#just watched the Batman with my roomie again

[zombeesknees]

I am SO enjoying your Battinson spiral - I may have also seen it twice in the past few weeks. I cannot guarantee it will be the last. Little goblin batman. Wet rag emo batman. Hopeful soggy muffin batman. I love him and his emo motorbike and hoodie chic.

i wish i could watch it again tonight (three for three, baybee) but I know it would drive my roomie bonkers and i'm already on whisper thin ice with him.

just love me a sad emo bats who clearly has mcr on his batplaylist. a bats who will absolutely be lectured by alfred about spray-painting the library floor. love his little bat-eared motorcycle and the way he stares at selina kyle with his smudged lil raccoon eyes. little goblin bats putting his whole ass into every punch he throws. ADORE HIM.

[dmetriadvonnee]

𝕚 𝕘𝕠𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 -- ꭰꭼꮇꮖ & ꮋꭺꮖꮮꭼꭹ 8.27.20

It had been a long time since demi was actually home at night, usually she was working till the wee hours of the morning on the current project she was hiding from the world. So many people were trying to spit ball what it could be. Even her own best friend was hitting her up to try and get her to spill what she was doing — but she couldn’t. She wouldn’t. Already dropping the teaser with her collar with marshmello she knew she was just about to start this journey of 2020 with her career. The first 9 months had been somewhat of a off and on battle with how she was feeling with work and her album. The pressure and non pressure from her manager but more so from the fans. They were happy she was back with her performance at the super bowl, the grammy’s -- now they wanted that album. The 28 year old was trying to deliver as fast as she could. But with the ever changing vibe of this album, she was trying to narrow it down to one narrative she wanted to tell. ‘I Love Me’ was a empowerment message, she could go in that direction since it had been one she hadn’t done before. 6 albums with one on the way -- demi was consistently reinventing each album but staying true to who she was inside. 

Working her ass off for two years consistently, but also with much needed breaks between the long stretches. between teasing her Quibi partnership along with her own photoshoots, studio time, demi was exhausted. Tossing herself into the shower for a hot one to calm down her body and actually make her relax. Standing under the streaming water, she hoped Hailey was in for the night cause she really missed the other woman. Being under the same room but not being able to spend time with your roomie sucked. a 30 minute shower later, demi wrapped a towel around her short stature and then went to her bedroom to change into some short shorts and a tank top. Drying her hair with just the towel for now, she the padded her way through the estate to the blondes room. “Hails??” Calling out as she walked right into the woman’s room with a small knock on the door before.

Seeing the tall model she smiled, she missed cuddling the woman, just being able to vibe with her again — catch up on everything that’s happened since those two men came back into their lives that night. “Please tell me you’re staying in for the night??” Asking her as now batman and Ella were next to demi to catch up with their little friend Oscar, all three dogs getting together quick to start playing. The brunette shuffled over and placed her arms around the woman’s waist from behind to hug her. “I need my best friend to stay home….I forget what you look like” that was a clear lie but she hadn’t seen Hailey’s face for more than maybe ten minutes at a time (she swore it was only 10, but it might have been tops an hour) “lets order in, cuddle and watch a movie…something…” she pitched to the younger blonde before smiling to look over her shoulder at her best friend. Letting her go slowly to just rub her back. “I’ll even let you pick what we eat…we need a night in” nodding as if she was going to basically talk into Hailey to staying home tonight if she had other plans.

[imamotherfuckingstar-lord]

Boundaries, Part 9

Steve Rogers x Plus Size!Reader

Characters: Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, Bucky Barnes

A/N: A little short. I’m starting to plant little seeds.

Summary: You just finished a two year long photojournalist stint overseas and decide to take a break from traveling. So you head back to your home town and lucky enough, your childhood friend Sam Wilson has a few rooms to rent out. So you head back to California and are met with a surprise, a very handsome surprise.

His name is Steve Rogers and he’s a shy guy from Brooklyn, New York. Dragged across the country by his best friend, Bucky Barnes - he hopes to start a new life after a pretty bad break up with his long time girlfriend, Sharon Carter.

Can the of four of maneuver the art of living together? Or will boundaries be crossed?

Masterlist

It was two in the morning, Steve knew this because his clock said so. He also knew this, because it was the third night this week that the sound of your moans penetrated his walls. Bucky and you had spent nearly every night this week at Archers, each of you bringing home a conquest. He sighed and flipped on his side, feeling anxious and thirsty.

Not wanting to get up, he waited - staring up at the ceiling and anticipating the inevitable sound of climax. Steve felt slightly perverted, but the walls were fairly thin. He finally got up when the other room went quiet after ten minutes and left his room.

He walked quickly past your bedroom door and made his way to the kitchen, startled to see Bucky leaned against the kitchen counter, his eyes tired looking.

“Hey,” Steve said, moving to the fridge. “What are you doing up? I thought you brought home someone from the bar?”

“She left,” Bucky replied, asking Steve to get him a beer. He grabbed two and took the space up next to his friend, handing him a cold one.

“Can’t really sleep when she’s..”

“I know,” Bucky nodded, taking a swig. “But she’s doing her thing.”

“Wish she’d do it quieter. What’s the guy like? He’s not a creep, right?”

“It’s Clint.”

Steve’s eyes snapped over to Bucky and he asked if he was sure.

“We all left together, he’s a good guy.”

“Is it serious?”

Bucky snorted and patted Steve’s back. “Come on, of course it’s not. Y/N’s never been serious with anyone. Not since high school.”

“Clint..really?”

Steve frowned when Bucky laughed at him and told him to stop being jealous.

“I’m not jealous, she’s our roommate, Buck,” he argued. “We have to look out for her.”

“Look out for who?”

The two men looked up to see you standing at the entrance of the kitchen, wearing pj shorts and a oversized tee. Bucky shrugged and said it was nothing, but you eyed Steve, who wouldn’t meet your gaze.

“If you say so,” you said with a shrug, knowing something was up, but also feeling too tired to push. “Sorry about the noise.”

“Don’t worry about it, doll,” Bucky smiled and asked if you wanted some beer, holding up his drink.

Feeling thirsty, you strolled over to him and took the beer, giving it a long chug.

“Thanks, I needed that.”

“I bet.”

You smacked Bucky and looked at Steve. “What’s going on, guys?”

“Nothing,” Steve sighed, pushing away from the counter. “I’m gonna head to bed, night.”

Bucky and you waved at the man, watching as he left the room.

“Is he mad? Were we too loud? I can keep it quiet.”

“No you can’t,” Buck teased and you giggled.

“You know me so well,” you mused, rubbing at your shoulder.

“Where’s Clint?”

“Knocked out, he’s sprawled out on the mattress,” you laughed. “I don’t know how I’m going to sleep with that man in my bed.”

Bucky took the beer from you and placed it in the sink. “Come on,” he reached down for your hand. “You can sleep with me.”

“I’m not up for a threesome,” you contested and he shook his head.

“She left hours ago, I’ll change the sheets,” he proposed and you couldn’t help the grin plastered on your face.

“You are too good to me, Bucky Barnes.”

....

The sound of the shower running slowly lulled you from sleep. You yawned and looked over at the clock on Bucky’s night stand. It was barely 7AM and you had the day off. Stretching, you decided to stay in bed for a while, but realized Clint was probably still in your room. Not really wanting to deal with booty call awkwardness, you waited for Bucky. He emerged from bathroom, dressed only in basketball shirts and you whistled.

“Still got it, Barnes.”

“Stop,” he commanded with a slight smile. “Sleep well?”

“Yeah, you’re mattress is totally better than mine,” you complained, moving to the middle of the bed. “It’s so nice and comfy.”

He took his towel and rubbed his dampened hair. “I’ll buy you one like this, we can go pick it up tomorrow.”

“Now you stop,” you shook a hand at the man. “Stop being so good to me, you’re ruining men for me!”

Bucky laughed and tossed the towel in his hamper. “Men are bastards,” he pointed out, moving down onto the bed. He settled against the headboard and looked down at you.

“What’s going on with Steve and you?”

“Nothing,” you replied quietly, sitting up to match his position. “Nothing’s been going on with anyone for a long time, not since..”

“I get it,” he assured you, reaching down for your hand. “I think you two would be good together.”

“Sam thinks otherwise,” you chuckled, resting your head on Bucky’s bare shoulder. “He might be right, things are going great and who knows when-”

“- when you’re leaving again.”

“Yeah,” you whispered out. “I guess I’ll be a hard one to settle down.”

Bucky glanced down at you, watched as your lips pursed and he sighed. “You were never meant to just settle down in some white picket fence life. The right person won’t stop you from going, hell, they will run with you.”

Feeling Bucky’s chest rise and fall with each breath, you sighed and tilted your head to get a look at him. Taking in his strong jawline, the way his eyes settled on the window and the smile he gave you when he finally gazed down at you - it made you feel better.

“Thanks, Buck.”

“Anytime, doll. Want some breakfast?”

“I should shower first,” you suggested and Bucky leaned over to place a kiss on your forehead.

“Eat first.”

...

The two of you walked into a full kitchen - Sam was at the stove, flipping pancakes. Steve was reading the newspaper, while Clint sat next to him, tired looking and sipping from your favorite mug.

“Hey, that’s my mug,” you accused the bartender, who looked up with a soft smirk.

“I was saving it for you,” he chuckled, sliding it over to the empty space next to him. You felt Bucky’s hand on your back fall and you moved over to the island, taking the seat next to Clint. The two of you shared a knowing glance and Clint thanked Bucky when he handed him a fresh coffee that wasn’t in your favorite mug.

“I figured you’d be gone by now,” you nudged Clint. “Sorta the rules and all.”

He laughed and scratched the back of his head. “I was headed out, Sam caught me. Told me to sit my ass down for breakfast.”

You glared over at your childhood friend, who whistled with satisfaction as he flipped a pancake. He caught your stare and winked, you laughed. “Well, you’re here, so how many pancakes will it be?”

“I ordered two.”

Nodding, you asked Sam if he heard that. “You can manage two without burning them, right?”

Steve chuckled from behind the newspaper and you smiled sweetly at Sam.

“Anyway,” Sam replied cooly. “Steve, Bucky, you guys sleep well? Man, I couldn’t catch a wink - there was this hyena screaming all night.”

You jaw dropped as Bucky, Clint, and even Steve, laughed. “You wanna go there, Wilson! I can bring it back to the time you-”

“ALRIGHT,” Sam clapped both hands together and offered up a plate of pancakes. “Three pancakes for my favorite roomie, hand it over to Y/N,” he said to Bucky, who grinned and took the plate.

He leaned against the island and pushed the plate in front of you. “Enjoy, sweetheart.”

You laughed and met Steve’s gaze when he folded up the newspaper. “Can’t believe you laughed too, Steve.”

“I’m sorry,” he held up both hands in defense.

“I guess you can’t help it,” you shrugged. “Too much testosterone in this house, I forgive you, Steve.”

Steve’s lips pulled into a wide smile and he mouthed, ‘Thank You’.

Grinning down at your pancakes, you inhaled quietly and looked up at all four attractive men.

“Shit, a girl could have worse company.”

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[lozenger8]

They All Disappear From View (I Only Have Eyes For You)

This is a Halloween themed (but not at all spooky) Scott/Stiles ficlet for @scottstiles because Divvy is truly wonderful. Thanks to @skittlestrash for prompt suggestions!

“We never got to go to prom,” Stiles says one day, late in September.

It’s true. They’d been all set, had everything planned, and then an omega werewolf had come crashing into Scott’s world half an hour before they were supposed to arrive at the Beacon Hills gym.

Scott doesn’t understand why Stiles is bringing it up over a year later via FaceTime.

“No,” he says, cautious like he’s learned to be, where Stiles is concerned. “We didn’t.”

“There’s this party planned for Halloween,” Stiles continues, either not noticing or ignoring Scott’s hesitation. “And I thought you might wanna leave California during the time of ghastly ghouls, given, you know, our vast and horrible history with them.”

“You want me to fly thousands of miles cross-country to spend Halloween  with you?” Scott asks. He waits a beat, two. “I’m there.”

Stiles smiles and it’s beautiful. Scott feels his heart physically skip a beat. “Great!” he says, not an ounce of sarcasm in his tone, which is… Scott’s not sure he’s ever heard that before. Not even when they were nine. “Got any ideas for costumes?”

No. No he hasn’t. He hasn’t had to think of a Halloween costume since he was twelve. They didn’t bother in their teens, first because no one ever invited them anywhere, and second because they were too busy combatting the scary creatures of the night.

“Maybe I could just wolf out?”

“Y’boring.”

“What’s your brilliant idea, then?”

“I’m not sure yet. I’ll get back to you.”

They spend the rest of the video call talking about their pack and their studies and there’s a reason this is Scott’s favorite day of the week. Talking to Stiles revitalizes and soothes him. He can tell, by how Stiles’ breathing changes, how he settles on his bed, that the same’s true for Stiles.

*

Over the next week, Scott gets messages every day from Stiles, filled with links to low-cost or low-effort costumes. They’re never both. Scott saves links for the ones he might be capable of and discards the ones he’s pretty sure Stiles sent as a joke: sexy vampire, sexy vet, sexy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. He starts sending Stiles his own suggestions: sexy werewolf, sexy FBI agent, sexy Finn from Adventure Time (that last one is just upsetting, but so was the TMNT.)  

“Most people I know made or chose their costumes in February,” Stiles whines, two weeks later.

“Most people you know are freaks and you know I include myself in that category,” Scott says, raising his eyebrow. “What about themed costumes, like I’ll be an egg and you’ll be bacon. Or you’ll be a jar of peanut butter and I’ll be a block of chocolate. Or, hey! I’ll finally be the Robin to your Batman.”

“You want us to wear couples costumes.” Stiles says, voice flat.

“You hate it.”

“No. I don’t. I’m surprised. I kinda love the idea. How do you feel about attaching cinnamon rolls to the sides of your head?”

“I don’t want to be Queen Layla.”

“You deliberately fucked that up, because you’re pure, unadulterated evil. But okay, I’ll think some more. Talk soon.”

*

Before he’s even aware of it, it’s nearly time for Scott to fly to DC. In between classes, pack meetings, college lacrosse and his part-time job, the weeks soar by. And he and Stiles are still costumeless. Scott’s about two sleepless nights away from suggesting they go as Adam and Steve in the garden of Eden. When he does suggest it, at the end of his tether, he starts a joint six minute rendition of In a Gadda Da Vida with air guitar, tabletop drumming and fake organ-playing.

“I didn’t know you were such an exhibitionist,” Stiles says after a long, showy drink of water.

“I’m not.”

“As a last resort, we’ll go as each other, down to every last detail. I’m talking underpinnings too, Scotty.”

“No one knows me and we wear practically the same clothes anyway,” Scott points out, more stressed out than he’d care to admit.

“Honestly?” Stiles says, staring into the camera like he’s staring into Scott’s soul. “The costumes are immaterial. Having you here is more important to me.”

Scott wants to reach out and touch him. Hold his hand and draw him close. He settles for softly smiling. “Same, dude.”

*

The airport is a bustle of activity and Scott’s feeling queasy from the flight, exhausted because he had a paper due yesterday and had to pull another all-nighter, and so anxious to see Stiles he thinks he’s going to burst.

When Scott finally sees Stiles, pressing through a throng of bodies, the blood in his veins stops pulsing for a moment and his spine tingles.

Stiles is pale and his heart’s rocketing a mile a minute. He looks around for a second before sprinting up to Scott and launching himself at him. Scott wraps him up in a tight hug and sways him from side-to-side.

“Hi,” Stiles whispers. He pulls away an inch, stares into Scott’s eyes. He’s beautiful over FaceTime, but he’s mesmerizing here. “Good flight?”

“Horrendous. Atrocious. Fucking appalling. But it got me here, so it was totally worth it.”

“You brought your potty-mouth with you. I like it,” Stiles says. Neither of them have moved further apart. Not yet.

“I thought you preferred my pure and sweet mouth?”

Stiles’ gaze focuses on Scott’s lips and the hollows of his cheeks go deep, bright pink. “I like them both to equal degrees.”

Scott’s about to run with that, to take the chance he’s been thinking about since a week after Christmas, a week after the last time he and Stiles were in the same space, but Stiles takes his backpack and marches them toward an airport shuffle bus, chattering all the way about the friends he’s going to introduce to Scott.

*

In Stiles’ room there are large rectangles of cardboard, acrylic paints, sharpies, and tubes of glitter glue all stacked up against one side. Stiles places Scott’s bag on one of the beds, mutters something about his roomie staying with his boyfriend.

“So what’s the plan?”

“The party’s at 9 and I thought maybe we could make FaceTime frames around ourselves, sort of a meta commentary thing.”

“That’s probably the cutest idea you’ve had in your entire life.”

“It wasn’t mine. Mason suggested it.”

Scott laughs, bumps into Stiles. “Of course. Are you gonna offer me a drink and something to eat or is it straight-up nose to the grindstone?”

Stiles glances at the cardboard, back at Scott, at the cardboard again, shrugs. “It can wait another hour. Party technically starts at 9, so we both know it won’t be worthwhile until at least 10:30.”

They grab sodas, fries and burgers from Five Guys to take back to Stiles’ room, sit cross-legged opposite each other on Stiles’ bed. They talk about everything and nothing and it’s nice, hearing the cadence of Stiles’ voice without distortion. Being able to see his myriad expressions without lag.

After they’re finished eating, Scott rests his hand on his belly and slumps against the wall, drifts into a warm and safe mindset. Stiles mirrors him. They talk about movies they’ve seen and all the things they haven’t gotten to watch yet. Eventually they lie down next to each other, Scott with his eyes closed, listening to the metronomic precision of Stiles’ heart.

“You don’t wanna go to this party, do you?” Stiles asks, when it’s gotten dark outside and Scott’s half-dozing.

“It’d mean I’d have to share you again,” Scott confesses, taking Stiles’ hand in his own and resting it on his chest. Stiles’ skin feels so good against his, warm and smooth. Scott loves the weight and security he feels from the simple touch.

“When you put it like that, it doesn’t sound very appealing, no.”

“Why did you wanna go?”

Stiles sighs, starts stroking fingers through Scott’s hair with his free hand, tender and slow. “I wanted to show you off. This is Scotty, the best friend I’ve been talking about for months on end. He’s the greatest person I know.”

“Hard for them not to take that as an insult,” Scott says, smiling so wide his cheeks hurt.

“For some of them, that’s the intention.”

Scott opens his eyes, bites his lip when he sees Stiles’ affectionate half-smile. He thinks – he’s pretty sure – how he’s been feeling isn’t one-sided. Stiles is still scratching his nails lightly against Scott’s scalp, rubbing his thumb at the center of his chest.

“You’re not too disappointed, are you?”

“Are you kidding? All I really wanted was you.”

“You got me,” Scott says, placing his hand at the back of Stiles’ head and craning up at the same time, telegraphing his intentions clearly. Stiles matches him, bending down to close the distance, until they’re almost touching lips. “So life fulfilled,” Scott finishes before claiming his kiss.

It’s sweet and tentative, a gentle exploration that fills Scott up and makes him feel whole.

They didn’t get to go to prom, and they didn’t get to go to this Halloween party, but they got to be together, and that’s all that really matters.

[addicted-to-dc]

Jason Todd/Red Hood X ArkhamKnight!Reader- Set Your Demons Free (Part 7)

This is the last part to this series!!!!  I absolutely enjoyed writing this and I’m actually happy with the ending.  Ending stories has never been my specialty, but this ending is perfect to me.  Enjoy!!!

Set Your Demons Free, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 

Warning: Angst, fighting, etc.

When you found out Bruce was captured by Crane, you and Jason knew that you had to help him.  You could still hear Joker whispering in your head, urging you to finish the job, to kill Bruce.  His empty promises and threats would make you forget what happened, tearing down the resilience you worked tirelessly to build up.  Whenever you saw Jason, his voice would shut up.  Jason may regret not killing Joker, but he’s the one who silences his voices in your head.

“Where’s Bruce?” you asked, pulling your sniper rifle from the duffle bag.

“He’s in the building, strapped to a vertical table,” Jason responded, peering through binoculars.  “Crane, Gordon and the replacement are with him.”

You slung the rifle over your shoulder, grasping your grappling hook and firing it, “After we save him, what do we do next?”

“We leave Gotham, find a place to say while the city is rebuilt,” he answered, placing the binoculars in the bag, “or we find a place here and kick some criminal ass.  I’m open to ideas.”

“We’ll figure it out soon,” you said, jumping off from the roof.

“I’m thinking a penthouse,” Jason called out from behind you, landing next to you on a wall, “something that’s roomy.”

“Shush,” you said, pulling a vent cover down, hesitating to enter.

“What’s wrong?” he asked you.

You gulped, looking into the vent, “I hate this place.”

“I’ll go in first,” Jason stated, pulling himself in and holding a hand out to you.  “He’s dead, (Y/N), and he’s never going to hurt you again.”

“I know that,” you whispered, taking his hand, “it’s the memories of this place that haunts me.”

He pulled you in the vent, “We won’t come here again.”

You nodded and began to move, “Let’s get this over with.”

“That’s the spirit,” Jason smirked, moving forward.  “I wonder if there’s any apartment realtors around.”

“Will you quit it?” you whispered, following him through the vents.  “We’ll talk about this later.”

“I’m just trying to start a conversation,” Jason grunted, sliding down.

“Well, it’s a conversation I want to start later,” you retorted.  “Turn left, not right.”

Jason did as you said, taking the vent to the left.  He remained quiet the rest of the way, making you wonder if you pissed him off.  When you finally reached the end of the vent, Jason quietly removed the cover and jumped down.  You did the same, scanning the room as you moved to your sniping position.  Removing it from your shoulder, you placed it on a ledge and peered through the scope.  Crane was speaking to the camera, Bruce’s cowl removed from his face.  

“Do you understand, Gotham?  You have no savior.  No more hope,” he said, turning around to inject Bruce, “no more Batman.  I’ve won.”

You couldn’t get a clear shot at Bruce’s restraints, not even bothering to aim at Crane.  This was Bruce’s fight to finish, and you knew he wanted to bring him in and have him punished for his crimes.

“I’m not afraid, Crane,” Bruce stated, making him shake his head.

“Impossible,” Crane growled, removing his needles from Bruce’s chest and pulling a pistol from his belt.  “Without fear, life is meaningless.”

Once he cocked the gun and placed it near Bruce’s forehead, you took aim and fired.  Reloading your gun, you watched Crane back away from Bruce, firing at one of Bruce’s restraints.  He caughts Crane’s fist, breaking his hand from the last restraint and using it to grasp his neck.  

“No!” Crane screamed as Bruce forced the needles into his neck.

“What’s wrong, scared?” Bruce asked, pushing him into the camera.

“Let’s go,” you said to Jason, slinging the sniper over your shoulder.

“Now can we talk about getting an apartment?”

--------------------

You did talk about that apartment, and eventually did buy the penthouse Jason had mentioned.  After the manor had been destroyed, you and Jason quickly made yourselves known as the new vigilantes of Gotham.  The Red Hood and (Y/H/N) struck crime in the face, killing anyone who ruined Gotham’s name.  When the masks were off, you wrote stories like your father had when you were younger.  Jason took a job at the bank, using his powers of intimidation for good as a security guard.

“You look good in a uniform,” you smiled, fixing his dark blue tie, “but you gotta get used to the tie.”

“It’s choking me,” he complained, yanking at the collar.

You laughed, loosening the tie a bit, “You have to keep it on, Jay, it’s required.”

Jason groaned, gesturing to his shoes, “How am I supposed to run in these?”

“I highly doubt you’re going to have to run,” you snorted, hitting his chest lightly.  “Stop complaining and let’s go!  I need to grab more ink for the printer.”

He smiled, pecking your lips, “Fine, but we’re eating breakfast at the diner before my shift.”

“Why do you think I woke you up so early?” you asked, shoving your phone and wallet into your jacket pocket.

“I love you so much,” Jason whispered, pecking your cheek.  “Oh, don’t let me forget to check the mail before we go.”

“Love you, too,” you said, opening the door. “What’s in the mail?”

“We haven’t checked it in a few days,” he responded, walking through the door.  “I don’t want to piss off Debbie again, that old lady is scary when she wants to be.”

“Who knew Jason Todd would be scared of an elderly woman,” you laughed, locking the door and joining him in the elevator.

“She doesn’t scare you?” Jason asked, pressing the button for the ground floor.  

“Okay, maybe when she strokes her cat like Doctor Evil, that’s when she scares me,” you shivered.  “I swear she’s plotting her husband’s death or something.”

“Debbie is going to kill us all with all of the spite she has in her frail body,” he whispered into your ear, making you flinch away.

“I’m going to be the one who kills you if you do that again,” you grumbled, covering your ear.  “Seriously, were you trying to shove your tongue into my ear?”

“Well, if you’re into that-”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” you punched his arm, walking out of the elevator when it reached the ground floor.

“You wound me,” Jason said, placing an arm over his heart.

You rolled your eyes, walking to the mail slot and unlocking it, “There’s a package in here, did you order something?”

“For once I didn’t,” he stated, taking the box out of the slot.  “Do you want to open it?”

“Sure,”’ you said, cutting the tape with your keys.

You frowned when you saw a book in it and took it out, gasping when you saw the cover.  The box was dropped onto the floor, making a quiet thump on the marble floor.

“What is it?” Jason asked worriedly.

“It’s my father’s story,” you replied quietly, your eyes already forming tears.  “H-how did it get published?”

Jason took the book from your grasp, flipping through the pages until he found a folded envelope in the middle, “There’s a letter.”

“Let me see it,” you took the book back, grasping the envelope.

You handed the book back to Jason, tearing open the envelope and reading the letter:

My dearest (Y/N),

I don’t know when this will get to you, and I hope this hasn’t arrived too late.  You always said you wanted to read my stories to your children and now you can.  I know that I have told you that my story wasn’t ready for the world, but I was wrong and you were right.  I sent it in and the publishing company loved it!  I owe it to you, (Y/N), you made the dreams I gave up on come true and helped me make new ones.  Now I can dream about your future, and know this:  No matter what you do, I will always love and support you.  Nothing can make me any less proud of you than I am now.  

If you have found your one and only, tell that punk that I’ll be kicking some ass as a ghost.  Whoever you choose better take care of you or they’ll have to deal with me.  I know I’ll be long gone when you get this, but know that my death isn’t your fault.  Yeah, I knew those assholes dressed in suits would do something to get what they want, but I’m at peace with that.  To be honest, I wrote this because I have some hope that I’ll live to see you grow, but I couldn’t let myself sleep at night without writing this.

I gave you my world, (Y/N), and now you can create your own.  You might not care about money, fame or any of that jazz, but I left you something that I thought would help you in life.  I give you everything I have, my love and my possessions.  It is and always will be yours.

Love,

Your amazing and awesome father

P.S. You better name a kid after me.

You let out a strange combination of a sob and a laugh, tears falling onto the paper as you finished reading it.  Looking at the envelope, you smiled when you saw Bruce’s handwriting.

I thought it was time for you to have this- B.W.

“Dad says he’ll kick your ass,” you laughed, wiping your tears away.

“This is from him?” Jason asked, looking at the book.  “I thought you said everything was destroyed in the fire.”

“I thought it was,” you said, hugging the letter, “but he published it without telling me, that secretive bastard.”

Jason picked up the box and looked inside, taking a piece of paper out of it, “This is from the publication company, apparently you’re rich.”

You folded the letter and placed it in the book, “We’ll talk to them later, let’s go get some breakfast.”

“What else did he say?” Jason asked, throwing the box in the trash.

“To name a kid after him,” you chuckled.

“What’s your dad’s name?” he asked, opening the door for you.

“(Y/D/N),” you answered, walking outside.

“Yeah, we’ll name our kid that.  You want to make one when I get home tonight?”

“You’re such a romantic,” you snorted, smiling when he wrapped his arm around your waist.

Opening the book, you saw a photograph of you and your father.  You remembered when he took this one, saying that he wanted a picture to frame.  It was taken the night he read you the last chapter of his story, only a month before the fire.  The last few pages were nothing but bullet points.  Your eyes landed on one in the middle of the left page, making you finally understand the words you lived by for so many years.

Set your demons free, conquer them until you find peace.  Peace can only be found when we deal with the monsters inside of us, not the ones who plague the world.

[spencrsreid]

you keep calling me over to get rid of spiders from your apartment and i’m pretending i don’t know you’re not afraid of them OR are you?? sabotaging?? my dates?!?!?

You can also read it here

Sorry it took so long i’ll try my best to write faster.

I’m taking prompts all the time so feel free to send me some !

big shout out to my beta sunjimon!!!

___

“Ladies first,” said Jace as he opened the door so his date Anna can go through.She smiled at him and walked into his apartment. She was tall with long legs and shoulder-length dirty blond hair. She had nose piercing and a few tattoos on her forearm.And Jace had a lot in common with her. Anna’s favourite band is panic!at the disco and so is Jace’s. They both hate disney movies and reading contemporary books, fantasy all the way. Jace always wanted a tattoo and she had a few and even recommended him a studio.They had met on app for singles and it was their (surprisingly going well) first date. They had gone for a movie and then Jace had invited her for a nice dinner at his place.“Make yourself at home, I’ll be right back,” he said and then disappeared in the kitchen.Everything was already prepared so Jace just put everything on plates and heated it up. He’s not that good of a cook but Anna will never know that Izzy and Maia came here earlier to make the pasta ( well mostly Maia but Izzy was trying her best ) .The blonde boy took both plates and carried them to a small space in his apartment that he had styled as a living room (but really it was a size of a bathroom). From the pay he receives from the bar he’s working at he can only afford a place like this, but what more would he want? It’s the perfect spot for single man.On his way to the couch Jace turned music on the ipod and sat next to the girl,they started to eat and talk.Panic! was Jace’s obvious music choice and they both commented when one of their favourite song started to play. Suddenly Anna started to get closer to his face, but just when their lips were about to touch there was a soft knock on the door.He sighed and pulled back from the girl. She wasn’t so happy about the situation either. Jace sat on couch for a few moments watching her but the knocking only intensified. He got up from the couch, slowly walked toward the front door, and opened it just as his neighbor was about to knock again.It was Simon, the boy from apartment opposite to him. His cheeks were red, his hair was a mess, and he looked scared.He was wearing sweat pants a little bit too big for him and were sliding of his body showing his bare skin on hip. Overall he looked like a homeless person wrapped in blanket with batman shirt on.Simon looked inside Jace’s apartment and could see a girl sitting on a couch looking at them intensively with raised eyebrow. “Mission accepted “ Simon thought.

“Hey, man,” Simon smiled a little. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your evening but I have a situation and it’s quite urgent.”For a second Jace worries that it might sounds to Anna like Simon is trying to rescue him from unsuccessful date. But he finds himself not really caring that much.

Jace sighed but a little smile crept into his lips. It’s not the first or even second time Simon has had an ‘urgent situation’… To be honest it was more than 30 times since he first moved into the block.

The first time Simon had asked for help was right after Jace moved in. He was unpacking boxes and had heard a knock that now is so familiar.

“Hello, new neighbor! I’m Simon and I know this might seem super weird but I have an urgent situation I need help with, do you mind helping?”

Jace being a nice neighbor had obviously said yes. The “urgent situation” turned out to be spider bigger that Jace’s hand hanging in the shower of Simon’s apartment. His neighbor had looked like he was about to faint.

It had ended by Jace killing the spider and Simon calling him a hero which didn’t make Jace blush at all. And from that moment every single spider Simon needs to have attacked is solved by Jace.

What was weird for Jace was that these emergencies happened ninety percent of the time when he was on a date or had a girl or boy over at his place. Either Simon was sabotaging all his dates because he hates him and wants him to be indefinitely alone, or spiders really do love this nerdy boy.Jace just nodded “show me where the spider is” and then looked inside his apartment at bored looking Anna texting someone on her phone. “Hey Anna i’ll be right back” he said not even looking in her direction anymore.They both walked into apartment and… it was quite a mess not dirty or gross just messy but it suited Simon’s personality perfectly. They walked into the corner of the room next to the window and there was a little spider on the wall.“Simon, are you kidding me? This spider is so small I can barely see him.” Jace cannot believe at this point someone could be so scared of something that tiny.

“But I’m scared and you know it!” the boy yelled back. It wasn’t really convincing performance.

Simon was hiding behind Jace who was holding a big fly swatter that Simon handed his as soon as they walked into apartment. The brunette’s hand was resting on Jace’s forearm, squeezing it hard.

“Calm down, cowboy, I got you.”

“Oh my god, it’s gone! Where’d it go?” Simon yelled as he ran to the corner as far away from where spider had been in seconds. “I’m not staying here until this creature is killed so you better find it or prepare for a roomie.”

Jace got nearer to the wall and looked closely. He saw the spider and throws the swatter at it.

“Dead,” he said in victory as he put his hands in the air.

Simon ran up to him and looked at dead spider before hugging Jace, whose body tensed at the sudden and unexpected closeness.

“Oh, sorry! I’m a cuddling kind of man,” Simon laughed a little but there was embarrassment in his eyes.

“No worries, hugs are always nice.” Jace smiled. “I’m gonna go now, I left my date to rescue you yet again.”

“Right.” A spark of disappointment flicks across Simon’s face. “You, like, rescued me from actual death, so thanks. A lot.”

“Captain Jace, always at your service.” He saluted and started heading toward Simon’s front door.

“Hey, Jace!” Simon blurted, then instantly looking like he regretted it. “I know it might be kinda weird to ask while you’re with someone else, but do you want to go out sometime…like with me?”

Jace was taken aback with shock at first, but then he was actually happy Simon asked.

“Sure thing,” he said, then he left.

Simon stood in one place looking at his door for a long time. Jace fucking Lightwood, his long term crush, had just agreed to go out with him. He quickly dialed Clary’s number and as soon as he heard her ‘hello’ he started screaming to her about the whole situation and how his spider plan had actually worked.Simon can’t help but feel jealous everytime he sees Jace with someone and since he started using dating apps its more often than usually. So sometimes he goes to the building’s basement and catches spiders so his horribly handsome neighbor with abs could save him.

“Oh wow, Simon, first of all I’m surprised your lame plan worked and secondly, oh my god I’m so happy for you!” She screamed.

“Wait, I just heard a knock on the door, be quiet, “ Simon said.

He got to the door and opened it. Jace was standing there with a smile.

“So my date kinda bailed on me while I was helping you,” Jace explained, not looking too sad about it. “I have some dinner I prepared, you wanna join me and watch some TV?”

Silence stretched between them since Simon couldn’t believe this was actually happening.

“Say yes, you dummie!” came from phone held in Simon’s hand.

“Oh my god, Clary, I hate you so much right now” he said quickly into the phone and pressed the red “end call” button on the screen.

“Is that a yes?” Jace asked him with a raised eyebrow.

“Obviously.”

[bburningbridges]

in this life, the days are full of joy

Summary: Kaldur is a kid--despite his best efforts to deny himself that right--and therefore, should live as kids do: happily. (In which Kaldur makes some friends, learns some lessons, and falls in love, smiling.)

notes: my embarrassingly late YJ Mini Big Bang fic! it takes place in season 1 and the art was drawn by the wonderful @shadesninde​! i love the results and im so glad this came together so well!!!

+

 It starts with Batman. Or rather, the girl by Batman’s side, with eyes half-closed from what could be weariness or simply exhaustion and fishnets. It takes Kaldur all of ten seconds to recognize her as Zatara’s daughter, and his stomach does that horrible motion that feels like ocean waves crashing against rocks. He never lets it show in face, choosing instead to meet her and give the smallest, most reassuring smile he can manage without drawing Batman’s attention.

 Zatanna, on her part, responds with the barest quirk of her lips--Kaldur takes it as a step in the right direction.

 “Aqualad,” Batman says, “a word.”

 Other people might end a sentence like that with a question mark. Batman is not other people. Thankfully, he’s coming to a stopping point in his book anyway, and puts up no fight as he stows Steig Larsson away for later. The flooring in the cave feels cold even to him as he goes to meet Batman and Zatanna, and about two paces away from them he’s vaguely aware that Robin’s probably in a vent somewhere, watching.

“Hello, Batman, Zatanna,” Kaldur says, and then to Zatanna adds, “My condolences about your father. How have you been faring?”

 “Thank you, Kaldur,” she says soft, but sincere. She turns her gaze to the side and nods shakily, “I’ve been…..faring, I guess.”

 He nods, accepting it as a valid answer; he can see the oceanic storms in her eyes and for that reason, it is answer enough. “The team and I are available for you in any way. If there is anything we can do to help you, please, let me know.”

 Zatanna looks at him again, this time her eyes are shiny and he does his best to not react to that. “Thanks,” she says again, but she sounds less shaky this time.

 “This is actually what I wanted to talk to you about,” Batman says. “The League--and Zatanna, of course--have decided to place her on the team, permanently for now. She fits well into your dynamic and has already proved to us that she’s a powerful asset.”

 Batman has a curious way of cheering up others--perhaps he knows that his oddly professional compliments delivered in his deep monotone are as grounding as they are factual; there’s something about his delivery that can straighten shoulders, lift chins, brighten smiles. Kaldur’s seen it in just about every team member and Zatanna is no exception; she sniffs once and then tries to hide a fairly satisfied smile behind it.

 “And the company’s not so bad,” she adds, in a tone more like herself.

 “I am happy to hear it,” he says, and he means it, wholeheartedly, and hopes Zatanna grasps that. He extends a hand out to her, and when she reaches out to meet it, grabs her in a firm Atlantean shake. “Welcome to the team, Zatanna. We are happy to have you.”

 “Honestly speaking….I’m pretty happy to have you guys too, Kaldur.”

 He smiles automatically, one that she returns in full, and as they release each other Batman says, “Call in the rest of the team.”

 “Ah,” Kaldur hums, casting his eyes up to the vent just a bit to the left of them, “I am sure by now they now. Is that not correct, Robin?”

 It turns out he was wrong--Robin drops out of the vent to the right of them, clucking his tongue. “Getting soft in your old age, Kal? I practically told you where I was.”

 Zatanna, surprisingly, doesn’t have the face most acquire after they witness Robin drop from the unknown for the first time. She looks more amused than scared, which is a convincing sign that she’s in the right place. “Welcome to team, Zee,” Robin grins, somehow unfazed by the hard glare Batman’s aiming at him. “Don’t worry about making a formal call, Kal.”

 “I know,” he says, one eyebrow quirked. “Where you go, Kid Flash is not far behind.”

 As if on cue, Kid Flash appears in the room in--well, a flash--one arm propped on Robin’s shorter shoulder. And the rest of the team trickles in after that, trying to look surprised even though Kaldur knows full well they’re a bunch of snoops who’ve likely been listening to the conversation since the beginning. He sighs, equal parts exasperated and affectionate for the lot of them, when Batman is suddenly hovering next to him and speaking in a tone low enough that no one else can pick up.

 “Look out for her, Aqualad. You aren’t just leading a team of heroes--but a circle of friends. Zatanna needs support both on and off a battlefield.”

 “I understand,” Kaldur nods, and Batman makes a vaguely approving sound in the back of his throat. He takes his leave not too long after, Zatanna standing amidst a circle of new friends, and when her gaze floats to catch his eye, he meets her smile with one equally sincere.

 +

 It turns out that Zatanna fits into the team like a glove--especially, to Kaldur’s exasperation, with Robin’s schemey tendencies and Artemis’ blunt honesty. Which is to say she spends a great deal of time drifting about Kaldur and being nosy.

 “So….what do you do for fun around here?”

 Kaldur sips his tea, eyeing her over the rim. He knows this tactic. He’s too savvy to the rest of them; she’s building up to something.

 “Stop crime throughout the globe in the event that the League--”

 “Kal.”

 He smirks, to remind her that she’s not the only one with a sense of humor. “Read, mostly,” he admits. “I was rushed to learn English as quickly as possible and I prefer to practice often to keep myself sharp.”

 Zatanna looks humbly surprised. “What kind of books?”

 “Stieg Larsson, as of late.”

 “Good choice,” she says. “Have you seen the movie yet?”

 He pauses in his next sip. “Movie?”

 “Yeah! It’s so--actually, I won’t spoil it for you. But now we have Friday night plans.”

 “Do we now?”

 “Yes, you nerd, I will chain your ass to that couch if I have to but you’re watching that movie with me. Sorry, I don’t make the rules.”

 Laughing, Kaldur simply shakes his head. “If you insist.”

 “Insist I do,” Zatanna sniffs. “Oh, here’s a question for you--is there math under the sea? Like do you learn to do calculus with fish or…?”

 “Ha,” he says dryly. She simply grins at him; it matches Robin’s. He can hardly believe how alike they act already and it’s barely been two weeks. “Yes, we learn math in our school systems.”

 “Great!” And, ah, there it is--Zatanna whips out a notebook and a paperback workbook. “Please help me, I think algebra might actually kill me.”

 Either her tone of voice, or maybe the sheer despair in her expression, squeezes a laugh out of him, and he tries to compose himself in a reasonable amount of time without accidentally offending her. It sort of works, but she mostly seems pleased that she’s gotten him to break.

 “Of course,” he says, still staving off extra waves of giggles. “Though I make no promises that I know any of this any better than you do. I haven’t looked at this type of work in a long time.”

 Zatanna already has a pencil in his hand, somehow, so he guesses she’s largely unfazed by that fact. “Let me guess--you’re in like, advanced advanced honors math?”

 “Wha--oh, you misunderstand,” he explains, after a moment’s confusion, “I do not attend school on the surface at all.”

 “What?”

 (She doesn’t seem outraged, more like betrayed. Also, like she may be plotting to do whatever it is that he’s done to ensure herself the same treatment.)

 Kaldur wiggles his free hand, showing his obviously webbed fingers and tattoo. “I’m far too noticeable. There is not enough makeup in the world to hide my true self from civilians.”

 “You lucky duck.”

 “It’s not as great as you’re thinking,” he says honestly. “The cave has been lonesome as of late, now that M’gann and Connor are attending school. Black Canary enjoys...how do you put it...”

 “Kicking the crap out of you?”

 “Precisely.”

 She snorts, propping her chin in her hand as she leans on the tabletop. “Yeah, but I’d rather put my feet up all day than go through this,” and she gestures grandly at the homework laid out. “This is like torture by quadratic formula.”

 “It keeps you busy,” he points out.

 “Yeah, I guess, mom, but it’s still boring.”

 “Zatanna--”

 “What about Red Arrow?” she interrupts. “He’s sort of on the team, isn’t he? Robin and Wally barely shut up about him. I guess I figured he’d be around more, since you guys are so close.”

 Kaldur hates how quickly he clams up at the mere mention of Roy; in a handful of seconds he’s gone from perfectly fine to not, just because she brought him up. Hopefully, it does not show on his face. He clears his throat to give him an extra moment to kickstart his brain, and then says, “Roy visits occasionally.”

 “But?”

 “But….it is just that: occasional. He does not like it here.”

 Don’t tell her how often you go to his place, he thinks

 “Typically, I make the trip to visit him.”

 ….Damn it.

 “See! That’s fun! I’m stuck in a desk all day and you get to galavant around the city with Roy.” She makes a truly bizarre face at him as she says Roy’s name, and Kaldur’s mortification is hidden by the startled laugh it draws from him.

 “I am getting the feeling that you will not believe me no matter what I say.”

 “Correcto, Kal. Deny all you want, but lounging around the cave all day must be nice. We’ll be doing a lot of that together, won’t we, roomie?” She cracks her knuckles and points a problem on the open page. “Now, be a dear and explain to me what the hell conics are?”

 +

 Things get both better, and worse, in a truly bizarre fashion that Kaldur has come to associate with the life of a hero. On one hand, Zatanna fits to the team like a glove, easily getting along with the other members and Kaldur himself, but members of the League make frequent checkups on her. He isn’t sure where she stands, legally, as Dr. Fate seems less inclined to release his host than ever, but from what Kaldur has picked up--certainly not by eavesdropping, of course--there may be a chance at getting Batman involved. Kaldur’s just….not going to touch that proverbial can of worms until someone can give him a rundown of what is actually going on. And on the other hand, for every cheeky line Zatanna dishes out, she has dozens of moments of pained silence, and he isn’t sure how to help her anymore than he already has been. It feels like he could do more...he just isn’t sure what ‘more’ would be.

 Plus, Kaldur’s relationship with the surface world is fluctuated more than ever. He has more bad days than good days, and he’s not sure where the sudden change came from, or if his attempts to reassure King Orin are working.

 The good news out of all of this is that he spends more of his evenings with his feet up on Roy’s dingy coffee table, listening to Roy complain and/or theorize, and generally just...hanging out.

 It’s nice. They don’t get to do this as often anymore.

 They’re both in civvies, by Roy’s request, because even he grows sick of the constant rush of always being in uniform. Kaldur finds that he doesn’t actually like arguing with Roy, particularly on trivial matters, thus the borrowed sweatpants and UCLA shirt.

 “Listen,” says Roy, which is automatically impossible for Kaldur to do because Roy has been gallivanting about the apartment without a shirt on for the last ten minutes, and it’s far more distracting that Kaldur would like to admit. “I’m just saying--”

 “Batman was very clear about discussing a possible mole,” Kaldur interrupts. “Not that I do not trust your judgement, but you are leaning too heavily on speculation.”

 “You think I dreamed up Artemis’ past?”

 “No, but I hardly believe family ties are enough to negate the fact that Artemis has nearly died for the team multiple times.”

 “The same goes for whoever the mole might be!”

 Kaldur puts a hand on his face, “Okay, allow me to rephrase: discussing this endlessly gets us nowhere, and you are giving me a headache. I came to see you because I enjoy your company, not because I enjoy talking in circles for hours on end.”

 Roy only shuts up long enough to laugh, which Kaldur isn’t as mad about as he could’ve been. “Okay, fine,” he half-chuckles. “You could’ve started with that, you know?”

 Kaldur simply shrugs. “I did not want to be misunderstood. My team is in danger, and I am grateful that you have made it a concern of yours to keep us safe, but I need a break, occasionally.”

 “Which is why you came to me, I get it. Sorry, Kal. I’m even the one who begged you to put on sweatpants, but this isn’t as relaxing as it could’ve been.” Roy looks down at the floor and sighs, then jerks a thumb to the kitchen. “I’m gonna get a soda, then we can sit down and talk and paint our nails or whatever. Want anything?”

 It’s more or less a question Roy already knows the answer to--Kaldur doesn’t have a sweet tooth, but he does have a taste for dark sodas, which Wally is half-responsible for. It was the first drink he’d ever had on the surface world aside from water, and it was essentially love at first sip. “A Dr. Pepper,” he says, and Roy darts into the kitchen to grab it.

 He comes out with two cans, tosses one at Kaldur, and drops onto the other side of the couch. After a few huge sips, he sets it down and says, “So, I talked to Ollie yesterday.”

 Kaldur pauses as he pops open his can. “Really?”

 “Well, Ollie talked to me. He says he wants to make sure I’m not dead, but he also had takeout and Fifa in his hand, which, last I checked, isn’t necessary to make sure someone’s still kicking. But anyways, he told me that Aquaman’s been a little….what’s the word…”

 Suddenly, the soda is very interesting, and Kaldur can’t look at Roy anymore.

 “Ah,” Roy says dryly, “I got it, it’s bitchy.”

 Putting a little too much force into it, Kaldur pops the tab and the drink fizzles down his hand. “King Orin has not been--”

 He stops short, because Roy’s appraising him with a specific look. And then Kaldur realizes he’s been played.  

 Shaking the soda off his hand, he fights a small smile. “...perhaps the king has been in less than high spirits.”

 “And why’s that, Kal?” Roy’s eyebrows quirk upwards. “You don’t think it’s because his uptight protege looks like someone took the fish out of his fishsticks all the time, right?”

 Kaldur can’t stop himself; he frowns, “I do not look like that. I do not even know what that would look like.”

 “It means you look like you did last time Orin got this worried about you. Did something happen with Garth and Tula again?” Roy’s tone has changed entirely, turning more quiet and gruff. “Wanna talk about it?”

 Kaldur tries not to wince. The last time he’d spoken about Garth and Tula, he’d been in a less than stellar mood, and he hadn’t skimped on tossing the word ‘heartbroken’ around. And he had been, truly, broken up over getting rejected. He’d felt like an alien in his own home. But things have changed since then; for one, he has a better relationship with his oldest friends now than before, when he’d been so reliant on Tula to uphold an image of himself that didn’t quite...exist.

 It is beyond bad timing to be thinking about...this in such close proximity to Roy, for a myriad of reasons, and besides, it isn’t entirely relevant to this particular conversation.

 “Nothing has happened with Garth and Tula,” Kaldur starts. He hesitates, then admits, “I’m worried about Zatanna.”

 “Zatara’s kid?” Roy blinks. “Why’s that?”

 “I cannot gage how well she is adjusting,” he says. “The League checks on her, but Dr. Fate is more militant in his grip on Zatara than he ever was with Kent Nelson. I fear she is not taking it well.”

 “She seems fine to me, and the League, according to Ollie.”

 Kaldur takes a small sip of his soda. “That is what worries me. I am well aware of what hiding yourself looks like, and I fear that may be what she doing.”

 “Ah,” Roy says quietly. “Is that all?”

 Kaldur’s surprised enough to cast a glance at him, which Roy simply shrugs at. “Like you said, you’re good at hiding things. Sometimes I’ve gotta a dig a little.”

 Kaldur scoffs in reply. “I believe that is something I am familiar doing towards you as well.”

 Roy smacks him with a throw pillow, nearly knocking the soda out his hand, but he’s laughing. “I get it, Kal, we both suck at being open. Now quit being a smartass and tell me what’s on your mind.”

 As the last of his chuckles fade, Kaldur sets his can down on the table, definitely does not look at Roy, and says, “My days at the Cave have been...lonelier, as of late.”

 “So you do miss Atlantis?”

 “No, I mean, well, yes, always. But not like before. And that is not the cause of my loneliness.” Kaldur sighs. “I spend most of my days in the Cave alone, while the others are at school. Frankly, it is boring. I do not know what we expected when we started this team, but I’ve made incredible friends, and I do not get to fill my days with schoolwork or family dinners the way they do. And it is...lonesome.”

 “...jeez, Kal,” Roy says. After a moment he leans forward on his knees, biceps tightening as he puts his chin on his fist. “You could, maybe, tell Aquaman that? Before he brings down the fucking government to figure out what upset you?”

 “He wouldn’t,” Kaldur says tiredly.

 “He could. Wouldn’t put it past him. He’s responsible for you and all that, he takes it very seriously.”

 Kaldur gives him a look that’s just downright confused. “What do you mean?”

 Waving his hand, Roy says, “Ollie says he’s pretty damn proud of you. Like,  if he had a wallet, it would be filled with pictures of you kind of proud.”

 There’s no intelligent comment that comes to Kaldur’s brain, so he just blinks at Roy like he’s grown as a second head.

 “It’s a joke. I mean, not really, because I’m about ninety percent sure he actually has it, but it’s just making fun of something really involved dads do.”

 “King Orin isn’t my father,” he says after several moments of silence.

 “No kidding.”

 “Then why would he--”

 His phone chimes loudly, and Kaldur cuts himself short to check the caller ID.

 “Zatanna?”

 “Kal, where are you?”

 Kaldur looks at Roy, at his sweatpants, and the couch. “...nowhere important,” and Roy makes a small sound that could be either amusement or offense, Kaldur can’t tell but turns so his back is to him anyway. “Is something wrong?”

 “What? No. Nothing at all, Kal, except you totally bailed on me.”

 “What?”

 “It’s movie night, remember? Stieg Larsson!”

 Kaldur sits there, truly confused as he racks his brain for any recollection of what she might be talking about. “Wait,” he says, remembering the first night she’d approached him with her homework. It feels like so long ago, but it’s been at the most, two weeks. “You were serious?”

 “As a heartattack. We’ve been busy every weekend since, but we all bit the bullet and got our homework done early enough we would be able to have some free time. And it’s not a team event unless you’re with us.”

 Kaldur swallows hard. Though his voice doesn’t betray it, he’s moved by her words and the solemn sincerity in her voice. “Of course,” he says. “I’ll be there soon.”

 And then he hears a chorus of cheers, and he realizes he was so confused he hadn’t noticed that Zatanna had him on speakerphone the whole time.

 “You better be!” Zatanna’s voice picks up over the noise, but she sounds relieved.

 “Yeah, Kal, the one night we actually get a breather and you’re off doing who-knows-what--”

 “Okay, okay,” Kaldur says, starting to chuckle.

 “Get your but back to the base ASAP!” Robin’s voice chimes in, “Oh, and tell Roy he can come to!”

 “You’re with Roy?”

 “I am hanging up now,” Kaldur informs them all, and does just that.

 When he turns back around, Roy is red in the face from trying not to laugh. Kaldur rolls his eyes at him, but he quietly notes that Roy does seem to be more relaxed, even after speaking with Ollie, and that is a good sign, at least. He raises one eyebrow delicately. “Something funny?”

 “No, not at all,” Roy shakes his head. “Just don’t look so surprised whenever people actually give a shit about you, okay? I’m not sure if it makes me wanna hug you or deck everyone else.”

 Kaldur blinks at him a few times. Roy laughs again, then shoos him off the couch. “Get outta here, hang out with your team.”

 “You won’t be coming with me?”

 “Hell no,” he says flatly. “I’m not gonna volunteer to hang out at daycare.”

 “Roy--”

 “Yell at me next time,” he snorts. “Now go. Night, Kal.”

 Kaldur feels an odd smile turn at the corner of his mouth, and tries to keep it contained as he gathers his things. “Goodnight, Roy.”

 Sometimes it’s so hard to feel warmth in his chest when Roy smiles; it’s like suffocating, knowing he is drowning in a terrible secret.

 And other times….it’s not hard at all.

 +

 Upon returning to the Cave, Kaldur receives no less than three wolf-whistles, three open stares, and feels his heart climb into his throat when Zatanna comments, “Didn’t know you liked UCLA, Kal.”

 He holds up his hands, not really sure what he wants to do with them, and winds up making a ‘go away’ gesture at all of them, to their delight.

 Despite that, movie night is wonderful.

 +

 Kaldur can’t get Roy’s words out of his head, about Aquaman, and he decides to do the responsible thing and speak to his king face to face. However, knowing it is the right thing to do doesn’t make it any less awkward.

 “So you are not having trouble making connections on the surface?” Orin asks, voice carefully pitched but face full of concern.

 Kaldur shakes his head. “No, it is, if anything, the opposite, my King. I know there was reason for concern before, but the team has come out of our ordeals stronger than ever. I fear it is the bond we’ve made that leaves me feeling so...alone, when they are not around.”

 Orin strokes his beard, nodding. Kaldur tries to ignore the fact that this feels like trying to explain to Batman that he’d been maybe-in-love-or-something-else with Tula so many months ago.

 ….oh, Roy was right, he is terrible at being open.

 “I will discuss something with Batman. Thank you for being honest with me, Kaldur’ahm,” Orin says, places a hand on his shoulder and squeezing. “I simply wish you would tell me of these things sooner.”

 “I apologize, my king--”

 “Do not,” Orin cuts him off sternly. “That is something we both need to work on. I will do my best to be more aware of your needs on the surface world, in exchange for you being much more honest with me than you have been in the past.”

 Kaldur looks at him, unsure of what to say, of how to ask if Orin is alluding to what he thinks he’s alluding to. “My king…?”

 “I am aware of your past altercation with Garth.”

 Oh, Kaldur had been wrong about the comparison to Batman. This is much worse.

 “We resolved it,” he mumbles, and he can’t think of the last time he’d been so embarrassed he couldn’t look his king in the eye. “That is no longer an issue.”

 “In regards to Tula, I am sure it is not. But I am well aware of what habits you fall to when you experience feelings you are unfamiliar with, Kaldur’ahm.”

 Not that Kaldur has ever died before, but he’s sure this very moment is worse. He hadn’t been lying when he said the king wasn’t his father--Cal Durham was, he knew that--but it still feels like being scolded and getting interrogated about the nuances of a crush by a parent nonetheless.

 “Forgive me, I am not sure how to say this delicately,” Kaldur says hesitantly.

 “Perhaps start by simply saying it.”

 Not that he ever envisioned having this conversation, but Kaldur definitely didn’t think he’d ever...come out to Orin like this. Or at any time. In his defense, it has been a tumultuous time, lately.

 “I….feel similarly towards a team member as I did toward Tula,” he starts, slowly, and not all confidently.

 And then he remembers what Roy had said, about Orin and pride and toting said pride with wherever he went.

 “This team member is male, my king, and I hope that you do not perceive me differently for this or--”

 “Kaldur’ahm, be calm, my son,” says Orin, and that alone is enough to make Kaldur’s shoulders sag with relief.

 Orin grips him by both shoulders, staring him head on. “There is no thing I can think of that could make me perceive you as anything but a prize of Atlantis, and the best choice for my protege. Have no fear, Kaldur’ahm, I care for you all the same. I have failed you in many ways, but I will not fail you in this regard.”

 He hugs Kaldur after that, and Kaldur breathes, at last.

 +

 A week after that conversation, Batman calls Kaldur for private conversation. Except their private conversation also includes Aquaman and Zatanna.

 He isn’t sure how to process the information at first. Aquaman’s presence helps, but he remains wary even after the king places a hand on his shoulder to calm him.

 “Kaldur’ahm, be calm,” he assures, and that does help.

 “Is something wrong, my king?” He casts a glance at Zatanna, who beams at him, which is just more confusing.

 “I spoke to Batman about my concerns for your wellbeing. However, Zatanna was the one who reached out to us about a possible solution.”

 She shrugs sheepishly. “Ever since you mentioned being alone in the Cave all the time I started working out charms that could disguise you. And I think I finally got one.”

 She holds up a necklace with a golden ball as a pendant. At his blank stare, she hides a laugh, “You wear it and it makes you look more like a surface-dweller. No gills, no tattoos, no webbing.”

 “In other words, as long as it works, you could go about the surface world outside of missions,” Batman explains. “Like the rest of the team. Even attend school.”

 Oh. Oh.

 Though his jaw doesn’t quite hit the floor, Kaldur feels himself go slackjawed and simply stares at Zatanna like she’s grown a second head. “You...developed this for me?”

 “Of course, Kal.” She looks half sad by his surprise, and motions for him to lean down enough so she can put it around his neck. “You’re my friend. I noticed how you’ve been slipping lately, and then movie night was the final kick in the pants I needed to get this done. Sorry it took so long.”

 He can’t think of anything else to say besides, “Thank you, Zatanna. You did not have to do this.”

 Zatanna sniffles, then pushes him back into an upright position. “I know, that’s sort of why I did it,” she says, then catches him in a quick hug. She steps back to hold him at arm’s length, appraising her work. “Not that you weren’t hot before, because you really were, but, uh….this is a good look on you.”

 Kaldur snorts, thankful for once that it's Zatanna who's the most awkward person in the room, rather than him. He turns to Aquaman and Batman, expression hopeful. “Is this acceptable?”

 Aquaman’s smiling, really smiling, and claps a hand on Kaldur’s shoulder, laughing. “It is wonderful! Truly, this is Zatara’s daughter. You have a way with magic, my dear.”

 “Thank you,” she says, obviously pleased.

 Batman doesn’t smile, per se--at least, not like Orin, but he’s at least vaguely happy. Or so Kaldur supposes. It’s hard to tell. “Good work, Zatanna.”

 She beams, and Kaldur can’t help but feel just as excited.

 +

The charm changes more than just his gills.

 It makes his hair appear jet black and curly, and rounds his jaw, but his eyes keep their shade. He spends an ample amount of time looking at himself in the mirror and struggling to recognize the person staring back.

 “Hold still, Kal--holy shit, you’re gonna break so many hearts,” Artemis says giddily. She swings an arm around him and Zatanna snaps a photo of both of them. “Seriously. This almost makes me wish you were coming to Gotham just to see the girls there lose their minds.”

 M’gann giggles behind her hand. “This really is pretty amazing, Zatanna. And Kaldur, I mean, you’ve always been almost ridiculously handsome...” she trails off, looking flustered.

 Kaldur smiles, surprised and flattered all at once, and when Wally gives Conner a slackjawed look he simply shrugs and says, “She’s not wrong.”

 “Okay,” Wally says flatly, “anyone else wanna say they’ve been in love with Kaldur, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

 “Aye,” his team says together, and that makes Kaldur’s face warm and he laughs again, unsure of what else to do under the weight of their stares.

 “As fun as it would be to attend to school with you, Artemis,” Kaldur says, honestly, because he can only imagine how Artemis’ alter ego might act, “I’ve already discussed with Aquaman and Batman. I’ll be attending Happy Harbor with M’gann and Conner.”

 “And me!” Zatanna adds, beaming. “I’ll be transferring in December. Uh, surprise?”

 M’gann immediately hugs her and squeals, in a way that’s so endearing, Zatanna can’t help but squeeze her in return. “This is going to be so exciting!”

 “Our fearless leader’s growing up,” Robin says, smirking, and Kaldur immediately thinks of all the times Roy called him less-than-flattering names for giving him the same treatment.

 “If you ever need any chem help, you know where to turn to, bro,” Wally promises.

 “We finally get to help you the same way you’ve been helping us this whole time!”

 Conner makes a face. “No promises from me. I mean, I’ve always got your back just...don’t ask me about English. I actually might make things worse for you.”

 Kaldur laughs, which Conner looks pleased by, and he’s almost overwhelmed by how excited his team is for him.

 “What name are you gonna use?” M’gann says thoughtfully. “I’m sure you could get away with Kal still, but you’ll need a last name.”

 “Actually, I was thinking of using Curry.”

 M’gann looks like she actually might cry, but keeps it together when she says, “I love it.”

 “Alright, Kal Curry, hold still.” He’s caught by surprise when Artemis slips behind him and pulls the necklace off.

 “Sorry, I just didn’t want to forget you. You you.” She bumps their shoulders together, and pushes his hand closed around the necklace. “I get having to hide, but here? With us? You’re still purely you.”

 Kaldur nods appreciatively, thankful she’s taken to the extra step to make him comfortable. She, M’gann, and Conner are at least vaguely aware of the disputes with Atlantean purists; frankly, Kaldur, despite his discomfort, displeasure, and anger with the creatures who try so hard to shame the diversity of his home, hasn’t thought of it in a while. He’s been….distracted, to say the least.

 “Thank you, Artemis,” he says quietly.

 She smiles at him, and behind her his team wears similar looks of genuine affection, and it’s a lot to take in. He’s not used to the attention, but he supposes, he should start to try getting more comfortable with it.

 And not a minute later, he gets a text from Roy saying: nice look and the bewildered expression on his face prompts a round of hearty laughter from the team. Robin winks, and says, “What? He wanted to see!”

 Kaldur just groans.

 +

 By the time M’gann makes the cheerleading team, Kaldur’s up to his ears in catch up work, both in school and out. It had been a while since he’d been in school, and he had to adjust, slowly but surely, to the constant pressure on his brain reminding him of a looming test. He admits, he missed it, in a weird way. Not that he particularly loves chemistry--though, his magic has made him very familiar with it--but he find it relaxing to solve problems in a topic he knows so well.

 Also, M’gann is in his chemistry class, and she has more of a tendency to mix chemicals wrong than he does. (To her credit, he’s pretty sure she does it just to make him laugh, and so far as a pretty high success rate.)

 English is surprisingly tough; Kaldur is fluent, but writing timed essays still gets him frustrated. His teacher laments that he’s too wordy, and being a bit more concise would help him. Trigonometry is just as terrible as it when he helps Zatanna with her work, but World History is, by far, his favorite. (It is entirely possible French wants him dead.) The only class he doesn’t have with Conner or M’gann is Art History.

 Due to entering later in the year, the only seat open the class in the back next to a kid with a clean-cut fade and a letterman jacket. He smiles easy at Kaldur, and Kaldur smiles easy right back.

 “Call me Vic, man,” the kid says, hand out to shake.

 “Calvin,” Kaldur replies, equally as friendly.

 “Alright, Cal, I’m gonna be your savior in the class. Mr. Wiseman’s a tough dude but he mostly just looks scary--that doesn’t mean this stuff isn’t hard as shit though.”

 Kaldur laughs, but soon learns Vic hadn’t been exaggerating.

 +

 Roy, being Roy, checks up on his him in the least subtle way ever: via text, on a Thursday night, as Kaldur’s hunched over a table full of homework, with Conner, Zatanna, and Wally.

 From Roy Harper: So how’s school going, kid?

 He groans immediately, ignoring the curious looks he gets from the others.

 To Roy Harper: I do not know how, or why, but I fully believe you knew Aquaman was going to do this and did nothing to stop it.

 From Roy Harper: Lol paranoid, much?

From Roy Harper: and yeah, i had a hunch, but i thought it would be good for you

 To Roy Harper: I suppose you were not entirely wrong.

 From Roy Harper: mhmm

 To Roy Harper: My apologies. What I meant to say was thank you. Since when are you wise enough to give me good advice?

 From Roy Harper: I’ve always been good at iti, I’m just shit at taking my own advice

From Roy Harper: also i should mention that i offered to let you live with me in star city but the jl didnt go for it

 Wally has just about forgotten his homework by now, seconds away from bouncing out of his seat. “Kal, what is it? Are you okay?”

 “I am fine,” Kaldur says in his best leader voice, and does his best to hammer his face into a neutral expression

 To Roy Harper: You what?

 From Roy Harper: i mean, it would've helped, right? with the loneliness?

 To Roy Harper: Yes, of course. I don’t understand why you didn’t say anything before I already made plans with Batman and Aquaman.

 From Roy Harper: didnt wanna pressure you

 “Oh,” Zatanna stage-whispers, “I know that smile. That means he's talking to Roy.”

 “Oh. Oh, wait, what,” Wally squeaks. “Really, dude?”

 Conner, very impatiently, comments, “If you’re going to be this loud, you can do the rest of my math homework.”

 “In your very best of dreams, Supey.”

 “Then keep it down, Kid Can’t Shut Up.”

 From Roy Harper: gtg, come over soon, we can talk about this later. plus i gotta hear your high school horror stories

From Roy Harper: and see Zatanna’s magic work in person, pics don’t do it justice

From Roy Harper: also, a little birdy told me you go by Curry now?

 To Roy Harper: Goodbye, Roy.

 From Roy Harper: hahahaha

From Roy Harper: see you, kal

 Wally asks again why he’s smiling, and Kaldur, none to gentle, tells him to can it.

 +

 As the weeks go by, he spends most of days at Happy Harbor with M’gann and Conner, and sometimes with Vic, who turns out to be football captain, and takes to Kaldur like a house on fire. His favorite thing, apparently, is to scare the living daylights out of Kaldur by greeting him with a friendly slap on the back of the head by his locker. Kaldur will get used to it, eventually, but he admits his crime fighting instincts kick in every time.

 Just before Thanksgiving break, Vic catches him first thing, while he’s still at his locker with M’gann and Conner before homeroom.

 “Cal! Glad I caught you man,” Vic says, trading his typical head-slap with a fist bump instead. “Listen, the team’s throwing a get-together Friday night. You should come.” He glances to Conner and M’gann, and adds, “All of you. The hell, man, I didn’t know you knew Kent and Megan?”

 “We go way back,” M’gann says cheerily. “And we’d be happy to go to your, um, get-together. Right, guys?”

 Conner shrugs, which everyone at Happy Harbor seems to understand is his way of showing excitement. Kaldur, on the other hand, hesitates for a second too long.

 “Nooo way, you can’t back out on me again. Last time you bailed because of the lamest reason ever, and I only take so many rainchecks before I get personally offended.”

 What Kal doesn’t say is that last time, Sportsmaster had spent a good part of Friday night trying to take his head off via hand-axe. It was a mission that ended with Cheshire kicking him in the face--again--and tossing Robin over the side of a building. It had been spectacularly long night for the team, and he’d just barely remembered to text Vic that he wouldn’t be able to make it after all.

 Instead, he shrugs noncommittally. “I’ll try my best,” he says honestly.

 Vic sighs. “I guess I can take that. But if you bail again you owe me.”

 He catches up to more of the football players after that, leaving Kaldur with M’gann and Conner.

 “You are gonna go, right?” Conner says first.

 “I am not sure,” Kaldur admits. “Victor is friendly, but I do not know the rest of the team, and--”

 “Oh,” M’gann says suddenly, sounding concerned, “Kaldur, are you...nervous?”

 The bell rings before he has to admit to anything.

 +

 Somehow, Zatanna finds out about the party, which means the whole team finds out about the party, via mental communications link, mid-mission.

 “Wait, you were thinking about not going? What the heck, man! If the captain of the football teams says go to his party, you go to his party!”

 “Is now really the time?” Kaldur grunts, trying to deflect a kick to the chest. Wally flashes by, carrying the merc off with him, and adds his two cents on his way out.

 “I say go, man! Live a little, let your hair down. Chillaaaax.”

 “Hey Wally? 2007 called, it wants its slang back.”

 “Don’t hate, Arty, appreciate.”

 “I’d appreciate it if your mouth didn’t move as fast as the rest of you did. On that note, I vote you go, Kal. Remember what I said about being a ladykiller?”

 Kaldur does his best to express a bland expression via thought, which gets a few snickers.

 “I don’t get it, why don’t you want to go?”

 “He’s allowed to have his reasons,” Conner says. And then half-screams and he rips the metal doors of the facility open with his bare hands.

 “Yeah, but what are they?”

 “Enough,” Kaldur thinks in his most threatening command voice. “There is a time and place for civilian discussion, and right now is neither the time nor place. This discussion is indefinitely put aside.”

 According to the team, “indefinite” means “as soon as we get back to base.” Kaldur’s barely out of the shower by the time someone’s knocking on his door, and he’s rushed to throw on a shirt and pants before he opens.

 Somehow unsurprisingly, it’s Zatanna in the hallway, hip cocked and wearing an expression that makes his brow furrow. “Can we talk?” she says, already slipping inside his room.

 She goes straight to his bed and tucks her feet up underneath her, the same way she’s done several times before. Her expression hasn’t changed.

 Sighing, Kaldur closes the door and leans against it. “Zatanna--”

 “No, you don’t get to do that anymore. Make excuses, I mean. Let me know what’s going on, or tell me to get out, just quit trying to hide.”

 After a pause, she too sighs, allowing her shoulders to sag. “I’m not trying to harsh, it’s just that--you’ve been there for me since...I just want to return to the favor. That’s what friends do, Kal. Tell me what’s up.”

 He must have a special talent for getting people to reach their final limits of patience. The air in the room turns uncomfortable, and Kaldur does his best to keep looking at the floor.

 Roy was right. He really isn’t good at this.

 “I am...I have my reservations about attending...for various reasons,” he says stiffly.

 “Are you worried about the charm wearing off? I can give you a backup if that’s the problem.”

 “No, no, Zatanna it is not your magic,” he says firmly. “You have done exemplary work. I have had no problems so far.”

 “Then what’s the problem?”

 Kaldur drums his fingers against the door. “I do not want to put you in an uncomfortable position,” he says. “To ask you to harbor my secrets from the team is….”

 “Dude, just say it already. I pinky swear no one’s gonna hear a word from me.” He hesitates, still, and she groans. “What will it take for you to talk to me? I’ve literally cried myself to sleep on your shoulder, secrets shmecrets. No matter how ugly you think it is, you can tell me. I promise, Kaldur.”

 Kaldur stares at her for a long while. He crosses his arms, visibly hesitant, then says, “I do not know much about how teenagers relate to one another without supervision on the surface world.”

 “Kal--” She stops, her nose scrunching in thought. “Oh, man, are you nervous?”

 Again with that word--Kaldur makes a similar face as he had when M’gann said it, but this time there’s no bell to rescue him from explaining himself. Instead he’s forced to meet Zatanna’s concerned eyes and nod.

 “It is much easier to be with M’gann and Conner than it is to be with other students. They know this,” he gestures to his hands and gills, “and they are comfortable with me as I am. I know the necessity of my ruse, but it makes it...difficult to be as honest as I would like to be. It makes connecting with the other students…”

 He trails off as she slaps a hand to her forehead. “Of course, I hadn’t even thought about it…. M’gann does it so easily, but I should’ve known hiding yourself wouldn’t come as easily to anyone else. And you’re not really used to how regular kids interact and...aw, jeez, Kal. I’m sorry.”

 “It is not your fault.”

 “I know, I know, but….I mean, I suggested this and now I want to help you.” She bites her lip. “It’s part of the problem of balancing two identities. Part of you is always gonna feel like you’re being dishonest. But you’re not. The reality of Calvin Curry is that he’s a transfer kid with an uncle from the area--but he’s also you, he’s kind, and he’s funny, and he’s genuine.”

 Kaldur doesn’t know what to say. He hadn’t been expecting that. He nods, unsurely, and Zatanna invites him to sit next to her.

 “Listen,” she says, “as long as you can show those kids why we all love you, you’ll be fine. The only thing that’s any different is the name you write on your essays. And you can tell people you really trust who you are.” She grins, “That goes for the party, and for us on the team too.”

 “Zatanna…”

 “It won’t be easy, but you’ll get used to it. Plus, you always have M’gann and Conner, and soon you’ll have me too.”

 He runs a hand over his head, trying to let her words sink in and let his guard down at the same time. It’s a similar feeling to going to the Academy in Atlantis; butterflies in the stomach at the thought of meeting so many new people and never knowing how well the interactions would go. But even then, he’d always had Tula and Garth by his side to ease his nerves.

 What Zatanna is saying is the same concept, just different faces, but the trust and familiarity is all the same.

 “Okay,” he says. “In that case, I will attend.”

 “Really? Kal, I wasn’t trying to make you feel like you had to--”

 “I know, I know,” he says. “I merely want to try what you have told me. Call this my leap of faith.”

 He smiles, and she smiles just as brightly in return. Without warning, she throws her arms around in a short but tight squeeze. Perhaps in the past, Kaldur would’ve flinched at the unprompted contact, but he finds himself working an arm around her to warmly return the embrace.

 “And, by the way, nice shirt.”

 He looks down and to his embarrassment, realizes he’d thrown on Roy’s UCLA shirt in his haste to get dressed. Groaning to drown out her snickers, he says, “This did not happen.”

 “I didn’t see anything,” she agrees, still giggling.

 +

 Kaldur, for all his apprehension, needn’t have worried; when he shows up, Vic smiles like it’s Christmas and immediately thanks M’gann for bringing him. “I knew I could count on you, Megan,” he says sincerely. He opens his arms for a hug, which Megan blesses him with, short and quick, and falls to her default by Conner’s side again.

 “Kent, I owe you.”

 “Consider it an early Christmas gift,” Conner replies.

 Vic laughs. “I’ll take it! Y’all come in, it’s cold as shit out there. Drinks in the kitchen, dance floor downstairs, upstairs is off limits.” He throws an arm around Kaldur and squeezes, “Now you’ve gotta meet the team! And Mal, the big guy’s been dying to get me to shut up about you. But first, you need a drink.”

 Vic’s about Kaldur’s size, even though Kal’s Atlantean strength gives him the upper hand, he lets Vic drag him away into the kitchen, where more kids are crowded into a variety of alcoholic drinks lay strewn about the counter.

 “We’re saving our cash for Christmas, that’s when we splurge on the good stuff,” Vic explains. But grabs a beer can and presses it into Kaldur’s hands. “Bottoms up?”

 Kaldur has had alcohol before--America’s drinking age is absurd, by Atlantean standards--but he’s never been big on it. Nonetheless, he cracks the can open and takes a long swig, causing Vic to cheer. “Okay, tough guy, wanna chug? We’ll chug.”

 The beer tastes terrible, unbelievably bad, but Kaldur clinks cans wtih Vic and chugs it anyway. He’s not worried about getting intoxicated--not only is the beer gross, it’s practically water.

 Which is why Vic gets him to chug another without much fight, and then they go off to find the rest of the team. As soon as Victor shows up, at least ten different voices all scream, “STONE!” at various levels of drunkenness.

 Victor laughs smoothly and loudly and points to each team member as he says a name. “Joe Jackson, Nicky Free, the twins Lewis and Thomas Jones--” and he goes on, until Kaldur has more names in his head than he thinks he can list, but he smiles big and friendly at the other boys and they do the same. Another shoves up again him, and Kaldur finds himself dwarfed by a kid with nearly half a foot on him.

 “And this fucking giant is Mal Duncan,” Vic says. “Mallie, quit thundering all over my parent’s place, you’ll bring it down!”

 “Laugh it up, Stone, I’ll bring you down with it,” Mal jokes, as the two pull each other into a quick hug. “Who’s the new guy?”

 “Calvin! Call him Cal. He’s the guy from my Art History class who should’ve joined the team this year, seriously. Don’t look at my like that, Cal, I’ve seen you run outta Wiseman’s class. You float like a butterfly and then some.”

 Kaldur shrugs sheepishly, which gets a laugh out of Mal. “Don’t let him embarrass you too much. Give Stone an inch and he’ll make it a mile.”

 “God, Mal, you sound so much like your old man right now.”

 “And proud of it,” Mal shoots back.

 “Mal’s old man works at STAAR Labs. He’s gonna get me a job there one day, right man?”

 “In your fucking dreams.”

 Kaldur can’t help it--he laughs out loud, both at Mal’s dry tone and Vic’s resulting pout. “Sorry--”

 “Nah, don’t worry about it, Vic knows he’s a joke,” Mal laughs. “And if I catch his ass anywhere near STAAR I’m slapping him into last week.”

 “Vic, you were right,” Kaldur says, “you really do bring out the best in people.”

 Mal belly laughs and Vic punches the both of them halfheartedly, and after that, it’s so much easier than Kaldur thought it would be.

 Too easy, actually.

 One of the cheerleaders shows up with a bottle of some liquor Kaldur can’t name, and before he knows it he’s had more than just a couple of shots, and it’s not until he bumps in Conner that he realizes he has gotten carried away.

 “Kal, are you okay?” Conner’s squinting through the dark to try and see his face.

 “I am fine,” Kaldur lies, with the confidence of someone who has just realized they are drunk. Or at least, buzzed. Which means it’s time to wrap this up; even inebriated, Kaldur’s still aware of his duties as a team leader. And that training tomorrow will be hell, should he wake up sick. “Actually, I think it would be best if we leave soon.”

 “Did something happen?”

 “No, I said I am fine,” Kaldur repeats. “But we have training tomorrow and I still run a team, and if Canary finds out that we missed morning training because of a party, I fear she may actually throw us through a  wall.”

 Conner snorts, but nods in agreement. “I’ll grab Megan. Don’t go too far, okay?”

 “Okay,” says Kaldur. It’s just past 11:00 when he looks at his phone--and then he gets the brightest idea to text Roy. He’d typically be at Roy’s place around this time anyway, if movie night wasn’t an option.

 To Roy Harper: remember that time you told me to let loose?

 From Roy Harper: Kaldur you bastard

From Roy Harper: you did not got drunk without me

From Roy Harper: oh my god you got drunk??

 To Roy Harper: i am not drunk

 From Roy Harper: no proper punctuation? Looks drunk to me

 Kaldur is extra careful to tap out his next message,

To Roy Harper: I am not drunk do not be ridiculous

 From Roy Harper: yeah, bc im the ridiculous one in this situation

From Roy Harper: where are you?

 To Roy Harper: Happy Harbor, with Conner and M’gann.

To Roy Harper: I am safe, mom, thank you for the concern

 From Roy Harper: dear god are you sassing me?

 To Roy Harper: I always sass you.

 From Roy Harper: yeah but you have never in your life admitted to sassing me. This is insane. For my next birthday youre getting wasted and were gonna play 20 questions and then my life will be complete

 To Roy Harper: I will tell you what we will not be doing.

 From Roy Harper: booze makes you a sass monster idk how i feel about this

 To Roy Harper: can you make it to the cave tonigght?

To Roy Harper: tonite

To Roy Harper: *tonight?

 From Roy Harper: i would go to fucking mars rn if i meant i got to see you like this

 To Roy Harper: I changed my mind, you are annoying, stay in Star City

 From Roy Harper: too late, im omw

 “Cal?”

 He looks up to see Vic, smiling sloppily. “Okay, Calvin, I see you. Who’s the girl?”

 “Huh?”

 “The way you’re smiling at your phone? You’ve got a girl, right? Do I know her? Are y’all--”

 Kaldur interrupts with a laugh, pulling Vic into a short hug. “Not a girl, my friend. Maybe I will tell you about it after break.”

 “You’re leaving already?”

 “Unfortunately, yes. Thanks for this, Victor, really.”

 “Hey, man, anytime. You’re fun as fuck, you get along with Mal--you gotta be a saint or something for that. I know moving around sucks, I just want you to know that Happy Harbor’s gonna be the best place you ever lived. I want you to love this place as much as I do.”

 “I think I might be getting there,” Kaldur promises, and Victor’s face lights up.

 “Booyah! That’s what I’m talking about, hornets for life!”

 “Okaaay,” Conner interrupts, getting Kaldur by the upper arm. “Thanks for the party, Victor.”

 “Anytime, Kent! Drag you and your girl to our Christmas shit, yeah? And you too, Curry, I swear to God--”

 “Goodnight, Vic,” Conner says, trying not to laugh, and then maneuvers him and Kaldur out of the house, M’gann not far behind.

 She’s looking at Kal with a funny smile, and loops her arm through his without hesitation. “So, that was fun!”

 She makes a face at Conner, who laughs, and then obediently loops his arm through Kaldur’s other one as well. “Oh, yeah,” he says. “Fun’s the word I would use.”

 “I can walk,” Kaldur says, frowning.

 “Oh, we know.”

 “This is just the only time you’ll ever let us get away with this.”

 Kaldur opens his mouth to argue, but winds up keeping it shut. They’re not wrong.

 +

 M’gann and Conner get him through the zeta-tube in one piece--though it feels much worse with alcohol in your system, Kaldur learns. The Cave’s mostly dark, thank goodness, which means Zatanna’s already in bed and whoever else is staying the night is asleep as well, presumably.

 They finally release his arms and exchange their goodbyes--M’gann kisses him on the cheek and says, “I’m proud of you, Kaldur. And of Calvin Curry. It’s nice seeing you like this.”

 He squints at her. “Under the influence?”

 “Relaxed,” she half-snorts. “I know that wasn’t easy for you but you look like you actually enjoyed it.”

 “I did,” Kaldur says, blinking, surprised by himself.

 “I can tell,” she smirks.

 He’s still functioning a bit slow, but Kaldur connects the dots after a pause. “Wait, is that a joke because I am drunk--”

 “Not to interrupt, but I think you’ve got visitor, Kal,” Conner says, pointing to the couch.

 Where Roy is perched, arms crossed, and trying to hide a smile.

 Kaldur had nearly forgotten about texting him, which had seemed so brilliant at the time, but now that Roy’s sitting here he can’t really make any correct sounding words.

 “Goodnight,” Conner says, voice dangerously close to teasing, and then the two disappear before Kaldur can read it into it.

 Back to Roy. Right. Kaldur just prays he won’t embarrass himself.

 “I did not think you would actually come.”

 Roy has his arms folded over his chest, and he untangles them to wave a hand in the air, as if brushing Kaldur’s words away. “No, it’s actually good timing. I’ve decided to join your team. Like, actually join. I was gonna surprise you guys tomorrow, but no harm done in spending the night.”

 Kaldur, remembering morning training, groans. “I have made a grave mistake.”

 “It’s okay, I’m sure even Batman’s shown up to work with a hangover. It’s happened to the best of us,” Roy smirks.

 Kaldur makes his way towards the couch, maybe a hair too fast and feels his balance suffer for it, and before he knows what’s truly happened, Roy has an arm around his lower back, steadying him, and the other around his shoulders. He is close, Kaldur’s brain supplies unhelpfully. Just...close.

 “I am okay,” Kaldur insists.

 “Course you are.”

 Several moments pass, and Roy doesn’t let him go. And, well, if they’re going to stand around like this--Kaldur shifts, his weight leans into Roy, and he allows his head to drop, ever so slightly, onto Roy’s shoulder. It’s barely anything, and so much all at the same time.

 Roy’s shoulder starts to shake. He’s trying not to laugh.

 “Shut up,” Kaldur snaps.

 “Oh my god, this is amazing. If you wanted to cuddle, you could’ve asked, man.”

 Kaldur scoffs and turns his head, letting Roy’s shoulder cover most of his face.

 “Wait, wait,” Roy wheezes, “don’t hide, lemme look at you. I gotta see Zatanna’s charm...thing at work.”

 He allows Roy to pull him away, take a once over.

 “The team said I was, as M’gann put it, ‘ridiculously handsome.’”

 “Yeah, no kidding,” Roy mumbles. The tips of his ears are flushed pink. “Is it the necklace?”

 “Yes.”

 And suddenly Kaldur feels warm fingers on the back of his neck; Roy lifts the string up and over, and though Kaldur feels no change, he knows he now looks like himself. He’s not sure if that makes the situation better or worse.

 “Personally, I’ve always been a fan of the gills, fishsticks,” Roy smirks as he slips the charm into Kaldur’s pocket.

 “I will not stand for the revival of that terrible nickname.”

 “Would you sit for it?”

 Kaldur makes to object again, but Roy adds, “It’ll be more comfortable for you that way, cuddle monster.”

 So Kaldur sits.

 Roy cracks a smile again, but doesn’t laugh, this time simply gets an arm around Kaldur and squeezes. “As fun as this is, you really have to sleep soon. And drink some water. And brush your teeth, damn, did they give you fucking moonshine?”

 He immediately goes to check his breath, but Roy knocks his hands back down. “Kidding, Kal.”

 “Oh.”

 “Oh my god,” Roy says again, and then Kaldur is pressed closer against him and the two lean back on the couch. It is, as Roy had said, very much a cuddling position. Kaldur belatedly realizes he doesn’t have any idea what to do with his hands.

“So….we need to talk, Kaldur.”

 “I do not like those words when you say them.”

 “No, shut up, I’m allowed to be dramatic too. Now’s obviously not a good time, but once you’re sober we really need to...I just need to tell you something. And we need to figure some stuff out.”

 “Okay,” Kaldur concedes. “Stay here a second longer, though. This is...nice.”

 Roy, for once, does not object.

 +

 The alcohol had made him drowsy, but it also burns through his system very quickly. Kaldur wakes up sluggish, but no headache, thank goodness. But he can tell it’s still early--much earlier than he would’ve liked to wake up--and he’s still pressed into Roy’s side.

 For a moment, he waits, struggling to determine the best course of action to take in the situation. Roy’s arm is around his shoulders loosely, comfortably, as if he could hold Kaldur to him forever. And if Kaldur weren’t so positively panicked, he may have let it happen.

 Instead, he attempts to lift himself up as gingerly as possible. Maybe he can escape this unscathed. Maybe he can retreat to his room, attend training and pretend this had never happened, even though his heart hurts at the very thought. This isn’t anything like his situation with Tula--he would never deny that he loved her, or even that he’d been in love with her, and the heartbreak he’d felt at being rejected was entirely real. But the way his heart breaks right now is from his own self-imposed distance, and the further he pulls himself away from Roy, the worse it gets.

 Kaldur has spent a long while denying himself of the things he wants most, and perhaps that is what causes him to freeze completely against Roy’s chest.

 He huffs, and to his chagrin, feels Roy’s chest rumble with a resounding chuckle. He can’t help that he digs his fingers into the fabric of Roy’s shirt as he pulls himself up enough to see the redhead’s face.

 Roy is smiling, albeit sleepily. It is the softest Kaldur has ever seen his face. He rests his hand on Kaldur’s head, rubbing his short curls, and for second the look between them is pure warmth, uninterrupted and much, much deeper than anything Kaldur ever expected. There’s a certain tenderness Roy allows himself, having just woken up, and he focuses it completely on Kaldur. .

 Just like that, the moment ends; realizing where is, Roy jerks into alertness, pulling his hand away from Kaldur’s hair and instead using it to rub at his own neck, eyes downcast in a rare moment of genuine embarrassment.

 Kaldur is not proud of the small gasp that escapes him when Roy takes his hand away. He lifts a hand as if to reach out to him and pull him back, quietly calling his name at the same time.

 “Roy--”

 “We need to talk--”

 They laugh, a bit awkwardly, and then Roy gestures at him. “You first.”

 Not to say he will ever be truly ready for this, but this as good a moment as any to confess and for once in his damned life, stop torturing himself. “I...There is--”

 Now that he is here, and it has been so long of picturing a similar moment, Kaldur doesn’t actually know what to say. This is not like speaking to his king, or his team. It’s like talking to Roy, and his typical candidness is why it feels so hard to be open right now. He’s never needed to right words to speak to Roy before, but this feels different and he doesn’t want to ruin it.

 “Quit thinking so much,” Roy says, gaze gone softer than usual, but not to the extent it had been when he’d first woken up.

 “I have been told overthinking is one of my worst qualities,” Kaldur says, mouth cotton-dry. Part of him thinks this would be easier if he weren’t still resting on Roy’s chest and looking into his eyes in a moony manner, so he pulls himself into a proper sitting position and steadily ignores how much is instantly misses the embrace.

 “So try not overthinking. Just talk to me.”

 Nodding, Kaldur grimaces. His resolve is already built, but his body has a hard time catching up to his brain. Nonetheless, he pretends like the very breath hasn’t been sucked out of his lungs and steels himself.  “The thing is, Roy, that I have feelings for you...and have felt this way for a while, now. Even when I harbored feelings for Tula. I do not think how I felt towards her was ingenuine, but it was...blown out of proportion,” he admits sheepishly. “I did not know how to tell you, or if I even wanted to tell you.”

 “Wait, why?”

 “Because, Roy, people do not typically react well when their best friend suddenly expresses romantic interest.”

 He winces, because he shouldn’t have been so curt, but Roy laughs, for some reason. “Yeah, you’re right. That’s why I didn’t say anything either.”

 That takes a moment to process. “What?”

 It’s Roy’s turn to look like a wrung piece of cloth. He’s pink around the ears and he explains, “You were heartbroken, for one. And then the mole thing happened--and the school thing happened, and you had your team, and your work cut out for you, and I guess I forgot how to open my mouth.”

 “I--I do not--” Kaldur shakes his head. “Is this why you wanted me to move in with you?”

 “What, so I could pine up close?” he scoffs. “I offered because you are my best friend, and you were clearly hurting, and believe it or not, sometimes people want to do things for you because they want you to be happy. I wanted you to move in with me so you wouldn’t be so damn lonely all the time. Aquaman’s the one who said he had a better idea.”

 Kaldur will decide later how he feels about the king’s meddling--for now, he feels a bit dizzy from how the emotions are running through his head at mock speed. “I would’ve said yes.”

 “I know! Which is why I gotta tell you that I’m-- the whole being into your best friend thing is...hard. Not in a bad way, just in a, I don’t know.” He runs a hand over his hair, not quite making eye contact. “It makes everything so complicated.”

 “Yes, complicated,” Kaldur echoes faintly. “I am all too aware of what you mean.”

 “I never wanted us to be an ‘it’s complicated’ situation, Kal. Half the reason I wanted to talk to you is so I could finally be fucking honest with you.”

 Kaldur’s heart is racing as he swallows hard. “I am sorry I did not say anything sooner.”

 “Shut the whole hell up. Why are you apologizing? When the hell did I complain about your timing? If anything, I’m mad at myself, not you.”

 “But I still--”

 “Still nothing, Kal,” Roy says plaintively, and then, in one seamless, fluid motion, leans forward to kiss him.

 Kaldur wastes no time; he brings his hands up to pull Roy closer, sighing through his nose, and the relief that settles in bones nearly brings tears to his eyes. He has everything he wants, right here on this couch, lips pressed against his. This is absolutely it, as far as he’s concerned. Roy’s returned feelings could keep him going for the next two weeks, sleep be damned.

 Realizing that he’s finally attained the happiness he’s spent so long denying himself of, Kaldur smiles, and does not, for one second, regret a single thing.

[miraculousannabug-blog]

Ladybug Massacre Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction Villain AU

Heyo ! I hope you will like this Villain AU Miraculous Ladybug fanfiction. <3 If you wonder this is how Ladybug would look like as a villain https://miraculousannabug.tumblr.com/image/159898650309 -It's my art -Enjoy !

Chapter 1.

The Starry Night Part 1.

-Paris was a always peaceful place until they came to destroy it.

One day the bank gets robbed.

One night, hundreds of people end up with bruises on their faces.

One morning, the hotel owned by Mayor Bourgeois gets set on fire.

And when a women in a ladybug suit appears on the Eiffel tower, you would think this is all a joke, but our worst nightmare had just began.

She called herself Ladybug, between the people of Paris she had multiple nicknames bitch, whore… whatever you prefer.

For several months the whole world was like under her feet, but it all suddenly changed one day when he appeared, Cat Noir.

For the two villains in one city, you would expect them to work together to terrorize citizens of Paris, but it’s not quite like that. They clearly have different goals and different ways to make them happen, they see each other as a competition, as a threat. Cat Noir would turn Paris into a destruction, make people scream in the middle of the night and he didn’t give a damn about anything or anyone, expect maybe for herLadybug and Cat Noir were to busy fighting each other, they would forget Cat Noir can activate cataclysm and with only one touch eliminate her for good, but he didn’t.

Around that time Hawk Moth appeared, our only last chance to make this city a place it was before. His power is to, using people’s greatest desires, turn them into a superhero that will go into a fight with Ladybug and Cat Noir and defeat them. Unfortunately this plan didn’t succeed yet, we were just able to keep them busy for some time.

“ALYA, C’MON WE ARE GOING TO BE LATE !” Marinette, Alya’s roomie, shouted.

“I need to finish this for my blog!”

“Why do you write that stupid stuff anyway ?!”

“It’s my passion !”

“Then I hope you have passion for detention too, because we are about to get one.”

“Don’t worry I got it covered.”

“Of course you do” Marinette said sarcastically.

“Let’s go” Alya grabbed her bag and with Marinette left the apartment.

“We will have to use the elevator this time If we don’t want to be late.”

“No way ! I am not going in there ! You know that I have a fear from elevators !” She exclaimed.

“Do you have any other idea then ?” Mari questioned

“We can take the stairs…”

“We are going to be late !” Mari yelled at Alya.

“It’s not MY problem you choose the apartment at the top of the building!” Alya yelled back.

“It was the only one LEFT !”

“We are not having this argument again, let’s go already !” Alya grabbed Marinette by her hand, dragging her quickly across the stairs.

“Alya…” Mari said with a bored look on her face, the brown haired girl turned around and forwarded her best friend a sweet smile.

“C’mon now, you don’t want to be late, do you ?” She started teasing Mari.

When they walked in the classroom, everyone started staring at the two girls that looked like a complete mess.

“Marinette and Alya, what is your excuse today ?” Teacher immediately stopped writing on blackboard and turned around with her arms crossed.

“ I-“ Alya started. “I overslept teacher !” Marinette stepped in.

Alya’s sad face changed immediately to confused.

“Again, Marinette ?” Teacher was already annoyed with this answer.

“Yes! I am sorry I am late.” Mari sighed “Alya was just being a good friend.” Embarrassed she looked down at her toes.

“Why did you overslept this time ?” The teacher walked a few steps closer to Marinette.

“I was…BUSY last night!”

“Busy with what ?” Mrs. Bustier stared at her giving her an odd look.

“With…Studying ! I studied super hard for today’s test !” That was fast.

“Then I expect you will do well on it ! right ?”

“Yes, I will.” Mari responded.

“You can go to your sit now.” The teacher sighed while pointed at the desks.

“Let’s continue students-“ Mrs. Bustier leaned against the first desk, where Sabrina and Chloe Bourgeois where sitting.

“Thank you Mari” Alya put her hand on her best friend’s back.

“Sure.”

*Cough* *cough* The teacher started. “Marinette, Alya are you listening ?”

“Yes” Marinette and Alya responded together.

“Good.” She gave a nod. “As I was saying tonight in the museum the art “The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh will be shown. This may be your last chance to actually see it because tomorrow it’s flying to Spain where it’s going to be shown next.

“Interesting” Marinette said.

“Indeed it is Marinette, chances like this don’t come at your door step everyday.”

*bell rings*

“Hey, are you two going ?” Nino turned around to see Alya and Mari.

“I don’t know, I have homework to do.” Marinette sadly responded.

“What about you Alya ?” Nino looked at Alya, with some kind of shine in his eyes.

“Oh ! I am totally going ! Maybe Ladybug will show up to ruin the party and I have to record that !”

Adrien turned around at this point “I don’t know she doesn’t seem like an art type.”

Nino gave Alya a confused look. “Why do you love her so much ? She ruined our lives.”

“Because she is so mysterious, we don’t know anything about her, maybe, under the mask she is just like us !” Alya said with hope shining in her eyes.

“Expect she is evil as hell.” Nino added.

“But we don’t know why she is evil !” The brown haired girl got closer to him looking him directly in the eyes.

“And why would she be evil ?” Nino started arguing.

“I don’t know” Alya sighed. “You watched Batman, maybe she is just like Harley Quinn, she could’ve fallen in love with a criminal and ended up being one herself.”

“You think that’s the reason.” Adrien looked really depressed at that moment.

“Well I gotta go, see you guys !” Marinette took her bag and left.

“Now look at what you have done !” Nino yelled at Alya. “You ok dude ?” Nino turned around to hug his best friend.

“I just… nevermind !” Alya leaned back in her chair angrily, crossing her arms.

Please support my story on Fanfiction.net and archive of our own.

http://archiveofourown.org/works/10858017/chapters/24113121

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12481505/1/Ladybug-Massacre

[killer-khaleesi]

Don’t Fear the Reaper pt. 1 (Intro. Leto!Joker v. Reader)

[[So this is my first ever writing I’m publishing here. This is only two and a half pages of  a taste. Sticking my toes in the water. Gimme feedback, ya’ll!

TRIGGERS: Drug use, violence, cursing]]

              The city streets sounded like chaos; you could hear the sirens coming from a couple blocks away. I, however, was doodling on my ipad and smoking a j on the fire escape. I lived with Elena Falcone (Yeah, those Falcone) and her sweet uncle paid for this nice apartment that she and I lived in because her father got a pair of cement shoes. Thank God he paid for this nice place too because it would be much harder being a barista and a weekend bartender and living in this two bedroom, two bathroom, full kitchen and dining room, living room plus a den and laundry room (walk in closets in both bedrooms and we each had our own bathroom! Living the dream, right?)

              I go to a fancy Wayne sponsored art school and I have a project due tomorrow. I’m minding my own business and no one ever really bothers me when I’m out here. The sirens are a constant thing when you live in Gotham city, whether you live on the good side or the bad side. I didn’t think much of it. The Pixies were playing in my room, so that’s what I was more focused on than the constant annoyance that was high crime rate skidmark of the United States. I can hear someone walking through the alley below me but they haven’t walked into my view yet; they are behind me. I’m not too concerned, like I said no one ever really messed with me while I was up here.

              I jump as my roommate and bestie bursts into my room and pauses my music.

              “Dude, do you hear those sirens outside? Check the news,” she flips on my TV and instantly on the news screen is a rather large hole in the side of a brick building. “Joker broke out of Arkham.”

              I slide into my room to watch the TV for a second. The mugshot of Joker appeared on the screen and as I looked at it I got a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t know if I should fear him or be turned on by him. I pulled my eyes away to look at Elena. “Do you think they’ll catch him soon?”

              “Oh yeah,” she reassured me, flipping the TV off and walking to the door about to close it, “the Batman will catch him.”

She closed my door and I sat there for a second thinking about the whole situation but then I remembered my j still burning on the fire escape and pressed play on “Where is my mind?” As soon as I was out on the escape again, I came face to face with a man much paler than myself (which even surprises me.) He’d ripped off his bright orange asylum shirt, exposing his pale skin and dark tattoos. His bright blue eyes were looking right at me, clearly amused, and between his unusually rouge lips was my j. I watched as The Prince of Crime took a long drag from it and exhaled down to me and it would have been in my face if the wind hadn’t caught it. Cheeky mother fucker.

I didn’t really know what to do at this point. I was a little nervous he might kill me with his bare hands; he is a crazed lunatic that just killed his way out of Arkham Asylum. Instead, he passed it back down to me, holding in another drag. I took from him, he exhaled and smiled an amalgam grin.

“Thanks, dollface. I’ll return the favor to ya sometime.” He quickly scaled down the fire escape and made his way quickly the rest of the way down the alley.

I sat there stunned for a long minute, my brain having a hard time registering what had happened to me also. My heart was racing so fast I thought it may beat out of my chest. What the fuck had just happened? The most well-known villain in all of Gotham snuck some sneaky tokes from my j and took off, saying he’d return the favor. I wasn’t sure what to make of it and hope he wasn’t being serious (maybe.) God, I hope he doesn’t show up here again.

I quickly gathered my things and slid back into my room and locked the window. I closed the large, thick blackout curtain and I felt a little safer. I sighed, thinking a nice hot bath would calm me down now and then I could hopefully finish my project.

  It had been weeks. Maybe even a month, but he came back. I’d completely forgotten about the encounter. It had just been so random and unusual that I must have blocked it from my memory. Yet here he was, dressed in a purple suit and standing on my fire escape. That amalgam grin wide on his face. Again, I was dumbfounded and unable to think of what I should do. He could have a gun and shoot me right through the window. Elena was gone for the night, with her flavor of the week. I was studying for a written test when I heard the knock on my window. Why didn’t I just ignore it?

“Aren’t you gonna open up, dollface? I got one rolled for us, and I’ll take you to dinner.” He held up the joint wrapped in golden paper. Interesting. Creepy.

I looked down at what I was wearing. “I’m not ready to go out anywhere.” I was in booty shorts and an oversized band tshirt.

Joker held up his other hand to reveal a bag from a department store. A pretty high end one too. “I got that covered too, dollface. Now. Let. Me. In.” His voice was stern, like he wasn’t to be fucked with.

It’s like my body wasn’t mine and I mechanically unlocked the window and opened it for him. Joker crawled inside and looked around. “Nice room you got here. Roomie is a real looker too, yah know. I’m pretty tight with the Falcone’s.” He turned towards me, that grin plastered on his face and he thrust the bag at me. “Well, take a look-see at what I got you.”

I took the bag, semi excited to see what new little gift I’d gotten. I pulled out the top first. The fabric was golden and there were thick chains to go around the neck, and to connect the back. The skirt was also of the same golden fabric, and connected at the left hip with the same thick golden chains. There was a large jewelry box in the bag as well. There was a large, golden body chain and a solid gold choker. I glanced up at him. “I’m sensing a theme here.”

Joker produced a zippo lighter from his pocket (you got it, golden.) He lit the golden j and smirked at me. “You caught me. I’m getting you pretty for a business dinner. Don’t worry, he’s bringing a date too. She’s into chicks.” He took a long drag from the j and handed it to me. I took it, and breathed in deep. Damn, his shit was really good too.

I shrugged, taking another hit before handing it back. “Okay, I’ll bite. I’m all for dressing like an expensive call girl. She hot?”

Joker pulled out his smartphone and made a few clicks. He then showed me the screen. This lady was definitely a milf.

“Okay, lemme get ready,” I say trying to usher him out.

He shakes his head and smirks, “No no, dollface. I get to watch.” He plops himself down on my bed, waiting for the show to begin.

[cassidy-malta]

March 30: God Save the Cass

I'm not an emotional person but I was pretty much constantly crying in London so I guess I'm getting old.

(Probably the most London picture I'll ever take)

Where do I begin?! This weekend I added another event to my "Things to do when you're either very stupid or very brave" and I packed up my backpack and hopped on a plane to England- ALL BY MYSELF. Let's pretend I woke up and leapt out of bed, excited to take on this new adventure (I woke up at 4:45 for an early flight so there was no leaping or excitement for a couple hours). I took a death defying taxi ride through the city and boarded my plane with no issues. I tried to read some homework (Amouris Laetitia by Pope Francis) but instead simply slept the entire flight.

I landed Turbulently in Birmingham, UK and was promptly interviewed by a border patrol agent.

"What brings you here? Holiday?" -the seemingly kind agent

"Yeah, visiting a friend. He's from the states. I'm from the States too but you probably know that because you're holding my passport. You know it says I'm from North Dakota but I haven't lived there for like 17 years so should I say I'm from North Dakota or Minne-" -me, before getting cut off by a now-annoyed English border agent

"How much money are you planning on spending?"

I just laughed nervously until she stamped my passport and ushered me away.

I promptly discovered that I had booked tickets to Nottingham leaving from the wrong station so I frantically managed to get a quick train to the proper station where my pal Karl picked me up. He's studying abroad with a Luther program like I am, except his program is a full academic year and based out of Nottingham. Karl showed off his stomping ground to me. He took me through Wollaston Park, saw "Wayne Manor" from the Batman movies, begrudgingly took me to the city circle, and he even continued to talk to me after I DESTROYED him at Scrabble (I gloat. A lot.). He gave me two days full of R&R- much needed time to rejuvenate as I've now hit the halfway point in my experience.

(Karl was such a good sport- we even went out for coffee after his humiliating defeat)

Sunday morning I rushed to the train station to catch my 10:30 train to London only to fight with the ticket teller when my train didn't show up. He pointed out that my ticket was for Saturday afternoon. I didn't like that answer.

(I learned that I love riding on trains. Especially when it is this roomy.)

£30 later, I was on a train to London! I gazed longingly out at the English countryside in an effort to mimic literary characters and authors alike before caving to boredom and watching the pilot episode of The Crown on Netflix to prepare myself. The train pulled into Pancras Station (not to be pronounced as Pancreas) and jogged across the street to Kings Cross Station to see Platform 9 3/4. I suddenly was overwhelmed with happy tears- the first time since my parents surprised me with a trip to Disney when I was 6. I, Cassidy Woods, have wanted to see this Harry Potter location since I first picked up a book in 3rd grade and there I was, staring at it. I had planned this trip all on my own- traveled by myself, exercised ALL of my self sufficiency and independence to land right there in Kings Cross Station. Even more empowering than successfully clapping back at someone on Facebook or standing on a stage accepting a scholarship or award or crown (although those experiences have proven to be some of the most empowering).

(I decided not to stand in line for 2 hours, so this picture had to suffice)

Don't worry though, my ego was almost instantly deflated by the London tube system. To all of you on Facebook, email, twitter, etc. that said it was easy, I have a serious beef with you. I confidently and excitedly walked into the Kings Cross Underground Station, took a solid look around, and decided the two miles wouldn't be too bad of a walk.

I spent my first afternoon in London exploring the Wellcome Collection (I once used a woodcut owned by the museum as a resource in one of my papers- I've wanted to go see the collection of medical oddities ever since) and then walked another mile or so to the British Museum (I can now say that I have accidentally stumbled upon the Rosetta Stone). I made my way to Piccadilly square with NO inkling as to what it was (London Times Square), watched street performers, are cheap Chinese, and marveled at how tired I was. When my friend Lexa was finally free, I rushed to Baker Street to meet with her and mooch off her free lodging.

(I miss my mummy - a text sent to my mother with this picture. Tell me I'm funny.)

(For some reason, finding an Easter Island Head was a priority of mine. I hate to admit that I walked by this many times before I looked up and saw it)

(They're pretty proud of Baker Street's Sherlock association)

Saturday I adventured out with the sole intention of seeing the touristy sights. I braved the tube (it made so much more sense with a map- it's so easy omg) and emerged from Westminster station to walk by old buildings only to stop dead in my tracks.

I had stumbled right into the site of the terrorist attacks. The old building I passed was Big Ben. I was surrounded by people and flowers. I shakily proceeded, not sure what to expect. I remembered my confusion and solemness as I visited the 9/11 memorial my sophomore year of high school but no such feelings arose this time. To visit the sight of a massacre just days after the attack... there aren't words. For the second time, London moved me to tears- no, London moved me to sobs. I walked the path that people walked just last Wednesday and were killed. I watched cars speed past me on a road that a single man veered off of to commit this crime. I felt utterly helpless. The attack was more real to me than any attack has ever been in my life. The victims now had faces and desires. They weren't foreign strangers. They were just like me.

Flowers were everywhere. Notes of well wishing, patches from police departments, flags from across the world, stickers, and candles peppered the sidewalks, gates, and fences. Police walked around freely, conversing with tourists and pedestrians, even accepting donations. There wasn't a vigil or gathering there which struck me. For these Londoners- the best and perhaps only strategy they have in the wake of such senseless violence is to move forward. Life continues. They refuse to be afraid or let this event incapacitate them. They stagger onwards in the most admirable of ways- as if they have a choice in the matter.

I took this sudden unexpected wave of emotions into Westminster Abbey where I took the tour and lit a candle (highly recommend this attraction!). I walked to the London Eye before trekking to Buckingham palace (the queen was in so cass was out). I took the tube to Maxwell's Bar and Grill where I got a hamburger with two cups of melted cheese to smother it in (ever been simultaneously satisfied and disgusted before?) before wandering Piccadilly and Oxford circuses for a couple hours.

(Hands down the most touristy picture I have ever taken. Both proud and disgusted)

(I accidentally found China)

Finally it was time for one of the most anticipated events of the weekend: The Warner Brothers Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter. My little nerdy heart soared and I spent 3 hours perusing the props, original costumes, film secrets, and gift shop. The experience was filled with awe-filled gasps and was overall magical! For any Harry Potter fan big or small, I could not recommend this tour enough. You really feel like one of the cast and it certainly reignited a love for Harry Potter that had been dimmed with age.

(the first part of the tour was the Great Hall in all of its glory. I don't think my jaw left the floor.)

(I got my Platform 9 3/4 photo!)

(The highlight of the tour was a scale model of the castle)

My third and final day began with a long walk. I wish I could say it was an intentional, healthful 2 mile walk through London's SouthBank, but in all honesty I got off at the wrong tube stop and was too stubborn to correct my error. I walked along the Thames and treated myself to a bubble waffle (why have I never seen these before!?!?!?) until my eyes were able to feast upon my single goal for the day: Shakespeare's Globe.

My mom calls me a huge geek for my Shakespearean affinity but what's not to love? Complex writing, hidden messages, jokes, drama, death, and a deep socio-political history. Not to mention that Shakespeare created a ton of the English language. The Globe theatre and exhibition were both super informative and simply fun to be a part of.

(A recreation of the original but still historically magnificent)

(Street art outside of the Globe underneath London Bridge)

I spent my final afternoon shopping once again, this time at the outskirts of Hyde Park. I once again retreated in tears when I saw the bloodied victim of a car accident. I've never seen a human laying in a pool of their own blood so it was quite the traumatic sight, requiring a phonecall to mom and a few calming moments before fleeing the scene. The trip ended by catching a train to the London Luten airport (if possible, avoid this airport at all costs. VERY crowded, disorganized, and undergoing construction). I returned to Malta a new and refreshed woman, ready to take on two weeks of academics before my next adventure - Morocco (Africa- eep!!!).

(British English has worn off on me)

Last week I loved answering your questions and was shocked by how many there were. Please feel free at any given moment to send in a question and I'll either answer it in my next post or shoot you an email/message/whatever. Thank you all for your support, love, and mail (especially the pre-emotive birthday greeting -thanks Sherri!).

Until next week!