#levinstar

[kariachi]

Some futurey Levinstar-brand fic! Kid fic, specifically, because that's where shit went.

~~

The home he’d grown up in had been big. ‘Fit the family tree’ big. ‘Hide and seek needs room boundaries’ big. ‘If it hadn’t been for child protective services they could have stuck him in a back corner and nobody would have seen him again’ big. Even the building he’d eventually been shunted off to, built purely so his dad’s non-human guests could be kept safely apart from human guests and staff who might break the masquerade, had easily outstripped the homes of the poorer people he’d known in his life.

Kevin had refused to live like that. Comments about not wanting to get lost in his own house, thinking the space was a waste, that it wasn’t like they had broad enough social circles to make use of all that, had been thrown around constantly. There was only so far Mike was able to put his foot down. So his childhood home had been converted to temporary housing for families seeking medical care, mostly mutants. There’d been no way in hell he was living in the townhouse any longer than he had to, so that had been given away to his cousin Teddy at the first opportunity. (That was half of why he hadn’t married Kevin, he knew his cousin well enough to know he’d take the chance to give the deed back.) A new house had been built that met their combined needs as well as could be managed.

And now that he had kids to lose track of, Mike found himself really appreciating Kevin’s forward thinking.

“Maddie! Come on, princess!”

He couldn’t imagine having to hunt them through the great, empty halls he’d snuck through at their age. Could imagine the sort of trouble they would get into given so many places to hide and spots nobody was likely to see for days on end. There wasn’t a week where he or Kevin wasn’t pointing out that at least one of the kids was entirely the other one’s child. Morningstars and Levins, he was fairly certain at this point, simply weren’t capable of not getting into trouble and leaving chaos in their wake.

If anything, they probably should have been happy that things were so far just confined to typical childish mischief. He and Kevin both had caused enough issues to keep their lines infamous for a few generations, the girls didn’t need to add to the list. Hopefully they were doing a good enough job with them that they wouldn’t.

By the by, his youngest was sat in a pantry. Not the first one he’d checked, but thankfully with her everyone knew to start with the food and work their way from there. Thankfully she was also still all dressed up, shoes still on and everything. That made his job much easier.

“Maddie.” She made no indication that she had heard him, focused intently on crackers at hand. “Maddie. It’s time to go.” Finally she turned to him, face screwed up like it always got when they went out. As if she could think of nothing more distasteful. It was, if his partner was to be believed, one of the things she got from Mike, alongside the eyes and appetite.

“But Daddy,” she whined, “I’m hungry.”

It was always a struggle not to give in when she said that. He’d had a few years of learning to stand firm by now, compromising rather than giving her what she wanted, but after his own childhood… His mother had left scars. Sometimes they involved fighting to remember that his job was to help Maddie learn to live life alongside her hunger. Sometimes they involved Kevin having to put his foot down on Gabbie not being forced to sound ‘normal’ despite her teeth. Thankfully knowing how he’d turned out was a good motivator.

“So am I,” he said, kneeling down next to her- and it was true, he was always hungry, one of the things Kevin had had to learn in their relationship was to allow food in the car, just as much as to keep his temper when the kids accidentally broke things- “but we still have places to be. We’re going to have to eat on the way.”

Somehow, her face scrunched up more. When that didn’t work, she huffed, shoving a sandwich cracker into her mouth like it was a protest all its own. Mike bit back a fond laugh, giving her a gentle nudge as he stood back up.

“Come on, there’s snacks in the car, and neither of us want to listen to your papa complain.” Maddie huffed again in a way that was one hundred percent as much Kevin’s as her nose, slooooowly rising to her feet and dragging herself from the pantry like she was headed for the gallows. He followed behind, just barely bumping into her whenever she stopped to look back and see if she was still being herded. At this point it was a familiar little dance, for all he hoped she grew out of it soon.

She was entering kindergarten in two months, and he wasn’t sure how they were going to get her through the school system at this rate.

[petrosapian]

Dialing It Up To 11: A Homoerotic Murder Story

stolen title from tumblr user @kariachi

Michael Morningstar/Kevin Levin/Gwen Tennyson murder drama set to the music of the Hit Album by the Killers Hot Fuss ft where the white boys dance and where is she

its corny! its bad! im tired! but im done and that is a win in my book! i may edit if the mood strikes me.

to any killers fans who stumble into this: im sorry. any ben 10 fans: enjoy it or fuck u. all songs belong to the killers, yes we know this disclaimer blah. graciously put under a read more.

The Ballad of Michael Valentine

And I said hold tight Can't you see it's hurting me But I've got the buzz Like Marlon Brando Michael Valentine, can't we unite?

An introduction of sorts. As Michael takes the stage with legendary charm and determined to win at this game.

Somebody Told Me

Breaking my back just to know your name Seventeen tracks and I've had it with this game I'm breaking my back just to know your name But heaven ain't close in a place like this

Never thought I’d let a rumour ruin my moonlight

Michael sees Kevin for the first time at a local club. He recognize him as someone his old highschool girlfriend seems to hang out a lot back then and even now. Michael is interested.

Andy You’re A Star

On the field I remember you were incredible Hey shut up, hey shut up, yeah On the field I remember you were incredible Hey shut up, hey shut up, yeah On the match with the boys, you think you're alone With the pain that you drain from love In a car with a girl, promise me she's not your world Cause Andy, you're a star

While Gwen dates both Kevin and Michael they start to see each other as the pass by. Weird feelings ensue but the nature of them is yet to be determined. Disgust. Disdain. Desire. 

Mr. Brightside 

It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss Now I'm falling asleep and she's calling a cab While he's having a smoke and she's taking a drag Now they're going to bed and my stomach is sick And it's all in my head but she's touching his chest Now, he takes off her dress Now, let me go

Michael’s jealousy gets out of control as he suspects more and more about what goes on behind closed doors between Kevin and Gwen. He starts planning his next steps to ensure he isn’t the one left alone.

Change Your Mind

Help me through the hopeless haze But my oh my Tragic eyes I can't even recognize myself behind So if the answer is no Can I change your mind

Kevin and Gwen argue over the role Michael plays in both of their lives. Kevin fears that Michael’s possessive nature may get the best of him and may be a danger, especially to Gwen as Michael goads Kevin to take a more domineering approach towards Gwen, saying she should be more possession than partner. Gwen trusts Michael.

Everything Will Be Alright

I believe in you and me I'm coming to find you If it takes me all night Wrong until you make it right And I won't forget you At least I'll try And run, and run tonight Everything will be alright

Gwen comforts Kevin, as he rests his head her lap as she strokes his hair.

Midnight Show

I got a blanket in the back seat on my mind And a little place that sits beneath the sky She turned her face to speak But no-one heard her cry Drive faster, boy Drive faster, boy

Oh crashing tide can't hide a guilty girl

With jealous hearts that start with gloss and curls

I took my baby's breath beneath the chandelier

Of stars in atmosphere

And watch her disappear

Into the midnight show...

After Kevin and Gwen’s talk, Michael insists that they take a drive, the three of them. Michael sits in the back with Gwen while Kevin drives. By the end of the night Gwen was gone.

Jenny was a Friend of Mine

We took a walk that night, but it wasn't the same We had a fight on the promenade out in the rain She said she loved me, but she had somewhere to go She couldn't scream while I held her close I swore I'd never let her go

There ain’t no motive for this crime ‘cause Gwennie was a friend of mine

Kevin is questioned by the police. This is it. He was the last one seen with Gwen and her mother has told the cops all they need to know about how their relationship seemed. Eye and ear witnesses say him grip her to tightly as she yelled at him and the evidence is too damning. 

Kevin’s call down at the station is Michael. He doesn’t answer.

Believe Me Natalie

You left the station now to the floor With speculation, what was it for? In that old hallway Mom says why don't you stay You've been away for a long time

Kevin tries to explain to Gwen’s mother but in desperation shifts some of the blame of Gwen’s fate on to Natalie. 

All These Things I’ve Done

Another head aches Another heart breaks I'm so much older Than I can take

Both men reflect on their actions.

[bloozki]

You gave me the warrior cats brain rot and made me come up withh some names;

Kaeya - Frostsight/Frosteye

Diluc - Hawkdawn

Xingqiu - Rainwatcher

Chongyun - Snowheart

Jean - Galestar (Galerush)

Lisa - Moondew

Xiao - Steelclaw

Amber - Adderleap/Amberleap

Klee - Cloverkit

Venti - Songbreeze

Zhongli - Goldnose

Ningguang - Mountainstar (Dirtflower)

Raiden - Levinstar (Levintail) or Thunderstar (Stormtail)

Bennet - Suntreader 

Razor (literally a dog that was adopted) - Tanglefur

Nahida - Vinestar

Dainsleif - Nightglow

Traveler - Brightfur

Paimon (?) - Silverhope

I know Ninnguang and Raiden change their names with their titles, but I headcanon it being symbolic. E.g Ningguang proving her worth, or Ei being forced out of her sisters shadow.

Furthermore maybe you get your name (or achieve warrior status and/or are in the running for deputy) when you receive a vision. Jean for example is Varka's deputy; but if she was taken out then anyone with a vision could become deputy.

Mondstat like in-game would take in all sorts holding to the spirit of freedom and choice. For that reason they have a lot of former kittypets (Eula), rogues, and even a dog from time to time. As long as you honor the warriors code you are welcome. I feel like that would cause even more tension in Kaeya though. 'Knights' are sort of another name for warriors, except they take on more duties around the clan and in general caring for it's well-being.

Medicine cats are hard to figure out... I feel Diluc partially blames the old medicine cat for not being able to save his father (Dawnstep). Perhaps in Dendro Clan there's a deep seated grudge against medicine cats because Nahida was once a medicine cat. Not only replacing their archon but leaving the clan (generations ago) susceptible to sickness. Maybe the fallen clan of Khaenri'ah didn't have the natural healing powers of a medicine cat(s) and instead relied on Khemia a forbidden healing technique(?)

As for the archons, I feel like they're the intermediaries to Starclan. They pass like ghosts awarding visions to those they think hold the spirit and strength of their clans. Raiden is an exception she's both leader AND archon, but for folks like Venti and Zhongli they just sort of blend in.

Oh voidless you are OUT OF YOUR MIND /VVVPOS I LOVE ALL THE NAMES YOU PICKED OUT FOR THEM... the fact that Razor is a dog I'm giggling so much-- Maybe I'll doodle headshot for the Anemoclan Knights to get out of art block :]]

I was thinking that while they do have normal healing remedies for wounds and all that, the clans are searching desparately for cats who can heal Abyss Corruption. Imagine a regular cat without a vision getting attacked by a rifthound... While cats with visions have small resistances towards Abyss Corruption, only a select few (plus the traveller) have capabilities to actually reverse, and heal the corruption process.

Can I also say Suntreader is a PERFECT name for Bennett? That's so good

If you, or anyone else come up with names or ideas, I'd love to hear them!

[cyclone-rachel]

Winn/Brainy vs Argit/Kevin

gosh

I mean, Argit/Kevin has history. Over 10 years of it, at this point, in real time, since we first saw them interacting in canon, and they’ve been best friends/rivals/soulmates ever since. And you write them so well! You and Nix, really, understand that relationship, and I appreciate how you handle their interactions so much. Definitely one of my favorite weird obscure ships that actually make a lot of sense and deserve more love.

But also, Pesky and I literally built Winn/Brainy with our own hands and headcanons just based on one version of Brainy, before he ever came to the show, although people sometimes mentioned him in relation to who Kara’s endgame relationship would be. And then them interacting happened, and our headcanon of them hating each other was true? which was a great moment. So it just got better from there, their interactions, and by the end of the season Brainy was literally putting his life and the lives of every AI in the 31st century in Winn’s hands, and trusting him with that, even though in season 1 Winn had killed one of Brainy’s relatives, and I don’t think Pesky and I could’ve written a more fitting resolution to their rivalry if we’d tried. And that was all in the space of 6 months!

So, in conclusion, they’re both great ships that should have more attention, and how dare you make me choose. You write excellent Arvin, Pesky and I and a few others (especially the wonderful @winterskywrites) write Winndox, everyone’s happy.

(also, if anything, Winndox-when-they’re-rivals is closer to Levinstar than anything else)

[ben10crackships-blog]

Crack Ship #86: Kevin Levin and Michael Morningstar

[kariachi]

You're hanging around, trawling shit, when you come across somebody talking about a fic they're writing. You think 'that's an interesting concept'. Scroll a bit, find a link to the first chapter, think 'oh and that's an interesting place to start the story'. Double check some wording that catches your eye and realize 'holy shit, this is intended to include a ship I never see'. Excited, you go to click the link and you fucking wake up.

That's how my morning started.

[kariachi]

Who wants more villain4villain Levinstar fic? This time the Tennysons pov on the whole team-up.

~~

The Tennyson cousins were learning quickly that by far the worst combo to deal with was Kevin and Darkstar.

They hoped, at first, that like most of the other team-ups their enemies had this would be a one and done deal. Charmcaster and Hex hardly ever showed up together anymore. The Negative Ten, never again. Kevin and Vilgax’s partnership, though terrifying, had been brief. So as much as having an ambush by Kevin suddenly take a turn when Darkstar showed up to drag away Gwen’s attention- leaving both Tennysons more vulnerable, it had been luck more than anything they’d managed to drive them off- there’d been no reason to believe it would happen again. They’d been beaten, Darkstar was proud and not known to work with others before then, and Kevin was short-tempered and considered unlikely to give to give somebody a second chance. Of course, as with so many others, it would only take the one defeat to split them apart. The cousins would be able to breathe easy.

At least until they arrived at a robbery to find Darkstar there and been blindsided partway through the fight by Kevin putting Ben through a wall. It was an unprecedented event, for a team-up to continue like this without a prior history- and god had they searched for any hints of a prior history in hopes of finding some sort of leg up- and they’d been completely unprepared. They were thankfully quick learners, and had realized by the third encounter that if they just saw one they should be prepared for the other. Unfortunately, their enemy was also too fucking smart and too fucking stubborn and as soon as they realized they’d figured out the game they didn’t give up like the heroes were used to. No, they changed tactics.

They would gang up on one when they were alone. They would each target their own Tennyson in separate locations at the same time. They would target each other’s targets at the same time (and that had been a shocker). Traps were laid. Fake-outs were used to make them paranoid- which the bastards openly found hilarious. Sometimes they would take a few days to lick their wounds, sometimes it would be weeks on end. And each time the Tennysons would win, but only just.

The problem was that Kevin was incredibly dangerous- he was smarter than he seemed, too powerful and versatile, and he didn’t let up- and Darkstar wasn’t that much better- smart, powerful, and able to feed off them at range if he got any opening. Alone they had been enough to give the Tennysons their fair share of trouble, but together? And when they only got better at fighting side-by-side?

Worse still, while initial attempts at getting them fighting each other had worked like a charm- not driven them apart, because the universe hated the cousins apparently, but cost the pair fights- it had stopped working after a point. The sniping back and forth had just become part of their banter, because the two had needed banter apparently, and after a point the Tennyson had been hit with the realization that things had developed there. Unfortunate, unholy things. Probably they should’ve guessed around the time the two started defending each other’s honor, but no, it had been after an unfortunate and unnecessary encounter that had left them swearing not to barge in anywhere ever again, no matter what they thought the fuckers inside might be up to. Some things you didn’t need to see.

So not only were they dealing with a persistent threat that was more than happy to play mind games as well and cause massive destruction, but they were also being dealt constant psychological damage by the knowledge of just how unlikely it was looking they would be able to get things back to normal without serious fallout. Nobody on the planet wanted to see what a Kevin scorned looked like.

Was it any wonder then that Gwen decided to go remote and wait until she and her cousin could rent a place together, rather than go off to college on her own?

[kariachi]

So I apparently wrote this little pre-Levinstar-potentially-it's-complicated ficlet years back and didn't post it so...

Uh, Kevin and Gwen talking in an post-canon AU setting anyone?

~~

“You’re sleeping with Darkstar.” They weren’t facing each other, which is the only reason Kevin let himself roll his eyes. First, because Mike hadn’t been ‘Darkstar’ for two years now, and second because

“No, I’m not.” He wasn’t. Maybe at some point, maybe, but so far all they’d exchanged were kisses and even that was tentative. They were stuck in a very tangled spot where their physical attraction to each other had, over the past few years, taken a hard left into emotion, only to be stymied by the fact that two years wasn’t near enough for Mike to feel trustworthy. Not after everything, and especially not given how he’d been dragged into self-improvement only half of his own free will.

The kisses, not near as often as either wanted, were the middle ground they allowed themselves until the balance swung in one direction or the other. Until whatever scale it was in Kevin’s gut deemed Mike trustworthy now, or never.

“I saw you two the other day,” Gwendolyn said and kisses were rare enough Kevin knew exactly what she was talking about- wasn’t often they kissed in public, but they’d been out doing shit with Elena and Kevin had made a joke that’d nearly gotten Mike openly laughing, instead settling for hooking his fingers over the back of his neck and pressing a warm kiss to his lips, “and Elena said you two were a thing.”

“Elena knows we are not a thing-” He honestly didn’t know if it was a lie himself. They weren’t an item at least. Fuck, both had dated since everything had come out, though everyone had been wary about it in Mike’s case and neither had had a ‘relationship’ last more than a few dates. “-and even if we were, you know damn well me seeing somebody doesn’t mean I’m fucking them.”

“Uh-huh. So, what you let him kiss you for shits and giggles?” He let him kiss him because he wanted him to kiss him, but he was experienced enough to know that wasn’t the right answer. Not until he was sure enough in all this to argue over it at least, and Gwendolyn would argue over it.

“Not like he’s bad at it,” Kevin said instead with a shrug, “and it’s not hurting anybody. Long as that’s the case, don’t see any reason to stop him.” There was a long silence between them, he could just picture her, stood there with her arms crossed as glaring at his back, before she huffed.

“I just don’t want you to get hurt,” she said, and he knew it was true. He didn’t want to be hurt. Mike didn’t want to be hurt and Elena didn’t want him hurt. Everybody was just, doing their best, he guessed.

“I’ve got everything under control, G. I promise.” There was a sigh, and it was familiarity that kept him from tensing as she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her forehead against his spine.

“I really hope so.”

[kariachi]

The rarepair life is wanting to throw more Levinstar on ao3 but also that would require either picking one of your fics to throw up there or writing a new one to throw up there.

[kariachi]

My last few days have been 'holiday stuff', 'researching for worldbuilding' (I have over 30 tabs on my phone and most of them are research for worldbuilding-), and 'Levinstar lives in my head rent free'.

I have written nothing, taken no notes, did no map progress. But I have put up a Christmas tree and eaten seven crescent rolls.

[kariachi]

This Trade-Off au has been in my head for well over a year and it’s finally gotten written down.

Mike’s plot goes very, very sideways, and somehow he comes out better for it.

~~

None of it was supposed to happen like this. None of it.

The plan had been easy. Simple. Get Levin’s help obtaining the Dominus Librum- a threefold advantage that not only gave him access to transport to carry them past the point he could fly himself, an immediate chance to use it to get himself at worst back to his normal appearance and at best, normal, and the opportunity to watch Levin fight a third party again. (He’d already known Levin was the most physically attractive of that little posse- with those high cheekbones, broad shoulders, and he’d always been weak for brown eyes- but seeing him in action against the Highbreed Invasion had firmly cemented him in the ‘lustful fantasy’ pile.) Use the Dominus Librum, which, if his estimates were right, would leave both of them back to their proper looks and without their powers. Take it home and use it to replace his energy absorption, so he could use it to continue to feed his addiction while the Tennysons were down a team member and so less likely to be able to stop him.

Simple plan. Easy. There should not have been any issues.

Levin, in an outburst of joyous impulsivity, had lobbed the thing into the fucking ocean. Had by pure luck scuttled the entire goddamn plan.

Things had immediately descended into an argument about how shortsighted that was and how valuable the artifact was and no Levin he did not want to ‘figure something out’ if things went sideways from here. The conflict had escalated, voices were raised, things had been about to spill over- when it hit that he’d been talking too fast, that despite this he’d not felt his teeth rasp together once. Nothing’d gotten caught. A check showed his palms an unbroken plane. His hunger was barely worth noting.

The burning, hollow need for energy, for power, was still there, but compared to whatever in his chest was still nine and convincing himself he wanted to play alone breaking into two? It may as well not have been there either.

One moment he’d been yelling and about to hit the bastard like he’d wanted to from the start, then it had maybe been four beats, and he hadn’t been able to stop himself laughing. A halting, half-choked thing. Then Levin had been laughing, and he’d always been told snorting was slobbish but when he had all his senses later he’d admit it was charming from him. There’d been hugging (he didn’t even have to be delicate!) and more laughing, and he was forever going to blame the cacophony of emotions going on for how damn close he came to kissing Levin before he’d pulled out of his grasp. It wasn’t his fault; he’d been grinning like sunshine and anyone who said they were stronger than that was in denial.

They’d gone back to Bellwood, both more than a little dazed by the whole situation. They were normal, for once in their lives the health concerns, keeping tight control, the social pressures, the ostracization, didn’t apply. It was a lot to take in, and the trip had been mostly silence. That and the rumbling of their stomachs as they reached land. Given Mike’s had been going when they set out on their little trip, had been for most of his life, and that they had been a solid day, it was good timing. Mike had sung the praises of his favorite Indian restaurant until Levin had rolled his eyes, still grinning, and agreed to try it out.

They’d chatted while they waited for food, mostly about their mutations and the trouble they’d given them and how wonderful it was not to worry about that shit anymore. No more pulling teeth, no more getting stuck Wrong, no more undying hunger, no more fucking tumors (Mike may have called the waitress back over and ordered Levin a dessert to make up for that shit). The conversation had died when the food had arrived, and Mike couldn’t be shamed to admit that it was his fault. He’d been too busy properly appreciating his chicken vindaloo for the first time. Levin had teased him for practically melting over the dish, then laughed at his admittance that the extra teeth had left him with too little clear space for enough tastebuds to get near the full range of flavor and shared his food.

For obvious reasons they had parted on better terms than Mike had thought possible, given their history. He hadn’t even liked the guy twenty-four hours ago and the feeling had been very mutual.

Fuck, he’d been in a good enough mood, and happy enough with Kevin, that when Gwen had tracked him down later to figure out his angle he hadn’t even antagonized her, no matter how much having that power settled well. He’d simply admitted he had no angle (what could he have, his powers were gone and his plan had been scuttled, though she hadn’t had to know that) and disengaged.

Still, the improvement in relations had meant nothing to him two days later, when he had stormed into Levin’s garage while he was, thankfully, alone and promptly broken his nose. There’d been a lot of yelling, ninety-nine percent of it from Mike as he’d proceeded to lay the blame for the downright painful need to absorb energy- he truly was aching, it had never been this bad before- coming clean about his original plan so Levin would know why his pain was his fault. He was aching, craving, he couldn’t sleep, this was apparently his life now, because things hadn’t been and enough before now he had this going on too, at one point Levin had to help him keep from tripping over his own two feet. All of this he threw back at him, if he hadn’t tossed the fucking artifact Mike could’ve fed this need, he wouldn’t be going through this, it was all his fault, right up to the moment Levin grabbed him by the shoulders and asked if he needed to hit him again.

The offer had been so far out of left field for who he knew him to be and the history they had that it’d shocked Mike right out of his fit. He’d taken several deep breaths then, restocking his lungs, and carefully shook his head in the negative. Levin had nodded, led him over to sit on the ratty couch by the wall, and gotten him some painkillers and a soda. As he did, he reassured him that it would all pass, he was going to be fine, he should be ready in case of seizures, yes those were possible, yes it was bullshit, it might be several weeks for things to completely clear up, but he would be fine. It was a very confusing situation for anybody, nonetheless somebody running on minimal sleep, with a pounding headache, and who really wanted to eat the fucker in front of him. Which must have shown from the smile Levin gave him.

“Hey, you didn’t try to kill me, so you’re at least handling withdrawal better than I did.”

It had been one of the least pleasant periods of Mike’s life. Not quite up there with that first month after his dad died- way too much had happened there that had led him into this whole mess in the first place- but a close second. The moments of disorientation improved over the rest of the week, shifting into something more easily blamed on the fact he still couldn’t manage a good night’s sleep. The insomnia seemed to take ages to fade away, as did the pain, neither of which helped his swinging mood and shortened temper. Kevin had put up with it well though, and Mike had quickly found himself a regular visitor. Having somebody he could bitch to about what he was going through, who could give advice and reassurance in kind? Was incredibly appreciated. The Tennysons had pitched a fucking fit when they found out he was hanging around and Kevin was letting him, not helped by how short Mike had been with them, but there had been a wary cease-fire put in place. Nobody would be fighting anybody until they started shit.

So, things had quickly settled into what wasn’t quite a routine. When Mike felt like shit he would go to Kevin’s garage and either wait for him to come back or just immediately head in and throw himself onto the couch. They’d bitch back and forth a bit- withdrawal was an absolute cunt and apparently juggling black market work with dealing with the Tennysons would give anyone a migraine- snipe at each other in a way that had started out cutting and descended into something that was almost fondness, talk about shared interests and what they had going on. Mike would try to catch up on his sleep, Kevin would make him help out around the garage. At one point, half dozing, Mike had even admitted to missing flying. He hadn’t known the weight that was on his shoulders until Kevin noted his enhanced strength having been really nice to have.

They built up a back and forth over time. Kevin mentioned wearing her grandpa’s suit to his first date with Gwen, Mike had drug him to his favorite boutique to get him his own. (There’d been a lot of eye rolls and bitching, but the look on Kevin’s face later, when he saw himself in a well-tailored suit? Made it worth it.) Mike admitted to never having had to do his own chores past throwing his clothes in a hamper, Kevin had indignantly drug him to his apartment and taught him to wash dishes and do laundry. (It grated against his pride like nails on a chalkboard, but be had to admit the sense of accomplishment when he got it all down was far better than he’d expected.) Kevin needed a hard-to-find part for his car, Mike made phone calls. (Yes, he could have got it on his own, classic car owners had whole forums, he was aware, but why wait when a family name can carry you?) Addiction gnawed at the back of Mike’s brain, Kevin helped him take steps looking into a few hobbies to focus himself on rather than find something new to feed it. (He was now tentative owner of three houseplants and enjoying playing Amnesia even if he was shit at it.) Kevin opened up about some bullshit that’d happened to him not long before Mike put his plan into action, Mike took his side without a second’s hesitation. (“So, when I manipulate and feed on Gwen, she’s an innocent victim, but when somebody manipulates and mind controls you, you brought it on yourself? Fuck that.”)

It was, Mike was blindsided with nearly two months after that confrontation in the garage, as he sat there soothing the pain of his regrowing teeth and the rumbling of his stomach with a cheesecake and politely ignored the way the lights flickered as Kevin got annoyed with his latest project, a friendship. Or at least he was fairly certain it was at that point. He’d had all of one friend in his life and they hadn’t spoken in over a year for various reasons. But it felt like a friendship. They were still hanging out, even after his withdrawal was well behind him. The Tennysons weren’t happy, but nobody gave him trouble when they were all there at the same time, and he found himself keeping his trouble to obvious teasing. He was learning things and enjoying it, Kevin was learning things and enjoying it. When he’d realized his mutations were returning (and hadn’t the mix of dread and delight at when he was regaining been absolutely dizzying) he hadn’t even thought before going to Kevin about it, and felt camaraderie over his sparking and neither knowing quite what emotions they had going. Mike had talked about buying him suitable property of his own once he had access to his trust funds in a handful of years, and had shocked himself by meaning it.

This hadn’t been the plan. None of it. Not even close. If anything, he was living the opposite of his goal and surprisingly happy for it. Or at least somewhere bordering content. The yearning for power and energy was still there, but he felt like he was getting a better handle on it, an actual one this time. And he had a friend now, when the fuck had he gotten a friend? Out of Kevin, with whom two months ago he’d had a mutual ‘fuck you’ relationship. Who now could smile and make his gut flip around, something it hadn’t done for over a year and he was doing his level best to ignore.

For not the first time in the past few months, Mike had no idea where to go from there.

[kariachi]

Since I haven’t posted anything in a little while, a Levinstar soulmate daemon au that puttered into my head

~~

Ever since they’d turned onto the road, heading to pick up Gwen from her fancy school (Gwen, then Ben, then smoothies while they discussed their next move) Ruth had been, off. Fidgety in a way the collected little parrot never was, feathers fluffed too much for the weather. They pulled into the parking lot just as students began to file out- perfect timing- and as soon as Kevin opened the door the daemon’s head snapped around.

“Mike,” she breathed more than said and was gone. Kevin scrambled out of the car, ready for that familiar tug as she flew off, passed the point where he should’ve been in pain, had been when they’d been so parted the night before, but it never came. She flew off and he felt nothing, until another pull started, not from her but from

“Annelie.” He couldn’t have told you how he knew her name as a tiger bounded through the crowd, shifting into a housecat as she jumped up onto his shoulder.

“Kevin Kevin Kevin,” she purred, rubbing her face against his while he scratched and stroked at whatever parts of her he could reach, soaking in the rightness in having her here with him. Ruth had never felt wrong but this- She hadn’t been part of him. Annelie, it felt like he could breathe for the first time now that she was here. Like the world was that much better, like he was stronger with her beside him.

“Congratulations,” Gwen said as she and Llyr edged over, the swan still looking in the direction Ruth had flown off to, “I remember reuniting with Llyr, it was amazing.” Kevin just nodded, hardly listening. His daemon had his attention, as she snorted in Gwen’s direction and stepped down to curl in his arms. No, it was Ruth who got him to look up again, calling out as some of the crowd wandered off and others pulled out their phones to enjoy the show. She was on the arm of a beautiful blond, pressed close to his chest, and he had to snort a laugh at the contrast between them.

“Mike Morningstar,” he said, holding out the hand that wasn’t linked to a parrot and paying no attention to anything around them.

“Kevin Levin,” he replied, shifting Annelie so he could extend his own hand to shake, taking note of the unusual way Mike’s flexed. “Thanks for taking care of her for me.”

“Well, I had to return the favor.” Given the Null Void Kevin failed to see where he’d done anyone any favors, but kept his mouth shut. Ruth would fill her human in, he was sure, and he wanted to make a good impression for the brief period he could. “If you’re not busy, we could always…” Mike let it trail off and Gwen stepped forward before Kevin could painfully turn him down (as long as he got his number, and Ruth would never allow anything less, she’d been grooming him for years for this moment).

“I’ll call Ben, tell him plans have changed,” Gwen said, “you all go and get to know each other.” A swell of gratitude grew in Kevin’s chest, even as Annelie eyed her and Mike turned like he’d just noticed she was there. The look he gave wasn’t the nicest.

“You know each other then,” he questioned, Gwen and Llyr blinking in response. Ruth’s head tilted in interest and when she noticed Annelie leaned forward to address her.

“You sit next to them in chemistry,” she said in a spiteful tone that felt very at home, “and have had the same homeroom for about three years.” Gwen and Llyr blinked faster, clearly not recognizing them, which only made Annelie and Mike’s expressions grow fouler. Ruth trilled and nodded.

“Ah. You tried to kill her and her family five years ago and are currently helping them save the world.” Thirty seconds, that’s how long he got to make a good impression, thank you Ruth. And now Mike was looking at him with concern, fantastic. He was doomed.

“We’re busy people, huh,” Annelie responded, tail swishing back and forth. “You haven’t been doing much the past year, I’ve made sure of it.”

“Thank you, I really do.”

“Thanks Gwen,” Kevin jumped in before the daemons could go exchanging any more not-so-fantastic information they may have (fuckfuckfuck, please Ruth don’t mention those people he ate, it was life or death-), “you sure you’ll be alright?”

“We’ll get a ride home with Emily’s mom, it’ll be fine.” She turned to Mike and Ruth, awkwardly putting out a hand to shake, which he accepted. “It’s nice to meet you, Mike. Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” he replied with all the manners and grace Kevin was never going to manage, “have a nice afternoon.” She and Llyr nodded, backing away with a wave before they left to find their soulmate, leaving the boys and their daemons to themselves and the slowly dispersing crowd. “So.”

“So.” Annelie and Ruth shook their heads in commiseration as Kevin fidgeted and Mike looked him over.

“There’s an Indian place on the other side of town,” Mike said after a moment, Annelie chorusing an “it’s very good”, “I’ll foot the bill.” He certainly looked like he could afford it, and like he needed the meal, his cheeks were a bit hollow.

Fuck. Kevin might have gotten himself a rich boy.

He grinned at him.

“That sounds great,” he said, waving towards his car as Mike smiled back and his gut did a flip, “I’ll drive.”

[kariachi]

Bit of brief Levinstar. More food because apparently I have a theme to my works overall.

~~

“I come bearing dinner!”

“Well thank god, I was about to eat the dog.”

“You wouldn’t have lived to see outside the apartment again.”

“Lucky me you brought food then, hm?” Mike had felt like he was dying for about the entire half hour Kevin had been out, and there was nothing better than seeing him walk back inside the apartment triumphantly, juggling far too many heavy paper containers. Zed vaulted over the couch as soon as Kevin came in, the scratches she’d been more than happy to whine for forgotten in his presence.

“Lucky you I like you enough to keep you,” Kevin replied, taking a moment to coo at Zed (“You make sure he behaved? Didn’t eat the neighbors?” “You wish I would eat your neighbors.”) as he veered to just barely add a few sets of chopsticks to his load before joining Mike on the couch. It was a miracle he managed to get everything on the coffee table, not the least because Mike had no qualms about grabbing whatever container was closest to him with no concern for anything but food.

“You can’t leave me, what other bastard rich enough for you would stick around for just free food?” Free and good. Even before any of the packages were opened the apartment was already beginning to smell like Erinaen ‘cooking’ and undoing them only made it worse. Each was lined with leaves (were they edible? did he care?) and filled with fruits, greens, bugs, meats, nuts, mushrooms, essentially anything that could count as food, and all boldy colored with the sheer number of spices thrown on them.

But, most importantly, he could just about taste the bite of greens and dried meat and maybe egg that he shoveled into his mouth almost before finishing his sentence. Hints of spicy and earthy and salty that were far and away beyond what he got from less heavily seasoned cuisines, elevated further by the heavenly aroma. Mike couldn’t help the noise he made, immediately relaxing even as he twisted to keep Zed from sticking her nose in his dinner. He couldn’t even really bring himself to care about Kevin laughing next to him- a fond, snorting sound- in the face of flavorful food.

“Uh-huh. You’re welcome, babe.”

[kariachi]

Y’all may remember I wrote Kevin getting some therapy a while back? Well there’s a Levinstar edition now.

Hooking up with an old enemy is not necessarily honey and roses, even at the best of times.

~~

“Just, he’s going to drive me right back around the bend.”

Dr Cohen nodded in his normal, calm and comforting way. Kevin had been seeing him for a little over a year now, working through his various issues and the trials and tribulations that came with his, well, life. Plus, for the last several months, everything that came with his new relationship with Michael ‘welcome to parole’ Morningstar- free, more or less, ever since one of his cousins threw money at the problem until he was handed over to her, under orders to go to therapy himself, check in with his parole officer once a week, and a litany of other rules he had to follow lest he go back to prison. Kevin’d found himself checking on him several times a week, out of an awkward combination of wariness and pity- after all, Mike wasn’t the only recovering addict around- that over the months had led to them becoming reasonable acquaintances (even now Kevin hesitated to say friends) and eventually Mike inviting him out to dinner.

Actual dinner.

And things had just, continued from there.

“Why,” Dr Cohen asked, tone gentle, “are you dating him? If you’re uncomfortable, unhappy, why are you seeing him?” Kevin took a deep breath and considered the question. This wasn’t unusual in their sessions. He was still working on understanding his own emotions and thoughts, managing them in a healthy way. Things were more helpful, if the psychologist asked questions for Kevin consider and answer in the safety and support of the office rather than just say what he thought, like prior therapists had.

“Because I’m not unhappy,” he started, then shook his head and went again. “I’m unhappy, but it’s not-” He heaved a sigh. “He’s not doing anything wrong, I just- After everything I don’t trust him.”

“Then why are you dating him? A relationship with someone you can’t trust is a recipe for disaster.” It was another few long moments before Kevin could answer, rolling the whys and the words over in his head.

“I accepted the first date,” he said, even though they’d gone over it when it’d happened, “because I was curious, and suspicious. I wanted to know what he was up to, what his big plan was. ‘cause he had to have one, he always has one. And I accepted the next one for the same reason. But- But he hasn’t done anything! Nothing suspicious, nothing iffy, everything’s been normal! We talk about books, and movies, and recovery, and therapy, and he goes out of his way to not even risk biting me, and it’s been four months and I’ve never seen him take this long on a plan! I’ve been waiting for him to do something, trying to stay on top of it, but at this point it’s like he doesn’t even have one!”

“It’s driving me mad,” he continued. “Is that the plan? He’s just, fucking with my head? He’s smart enough to do it. But Monett’s not the type to go along with that shit and she likes me! So does he just not actually care about what she thinks about the matter as much as he seems to?” They always seemed close but- “Or is he just playing a longer con than normal? I mean he’s done longer than his usual before, but not this long so-”

“Kevin.” Dr Cohen’s voice broke him out of his little spiral just as his lips started twisting into a snarl. “Breathe for me? In.” One, two, three. “Hold.” One, two, three. “Out.” One, two, three. “Better?” Kevin nodded, some of the tension releasing from his shoulders.

“Now,” the doctor said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, “there’s a lot of directions we could take this, but let’s start with the most obvious, hm? Either Mike has some nasty plot- in which case the two of you dating seems to be a key aspect of it- or, and you do have to consider, he doesn’t-” The possibility that had Kevin’s intestines in a knot and his head running in circles, yes. “-in which case the relationship still isn’t healthy because you don’t trust him.” Another deep breath and Kevin grabbed one of the Rubix’s cubes on hand and began fiddling with it blindly.

“Mike always has a plan,” he said, though his voice wasn’t nearly so confident as he would like. “At least, he’s always had a plan before.”

“He could not this time. What was the explanation you said he gave you? That you were ‘handsome enough’ and he needed to get out of the house? It could be true.” And there was the twisting again. It must have shown on Kevin’s face. “And if you don’t think that’s likely, then shouldn’t the logical answer be to end the relationship?”

“He hasn’t done anything.”

“He doesn’t have to have.” Dr Cohen was, as always, calm and comforting in tone and impression. “You’re allowed to end any relationship at any time, for any reason, including ‘I think you’re using me as part of a plot’.”

“Yeah, but-” Groaning, Kevin heaved another sigh, collapsing in his chair. He hated this. He hated therapy, he hated himself, he wished it was as easy as hating Mike anymore. “I don’t want to? I don’t know.”

“Alright,” Dr Cohen simply said, nodding again, “then let’s look into that. You said earlier that Mike wasn’t making you unhappy, reverse that. What about dating Mike makes you want to keep doing it?”

That, wasn’t as easy a question as he though it should’ve been. Not for a lack of options, but for his own struggles with these things, and for finding the best way to explain them. Dr Cohen sat silent for the several minutes he sat there, eyes closed and thinking. This was why he kept with him, also why he always booked double slots.

“He’s trying,” he started, “or at least he seems like he is. If he’s not he’s faking the beats really well and he is an actor but-” Deep breath. “I don’t feel pressured to live up to some standard-” the Tennysons never meant to but- “and when I relax than things are, nice. I haven’t had a relationship be so quiet before, and when we’re arguing it’s still not- I don’t have the words there.”

“That’s fine.”

“It’s not as bad as it’s been before, how’s that? We keep dragging each other to try different shit. He’s too damn charming for my own good. The look on his face when he’s making sure he won’t laugh at one of my stupid jokes? It’s just, so good. And, we were watching a movie and he paused it before asking if I wanted to shut it off when he noticed I was uncomfortable, which doesn’t sound like a lot but it is.” Kevin chuckled, quietly. “He’s like a cat, he’ll just show up suddenly with a book and be there it’s, it’s nice. Never thought myself much of a cat person but, between him and G apparently that’s my type. Besides, from who the fuck else am I gonna get lines like ‘I’ll practice autocannibalism if I damn well please’ delivered with a straight face?” Dr Cohen took a moment.

“Autocannibalism?” Kevin shrugged.

“The theatre was more crowded than we expected, he was hungry, I wouldn’t have even noticed if I hadn’t looked over and seen him gnawing on himself.” He still hadn’t seen the end of that movie. First order of business when it came out. With a sigh Kevin was half sure meant ‘well that one’s not my problem’, the doctor nodded.

“So, you’re happy?” Kevin took a moment, and a breath.

“Yeah,” he admitted. “Aside from the ongoing worry that he may or may not be up to something-” and wasn’t that ‘may’ sixty-percent of the problem “-I am. I think.”

“You think.”

“I’m still getting used to not being a mass of depression and self-loathing, let me be.” Dr Cohen chuckled himself.

“Alright. Well, whichever way this is headed- if you want to continue this relationship in a healthy manner then we’re going to have to do something about your worried about his intentions.” He leaned back in his seat contemplatively. “I doubt talking to him would do much to ease your worries, given the circumstances, but have you considered asking his cousin what she thinks? Is she more trustworthy, do you think?”

“I think so?” He’d been all ready to label her complicit at the start, but she’d been apologizing for Mike’s behavior within minutes of their meeting and he’d seen her hand deliver him to his shrink and parole officer. “I never thought about it.”

“Maybe you should give it a shot. She may not know if he has anything planned, but you said they’ve been living together since Mike got out? She probably has a better read on what’s going on with him than you do, might have some information, for good or ill.” Slowly, Kevin nodded. What was the worst that could happen? She lied and he was still at square one? She told Mike and things went to shit? He was expecting things to go to shit, it’d be a relief to have it done.

“Sure, I’ll see about sitting down and talking with her. Maybe when Mike’s got an appointment, we can grab lunch or something.”

“It sounds like a plan to me,” the doctor said with a smile. “If you want, we’ve got plenty of time to play out some possible scenarios-”

[kariachi]

So, my brain was puttering along and ended on some au-as-fuck Levinstar. Because this is what it does.

~~

Gwen didn’t trust Mike Morningstar as far as she could throw him, if at all, so she felt she could be forgiven for immediately going on high alert when she spotted his familiar shape on top of one of the university buildings. Yes, it had been over six months since she’d last seen him, but in the few years they’d known each other he had proven himself to be dangerous, cunning, and single-minded. Of course, then, she was going to call Ben, proclaim an emergency (she could handle Mike on her own if she had to, but it was far from a good idea), and wait so they could climb onto the roof together along with Ben’s new partner.

He hardly even seemed to notice, which made them only further suspicious.

“What are you doing here,” Ben asked as soon as his feet hit roofing tile, always the more impulsive of the cousins. Mike just made a huffing noise through his nose, staring out over the courtyard with his fingers tapping on the roof.

“Trying to get a date,” he said, nearly spat, which threw both Tennysons off- he was normally much too put together for that, “which last I checked was perfectly legal.”

The very concept of Mike trying to get a date sent up red flags for the cousins. His flirting was generally a prelude to vampirism, but then normally he was actually flirting. Not sat on a roof just, moping? Plotting? They couldn’t tell for sure from the back. Wanting more information, Gwen stepped cautiously forward. She’d have almost called his expression a pout had he not looked so determined, so focused, and when she followed his gaze she was forced to do a double take.

He was staring directly at one of the trees in the courtyard, and sat in it was a boy with which she shared several classes. Gwen didn’t know his name, but she knew he had plenty of admirers in the school despite his bad attitude and sharp tongue thanks to his tall, broad build, handsome face, and dedication to the arts. Under duress she might have even admitted to being among those ranks, which- as far as she was concerned- completely answered the question of why Mike would be paying him such mind. He didn’t generally try to raise her ire like this, but it wasn’t like his normal m.o. had been working, and anyway he was quickly succeeding.

“He can do far better than you,” she said, glaring at him. Like maybe a tapeworm, that’d probably be a better partner. Mike just rolled his eyes.

“Hence the ‘try’, yes.” For the first time he turned to actually look at them. “Do none of you have lives you could be living rather than bothering me?”

“Congrats,” Ben said, approaching them with Rook in tow, “that’s the most hypocritical thing anyone has ever said.” He craned to see what their attention was on. “Are you really trying to tell us you came here for a brunet in glasses?” Mike huffed again.

“I came here,” he said, “to cannibalize your cousin. I’m not doing that because of a brunet in glasses.” Air turning haughty, he turned back to watching the boy read. “You may want to thank him for that.”

“You are not attacking Gwendolyn,” Rook said, visibly as confused as the Tennysons were suspicious, “because you are busy trying to get a date with this man?”

“I’m not saying it was an easy decision-” Gwen wasn’t sure it was a decision he’d made at all, this was probably some attempt to lull them into a false sense of security. If nothing else she didn’t think Mike was capable of enough genuine emotion for that. “-but I figure it’s a long-term investment.”

“A long-term investment.” Mike, Gwen’d have almost called the noise he made a sigh if the idea of him sighing wasn’t antithesis to her prior experiences with him.

“He’s made it clear I can pursue power or him,” he said quietly, causing Gwen’s jaw to drop at the very idea that he may be on speaking terms with a guy she’d heard say five words outside of class, “and so far I tend to lose power when I pursue it. At least pursuing him I’m guaranteed something.” She just stared at him, face twisted in a combination of confusion and suspicion that Ben mirrored.

He had to be up to something.

[kariachi]

Some Levinstar ficlet, brought to you by the letter S

~~

“It’s not to my usual standards, but I suppose it’ll do.”

“‘Usual standards’, you’re living in an abandoned factory and sleeping on a pile of scraps you stole from Goodwill, get over yourself.” Kevin rolled his eyes as he spoke, throwing himself onto the motel bed and waiting for Mike to follow at a more sedate, haughty pace. ‘Standards’, really, as if they weren’t there because even spite makeouts required some level of comfort.

Well, that and Kevin’s refusal to just sit back and let people sleep in those conditions. Been there, done that, not on his watch.

In his own time Mike settled in on the bed, nestling himself against Kevin’s side and looking him over with a look Kevin couldn’t quite identify. Aloof interest maybe? Seemed his style. Well, if he wanted to be like that he could. Kevin was already getting what he wanted, more or less (he’d wanted a spite fuck, but Mike was the best option for spite anything and if he wasn’t down for it he wasn’t going to push), so what did he care. So long as he was still game, and from the way his face split into a charming smile he seemed to be.

“So,” he asked, draping himself half over Kevin, caging his head in with his arms, “where were we before you so rudely moved us?” Kevin rolled his eyes again, but flashed a toothy grin back, taking Mike’s chin gently in one hand and pulling him back into one of the deep, lingering kisses they’d been exchanging before. That had started awkwardly but become richer as the two each got used to how the other worked, fueled by the turbulent emotions in rivalry, hatred, pity, attraction, and made sweet with the knowledge of how who was at the moment a common enemy would react if ever she found out.

Mike made a pleased noise, relaxing in as Kevin moved to cup his neck instead, running his thumb over his jaw. He made no similar move, seeming content to return the attention with stolen nips of Kevin’s lips when the chance arose. There was no rush, they had all the time in the world to do whatever they wished. For a brief moment Kevin considered adding hickeys to the mix, before deciding it wasn’t worth the effort on Mike and he didn’t trust him to safely give him any.

The nipping was probably already pushing safety guidelines. Forget Gwen, OSHA was going to have their asses.

…eh, still worth it.