expression of but then you get it. He fears he's losing her. He really believes you're on a mission to take her away from him, which you aren't, regardless what your best member just told you. All you want at this stage is to be allowed to share her company once in a while, to make her a part of your life again after you had abandoned her so wantonly. Your motives might change someday in the future, but you're true when you're saying that for now, all you want is to have your camaraderie back.

"Mark, let me explain my-" you therefore start but are instantly silenced by him.

"Oh, shut the fuck up, Mulder! I haven't asked you, have I? Can I please have a word with my girlfriend without you butting in?"

"Don't do this, Mark," you hear Scully whisper and you offer to go. This is shifting slowly but surely into a serious relationship argument between the two of them. You're a thorn in his side and the reason for him being mad at her, you should vanish as quickly as possible to let them settle this.

"No, Mulder, you stay. We've got nothing to hide. You're my guest and we were having tea, and I don't see any reason why you should leave." She can be stubborn if she wants to make a point.

"You're choosing him over me?" The shock and disbelief in his voice are unmistakable. "Now, that says it all!"

"That says nothing at all! Mulder and I were having tea, nothing more and nothing less. And by the way, you came here unannounced just like he did, only that he was here first. So what makes you believe you are any more entitled to stay than he is?"

"Because I am your boyfriend for starters?"

You can tell he's risking his neck with his careless talk. You know how much Scully hates chauvinistic predominance such as this. You're a bit surprised by this intense eruption of jealousy and possessiveness on Mark's part. Until now, he's always been so laid-back when you were around.

"Are you saying that your being here is more legitimate than Mulder's because we sleep together? Is that where this is going?"

"Yes, exactly," he sputters, obviously quicker than he intended to because as soon as the last syllable has left his mouth, his face contorts into a painful grimace. "No! No, of course, not! All I'm saying is...what I'm trying to say, is...ugh!"

"What? You weren't shy blurting out what was on the tip of your tongue a moment ago, why are you being so reserved all of a sudden?"

Boy, is she pissed. She's eyeing him defiantly, unwilling to yield even a millimeter. Her voice is calm, frighteningly so, but you know this posture of hers: feet hip-width apart, straightened knees, arms crossed in front of her chest, head slightly tilted, chin lifted. Every muscle in her tiny body is strained. She's like a rattlesnake ready to jump at her prey.

Her body language isn't failing to take effect, he realizes he overreacted. "Dammit, Dana," he says in a much softer voice now, completely bereft of the sharpness it bore a few moments ago, "I was simply taken off guard by the two of you cozily spending the afternoon together on your couch. I'm sorry I lashed out at you like this, I had no right to do that. Apologies to you too, Mulder. It was a bit over the top."

You stop him with a shake of your hand. "It's okay. Already forgiven and forgotten."

Scully is also appeased. She resolves her rigid body posture, closes the gap between them and ruffles his hair as if he were a little boy. "That wasn't a bit over the top, Mark, it was completely out of proportion. What has gotten into you?"

"For a second I pictured the two of you having something going on behind my back. I mean, you're in your robe, Dana! I simply saw red," he admits meekly, his raw honesty disarming.

"That's ridiculous, Mark. I would never do something like this."

"Yeah, I know. Now that my pulse is back to normal, I know." He shows her his grim face.

"Men," she sighs, "why do you always have to be so territorial?"

"It's in our genes, Scully," you defend your gender and him along with it, "when we've found our girl, we bite away everyone who comes near her."

"Oh, so you approve of such a behavior?"

"I would've probably reacted the same way."

Definitely. Maybe even worse.

"So you're saying this pathetic urge to stake one's claim is something men can't do anything against, that it's a natural reaction?"

She looks at both of you, waiting for an answer. "In a way, yes," you eventually say and Mark nods his assent with some determination.

Scully rolls her eyes, then pinches the bridge of her nose, a distressed sigh escaping her chest. "I don't believe this," she whispers to herself. "You two hobby biologists realize that I'm a trained medical doctor and very proficient when it comes to the nature of human instincts and impulses?"

"But you're a woman, baby," Mark pipes up, "you don't know what we men feel when a rival steps into our line of vision."

"Mulder is not a rival. How often do I have to tell you, Mark?"

"I get that now, Dana, but that doesn't change the fact that I thought he could be." He's wearing a contrite face, appealing to her with puppy eyes which are in no way less powerful than yours. Maybe, it's a typical male thing, to apply that small boy pattern when trying to soften a woman's heart. "C'mere," he breathes, his voice velvety and silky now. He holds his hand out to her, but she's ignoring it, maybe because she's still a little annoyed by his impulsive reaction. He is not deterred, though. He steps closer, really close, so close she can no longer overlook him. He lifts her chin with a finger to make her eyes meet his, then explains, "my exaggerated reaction is simply a sign of how much I'm in love with you. I'm willing to compete with every guy who dares to lay an eye on you. I don't even care if he carries a gun."

You're not licensed to carry a gun anymore, and as long as you're on psychiatric drugs to fight your depression, you won't be. Too bad, actually. You'd like to see if he'd walk the pompous talk with your Glock pointed at his head. You're somewhat certain those syrupy words speaking of his claim of owning her must annoy her, but to your complete bewilderment instead of rolling her eyes and quirking an eyebrow she smiles at him. You stare at her how her body relaxes into his, how her cheek melts into his hand. She casts her eyes down like a teenage girl being sweet-talked by her first beau. He's definitely struck the right chord with her.

What you see simultaneously amazes and disgusts you. The way she's at peace with herself is wonderful. She seems so content and relaxed. It's just him, Mark, who destroys the picture for you.

You clear your throat and make her jump away from him with it. She puts a hand to her chest and gasps. She'd obviously forgotten you're still in the room. "Sorry," you mumble. You could say that you didn't mean to startle her like this, that your sole intention was to protect yourself from having to see them interact so intimately, but you don't, of course. The time has definitely come for you to leave them alone for whatever they are up to - caressing, kissing, make-up sex.

You swallow down the bile which is rising up your food pipe. It leaves an acid trail behind. You take your eyes off of them by pretending to look at the watch on your wrist. "Oh, is it that late already? I forgot that I have an appointment with my tax accountant," you lie. "Gotta go."

"Oh, okay," is all she replies. "I walk you out."

Sure thing, now she lets you go. She doesn't even tell you to say hi to Mrs. Sanderson, your neighbor, who has been filing both your tax declarations for years. She's simply not with you at the moment, she's focussing on him - her boyfriend, her lover, her whatever - who's still holding her hand. Somehow you wished she would tell you to stay once again, but of course, she doesn't. She wants to be alone with him. If you ever felt like the fifth wheel, it has to be now.

"It's okay, Scully. I show myself out."

You don't look back when you close the door to her apartment behind you. You lean against the wall in the hallway and take a few deep breaths to steady your pulse. You hear them talk to each other inside, the walls are not very thick apparently. Their voices are getting louder for a moment when they pass the front door and then quieter again. You hear the hardwood creak under their feet. Are they on their way to the bedroom? Probably. You hear a girlish giggle and then the closing of a door, the bedroom door. Then there's only silence, and you're thankful for it. It turns the cinema in your head off and lets you take inventory of your emotions.

What are you feeling right now, Fox Mulder? If you leave your hurt pride aside that she's chosen him over you in there, what are you feeling?

To your utter bewilderment, you're doing okay. Your heart is still beating and is not shattered into a million pieces. You're breathing normally and not hyperventilating. You're not sinking to the floor because your legs give way but are standing upright, albeit steadied by the wall behind you. You might be able to survive this, you acknowledge. You might be able to live with the fact that your Scully is with another man. How is that possible? Dr. Summers really must be one hell of a therapist.

You let your feet carry you away. Away from this place, away from her, away from your faint hopes for a revival of the romance between you. But it's okay. You feel capable of dealing with this, of accepting the reality as it is. You will have to find another common ground with her, that will be your new project.

EPILOGUE

"Mr. Mulder," the postman waives at you, "good to see you again. It's been a while."

You've just exited your car to open the gate to your property. You're about to drive downtown to see your therapist. You've been in need of a few extra sessions to deal with the recent developments in your life. Rob, the postman, is filing through the mail in the back of his van to sort out yours. With a few letters in his hand and a small parcel, he comes over to you.

"Here, this is for you, sir."

"Same junk as ever?" you ask.

"This one here looks special. Handwritten address."

He hands you your bulk of mail with said letter on top. You take it and weigh it in your hand. It's been a while since you've received mail like this. The last time it was a birth announcement of a distant cousin's third child. Same thick, sophisticated paper, same calligraphic handwritten address.

You swallow. You recognize the handwriting. It's elegant but unfussy, just like the person it belongs to. You've been expecting this but still, it hits you. It's final now. You will have to talk to Doctor Summers about it today.

"Good news, I hope," Rob says, trying to get some small talk going, but you're not in the mood, although he really is a nice guy.

You point at your wristwatch. "I have to get going, Rob. Excuse me, please. I have an appointment in the city."

"Sure. Just hop into your car and let me close the gate behind you."

"Thank you, and have a good day."

"You too, Mr. Mulder."

You doubt it will be a good day.

You throw the envelope on the passenger seat so carelessly that it skitters down into the messy footwell. You didn't mean to treat it like this, so you bent forward to look for it between all the junk. When you feel the firm paper under your paws, you pull it out and inspect it. Your muddy running shoes have left some of the dirt you'd brought in after your last run on the front. You blow it off and place the envelope on the seat again, with more care this time.

You put the car in drive and hit the road, determined to make to Dr. Summers' practice without any further delay. You concentrate on the road and the car in front of you, trying to take your mind off the envelope, but you can't. It's as if it's whispering to you. 'Open me,' it says, 'you want to, don't you?' So, after another mile or so you pull over, put the car in park, grab the letter and hastily rip the envelope open, tearing right through the curvy letters of your address. You even tear off a corner of the card inside along with it. Well, who cares, you're not going to stick it to your fridge like you did with the birth announcement. You still don't know what you did that for anyway, you never liked that particular cousin very much.

You unfold the card but close your eyes to protect yourself from the words. You hear your therapist's voice in your inner ear. 'Fox,' - she insists to call you by your first name, which is okay for you in her case - 'no denying! Look at what is and deal with it.' So you open your eyes and stare at the letters for a few long moments without blinking until the words blur in front of your burning eyes.

      Dana Katherine Scully & Mark Spencer Finlay

      Joyfully Invite You to Celebrate Their Marriage       Saturday the Twenty Seventh of December Two Thousand and Fourteen       at Five o'Clock in the Afternoon        at The Atrium at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

      Join us for Cocktails and an Evening of Dining and Dancing

You lean your head against the backrest and swallow. A car passes by at maximum speed and the draft in its wake shakes yours. She told you about the Botanical Gardens and how she would love to hold the reception there. You redirect your eyes to the card in your lap, you know there's more.

Moultrie Courthouse, room 1013, 11 a.m. sharp! is scribbled across the announcement in a stiff, angular hand. Further below, as if written in an afterthought, you recognize the cursive and neat letters you are so familiar with. Thank you so much for doing this for me. Part of me will always belong to you. Love, D.

When she first asked you, you wondered why she was being so cruel. It took you a moment until you understood that she can't do this without you. She needs you to set her free, to release her from what binds her to you. So you agreed to be a witness to her marriage and she fell into your arms and cried. The moment reminded you of when you had agreed to donate sperm for her to become pregnant. Like back then, you were unable to deny her request but also uncertain of what it would do to you. All you instantly knew was that you'd lost her. Not entirely, no, she would still be a part of your life as your friend, your doctor, and - it still makes your heart heavy every time you think of it - as the mother of your child, but you lost her heart in the way it had belonged to you for the past twenty years.

You startle when a tear splashes on the card and smears the blue ink of her words. You thought you'd made your peace with this, but a contradictory mix of emotions settles in your chest.

You're happy for her, you really are. Over the last months, since you rekindled after your separation, you've seen her thrive like a flower that has eventually been watered again after weeks of drought. The rosy color of her cheeks had come back, her hair was shiny again and her eyes were sparkling. She laughed a lot, really laughed, no wry smiles or soft chuckles but wholehearted laughter. You even caught her giggling like a schoolgirl. You know that giggle, you used to elicit it from her in bed a long time ago, in another life. She'd been exuberating carefree easiness and elation with every fiber of her being since she started dating him. She even put on a few pounds with the many times she was taken out to dinner. It made her even more beautiful, something you hadn't believed was even possible.

So, you're happy for her. All you ever wanted for her was to have a life full of normalcy, stability and, most of all, light. Mark Spencer Finlay is able to give her exactly that: light. With him, there's no everpresent darkness, no oppressive silence, no leaden weltschmerz. You remember how she once begged you to take her away from the darkness as far as possible. You'd helped to find a missing FBI agent and your involvement in the gruesome case had threatened to pull the both of you down into the abyss again. You took her to a Carribean island and you spent three wonderful months there, but deep down you knew you would fail her, that the black shadows would follow you. And they did, more fiercely than ever before. So you are happy for her. Really and truly.

But.

Your throat tightens suddenly and your heart starts pounding in your chest. She's going to marry another man! Fuck!

She even told you she'd be taking his name. Jesus, Dana Katherine Finlay!? This person sounds like a stranger to you, like a completely different woman. Will you still be allowed to call her Scully?

You startle once again when your cell is buzzing in your pocket. Since when are you so thin-skinned and jumpy? A look at the caller ID tells you it's her. You take the call, although you're not sure you're in a condition to talk to her.

"Yes?"

"Mulder, it's me." I knew that you could tell her, but you smile instead. At least some things never change. "Where are you?"

Funny how with the invention of the mobile phone the first question asked nowadays is always about the whereabouts of the party called. "In the car."

"Don't answer the phone when you're driving," she admonishes you.

"I'm not driving."

You've pulled over to cry over her wedding invitation.

"Good. Where are you going?"

"My therapist."

"Oh, okay...Uhm, did you get the, uh...the invitation?"

"Yes. I'm holding it in my hand as we speak."

"Are you still okay with it?"

"Define okay."

You hear her inhale deeply before she asks tentatively, "are you still okay with being my witness?"

"Scully, I said I would be your witness to your marriage, so I'm going to be your witness. I won't say that I'm looking forward to watching you marry another man, but I will be there delivering my promise."

"Thank you," she breathes into your ear through the phone and the relief you notice in her voice touches you.

You don't know what more to say and neither does she, so there's silence between you. It should be awkward actually, silence on the phone always is, but not between you.

"Mulder?" she finally resumes the conversation.

"Yes, Scully?"

"Are we going to get through this?"

"What do you mean?"

"Am I going to lose you as my touchstone because of this?"

"Will you still need me as a touchstone?"

"Of course!"

"I take it your husband would like to play that part in your life."

"Mulder, my relationship with Mark is totally different from what we have...had...have. Argh! What we have! And he understands."

"Does he? Are you sure? He's a man, Scully, and men don't like to share their wives with other men."

"I'm nobody's possession. I haven't been yours and I'm not going to be his. We've talked about this, Mulder. I love him for where he's brought me to in my current life. He's pulled me from a place I didn't want to be anymore."

"A place I dragged you to."

"A place I decided to follow you to, but couldn't bear living in anymore at a certain point. But that doesn't mean that I don't cherish having been there with you. My love for you will never die, Mulder. Never. It may have changed, maybe it has regressed into something similar to what I felt for you at the beginning, but it's still there."

"And what were they exactly, Scully, those feelings at the beginning?"

"Connection. Trust. Loyalty. Passion for the same cause. An overwhelming urge to search for the truth with you."

"Folie á Deux?"

She laughs. "Yes, Mulder. A madness shared by two. Nothing else describes our relationship better, don't you think?"

She may be right. Only that you can't think of spending your life with anyone else but her, but then again, she had made your life better, worthier living, whereas you had only darkened hers. She'd given you twenty of the richest years of her life, you have no right to ask for more.

"Mulder?"

"Hmm?"

"Will you go on being my beloved spooky friend?"

"Am I really someone you want in your life, Scully? An unstable, unhinged, unsociable madman?"

"It's your friendship that I want, but only if you want mine too."

You hear her holding her breath in anticipation of your answer. You could tell her that you take whatever you get from her, that the worst that could happen to you would be her walking away from you completely, but you spare her the desperate ring it would have.

"I'd have to look for a new physician and explain my unusual medical history to them."

"Is that all you want me to be? Your physician you see once a year for your medical checkup?"

She didn't get that you were joking. Maybe you sounded a bit too serious. "It was a joke, Scully."

"Oh," she whispers and you hear her stifling a sob.

"Listen, Scully, I will be everything you allow me to be. I will be your friend, your touchstone if needed, your annual patient, maybe even your spooky FBI partner again one day. I will be a witness to your marriage and promise you to keep my mouth shut when the pastor asks if anyone had reasons why the two of you should not be married."

"Mulder, that's an overused dramatic plot device in movies I've never actually heard at one of the several weddings I attended in my life. Besides, there won't be a pastor. We'll be at a courthouse, the ceremony will be held by a judge. We will sign a marriage license and that's it."

"Sounds romantic." You haven't seen Rational Scully for a while, but she sure knows how to keep the mood from getting too sugar-sweet, or god forbids, romantic. "Now don't tell me there won't be a garter auction," you say, trying to sound shocked.

"A garter auction? Are you out of your mind?"

"May I toss rice?"

"To symbolize fertility? At our age? No, thanks!"

"It's also a symbol of prosperity, so I've been told."

"You know how much I rely on superstition when it comes to leading my life, don't you?"

"Sure. So you won't care whose hand is on top when you cut the wedding cake either, right?"

"If you think you'll get a picture of me feeding Mark a slice of a sugar-sweet, multi-tier, buttercream wedding cake, you're mistaken. There will be a variety of miniature cupcakes for dessert and that's it."

If you didn't know her so well, you'd be of the impression that she eliminated everything from the list which makes a wedding memorable. "Will I see you in a wedding dress, at least?"

"The groom is not supposed to know!"

"I'm not the groom."

"Oh...right."

What a delicious Freudian slip! Your heart jumps for joy. In the flow of your banter, she obviously forgot for a second that she will marry someone else and not you.

"I will wear be wearing a wedding dress, yes. Not a white one with all the frills, that would be ridiculous at my age," - of course, a fairytale prince's bride has never been on Rational Scully's bucket list of life dreams - "but I did buy something special for the occasion."

"I can't wait to see it. I bet you will look absolutely stunning."

"I hope Mark will like it."

Now it's your chance to say something nice. "He will love it, of that I'm sure. Even if you showed up in rags, he would be blown away by you. He's a man, Scully, he's in love with you and you will be his bride. Men are simple creatures."

"You're sweet, Mulder. Thank you."

"You're welcome. It will be a wonderful day and don't worry, I will be fine. I will sign your marriage license, I will catch the bouquet, in my humorous speech I will recount some of the weird things we've seen-"

"Don't you dare!"

"-I will have a couple of dry martinis with your mother-in-law and I will end up dancing all night with a hot chick in her mid-twenties."

She laughs. "Just be careful not to overexert yourself, you're far beyond your mid-twenties, Mulder!"

"I age well."

She laughs again. What an enchanting sound. It's worth every effort on your part to make this new thing between the two of you work.

"Hey, Scully. I've got to go. My appointment is to start in about ten minutes. See you at the courthouse on the twenty-seventh. I promise to be on time."

"You better be, unless you want to look for a new physician after all."

Now it's your turn to laugh. "Take care, Scully!"

"You too, Mulder. Drive safely and try to stay within the speed limit. Bye for now."

You end the call with a smile on your face and the certainty that if there's one thing that will never change between you it's the light and easy banter you're both so good at. In this respect, she will always be Scully to you, never Mrs. Mark Finlay.

You hope she tosses you the bouquet.

END

[rofics]

Hidden omega (Chapter 21)

Fandom: Bts (Got7 + Big Bang + B.A.P + Monsta X + Seventeen + Block B+Vixx+TVXQ) Who doesn’t love a good ensemb Pairing:  Namjoon x Everybody Genre: Smut/Fluff/Angst Au: Canon / Omegaverse au Length: 3.1k

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22

Summary: An actual happy chapter, and Monsta X is here! And Wonshik doens’t give a fuck!

Hoseok got escorted out by Doctor Choi, who wanted to talk a little bit more with him. Even though she wasn’t a shrink, she still wanted to make sure that she sent him to the right spot. Which again left Namjoon alone in his room, scribbling down whatever lyrics came to mind. Who knew that traumatically presenting would be good for your muse?

He hadn’t expected to get any more visits. To be honest he was a little surprised that anybody at all wanted to visit him, even more that they wanted to court him. He pouted a little when he looked at the IV back in his arm. He was lucky that Doctor Choi understood why he pulled out. He wasn’t really sure that he would do well in a closed part of the hospital.

And then Namjoon heard a knock on the door. Well that was the first time since he got here that anybody actually knocked, mostly people just snuck into his room to look at him while he slept, which he didn’t really understand why people did. He had just… decided to not question why people found it necessary to look at his sleep slack face. “Come in?” Could he tell people to come in in a hospital? What if it was a crazy fan!?

It turned out it wasn’t. Instead it was Minhyuk, Kihyun and Hyungwon standing in the doorway a little hesitant. “Are you okay for us to come in?”

“Yeah of course, at this point you're the only group of people who hasn’t just walked in here while I was sleeping and proceeded to take pictures of me.”

Monsta x was one of the groups that Namjoon in the last year had gotten closer with. With BTS pushing him out he had found himself spending more time with them. Especially Wonho who even though he was an omega acted and seemed to be an alpha. And Hyungwon and he had spent hours before talking about clothes. Overall he would call them friends. Even though he was a little confused about the mixed group before him.

“Zelo?” Hyungwon asked knowingly, the beta taking the chair closest to Namjoon’s bed. “He was very happy sharing those pictures around. I would be surprised if he didn’t send them to every person on his phone. Which saying it outloud does sound a little weird.”

Namjoon didn’t know if he should laugh or cry. He really didn’t need pictures of him sleeping in the hospital bed to reach fans. It really wasn’t how he wanted people to see him. “I swear to god, I’m going to get a lock for the door.”

Minhyuk took the chair on the other side of Namjoon’s bed. Choosing to pull his knees up to his chest, making him look even softer than the blond hair and soft features already said. Minhyuk to this day was still an enigma to Namjoon. He was an alpha he knew, everybody knew that, but his mannerisms and his sweet scent of nutella screamed omega and to protect more than anything. “You think a lock will hold Zelo out? He got in here while you were guarded by two packs and a doctor. I don’t think a lock is going to do the work.”

Namjoon knew he had a point, but it didn’t stop him from pouting. “Why am I the only one who is mildly disturbed about him taking pictures of me while sleeping?”

Kihyun instead decided to take a seat on the foot of Namjoon’s bed. “It is a little weird I will admit that, but more importantly how are you feeling? We heard little pieces from everybody else, but I would prefer hearing what really happened just from you, if you are up to it?”

Namjoon looked away, not being able to look at his fellow idols. “It’s… complicated… Apparently I wasn’t actually a dud, but I had suppressed my own sub-gender. And not having the needs of an omega filled made me unstable.”

Kihyun kinda wanted to point out that the unstabilty  might also come from his extreme light weight, paired with a tall body. “Are you feeling better? You know about this whole omega thing now? I understand that it’s a hard change for you.”

“I never saw myself as an omega.” Namjoon thought about lying for a moment, giving them the answer that he knew that they wanted. But then he just sighed, he couldn’t go on just lying to people. “I’m a rapper… and a leader. Since when are either of those things an omega?”

“This is why I told you that we should have brought Hoseok instead of me.” Minhyuk protested.

Kihyun looked at him unimpressed. “Do you really want Hoseok to hit Namjoon? Because you know he will if he hears him talking shit about omegas.”

“I would prefer not to get hit, if that is okay with you guys?” The newly presented omega hesitantly stated.

Hyungwon decided to maybe save Namjoon a little from the awkward moment. “Don’t think about. You know Hoseok’s omega protection spree. I’m around him all the time, and bound to him, and I still don’t understand the whole ‘I’m an omega, who acts and talks like an alpha, but I’m proud of being an omega thing.’”

“Hard omega.” Minhyuk protested, it was a term that Namjoon had heard from the Monsta x pack many times before. Hard omegas were omegas who liked who they were, and were comfortable with acting more like alpha, but still liked being omegas. Soft alphas… people like Minhyuk, were alphas who were happy being an alpha, but were soft like an omega and acted more like it. Known soft alphas would be Seungri from Big Bang or Jondae from Exo.

“I love both of you and respect you, but I can’t say I understand.” Kihyun smiled at the blond alpha, who just gave him back a smile.

“I apologize Joonie, you get used to being on the brink of getting diabetes from those two. I promise that after while you get used to it.” Hyungwon insisted, while he was playing with the sleeve of Namjoon’s hospital gown. “So I’m going to be real with you for a second, you are not rocking this dress at all.”

And for the first time since he got admitted he realized, that yes he was wearing a dress. Heat flamed up in his cheek as he blushed. “I’m not allowed to wear my own clothing until I leave. The doctor doesn’t trust me to not rip out my IV.”

Minhyuk nodded slowly, the alpha looking at Kihyun for the omega to start the conversation. Kihyun took a deep breath. “While yes we wanted to see if you are okay, I think we both know there is another reason we are here. I know that we are the last group to be here, but I think we are different and could be good for you. You know that we are more diverse in our sub genders, and even if you don’t end up choosing us it might be good for you to learn that being omega isn’t just what the media shows us as. While yes some people like me are happy being a classical kind of omega, there are more kinds.”

While Namjoon had kinda of expected this, he somehow was still surprised that they asked. He was still surprised every time somebody wanted to court him. He kinda wanted to ask if they were sure. He wanted to make sure that they didn’t actually regret it later, but Hyungwon took him out of his thought process. “You forgot to ask the most important part of the question, can we at least do this right?”

It was then Kihyun turn to blush, an honor which seemed to fall all of them at some point. “Yeah… ups… Namjoon will you please let us court you? We all think you could be happy with us.”

Namjoon slowly nodded. “Yeah I would like that, but I’m getting courted by other packs as well.” He didn’t want to lead anybody on. “And I’m still struggling with understanding that it’s okay for me to not join BTS, that it’s okay for me to try if I work in other packs.” It was hard to admit, much harder than Namjoon thought it would.

He wished that he could just be okay, that fixing his issues was just giving him some medicine or waving a wand over his head. Sadly it wasn’t that easy, and he had to constantly fight himself in remembering that he didn’t belong to BTS. That it was okay to try other things. He belonged to himself and he needed to remember that.

“We know, and it’s okay. What you went through is very traumatic and we get it, it’s completely understandable, we are all here to try and…” He never got any further when the door to Namjoon’s hospital got slammed open and Jungkook got dragged in, by his ear, by what looked to be Hakyeon with a thundercloud above his head. “You know what to do.”

And then something happened that Namjoon had never in his life thought would happen, Jungkook got down on his knees and… bowed? Namjoon wasn’t even sure that he could trust his own eyes anymore?

“I’m sorry Namjoon-hyung!” Wow, Namjoon couldn’t remember the last time that Jungkook called him hyung when they were in private. To be honest having Jungkook bowing on his knees for him made him a little uncomfortable, and he wasn’t even sure what Jungkook was apologising for. “I’m sorry for being a terrible alpha to you, I’m sorry for ordering you, I’m sorry for everything!”

Jungkook tried to lookup but Wonshik was there to press his head down. “We have been over this, you look up when you have been forgiven. Not before then do you deserve to look up.”

Okay Namjoon was a little concerned now. They were being very rough with Jungkook he was just a baby alpha who didn’t know better. “Wonshik, please this is too far, you are being very rough with him.”

The Vixx omega just looked at him with a brow raised. “I’m sure that prison for alpha ordering an omega would be more rough on him, and apparently violence is the language he speaks best. And he asked for this.”

Tears were now hitting the floor from where Jungkook was kneeling, but it wasn’t from Wonshik tight grip on his hair. If anything it helped him focus on what he had to do. Helped him focus on the fact that omegas… omegas like Namjoon weren’t like less, that he needed to be better. Not just for BTS, but for himself, he needed to cleanse Yoongi’s teaching from his mind. “It’s okay I asked for it! Just… I need you to understand that I’m sorry! That I know what I did weren’t okay, I’m not in a right place right now! But I’m going to do better, not just for you and Jimin, but for myself and BTS as well. Please! I’m sorry, nobody deserves to be alpha ordered around, please forgive me.”

Namjoon was shocked to say the least, he never thought he would see this day. He hadn’t even really thought about it, he hadn’t seen the order as anything important. He had been in the wrong he had done something he shouldn’t have done, Jungkook had just put him in his place. “Do you forgive him Namjoon?” Taekwoon asked, the pack alpha still standing outside the room, seeming to respect the limit that Doctor Choi had sat.

Namjoon quickly nodded. “Yes of course! There is nothing to forgive!” This caused everybody other than Jungkook and Namjoon to stiffen. They all knew what an order meant, also knew how illegal it was, but Namjoon continued. “I forgive him, now please just let him up this is making me very uncomfortable.”

Wonshik almost pulled him up by his hair, but decided that that was probably not the correct choice. He was already freaking Namjoon out and the point had more been that Jungkook should understand how bad what he had done was compared to Namjoon understanding how bad it was. Taekwoon locked eyes with Hyungwon from across the room. The alpha did a nod towards Namjoon as a signal of ‘You guys take care of that.’ As much as he wanted to make sure that the taller rapper understood how bad what had happened to him was, he had to trust that all of the packs that were currently looking to win Namjoon’s heart would be there to help him heal as well.

He pointed towards his phone, clearly signalling that he wanted to be added to whatever group chat was currently going on about Namjoon’s condition. He had been an idol long enough to know that there was a groupchat, there were group chats for everything! Actually it was getting slightly out of hand. Hyungwon just nodded. He understood with Taekwoon wanted, and while he personally didn’t know the members of Vixx very well, he knew that they cared about Namjoon.

“Thanks Namjoon-hyung.” Jungkook got up from the ground, still not looking Namjoon in the eyes.

“Kookie are you okay?” Well clearly he wasn’t, his eyes were red from crying, and his ear red from getting pulled. So it was safe to say that Jungkook probably had days that he was more okay on.

Jungkook dried his eyes with an angry movement. “I’m ok… Me and Jimin had a fight, and it made me realize… I’m not okay, I’m not treating people… omegas like they are supposed to be treated. I keep treating you guys like you are below me and that isn’t okay. What Yoongi taught me isn’t okay… I’m… I’m getting help, and I’m going to go back to being myself again. So both you and Jimin don’t avoid looking me in the eyes or flinch when I move suddenly, yeah I noticed that as well… I just thought it was respect, but it wasn’t was it? It was fear, I made my own group scared of me, because I took Yoongi’s word as gospel.”

“Yoongi never wanted to hurt you, he just tried to do the best he could.” Jungkook didn’t answer he just looked away and stepped back from Namjoon.

“I’m going to leave now, see you as training Namjoon-hyung and please be careful and enjoy this break.” and then he kinda just walked out of there.

“I thought we agreed to teach a grown adult, not babysit a kid.” It came from Wonshik who just looked after where Jungkook left. “Fuck it I’m going after him I’m draggin him with me see you guys at home. Oh and Namjoon? Think about the note I left you, if you ever feel overwhelmed you know where we are, and we promise to keep the dog in the bedroom while you are there, and the dog for people who didn’t get it is Jungkook.” And then he went after after Jungkook. “Coming back here you baby!”

Hakyeon messaged his temples. “Why does he have to be so extra? Don’t you laugh you are part of the problem you encourage him.”

Taekwoon just laughed a light laugh, it was rare to hear him laugh out loud with other people there but Namjoon couldn’t stop himself from giggling as well. It always looked on the outside like Hakyeon wasn’t just the leader of Vixx, but that he also was their mother, Kihyun just looked at the omega with pity. “Oh god I get this, I get this way too much.”

The two omegas had a moment of solidarity before Hakyeon looked back at Namjoon. “Wonshik in all his madness does have a point, if you feel it’s all too much you know where to find us. Now let's go and find our insane omega before he decided to check if Jungkook is house trained.”

Taekwoon just gave a smile to Namjoon and waved before following his leader. They were out of sight for a while before Minhyuk spoke up. “I don’t know why but Taekwoon terrifies me.”

“What?” That confused Namjoon more than anything.

“Let’s be honest, if it turned out that he killed babies would you be surprised?”

Kihyun facepalmed himself. “Yes, yes we would all be surprised. There are something wrong with you.”

“I actually think Minhyuk is onto something here, think about it for a second. He is stoic, doesn’t speak a lot and tries to avoid laughing with other people near him. Classic serial killer material!” Hyungwon injected.

“Does that mean that we should all worry that Shownu is storing dead babies in your guy’s freezer?” Namjoon tried to logic, trying to hold back a laughter. Silly arguments like this made him feel a lot better.

“Oh believe me I check there every night!” It came from Minhyuk.

A strangled noise came from Kihyun. And for a movement Namjoon was worried that he was dying until he looked at the omega, who just looked constipated as he kept facepalming himself. “Uhm I don’t think that is good for your health?”

“These two aren’t good for my health!”

“Oi! Remember that next time you need somebody to fuck you through your heat!” Minhyuk proudly said with a smirk on his normally soft features.

Another strangled noise from Kihyun. “Don’t say it like that!!!” His voice was now much higher than what Namjoon ever heard it before, and his entire face was red with embarrassment.

“Oh you prefer I say, next time you need somebody to gently place their knot inside you?”

“DON’T SAY THAT INFRONT OF PEOPLE!”

“Namjoon is an adult, I’m pretty sure he understands where knots go. Right Namjoon?”

Now it was Namjoon’s time to blush, his most sexual encounter ever was still having two different omegas grinding on his lap. While he was to awkward to do anything, he just nodded to embarrassed to say anything.

“Oh my god you are virgin aren’t you?” Hyungwon questioned, the beta having almost sparkles in his eyes at the thought.

Namjoon couldn’t get himself to answer he just looked away, refusing to meet anybodies eyes. “This is amazing! I can’t wait to tell the rest of the group!”

“No you can’t tell anybody!” But it was too late Minhyuk was already gone, leaving Namjoon whining in the bed.

“Uhm… I’m pretty sure he meant the group chat… not just Monsta X.”  

Well fuck Namjoon’s life.

Authors note:

This story is officially longer than the first Harry Potter and the Philosophers stone!

SO here is the preview of what happened to Lu Han! This is set after Hidden omega is finished!

Lu Han caressed the scar no longer visible on his stomach, he wished that it was still visible, a clear visible marker of the child SM would never let him see, a child that had no real chance in life, ripped from Lu Han before he was ready to let it go. He never thought he would miss having a child inside him, but now as he stood in front of his Korean manager, stomach empty and neck mark free, he wanted nothing more than to feel a bump under his hand.

He failed as an omega he knew it, he was nothing more than a failure, a pill bottle was set in front of him. It was his kind of birth control "I assume we don't need to new kind?"

Lu Han just shook his head "no, I will behave."

"Good boy" the omega wanted to throw up, that was Minseok's name for him, it felt wrong out of the female managers mouth "You will rejoin exo for their 2017 releases, we have already prepared a statement that you have recovered from the sickness."

The beta was calling his child a sickness, he wanted to cry, but he had no tears. This was all his own fault "Can I rejoin the pack?"

She looked at him with sharp eyes "You can, remember you contract you are not allowed to tell him anything about the parasite." He hated that they called his baby that, they hadn't even told him the gender of his own baby!

"I understand" he had to keep it together, he could join the pack soon, he knew Minseok and Sehun were waiting for him no matter much of a failure he was as an omega, no matter how dirty he were they would wait for him!

"Don't assume they will you back tho, they have replaced you, even made an upgrade if you as me." He smile was ugly and sharp as she handed him a picture.

What he saw made him want to throw up, it was his Minnie and Hunnie half fighting over who could get the new omega to sit in the lap with a wide smile on their lips. That wasn't the worst, the worst was what was sitting high on the omega's throat... A bite that he recognized... This was exo's new omega, then he understood, Lu Han wasn't worth it.  

Previous Chapter ! Next chapter

[yulnabi]

Yuliya & Osman, Прости за любовь

I woke up feeling somewhat different.  Like some change had suddenly taken place.  When I opened my eyes, Osman was sitting at the desk, he had breakfast with.

 “It’s still warm Yuliya, I wanted to see my queen keeping my baby well-fed and healthy.”

 I looked at him skeptically and said, “I can’t be your queen, you just want me as your lover.”

 He got up, walked up to me and placed his hand on my stomach. “You still don’t believe me, do you?  You are my queen,” then caressing my stomach, he continued, “He changes everything.”

 Again, my mind was telling me this was a trick, that he was again trying to play with my feelings, but little by little, my mind was being overruled by my heart.  Something inside insisted he had indeed changed.

 “Yuliya, stay with me and you won’t just be my queen, we will rule the Milky Way.” He then got on the bed, slowly undressing.

 “I don’t care about any of that.” I told him, unaware, I was following suit.

 “What do you care about then, my queen?” I felt him move to that most wonderful of places as he said this.

 “I only care about you.” I confessed, my mind unable to believe I had not learned yet.

 He smiled, then started kissing me, slowly moving further down my body, kissing my stomach then further down.  We made love for hours, until our bodies could no more.  Afterwards, we lay there, I felt so safe, so comfortable knowing he was beside me.  All the wrongs, his abuses were forgiven at that moment.  I knew once more that I wanted to spend my life with him.

 He talked about how I had inspired him to change.  How he would enact changes to Mergen’s society when he took over.  How he would replace the nobility with a democratic style modeled after those of Earth.

 He also talked about us, how I would be his equal and not just pretty arm candy.  He told me he wanted me to lead the Mergen science program once he had enacted his reforms.

 -------------------

After hours of laying in bed, talking with Osman, we finally got up, took a shower together, then got dressed.  We headed to the bridge, where he said that the warp drive had charged faster, thanks to some energy source in the ship, so we would be leaving sooner than expected. He said how this ship was top secret, the first cruiser ever built by the Mergen Space Fleet.  How his brother was furious that most of the military had sided with him, and were currently engaging his brother’s loyalists all over the colonies.  

 This talk of war worried me, and I changed the conversation to investment in technology.  I wanted to know where Mergen stood compared to Earth. He smiled and detailed the advantages they currently had over Earth.

 “So you see, my queen, the Russians can bark all they want about you being with me, but they have no way of enforcing such treaties.  You are not there property!  You are my future wife, and mother of their future king.”

 Being recognized as a person lightened my heart, I moved to kiss him, when we heard the alarms go off.

 -------------------------

We received a communication that the ship was under assault.  He ordered a group of 9 powerful Mergenese elite metas to join us at the bridge.  These were his personal guard, the best of the best Mergen had.  The rest of his guard was ordered to join the forces in the ship and repel the attack.

 For what seemed like hours, we kept hearing updates on the fighting.  The invaders kept gaining ground, inching their way closer and closer to the bridge.  Osman ordered his men to gather up and launch a decisive counter attack against the invading troops.

 We heard an officer inform us they were ready to begin the counter assault.  For the next 30 minutes we did not hear any updates.  The elite troops accompanying us prepared for one final battle at the bridge.  I suddenly sprung to alert, ready to fight alongside Osman if need be.

 As tension grew inside the bridge, I had a strange feeling overtake me.  Something seemed to link me with one of the unseen invaders.  My stomach started hurting too, like my baby felt the connection also.

 The door to the bridge suddenly disintegrated.  I was able to spot a group of four, including Vladya and three unknowns before Vladya shot an intense bolt of lightning towards Osman.  In something I had never done before, time seemed to stop, I saw the bolt coming almost in slow motion and I cast a shield around Him, which absorbed the entirety of the bolt.

 Things returned to normal, and Vladya kept attacking him, though my shields served to protect him. It had just been a couple of seconds, when I turned to see the 9 guards floating, seemingly disabled.  Suddenly, their chests burst open and their hearts jumped out.  I was terrified by such monstrosity.  Then it hit me, I had seen something like this once before.  I looked at one of Vladya’s crew and she looked strangely familiar.  

 The young woman then sent a burst of pink energy towards me, sending me back hard against the window of the bridge.  Osman was frozen in place, but even being thrown through the air, I was able to keep my shields up on him.  As soon as I landed, I resurrected one of the guards, who without thinking, shot his energy gun at one of the Russians, making her head burst in a single attack. He then shot off the archer’s leg, and wounded Vladya, before she killed him again with lightning.  

 The speed of events made me unable to resuscitate any of the other guards, as by now I could tell the woman was trying to keep me distracted.  Osman then came too and immediately charged at her.  Before landing a hit, though, she paralyzed and levitated him, her eyes glowing pink, trying to burst his chest open, and turning to me.

Again, time froze, and the only ones who seemed to move were her and me.  I was using every bit of energy I had to keep Osman’s chest from bursting open.  Time frozen, it seemed the woman and I were in a stalemate, in a battle of wills.

 I slowly crawled towards her, begging her to stop.  “Please don’t do this.  I will turn myself over if you let him live.” I told her as I reached her feet, looking up in tears, feeling my energy slowly getting drained from my body. Then she spoke, and her words shook me to my core.

 “Mother, you don’t understand.  This man is a stain upon the universe.  If he lives, billions of lives will be on your hands.” Then she intensified her attempts.

 “What trickery is this?” I asked.

 “It’s no trick mother. You know I’m right.”

 I closed my eyes, trying to make sense of everything.  Then I saw her at the Imperial Palace in Novi Cheboksary.  She was but a young girl, but I could tell it was her.  When I opened my eyes, I knew she was right, I knew she was telling the truth.  Yet, my heart could not let go of Osman, of my first real love.

 The ship then warped to the Mergen System.  The stalemate continued, until out of the deepest lengths of my body, I managed to unleash a wave of energy that threw her back, breaking her hold on him.  The energy paralyzed her, Vladya and the archer, as time returned to normal.  I hugged Osman, telling him nothing could ever split us apart.  

 Knowing they were paralyzed, I told Osman we should release them to their government.  Then I kissed him.  It was a long, passionate kiss, one that seemed to last forever, when I suddenly felt a sharp pain.  A look of anguish and despair appeared in Osman, and before he hit the ground, I saw a bright pink lance heading out of the ship.  

 I looked down, and a large hole was in my stomach, and Osman’s.  Before I could heal him, I felt myself powerlessly levitated, the pain still in my stomach.  The woman, my daughter, then approached me and said she was sorry.  The ship, Osman, and everything then disintegrated before my eyes.  The Russians and I were in a bubble in space, the hole still in my stomach.  The pink lance then blew up, energy spreading across the vastness of space as the bubble protected us.  

 “Goodbye brother” she said. Suddenly falling to her knees, as my body collapsed also.  She crawled towards me, kissed my forehead, and said she would explain later.  Then she moved her hand to close my eyes, causing me to sleep.

 THE AFTERMATH

 I woke up in a pod in the moon base.  Vladya was sitting there, along with the archer and the woman whose head I had seen blow up.  My daughter was also there.  She introduced herself as Guzel, and proceeded to explain everything.

 At the time I did not realize it, but I was so drugged by them that I could not really feel a thing. That is why I had not broken down crying.  

 Guzel then informed me that the lance she had shot through me had headed straight to the star in the Mergen System, causing it to go supernova.  That in 11 years, we would be able to witness that event.  She then asked me not to worry about Mergen because it had been relocated to a distant galaxy.

 I tried to move, but my body was not responding.  She then closed her eyes, and told me what I had already figured out, but had feared all along.

 “I could not let my brother be born.  You do not yet have the experience or ability to lock his powers.”

 My heart sank, but again, the drugs prevented any reaction.

 “One day you will understand mother.”

 With that, the effect of the drugs were suddenly lifted, and I was finally left alone with my grief. I cried until I was out of tears. I tried hitting things, unleashing that energy I had done back on the cruiser, but I couldn’t.  I was back to being my weak self, incapable to damaging a thing.

OOC: Previous parts.

Part I: https://grandduchessguzel.tumblr.com/post/177230804001/yuliya-osman-pt-i

 Part II: https://orderofvladya.tumblr.com/post/177231692641/yuliya-and-osman-pt-2

 Part III: https://orderofvladya.tumblr.com/post/177262830171/yuliya-and-osman-pt-3

Part IV: https://grandduchessguzel.tumblr.com/post/177299324611/yuliya-osman-pt-4