#sigh ais you are such a balancing act i need to write you MORE

[toxintouch]

Headcanon that Ais never feels fully rested. He doesn't feel tired, but he doesn't feel right either. Not since joining the groupmind.

He sleeps, but his mind is never really at peace. When and if he manages to fall into a deep enough sleep, he's in a constant state of something akin to lucid dreaming.

He gets flashes of the other members of the group mind in place of any real rest. Their current actions; errant memories; whispers in long-dead languages he's leaned to understand.

[eirabach]

Brother’s Keeper [1/2]

I wanted to write some John and Gordon shenanigans and this happened instead. An episode tag to EOS and SOS Part 2 written over two parts because more than 1k at once is beyond me.

He expects Scott, and apparently so does Alan, skittering away as he does before Three's even cooled down. It had been Scott to insist upon his return, after all, all gritted teeth and clenched jaw and John hadn't wanted to, not in the least, but he knows when he's beaten and he knows when Scott's about to have a stroke. Leaving Eos, whatever she may be, alone had seemed considerably less dangerous, on balance, than refusing a man with Scott's resting blood pressure.

He wishes it was Scott.

The figure behind dad's desk looks oddly out of place. Too bright, maybe. Too small, and yet too much all at once. John remembers, with the awful clarity of all traumatic childhood memories, the moment his mother had tucked his very own baby brother into his arms, how the wires and tubes had curled around his fingers and caught on his sweater. How he'd looked at him with all the sweet minded sincerity of a preschooler and thought What am I supposed to do with you?

Not much has changed. 

"Welcome to the consequences of your own actions," Gordon drawls. There's a half eaten celery crunch bar on the desk, damp hand prints on the french polish. "Scott's been called out."

John raises an eyebrow. "And he asked you to debrief me?"

Gordon smiles, tilts his head to one side, then stuffs the rest of the crunch bar in his mouth. "Nah."

A prickle of sweat erupts at the back of John's neck and settles, clammy and unpleasant, under the collar of the suit he's yet to remove. He'd intended to handle Scott then head straight back up. Gordon wrangling, he knows from experience, is another matter.

"Where's Virgil?" he asks, and despite his best efforts he knows his voice isn't as steady as it should be, could be. Gordon just chews. Stares. John shuffles his weight, gravity messing with his balance. Gravity, and maybe, maybe, guilt.

"I'm sorry about Alan."

Gordon doesn't look like their father, not like Virgil does, doesn't fill his spot like Scott, but when he leans back in the chair, arms folded, and says "Alan?" he's every inch their father's son. "You think we're mad over Alan?"

"I shouldn't have put him in danger I --"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Dad's chair creaks horribly as Gordon slams it forward. "Forget Alan."

A spluttered "Hey!" from the staircase.

Oh good. An audience.

John backs off, already calculating the required rate of reentry for the space elevator.

"If Scott's out I should get back --"

"Why?"

It's the way he says it that has John pause. Sharp. Bitter in a way that Gordon almost never is, and John knows why. He knows why, just as Gordon knows why he's itching to return to Five. It's just that they don't usually have to say any of it. Not with Scott and Virgil around, anyway. They play their roles so well, smoothing over cracks formed from panic, that seeing those cracks written over Gordon’s face is -- perturbing, to say the least.

John wonders, vaguely, if Gordon ever sees the same stress fissures on him.

"Are you worried?" Gordon asks, utterly unnecessary but then that's always Gordon's way.

"About Scott?" That's not necessary either, because Gordon's already shaking his head before John's finished speaking, already on his feet before John can back away.

"No, Scott knows what he’s doing.” This is only partially true, in John’s experience, but anything else would be an admittance. A weakness. A dent in the armour that Gordon has forgotten to wear.

“Right.” And John’s looking for the exit, but Gordon’s already his side of the desk glaring up at him with an expression of determination that has never, in all their lives together, meant anything other than Gordon Getting His Way. “So you don’t need to go back, do you.”

“I should --”

“For fuck’s sake, John! You could have died!”

“It wasn’t that bad.” But Gordon’s way too close now, far too close to lie to, “It worked out okay.”

“And if it hadn’t?”

“But it did.”

Gordon’s face is all screwed up now, pink and angry looking just like that scrawny little baby had been, and it -- it infuriates him, honestly. Because hasn’t he sat and watched? Hasn't he sat and watched hundreds and hundreds of times and Gordon -- Gordon watches once and he thinks he has the right to -- 

The air rushes from his lungs as over five and a half feet of solid muscle collides with his solar plexus, gravity and little brother combining to send him flying several steps backwards until he’s caught by the back of a couch. Gordon clings with a fierceness only equalled by the rather colourful language he growls into John’s shoulder and John, John knows what to do with rogue AIs and panicked rescuees, but when faced with the full fury of a Gordon hug he’s left flapping his hands rather uselessly at his brother’s back and looking about frantically for rescue. Alan shrugs at him from the stairs with an expression that says I don’t know what you expected.

Scott, yelling.

Maybe a punch.

A punch would have been quicker. 

Possibly more pleasant.

Definitely less constricting.

"I feel like this has been an unnecessarily long hug.”

“Yeah, well. Didn’t know if I was gonna get the chance to again did I?”

John sighs, as best he can with Gordon doing his best boa impression around his ribcage. “It’s a risk we take, Gords, you know that.”

“Yeah, of course I just --” Gordon pulls away, doesn’t quite meet his eyes, something in his expression that John doesn’t know quite how to name. “Wasn’t expecting it to be you with the noble sacrifice act.”

“You have a preference?” He’s trying to make light of it, a bit. And normally -- normally Gordon would be the first one to take the hint, would be right there with him turning it into a joke, just a close-call-cum-classic-story. Gordon would roll his eyes at Scott and distract Virgil and comfort Alan. Gordon wouldn’t look at him like this, like he’s stupid.

“Of course I do, idiot,” he says, all affection but still with that odd look about him, and John -- John who watches and listens and knows, John who never misses a trick, a warning, can’t afford to, never will --

John just laughs, ruffles blond hair and, “All right, All right. I won’t tell Scott.”

Gordon doesn’t laugh. Just looks at him. And something John doesn’t quite understand curls behind his sternum. Just a heavy, sick little thing that doesn’t quite deserve the name dread but doesn’t ever really go away. Just sits. And waits. Nameless and illogical.

It’s two years before it rears its head again, exposes itself for what it is, what it always has been, and by then --

Gordon, you’ve activated your emergency code.

Gordon?

Gordon!

It’s too late.

[alcego-writes]

Word Count: 2.4k

I got it into my head today to write a little story about a hero and a villain during a situation that’s TOTALLY not based around current events or anything, that’s ludicrous (and also totally what happened). Not much by way of plot. Just a hero and a villain coming to terms with life during a pandemic. You know. The usual.

Tag List: @maxgraybooks​ @ladywithalamp​ (I feel like a few others wanted to be tagged whenever I post writing, but I’ve misplaced my list and I cannot remember anyone else for the life of me. If that’s you and I’ve forgotten please let me know!)

          It was a warm day, humid and uncomfortable, and the hero of the town had nowhere to go. Couldn’t leave their home, on account of the plague that would kill them more surely than most of the people they protected. The irony of having steel bones and a shitty immune system.

          They sat behind a desk, a wide transparent computer sitting before them. There was only so much to do during this social distancing bullshit, only so much they were willing to process while under quarantine, so they did the one thing they knew how to do. “Show me a villain.”

          The screen came to life, and the AI chirped and began throwing images up on the screen. Little villains, like those buying thirty packages of soap and toilet paper; smaller villains, the ordinary man complying with corporate’s demand to keep the workforce operational; and the white-collar villains who had decided to hold the nation hostage to pursue their political goals.

          The hero scowled. If they had wanted this, they would have turned on the news.

          Still, it was something to watch. Something to think about as they wasted away in their fortress, their prison of fucking solitude, watching as the people they loved—the people they regularly put their life on the line for—struggled and wept and wished they did not have to live through such interesting times.

          They saw it all, in short clips from surveillance cameras, laptop cameras, phones; they saw it in fragments of emails, in public service announcements proclaiming nothing at all, in screenshots of hospital bills that charged too much for nothing at all. It was enough to dull their heart, to pain them in a way that they had not hurt in ages. They had put all of this behind them; they had grown used to the pain of the common man. Only there was one, small difference. A small change that mattered more than anything in the world: the hero could not help them. Could not leave a note firmly citing the law, let alone a note politely suggesting that to act with a little bit of common decency would be in their best interests. They were here, and they could do nothing.

          “Show me a villain who cares,” they said, staring blankly at the transparent screen.

           The AI hummed its acknowledgement, and images flashed across the screen, splattered against the walls in another strange display of holographic achievement.

           The hero blinked.

           Stared at the images of all one man.

           A man they knew well, for they knew his mask, his suit, the crook of his fingers. Half the time they weren’t sure if they wanted to break those stupidly broad hands or kiss them—mostly the choice was already made for them, by way of robbery or theft or any other number of crimes the man engaged in.

           But this?

           This was a crime, surely, the way the man slipped into a two-story house, made a beeline for the garage. It was a crime as he carted out boxes of Purell, of toilet paper, of fruit. It was theft, a crime just like any other—

           But there was a difference here. The hero couldn’t quite place it, couldn’t quite figure it out. Not until they tore their gaze from the screen and turned to the wall, to the grainy images of the man leaving boxes of food and toiletries on an old man’s porch, of the man placing a mask on a sick woman’s desk so she could care for her children without fear, of the man stopping to return a cat whose owner was too frightened to leave their house.

           They watched as the man, whose crimes had always been so nebulous and uncertain—even as he manufactured a laser under the pretense of taking over the world—they watched this man act with more care and grace than everyone who should have helped and chose not to.

           Like them.

           “That’s enough,” the hero said. “Thank you.”

           The AI chirped again, almost seeming concerned. It was odd, how attached they had gotten to the fascinating piece of machinery over the past few days. There were moments where they regretted living such an isolated life, out in the middle of nowhere, but it always worked out in their benefit. It was always worth it. They’d never had cause to regret it—until now, that was.

           Stalking out of the room, the hero tried not to feel guilt for being here and not there, tried to remind themself that they were of no use to anyone if they were sick—and they succeeded, in a way. They didn’t feel guilt, and they understood why they were here on a rational level. They just couldn’t shake the shame that came with this decision.

           They could leave, go out and do some good before the man—the villain, their rival—had cause to spread doubt about their abilities, about their devotion to doing good. The PR nightmare would be enough to undo them, to render all of their effort in gaining the public’s trust moot. They could do it. They could go out. They just might never come back, was all.

           The AI boomed.

           There was someone at their door.

           The hero froze, wide-eyed, wondering how anyone had found this place, and why they had decided to visit. None of their ideas were pleasant, and many were far worse than they were willing to deal with right then. A mob, maybe. Someone coming to demand their help. A crying mother demanding they do something for her ailing child.

           And what would they be able to say? What could they do? Nothing.

           Just as they did nothing then, frozen to the floor of their living room.

           The AI buzzed. It was a question, somehow, although there were no words.

           “Who is it?” the hero asked softly.

           An image flashed onto the wall before them. More holograms; the AI seemed to enjoy this new branch of technology. But what it was showing them had to be wrong, because there was no way the man, their rival, was waiting outside their door, hands shoved deep within his jacket pockets. He wore no mask, only a hoodie and jeans and leather gloves on his hands.

           “How long’s he been here?”

           Text flashed on the image: Just got here.

           “Okay,” the hero said. “Thank you. I’ll deal with him.”

           The AI chirped. The hero opened the door.

           The man stared at them, jaw slack, expression unguarded. They stared back, unaccustomed to seeing him so vulnerable, so easy. It had to be a trick, they knew that well enough, but they didn’t know how. The villain cleared his throat, shuffled his feet.

           “What do you want?” the hero asked, energy draining from their limbs faster with each second this interaction dragged on.

           The villain shrugged. “I just wanted to check up on you.”

           “Right,” they said. “Making sure the competition’s not up to something.”

           The villain scoffed. “If that makes you feel better.”

           Beat. Awkward silence. Then: “I saw what you did.”

           The villain stiffened, slouched as if that were enough to render his good deeds meaningless. “It’s nothing.”

           “It’s something,” the hero said. “It’s more than most people are doing.”

           And there—that flicker in his eyes. The hero knew that look, knew they had taken a wrong turn, stepped onto a trap. Inadvertently they had opened the door to this conversation, and they regretted it immediately.

           “Why aren’t you out there?” the villain asked.

           It was a reasonable question. They had no doubt that many people were asking it, wondering why they hadn’t swept into town and saved everyone from the virus. After all, they’d made a name for themself by swooping in to save the day; why stop now?

           So, the hero just shrugged, unwilling to offer an explanation to the villain who had—on more than one occasion—tried to kill them. It was important not to forget that, even if the attempts on their life had felt more and more half-hearted as the years went on, as they established a routine, a give and take to their balance of heroics and villainy.

           “Oh, come on,” the villain snapped. “Don’t give me that—you’ve always got something to say! This can’t possibly be the moment when you run out of words.”

           “I can’t be out there right now, okay?” the hero snapped. They hated the rasp to their voice, hated the way their throat burned. It was just a cold, really. They hadn’t been around anyone infected with the virus for long enough to have caught it. They told themself this every time they coughed, every time they doubted. There was a reason they did not go out to save the day.

           “Are you sick?” the villain asked, brow furrowing. “For how long?”

           He stepped inside, hand finding its way to their face. “You’re warm,” he murmured.

           “It just means I’m alive.”

           The villain fixed them with a look. “That’s not how that works at all.”

           “Fine, I’m sick. Does that make you happy?”

           “It certainly explains a few things.” The villain looked at them for a moment longer, then asked again, softly, “How long?”

           The hero glanced away. “A few days.”

           He nodded. “You’ve been gone ever since this thing started popping up, so it seems unlikely you’ve caught the virus. Any trips to the outside world I ought to know about?”

           “No,” the hero spluttered. “Because you don’t need to know anything about me.”

           “If it means making sure you’re not seriously ill and hiding away like an injured fucking cat, I sure do.”

           The hero blinked. “Why’d you say you were here again?”

           “Does it matter?” the villain snapped. “I’m here, you’re here, and the world’s not ending.”

           The hero shrugged. “Not yet, anyway. We normally find a way to make that almost happen…”

           The villain sighed. He looked as if he wanted to say something, share a secret, but he didn’t. Just rubbed the back of his neck and looked around the living room. It was sparsely decorated, with an armchair by the window and a small table that they ate at whenever they had to stay here. They usually didn’t; they were usually busy with bigger, more important things. That was why this room looked so artificial, so unlived in.

           The hero shuffled awkwardly, painfully aware of the situation and having exactly no idea of how to deal with it. The villain appeared to be in a similar state, except that he was making a beeline for their kitchen and oh, the hero didn’t want to see what villainy he could get up to in there.

           But there was no villainy. He just opened the fridge and stared at its contents (a mostly empty bottle of mustard, that godawful plastic yellow cheese, and a bag of bread that had been unceremoniously shoved inside) before turning to the hero.

           “You live like this?”

           The hero shrugged. “I’m not usually here.”

           “It wouldn’t kill you to get groceries every now and then.

           The hero couldn’t help it—they laughed.

           “What?” the villain asked. “How is that in any way funny?”

           “Nothing,” the hero said, still snickering. “Just an inside joke.”

           “Well it’s a shit joke if you’re the only one laughing.”

           “Look,” the hero grabbed the cheese and the bottle of mustard from the fridge, “let’s just say I got a rough go at the genetic lottery.”

           “It’s not like you’ve got a glass heart and paper skin,” the villain said, watching in awestruck horror as the hero squirted mustard on the cheese, wrapped it up, and proceeded to eat it.

           “Nah, I’m good on that front,” the hero said, mouth full. “It’s the other thing.”

           “What other thing? I’ve seen you get tossed ass over teakettle into a concrete wall and get up without a fuss, don’t tell me there’s something that can fuck you up that I haven’t found—because believe me, I’ve tried! You’re no Superman; so far as I can tell, you haven’t got a kryptonite.”

           “You just haven’t looked in the right places, then,” the hero said. “You’re plenty smart. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

           The villain stared at them. “You’re sick?” he guessed.

           The hero shrugged.

           Eyes narrowing, the villain stepped closer, until he was barely an arm’s length away. The hero couldn’t help but want to step back; there was a virus on the loose, and this was not conducive to proper hygiene. But the villain stood, and stared, and said, “You’re one of those folks with a crappy immune system.”

           “Ding ding ding,” the hero said. “And believe me, it pains me every day that I can’t be out there doing anything to help. It does. There’s so many things I want to do, so many people I want to help…” they trailed off, took another bite of their unconventional sandwich. “I just can’t.”

           “Sure,” the villain said. “Yeah. I get it.”

           He was the last person the hero had expected to ‘get it.’ They narrowed their eyes. “You never did say why you were here.”

           “Because I was worried about you,” the villain said, snatching the cheese sandwich from the hero’s hand and tossing it in the trash. “Which I clearly needed to be. Seriously, that’s the only stuff you keep in your fridge?”

           “It keeps well.”

           The villain gagged. “Sure, fine, whatever. It’s not my problem.” And then he sighed, and amended, “Except that it is, because you’re gonna die of malnutrition before the virus even gets a chance.”

           “I’m sorry, are you suggesting you’re going to get my groceries?”

           “I’m doing a lot more than suggesting it, you disgusting little cheese gremlin. Hold up shop; I’ll be back in an hour.”

           The hero watched as the villain stalked out of the house, hands once again finding their ways into his pocket. They watched, befuddled, before their mind caught up to them. “Just don’t steal it!”

           The last thing the hero saw before the villain closed the door was his right hand held up high in a crude, time-saving gesture. Shaking their head, the hero asked the AI to keep tabs on the villain, and to let them know if he got up to any… less than savory behavior.

           He didn’t, and the hero realized that they weren’t surprised to hear it. He might be a villain, sure, but he was a villain who cared.

           The hero might just have to re-evaluate their opinion of him, after all.

[msilwrites]

The Wedding

A/N: Errr... so I finally had enough sleep and inspiration to write whilst at home. Enjoy!

This story is the continuation of ‘Addio Al Celibato’

Genre: Action/ Drama / Comedy

Sandro Balestreri - Michele Morrone

Tilly McLeod - is an original female character

Will McLeod - Liam Neeson

Henry McLeod - Henry Cavill

                                                    The Wedding

Tilly sat quietly in the drawing room, already dressed and groomed for her big day. She was an early riser, therefore, she had requested earlier on to have the make-up artist come at an earlier time.

Any moment now, her bridesmaids, flowergirls and ‘bridesmen’ will fill the drawing room. So whilst the halls were still quiet, she had requested the kitchen to bring her breakfast. She knew that mosts brides didn’t eat during their wedding day. But there is no way she would let herself go through that, knowing that she’d probably faint due to hunger. 

Much to her surprise the food came sooner that expected, and a was styled in  charcuterie boards. Before she could ask anything, the maid had informed her that;

“It’s the instruction from the Don Sandro, it's for your entourage Madame, enjoy and best wishes!”

Tilly smiled and thanked the maid before she left the room. She asked the kitchen only for her meal, because she knew it was still too early to requests food for everyone. She didn’t expect that Sandro would be considerate enough to ask the kitchen to prepare food for her whole entourage. Half-an-hour later the hall was already busy, with her whole entourage either eating, running around, trying to fix their bow tie, or getting their makeup done by the makeup artist. In no time, all the food was quickly finished, the boards had no crumbs nor syrup left on the bowls, which made the people in the kitchen glad, because it meant that the ‘madame’ and her family liked the food.

Whilst waiting for everyone to get ready, Tilly sat on the side and read her magazine that she subscribed to inside her phone. It was one way to kill time since all she needed was a touch up on her make-up before the actual ceremony begins. But her attention shifted when she heard a knock outside of the room. Because nobody was paying attention and was busy with their own thing, Tilly answered the door herself.

“Oh! Emil! how are you?”

“I’m fine, Sandro told me to check on you if you are doing fine or if there is any problem. Since the groom can’t see the bride before the wedding.”

“Oh yes, I remember, come in, please... I need to talk to you,” Tilly said, opening the doors wide for him to come in.

When Emil entered the hall, he was not surprised at the chaos that was happening. There was Tilly’s ‘bridesmen’ on one side, having a banter on how to tie a proper bow tie. Whilst the women were busy with their hair and makeup, and the children were running around nonstop in circles. It was only when Emil was able to sit down that he noticed how ethereal Tilly looks.

“Sandro will definitely like it when he sees you!” he claimed, and Tilly threw her head back laughing, knowing it was the most silly thing in the world.

She wore a white off-shoulder trumpet shaped wedding gown that showed off her swan like neck and well defined collarbones with bell sleeves which seemed amplify her shoulders, and paired it with a gold gothic spiked crown where her veil was hanging, and gold-emerald earrings and necklace.  

“Oh come on, Sandro isn’t that bad!” he claimed.

“He isn’t, but I am not his type,” she reminded Emil, causing him to sigh in embarrassment. “Speaking of Sandro, can you help me relay a message to him?”

“That’s not a problem,”

                                                         **********

“ Vogue Weddings and another Society magazine will be covering the wedding and will be interviewing you both at after the ceremony, preferably before the reception starts.” Emil begins, as he pulls a chair nearby, whilst watching their Tia fix Sandro’s tie.

“And?”

“Act as if you are truly in love with her...” Emil repeats what Tilly has said earlier.

“What? come again?!” Sandro tries to clarify, trying to see if he just misheard things.

“If not, just try to act as if you like her... look at her as if you life her... and before you kiss the bride, if you find it repulsive, just kiss her on the side of her lips, you know, the side facing the crowd, so it would look like an actual kiss.” Emil add, repeating Tilly’s instructions clearly.

“What?! You want me to make her look good?” Sandro’s brows furrowed, he knew that his bride-to-be is a beacon for the press, and have a reputation to uphold, but it doesn’t mean he would exactly relent to her demands.

“Not me... but I think her requests is reasonable!” Emil adds.

“Ai! Figliolo! just give your bride some face in her wedding day!” Their Tia chastised. “She’s not only doing this for herself, but for you too! To give you good press! Besides, no woman would like to be embarrassed in her wedding day!”

“And one more thing!” Emil adds as he turns to their Tia. “Tia, do you know how to apply this?” he says, showing two tube of green and orange concealer.

“ Of course figlio, what for?” their aunt answered.

“ Tilly says apply it on Sandro’s neck, I think his hickey is too obvious.” Emil says.

“My you are right! It looked too weird for an insect bite!” their Tia says, as she examined the hickey on Sandro’s neck.

“Tia!” Sandro backs away in protest, there was no way she would have those weird colour creams touch his skin.

                                                      ********** 

The ceremony began as Sandro and his entourage entered the church filled with beautiful arrangements. The flashing lights of cameras continued as a number of photographers who they hired and the ones from society magazines continued to take photos. 

Sandro sighed, and was resigned to everything, wanting to be over and done with. 

The first that came were the flower girls dressed in black chiffon dresses, followed by the bible and ring bearer dressed in ‘skirts’. 

The next was her bridesmen, and bridesmaids who were both dressed in black. Much to his chagrin, the men wore some sort of skirts. It was something weird for Sandro, but then again, he had to remind himself that his bride is strange too.

“Tell me Emil, why are they wearing skirts?” Sandro whispered to his cousin who also stood as his best man.

Emil, noticing his cousins eye twitching, chuckled. “Sandro... those are ‘kilts’... they are not skirts. It’s a tradition amongst Scottish, there is nothing wrong with it” he replies like a ‘know-it-all’, chastising manner which further annoys Sandro. 

The tune of music suddenly changes when the turn came for the bride to walk in. And the moment the bridal march began, Sandro finally turned to the direction of where his bride stood and he was astounded. Tilly looked so beautiful, elegant, and ethereal that made his mouth hung agape. 

“A fly might go inside your mouth if you don’t close it...” Emil teased.

Sandro glared at his cousin before turning his attention back to his bride.

Tilly’s parents walked with her until they reached the end of the aisle. Much to Sandro’s surprise Mr. and Mrs. Mcleod started tearing up, as they handed their daughter’s hand to the him. It was totally unexpected to see a tough ol’ mob boss crying.

Tilly beamed at him, as she stretched out her hand for him to take, as if telling him what to do. Sandro returned her smile, much to her surprise, before taking her hand, and climbing the stairs to the altar. 

Because there no vows, much to the Priest’s chagrin, the ceremony didn’t take that long. Afterwards, the long awaited part, where the bride and groom must kiss came. Both of them faced each other. Tilly smiled and mouthed “Remember what I told you earlier!” reminding him of her previous instruction.

“You may now kiss the bride,” the priests said.

Sandro��s lips curved into a naughty smile, which made Tilly suddenly nervous. And with that, he pulls up her veil, cups her face, and gives her the most passionate kiss, which made Tilly’s eyes widen in surprise and throw her off balance. 

All the guest cheered louder than before, causing heat to rush to her cheeks. She almost lost balance when the kiss was over, but Sandro was quick to catch her, wrapping a possessive hand around her lower back. That mischievous smile, still plastered on his lips.

Tilly hits him playfully in the chest with her bouquet and chastises him “  giamburrasca! what has gotten into you!?”

Sandro did not respond, and just smiled at her.

“Introducing Mr and Mrs Alessandro Balestreri!” the priest announced, and everyone cheered.

The recessional music plays, a cue for them to exit the ceremony. Tilly whispers to Sandro that he may let his arm go now, referring to his arm that was around her waist. But Sandro didn’t, and just continued to give her that smile of his.

“giamburrasca!” she complained and just sighed, resigned to it, causing him to chuckle in response, seeing his wife’s reaction.

Sandro pulled her closer by the waist and they began to walk down the aisle and to the front door of the church. 

The guests quickly walked outside as well, getting their confetti of rice to throw at them. 

Outside, a handful of loose rice confetti was thrown to the newly married couple. The flower girls, joined in, throwing the remaining flowers in their baskets to. The photographers kept taking pictures, getting a numerous number magazine worthy shots.

In that moment, it was strange, but Sandro actually felt happy. He couldn’t say the same for his wife, but it did look like she felt the same, seeing that dimpled wide smile on her face that wrinkled her eyes. 

As they reached their bridal car, Tilly turned back, signalling that all single ladies must get ready to catch bouquet. 

Sandro watched in amusement of how many of them gathered at the centre, a few metres behind his wife.

Tilly throws the bouquet high, some of the ladies jump, trying to reach for it, but much to their chagrin, the bouquet landed at her younger brother, Henry’s hands, causing everyone to erupt in laughter including Sandro.

Embarrassed, Henry quickly throws the bouquet back to where all the ladies gathered, and much to everyone’s amusement, the ladies still fought for it. 

Tilly turns away from the crowd as Sandro opens the passenger seat of their bridal car for his wife. It a vintage tessa rossa spider with purple lilies in front which made her compliment her husband’s taste.

“It looks cute and classic!” she mentions as she closes the door. 

He smiles at her compliment, before driving away, heading to their wedding reception.

By the way, if you want to read the previous story, here it is,  ‘Addio Al Celibato’

The Next Part of this story is here; ‘The Beginning of a Marriage’

A/N:  I will be editing this because I probably have made a number of grammatical errors. I hope you enjoyed the story. FYI. It will be a series of one shots

[goldstonegolem64]

sorry I was busy reading the rising of the shield hero and playing tale of vasperia and forgot about this one Book 1 Chapter 32  a little  bit of doubt

Sometimes in life you greet death with open arms sometimes you run from it but in the end it death always wins. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun running from it “ That’s what Lance’s grandfather would say saying and He didn’t know why it popped up it just did as hundreds of  Galra war ship appeared in front of them

“ ALLURA GET US OUT OF HERE” Shiro yelled 

“ On It” Allura replied as she Turned the Castle of lions Away from The fleet and Sent The Castle fly at full speed away from the fleet of ships before they started firing on them

“ How did they find us again?” Allura asked

“ I Wonder HOW” Jay said as he pointed to shiro with his free hand while the other was holding onto his boys as they were all scared by the sudden appeared of the galra home fleet  

“ Sorry I forgot for a second” Allura said as she turned the ships sharply turned the ship while  using the gravity of a near by moon to sling shoot the ship into a wormhole that she had crated.  The team felt the sudden turn and Lost their balance. after a few a few second of being in the wormhole The team got back to there feet. Followed by the castle of lions exiting the wormhole to a planet that had a ring of ice around it 

“ Ok that hurt” Lance said as he got up from the floor “So La-Sai How do you like your first day on the job?” Lance asked with a half smile on his face 

“ I’m starting to regret my Decisions now” La-sai said as he just laid on the floor.

“  Don’t worry we all did at one point “Matt said as he rude the back of his head after he hit the console he was next too.

“ I don’t regret coming here her” Shay said  as Hunk and Rax were helping her up 

“ We Know Shay and it a pleaser to have you” Jay said as here reattached his Arm.

“ Thank you” Shay said 

As the team started to get back on her feet. Allura collapsed  

“Allura!?!?” Everyone said 

“ I’m Fine I’m Just a little tried after making that long distance Jump. It always takes all out if I don’ t get any sleep.” Allura said as she struggled to get back up

“ You’ve been Pushing yourself to much as of late You need to rest”

“ I will I just need Help Getting up” She said as Coran helped her to her feet before handing her off to Nyma 

“ Ok I will be heading to the flux gerator and see how the Plates are holding uuupp” coran said as he slipped on something and slammed into a wall.

“ Are you alright coran? Wait why are you cover in sweat?” Jay asked confused

“ Why is he sweating So must?” bastion asked in a whispered tone to Allura

“  It’s Called the slipperys. It’s a common Altean Disease that occurs later in life “Allura said as Nyma helped her sit down on the pilot podium 

“ I do not have the slipperys. Now I have work to do”  Coran said as he started to walk out of the room But as he did he slipped on his sweat and slid down the Hall way 

“ Ok that Just happened” Adam sais as he yawned “  

“ Don’t Start Yawning or well all start YAaaaa” Matt let a huge Yawned

“ I think we all need to rest after Today’s Battle”  Shiro said as he started to rube his eyes

“ That’s true but we still have the empire on are Backs So not everyone one should rest”  Jay said as he looked towards his kids as they were showing signs of sleep

“ Well we’ll just take shifts then” Ace said 

“ Ok Then I will Take the fist “ Shiro was cut off By Adam, Keith, Matt And Pidge   Saying ���NOOO

“ Sorry Love but Your a workaholic and tend to work yourself into a coma” Adam said as he started to Drag Shiro to their room

“ Yeah bro you need to rest.” Keith said as he helped Adam by pushing Shiro out of the room   

“ Yeah We can handle this” Lance said 

“ Ok Guys I’m trusting you not to get us all killed” Shiro said as he yawned

“ Ok So who is taking the first Shift then?” Allura said as she started to get up but fell back down 

“ Not it” Jay said as he shepherd his sons out of the room

“ You all know I’m an AI Right so I don’t need to sleep or food Or anything you guys need to live right “ Beau said from the ship itself 

“Oh yeah we forget that sometime because you act so human most of the time” Matt said as he started following Jay to the hanger bay turned workshop/play ground and dragon’s den.

“ Ok then Everyone Get some rest and but be righted at a moments notice if the Empire shows back up”  Allura said as everyone started to leave the room

“Ok Allura lets get you to your room” nyma said as she helped Allura back up

“ Thank you Nyma “

In Shiro and Adam’s room the two were changing into the new clothes Jay bought all of them back on haven.

Adam looked over to the corner that the Planet that he and Shiro had put there blood in on there wedding day it was quickly growing into a beautiful bright pink and green leafed tree. As he starred at it he felt hands rap around his waist then lips on the side of his neck. He let out a small moan before turning around to look at his husband who had the most loving look in his eyes. The two silently looked at each other lovingly 

“ God how I missed looking into your Eyes” Shiro said as he rasied his metal hand to Adam’s faces and used his thumb to rube adam’s cheek

“ And I’ve missed just being with you” Adam said as he leaned into to shiro’ s hand and wrapped his arms around shiro

The two when silent again and just stood there hold each other before heading to their bed

“ Hey Adam”

“ Yes love”

“ Do you think we can did that tonight?” Shiro asked as he tapped his pointer fingers together

Adam couldn’t help but smile after hearing that. Even after a year of fight nd killing to survive he was still the same man he fell in love with. “ Your lucky I brought some before I when to test out that new ship for the garrison and Jay had a few that I borrowed” Adam said 

“ yes” Shiro had a smile on his face

On the Prometheus Jay was taking a Hot shower he stood there thinking about how he got to where he was now. He closed his eyes and moved his head under the hot water for a few second  before turning off the water. Jays wiped his hair out of his face then grabbed his towel and rapped it around himself. after a few minutes he got dressed he walked out of his room with no arm. As he left his room he heard  heard the sound of the down stairs TV playing. He had put the boys to bed before he took his shower.So he walked over too the balcony to see that the he hadn’t turned it off. That was no problem for him but before he could do that he was going to check on the boys before walking down stairs 

He first went to check on Bastion and Usamu room.The opened the door and the lights turned on automatically. He flinched thinking he just wake them up. But then he notice that both beds were empty and stripped of their sheets and pillows. That didn’t bother him much seeing as the two tended to hide away from everyone when they’re not really feeling social. He stepped over the trip wires he could see and walked over to bastion bed and looked under it and saw the two boys curled up and holding each other . It was a sweet thing to see. He wish his family could see this. After a few second of starring he quietly walked out of the room. He next moved to Fitz room and lucky the lights didn’t turn on . He walked over to Fitz bed and saw him holding on to his pillow and was talking in his sleep about some crazy dream or something. So he turned back about to leave the room but stopped when he heard Fitz talking out loud

“ Dad I miss you a lot. I wish you could have meet Jay, Bastion, Usamu and the other There real nice and are taking good care of me.” Jay turned and saw that Fitz had  turned around facing him still a sleep. Jay felt a knot in his chest as he heard that. He quickly moved out of the room and as the door closed behind him he slumped and slid down the wall and sat on the floor. He fought back a small amount of tears. Has he sat there for a few minutes his personal comms went off in the living room 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKf8cHlT4cs

He walked down the stairs. First he turned off the TV then picked on the comms to see who was calling. The call was unknown same as the number. Saw he Answered the call

“ Hello this is Joseph speaking Whose this?” Jay asked using his full name just in case it was some one he didn’t know 

“ OH Sorry can I please talk to Jay please It’s Ezra”

A smile appeared on his face the moment he heard their voice “ Hi Ezzy it’s me”  He said

“ Oh Hi jay you sound tried Is everything Alright”

“ Yeah everything is finnnneee” He said tying to not sound lke he was on the verge of have a mental break down over how much danger he put three kids in.

Ezra Went quite for seconds before talking again  “What’s wrong?”

“ It’s along story “ Jay said

In the kitchen Hunk and Pidge were just  hanging out .

“ So what are you cooking today?” pidge asked as she sat on the counter 

“Cookies” Hunk said as he pulled out a tray from the oven.

pidge picked up one of the containers that hunk had on the counter next to her.“Are you sure your this are the right thing to use” She asked looking at the writing on the container which was clearly Altean.

“ I’m pretty sure. Everything here were inside of the cabinets here.” Hunk thought for a second. Then he looked down at the tray of cookie and saw clear blue plates on the tray “ I might have messed up” Hunk said as he picked up one of the cookies an took a test bite just in case he didn’t make a mistake. As he took the bite .Both he and pidge heard as small tink sound came out. it sounded like a small rock hitting a window. Hunk let out a sigh of annoyance. “  Great and cooking is suppose to help me distress now i’m even more stress”  hunk throw the cookie back on the tray

“Why are you so stressed out any way?“ Pidge asked 

“ I’m Stressed out  because i’m in some random galaxy far from home my parents might think i’m dead. I’m fighting a war even though i’m only seventeen And i’m supposed to be some legendary defender but ever mission I’m sarred shitless. I‘m an engineer not a soldier” Hunk said as he buried his face in his hands.

Pidge didn’t know how to react But she tried her best to lifted her friend’s spirits“  Look  Matt and I are techies. Jay is a cargo pilot turned dad ,Keith is a runaway, Lance is a failed Fighter pilot, Adam and Shiro are shuttle pilots and Shay, Rax and La-Sai were basically Slaves before we showed up and I think at this point all of are parents might think were dead or missing.” pidge said as she went quite for a few seconds before taking again. “None of us are soldiers were just kids give a whole lot of power and responsibility to save the universe this is probably is the most stressful job anyone could have . But look at the bright side you got a girlfriend. Jay adopted a few kids in return the boys got a dad a new home and get to see the universe. Adam and shiro got married, I found my brother. Shay, Rax And La-sai homes were saved. Allura and coran found a new family. “  Pidge had a smile on her face 

“ And Lance has two people pinning over him.”  Hunk said smiling as well.

“ Yeah that’s true “ pidge replied pointing a finger gun to hunk 

“ Thanks for that I really needed it “ Hunk said.

“ Your welcome” Pidge said as she hopped off the counter and hugged her friend

“ So what do you think these thing are made of anyway?” Hunk asked

“ No clue but let’s find out” pidge said 

Else where in the castle Lance was waiting for the elevator to open. He was wearing a pair of swim trunks a towel over his shoulders. He was dead tired after the fight on Olkarion with the cube. He didn’t quite understand the whole shared pain thing with his lion. But hey it kept him alive when the bomb when off that and the Healing unite in the armor just remembering the explosion made his back hurt and his right arm hurt. He got nasty burns on his back and arm from that they were both small but still it was a pain to look at the scars. But then again he was alive. The elevator door open and he walked in still thinking about how crazy the passed few weeks were. he turned around to hit the button to the for the floor he was going to. As the door was closing A hand appeared to stop it. Then Keith appeared in the door way wearing a red pair of swim trunks a towel over his shoulder. Lance noticed that Keith body had a few scars across his body. He guess those were from the training bots  

“  Hey” Keith said tried as he walked into the elevator 

“ Hey” Lance replied 

“So where are you going?” Keith asked 

“ Same place your going I guess the pool that Allura told me about.” Lance replied as the door closed

“ Ok” Keith said 

The two of then stood there in silent. Hopping the other would start the convertion

“ So how are you?” Lance asked trying to break the silences

“ Tried” Keith replied 

“Same here” Lance replied

“ So how’s your arm and back?” Keith asked

“ It’s fine but it hurts every so often. But I’m getting used to it. How is your training going?” Lance asked

“ It’s going well just started on the harder levels. I’ve received a few scars here and there but I’m getting better with my blade how’s your training going?” Keith asked 

“ Adam says i’m getting better as a pilot and that my aim is getting better and Jay said that my Galra and Altean is getting better and with a  few more lessons and I can speak and read the languages fluently.”   Lance said with a smile on his face

“ Wait your learning two different languages at once”  Keith couldn’t help but sound surprised

“ Yeah I’m a linguist I take pride in that fact .I’m a better translator then pilot if I’m honest. Some times I wonder … never mind ” Lance when quiet  

“You wonder what?” Keith asked turning to face  Lance

lance looked down to the floor “ Some times I wonder why the blue lion picked me.”  lance said a little upset

“Well It picked you because you meet the lions requirement” Keith said 

“ But what are the requirements remember I cut Allura off right before she could tell me them.” Lance said waving his arms around

“ Well from what I’ve seen your kind you put everyone before yourself most of the time. You nearly died twice trying to save coran even though one was a trap.Your always joking and smiling. Maybe that the requirement.”   Keith said 

“ So just being myself got me here I guess that makes scenes” Lance said

“ Yeah that makes more scene then me being the next black paladins” Keith said 

“Wait you the next black paladins” Lance said as the elevator lost power and turned the space they ever in a pitch black 

In Allura’s room 

Allura was being helped into her bed by Nyma and Shay 

“ Thank you Double for the help” Allura said as she sat on the edge of the bed followed by the mice crawling onto her lap 

“ No problem princess” Nyma said sitting next to Allura

“ Anything to help” Shay said following suit

“  So princess care to explains how far did we jump any way?”  Nyma asked

Allura closed her eyes and thought for a few seconds before talking again “ We are Eight galaxies always from  Olkarion.”

Nyma had a look of surprise on her face.” Eight galaxies in under an hour How powerful is this ship” She looked to

Shay stand there not understand the magnitude how far they just jumped “  Sorry but i’m still new to this whole space travel thing. is it a good thing that we jumped that far that fast ?”  She asked just confused by Nyma’s surprised face

The two girls laughed a little before Nyma spoke again “yes it’s the best thing for us in this current problem”

“ Oh Ok” Shay said with a smile

Allura sat on the edge of the bed petting the mice before talking” Can I ask you two something and be honest with me” 

“ Ok ” Shay said

“ Shot princess” Nyma said 

“ Am I a good leader?” Allura asked looking at the two girls

“ Of course “ Shay said

Allura looked over to Nyma who was looking for a good was to fraise what she was going to said “  Ok Shay  don’t hate me for this but if i’m being honest. No your not the best but your not the worst. “  Nyma said trying not to hurt her friends feeling. But when she looked towards allura who had a disheartened look on her face “ But hey you’ve only been up for about a month dealing while with the lost of your home world, family and close friends. I’m not helping am I.

“ No your not “ Allura said as she wiped away a tear from her eye 

Shay sat down next to Allura and pulled her into a hug And Shot Nyma a death glair. 

“Ok what i’m trying to say is that it’s fine to make mistake . Hell ace nearly got me and My team killed numerous times.” Nyma said as she sat down next to Allura 

Allura looked up an turned to look at nyma some what confused by what she just said “ But my last mistake nearly cost the universe it’s last hope “

“And i tried to steal the blue lion when we first me thing happen no bodies perfect.” 

Allura’s eyes widen when she heard that “ You tried to steal the blue lion!!! Jay and lance said that you guys just left after hunk repaired your ship”

“ Oh Shit I didn’t know they didn’t tell you about  that. While hey it’s water under the bridge now right?” Nyma said looking over to Allura 

“ Yes but I’m going to talk to those two tomorrow”  She said as she let go of Shay and laid on her bed 

Back with Shiro and Adam the two were lying on there bed reading a crappy Galra’s Romanics novel that Jay had given Adam when they had first meet while he was being healed from the crash.

“ How can anyone not think a knife is a good way to propose?” Shiro asked

“I don’t know but i’m happy to get a ring because if you pulled a knife on me in the middle of a hotel bathroom I would be very worried.” Adam said laughing a little 

“While I think making a knife is pretty romantic or maybe I’ve been hearing Jay talk about is home town to much but still making some thing for the one you love beats send over six hundred dollars for a ring that could be lost in ten second the moment it comes off”  Shiro said thinking about how he lost his ring the first week after he proposed to Adam 

“ That is true but still a knife is a pretty extreme way of saying I love you to some one”. Adam said

“ Ok mister I stole a fighter jet and flew all the way to Switzerland just to see how I was doing after my third surgery. “ Shiro said looked At Adam with a sly smile on his face 

Adam was fluster by Shiro’s comment “ Well maybe if some one told me in the first place that he was getting surgery on his arm a week after are two year anniversary I would have need to worry so much would I ” Adam said

“ Sorry love it just kind of happened not my fault. But again I’m sorry for worrying that time and for the last year when I was gone” Shiro said as he held Adam a little tighter as Adam continued to read 

Back with Jay 

“And that is my current situation.?” Jay said as he lay on the couch

“ Well that sounds like you have a lot on your plate too day” Ezra said 

“ just a normal day on the castle of lions I guess”  

“Hey at least the boys are ok right “

“Yeah they are but for how long till their not. What if I’m fighting and the castle gets hit and they re hurt or worse. What if I don’t come back from a mission there are so many unknows and I just made things worse for my self ,the team and the boy” Jay said 

“ Well you see the problems and your worrying about all the right things. But why are you focusing on the bad?” Ezra asked 

“ Because nothing good is happening right now.” Jay said 

“ That’s not true your talking to me you saved a planet an your alive among other things” 

That’s true but still I put this kids in to danger what parent does that “

“ mine did most of the crew’s families did and are doing it with their kids . this is the norm of the universe at this point.” Ezra said 

“ That is horrible. “ Jay said as he sat up  

“ But that’s just how things are now a days “ Ezra responded AS the sound of Alarms started going off” Well it looks like were heading to another infested planet take to you later love yea “ 

“ Love you too bye “ Jay said as his commutator turned off. Jay sat there look at his commutator thinking about what was going on. as the sound of a door open followed by it closing. Jay looked up to the second floor to see a blanked walking towards his room . Then the door opened followed by the sound of it closing a few seconds later the door opened again as the blanket came out of the room an moved towards the stairs. Jay couldn’t help but smile as he head the sound of foot steps coming from the stair well and the door the separated the living room and the second floor open as the blanket that was covering Fitz walked out and moved towards him climbed on the couch and placed his head on Jay’s lap . “ Can’t sleep little buddy?” Jay asked looking down at his son

“ Yeah “

“ Bad dream little?” Jay asked

“ No just can’t sleep in bed so I’m sleeping here ” Fitz said starting to fall a sleep

“Alright dude  “ Jay said. he might not be a the best parent but he was not going to stop trying to be the best parents he could be   

in the Elevator shaft 

“ Ok Now move your right foot”  Keith said 

“ok” Lance replied as he followed Keith’s leads 

The two were back to back as they climbed up the elevator shaft. 

“ How long until we get there?” Lance asked

“ just a few more steps until we make it towards that vent”  Keith said as He looked at the vent above him after a few more minutes of struggling to climb came to an end as they made it there to the vent Keith push up against Lance and started kicking the vent cover 

“ Hey be careful i’m starting to slip over here” Lance said 

“ Sorry” Keith said before he landed a strong kick to the vent cover knocking it out of place and down the vent shafted .” Ok were in” 

“ Ok how are we going to get in without me falling?” Lance asked 

“ Like this” Keith said as he start to put his feet in to the vents. As he did that Lance felt the shift in balance followed by Keith suddenly unhooked his arms him his and lance felt himself free falling before he felt a hand grab his wrist. lance hit the elevator shaft wall. Lance looked up to see Keith  was hanging out of the vent entries looking down at him  with a sheepish smile on his face

“ Warn me next time your going to suddenly disappear on me” Lance said 

“ Sorry about that” Keith said as he pulled Lance in to the vent.

“So where to next samuri ?”  Lance asked 

“ down there “ Keith said as he pointed towards a slide like shaft 

“Are you sure about that Keith ?”  Lance asked looking a little skeptical of what keith was pointing towards

“  See any where else to go lance” Keith replied as he crawled toward the slide as lance followed behind him. The two slide down the shaft  for a few second before Keith slammed into another Vent cover knocking it out of place and fell into a new room quickly followed by lance. The two slammed into the floor of the room. They both stayed on the floor for a few minutes as the recover from the fall. Lance got up first and looked around the room trying to figure out where they are. The room was empty and was as big as a football field . As he was looking around the empty room he felt something wet hit his shoulder So he looked up and saw a huge pool above he

“  What the hell is up with Alteans and their upside down pools “  Lance said as he stared at the pool

“ What are you talking about” Keith followed lance’s gaze and saw the pool “How are we support to get up there?” As Keith asked that the castle shuck violently causing the pool to lurch for down wards and scooped them both up and dragged them upward

”Ok that’s how “ Lance said as he breached the waters surface 

“ Yeah that was one way of doing “ Keith replied 

In the bridge Beau was standing on the pilot’s pedestal running diagnostic checks of the ships  while trying to directed his bodies to areas of the castle that needed to be urgent repaired. It was quite no warning of in coming ships no distress signals from other planets that need help it was just quite out there. Even though he was an ai beau felt unnerved by this. As he stood there the bridge door opened and La-sai walked in

“ Hello La-sai What brings you here ?” Beau asked not turning to face the newcomer

“  I just wanted to talk to some one “ la-sai

“ Then why did you come talk to me then. I’m not much of a talker “

“ I know but seeing as everyone else is sleeping “ 

Beau cut in “ Pidge and hunk are in the kitchen. Lance and Keith are at the pool and Coran is in the engine room” 

La-sai looked annoyed but continued talking “  Well I want to talk to you Seeing as your the most interesting member of the team to me”  

Beau turned to look at La-sai surprised by what he said. “ Wait I’m interesting to you?” Beau asked puzzled 

“ Well yes I’ve never see an Ai like you before. Your The most Advanced Ai i’ve seen”

“ i’m not that Advanced I’m just a ship Ai “Beau replied 

“ Really just a ship Ai You can control multiply bodies at once and you can hack into Galra tech with eases how are you just a ship ai “ LA-sai said 

“ Well it’s just how I was born to help the crew in anyway possible” Beau said not thinking that what he could do was interesting at all.

“ Wait did you Say born?” La-sai asked 

“ Yes just like most Human Ai we are born from the memories of the people were based on.” 

 “Who are you based on then ?”

“I’m based off Leon A. Ballston. He was a cargo pilot that flow during the battle of Lunar one. He saved hundreds of life’s from both sides they were on. He was a good man i’m happy to be base off of him .” 

“ Well I’m happy that your based on him too. Can you tell me more about yourself and other Ai like yourself?’   

“Ok What do you wish to know “

“Everything” La-sai Said with wonder and curiosity in his eyes But befre Anything Could Happen between the two of them A warning Appeared on the bridge Screen warning them about something coming  out of Warp “ Ah beau what is that?”

“ Oh Shit That’s not “ beau said as he started to move the Castle as fast as it could Away from the Area as fast as possible. Beau then opened the Castle comms “ Everyone to the bridge now we have company “ As he said that The entire Galra central command appeared be hide them 

in the Central command bridge Stood Empire Zarkon with Haggar next to him.” To all Warships make sure to disable that ship before they can jump again and bring me those lions” He yelled as each warship was readying their ion cannons.

[green-eyeddragonfanfiction]

1940′s Magic

Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier x Nurse!Reader Summary: Bucky takes a hit out in the field and reverts to his suave, lady-killing 1940′s self. As the RN for the team, it’s your job to run the preliminary scans to try and discover what happened. Warnings: None Word Count: ~2,459 A/N: One Shot! IW didn’t happen. We’re ignoring the canon. *plugs fingers in ears* lalalalalala everything is fine lalalalala In case it’s not horribly apparent, I don’t have a medical degree. This is 90% bullshit and 100% fluff. Don’t worry about the math there. I checked it myself.

Masterlist

“Incoming quinjet, Nurse (Y/L/N).”

You glanced up from your small mountain of paperwork, eyes fixed at a random point in the wall. “Wounded, FRI?” you asked the AI, fingers frozen in the middle of writing a sentence.

“That is correct, Nurse (Y/L/N). Your presence will be needed in the medical bay as soon as the plane lands,” FRIDAY informed you in her Irish brogue.

“Got it, FRI. Any details?” you asked, already a whirlwind of activity as you prepped for dealing with any wounded Avengers. They rarely received any injuries that needed more than a few stitches and, because FRIDAY was paging you first, it seemed this time would be no different.

“Captain Rogers received a wound to his arm and Sergeant Barnes has suffered head trauma.”

You frowned up at the ceiling and tried to calm your heart which had sped up at the mention of Bucky. “Head trauma? Shouldn’t we bring Cho in for that?” you asked, already walking briskly towards the med bay. The walk from your small office to the high-tech medical rooms in the Avengers base was thankfully a short one.

“According to Captain Rogers and Agent Romanoff the trauma was not acute enough to warrant bringing in Doctor Cho.”

You rolled your eyes. “I don’t trust those two’s opinions on medical matters. They’re both too stubborn for their own good. I know Steve’s tried to hide a gunshot wound from me more than once and Natasha will try to hide her limp when she’s hurt. Buncha idiots, the lot of ‘em,” you bitched lovingly.

“Yeah, you should try workin’ with ‘em in the field.”

You turned around and smiled widely at Sam. “Hey there, handsome,” you said, winking playfully. “Mission go alright minus Bucky catching fists with his face and Steve doing stupid stuff that gets him hurt?”

Sam nodded, wide toothy smile showing off his adorable gap. “Yeah, we got it done. They’ll be in in a minute. Nat’s makin’ sure Steve can get Bucky here in one piece.”

You frowned, not liking the way he said that. “Why, what’s wrong? Is it the head wound? Should I get Helen?” you asked, trying to keep your calm professional(-ish) attitude even though the thought of Bucky being really hurt sent your mind into overdrive.

Sam threw his hands up helplessly. “Nah, I ain’t dealin’ with this one. I couldn’t explain it if I tried.” Without any further ado he walked past you and towards the elevators.

You had less than a minute to wonder at his words before Steve, Natasha, and Bucky trundled through the double doors, Bucky draped between the two blonds.

You rushed to open the door to the nearest exam room and Natasha gave you a distracted nod of appreciation before she and Steve hauled Bucky bodily into the room.

It was only once you were in the tiny confined space with him that you realized he was talking. A lot.

“That plane was crazy, Stevie! They finally gave us something that doesn’t feel like it’s made out of paper. We’ll blow Hydra’s sorry ass to dust.”

Steve looked even more lost and confused than usual, staring at Bucky helplessly. “Yeah... yeah, Buck...” he murmured quietly.

Bucky frowned and whacked the back of Steve’s chest with the back of his hand. “What’s got you so down in the dumps, punk? There’s a pretty dame in the room and she hasn’t run screamin’ from you yet,” he said playfully

Natasha threw up her hands in annoyed surrender. “I can’t deal with him like this. This is your problem, (Y/N). Rogers.”

And just like that she was sweeping out of the room, leaving you and Steve a gaping mess in her wake.

You turned your hard stare at the blond wall of a man. “Steve.”

He flinched and turned his guilty face on you, looking cowed for such a strong-willed man.

“What happened?” you grit out, staring hard at him. This behavior was so supremely un-Bucky-like that you would have thought it was a different person if it weren’t the fact that it was undoubtedly Bucky sitting in your exam room just then, vibranium arm and all.

Before he could say anything, though, Bucky’s slightly unfocused gaze shifted to you and he broke out into the largest grin you’d ever seen on the ex-Soviet assassin’s face.

“Hey there, Sugar. You rationed?” he asked, all tooth, swagger, and sparkling blue eyes.

You gaped at him for a moment, heart thunderous in your chest. You turned to glare at Steve. “Explain!” you demanded, pointing helpfully to Bucky’s still grinning form.

Steve winced and self-consciously shoved his bangs from his face. “Well, he kinda got hit with something when we were out in the field. It was an energy blast of some sort. No wounds or anything we could see, but he...”

“C’mon, Doll. Don’t be like that. Stevie’s stuck on some dame, but I’ll take you out dancin’ any night if you’d let me,” he said smoothly, voice as dark as sin. Steve just gestured to him with a single, defeated arm.

You felt heat flood your cheeks, embarrassed that even his outdated pickup lines were working on you. It was truly unfair how attractive this man was.

“Alright, fine, whatever Steve. I’ll run some tests on him and see if I can’t pinpoint what the issue is. If I can’t figure it out in the next hour, though, we’re calling Helen, Wanda or Shuri. No buts.”

Steve heaved out a sigh and nodded. “Yeah, that’s fair. Thanks, (Y/N).”

You glared good-naturedly at him. “That’s Nurse (Y/N) to you, Captain Rogers. Now get out of my room so I can treat my patient.” You turned back to Bucky only to freeze at the flirty look on his face. “On second thought, Steve...” you murmured, suddenly feeling very much like a rabbit cornered by a fox (it shouldn’t have excited you as much as it did).

“Nah, Stevie can go. I’m nothin’ if not a gentleman,” he said, easily reading your discomfort. “I won’t do nothin’ you don’t ask me to do,” he said with a wink and smirk.

You could hear Steve sigh behind you. “You’ll be fine with him. Bucky may have gone out with half the girls in Brooklyn when we were younger, but he was always a gentleman ahead of his time.”

You both ignored Bucky’s offended correction of, “Half the girls in New York.”

You felt your shoulders droop a fraction. “If you say so...” you murmured, turning your attention back to Bucky as Steve made a hasty retreat out of the room.

You looked back to Bucky, trepidation lining your features as you studied the anomaly before you. It was Bucky, but it wasn’t. You were used to the cold, quiet assassin who never spoke more than a polite “hello” to you.

“You know, I really should be the one starin’.”

His voice snapped you out of your confused daze and you shook your head in an attempt to focus, frown wrinkling your brow. “Sorry?”

Bucky just smiled his thousand watt smile. “Y’know, cause you’re the prettiest thing I ever saw.”

You felt heat rush all the way up your neck to your ears. “Yes, well, I need to run some tests, Sergeant Barnes, so if-”

“Bucky,” he said, oozing that confidence you only ever saw from him on the battlefield.

“What?” you asked, once again thrown off balance by this new (old?) Bucky.

“Call me Bucky. What’s your name? I heard Steve call you (Y/N) earlier,” he said mischievously.

You nodded quickly. “Yes, that’s (Y/N)- I mean me- I mean-” you took a deep breath. “Yes, my name’s (Y/N),” you said quickly, embarrassment approaching critical mass.

“That’s such a pretty name,” Bucky said with such sincerity that your heart nearly melted.

You fiddled uselessly with your clipboards and scrounged up what was left of your dignity. “Yes, well, Ser- Bucky. If you’ll just follow me, and we can get these tests underway so you can get out of here as soon as possible.”

Bucky just smiled sweetly as he stood and focused his gaze on you. “Well, hopefully not too soon.”

You tsked loudly at the pile of readouts. Every test you could think to give Bucky and still, nothing. No sign as to what was wrong. His brain scans looked exactly like they always did.

“Somethin’ wrong, Doll?” the man himself asked, eyeing you coyly from on top of the exam bed.

You heaved out a huge sigh and hung your head in defeat. “I can’t figure it out, Bucky. I’ve tried everything I can with the equipment we have- and we have a lot of equipment- but I can’t find a reason for why you’re-” you gestured vaguely to his entire body, not quite knowing how to phrase what you were trying to say.

Bucky raised an eyebrow and the corner of his mouth quirked upward playfully. “Why I’m... so devilishly handsome?” he asked waggling his eyebrows at you.

You groaned and buried your face in your hands. “You are, but that’s not what I mean! God, we’re going to have to go to Doctor Cho’s office first, then see Wanda if Cho can’t help. I want to avoid having to go all the way to Wakanda if I can help it and-” You froze when a cold hand placed itself gently on your arm and quickly looked up, surprised to find Bucky standing directly in front of you, taking up most of your view.

“You think I’m handsome?” he murmured, eyes searching yours questioningly.

Your eyes widened when you realized what you said in the middle of your scatterbrained rambling and sputtered, eventually getting out something resembling a “yes” although it was nothing more than a tiny squeak of a noise.

Bucky smiled down at you, but it wasn’t the thousand watt smile you’d been looking at for the last hour. It was quieter, more subdued, more Bucky. He looked almost penitent a moment later, ducking his head and glancing up at you through his eyelashes. “I’m sorry. I shoulda dropped the act earlier. The effects of that blast wore off pretty soon after we touched down here, but...” he glanced away nervously and went to remove his hand from your arm, but you wrapped your fingers around the metal digits before he could get very far.

“But?” you prompted breathlessly, curiosity overtaking the sense of self preservation you usually had around Bucky. You liked him, of course. You liked him a lot.

But you learned early on that he didn’t like you, so you kept your distance and hoped your feelings would vanish.

They hadn’t.

Bucky looked like a trapped animal but he held his ground resolutely, blue eyes burning with determination. “But it was easy to talk to you when I was like that... and I didn’t want to stop,” he admitted quietly.

Well, whatever you’d been expecting, it wasn’t that. “So... you’ve been yourself for almost an hour now?” you asked, eyes narrowed and assessing.

His eyes flicked away guiltily for a split second before returning to you. The only answer you got was a stiff nod.

“And you were flirting with me that whole time?”

Another nod.

“Why?” you breathed, heart threatening to beat out of your chest.

Bucky shifted nervously, dragging his lip between his teeth and looking anywhere but you while he gathered his courage.

Finally, he set his jaw and looked at you and you felt your breath catch in your throat. “Because I like you. And I normally can’t work up the courage to talk to you, so I wanted to enjoy it while it lasted.” As soon as he was done speaking, his gaze dropped to the ground and didn’t lift back up again.

Your breath left you in an almighty whoosh that nearly had you seeing stars.

Bucky... liked you? He was... shy?

Oh god, you were a fool. A big, dumb idiot of the highest proportions.

“I like you too, Bucky,” you said, tentative smile creeping across your face.

Bucky’s gaze snapped up to yours, disbelief etched in every feature. “What?” he asked, fingers tightening imperceptibly against yours.

You smiled widely at him and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “I like you, too. I have for a long time, but I thought you didn’t like me at all, so...” You shrugged helplessly.

Bucky’s hopeful smile sent butterflies aflutter in your stomach and you couldn’t help the giddy smile on your face. “Really?”

“Really, really,” you confirmed, nearly giggling at how unfairly adorable he was.

“Hey, Doll?” he whispered, closing the distance between the two of you until he was close enough that his breath fanned your face.

“Yeah, Bucky?” you breathed back, heart hammering in your chest.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked, eyes darting to your lips. That sinful tongue of his had the audacity to sneak out across his lips and you nearly swooned at the sight.

“Thought you’d never ask, Buck.”

And just like that his lips were on yours. The entire world fell away until there was only Bucky and how he felt pressed up against you. You dropped his hand and immediately your arms went around his neck, your fingers buried in his long brown hair. His arms slipped around your waist, pulling you flush to his chest. The contrasting temperatures gave you pleasant chills all over. A slight tug to his hair made him gasp and you smiled against his lips.

Eventually, though, you had to break apart for air, both of you smiling like the couple of dopes you were and you stared happily at each other.

“Hey, Bucky?”

“Yeah, Doll?”

“Two things,” you said, giving him the hardest stare you could muster at the moment (it must not have been much because Bucky didn’t look the least bit nervous).

“And those are?” he asked, eyes roaming your face up and down seriously as though he was trying to memorize every single detail.

“I can’t be your nurse anymore. Conflicting interests and all that.”

Bucky looked a little sad, but nodded. It was a worthy sacrifice in his books. “And the other thing?”

You tried to glare at him but it failed by and large and you ended up looking a bit like a pouty child. “I’m so mad that you made me run all those tests on you! I was driving myself insane trying to figure it out!” you grumped, head falling heavily against his right shoulder.

He let out a low, rumbling chuckle that had you thinking very, very indecent thoughts. “I’ll make it up to you, promise.”

You peeked up at him, smile dancing on your lips. “I’ll hold you to that, Bucky.” 

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[radi0active-thoughts]

Ghost, Chapter 4 - “Safe and Sound”, part 1.

A/N: First of all, I’d like to say that it’s good to know that people appreciate my work (which is challenging, since English isn’t my first language). @witchymarvelspacecase is the angel behind the good grammar of this story, go check out her great writing! The chapter is inspired by the song “Safe and Sound” by Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars (major feels for this song) and it will have a part 2!

Summary: Reader begins her training with the team and surprises everyone with her skills. Clint and reader have a talk about their bond when she’s about to leave to her first mission with the team.

Warnings: Swearing, angst, Clint acting like a big brother, violence, reader being a sweetheart (notice the sarcasm dripping in ‘sweetheart’).

Word count: 3.542

Y/N: your name Y/LN: your last name

A couple weeks later

One more kilometer, Y/N. One. More. Kilometer.

The cold wind that blew outside and the loud rock music – “Where Are You Now”, by Royal Blood – that blasted through my ears were what pushed me forward to finish my run. Now that my legs were almost healed, the physical therapist had allowed me to have my morning run in the compound area. Day by day, I’d extended the run, adding one more kilometer to it; and by now I was about to go to the 4th kilometer.  

The run that had started at 7 A.M. with “Dive In” by Pierce The Veil playing, was now finishing at 8:10 A.M. with “Dark Necessities” by Red Hot Chili Peppers blasting in my ears as I walked into the compound.  

I entered the living room as I unzipped my gray hoodie, and headed towards my room, so I could take my iron supplement, freshen up a little, and eat something before I finally started training with the team. I left my room and went to the kitchen to find the whole team already there. Steve was reading the newspaper while Bucky, Sam and Clint were talking about something random. Vision, Nat, and Wanda were having a small talk while eating, and Tony was having his daily Clorofile juice while talking to Bruce about a random project they were working on.

“Looks like someone turned into a morning person.” Tony said when he saw me enter the kitchen and eyed me up and down. “And a healthier one, too.”

“How many words, and sentence formations you know, Stark?” I asked while I grabbed a cup of coffee and a plate with two pieces of toast, and an apple. “It’s the fourth day you’ve said something like that to me.”

“Not that many,” he answered.

“Well,” I began, as I sat between Steve and Sam, “it’s getting annoying and if you keep going with this shit I won’t hesitate to take a baseball bat and destroy your lab.”

“Like a Hulk explosion?” Sam asked.

“Yes,” I answered, taking a sip of my coffee, and a bite of the toast, “but worse.”

“You always eat apples, Y/N.” Steve commented when he closed his newspaper. I was already taking a second bite of said apple.

“Well, you know what they say?” I asked and he nodded so I could answer. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away. No offense, Bruce.”

“That’s okay.” He said.

“So you’re afraid of doctors, Y/N?” Nat asked smirking.

“No, not at all.” I answered and my lips formed a shit-eating grin. “They might even be in my list of fetishes.”

That’s when Bucky choked on his juice. Sam, Nat, Tony, and Clint cracked up laughing, Wanda blushed, Bruce laughed nervously, and Steve looked at me mortified. I looked at each of them.

“What?” I asked

“So you have a fetish list, Y/N?” Tony teased.

I shrugged. “Who doesn’t?”

“But are doctors really on it?” Wanda asked.

“I was just joking, guys. Chill out.” I said and smirked. “I’m way too rad for a doctor.”

I kept on eating my apple, as if that conversation hadn’t happened. I finished my breakfast speaking only a little, nothing more than, “pass me the butter” and washed my dishes. Nat approached me.

“Going for a run?” she asked.

“Nope.” I answered and looked at her. “The physical therapist allowed me to begin the training, so…”

“I’m so going to kick your ass.” Nat smirked and I laughed.

“That’s what you think”. I said.  

“So you’re training with us today, Doll?” Bucky asked.

“Yes.” I answered as we entered the fully stocked training room; which had three complete gym stations, a square full of thick black mats in the middle of the room, and three punching bags. “The physical therapist allowed me to kick some ass from now on… or have my ass kicked perhaps.”

Bucky chuckled and went to the upper body station with his earbuds on.

I took my hoodie off and began with a few stretches recommended by my physical therapist. Then, I began with two series of 15 squats and then 20 push-ups. I ended with a 30-second plank and got up to see Steve in front of me.

“This is for you,” he said handing me a black bag. I opened it to see a pair of white Muay-Thay gloves and two black bandages. “For when you want to use the punching bags, to not hurt your hands and…”

“There’s no need for explanation.” I said and smiled. He smiled back. “Thank you for the gift, Oldie. I’ll put ’em to use.”

“Not now, my darling Y/N.” Nat said when approached us. She smirked. “You, me, sparring mats, now.”

“Since you asked so nicely.” I said and looked to Steve. He snickered.

I took my sneakers and socks off, and put them with my hoodie. I went to the sparring mats, and the team, excepting for Wanda, Vision, Bruce and the Asgardian sunshine called Thor, were there minding their exercises.

Nat pulled me inside to the mats and almost immediately attacked my face with a punch. I groaned in pain.

“Okay, I wasn’t ready.” I said.

“You ready now?” She asked wearing a predatory smirk. I smiled back.

My answer was to drop her with a low kick. She grabbed at my ankle and made me fall with a punch behind my right knee. With no second thoughts, I rolled to the side, pulled her left arm and locked her in an arm wrench, holding her tightly between my legs. She broke free from my grasp and tried to grab my arm, but I took advantage of her exposed neck and pulled her by the shirt she wore, locking her neck in a hold, using little force, so I wouldn’t hurt her.

Her head slammed against my nose and she escaped my grip again. I got up and blocked her blow, kicking her on her left ribcage and attacking her with my right elbow. Her right hand stopped next to my lower belly.

“You’d be bleeding by now if I had a knife.” She said.

My right hand was touching her neck and she noticed. I smirked and my hand slid across her neck slowly. “And you’d be dead if I held a knife, Romanoff.”

Not long after, Nat and I fist bumped each other for the good match. I felt someone pulling me from behind and didn’t hesitate in hitting his stomach with my elbow. I turned around and saw Tony. I kicked him twice on the ribs, threw a punch on his face and finished him with a kick on his left knee. He fell to a sitting position on the mat.

Before I could think, Sam attacked me and locked my neck in a wrench, giving me the perfect opportunity to hit his stomach with my elbow, hold his shirt, lift, and throw his body over my shoulder, making him fall on the mat with a loud thud and groaning.

“Holy shit.” Sam said and it seemed that everyone in the room stopped to see the sparring sequences.  

“It’s not a high school wrestling match, Sammy Boy.” I smirked while panting. Steve approached and I already knew he’d be quite a challenge. Since he’s taller than me, I decided to attack him with a left uppercut punch that hit his chin, to mess with him, and gain a little time. It wasn’t my wisest decision though.

Steve came at me and my first decision was coming in with a punch. He caught my arm and pulled me to him, making my body fall to the floor.

“Okay, now I’m angry”. I thought.

It happened fast – it was like I could see what his next move would be as soon as got up. I averted his kick, holding his leg and punching his knee. I could see Steve lose his balance and fall, giving me enough time to immobilize him in an arm wrench – that would have been successful if he wasn’t a motherfucking super soldier. He broke free from my grasp and got up, making a the silly mistake of giving me his back. I smirked and got up, jumping onto his back, lacing my arms around his neck, hitting his lower back with my knee and kicking behind his knee – which was an unwise move for me, because he fell backward and who was behind him?  

I was.

With the fall, Steve’s head landed on my left boob, my legs were around his waist and my hands were still on his neck. I grunted. “Well, shit.”

“I wasn’t about to attack you.” Steve stated. “Why did you attack me?”

“I was already in fight mode, you know.” I said. “I would’ve attacked anyone who’d approach me the way you did.”

“I could do this all day.” I heard him murmur after a heavy sigh.

I was about to give a smart remark when F.R.I.D.A.Y.’s voice echoed in the room. “Ms. Hill is requesting the presence of the team for an urgent meeting in 30 minutes.”

“Did she say what this was about, F.R.I.D.A.Y.?” Tony asked.

“No, Mr. Stark.” The AI answered and I sighed.

“Cap’n, you’re crushing me here.” I said trying to collect enough air in my lungs.

“Oh, sorry Y/N.” He said and got up, helping me up after.

“Thanks, Oldie.” I said when I recovered my breath. Something told me that the day would be eventful.

I went to my room and took a quick shower. While I got dressed, I could see the sky getting dark, lightning illuminating the view and the deep sounds of thunder reverberating. I wore a plaid shirt, dark jeans and a pair of comfy slippers. I also grabbed my jean jacket and went to the meeting room where Wanda, Vision, Steve, Bruce, and Nat were already sitting along with the woman I presumed to be Maria Hill.

“You must be Y/N Y/L/N.” Maria greeted me. I nodded. “Maria Hill, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.”

“Nice to meet you.” I said simply and sat between Bruce and Nat as the others began to arrive.

“Today we’ll have two heavenly presences.” Tony began when he entered the room. Bucky and Clint followed. Then Thor, with now short hair, an eye patch, jeans and a t-shirt, entered the room, followed by Bruce and a stunning woman who wore a white armor and a beautiful royal blue cape. I looked to my side to see Bruce smiling mischievously. What. The. Actual. Fuck?

“Lady Inked Buttocks.” Thor greeted me. I sighed.

“There’s no need to call me ‘Inked Buttocks’ the whole time.” I said. “I already told you my name.”

“It’s an intriguing nickname.” Bruce commented by my side. “I wonder what this is about.”

“But you already…” I began and Thor interrupted me.

“Loki…” Thor began and I saw Bruce (2nd Bruce?) turn into a man who wore green leather armor. He had black hair the length of his shoulders, pale skin and the greenest of eyes.

“What the hell?!” I asked almost screaming.

“Lady Inke…” Thor began and I looked at him, throwing daggers. “Lady Y/N, this is Loki, the God of Mischief and my brother.”

“Adopted brother.” Loki corrected, with this heavy British accent. “Now, does anyone care to explain me about this intriguing ‘Inked Buttock’ thing? Thor couldn’t stop talking about that and I found it quite annoying.”

“This will be fun.” Tony said. “F.R.I.D.A.Y., care to show the first images of Ms. Y/L/N in the compound?”

Almost immediately, the images began to reproduce, so everyone could see the origin of my nickname – from the guard I seduced and took the guns from, to when I took the surgical gown that I’d worn off, leaving me the way I came into this world. By the end of the short film, my head laid on the table, for the blush that crept into my cheeks and my neck.

“And now she just did something that gave more reasons for this cool nickname, which I created.” Tony began and I looked up to see a picture of my freshly inked back.

“Oh, wow.” Loki said and something made me rise my head from the table and look at him. His mesmerizing green orbs gazing into mine. “You seem to be brave, Lady Y/N. You know, the Gods will always smile on brave women like you… she would make a beautiful queen in Asgard, wouldn’t she, brother?”

“So, we’re here to talk about a mission that just entered S.H.I.E.L.D’s radar and that requires discretion.” Maria Hill began. “We’re talking about a human trafficking scheme. A heavy one.”

“Where?” Nat asked.

“The last time we had any information, they were in Paris, France.” She responded. “But our undercover agent just informed us that, in a week, they’ll host a luxury market in Spain.”

“Which kind of people do they traffic?” I asked, briefly reading the file that was on the desk.

“According to our agent, mostly women.” She answered. “This luxury market happens every month and even politicians give their contribution to human slavery.”

“Who’s most qualified for this mission?” Steve asked. “What’s the plan?”

“Fury listed you, Natasha, Barnes, Thor and Y/N.” Maria answered.

“Me?” I asked confused and Maria looked at me.

“Fury said you have the ability to go undercover and were a ‘good distraction’.” Maria answered and smirked. “We also could see some of your fighting skills, not to mention your skills with knives and guns.”

“About the mission…” Steve began.

“You’re all going undercover inside this ball.” Maria began. “The sale always begins after midnight so, for disguise, one or two of you will be acting like a buyer while the others take information about everything related to the scheme. The event will happen inside a castle, so be prepared to get dressed to the nines. The blueprint of the castle is in the files.”

“Who’s the head of the scheme?” Bucky asked.

“A man who attends by the nickname `Morningstar’.” Maria answered. “His true identity and appearance are not known, but we’re aiming to find out soon. Any more questions?”

“Brunnhilde and Loki will go with me, right?” Thor asked and everyone in the room groaned.

“You might be a ray of sun, Thor,” Clint began. “But we don’t trust your brother. How do we know he’ll not compromise the mission?”

“He won’t, trust me.” Thor answered and looked at Loki. “He knows what happens if he even thinks about it.

“Where is this castle?” I asked.  

“We’re talking about the Vélez-Blanco Castle, in Almería.” Maria answered and showed us a few pictures of the beautiful place. “You’re going to Roquetas del Mar, a city next to Almería, to a safe house and under fake IDs, which will be ready in a few days. Questions?”

“Brunnhilde and Loki…?” Thor asked again. The people began to discuss the possibilities, and I was already fed up with the amount of voices trying to prove their point at the same time.

“Enough!” I screamed suddenly, silencing the room and surprising even myself. I looked at Thor. “Is there a way to wound or possibly kill your brother?”

“Not for a mortal like you.” Loki answered before Thor with mockery. It annoyed me to the point that I quickly got up, took my knife from my back pocket and threatened him, putting it to his neck.

“Holy sh-“ Brunnhilde began saying and I cut her off, so I could talk for everyone to hear.

“You might be the Bastard of Mischief and all,” I began, the silver blade glued to his pale neck. “But you won’t trick me. Fuck the mission up and I’ll rip your heart out and feed the lions in New York City Zoo after giving you the most painful torture session in your miserable eternity.”

“Is this a threat, sweetheart?” Loki asked lowly, so only I could hear. I lowered my head to his right side, my mouth on his ear.

“No.” I answered in the same voice level than his. “It’s a promise and believe me…”

I took the knife from his neck slowly, took the file about the mission with my free hand and began walking towards the door. Not looking at any specific person I said something for everyone to hear as I left the room:  

“… I’m great at making justice mine.”

I was in my room studying the castle’s blueprints, and the human trafficking scheme they had. It looked quite simple and it was well architected: they made prostitutes of immigrant women and girls, and slaves of the men and boys. Either refugees or illegal immigrants – they’d promise them a good life, in a rich European country, and take their passports, pushing the prostitution and the heavy forced work down their throats.

“Holy shit.” I muttered while reading all the gathered information about the mission when I heard a knock on the door. “It’s open!”

I didn’t look up to see who entered my room, but for the footsteps I could tell it was Clint. I looked up to see him wearing a red plaid shirt and a pair of washed out jeans, and a ridiculously old pair of sneakers while holding a tray with a glass of juice and a plate with a really good looking sandwich.

“Hey, Firecracker.” He greeted me and put the tray on the empty space of the big ass writing desk I had in my room, with papers all scattered on it. “You’ve been in here for hours, missed target practice, and lunch. I thought you could use some food.”

“What’s up, Robin Hood?” I greeted him. He closed the door and pushed the other chair to sit by my side. “Thanks for the food. I should have already eaten because of the iron supplement, but I began to study the mission briefing and…”

“Let me guess” He began. “You completely forgot?”

I only nodded and took the sandwich for a bite before taking one of the supplements and swallowing it with the orange juice Clint brought. I began eating the entire sandwich after, it had cheese and tomato slices with pork, and a delicious sweet and spicy sauce – the leftovers of the roasted pork with sweet pepper jam Sam had cooked last night, saying it was a “Mama Wilson” recipe.

“Is there something you wanted to tell me or did you just come to bring me food?” I asked when I realized he was looking at me. “Because you’re staring at me while I eat and it’s getting kinda creepy.”

“Oh, don’t mind me.” He said and we stared at each other for a second longer. “You won’t be able to not mind me, will you?”

“Nope.” I answered.

“This is your first official mission inside the team.” He said.

“Yes, I…” I began and took a sip of the orange juice. “I won’t need to hack S.H.I.E.L.D.’s server anymore. I’ll do some good for a while so maybe God can forgive my restless, murderous spirit.”

Clint left out a spirituous laugh. “Yeah, maybe He can… anyway, I’m actually proud of you.”

“Are you?” I asked.

“Since we met on that mission in South Africa,” Clint began. “The first one I hired you for, I just knew you were just the firecracker with restless, murderous spirit we were looking for. And when Tony discovered your file, man, he made a scene to Fury just to try and bring you to the team.”

I laughed and arched my eyebrows, surprised with my new discovery. Clint just nodded.

“But now I’m jealous of forming a really cool rookie for S.H.I.E.L.D.” He said and my lips curved a little in a probably rare smile. “Look, Y/N, I know how restless, careless, and reckless you can be; I’ve seen it with my own eyes, and all I ask is for you to be more careful in the missions that are to come. What I gave you was hardcore soft porn compared to what you’re about to face.”

“Whoa, using Red Hot Chili Peppers in a stern recommendation?” I asked. “I really taught you well.”

Clint laughed. “Yes, you did… but I’m serious, I… You’re one of the few people I don’t wanna lose, and if I lose you, I’ll feel guilty for it just ‘cause you’re like a little sister to me.”

“I’ve never had a brother.” I said when I looked down and sighed. It took a moment of silence before I looked at Clint again. “And you, Merida, are one of the people I have to thank for, you know, giving me someone to rely on.”

“I’m not even redheaded for you to call me Merida.” He stated after what seemed a short and comfortable silence. I laughed.

“But you’re still skilled with a bow and arrows.” I said.

“Okay, Firecracker.” He said and got up. I also got up so I could hug him. Clint hugged me back and left my room, leaving the door open behind him.

For the first time in years, I was feeling how it was to have a family. And trust me when I say this is one of the best feelings ever.

A/N: I wanna say sorry for taking too long to post it. I’m dealing with a few things in college (senior year, y’all know), so I’ll take a little bit longer (not that long anymore, I promise) to post the chapters. :)

Tagging: @witchymarvelspacecase​ @annabella789​ @ladylustitia​ @theseldomseenkilljoy​ @wicket-master​ @purrrcrastination​ @coal000​ @parisss-lilli​ @luv-what-you-do​ @s-killian14​ @wowspideyholland​ @curlyhairedlolita​ @personwhoisntquitesureimalive​ @barnesdeservestheworld

[glitteroracle]

Glitter Oracle Astro-Infused Tarot Scopes for the Taurus New Moon & Uranus into Taurus, May 15th 2018

It’s here, my darlings. The moment many of us have been waiting for. Not merely an astrological key-change, but a watershed moment which will define the coming decade. Uranus, planet of disruption, rebellion and innovation, is shifting into Taurus. And I have an important question for you I’m surprised no-one’s asked yet: Are you READY for the reliable, consistent Taurean(s) in your life to change beyond recognition? Are you ready for Taurus to get free & freaky & break out of their comfort zones & challenge everyone around them to do the same? Simple answer: you ain’t. Uranus brings unexpected, gamechanging events which zing out of left field, and if you think you can predict its shockwaves, think again! But the Bulls? They’re champing at the metaphorical bit. Since Uranus turned direct at the beginning of 2018, every Taurean you know has felt a change in the air, a longing to break free, as if urged forward by a cool electric hum at a pitch only they can hear. As Chiron arrived in Aries, it only got more insistent. And now, at last, the stage is cleared and ready for some major earth-liberating action!

Enthusiastic musical metaphors aside, Uranus truly will bring unpredictable change, excitement and a restless edginess we’ll call anxiety, into our lives between now and 2027, when it leaves Taurus. Uranus in Aries has seen the rise of selfie-culture and social media as a hollow replacement for the personal gains Millennials have been barred from by the financial crisis. It has brought determination and willpower, counterbalanced by aggressive and selfish me-first politics. The place Uranus in Aries has been transiting in our charts has been the area where of our lives where we have fought to be the pioneer, and yet, where we have thus far failed. Remember that Uranus is something of a mad scientist, and a lot of our wild schemes over the last few years were never meant to make it out of the lab, no matter how disappointing that may have been at the time. It has truly been a learning experience, but many of us will breathe a sigh of relief to feel the fresh & rather odd new atmosphere of the god of the future in the domain of the earthy, stable, conservative and abundant Bull.

First & most obviously, Uranus going into Taurus will radically affect our collective embodiment. Expect huge advances in nutrition, surgery, and robotics. I think this could well be the moment when we start to embrace that we are becoming cyborgs, and that AI takes a few fast and radical leaps forward. I hope that this also enables us to recognise our fellow species as possessing rights & innate value – for Taurus rules the Earth, the creatures, plants and minerals which inhabit it, and how we value our resources. If we so value our home, we need to treat it better, and fast. The last days of Uranus in Aries have seen geopolitical tensions rising as volcanoes erupt and molten lava – the Earth’s own fiery blood – destroying property and lives.

I also strongly believe Uranus in Taurus heralds the coming of a new age, at last: The Age of the Divine Feminine. It is now time for the sacred strength, power, nurturance and vulnerability of feminine wisdom and leadership to be reclaimed, cherished and upheld by a gender-diverse mass of spiritual warriors. Jupiter in Scorpio’s #MeToo has brought the shame of sexual abuse at the heart of our culture to light, now Uranus in Taurus is here to make the change real and lasting, with a little help from steady Saturn & Pluto in Capricorn (legislating energies).

I also wish to balance these notes of optimism with a cautionary one. The last time Uranus was in Taurus saw a repugnant uprising of Fascism in Europe which rapidly accelerated into war. With Chiron (god of both wounds and healing) recently landed in Aries (war), this has the potential to be a tense combination. Because Taurus rules the land and possession – MINE – and Uranus rules collective rebellion, transpersonal feeling, the MASS – we must watch for doing something for an artificial, temporary sense of belonging, just because everyone else is doing it. We must continue to fight the fascism that has been springing up across the Western world. Start within, and work your way outwards to your local community. The potential for change right now cannot be underestimated. Let’s remember that we are all stewards – not landlords – of this Earth. Everything we are gifted here is temporary. What cannot be taken from us are our values, and that is what we must work on refining and infusing with the Uranian spirit of respect for diversity and difference. So let’s work on building communities and structures which are fantastical, flexible and capacious enough to carry us into hitherto undreamed futures, with our integrity, faith in abundance and a generous spirit intact. As Chelsea Manning would say: We got this!

A little note on these scopes: I felt that this moment is so special that I wanted to give you MORE. So I pulled two cards for each sign – one for the New Moon, and one for Uranus’ ingress into Taurus. The New Moon card gives an emotional snapshot of where you are in the present moment, & clues about the next six months. The Uranus card indicates what this transit asks you to develop over the course of the next nine years. Please read your Rising sign first if you know it and your Sun sign to get the full picture. I hope you get pleasure & guidance from these scopes! They were a joy to write and I loved using the cards to gain an insight into your life journey at this moment. If you enjoyed these, you can send a donation via the link below, or book a reading (check them out under the Offerings tab) by emailing glitteroraclereadings@gmail.com. Please share and quote with attribution.

Much love, & many blessings!

Glitter Oracle, xxx

TAURUS

New Moon card: The Emperor 

Uranus in Taurus card: King of Swords

My dear Taurus, as your birthday season draws to a close, Uranus has something major in store for you. The appearance of the Emperor at your birthday new moon, with Sun, Moon, Mercury and Uranus about to arrive in your sign makes the impact of this transit extremely clear: it’s about personal sovereignty, and ruling your realm with a confidence you have probably never felt before. Strive for justice and equanimity even as you feel powered forward by a new intensity to actualise your own agenda. It’s yang time for you Taurus! Usually slow-moving, steady, and chill, this New Moon challenges you to become a bit more like brother Aries, himself recently Uranized, and boldly pursue your dreams without worrying too much about what others want. The masculine complement of The Empress (a Taurean card), the Emperor incites you to focus on your projects and what you want to accomplish. Giving anyone else the reins or control over any act of your life would be a sucker-punch to your self-confidence right now, as we can either OWN an archetype this strong or project it. So don’t waste this energy and give your power away! We’re talking strategy, willpower and marshalling your resources – which you have plenty of – to secure the life you want to develop for yourself over the next six months.  

The appearance of the King of Swords as the signifier of Uranus landing in your sun sign makes this a double dose of masculine energy, and indicates that you will be working on developing your powers of clear sight, clear communication and clarity in all areas of your life. Uranus will gift you the power of ruthless honesty, sharpening your wits and deleting sentiment from your decision-making processes. You are going to become a master of speaking your mind, and from this place you will develop a trust in the powers of language to express your true feelings in a way that you never have before. As Uranus is the higher octave of Mercury, which rules Gemini, the natural significator of this card, you are going to benefit from the airy smarts of those folk, whilst retaining your earthy practical savvy. By the end of this transit, you truly will be a force to be reckoned with, a person of your word.

GEMINI

New Moon card: The Tower

Uranus in Taurus: The Empress

Wow! A double whammy of major arcana suggests that the Taurean lightning bolt of this New Moon is a landmark moment in the story of your life to date. This new moon is a BIG shake-up. The Tower is a card which points to change forced on one from the outside: often a crisis, or simply a complete inversion or erosion of the status quo. Many of you have just left or are about to leave a job, a country or a relationship – or perhaps all three! Whichever: you know that the changes of the moment are calling for radical shifts within YOU. You are re-evaluating your self-concept from the ground up in the rubble of what was, and waiting for the dust to clear. This New Moon instructs you, in true Taurus fashion, to dwell in the present moment of chaos and re-orientation to see as clearly as possible the structures that have collapsed. In fact, they never truly had the potential you thought they did. In order to build something entirely new which will serve you well and be fashioned out of materials which truly suit your purposes, you first come face-to-face with yourself. What do you want to keep as we head into your birthday season? Which ghosts – beliefs, past loves, habits – is it time to bid farewell to? Solitude, play, meditation, dreaming and creative writing are helpful activities at this time. Be tender with yourself. Birthing a new paradigm is not simple or fast work. You don’t need to worry about the details yet; for now, setting your intentions and getting clear on the vision is enough.

The Empress is an auspicious and beautiful sign for Uranus in Taurus. Uranus will be transiting your 12th, and the inner work you begin at this New Moon is part of an ongoing process to bring the values of the Divine Feminine into play. As Uranus helps Taureans develop their Mercurial wits, they will turn you on to the delights of your Taurean side: your sensuality and the rhythms of nature, a physical connection to the Divine through your body, working with the magic of the earth and natural cycles. What’s so beautiful about this is the opportunity not just to inhabit your body – something rather difficult for Geminis to do for long periods – but to heal it, and in doing so, to find deep resonance, wisdom and understanding in almost-forgotten stories, healing methods and myths. These may be the brilliance of our feminine ancestors; this may be communication with animal guides and nature spirits. What is evident to me is that your healing and embodiment is strongly connected to the survival of the earth. You will be the sign leading us forward in terms of the Divine Feminine and what that looks like in a post-gender, eco-apocalyptic age. You will alchemize the sudden odd insights of Uranus in the 12th and transform it into a vision of care and nourishment for the self, community and planet which has the femme power and wisdom we so badly need.

CANCER

New Moon: The Chariot

Uranus in Taurus: 8 of Rods (Wands)

Hey Cancer, you’re not having the easiest time of it astrologically at the moment, but the New Moon and Uranus will bring with them a welcome sense of momentum! These two fast-moving cards together suggest a sense of dynamism, movement, courage and daring, indicating that what you start now will be significant in the years which follow. The Chariot, a card associated with Cancer, draws on your cardinal, initiatory nature, giving you the ability to battle for what you love in the service of protection – it’s quite literally a moving shell. This card in particular, with its image of a tunnel leading up into the light, indicates to me that lately life has felt like a never-ending mound of drudgery, causing you to feel pinned down, to drown in deep emotions, or feeling otherwise unquantifiably held back. Now you have the starting gun and you can move off in the direction of your heart’s desire, animate stalled projects and generally glean vitality from the race itself. There’s big energy and dreams in play, and you’ll gain nothing by holding back. Start your engines!

The 8 of Rods with its eight arrows seems an extremely fitting companion for the Chariot, indicating that this Uranus transit is going to develop your ability to speak your truth and well, a la Nike, just do it. This is a Mars in Sagittarius card, indicating boldness in speech, thought and action. The rather hesitant Crab is going to lose their shyness and slowly learn to take risks, stretch out into unfamiliar terrain and put themselves out there. So these cards taken together suggest that you both MOVE, and send advance notice of your arrival. Tell confidantes your plans, announce it to your social media following, send the contracts, make it real. Take the risk of sharing your feelings and ideas, and declaring where you stand. The focus here is feeling free to express yourself among your associates and your larger networks (as Uranus goes into your 11th house), which in turn will enhance your career, your relationships and your personal courage as you learn to get comfortable with the vulnerability of putting yourself out there. It takes practice, but every time you express your true feelings you win hearts and minds both for yourself, and for your wider cause.

LEO

New Moon: Page of Rods

Uranus in Taurus: 6 of Swords

Lavish Leo! The appearance of the Page of Rods for this New Moon brings a rush of raw and difficult to contain excitement, confidence and enthusiasm in new projects. Now is the time to welcome in fresh start-over energy and infuse your career, heart-work and visibility with your self-belief. These last years of Uranus in Aries have been surprisingly tough, continuously slamming you with challenges to your very belief system even as it offered you new opportunities to break out of your comfort zone. This card affirms that the time is right to believe in yourself and pursue your current aims with gusto, verve and originality. The new beginning you have waited for is here. How can you nourish your body and soul deeply enough to do your creative work? You can’t run on empty. This Page suggests that you fuel your fire through a slight adjustment, a small but innovative tweak to your daily routine which clicks things back on track – whether that’s 15 minutes of mediation, exercise, a supplement, or daily doses of play with children or animals. Go outside, breathe the fresh air & gather inspiration. Remember the wild, strong, creative creature that you are!

The 6 of Swords augments this suspicion I have that Uranus into Taurus presents a welcome relief for you. You are currently reaching the end of a difficult period, having recently departed unsatisfactory shores: in many cases, an actually harmful or toxic situation which was damaging your health and self-perception, for others, grief or disappointment, surgery or a recent passing of a loved one. Uranus is assisting you in letting go and attaining a healing respite. The call of the new is your journeyman, your healer. There is a suggestion here that over the next decade, you will be developing your capacities as a space-holder for people going through tough times, whether that’s as a counsellor, healer, doula or simply a friend. Allow Uranus to bring you the gift of integrating the recent past, and in doing so, to turn you on to your true vocation, as they transit the 10th house. This house is about career and reputation, but I truly believe it’s about heart-work: the work where by shining your light, you share with others the magnificence available to them through life. At the moment, you don’t even have to worry about the direction of your raft: just do the work of letting go so that when you arrive at your new destination, you are lightest, brightest, most resilient, open-hearted self.

VIRGO

New Moon: Page of Pentacles

Uranus in Taurus: Knight of Pentacles

Well, this is certainly an interesting pairing of kid sister with their big brother for you, wise Virgo. This power-up of the New Moon is a surge forward in terms of making your plans real, practical and tangible. It’s time to take your inspiration and manifest it: your favourite stage of things, planning out all the details and testing the viability of your ideas. Ask yourself how you can cultivate a playful and childlike attitude to the material world. Taurus season is a perfect time to revel in the pleasures of the moment and enjoy everything you have built up until now, whilst revving up for the rest of the year.

Uranus in Taurus will demand that you take the inspirations of the present and develop them into a mature vision of steady and sustainable prosperity. Joining up with Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn, Uranus in Taurus indicates the coming of a new Earth era, and you are going to be the overseer, catching all the details and ensuring that everyone is doing their part. You are going to prove yourself as a reliable provider of the objective feedback and support which all successful enterprises need to thrive. There are battles ahead, and either you will meet these qualities in yourself or they will be exemplified through another. Remember to stay connected to the innocent impulse which is palpable at the New Moon and have fun, in spite of the new responsibilities you are taking on. Don’t get bogged down in the inevitable grind of bureaucracy and paperwork involved in setting up a new business or taking on an academic position: keep in mind that it all aims at the bigger purpose of doing what you enjoy and serving the world through precision and excellence. Even as you explore the fresh and somewhat unsettling terrain of Uranus in your 9th, you are learning to exemplify the qualities of a steadfast, brave and trustworthy guide.

LIBRA

New Moon: 8 of Cups

Uranus in Taurus: 9 of Rods

Luscious Libra, in recent months and years you have been conquering demons and facing testing conflicts through the mirror of your personal relationships and how you are perceived by others. These two cards together indicate that this New Moon is an important moment in this ongoing story. The 8 of Cups tells me that it is time to leave behind that which is no longer serving you. This is a time of high emotion, deep disappointment, even grief. There is no more water in those stacked cups. Which situation has drained dry of life, colour and possibility? What is currently causing you pain because it did not live up to expectations? It is difficult to leave if you still believe there is water in those Cups. It is difficult to let go of something that made you happy, or a story that helped you navigate a troubling time, but this new Moon confirms that you must. This may be a new situation or a very old one, but the wisdom of the day says get out of town and into pastures new. You may not know where you are going, but what is important is that with Venus currently transiting your 9th of foreign horizons and new adventures, you must recognise that joy and fulfilment ARE possible. You just have to keep walking ahead, putting one foot in front of the other, in the opposite direction from your heartbreaks, griefs, broken dreams and past failures. There is terrific strength to be found in admitting the truth.

Uranus in Taurus builds on the work you have been doing whilst it was in your opposite sign of Aries, and you are going to be developing the capacity to stand your ground. You have vanquished many of your old enemies – many of these were internal beliefs holding you back; in some cases old rivals or interlocutors have been revealed as weak, harmless or simply wrong. You may be ready to give up, feeling exhausted, battle-weary and defiant: but no, the challenges are still flying thick and fast. It’s just that you are now drawing on a deeper well of strength, and entering into a game where your innate understanding of people will serve you brilliantly to ensure you don’t get manipulated. With Uranus heading into your 8th, pay attention to the thoughts others might call paranoid; get and stay savvy about the competition and your assets. Value yourself enough not to give your talent, emotional labour or resources away for free. Good things come to those who wait. Victory is near. Lift your chin up and discover a strength you didn’t know you had. The moment of reckoning is here, and Uranus is onside to transform you into a warrior forged in the darkest depths of the soul, to bring you what you so richly deserve, whether that’s justice, inner peace or self-mastery. You will prevail!

SCORPIO

New Moon card: The Moon

Uranus in Taurus: The Tower

Another powerful spread of major Arcana featuring the Tower. This new moon finds you in a poetic, even dreamy mood. It asks you to go deep within yourself and discover the fantasies, illusion and strange beasts which dwell in the shadows. There is a risk with the Moon of believing too much in the misty and ephemeral shapes of your imagination, casting a Neptune-like fog over everything. In this case, it’s likely to be in the sphere of relationship, where you currently have so much planetary action. For whatever reason, the way forward isn’t currently clear, and you are seeing things with a mystical and possibly false lens. It is a somewhat treacherous time when it is difficult to discern psychic knowledge from projection. To do: re-centre. Re-tune into your infamous Scorpionic gut instincts. Face fears. Engage in depth psycho-analysis, whether that’s through dream examination, actual therapy or revisiting the last 7 years. Explore the emotions arising now through your creative talents. TALK to your partner: more communication brings more clarity – but listen to what they are NOT saying as much as what they are. You need to balance your dreamy optimism about what could be with a trust in what you know to be steadfast, unchanging and true at this Moon.

Uranus in Taurus will be a hard reset for you in the arena of relationships. The Tower is shaking up your life as it enters your opposite sign, and you will feel its impact significantly. Initially the changes will come from outside of you, so be wary that any fragile or compromised things in your life may well come crashing down over the next few years. As you befriend your inner eccentric and learn to roll with the punches, the changes will come from within, and others will start to notice the difference. For you, this transit is about shadow work: facing and taking responsibility for what you project onto others, whether that’s people, business partnerships or health mentors. All one-to-one relationships are up for review and are the areas where you can grow the most now. Don’t worry. You will emerge from this process whole, unique, and deeply aware of what you can bring to and what you need from relationships. You will be utterly changed, in ways you could never have expected, but need more than you could admit.

SAGITTARIUS

New Moon card: 6 of Rods

Uranus in Taurus: Ace of Pentacles

This New Moon wants you to know that you are on your way to victory! This is a start-over moment in your 6th house of wellness and daily routine. Celebrate your achievements thus far. These may be considered small, minor, or psychological and therefore invisible to the outside world; or it may be that you are going to win a dispute at work, at school or in a legal matter. The important thing is that you make the time to crown yourself with the winners’ laurels and celebrate all that you have done and are doing for yourself and your community. Daily routine, nutrition, physical and mental health are as essential as any other area of life and not easy for a busy and mutable soul such as yourself to fix your mind on. Whilst Jupiter opposing indicates there is still more to do, know that you are protected and guided in the choices you are making right now to secure your health and wellbeing and smooth running of your life.

The advances you make now are essential to your future prosperity, because Uranus is favouring you with a welcome sign: the Ace of Pentacles! This is a fresh financial opportunity and the ability to fund yourself with fat cash through the upgrades you are making in your daily routine. You’re on a journey of learning to convert your creative genius (Uranus through the 5th) into sustainable income. Whilst this card indicates an inner, personal feeling of new consciousness, it also points to material manifestations such as a job, career opportunity, funding, or a new headquarters for your operations. Get in touch with your inner boss and keep your ear to the ground for new opportunities, because this transit will see you mastering your money and being richly rewarded for your talents.

CAPRICORN

New Moon card: 6 of Swords

Uranus in Taurus: Death

The New Moon in your fellow Earth sign of Taurus indicates that now is a time to let what’s passing, pass. As you receive a fresh impulse in your 5th house of play and leisure, you are still in a maturation process, leaving behind recent defeats, perhaps in creativity, self-expression or dating. The 6 of Swords suggests that you cultivate inner peace and allow yourself to survey the scene. Naturally you desire to prove yourself a competent and masterful artist, lover, and/ or performer: but more can be gained now by listening and processing what’s gone down. Although this may bring a tinge of sorrow to the New Moon festivities, this period of quiet, recovery and healing is essential to your progress forward.

If you do the work, you will reap the results whilst Uranus is in Taurus in the 5th. The potent card of Death indicates a time when you kill of aspects of your old persona and release what is no longer resonating. With Bad Daddy of the zodiac Saturn in your 1st,  taking a fresh approach to your creative work will help you to completely redefine who you are, what you want out of life and the kinds of limitations you are and aren’t willing to accept. Surprise: Capricorn is going to be at the head of the Uranian revolutionary brigade! The work you’ve been doing since Saturn ingressed into your sign at the end of 2017 means that you have already been facing difficult times and killing off old parts of yourself (very literally in the case of, for instance, Capricorn fka twigs who recently revealed that she had been through major surgery). This puts you ahead of the pack when it comes to seeing what needs to be done to usher in a new and more sustainable era: economically, spiritually and politically. None of this will come easy, but you’re a Capricorn – you love a challenge and you have the necessary leadership skills. I see a pioneering spirit in this card and I strongly feel that this indicates the Saturn-Uranus-Neptune in Capricorn generation are about to kick off & transform the stale economic paradigms which serve the interests of the minority rather than the majority.

AQUARIUS

New Moon card: 5 of Cups

Uranus in Taurus: Queen of Cups

Your ruling planet is about to head into a square with your sign, Aqua genie. The appearance of two Cup cards and the Taurus action situated in your 4th house shows me that you are at a time of deep inner processing. Not much is happening on the outside as you cocoon yourself in your domestic sphere, and that’s perhaps, in part, because you’re licking your wounds after a recent disappointment. This is a LOT of water, and you are feeling all the emotions. Something has been spoilt and all you can see is what has gone wrong. Aquarius, most readers would tell you to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, focus on what’s still in the other Cups and stop dawdling. However, you’re not a sign that really lets yourself feel very often. This new moon illuminates you at a moment of upset. Take a closer look and try to analyse what went wrong. Were your expectations out of whack? Could what was on offer ever have been a workable prospect anyway? Let yourself feel the hurt, and be cleansed by it: then let it go and move forward, with what remains.

This is essential work for you to do, as Uranus in Taurus is turning you on to a higher, happier and more fruitful dimension of the Cups suite: the Queen. Comfortable with emotional nuances, streetwise and empathic, she is the mystical artist of the Tarot, and the archetype of the beloved wife. Aquarius, as Uranus cruises through your 4th, this card asks you what you really require for happiness and peace in your home life. You could fall (back) in love with your inner creative muse over the next few years and be inspired to start painting, singing, writing poetry or otherwise practising your genius. The Queen asks you to remember that whatever you do, you should do it for the emotional pay-off. Not the status. Not the glory. Not even the temporary high – but the long-term satisfaction of mastering a craft and sharing it with others, finding and developing a soulmate relationship, or forging a sanctuary for yourself. By the end of this cycle, you will know that stable sources of love, consistent artistic practice and solid family ties are as essential to your happiness as the freedom you will always both covet and exemplify.

PISCES

New Moon: 4 of Swords

Uranus in Taurus: King of Pentacles

Pisces, my tip for you is to take a rest. Separate from yourself from the chatter, gossip and noise around you. Make your excuses and slip away. You really need the serenity and re-grounding available to you at this moon. You are in the middle of a particular venture and you need a little time-out to process things before you can go any further. With your ruler Neptune currently in your sign, this is a time of you coming into your own and finally realising many long-held dreams and goals, facing inner demons and conquering new hurdles with aplomb. Even so, you need to recharge your batteries so that you don’t fall back on the progress you’ve made. I know it feels counterintuitive because it took you a while to power up to where you are, but trust me: for now, chill.

Because Uranus in Taurus will ask you to do a lot of work and transform into a more mature, faithful and responsible version of yourself. You are stepping into the role of community leader, practical guide and knowing elder. This transit will see you getting in control of your resources – financial, spiritual and emotional – and ensuring that you, organizations you’re responsible for, and the other party, get a fair deal. It will also ask you to rein in your appetites, in order to cultivate the discipline required to keep you in balance. Uranus in Taurus will help to enfranchise you for the work you’ve already been doing in unexpected ways. Your job is to keep learning, growing, studying, talking, and putting into practice the ways you are developing your intelligence, your abilities, and your consistency. I’m excited to watch you step into this new role and grow!

ARIES

New Moon: 3 of Pentacles

Uranus in Taurus: 6 of Pentacles

Last but not least – as if you ever could be – Aries. You have radically surprised yourself and others as Uranus passed through your sign. You have taken on new challenges, struck out into alien terrain, and become more determined than ever to march to the beat of your own drum. These two Pentacles cards show you reaping the rewards of that often-tricky path. The Three of Pentacles for the New Moon indicates that you have been mastering a craft and building a business, most likely through self-employment, and you are ready to take it to market. A fresh opportunity may be arriving as your second house of income is packed with Taurean action, and I think you will be rewarded handsomely for your talents.

The 6 of Pentacles for Uranus in Taurus indicates that your business has legs. You are going to have the ultimate satisfaction of not needing to answer to a boss, freed from ties of financial dependence or money with strings attached. Instead, you may be in the position to help others, and it suggests a working atmosphere of pleasurable and equal co-existence. All of this stems from the work you have been doing whilst Uranus was in Aries. encouraging you to believe in your talents and a vision of the way you want to structure your days: at times this felt very erratic and inconsistent, and here we see you coolly cashed-up and dividing the spoils. Your reading might not be as dramatic or glamorous as some of the other signs, but these cards carry the quiet satisfaction of knowing you can be self-made and self-sustaining, and for the independent Ram, I doubt there could be any better gift.

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Copyright Glitter Oracle Astrology, 2018. 

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[kaleidopewrites]

Secretly Sick

Summary: You hate being sick, but you also hate being fussed and waited on by others more. Bucky has his work cut out for him, trying to care for you

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Sick!Reader

Word Count: 2361

Warning: the reader being sick, brief mentions of death (comparing it to fainting) general fluff and maybe a piece or two of angst

A/N: This was requested by a lovely anon (again, thank you) and it was a really cool idea. I had a lot of fun writing this one :) 

Drop me a request, anything SebStan or Marvel based :)

You knew, as soon as you woke up, your next few days would be Hell. As you lifted your head from the pillow, your brain swam with pain, the feeling making you slightly dizzy as you groaned. Oh, how you regretted getting caught in that storm now.

Your nose remained partially blocked when you rose from the bed, making you groan before collapsing into the cold, wood-panel flooring. You could sense your body temperature rising and a headache forming.

You hated being sick, like all people. But with your strong immune system, you struggled to get sick often. So, when you did, the sickness hit you like a truck on steroids. However, with the stomach flips, dry throat, blocked nose and pounding head, this was gonna be one heck of a head cold.

And you didn’t want anyone to find out.

You hated being pampered on just as much as you hated getting sick, and clowns. And living in Stark Tower surrounded by people who continuously entertained the ideology of ‘family’ and ‘helping each other out’ meant you were in for a world of attention.

So, as the responsible adult you were, you decided you could handle this on your own.

Good Lord, you were wrong.

The beginning of the day was fine. You managed to sneak a few pills down your throat in the kitchen when no one was around, and that seemed to ease the growing headache slightly. But any mention of food and you’d feel like you were going to hurl, so you played off eating breakfast while you had the chance.

By lunchtime, more occupants of Stark Tower were seen floating around the common room area. You kept an eye on your reflection whenever you could, making sure you could keep everything you were feeling behind carefully crafted makeup and a smile.

Tony was the first to spot your lack of usual energy, but you blamed it on a lack of sleep, having a tosser of a night. He seemed to understand, and tried talking to you about getting some relaxational for next time, but you politely declined.

You wouldn’t see Peter or Wanda until the afternoon, both attending high school and college respectively. Bruce was busy helping Tony in his lab room, Clint was down visiting with Nat, Thor was in space; Vision would hang around sometimes though, floating through the walls.

The only people missing were Sam, Steve and Bucky. And how you feared when Bucky would return later today. You and the super soldier had been dating for a few months now, having clicked instantly with his surprisingly contrasting personality; charismatic and outgoing, yet shy.

And you knew, if anyone could pick out your slowly deteriorating health, it would be him. You wondered how late it would be to start putting money towards acting classes when the door to the common room opened and in strolled three tired, but happy faces.

To accommodate the nausea building in your stomach, you felt the butterflies pick up as Bucky strolled in next to his friends, a comfortable smile sitting on his face as they laughed at some joke unknown to you.

He’d changed much since you first met him. It was a victory to get him to smile, a war winning celebration to get him to laugh. He was usually shy and reserved, never speaking more than a few words to anyone, even Steve.

But as soon as you both hit it off, you knew he was changing for the better, turning back into that ‘40s Bucky’ Steve had described to you. The tension he always had knotted into his shoulders and the misery behind his eyes soon vanished well before the two of you started dating.

Bucky instantly found you curled up on the couch, still wearing your pyjamas from the morning and trying to bask in as much cool air as you could, without giving your illness away. “(Y/N),” He beamed, changing his course to walk towards you.

You smiled as you tried swallowing past the lump in your throat, ignoring the need to cough the phlegm from your lungs and sniffle your blocked nose, all growing worse by the second. “Hey,”

Bucky dipped onto the couch, sweeping you up in a chaste kiss before smiling. He reeled back, trying to press his forehead to yours but you backed away reflectively, knowing he’d feel your temperature easily.

He saw your reaction with a frown of his own, sliding down onto the couch with ease as Sam and Steve grabbed water bottles from the fridge, unwinding before they wanted to clean up. “You okay, doll?” He asked, reaching out again but you took his hand with yours.

“Fine, just having a lazy day,” You grinned as best you could, feeling the medicine you took earlier begin to wear off. You had moved all the appropriate medication to your room along with four water bottles. You were set, but you weren’t ready to hide away just yet. You needed an excuse.

“Are you sure?” Damn, you thought you were being convincing. Of course, Bucky would be tuned to seek out people with illnesses. He helped take care of pre-serum Steve when he had asthma and all those nasty stuff he had. So, of course, you had your worked cut out for you trying to convince him.

“I’m fine,” You say, smiling genuinely, holding his hand tightly in yours. “Oh really?” Bucky quirked an eyebrow. “Because your hands are awfully clammy,”

“I was sitting on them before you entered, they’re just sweaty,”

“And your skin’s looking a little pale,”

“I haven’t been outside the last few days, excuse me for lacking in vitamin D,”

“Doll--”

“Bucky, I’m fine, I swear,” You sighed, rising from the couch a little too fast. Your headache mixed with a fever left you severely dizzy and you felt like you were going to fall over, if cool hands hadn’t gripped your waist.

“Let me guess, you stood up a little too fast?” He asked, walking into your blurry line of vision. You nod, attempting to look like you weren’t about to pass out. “As a matter of fact, yes,” You add another defiant nod to the end of your sentence, before proclaiming you’ll be in your room.

While you used the excuse that you needed to catch up on work, you don’t think you could’ve handled it in that room much more. It wasn’t Bucky’s fault, or anyone’s for that matter, just the illness was growing faster than you would’ve liked and you needed a cool room and darkness.

Once you entered the confides of your room, you closed the curtains and turned on the A/C, letting the cool breeze gently waft into the room. You took another few pills for the afternoon before crawling onto the bed right under the A/C.

You curled up on top of the covers, too lazy and too sick to really do more than that. The head cold was draining your energy fast and soon you’ll barely be able to walk down the hall. Your eyelids felt heavy as you curled up in on yourself, your stomach rumbling uncomfortably.

You slept through the afternoon, waking up in random points during the day to only get whisked back into sleep again. You discovered years ago when you felt hot and nauseous that constant freezing air eased the horrible feelings. You’d shiver and feel cold, but it was better than the other option.

FRIDAY’s soft voice spoke through your room, announcing that dinner was ready. You groaned. You knew you had to make an appearance. If you didn’t, it was a sure-fire sign that something was wrong, and you couldn’t let the others know.

With a yawn to lower the lump in your throat, you rise from the bed, the action wobbling your legs and putting dots in front of your eyes. When you put a hand to your head, you felt the heat radiating off it. You weren’t sure the pills were working.

Regardless, you were determined to play it off like nothing was happening. So, with all the strength you had, you crossed the room to the door, croakily telling the AI to let everyone know you’d be down in a second.

As soon as you opened the door, you regretted every decision you made. The lights blinded you, knocking you further off balance and you had to press a hand against the wall to steady yourself. You took all of about three and a half steps before you collapsed in a heap on the ground.

The walls were reflecting an ugly yellow light as you closed your eyes, your head spinning and making you feel horrible against the cold floor. You felt like you were still falling, half aware of your fainted form in the middle of the hall.

You couldn’t move, you could barely breathe and all you could feel was your heart beating uncomfortably in your ears, the sound drowning out everything else. Your limbs felt like lead and you knew you wouldn’t make it to dinner.

For a moment, your dramatic self wondered if this was what it was like to die. Lying in a heap on the cold floor, nose both runny and blocked, a fire burning in the back of your head and between your eyes. You knew you were being melodramatic, but you were allowed, it seemed.

You felt like you had only been lying there a few seconds, but thundering footsteps and a worried, familiar voice told you, you had been there for more than five minutes.

“(Y/N)? (Y/N), can you hear me?” Hands pressed against your back, you could only let out a haphazard groan, almost a soft whimper. Bucky gently took your shoulders and rolled you onto your back.

As soon as the light attacked your eyelids, you groaned louder, managing to throw an arm over your eyes. You wanted to be left alone, to stay there for the rest of eternity until the head cold had moved on to another victim.

“Jesus, (Y/N), you look like shit,” You hoped you could retaliate with a quip of your own, but the energy never surfaced, so you remained silent. You let Bucky curl his arms under you, before lifting you into his arms.

You were instantly encompassed by his soft, beautiful scent. It didn’t ease your headache, not banish the blocked nose to the wastelands, but it did make it easier to survive both of them.

As soon as Bucky stepped into your room, you sighed, relaxing a little in the cool and the dark. Your boyfriend walked you over to the bed and sat you down on it, making you open your eyes and stare up at him.

He clearly wasn’t impressed.

“How long?” You gulped, knowing you’d been caught and you couldn’t lie now. With a caving sigh, you faced him entirely. “Just today,” You mumble, guilty for having been caught. Now you regretted not at least letting Bucky know.

“And when were you planning on telling me?” You remained silent, not really able to answer his question. Bucky sighed as he licked his lips, sitting on the edge of the bed and running his fingers through his hair.

“You passed out ten minutes ago before FRIDAY offered to say something, aware you weren’t getting up. How did it even get this bad?” He sighed, pressing his flesh hand against your forehead, feeling the heat beneath it.

“It wasn’t my intention to get sick, James,” You grumbled, the headache pinching the muscles in your forehead. “Well, aren’t you glad I’ve decided not to get mad and take care of you,” Bucky grinned. You groaned.

“Exactly why I didn’t tell anyone,” You sighed, feeling tears prick behind your eyes for no reason. “Doll…” Bucky trailed off. “I don’t like people fussing or pampering over me. I don’t like the attention.”

Bucky sighed, biting his lip. He clearly wanted to take care of you, or at least be around to make sure nothing worse happened. “How about a compromise?” He suggested and you look up at him again, listening as intently as you could.

“Take a shower and I get to give you some chicken soup. And then we’ll have a movie date, just the two of us. We’ll keep the lights and screen dim and you can fall asleep whenever you want. Deal?” You thought it over. He was secretly taking care of you, but that way, you’ll just be relaxing.

“Okay,” You mumbled. Bucky grinned before rising, helping you stand. “Need help in the shower?” He asked, leading you towards the bathroom. “Perv,” You spit with a grin before you sigh. “But yes, I’ll need help. I don’t want to fall over again.”

As promised, Bucky stood right outside the shower and helped you clean off the stress and sweat of the day. You felt far better than before and allowed him to help you dry off. You’d seen each other naked already, you had been dating a few months after all.

Soon after, Bucky disappeared to make you his promised chicken soup and when he returned, he helped you take small sips, having known you hadn’t eaten all day and didn’t desperately want to see it again so soon.

He even brought up garlic bread and buttered popcorn for, mostly himself, but for you as well to snack on if you felt hungrier later. With the lights turned completely off, he laid under covers while you stayed on top, staying under the A/C.

He turned on the TV and put the brightness down the whole way before putting on the first movie he saw. He allowed you to cuddle into his left arm before he wrapped it onto your forehead, allowing you a chance to breathe through your fever.

Sleep found you particularly easily that night, and you were more than ecstatic to have Bucky push his way into his caring boyfriend role. You may never admit it out loud to anyone, but you enjoyed allowing Bucky to take care of you.

Future illnesses didn’t seem that bad from now on, it seemed.

[joyfullynervouscreator]

Desire

Not explicitly smutty, but definitely M-rated, do not click read more if at work... I am challenging myself to write romance and fluff this week, so here you go:

He watched her silently, standing in the diffuse morning light, her thin robe revealing her lovely figure, backlit by the soft rays of a new day dawning. The light played in her crimson tresses, dappled with the shades of the leaves outside their windows.

He had been woken earlier, but made no moves to disturb the peaceful scene. Her half-standing, half-seated position in the deep frame of the window meant he could see the small brown head resting in the crook of her arm, the small hand wrapping tinier fingers around a lock of her hair, as he often found himself doing, playing with the sleek softness. He could not see her face, but when she turned, he pretended sleep once more, letting her escape from their bedroom with her small burden.

“I did not like the way you looked holding little Emliniel,” he told her, when she returned, having taken her place by the window, looking at the riot of colour that was firien in the vast Woodland Realm of his Adar. He did not need to look at her to know that he had sparked her temper. “It was wrong,” he continued evenly, listening to the feisty breath she inhaled before she would scold him for his callous words. He did not let her. In a swift and powerful move, he moved to her, stealing her irate words – the elfling was the daughter of her friend – in a kiss. Pressing her body against the wall he nibbled at her lips softly, by now familiar with what she enjoyed most, until she stopped trying to bit him.

“And what,” even breathless and lustful, her voice carried a sting of anger, “was wrong about it?”

“It was not my elfling, our daughter – or son – and the brown hair should have been your red,” he whispered, feeling her melt in his arms as he trailed kisses down the pale column of her neck.

“Hwin…” she moaned softly, her strong fingers no longer pushing him away, but clutching him tighter. Lifting her lithe form, he carried his wife to bed, amidst a torrent of needy kisses. Sliding his knee onto the soft mattress first, he was lost once more in the taste of her, simply holding her there, her long legs wrapped around his waist as he knelt on the bed. “You should not tease me, hervenn,” she purred, sliding her hands over his shoulders and running them underneath his shirt, seeking bare skin. Squeezing her bottom, he put her down before him, surveying the pale expanse of skin her splayed robe revealed.

“My Nínimeth,” he whispered, almost reverently. With a smile, she beckoned him closer, pulling his long blonde hair when he did not come to her quickly enough for her liking. He chuckled. “My Lady is a greedy one,” he teased her, but he went willingly. Trailing kisses from her collarbone to her breast, leaving a darkened line of wetness on the pale green fabric that covered the rest of her, he paused, running his tongue around a swiftly tautening peak. “Is that a yes?” he asked, when she moaned softly, tilting her hips up to meet the thrusts he had not even been aware he was making.

“Yes?” His fingers, so clever and nimble, had undone her robe, snaking inside the folds of fabric to part the folds of her, rubbing torturously against her dew-dripping centre.

Hwiniedir – or Thranduil, to most who knew him – chuckled against her chest, making his wife pinch his arm. “I wish to make an elfling with you, beloved,” he murmured into her skin. “If you will give me the joy of it.”

“Of course, I’ll give you the joy of it!” he looked up, hopeful, to catch her smirking down at him. “Though I expect you to give me joy of it too!” she laughed, but the earnest desire in her eyes made him surge up to claim her mouth in a deep kiss. “Yes, Hwin, we will make an elfling,” she sighed, smiling when he let her lips go. “Together.”

  The Queen was, as usual, the first to know. Nenglessel had a touch of foresight, but it had only confirmed what she had already suspected, seeing the quiet joy on her good-daughter’s face.

“He will be a powerful Prince,” she whispered, during evening meal one night, making Nínimeth knock over her wine goblet in surprise.

“My-my Queen?” The younger elleth stuttered.

“Your son, dearest,” the Queen chuckled, keeping her voice low. “I will wait for the official announcement, but – and I’m sure if your Naneth was here, she would, too – I can see it in you: the growing of new life.” Smiling gently, the Queen of the Woodland Realm watched the Silvan elleth leave the Royal table, a deep blush staining her cheeks.

 “Your Naneth knows!” Nínimeth screeched at her husband, when he entered their shared bedroom later that evening.

“About…” he trailed off, looking at her searchingly, where she paced back and forth across the floor. This was not the home-coming he had expected, returning from several weeks of hunting, truth be told, having hoped for less shrillness and more gentle loving than currently seemed on offer.

“…” Throwing herself at him, Nínimeth could not keep tears from filling her eyes, hiccupping a sob into his shoulder.

“Hush, beloved, what ails you?” he whispered, beginning to worry. Nínimeth simply shook her head, soaking up the warmth of his arms around her.

“Ai, Hwin,” she mumbled, laughter suddenly bubbling up. “I have not told anyone, not even you, and tonight, your Naneth told me she knows.” She giggled. Looking up to catch the confusion in his face, Nínimeth grasped Thranduil’s hand, bringing it slowly to rest, low on her stomach. “I am bearing,” she whispered, confirming the realisation growing in his eyes, returning the smile on his face.

“Truly?” he whispered, stroking gently across the gent that would not yet show the secret it hid. Nínimeth nodded.

“We are to have a son, meleth-nîn,” she replied, shakily. A single tear ran down her cheek. Thranduil frowned.

“You are unhappy with this?” he asked, worry slicing through his own sense of wonder like shards of ice. Nínimeth shook her head. Kneeling before her, he gently parted her robe, the same thin one she had worn so many moons before when he had watched her with Emliniel, and pressed his face against her skin.

“No, beloved,” she whispered, sliding her hand into his hair and running her fingers across his ears. Thranduil sighed. “But I wanted you to know first, not Nenglessel,” she sighed. Thranduil chuckled lightly against her skin, pressing a kiss below her navel.

“Then I am sorry I have been gone from your side, meleth, but I shall act so foolishly no longer. You will be tired of my company with all the time I will be beside you from this moment forth,” he threatened playfully, making her laugh.

“Perhaps I will forgive you,” she mused, “if you make better use of your mouth than spouting idle threats.” Widening her stance slightly, she pushed his face a little lower. Her breath caught, when his tongue did her bidding, and she moaned when he pushed one of her legs over his shoulder. Her hands clenching fists in his hair as she regained her balance made him groan against her core with the pleasure-pain of her nails against his skull. Picking her up, unheeding her shrieks of laughter when he threw her onto their bed, Thranduil returned to his appointed penance with alacrity.