#the penumbra podcast fanfiction

[podcast-official]

Old Partner In Crime, Chapter 1: Running Away Just Made Sense

Author's Note: This fic was inspired by Arms Unfolding by dodie so y'all should go listen to that first. Also this is my first fic that I've written since my middle school LoTR phase so please be nice, haha. It's not super heavily edited, so some things might not be worded quite how I want them to be, but all my grammar and punctuation should be good because personally that pisses me off lmao.

Relationship: Juno Steel/Peter Nureyev

Tags: Cuddling/Snuggling, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Angst, Juno Steel is a Good Significant Other, Peter Nureyev is a Good Significant Other, Healing, Recovery, Communication

CWs: Mention of SH (cutting), mention of alcoholism, (everything turns out okay, I pinky promise), arguments, miscommunication, very non-explicit sex, references to past trauma, unhealthy coping mechanisms

It started all fell apart one night when Juno was out late and didn't call. The last few months had been... tense. More arguments. Less communication. When Juno was an hour later than he said he'd be, Peter started to spiral. He's left before, his mind told him. And he was right to. Peter went to the mirror in the bathroom, clutching the edges of the sink, letting the cold porcelain dig into his skin. He felt sick as he looked at himself.

Not so pretty anymore, are you? the voice in his head taunted. He deserves better. He swallowed. "I'm being ridiculous," he said aloud. "Juno's coming home. He's going to come through that door and wrap me up in his arms and kiss me like he has every single day for the last year and a half. He's just running late."

He shut his eyes tight. "He's just running late," he whispered, trying to quell his fear. He twisted the ring on his hand, the one that promised that Juno would never, ever leave. It felt too tight all of a sudden. A chain instead of a tether. He turned from the mirror and grabbed his coat from where it lay on the couch. He had to get out. He had to leave. He had to run. Every single nerve buzzed with the message that he was in danger.

He walked for two hours before he made it back to the apartment, spiraling deeper and deeper. He'd already made up his mind to go back and get the emergency bag he kept packed in the back of his closet. It was better than sleeping in an empty apartment. When he got back, however, he saw Juno on the couch, head in his hands, a glass and a half empty bottle of whiskey sitting in front of him on the coffee table. Peter would've sworn that bottle was full this morning. Juno had been drinking more than usual, now that he thought about it.

Juno looked up at him. "Nureyev, where the hell have you been?" Juno snapped and Peter flinched.

Then something hard and angry and bitter lodged in his heart. "I could ask you the same question, Juno. I went for a walk, that's all. You were late and I was worried and-"

Juno gave a little disbelieving laugh. "You were running away, weren't you? Or planning on it, at least. God, Nureyev, it's been, what, three years now, and you still can't fucking trust me? I come home an hour late and you completely lose it?"

"Why are you angry at me?"

"Because you can't seem to believe for a moment that I'm not going to leave. And now I can't trust that you weren't. I bet you were just about to grab that bag you think I don't know about from the closet and run off to who knows where if I wasn't here."

"Juno, I'm sorry, but you didn't call or message or anything and I had no idea where-"

"Oh, grow up, Nureyev."

"Juno, I don't want to fight-"

"Fine! Then we won't! I'm going to Rita's."

Peter's face hardened a little. "Fine."

Peter thought in that moment that if this was one of those romantic dramas Rita watched he'd realize that if he let Juno walk out that door right now, their marriage would be over, that he should run after him and grab his arm and tell him he loved him.

But he didn't. He watched Juno leave and then silently poured himself a glass of whiskey from the bottle on the table, downed it, and poured another. He stared into space for a long while, feeling the urge to do something he hadn't done since he and Juno had reunited. He wanted to feel cold, sharp metal against his skin, to-

No. He couldn't do that, because Juno would notice next time they-

Wait.

It's not like he loves you anymore. You've known it for months now. It's not like he'll see you with your clothes off anytime soon.

An hour later, Peter was glad that Juno had bought bandages recently.

He curled up in bed and wept until he fell asleep.

[lo-andbehold]

Chapters: 6/14 Fandom: The Penumbra Podcast Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Peter Nureyev/Juno Steel, Rita & Juno Steel, Benzaiten Steel & Juno Steel, Mick Mercury & Juno Steel & Sasha Wire, Buddy Aurinko/Vespa Ilkay Characters: Rita (Penumbra Podcast), Juno Steel, Peter Nureyev, Jet Sikuliaq, Sarah Steel, Benzaiten Steel, Mick Mercury, Sasha Wire, Buddy Aurinko, Vespa Ilkay Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Alternate Universe - Fae, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon-Typical Behavior, (Juno is a dumbass), (Peter gives him a run for his money in dumbassery), Bad Parent Sarah Steel, Fairy Tale Elements, I've not yet attempted a properly outlined longfic, god help me, Changelings, Nonbinary Juno Steel, Junoverse | Juno Steel Universe, Juno Steel Needs a Hug, Body Horror, Minor Character Death, Blood and Violence, blows a kiss to the PCC Series: Part 2 of Changeling Juno Steel Summary:

None of her friends or neighbors could find fault in any of Sarah Steel’s actions.

“Such a shame,” they could offer, or perhaps “You did the right thing.” Or later, when Sarah’s back was turned, “I couldn’t have done it.”

And Hyperion city grew used to the image of Sarah Steel, both arms laden with a child instead of just the one. Of bright, smiling Benzaiten Steel, an enviably easy child, sweet and pleasant. And in her other arm, stormy and frowning Juno Steel, with the tongue that couldn’t tell a lie and gold eyes that hurt to stare into for too long.

(“I’m glad it wasn’t me,” other mothers of Hyperion city whispered. “I don’t know what I’d do if it were me.”)

[leonardburton]

the thing is. juno & nureyev's relationship has been such a major guiding thread throughout the podcast and the major drive of season 5, and the fandom has built itself so much (as fandoms often do) around shipping the two of them.

and yet nureyev doesn't show up at all in the last episode! or, he does, but it's only implied (for all we know it could be like. alessandra strong)(i know it's not but it would be really funny) and we don't hear his voice.

and it's so important to me that despite the room that their romance has taken in the plot and in our hearts, his absence reinforces that the point of juno steel's story wasn't a lady getting his man, it was about learning to grow as person for himself and for his friends (and not just his love interest), and it was about finding his footing in life and being at peace with himself and his place in the world. and he did! his growth and relative serenity is so apparent and just. a balm to the soul

and the fact that his man is back is just a nice add-on, not a necessity for his happiness

[2flyingfoxes]

So. What of I wrote a Hunger Games/Juno Steel crossover. And what if it was a backstory for Juno that got out of hand.

And what if I already had 40 k words of what was supposed to be a one-shot before the story that actually features Rita and Nureyev.

And what if it consumed my every waking moment for the past month.

Let's set the scene: 60th Hunger Games, District 3. Two kids from Oldtown thrown into the Games with no hope, no sponsors, no leverage. Without his blaster, what is left for Juno on the Arena? What is a sharpshooter without a gun? And what awaits on the other side of the Games?

Basically, I had a thought: wow, Juno's backstory is pretty dark. Let's make it even darker!

[ephemeralgalaxies]

"oh it's great to have a community of writers so u can ask each other about different experiences!" "oh it's so nice being able to get an info dump on someone's interests that winds up helping ur writing!" "we can help support and encourage each other to keep going!" yes yes all this, love connecting with my fellow writers.

aLSO THOUGH having my allo friends help me figure out if I'm being too cringe in trying to describe a character as hot. Always forget how aroace I am until I got a character pov that is NOT and suddenly all understanding of *attraction*

[plainlyraine]

Being behind on a piece of media is rough because audhd says no new media but also fanfics and I'm too terrified to find out what happens to my little gay bitches to actually consume the media or read a fanfic and see the EGREGIOUS use of a "fix-it fic" tag

[sabworks]

I recently had the pleasure of collabing with my partner in gay space crime @autistic-daisy-johnson to bring you a spicy little Penumbra fic with a companion comic! Go check it out on ao3:

[patriciasage]

it is very important that Juno & Nureyev are middle-aged.

their love story is one we don’t see (hear) in media very often.

it is not a First Love, it is not Setting Off & Finding Yourself.

it is a story of two people who have lived long lives, loved many people, and found each other. they each found a family they’d never had in their youth and early adulthood.

they fit together not because they were Meant To Be, looking for love, but because they recognized each other’s values & softness behind their armor. they chose to take a risk and be vulnerable - which they’ve done with others in their lives. they know how it feels, they know what’s a gift and what’s a warning.

when you write Juno & Nureyev, remember that they are 40 years old. remember that Juno is a year older than Nureyev. remember that they’ve had multiple careers and partners in the past. they should not have the energy of characters in their 20s. they should not have the struggles of a first relationship.

they chose each other very intentionally. their conflicts come from trauma, not inexperience. they treat each other with a specific care.

I love them so much.

[kenniex2]

nothing to read :(

can anyone send me a fanfic :(

[distracted-obsessions]

Made a short little one shot after my girlfriend sent me this song and I fell into a creative fit.

[thegreenfiles]

aight, I want to work on my WIPs today but I’m having trouble deciding which one to start with. So! Which one should I work on?

Propaganda under cut

Don’t Call Me A Hero

Super hero au fic for DSMP, Techno-centric with a heavy focus on the favor system, attempting to live a normal life after being yanked out of villainy and forcibly rehabilitated, all while investigating the disappearance of a hybrid that leads to the discovery of something much worse. Also takes a look at Sam and Techno’s dynamic because I think that’s an underutilized relationship that isn’t examined enough.

The Grave Sting

Zombie apocalypse au fic for Hermitcraft. It’s a heist to steal the cure for zombification from the Perimeter and Mumbo is in the process of turning into a zombie. Featuring the soup group plus Scar and Grian with background watcher lore. 4/6 chapters posted with about half of chapter five written.

The Price You Pay for Arrogance

A post canon Hermit! Niki one shot where Niki has crashed on the Hermitcraft server and has to slowly heal with the help of the other hermits before she can even think about fixing the space ship that got her there. Featuring Gem and Pearl talking Niki through the trauma of leaving a dying server, Bdubs and Niki bonding over horses and just a nice bit of fluff.

How Dare You Speak of Grace

Detective Pikachu AU for the Junoverse of the Penumbra Podcast. An examination of Junos relationship with his mom and his brother after Benton’s untimely death as Juno unravels just what Ben was up to, befriends a talking Pokémon who sounds strangely similar to him, and maybe falls in love with a nosy and cologne drenched journalist.

Right Me When I’m Wrong

Murder mystery set in the world of Fullmetal Alchemist with a heavy focus on a couple of OCs, one of them being a veteran doctor from the Ishvalan war who has seen firsthand the horrors of what State Alchemists’ power looks like and wants nothing to do with it (they moved to that small mining town for a reason), so when former state alchemist, Edward Elric, comes knocking at their door, accusing them of commuting the crime of human transmutation, they’re bound to be a little angry. Elric reveals that Central has received reports of a serial killer who’s struck the town and seems to be using the bodies of their victims for sick experiments that could only be that act he understands all too well.

Secret Sixth Option

Wouldn’t you like to know weather boy?

[lo-andbehold]

It’s been too long since wingfic… have some wives

[autistic-daisy-johnson]

And the costume, of course, hugs his form in all the most tantalizing ways—a dark red blouse that barely stretches over his chest, one sleeve dripping to the floor while the other is missing entirely, and pants that defy the laws of physics to accentuate his thighs while still allowing him to keep half a dozen assorted blades on his person. With the addition of a gold snake twisting up his bare arm, a ruby in place of the eye, he certainly seems to have a chance at deserving the most stunning lady in the galaxy.  Then, of course, said lady opens his door and Nureyev thinks that he could kneel for a thousand years, pay trillions of creds, and never be worth an ounce of the detective in front of him.

the devil’s in the details (and also in the bed)

My first prompt fill for @penumbra-creator-collective from…. uh, February. Whoops. Art is by the exceedingly talented @geisterzeit-art. I hope you enjoy!

[femsanzo291]

So I've got a cannon rewrite in the planning phases that is me going what if Juno was old enough to be drafted into the Galactic Civil War before it ended. And in that eventually he gets picked up by Buddy and Vespa and works with them for most of the time that they are thieves together. And While I was planning some of it Out I went, wait Juno is going to be someone Peter knows of due to having followed Buddy and Vespa. . . . Which will make the rime on the Carte Blanche even better then in canon bc Peter will sit there just going you are the third person that was with Buddy and Vespa?? and all Juno can do is nod/shrug.

[findthefandom-orbecomethefandom]

sometimes my fiction podcast brainrot goes a little wonky on hour 7 of binging and I go through a cycle of-

"omg I wish I could actually watch the characters while listening"

"wait that's just a TV show, lemme just go find something in genre I like (fantasy/scifi/comedy/action/horror/mystery)"

Sexism. Racism. Bigotry. Everyone important is a cishet white male

"oookay maybe something with more relatable and compelling characters"

Angst. characterisation solely based on their flavour of minority. Depressing. High school/college #comingofage#lovingyourself#thisisme

nvm kthnxbye

[gautierprotectionsquad]

All of my Favorite fanfics

Fandoms: DCU, Ace Attorney, ORV, AFTG, FE3H, TMA, Junoverse, SOC

Ace Attorney

Saturation: Just read it

A Boy at the Airport : AU where Phoenix runs into a tiny Apollo Justice who just immigrated from Khura'in and takes him in.

The Phoenix, and Other Early Birds: AU where Apollo watches the Enigmar v state trial and insists on helping Phoenix get his badge back

A Crack in the Marble : AU where Miles Edgeworth is the prosecutor for State v Wright (with Dahlia)

And If My Wishes All Come True : Apollo adopts a cat, Klavier pines, and they make a lot of divorce jokes

The Complete Turnabout: Phoenix sent to an AU where he's a prosecutor

Burning on in my heart: Klapollo sickfic that explores their insecurities and internal struggles.

Exorcism: AA4 rewrite. Serial Killer known as the Devil has killed every innocent defendant from Klavier’s cases.

Dirty Paws: Crack taken seriously: Larry Butz writes Warrior Cats fanfiction to cope.

Sharing A Dream: Klapollo bodyswap highschool au

Gonna Make this Place Your home: Klapollo fic. Apollo and friends and love and home

His Highness the Second: AU where the Revolution happens early and Apollo gets to grow up in Khura’in. Apollo has a loving family.

In lipstick on the mirror are the lyrics to my obituary: Klapollo bodyguard AU.

Man of Mist: AU where Kristoph adopts Apollo. A dark story about a toxic familial relationship between a serial killer and the boy he loves.

Miles von Karma: Gregory Edgeworth Lives AU and Gregory Edgeworth POV where Miles is sent back in time and to an alternate universe. Miles has lost his memories and works as a detective.

The Legacy of Gregory Edgeworth: AU where Raymond Shields adopts Miles

The Infernal Prosecutor vs The Defense Heir: Narumitsu Role swap AU

Revival: Dual Destinies rewrite

Alt (better) ending for AA5

Soleil and the Demons: Apollo finds his bio family but when the family falls apart after his step father's disappearance, Apollo embraces his performer side and joins a band

It Never Rains but it pours: Apollo joins Wright and Co early

DCU

Gotham by Messier_47: Superbat Identity porn. Clark hates Gotham but meets a man who IS Gotham and learns to see the city in a new light

Jason Todd's terrible, horrible, no-good very bad Week: Jason gets captured by the Justice League and his brothers sneak into the Watchtower to save him

Loading and Aspect Ratio: Batfam wings au (kinda) with Superbat

Plagiarism is Not a Joke, Batman: Batman reveals his identity to the Justice League. He is far younger than they thought.

Smoking in the Boys Room: Superbat identity porn. Clark finds Bruce injured in a bathroom stall

Space Cellmates: Identity porn Superman and Bruce Wayne are kidnapped by aliens

The Man Behind the Curtain: Superbat identity reveal. Superman slowly learns more about batman.

The Mask Behind the Mask: Justice League learns about Brucie's reputation

The Waynes, Damsels in Distress: Batfam lets themselves get kidnapped bc they think it's funny (it is)

thirteen: Clark/Bruce. Clark Kent is hired as Bruce Wayne's nanny. All the batkids are close in age and Clark is not Superman.

The Longer You Stay: Domestic Selina/Bruce. Selina pov. A retired vigilante and retired thief live a quiet life and adopt three children.

Trust through the ages: De-aged Bruce Wayne. The Bats and the Flashes are close friends.

In Love with Justice: The Justice League think Batman and Nightwing are dating. they are hilariously wrong.

a heart just can't contain all of this empty space: Young Justice Team are tired of Bat secrets

Sneaking out for superhero teenagers: Tim needs to go to Central City without the rest of the family knowing so he comes up with a plan to sneak out. He runs into some superheroes on the way

through different colored glasses: It all started when Jason was trying to rescue his rocket launcher. (this fic is for me specifically bc of my experience with broken door handles.)

Two Sides: Jason meets Damian in the League of Assassins.

Equal Magnitude: The Robins' favorite superhero.

Batman, go grab your Robin... Wait, wrong Robin!: Tim goes trick or treating only to get kidnapped!!...By Batman?

In this Town We Call Home: The Drakes use Batman as a boogeyman to make their son behave...it didn't work out how they expect.

I wish I was: JayRoy no vigilantes au/romcom au. Jason and Roy have a meet-cute at a bookstore and then keep running into each other. 5 times Jason accidentally turns Roy down and 1 time he says yes.

In Your Pocket: JayRoy no vigilantes romcom au. For the dramatic irony enjoyers. Wrong numbers.

Familiar: JayRoy. Romcom with a vigilante twist. Contains fun banter, fluffy fluff, Austen levels of slowburn, Roy and Jason being dads, and heartbreak.

Cause You Mean More than Anything: Series of fics about the justice league's dramatic theories about batman's love life.

Lighting Bolts and Breaking Clouds: Jason and Roy adopt Billy Batson

tribute: Billy Batson dresses up as his favorite hero for Halloween

Dangerous and Noble: The Bats investigate their missing neighbor. Tim and Cass meet in the LOA au.

Things My Heart Used to Know: Jayroy. Jason Todd has been missing for 6 years and there's a 5 million dollar reward for anyone that can bring him home. Roy finds someone who happens to look a lot like Jason and they're both desperate for money. Inspired by Anastasia.

farthest you've ever flown: Robin!Tim gets kicked out of Drake manor. Red Hood finds him. Alternate first meeting.

No Strings Attached: Boostle no capes/powers au. Friends with Benefits to Lovers. Superhero groups are bands in this universe

In This or any Other Universe: Nightwing ends up in Battinson universe.

The Bachelor: Robin Edition: Batman needs a Robin. Tim knows just the plan. Kidnap several black haired blue eyed children to train and test them to become the perfect Robin until only 1 remains. He doesn't know how to test for "lovable" but he'll figure it out.

Come Alive: Dick went to Infinity Island on a mission to rescue three and ends up with Jason and Damian, too. 3x06 of Young Justice AU.

Now you will not swell the rout: Tim wants to be Robin but Batman is too overprotective and won't let him out into the field. So he tries street fighting to prove to Bruce he can take a hit and train himself. He meets a vigilante in a red helmet, too.

Little Bird's Wings: Jason comes back to Gotham only to find Batman and the Joker missing. He wants answers and instead he finds a few teen vigilantes running around.

break: Tim retires from vigilantism. If only Gotham would let him stay retired.

Working With Professionals Once: Red Hood has a plan. That plan backfires when his goons kidnap Bruce Wayne

Forecast: Red Hood pulls Dick's body out of the water. ANGST hurt/comfort. Jason coming home/identity reveal

False Words: One of the best handlings of Dick during RR/Dick and Tim's reconciliation after RR. (specifically chapters 3, 8, 12, 13, 15, 16)

reset: Circe puts a spell on Red Hood that gives him temporary amnesia. Jason wakes up confused why his family is so distant

The Nuclear Option: Tim blackmails Alfred into going to Comic Con with him. SUPER CUTE

Fluent And Not Drawing Blood: Cass and the batfam

(Honorable mention to Either Side of the Median by CaffienatedCopyeditor which is no longer on AO3.)

FE3H

Keep Him Safe: Sylvix adopts a son

the courage to love, a guide to fatherhood by felix fraldarius: Felix adopts a daughter

TMA

(i don't read tma fic much)

Rather Interesting: Crack treated seriously. jonah magnus/elias bouchard. canon compliant somehow. Elias is able to regain consciousness whenever Jonah smokes weed.

AFTG

(there's not that many here bc i didn't start keeping track till later)

Love Hurts: Aaron/Katelyn before the start of TFC

Red Right Hand: Au where Nathaniel Wesninski works for the Moriyamas and has been assigned to collect Kevin Day.

This was Home: Someone's OC joins the foxes

Pie Another Day: Pushing Up Daises AU

TPP

(there's not that many here bc i didn't start keeping track till later)

up the wolves: A nine-year-old juno stumbles into one of jet's post-heist hiding places

Six of Crows

(i don't read soc fic much)

The Meadow: Kaz dreams of his brother while finding himself past the age he thought he'd die at, and feeling stuck while all his friends have changed.

ORV

A Circle to Your Square: ORV rewrite where Yoo Joonghyuk and Kim Dokja were dating before the scenarios started

Ascension, Love, and the Ever Present Push and Pull: De-aged Dokja

Rendezvous: ORV in Yoo Joonghyuk's POV

and at the very least, the wall will change: No Scenarios Soulmate AU

World's End Rhapsody: After the epilogue, there is love.

how the mighty fall (in love): Yoo Joonghyuk can't stop thinking about Dokja. Eventually decides to settle the matter. (it's horny with no sex)

Knight in shining (plot) armor: Kim Dokja gets isekaid into Ways of Seduction, a smutty stallion novel. (spoilers for tls123's identity)

All the things we didn't say: ORV rewrite where Kim Dokja writes letters to Yoo Jonghyuk

Down: 1863 Yoo Jonghyuk meets a stranger. A thief. An uncanny man with all-knowing eyes and a too-clever tongue. A man of harsh words. A man of soft touches. The Wall tells him a story about this man and another version of himself and he listens.

Grim Reaper's guide to keeping a human alive: grim reaper yjh interferes with a human's life to get them to stop annoying him during work

A Star Without Light: A fairy tale au