#probably forgot some fics

[startanewdream]

fic author self rec

Thanks for the tag @missgryffin! This is fun and yet so hard to choose!

Rules: When you get this, reply with your 5 favourite fics that you've written. Then pass it on to five other writers. Spread some self love.

bury it and rise above (Jily, 80k words, complete)

Here's a piece of my soul shaped in words and feelings. I love the idea of lovers in every universe and this is my ode to it.

the thing about (il)licit affairs (Jily, 37k words, complete)

I never had a better experience writing any other story and I think it shows. It's funny, it's light, it's silly, it's Jily. (Also I just saw it hit 500 kudos, thank you so so so much for reading this!)

the perseids (Hinny, oneshot)

Hinny HBP missing moments are undeniably my fave thing to write, and I'm just so glad I shared the Perseids with Harry and Ginny.

Five Stages of Starflower (Jily, oneshot)

This fic is five stages of self-indulgence and I hope it shows in every scene. Also, Sirius meddling with Jily holds a soft spot in my heart.

Light beam (Hinny, Jily Lives AU, oneshot)

This is the happiest, comfiest, fluffiest fic I've ever written, and my only regret was that I didn't add more scenes to it. (Also, it's my most popular fic, which always amuses me)

I'm sorry if you have already been tagged (if so, add another five, how about) @kay-elle-cee @velvethopewrites @turanga4 @ginnyw-potter @blitheringmcgonagall

[cryptocism]

POV u are a hyperintelligent supercomputer who has just begun a journey of parenthood

i completely forgot i drew art for chapter 17 like four months ago rip

[luffyrose]

Mistaken - DC x DP

Idk man- this one fully just came to me. So have fun. Cry.

~~~~~~

Another rogue attack.

Bats coming to save the day.

It was a never-ending dance between the two.

Casualties were often low. People got hurt but fewer and fewer people died. Even major injuries had lessened over the years. It wasn't the focus of the villains to necessarily kill people, it was simply a byproduct of their goal.

So why was it different?

Why now?

Sure, Gotham's rogues weren't afraid to kill to gain attention, but this was different. The attack came from nowhere, no sign of it before it had already begun, and when Batman arrived...there was no villain there. Just the destruction in its wake.

He'd been quick to call the others for help searching for injured, and no doubt dead from the destruction, before getting to pulling people from rubble and fires. His kids arrived and did the same until another call came from Oracle. The fire department and ambulances had arrived, so they left it to them.

It had already been nearing the day, so when they finished dealing with some goons, the family had turned in for the night. Yet Bruce couldn't stop thinking about the explosion. The camera's from the building, he'd learned it was a lab of some sort, were far and few, really only showing the entrance. Even then they cut out before the explosion.

The news was talking of it, the owner of the lab was on it by now claiming it was an accident with some chemicals and they were investigating possible causes. He knew it was a lie, and from his children's faces when they heard it, they thought the same.

It didn't take him long to head there, not as Batman, but as Bruce Wayne.

He had planned to speak to the owner of the Lab, he really only remembered he wore a pristine white suit. Parking nearby, and offering help to those he saw as he passed, Bruce slowly made his way toward the main part of the crowd.

A quiet sob and cough made him freeze in his tracks. It was so quiet he doubted anyone would have noticed if they weren't trained. Glancing around, he slipped into the alleyway he'd heard the noise from. It was close to he accident, but far enough away no one would look down it...so why was someone here?

Bruce cautiously looked through the alley, his gaze hardening as he found a smaller figure curled up on itself, trying to hide behind a dumpster.

"Hello?"

The kid, because it really could only be a kid, flinched eyes darting toward him.

And Bruce froze.

Green eyes were staring back at him. Glowing, Lazarus, green eyes. Yet, his eyes were quick to drift from the color to the blood soaking the boy's clothes. Gritting his teeth, he crouched, holding up his hands. He couldn't see the boy well with this distance, but he couldn't risk not finding a way to help the kid.

"I'm not gonna hurt you...I promise."

The glow fluctuated for a moment before the other tried to move, wincing harshly as his arm gave out and sent him careening into the floor. Bruce had moved forward when he fell, worry clear on his face, and when the boy growled, only for it to fade into a whimper, he paused again.

"Let me help you. I can get you to a hosp-"

Panic filled the other's eyes, scrambling further away. "No! No, hospital. No, no, no no nononono-" Bruce kept his face from changing at the boy's voice. It was hoarse as if he hadn't used it or had been screaming.

Putting his hands up placatingly, he carefully shifted on his feet. "Okay. No hospital. But you need help...can I help you?" The boy seemed to be looking for something in his face, maybe a lie, but after a few moments, the kid's head bobbed before he collapsed onto the ground completely.

Taking the moment, Bruce moved beside him, careful not to touch him as he pulled out his phone, messaging Dick and Leslie. She would need to prep for some stitches no doubt from the blood, and he definitely couldn't get the boy elsewhere without some help. As he finished sending the messages, he felt a hand grab onto him weakly. Looking down at the boy, his heart absolutely sunk.

He could see him now. How his black hair fell over his eyes. Blue eyes. The green was temporary, probably powers, but now with those blue eyes, he looked like one of his many children. More specifically...a younger Jason. His heart clenched, gently taking the boy's hand despite himself.

This wasn't Jason...it wasn't.

It was clear the boy had started to grow delirious, his eyes unfocused for the most part, but staring so intently at him.

"...dad...?"

Oh.

Bruce could hear the harsh swallow he did, but smiled softly at the boy. Carefully sitting, he dragged the boy onto his lap, gently moving his hair. "You're gonna be alright..." It wasn't Jason, and he knew that...but that didn't mean he couldn't comfort the boy. If he happened to look like his father...Bruce wasn't going to try and correct him when he was so delirious, not when it may give him some kind of comfort.

He couldn't help the pain in his heart though as the kid practically melted into the touch, unfurling slightly and revealing some of his injuries. It wasn't his kid. It wasn't.

Maybe he could have comforted any of them like this if he'd listened in the past.

Shaking his head, he pushed down the feelings. He couldn't focus on that, not right now. Looking back at his phone, he saw a message, saying Dick was almost there. Part of him hoped he was alone...he knew that probably wasn't the case.

"I'm scared..."

Gazing back toward the kid, he put the phone back in his pocket. Putting his hand on the boy's cheek, he gently rubbed away some tears that had begun to fall. Before he could respond the boy's eyes drooped the little consciousness he had fading. "Hey, come on, try to stay awake." It was no use as the boy drifted off, only the too-slow rising and falling of his chest assuring Bruce he wasn't fully gone.

"Kid, come on you can't sleep yet-"

Two pairs of footsteps came from the entrance of the alley as Bruce tried to wake the boy, glancing back to see his oldest boys. What was slight, but worried, amusement turned to horror the closer they got, seeing the pool of blood. "Leslie is waiting." Without needing to say anything else, Dick was quick to carefully scoop the kid up, looking back to Jason. He seemed shell-shocked, staring at the boy. Bruce couldn't blame him.

They looked so similar.

~|0|~

Danny had...what had he been doing? He remembered the GIW, and lab equipment-

Oh.

The lab.

He had gotten out...but someone had seen him. Where was he now? Fighting to open his eyes, he saw the ceiling of a car. He could also see two older guys. He was in the back seat with his head...on someone's lap? Or was it a ghost? They felt like a ghost...but not.

Frowning, his eyes slowly drifted shut again. He'd thought he'd seen his dad...but, the man had been too kind. His- Jack was...he wouldn't have ever comforted him like that. Not now. Not in the past. Feeling himself drift off again, he felt small tears fall down his cheeks.

Why had his dad never comforted him like this stranger had? Why had he hurt him? Given him to the GIW after he'd told them what he was? If they truly hadn't believed him...if they had thought he was mimicking "their beloved son" then why not do everything they always said they would.

More tears fell, but he felt someone wipe them away again. It was a different hand...it was still rough, but gentler than the other had been. With a stuttered breath, Danny let the darkness take over his mind again. He probably wouldn't have let himself fall asleep again...but he would rather these people who reminded him of his family have him. Hurt him or not...he just didn't want to be alone.

A hum was the last thing he felt, a warmth he couldn't remember having in a long long time rumbling beneath his skin.

~|0|~

Jason had felt something when he'd seen the kid. The pits went quiet before pure worry erupted from them. He didn't know why...but it didn't help that this kid look like him. Looked like that little kid who'd never gotten help.

It didn't help that deep down Jason knew that this kid hadn't either.

He'd ended up carefully cradling his head in the back seats while Dick drove and Bruce messaged who he could only assume was Leslie or the family group chat. Either way, when he felt something wet land on his hand, he hadn't expected the kid to be crying.

Gently wiping the tears, he felt the frown on his face grow. "He's crying." He heard Bruce shifting, probably looking at the two, yet he ignored the other, just wiping the small tears. As he did, a warbling cry made him jump slightly. Glancing toward the other two, he saw the shock on both their faces.

"Well, he's definitely some kind of meta."

Bruce hummed, but Jason simply looked down again. The pit was silent for a moment, the non-stop worry having paused at the noise. So when a rumbling almost purr-like hum came from himself, he almost froze. Almost. His shock had been overrun by how the kid seemed to relax, one of his hands gently grabbing onto him.

"That...that was new."

He didn't need to look to know the two were even more shocked, if not worried. Jason couldn't bring himself to care for once, wiping the last of the falling tears before running his fingers through the fluffy and bloody locks of their mysterious meta-kid.

He wasn't a meta...he knew that deep down as well.

It didn't take long after for them to get to Leslie's clinic, taking the boy inside in a rush. He was quickly moved onto a stretcher and taken into one of the more medically equipped rooms. The three weren't far behind, entering the room as Leslie worked on removing the bloodied clothes, mainly his shirt.

A large y-shaped and inflamed gash met all of their eyes. It wasn't the cause of the bleeding, but it clearly had been done not too long before the large gash next to it. They weren't the only injuries he had, and he'd had plenty if the scars were to say anything. The most concerning was a Lichtenberg scar that stretched from his hand across his entire chest.

None of them had been ready for it. Dick covered his mouth as Jason audibly took a deep breath. Bruce was silent, but from the stare, they knew he was just as horrified.

Leslie was equally as horrified to find a child in the condition he was in, but gritted her teeth and got to work. It took a long time, but the boy didn't stir. She and the others had checked his vitals multiple times just to make sure he was still fine. He was...if the low heartbeat and temperature were normal. The temperature probably was to an extent at least, they'd figured that out after a frost had covered the bed he was on.

Finally, his injuries were stitched, but as Leslie left to get everything he would need the boy bolted upright.

His breathing was heavy, flinging himself out of the bed and into a corner. Jason reacted the fastest, getting over to him and enveloping him in a hug. It was definitely not the right thing you're supposed to do, but he'd done it before he'd even thought about it.

And when the boy's arms tightly wrapped around him, a loud echoey sob being muffled against his jacket he knew it had been the right instinct.

Neither let go nor did they move.

Dick came over, carefully sitting beside them and hugging them both, taking a moment to wipe a tear that had fallen from Jason's face...when had that happened?

With a quiet click of a door opening and closing, Jason buried his head into the younger black-haired boy's head. Leslie wouldn't have had silent footsteps. Bruce had left the room. He didn't know whether he was thankful or not for that. From the brief information, he'd told them, the kid thought Bruce was his dad.

"...I'm sorry..."

Shaking his head slightly, not bothering to lift it, Jason rubbed the other's back.

"Nothin' to be sorry for. You're alive."

Another rumble noise escaped him, but he couldn't bring himself to worry and wonder about it yet again as the kid clung tighter, a similar yet much sadder noise coming from him.

Both could feel the short breath of a small laugh from Dick, who still held them both.

"You both sound like birds, your nicknames pretty fitting now, Jaybird."

A laugh came from the boy, slightly startling the older two. But, it was a welcome sound, the rest of the tense air finally fading.

After a bit of silence, the kid spoke again.

"I think I called your dad my dad."

Jason couldn't help the smirk that grew on his face.

"Just sounds like you're the next sibling to be adopted."

"New baby bird!"

Danny was both incredibly confused and...pleasantly surprised by their words. He knew for a fact they'd seen his powers at some point. But then again, the one he was clinging to, Jaybird if the guy's nickname was to be used, wasn't entirely alive either.

"Honestly I should apologize for thinking he was my dad...he's probably worse."

Jason snorted out a laugh. He probably shouldn't, but damn if the kid with the scars all across his body said it, he was probably right. Dick made the noise he does whenever Jay makes a joke about his death, only causing the kid to look over.

"What, it's a very grave mistake."

[teejaystumbles]

for @landwriter 's beautiful Oaths <3

[arson-09]

hi guys. I really love tamlin. Like hes become one of my favorite book character’s ever, probably one of my top fictional characters over all and shhshdgshd

[wannaeatramyeon]

I just reread some chapters and I just have to ask, in your opinion, why are Jake and Jerry so scared of my girl Luah😭 What did she do to them

Big Deal Shenanigans: Lua is back

Jerry slams open the meeting room door, dripping with sweat. "Lua is back!"

Jake blinks, taking a moment to process then he stands up abruptly, chair falling back and hitting the ground with a clatter. "Lua is back?"

Jerry nods. "She's back."

Jason, a split second later, pops his head round the doorway, "Lua's back?!"

Jake confirms it. "Yeah, Lua is back."

"Who's back?" A second head appears around the doorway, Brad this time.

"Lua!" The men chorus.

"Lua?!" The blood drains from Brad's face.

"Who's Lua?"

Four heads simultaneously whip around to stare at Lineman. What a question.

.

.

"That's Lua," Jake whispers, as the Big Deal boys peer around the corner, heads stacked on top of one another with Jerry at the tippity top.

Lineman watches her walking down the barren street, suitcase rolling behind her. She looks very normal, all things considered. From the way they spoke about her, he was expecting something of a monster.

He tells the rest of the guys this and they all gasp in shock.

"You have no idea," Jason says as Jake mutters "No idea at all".

"She's a menace," Brad agrees, and the rest of the men nod their heads sagely.

"She can fight, she's not part of a harem, she's fiery," Their boss explains, situated at the bottom of the stack, and down on all fours.

Lineman scratches his head. He doesn't get why any of these are negatives.

"She has a..." Brad tries to suppress a shiver and fails, "a personality."

"Still a plot device," Jerry murmurs and the rest of the men look up at him in confusion, "Sorry," he offers, looking contrite, "didn't mean to break the fourth wall."

[ninja-knox-ur-sox-off]

Day 6: Show/Fear

Prompt List

Pt. 5 of The Empire of Samadhi AU

Pt. 1 | Pt. 2 | Pt. 3 | Pt. 4 | Pt. 5 (you are here) | Pt. 6

(This is day 6 of the Monkie Destiny Challenge Prompt Month October 2023)

Wordcount: 2k

Summary: Red Son is the son of an old empire, Mei is the daughter of a new one. Red Son, consumed by fire, was put into an induced stasis sleep to stop the world from burning until his family can find a way to safely remove the fire. They find a way but he never wakes up. Hundreds of years later he awakes to discover his power resides within another as she stares at him with wide eyes on fire.

Welcome to the Show. 

(This one’s a bit of a spookier one in light of this festive All Hallows’ Eve month. So warning for some mild body horror and creepy description. Please check the tags if you want more detail)

Their landing was awkward. 

Red Son ended up at the bottom of the pile with his face pressed into the floor with the other two on top of him. He knew immediately the destination was wrong when he felt wooden floorboards rather than dusty ash against his cheek. 

They had landed somewhere they weren’t supposed to. 

“Get off.” Red Son attempted to throw the two mortals off him and was kicked in the face twice by Mk before he managed to shove them both off onto the floor. “Idiots.” 

He lifted his head to look around and found they’d landed in a theatre of some kind. It was empty but the lights were on, bringing a warm sort of atmosphere. 

“Uh,” said Mei, with Mk draped over her lap like a limp rag-doll. “Hey, Samadhi Sifu… I think you took a wrong turn.” 

“I didn’t do anything,” Red Son spat. “Some idiot hijacked my portal.” He pushed himself to his feet, cursing under his breath. “They never would have been able to do so if I was at my full strength.” He straightened up after brushing small bits of gold dust from that shattered plate off his hanfu. It didn’t matter much due to the fact it was already covered in soot, but that couldn’t be helped. Merciful Buddha, he wanted a bath. 

“Ow,” said Mk, like he was the one who had gotten kicked in the face. Mei patted his back. 

Red Son glanced around the theatre. It was mostly built from wood. At first glance it appeared to be new, but the closer he looked the more blemishes and broken things there were. It was an old theatre. The curtains were threadbare. There were chips in the wood. The lanterns only lit the space dimly, just bright enough to create shadows without really lighting all that much. All the seats faced a massive white screen at the head of the room. It reminded Red Son of a shadow puppet screen, only much, much bigger. 

“We’ve got another thirty minutes here until my spell kicks back in,” Red Son said, glancing around for the doors or at least some sort of exit. He heard shuffling behind him and turned to see Mk falling off of Mei’s lap and face down onto the floor before popping back up, sitting cross-legged next to her. 

“Well, at least there’s no spooky monkey here,” Mei said. 

Upon being reminded of what exactly they’d been, not running, but retreating from, Red Son’s ire at whoever had portal-jacked him was washed over and drowned out by a very different sort of feeling. 

Mk and Mei seemed content to stay on the ground as Red Son started to pace in front of them. He muttered under his breath. 

Mk looked pale. Red Son had no doubt he’d be looking even paler if he’d known just who had been reaching for him. 

Red Son feared nothing. Not death, not life, and no living being. 

But his hands were shaking. 

From the cold, he hissed to himself through gritted teeth. He would never have been shaking if he had his fire. He wouldn’t be so vulnerable if he had it. The white lady hadn’t seemed like a threat at first. She seemed a mild annoyance at best. He couldn’t sense any massive power coming from her, so how did she manage to get to him? He needed to rethink. Reevaluate. He needed to think. He needed to get his fire back or they were going to die. 

“Well, well! That was quite a show!” 

Red Son’s head snapped back to look where the voice was coming from. It seemed to bounce and echo over the walls, coming from nowhere and everywhere at once. Shadows seemed to tilt, getting darker, stretching further.

Mei was on her feet in an instance, Mk scrambling up close behind her, staggering a lot more. 

The shadows seemed to converge on the stage, onto the screen rising up like ink until a shape was painted across it and then received form. 

It was a shadow puppet. 

A monkey. Merciful Buddha, Red Son had seen enough monkeys already today. Its mouth had been cut into a wide, unnerving smile, stretching over nearly half its face. 

"I see you all met the Lady Bone Demon's puppet.” The puppet slumped sideways, limp, head tilting to almost upside down. It was strange. It moved in a way shadow puppets normally didn’t, to Red Son’s knowledge. 

Red Son scoffed, folding his arms over his chest. “You look more like the puppet here.” 

“Oho!” said the shadow puppet. “Good-” it flipped, revealing its other side, where the only difference was there was an slashed X in the place its eyes should have been, “--eye.” The puppet laughed. It doubled over with shrieking laughter at an awkward angle that didn’t look right. 

Red Son found himself recoiling a bit. The thing sounded insane. Granted not as insane as him when he laughed, his cackle was much more impressive. 

Out of the corner of his eye Red Son saw Mk grab Mei’s arm. 

“Mei,” Mk said, his voice slightly shaky, urgent, “that sounds like-” 

“I know,” Mei said, her voice grave, on edge. 

“What are you two talking about?” Red Son snapped. 

“Is that the Dragon Heir I see?” The puppet twisted itself as though it were hanging upside down from a branch. Sure enough the shadow of a tree rose up to assist the illusion. “And another puppet!” Its smile looked almost thrilled looking at Mk. “Isn't this all just so interesting? But who’s the third? I’ve never seen you before.” It dropped back down, into more of an animalistic, unnatural crawl. The shadow seemed to grow bigger as it crawled towards them, but it never moved off the screen. 

“Who I am is none of the business of the likes of you,” Red Son said. “You know very well who you brought here. So cut the theatrics and state your business or we will burn your little theatre to the ground and you along with it.” 

The puppet seemed to find that very funny, laughing and twisting. Red Son could feel something in the wood of this place. Something in the shadows growing thicker and moving. 

“Oh, but the show is the best part!” 

Mk cried out. 

Red Son spun around to see shadows wrapping around his ankles and wrists. They lashed out around his arms binding him tightly and then pulled before any of them could react. 

“Mk!” Mei yelled, reaching for him. She grabbed his wrist just before he was pulled into the shadows. 

The rings lit. Mei practically spat out fire. “Let go of him.”

“There’s the famous fire!” The puppet seemed to smile wider, bigger, it sounded like it was a twisted form of excitement. “What a performance you gave that day!” 

The strands of shadow snapped when Mei’s fire neared it and she caught Mk before pulling him to his feet.

“Mei,” said Mk, clinging to her. 

“I know,” said Mei. “It's him.” 

“What are you two peasants talking about-” 

“You know,” said the puppet, drawing their attention, “really, it was rather impressive how you played right into her hands, bud.” It walked across the screen, but this time it continued off it, onto the wall. The laughter echoed. 

For a moment Red Son thought the shadow was talking to Mei, but then Mei was stepping in front of Mk and shielding him with her arm, flames flickering dangerously above her. 

“Mk had nothing to do with it,” Mei snapped. 

The puppet laughed again, tumbling through shadows and bouncing from one place to the other around the room. It bent in unnatural directions. “Nothing? Nothing? He caused this.” 

Red Son had to admit, he was curious. Curious as to how the man half-cowering behind Mei was responsible for… well, it was rather hard to understand what the puppet was referring to. 

“I didn’t,” said Mk, but he didn't sound very confident about it. 

“Do you think she would have gotten your precious friends if it weren’t for you? You think she would have gotten to your pathetic Sifu without your help?” 

“He’s not pathetic!” Mk shouted at it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about-” 

“All your second chances, all your do-good kindness lead to this. If it weren’t for you the Lady Bone Demon would have never gotten her hands on the rings.” 

“But,” said Mk, his voice small, “I didn’t do anything…” 

“And you think that’s a good thing?” The puppet laughed far too much in Red Son’s opinion. It lost its effectiveness after a while. At least on him. Mei and Mk just looked more and more unsettled and anxious. “You and your Master, so alike. Neither of you said anything to each other, did you?”

“What is he talking about?” Red Son asked, looking at Mk curiously. 

Mk shrunk back from his gaze. 

“It doesn’t matter,” Mei said. “Whatever happened doesn’t matter. So you better shut your mouth, Liú.” 

The puppet stood for a moment, frozen still. Then it’s head snapped off the wall to look at Mei. 

It became less of a shadow and more of a tangible thing. Its eyes were lifeless, its skin was more alive looking than a puppets should be. It had lace designs stretching across its skin in dark cracks across its skin. Its mouth stretched just as wide, but despite its upward tilting motion it didn’t look like it was smiling. It didn’t look completely like an object nor completely alive, some mix of both. Red Son could see both its eyes at once now, the slashed X over one of them looking like a gaping black hole. Its one eye was a pinprick amongst a pool, just as black, its pupil surrounded by a ring of purple. 

“You’re cursed,” Red Son realized. 

Its head snapped to look at him and Red Son felt frozen in place by it. The weight was nowhere near that of his fire contained in the rings above Mei’s head. But it was uncomfortable all the same. This thing in front of him was twisted and wrong and there was a lack of sanity in its one working eye that made it feel as though something would snap at any second. It looked as though it should be twitching but all it did was stay deathly still, not breathing but very clearly alive. 

“Not our problem,” Red Son forced out, despite the way the words tried to lodge in his throat with the things one eye on him. “Dragon Girl, we’re leaving.” 

“There’s no doors,” Mei muttered. 

Red Son whipped his head around to check. And she was right. He hadn’t realized it at first, but there were no doors, no windows, no holes or cracks in the wall to slip through. 

There was no way out. 

It was a claustrophobic feeling. But Red Son wasn’t about to let a sealed room intimidate him. 

“Very well then. Let us make one.” 

“I can’t let you leave,” said the puppet that Mei called Liú. “They’ll come soon.” 

“Elder Liú,” said Mk, “we can help you.” 

“I can’t let you leave,” it said again, its mouth moving with the words unlike its shadow had when it spoke before. It was a horrifying sight. Shadows moved behind them, creeping closer. “I can’t let you leave. I can’t let you leave. I can’t let you leave-” 

Red Son snorted. “You can’t stop us.” 

It just kept repeating it over and over again, ignoring him. The shadows stretched higher. They curled over top of them. Red Son watched them creep out of the wall, wrapping around the puppet, over its mouth and face and dragging it back into the wall. 

“Guys,” Mei said, glancing at her feet. “I think we’re in trouble here.”

“Then use my fire,” Red Son said through gritted teeth. 

“Oh yeah,” Mei said, “right.” She shook off the shadows that had started to cling to her foot and the rings blazed brighter above her. 

“Wait! Stop!” said Mk. 

“What?” Mei said. Then yelped, because a shadow lashed out and wrapped around her arm. 

One latched around Red Son’s leg and the shadows suddenly seemed a lot thicker and stronger than before. 

“They’re shadows,” Mk said. “The more light you give them the stronger they’ll be.” 

“How does that make sense?” 

“Just look, the more light there is, the more shadow can be seen. Unless we could get enough light to get rid of every shadow, more light would just be making it worse.” 

“Then what’s your suggestion,” Red Son snapped, clawing at the shadow that had attached itself to his wrist. 

“Less light,” Mk said. “They can’t touch us if there’s no shadows to shape in the dark. We need to break the lanterns.” 

“This is a terrible idea,” Red Son said. 

“Do you think I have enough control over these rings to light up a whole room?” Mei asked. 

Red Son did not think that. 

“That’s what I thought.” 

“Fine,” Red Son snapped. He snatched some fire away from Mei. The shadows had crept up to his hips now, wrapping and slowly sludging further up. He burnt some off his wrist so his hand was free. “Aim for the lanterns.” 

Mei missed twice. Red Son’s feeble second-hand fire couldn’t reach very far but the sparks landed and managed to light the lantern. 

“No,” the voice echoed, “what are you doing? Stop- stop I can’t exist without them-” 

“It's okay, Elder Liú,” Mk said, “we’ll get you out of here.” 

“Stop!”

“Ugh,” said Red Son, straining against the shadows that were now up to his shoulders. “You’re disgustingly reassuring, aren’t you.” 

“I try,” Mk said. He was trying to hide it but Red Son could hear the panic in his voice. 

The last lamp went out, burned to nothing, but light still remained. 

“Dragon Girl, the rings.” 

Mei cursed. 

“Mei-” Mk’s voice was cut off as the shadows wrapped around his mouth and started dragging him down. 

“Mk!” 

“THE RINGS!” Red Son yelled at her.

“I GOT IT,” Mei roared back. 

The shadows wrapped around Red Son’s mouth and started pulling. 

The rings flickered. 

“NO!” the puppet appeared in front of Mei’s face, reaching. 

All at once the light went out. 

Red Son fell flat on the floor, followed by two thumps. 

“HA!” said Mk. “I told you! How can you get grabbed by something when you’re already in it! It's like swimming!” 

“Water has currents that can grab you,” Red Son snapped at him. 

“Shadows aren’t tangible like water.” 

“You make less sense the more you talk.” 

“It worked, didn’t it?” Mk huffed. 

“Woo! Mk!” Mei cheered. “I’m gonna see that last bit in my nightmares! Haha! Where’d Old Liú go anyway?” 

“Um, I’m not sure,” Mk said. “Let me check.” 

There was a moment of shuffling and silence in the pitch black. Then Mk’s bright voice came. 

“Found him! He’s small now. Looks like a real shadow puppet.” 

“What? How can you see?” 

“Huh, I wonder if we could un-curse him like how we unpossessed Mk,” Mei said, ignoring Red Son’s question.  

“He feels like he’s made out of dry stuff,” Mk said. “I don’t know if it's safe to try.” 

“Just give him to me,” Red Son scoffed, blinding feeling around for Mk. “I’ll seal him in so he won’t jump back out the moment there’s shadows to jump from if you’re both so worried about it. You can figure out what to do with this thing later. We’re going to be pulled back any minute now.” 

Red Son heard a sound that took him a moment to place as Mk’s muffled laughter. 

“What? What are you laughing at?” 

“Nothing,” Mk said. “Here, hold still, I'll hand him to you.”

Red Son sighed and held out his hand impatiently. 

He could feel Mk standing in front of him, hesitating. 

“What now?” he groaned. 

“Just… be careful with him. Don’t hurt him okay?” Mk finally handed him over. 

“Whatever,” said Red Son, casting the spell to seal the puppet in its current form. “He’s none of my concern, living or dead.” 

Mk didn’t reply to that, but he could practically feel his worry.

“There,” Red Son said, shoving him back at him. “He won’t be any trouble for now.” 

“Great,” said Mei. “So do we need to talk about why Liú looks like a monkey? Or…?” 

The ground lit up underneath them. 

Mk yelped, his face illuminated and rushed to stuff the small shadow-puppet into his hanfu. 

The room lit up in flames.

| beginning | next |

[wolfie-bee]

Jack who?

read it here as a twitter fic

Jack is tall, handsome and charming and the way that he hugs Lena reeks of familiarity. It unsettles Kara, this closeness, the way his arms wrap around and hold onto Lena like she's something precious to him. 

Lena had called him her kryptonite, had begged Kara not to leave her alone with him, but now Kara's thrown for a loop at Lena's reaction to the hug. It's audible to Kara's ears, a notable spike in her heart beat that conveys either a mixture of excitement or anxiety. Kara can't quite decide which it is, too stunned at the way that Lena had thrown herself into the hug.

The hug lasts for a few seconds longer than Kara's comfortable with and she adjusts her glasses with fidgety fingers for something to do. There's a notable magnetism between them and the bashful giggle that escapes Lena's lips when the hug breaks makes Kara's chest tighten. She feels like she's intruding, an outsider looking in on something intimate, but she clenches her jaw, and fights the urge to interrupt or to superspeed away.

The staring lengthens as they finally pull away and Kara's just about to break the silence when Lena seemingly remembers herself and takes a half step back.

Lena's eyes meet Kara's and the tiny smile that Jack's presence put on her face blooms into a full grin when she reaches out for Kara's hand. Kara lets her, a bit stunned at the gesture. She knows by now that Lena's not very tactile with her affections, has had to initiate almost every hug or hand hold they've shared thus far.

The strange feeling that had gripped her when they'd hugged instantly disappears as their fingers fit together perfectly in the spaces between and Kara's so focused on the warmth that blooms in her chest that she almost misses the next few words that leave Lena's mouth.

"This is Kara Danvers," Lena says in introduction, and there's pride in the sweet tenor of her voice that makes Kara's cheeks warm beneath the allure of her intent gaze. "She's one of the best reporters in National City." 

Kara can't help the bashful laugh that slips out of her mouth as that tension in her chest fully loosens and she's finally able to take a steady breath.

"Stopppp." She rebuts playfully and Lena's seafoam eyes twinkle, the fingers between hers gripping her hand tightly as they grin at each other.

"I only speak the truth," Lena states, nudging closer, and Kara lets out a short breath, somehow winded by the compliments from her best friend.

There's an urge to hug Lena, to wrap her in her arms and bury her face against her neck. To tell her how gorgeous she looks as the sunlight floating in from above shines down upon them.

Lena's staring at her, and there's a notable difference as her eyes flit across Kara's face, adoration burning brightly in their blue green depths. There's a permanent blush staining Kara's cheeks and she's just about to do something silly like lean in and press a kiss to her best friend's sweet dimpled cheek when Lena beats her to it. She leans into Kara's side, her hand finally releasing Kara's to slide up along her forearm and grip onto her bicep as that rich jasmine scent invades Kara's senses.

Kara sees her approach in slow motion and doesn't know why she turns her head in Lena's direction, making Lena's lips land dangerously close to the corner of her mouth. Lena lets out a startled breath, the warmth of it painting Kara's skin and Kara goes even more red in the face. She jerks a little too hard, unintentionally pulling herself out of Lena's gravity to finally notice Jack.

"You grilled me at the conference," Jack accuses and there's something strange in his eyes that unsettles her but she can't help the smug smile that drifts across her lips.

"I did." She admits as she finally reaches out to briefly shake Jack's hand and her eyes shift once again until she's just staring at Lena.

Lena's face is flushed, her heart a fluttery mess to Kara's sensitive ears and her eyes still glued to Kara's mouth. Kara's heart echoes its stuttered counts, a complimentary track to Lena's as Lena invites her to lunch with them and she half heartedly stumbles through a poorly constructed excuse. She's conscious of Lena's gaze on her as she leaves, smug in her knowledge that she was no longer paying Jack any attention.

Kara hears Lena's softly shuddered exhale and equally flimsy excuse to Jack right before she enters the elevator and soon, that melodic click of her heels across the floors fills her ears as Lena begins to follow her. She waits, back pressed against the cool metallic surface of the small carriage and soon, Lena's in her line of sight, entering the elevator as the doors finally close behind her.

There's a silence that falls between them as they stand opposite each other in that small space, one that fills Kara's chest with anticipation as Lena takes a step forward, and then another until they're almost pressed together, breathing the same air.

"Don't go." Lena begs and Kara abruptly recalls her promise to Lena not to leave her alone with Jack. But there's a strange conflict brewing inside her chest. She knows how close they were, has seen the evidence of it in that hug. And although she's confident that her best friend would choose her in any situation, the hold that Jack has over her makes heat simmer behind Kara's eyes and she has to look away from Lena.

"Kara, please." The way that her name is sighed from Lena's mouth, all breathy and soft makes her weak in the knees. Has she always been able to do that? To make Kara's heart skip beats like a dusty record track? Her hands move of their own accord, one grasping at the lapel of Lena's blue coat and the other subtly denting the metal wall behind with finger indentations. "Kara." Lena repeats, and the word noticeably shudders as it passes her lips.

"Lena." Kara echoes, and Lena brushes their noses together, the soft curl of her eyelashes brushing against Kara's cheek as she tilts her face. Kara licks her lips, flustered by Lena's close proximity and tilts her head so that their foreheads fall together.

"I meant what I said when we were back at your apartment." Lena continues, one of her hands gliding up Kara's bicep and the other pressing against the hidden glyph on her chest. "I'm over him."

"I…" Kara stutters, head dizzy with emotions she can't quite firmly grasp on to. "What is happening?"

Lena smirks, a coy thing that parts her pretty mouth as she breathes her next few words onto Kara's lips. "Let me show you."

"Lena." Kara swallows roughly, breath bursting out of her in a shaky whisper. And then they're kissing.

Lena's lips are a rosy red, and the softness of them feels like the insides of the petals of a rose. Kara's fingers loosen from the wall and her arm drifts around Lena's waist, pulling her closer as their bodies fit together. 

The kiss morphs from tender and coy to something hot and heavy and dizzying.

Kara hums, a sound that Lena echoes in a soft moan as her fingers slip against the nape of Lena's neck and slide into dark silky hair. Lena is so pretty, and Kara says as much between kisses that make heat pool in her belly and Lena's fingers tighten against her biceps.

The ding of the elevator opening on the ground floor snaps them out of their haze as they quickly separate, faces flushed and eyes stuck on each other. Lena looks like a lovely disheveled mess as she tries to subtly wrangle her hair back in place and Kara blushes when she notices the smudge of lipstick smeared against her cheek.

Not wanting anyone at the conference to see them in this state, Kara reacts on instinct, moving with superhuman speed as she tucks Lena against her side and abruptly takes them to a dark abandoned corridor where she presses Lena against the wall.

Lena inhales a sharp breath, dizzy from the sudden change of location and Kara frames her face between warm palms, apologies falling from her lips as she explains herself.

"You're Supergirl." Lena cuts her off, wide eyed and curious and Kara can't lie, not to her, not anymore. She abruptly drops her hands from her face as she falls silent, and Lena takes that as confirmation.

There's almost no light in this corridor, but Kara can still see the outline of Lena's face as surprise morphs into disbelief and then a soft yet subtle admiration as she reaches out, pale fingers ghosting across the rise of Kara's cheek.

Kara preens beneath her touch, leaning into the contact as Lena traces her face, the pads of her fingers sweeping up the bridge of her nose, over her eyebrows, across her temple and then back down to the rise of her cheeks where they stay for a bit.

Lena's heart beat is once again loud in her ears and Kara tentatively buries her fingers in her soft blue coat, unable to find the words that would smooth things over. Lena nibbles on her lower lip, a nervous reaction, and Kara closes her eyes, hoping somehow that this reveal wouldn't break them. The silence is loud in this abandoned corridor and Kara doesn't know what she expects until she's pulled into the throes of another kiss.

She laughs, relief spreading joy across her heart and Lena echoes it as their eyes meet and then there's another kiss as Lena slings her arm around Kara's neck.

"So, no Jack?" Kara asks and Lena makes a face as she finally manages to pull away from her lips.

"Jack who?" She asks with an expectant lift of her eyebrows and the beginnings of a sexy smirk and Kara can't help but lean in and kiss her again and again.

If you made it this far, thank you so much for reading 🥺💗 wrote this as a twitter fic back in May for Supercorp Sunday and had completely forgotten to post it here. Shout out to @CSIRJen for always allowing me to hijack her supercorp tweets to create stories 😅

[aletterinthenameofsanity]

Chip Thorn & Lauren Shiba character fic!

What's that? A completely new Power Rangers one-shot in the year of our lord 2024? You heard that right!

When working on the playlists for this series, I suddenly got hit by the similarities/differences between Lauren and Chip's stories in this 'verse, the ways that they reacted to the abuse they suffered as children, the hope they became, and the families they found, all while both being wrapped in fire/light symbolism. So I decided to do this little character study thing. It's not as much of a straightforward narrative as a lot of the other fics in this series, but I couldn't help myself from this pouring out. Welcome back to the madness!

Also, here's the song I used to write this one:

@our-raven-strife-universe @augment-techs @skyland2703 @madhare0512 @disastardly @liveinalovelyway @khruschevshoe

[poetrylesbian]

Just started Teen Wolf. Your thoughts on Derek/Stiles. Go.

confession i have read so much sterek fanfiction in the last decade that it's probably the genre of writing ive read most in my entire life (including poetry!)... it's what i read when i need to turn off my brain (which is often)

a few years ago i started bookmarking all the fics ive read with a tag system, so here is what my sterek bookmarks look like when i exclude ones i haven't read yet

[lxkeeeee]

Only then, I am Human ¹

genre: alternate universe, self-insert, dark and somehow became fluff in the end?

notes: no pairings yet, possibly an albedo x m! puppet reader, contains spoilers, dark themes, another series I might forget to continue but okay everything in my blog is like self indulgent so be warned, anyways fem readers dni.

I assume that you are aware of the existence of the Electro Archon's first-ever prototype puppet? A puppet designed to wield the power of a gnosis, this puppet's name is Kunikuzushi or was formerly known as Kunikuzushi then Scaramouche, and as of currently is now known as Wanderer. That puppet was later discarded by the Electro Archon for being too humane to hold a gnosis, “Just kill it Ei and reuse the materials for a new prototype.” said the kitsune adorned in pink who stood beside the Electro Archon known as Ei, the kitsune had a cold look in her eyes accompanied by a smirk. Ei, despite being known as a cold-hearted archon, believed it was too cruel to take a life she had just given. “I believed that is too cruel, perhaps I shall give him the freedom that he deserved.” she says as she looked down at the puppet who looked at the two women in curiosity—not knowing what awaits him as he was 'abandoned' by one of the many domains of Inazuma.

Unfortunately, this story isn't about him. We are not going to talk about the fortunes and misfortunes that puppet experienced.

This is the story of the Electro Archon's second prototype puppet that she almost perfected—almost.

Let's now talk about the second prototype puppet who goes by the name Masashi who later goes by [M/n].

When he first came to life, Ei was overjoyed. The Electro Archon thought she finally created the perfect puppet to wield her gnosis and rule Inazuma for her as she continues her journey of pursuing eternity—that joy didn't last long as she realized that her second prototype still had humane tendencies on him.

She wanted to give him the same fate as her first prototype but unfortunately for her, and fortunately for him, he was blessed with immense intellect.

The second prototype immediately understood or gotten the gist of his fate when he heard the two women discuss what should happen to him, his conclusion was that he was immediately deemed useless and would be thrown away.

He bowed down, his forehead against the floor as the two women looked down on him, with voice filled with determination he says, “Please do not discard me, let me be of use to you your highness.” a part of him wanted to call her mother but his sensible side said that he shouldn't because she is just his creator, his master and god. He is unworthy of calling her mother.

“Use me, use me as a soldier. Let me prove my worth and if I couldn't then please discard me, please kill me. To die by your hands is an honor." He says, a hint of desperation in his voice.

The kitsune adorned in pink gave him an amused look, “My, this is certainly a change of events. What do you think Ei? He certainly has the determination, goodness that is rare these days.”

Ei's eyes held a calculating look, she sighed.

“Prove to me that you are worthy of being my soldier, show me how you wield a sword.” she commanded, he immediately looked at his god in determination.

They clashed blades not soon after, despite just holding a sword for the first time, he knew how to make it work. Perks of watching his god practice the sword.

He called himself a swordsman in theory but never in practice.

Good to know that he can update it to a swordsman both in theory and practice.

The Electro Archon was impressed, not many can last long against her when it comes to sparring—although she is holding back a bit but still.

The sounds of blades crashing against each other stopped as a voice filled the silence.

“I concede.” Ei says, an impressed look on her face.

The puppet looked at her in shock, millions of thoughts came to his mind.

Did I disappoint her? Is my swordsmanship not impressive that's why she conceded?

“Tell me, where and when did you learn how to handle the sword? I do not recall teaching you.” she inquired.

“I learned it by watching you, Ma'am.” he says and Ei looked even more proud.

“Starting today, you are now my soldier. Prove to me that you are destined for more. Climb the ranks and be my second in command.” She ordered, voice full authority. The puppet kneeled down in one knee as he bowed his head, his right hand over his nonexistent heart.

“I shall not disappoint you, my God.” he says. “Then keep your word.”

And he did, he rose the ranks and is now currently the Raiden Shogun's second in command and also one of the most feared generals of Inazuma.

Series Masterlist | Next | Prev

「⸙͎」tag list: [open]

[theflyingfeeling]

so idk if anyone remembers anymore but some time ago I described a fic idea in the tags of a post (and then elaborated the idea in a later ask) regarding Olli/Aleksi falling for each other while still being in relationships respectively... yeah, I kinda ended up writing something based off that thought and I just uploaded the first chapter on AO3, I hope y'all will be cool about it 👉👈

[callmehere-iwillappear]

Leo: Uh... yeah? I've fought in the Battle Nexus before, remember?

Donnie: That - that's different!

Leo: Yeah, 'cause they can't hurt me this time! C'mon, Donnie, it'll be fun!

Leo: ... Ooh, nice! Dee, look, they've got -

Donnie: Because there hasn't been actual danger before! The last one was a sports competition! This one is - you could get hurt!

Leo: They literally can't hurt me, Donnie, they can't even see me, remember? And even if they could -

Donnie: You don't know that! You don't know what they're capable of!

@angelcorpse230 @raisondetre2012 @zinovi768 @apollothesunrat @1v1-tmntiteration-battlenexus

(p.s. for anyone not aware leo is a ghost and cannot be seen/heard without mystic goggles! effectively this means other competitors can only see/hear donnie's end of the conversation. that said, donnie did bring an extra pair just in case, so just ask!)

[fruitybashir]

Haven’t stopped thinking all week about Kris’s intentions for what he wants to do to Bojan when he gets him home. Will that part feature in the next chapter (*giggle)?

aaa im afraid ill have to disappoint on that part :D this chapter is very much pure fucking fluff and self growth and realisations etc <3

[warlordfelwinter]

star baker

since i finished lightfall in the middle of the dawning i'm saying delphi did too. people who care about his well being won't let him bury himself in killing things, so he's burying himself in cookies instead.

crow/guardian, ~900 words

++

When Crow entered Delphi’s quarters, he didn’t immediately see the Oracle, though the sounds of soft music and a knife against a cutting board coming from the kitchen made it apparent why. He did, however, see Delphi’s Ghost floating idly by a bookshelf. She turned as he came in.

“Oh! Crow!” she said, seeming surprised. “I didn’t know you were coming today. Happy Dawning.” 

“Happy Dawning, Artemis,” he said, curious at her tone. He walked over, glancing past her toward the other room. “Is there a reason I shouldn’t be here?” 

“No,” she said. “Just…” 

He smiled, faintly. “Is there a reason you’re out here?” The question was punctuated by a particularly aggressive sounding chop from the kitchen. 

Artemis hesitated. 

“Is he all right?” Crow asked. That was a pointless question, he knew. Of course Delphi wasn’t all right. It had been just over a week since the Witness had gotten to the Traveler. Just over a week since Delphi had stopped being able to hear it. He had tried to stay in Neomuna and help with the ongoing effort there, but even Osiris had advised him to take a break and recover. 

“No. And he’s ignoring it,” Artemis said quietly. “You know how he is.” 

“I’ll try to talk to him,” Crow said, stepping around her. He heard the sound of Glint materializing as he went, staying behind to talk to Artemis. 

He walked through into the small kitchen, pausing to watch his partner who hadn’t noticed him yet. Delphi was standing at the counter, chopping an apple into small pieces, with his hair tied back and an apron on. His face was set in what looked like anger, a harsh contrast to the otherwise warm scene, and each chop of the knife was a little too forceful. 

“That apple say something to offend you?” Crow asked. 

It took a moment for Delphi to look at him, his expression only changing a little to add confusion to the irritation. 

“What?” 

Crow gestured at the fruit under his knife. “I’ve just never seen someone cut fruit with so much rage before,” he said. “Are you all right?” he asked, tone softer. 

Delphi stared at him and then abruptly looked back down and kept chopping. “I’m fine,” he said. 

Crow opened his mouth to protest, but he didn’t get a chance before Delphi continued. 

“I’m fine,” he said again, more forcefully. “In fact, I’m better than fine! I’m great! I’m happy! It’s the Dawning, after all, I should be hopeful and happy. And why wouldn’t I be! I’m alive, aren’t I? I’ve still got my Ghost, still got my Light. That’s more than a lot of people have!” 

He didn’t look at Crow as he spoke, still furiously dicing, the knife hitting the cutting board each time with a little more anger. 

“I’m still alive to fight another day! Loss isn’t defeat, that’s what everyone keeps telling me! So I’m great. Everything could end at any second and I’m making cookies because it’s the Dawning and I’m supposed to be happy—” 

As he brought the knife down again, voice raised, it slipped and the blade dug into his finger. Delphi jerked his hand back with a hiss and shook it, the wound almost immediately sealing as Artemis noticed from the other room.

“Delphi—” 

He slammed the knife point first into the cutting board and just held it for a moment, breathing hard, before he looked at Crow again. Almost glaring at him. 

“I’m fine.” 

He looked back down and Crow could see the muscles in his jaw working, a slight shudder working it’s way into his breathing. Crow walked over, cautiously considering Delphi still had a knife in his hand and Crow knew he spent far too much time around hunters. Gently, he pulled Delphi’s hand away from the knife, meeting no resistance, and held it to his chest for a moment before putting his arms around him. Almost immediately, Delphi leaned into him, burying his face against Crow’s chest, fingers digging into his shirt.

Crow didn’t say anything, not sure there was anything he could say or anything he needed to say. Everything Delphi had been repressing since losing the Veil had reached its boiling point. So he just held him while he cried. 

Eventually, Delphi leaned back slightly and looked at Crow. The anger was gone from his expression and he just looked tired. 

“It’s just so quiet,” he said softly. “And I don’t know what to do.” 

Crow tucked a loose strand of hair behind Delphi’s ear, cupping his jaw and lightly kissing his forehead. 

“I think… we should make cookies,” he said. 

Delphi stared at him, his lips twitching in something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Cookies won’t bring the Traveler back.” 

“No. But they might bring you back.” 

Delphi sniffed and then sighed. He nodded once. “Yeah. Okay.” He stepped back. 

“Maybe let me do the chopping though,” Crow said. “Unless we’re flavoring these with radiolarian?” 

Delphi huffed, smiling. He moved aside, letting Crow pull the knife out of the cutting board. “I tried that one year…” he said thoughtfully, as he started measuring other ingredients into a bowl. “Not my own, obviously,” he added, quickly. 

“No, of course not, because that would be gross,” Crow said. 

“It’s not as bad as you’d think,” Delphi insisted, a laugh in his voice. 

“I’ll take your word for it…” 

[jamietwat]

👀