#of course now that the flash is over n every other arrowverse show is dead they are also dead but

[lovevalley45]

the crossover curse

a/n: i wrote this last june (somehow??) n forgot abt it but i found it lookin thru old drafts and was so amused that i decided. maybe i will share it with the world lol. haven't written new legends fic in months but hey here's this

The trip into Gideon's brain had let Astra know many things about the history of the Legends she hadn't known, but that trip had neglected to include an event the older team members seemed to hate: crossovers. What she'd learned about them came from the nights where the Legends crowded in the galley to share dinner and hang out. It was usually Nate who started the complaining, though she hadn't thought he wasn't the type to hold a grudge even with those meathead muscles of his. 

What she'd learned from these rants that Sara would hop onto was that crossovers were a waste of time: some hero, usually Barry Allen, got in over his head and called every damn hero to lend a hand. The Legends were an afterthought in these events, and most of the team had refused to participate in them after it got Jax's nuclear partner Martin Stein killed. 

Well, no one said that they'd stopped going because he did. But by the silence when it got brought it, that was what she figured out. 

With the Legends retired, she'd figured she'd been lucky to avoid one. The other heroes out there handled one while they were gone, from what Sara had filled them in on at their first post-retirement dinner. Apparently, though, retirement didn't save them from the crossover curse.

Astra had been enjoying her weekend when she heard a knock at her door. She put down her coffee to go see who the hell was coming to see her on a Sunday.

What she had not been expecting to see a nerdy looking white guy standing there. "I'm not buying anything," she said, before starting to close the door. 

"Wait! Are you Astra Logue?" he asked, holding out his hand to stop her. 

"Who's asking?"

"I'm Barry Allen," he introduced himself, before glancing to see if anyone was in the hallway. "I-"

"This is some crossover thing, isn't it?" Astra asked, crossing her arms. 

"Uh, yeah," Barry answered. "Sara told me a lot of the Legends are in different time periods, but you're here and we need everyone we could get."

She rolled her eyes. "God forbid they text me before sending someone to get me," she muttered. "Fine. But if I have to miss work for this-"

"Don't worry about it." He took her arm. "Oh, and hold on."

"Hold-"

She had experienced some pretty wild shit during her time with the Legends, but being transported from Washington DC to Central City faster than the human body should experience was one of the worst. Thankfully, she kept down her coffee, but she leaned against a chair as she glared at Barry fucking Allen. 

"Oh, hey, you made it!" Ava exclaimed. 

"Couldn't I have just taken a train?" Astra grumbled. "Or teleported, or something?"

"You can teleport?" Sara asked. 

"I could have found a spell." She pushed herself up and took in the other heroes, the warehouse they were all standing in. "I thought we were exempt."

Ava sighed. "Apparently not." 

"There goes my weekend."

[jadelotusflower]

March 2021 Roundup

Reading

Benevolence by Julie Janson - One of those books that caught my eye at the library (I’m a sucker for the “top picks” shelf) and I’m glad I picked up. The story of Muraging, given over in 1813 to the Parramatta Native School, but always trying to find a way back to her family and culture in the brutal early days of colonisation - resilient in the face of so much hardship. Janson is a Burruberongal woman of the Durag Aboriginal Nation, and Muraging is based on her great-great grandmother and Durag oral histories. An engrossing but often difficult read, about a period of history not often told from this perspective.

One Day by David Nicholls - A book that has been sitting on my bookshelf for so long I don’t even remember buying it. I vaguely recall seeing the movie adaptation on a plane once so must have enjoyed it, but can’t say I would recommend this book. Depicting St Swithin’s Day every year in the lives of two absolute character cliches, from one night stand, to friendship, romance and marriage. The concept is neat and the writing has wit, but I just couldn’t bring myself to care about Dex (insufferable twat) and Emma (not like other girls) or their love story. Okay, it’s not that bad. It kind of grew on me by the end.

Watching

Superman and Lois (episodes 1-5) - I’ve had reservations about this show because of this but am giving it a shot. I have not followed the Arrowverse/Crisis but a friend did her best to explain it to me, although honestly I found it this show works just as well as a standalone. The premise is simple - Lois and Clark return to Smallville with their twin sons for teen superhero angst part two. To be honest, it feels so much like a Smallville revival that...I kind of wish it was?  

Tyler Hoechlin makes a good Clark, but that padded Superman suit is an embarrassment - get rid of those fake muscles and show us some super collarbones! Elizabeth Tulloch is growing on me as Lois - she’s very...subdued, but imo lacking that spark Kidder, Hatcher, and Durance had. Honestly, subdued it how I would describe the show overall. Also the colour palette is sooo drab because gritty realism I guess.

I enjoy the family drama aspect of it, although I wish one of the kids was a girl. I mean, I understand why they’re twin boys - the son becomes the father and the father the son and all that - complete with both sons being named after both of Clark’s fathers (is there a name for the trope of the hero’s kids being named after his dead family/mentors as if the mother had no input??). The Captain Luthor/Morgan Edge plots are still in the setup stage so hard to comment on them. 

I sound harsh, I don’t dislike the show overall (and there’s some really good elements there). We’ll see, I guess.

Man of Steel/Batman v Superman/Zack Snyder’s Justice League - I’ve never really been a huge fan of the Snyderverse, and have been trying my best to avoid the Discourse about the Snyder cut over the past few years (from both sides). I have however been following what Ray Fisher has had to say, and can’t deny my interest was piqued by the idea that there was an entirely different film out there that did right by its characters. So I went back and revisited MoS/BvS before embarking on JL to give the franchise another shot.

While I still don’t really vibe with Snyder’s aesthetic (it’s just a bit bleak and muddy for me) I think these films are actually better when viewed together as one long story. I can appreciate that he made an effort to step away from the Donner nostalgia, and tell this epic modern myth of gods among men, and can enjoy it for what it is. The Snyder cut was entertaining enough, and I quite enjoyed aspects of it - Cyborg is indeed the heart of the film (but I honestly wish it had been explored in his own movie), and Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and the Flash break up the dreary tone.

It was nice to see the Amazons again (and I loved “Amazon’s, show your fear”/“we have no fear”). I like this take on Clark and Lois, even if most of the relationship happens offscreen, and there’s certainly more in the Snyder cut - even if I wish there was greater depth to Clark’s arc in particular, less of the god and more of the man.

I did however notice a pattern in these films in that I was interested/compelled by the first world building/character half, and having my eyes glaze over in the endless action cgi-fest of the second half (I have this issue with Marvel too). And the Snyder cut is indeed endless - it rivals Return of the King for number of endings but is much less cohesive, like Snyder was throwing everything at the wall since this might be his last chance. There’s a nice montage at the end with a bit of hope, and I was thinking well this is a nice uplifting note to end on, thank you! But nope, twenty more minutes of grimdark prophecising (in isolation, an interesting scene, but felt so out of place to show the team torn apart again immediately after we’ve just seen them come back together).

I also lol’d at David Thewlis getting a front credit for what amounted to his cgi face behind a massive helmet. Collect that paycheck, my man!

Coming 2 America - I watched the original as a teenager more times than I can count, truly iconic. Look, I dislike the sequel/reboot/remake merry go round when it dominates the scene, but to be honest I am a sucker for a sequel that’s lovingly made and really just an excuse to get the band back together and have fun. Worth it for the costumes and dance sequences alone (especially the En Vogue/Salt n Pepper/Gladys Knight mashup), but I really enjoyed this overall. There’s nothing groundbreaking and it doesn’t try to be. Was it necessary? No. But did I enjoy it? Absolutely.

Actually, scratch that. The costumes and hair are absolutely necessary.

The Prom (dir. Ryan Murphy) - Now I love a movie musical and this was...fine. It’s sweet and I enjoyed Meryl Streep doing her best Patti Lupone, and Nicole Kidman clearly having fun (even if she can’t Fosse to save her life) although I can’t say I found any of the songs memorable. James Corden, however, is pure cringe for reasons outlined here. But overall it’s light and fluffy, and not a terrible way to spend two hours of your life.

Superstore (seasons 1-6) - I’ve been binging on this for a while, and it’s a fun little show about the employees of a big box store - it’s nice to see America Ferrera back on screen (with producer credit). A great, diverse cast, but MVPs for me are Lauren Ash as Dina (you may recognise her voice as Scorpia from She-Ra), and Kaliko Kauahi as Sandra. While it did touch on some real-world issues - corporation malfeasance, unionisation, etc - ultimately it’s lighthearted and pleasant, especially the series finale that just goes full happy ending with a nice break from grim reality.

Allen v Farrow (dir. Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering) - I’ve never watched a Woody Allen film, and the clips I’ve seen of Woody Allen films haven’t changed my mind on this point. But what struck me seeing the clips of Manhattan in this documentary is just how young Muriel Hemingway was - this is not the Hollywood standard 22 year old playing 17 (which is problematic in other ways) but an actual teenager with a baby face and childlike voice, in bed with a 40+ year old man and I am baffled that this film is so highly regarded - if nothing else it’s right up there on the screen.

But of course there is so much else, which makes this documentary hard to watch at times. To those who have followed these events there’s not much new here, but it does an excellent job of compiling the sources together and giving a timeline of events, as well as refuting many of the pro-Allen arguments, and giving Dylan a chance to speak for herself. There’s also a companion podcast which is worth a listen for added perspective.

Writing

I actually finished something, finally! Posted Debrief, a Smallville one-shot (3920 words). 1670 words done on my other Smallville wip.

Posted chapter 41 of Turn Your Face to the Sun (1865 words). Now that the Obi-Wan show is actually happening, I need to get this finished before it all becomes moot.

Total: 7455 words this month, making 23,962 for the year.

[enbyboiwonder]

Tagged by @frozenmemories1987

So I don’t really understand how this one works, so I’m just gonna answer all the questions and number them consecutively. Upfront I’m gonna say that I’m not tagging anyone, but as always, if you wish to do it, consider yourself tagged. Also, this is going under a read more. Save the thumbs of any mobile users

01. What was the last movie you watched in theaters?

It’s been months, so I can’t remember, sorry

02. What’s your favorite game to play?

Currently it’s Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2. I hadn’t played it since I got it (and beat it all in one go), and I forgot just how much I love this game. It’s like Pokémon meets Dragon Quest, and it’s amazing. On the one hand, making a team entirely of dragons might be a bad idea, but on the other hand, I freaking love dragons. I should probably synth one with a healing skillset if I’m gonna do that - possibly Cure-all since that’s got Multiheal. My current party is a Lv 20 great argon lizard named Rory, a Lv 24 slime stack with Cure-all named Sticker, and a Lv 19 aquestrian gladiator with Huntsman named Mizuno. When I leave them to their own devices, Mizuno really loves using Penny Pincher, which tbh I cannot fault him for - normal damage plus the chance to pinch a few gold coins? Heck yes. At least he’s got 44 MP, so I haven’t had to change his tactics to “Don’t Use Magic” yet (the skill costs 2 MP)

03. Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate

04. What’s the last show you binge-watched?

NUMB3RS (though I’m still working on that one)

05. Do you have any pets?

No

06. What’s your favorite fairy tale?

I dunno. I don’t actually read very many fairy tales

07. Who’s your favorite superhero?

Superhero stuff doesn’t normally appeal to me, but I do like Cisco Ramon/Vibe and Ray Palmer/The Atom from CW’s Arrowverse

08. Who’s your favorite Disney princess?

Erm, Rapunzel, I guess?

09. Where’s the first place you’re going to go after social distancing is over?

I know I’m gonna hang out with my friend like we were planning to before this started, but as for where... probably Barnes & Noble since that’s where we usually go, but who knows (I say, knowing full well that neither of us know where to go, and we go to HPB when we’re specifically looking for a book but default to B&N bc of the café and seating area)

10. Cookies or cake?

Cookies

11. What show could you watch over and over?

Monk, CSI, and Psych, to name a few

12. Favorite song lyric?

See, I have to believe that there’s more than this seems More than a soul in a boat in a sea of sinking dreams And I have to be sure that there’s gonna be a cure ‘Cause, somewhere down the line, I lost that part of me that’s pure

 - Where We Belong by Thriving Ivory

13. Favorite season of your favorite TV show?

S14 of CSI, probably

14. What never fails to make you smile/happy?

Seeing I’ve got a comment on AO3

15. How are you doing with all that’s going on in the world (coronavirus, having to do social distancing, etc.)?

My lifestyle hasn’t changed at all, though for some reason I’ve actually been getting way more crocheting and video-gaming done than usual (at the expense, of course, of less reading and writing and TV-watching. Unfortunately). But we have lost business at the doughnut shop so I haven’t been working as many days - usually I work Monday and Friday - which, on the one hand, less money, but on the other hand, I’ve gotten more rest so my bruised ribs (from coughing; I had strep about a month and a half ago, and that always leaves me with a cough for a while, though it’s never been this bad before) are mostly healed now

16. We all love new music to listen to. Name an artist that is underrated/you think people should check out:

Thriving Ivory/Midnight Cinema (same band, different songwriters; Thriving Ivory is more piano-driven and leans more toward alt/alt-rock, while Midnight Cinema is more pop)

17. TV shows or movies?

TV shows

18. Favorite holiday?

Halloween

19. A song that describes you:

I’ve always related to Some Kind of Home by Thriving Ivory

20. Describe your tumblr in three words:

“hella queer animal-lover” idk

21. What’s your favorite hobby?

It depends on my mood, but rn it’s crocheting!

22. What’s your favorite book and/or a really good book you’ve read recently?

CSI: Miami: Cut and Run by Donn Cortez is amazing. I read it back in January and then reread it this month. Probably will be rereading it again before long tbh

Another really good one I’ve read recently is How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse by K. Eason. It just came out like six months ago, so the second one won’t be out any time soon, but I am ready for it when it does (more than ready, actually; I can’t wait)

23. What’s your favorite ship that will never happen (or hasn’t happened yet)?

I really wish they had done something with Greg/Hodges. I mean, they had the perfect setup for it in 11.07 Bump and Grind, what with their “man-dates” (that never get mentioned again)!! Their man-dates become a regular thing that they do like every week or whatever, eventually they realize that they’re actual dates and have been for a while and they start consciously dating. Maybe Greg already knows he’s bi and is totally cool with it, maybe David’s been repressed and realizes that, oh, that’s why something’s always seemed like it was missing when he tried dating before: he’s gay.

Unsurprisingly, I have a few 11.07 fics in my WIPs

(But also, considering CSI’s track record with respecting queer people [poor], I’m kinda glad they didn’t. Woulda been nice, though, long as they'da done it right)

A ship that I’m really hoping will happen is Penelope and Schneider from One Day at a Time. I love them so much

24. If you could spend the day with any living celebrity, who would it be?

I would rather meet a celebrity in passing than spend a day with them. I am far too awkward and anxious, and I’m afraid it would not be an enjoyable experience for either of us

25. The best worst movie you’ve ever seen - a movie that you know objectively is trash but you can’t help but really enjoy it:

I don’t think I have any like this

26. When you read, do you prefer an eReader or an actual, physical book?

Paper books all the way, baby

27. Favorite movie?

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, probably

28. What does a normal day look like for you?

I stay in bed reading or playing games on my phone (or, more recently, on my DS) for as long as possible, dick around on here for a while whilst also trying to get at least some SwagBucks in another window, try not to forget to eat lunch, play the free money apps I have on my phone while either listening to music on my laptop or watching shows either on my laptop or the TV, try not to forget to eat dinner, watch some more TV or get some reading or gaming in, try not to stay up too late, take over an hour to fall asleep, maybe if I’m lucky get some writing done at some point during any of this (and if I’m really lucky it won’t be while I’m trying to sleep, but usually it is, damn brain)

29. Have you ever watched a show/movie for one character? If so, who?

Normally when I watch something specifically for someone, it’s for an actor I like, but I started watching CW’s The Flash specifically for Cisco Ramon (well, and Harry Wells and their relationship, but mostly Cisco) and Legends of Tomorrow specifically for Ray Palmer, whom I fell in love with in his ep on The Flash lol

30. What is your ultimate concert (musicians/bands from any period, alive or dead)?

I don’t go to concerts (they seem like they’d be very overwhelming), so, none, I guess

31. Book that you were forced to read in school that you hated the most:

God, I fucking hated To Kill a Mockingbird. Actually, I think the only one I actually liked was The Importance of Being Earnest

[ishouldprobablybewriting]

Heavy Hitters- Chapter Three

Heavy Hitters: Outlaw Country pt 3

Sara convinces an old friend to join the Waverider team- as research and tech guru only, or so she said. As the newbie struggles to adjust to the team and the team struggles to adjust to her, Sara is playing a different game all together. One the new girl might not like too much.

Fandom: Legends of Tomorrow (or Flash or Arrowverse since it’s Mick Rory, but specifically LoT)

Pairing: Mick Rory x Plus Size OFC (cause Mick totally likes thick ladies)

Word Count: 1624

Tags/Warnings: Language, Cannon violence

Part one     |     Masterlist

A/N: Fuck yeah fight scene! (Sorry if it’s shitty) And bit more Emily. Starts out with  2x6: Outlaw Country and follows it almost word for word with the new OC of course. Still not much interaction between Emily and Mick in this one. It will happen soon I promise!!  Lemme know what you think.

Micks gruff voice filled the room, “I’ll drink to that!” The men clinked their glasses and laughed loudly. A pretty brunette in the same red dress as the earlier blonde joined the two at the table, rubbing a gloved hand on Mick’s shoulder.

Turnbull gave the woman a sideways look, “Ya’ gonna have som’a that?”

Outside, Hex’s patience wanes. Sara hears his gun click behind her and looks back to see him checking and loading it. He looks at her from under his hat. “Ya’ gonna sit around while those two bend elbows?”

Sara turns on him quick, putting a firm hand on his chest. “What’re you doin’?”

“Imma Collect my bounty whether you like it or not.” He wasn’t backing down.

“Stick to the plan, Jonah.” She pushes him back a step. Emily steps up behind him, tentatively, waiting for a signal from Sara.

“Ya guy on the inside ain’t stickin’ to the plan. Why the ‘ell should I?” Hex steps around Sara and she lets him go. Sara sighs deeply looking back at Emily.

“Sara?” Amaya’s voice cracks through the comms, “What do you want me to do?”

“Brace yourself.”

Turnbull’s still laughing when Hex storms through the doors to the saloon, letting out a thunderous, “Turnbull!” It was like the saloon slowed for a few seconds; patrons gasped and stopped their partying, the piano player ends his jaunty tune abruptly, and Turnbull’s laugh dies short. He turns to face Hex.

“Well. If it ain’t the Great Jonah Hex, himself!” Turnbull laughs the last part looking at Mick. “Oooh! You got quite’a pair ta walk into my establishment like this. Ya like a cockroach- hard ta kill!”

“I’m takin’ you in,” Hex pulls his pistols and aims for Turnbull, “ Alive or dead. Your choice.”

Turnbull narrowed his eyes at Hex. “I choose… dead!” His words signaled nearly every man in the saloon to stand up and aim whatever gun they had at Hex. “Actually, Jonah, I’m glad you paid me this lit’le visit. See,” Turnbull held his revolver up, making a show of- oddly enough- emptying the chamber of every bullet it held, “I’ve been workin’ on a little somethin’. Seems that ore that I discovered, well.” The bullets he loaded into his gun had a strange black tip. “Its got special qualities.”

Turnbull slowly raised his gun and grinned as he took aim at Hex. Amaya looked on a little unsure what to do.

Turnbull’s finger slowly pulled the trigger.

Hex braced to take the bullet.

Amaya held her breath, waiting.

Mick waited for his opportunity.

And Sara burst in, whipping Turnbull’s wrist, knocking his aim off.

The bullet blurred past Hex. It hit the empty wooden wall behind Hex just as he dove to the ground.

For a deafening second, the air inside the saloon freezed hot and humid. Breath stuck in throats as blue white light explodes into black billowly smoke.

The world inside the saloon slammed back into movement. Bodies dropped to the ground. The crew burst into action.

Sara uses her whip to snatch Turnbull’s legs from under him. The man next to Mick yelps at the pain of his powerful elbow meeting smashing into his face before he drops unconscious to the floor. Ducking one punch, Sara kicks another in the throat and spins low before punching out the next outlaw in line.

Mick grabbed the rifle from an outlaw next to him, whipping him across the face with it and knocking him out. Another outlaw turns around to fight Mick but Amaya takes him out before he lands a hit. She takes his gun and slams his head into the table hard.

Amaya tosses the rifle to Mick and he cocks them both in an impressive action. The tell-tale shit-stirring grin grew on his face. “Let’s party!” He begins firing at outlaws as Amaya breaks a bottle over a man's head. A few people run up stairs and out into the street for cover hoping to escape the chaos erupting in the bar. Hex shoots one man then begins grappling with another before falling down with the man smashing his face in with his pistol. Hex gets up, realizing they’re out numbered in the crowded bar, and steps through the huge hole torn into the side of the saloon by the ore bullet. Amaya runs after him, knocking another man unconscious on her way out. Mick follows slowly, walking backwards and firing both rifles into the crowd of outlaws. “Com’on!” Mick was still riled up. He ducks out.

The three from the bar meet up with the three from the mining camp just outside the saloon. Emily met them at a crate laden wagon a few yards from the saloon. Her gaze flitting between the hole, the door and her crewmates. Her fists clenched and her teeth as she searched for Sara.

Instead all she saw was more murderous outlaws.

“Man,” Jax half joked, “Why do you guys get to have all the fun?”

“We just got back from Turnbull’s mines-” Nate looked around the barrels to take a few clean shots. “Reason for the aberration?”

“He’s digging up dwarf star.”

Turnbull saunters through the hole, raising his gun and cocks it taking haphazard aim.

Emily perks up, “Sara!”

“Go! Get back to the ship!”

The air shakes and another blue plume explodes from the cart. The team jumps back, avoiding any serious injury but not quite clear of the blast.

“Run yew yella bellied cowards!”

Nate fires at Turnbull as they slowly retreat. Turnbull returns fire blowing up another large stack of crates.

He reloads leisurely.

Henchmen fire.

Mick puts himself in the line of fire.

“Finally some excitement!”

He had that crazy look in his eye again.

Amaya shouted for him but he ignored her.

Emily had a bad feeling. She kept her eyes wide and roving trying to take in everything around her.

“An’ here I thought you and me’s was gonna be friends!”

“I don’t have friends,” Mick growled.

The knot that was not Emily’s stomach tightened. She ground her teeth to alleviate the pressure she felt in the air.

Mick pressed the triggers of both rifles down.

Click.

He tried again.

The empty click echos in Emily’s ears and her face drops.

“Fuck.”

Mick tossed the guns down but stands his ground. Turnbull scrunches up his face but aims for Mick nonetheless. It seemed to happen too slowly and too fast all at one.

Mick stood. Turnbull fired. The exploding dwarf star bullet raced. And Nate, all shiny and silver, stepped in front of Mick. In front of the gun. In front of the bullet that didn’t bounce off him like usual.

The silver drained from his face, from his hands, down his neck and wrists. He glanced down and saw red. He was bleeding. He was shot. He stumbled back. Mick caught him and began to pull him back. Amaya runs forward, panic in her voice.

“Nate?! Nate! Are you okay?”

Mick pulls him back to the flimsy cover of crates. Blood is covering Nate's hand now. “I’m made of steel, remember?” He refuses to look at his wound again.

Amaya wasn’t sure what to focus on, her eyes bouncing from Nate to Turnbull and back. “Oh- Oh my gosh.”

Turnbull, satisfied with the damage he's caused, lowers his gun as the team begins to retreat to the safety of the Waverider.

“Amaya, give them room,” Sara orders. They steal a few horses on the outside of town. Mick lifts Nate up onto one. Sara pushes Emily towards it, her eye contact deeper in meaning that simply ‘lets get back as quick as possible’. “Take care of him. “

Emily freezes for a split second. The pathetic deathly groan that slips from Nate’s lips quash any argument she had. She carefully swings her legs up and over the horse, maneuvering herself behind Nate and pull him back so his back is reclined against her chest. Gathering the reins in one hand and pressing the other firmly to his still bleeding wound, Emily nods and kicks the horse into a fast pace.

“Will he be okay?”

“They’ll meet us there,” Sara meets Amaya’s eyes again.

“I meant with her.”

“I trust her. You will, too. Now lets go.”

The Waverider was a ways out still. They had been riding hard for nearly 20 minutes and Nate was beginning to cough hard. Emily slowed the horse to give his body some reprieve but kept pressing forward. That is until, he coughed up blood.

Her mind raced as she slowed the horse to a walk.

“No, it's okay. I can handle it. Just a little blood. And I’m made of steel.”

“Shut up, okay?”

“I’m made of steel. I’m Commander Steel.” His voice was getting weaker and weaker.

She sighed. “Okay. Okay, Commander. I’ve got a trick. I don’t know if you can hear me or not, but I need this to be our little secret, okay?”

He babbled something softly. Emily took it as confirmation.

She took a deep breath and pressed his body against hers. “Focus, Commander. Breathe with me.”

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

In.

Dramatic and deep, eventually, Nate’s breath matched hers. “Good,” she cooed.

Slowly she pulled Nate’s limp hand from his chest and replaced it with hers. Her palm flat and firm over the bullet hole, began to warm and gave a subtle glow. Nate’s head lulled onto her shoulder as he passed out.

“Good, you’re going good, Commander.”

The bleeding stopped, as did the glowing. But the warmth stayed and so did her hand. She got the horse moving again and rushed the rest of the distance to the ship.

This was going to take some explaining.