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rosesupposes · 4 years

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Navy Eyes Dark Enough

Or, five times Geralt didn't realize Jaskier was a witcher and one time he did.

Inspired by this post. Read on AO3 here.

Most witchers move among humans with some difficulty. People want them around for their skills but they’re hardly considered good company. Their swords, their eyes, their medallions all give them away for what they are and inspire fear in the humans around them. Jaskier passes much more easily as a human than any other witcher he’s met. A pretty face and prettier words go a long way for a witcher and he’s been blessed with both. He’d been called a pretty boy since his earliest days at Gorthur Gvaed and the mutations had been kind to his looks, leaving him baby faced into adulthood and granting him navy eyes dark enough to hide the shape of his pupils from anyone who didn’t look too closely. His teachers hadn’t necessarily approved of his interest in poetry and prose but they didn’t mind him tearing apart the library for all the fiction he could find, so long as he was reading the nonfiction as well. He’s unafraid to leverage this advantage while on the Path. He gains a town’s trust faster than his brothers and is rarely underpaid because of it. He’s never found himself short of romantic partners. He’d talked himself into Oxenfurt because it sounded like fun. He spends his time as a traveling bard, taking contracts only when he’s low on funds or his brothers ask it of him. It hurts, sometimes, to keep his twisted Viper medallion hidden under his clothes but it makes it easier to hide in plain sight. For all he leverages the way he blends in with humans, Jaskier had never expected another witcher not to recognize him.

1. 1240 Jaskier has traveled alone for most of his time on the Path. There was the string of contracts almost two decades back when he’d helped Letho and Auckes but that was before he’d left Nilfgard and the South behind almost entirely. After a week of traveling with Geralt, he’s starting to realize that he’s missed it. Traveling the Path with someone else is different than the traveling Jaskier does in caravans as a bard. Despite their unfamiliarity with traveling together, they fall into an unexpectedly easy routine when it comes to setting up camp. Geralt, a Wolf to the core, insists on doing the “hard work” of it all and Jaskier isn’t going to complain about leisurely picking berries and filling their waterskins. By the time Jaskier makes it back to camp with their waterskins full, Geralt is usually finishing setting up their fire after having set a few traps nearby. He lights it with Igni, of course, like any witcher worth his Signs would. It isn’t until their second week of traveling together that Jaskier beats Geralt back to their camp. The area they’re in, despite being filled with berries and freshwater, was suspiciously devoid of game. Jaskier had suspected magic at first but his medallion is too silent for the kind of magic that would require. If it’s a monster though, it’s leaving them suspiciously alone. He debates the likelihood of various possible monsters while he builds their small fire. He’s not nearly as skilled at the technical aspects of fire building as Geralt but a Sign can level a playing field and he has it started in no time. Geralt enters their small clearing only a moment later. “That was fast,” he grunts as he moves past Jaskier. Jaskier shrugged. “I’ve always been better than my brothers at it,” he explains, moving his hand in a general approximation of the Sign. He’d always preferred his magic lessons to swordplay at Gorthur Gvaed and he’s a bit jealous at the way he’s seen Geralt so easily use his Signs while he fights. The double shortsword style of Jaskier’s school did not lend well to Sign usage while fighting. Geralt gives the fire what Jaskier supposes is a thoughtful look and then grunts, moving away to set up a small tent. 2. 1244 It is not often that Jaskier finds himself caught up in the habits ingrained in him during his training. He’s decades removed from his trials and, for the most part, he has kicked the habits that Ivar and the other Viper Masters beat into him. His posture is a wreck. He doesn’t keep a journal in the way a witcher should. He takes his medallion off more often than most witchers would deem advisable. Perhaps most egregious to other members of his school is his chosen weapons. He still dual wields while fighting but these days he favors daggers to the traditional Viper shortswords. They’re much easier to hide. He keeps a stiletto in each boot and two in his lute case. One habit he cannot break is the way he cleans and sharpens his daggers after every use. He has two silver and two steel because he is a witcher, even if he’s a witcher who rarely takes contracts. They rarely need cleaning, especially when he travels with Geralt, but when they do, Jaskier is almost religious about it. His latest kill is a pack of drowners outside Murivel, as he’s lazily making his way through Redania and towards Ard Carraigh after completing his obligations at Oxenfurt. He finds no contract for them in town, which is frustrating after he ruined this season’s traveling clothes in the fight, but he gets some decent prices for some of the alchemy supplies he was able to harvest. When he makes it to an inn, it’s a bit before the midday meal, just enough time for him to clean himself and his daggers before he sings for his supper and his room. The innkeep is gracious enough to give him the room first, because he remembers Jaskier and knows he’ll be good for business. He lays his daggers out in a corner of the room and sits on the floor in front of them with a small bowl of water and a cloth. It isn’t long before he loses himself to the familiar motions. Clean the blade. Sharpen the blade. Polish the blade. Unwrap the leather. Oil the leather. Rewrap the leather. Repeat. It doesn’t take very long, given how much smaller the blades are than his old shortswords but he takes longer than most men would bother with. A blade ill-treated is unlikely to treat you well in moments of need.

He goes downstairs to sing a bit for the midday meal. He’s debating the merit of playing through Geralt’s song cycle without Geralt himself present when the door swings open and the witcher himself enters. He nods at Jaskier when he sees him and then goes to speak to the innkeep. Jaskier finishes his song and wanders over to Geralt as he plucks at the strings of his lute, playing but not singing.

“He’ll join me, my good man,” Jaskier declares after he hears the innkeep tell Geralt there’s no available rooms. The inkeep shrugs and shows Geralt to Jaskier’s room while Jaskier continues to play.

It’s another hour before he joins Geralt, who is making notes in his journal. Jaskier brings two bowls of broth and some bread with him and they share a pleasant meal after spending almost half a year apart.

“You’ve bought more daggers,” Geralt says as they’re finishing, gesturing to where Jaskier had left his blades out after their rather thorough cleaning.

“Not new,” Jaskier clarifies, “just clean. They were a little too useful on the way here.”

Geralt snorts.

“And what is that supposed to mean?” Jaskier asks him, with no real heat.

“What use would you have for a dagger, other than the one you carry on your belt sometimes?”

Jaskier rolls his eyes and gathers the bowls, immune to Geralt’s teasing for the most part. It is just like the other man, to consider the fighting style of another school inferior to his own. “Not all of us are trying to compensate for something with our gigantic swords.”

3. 1247

Jaskier manages to get his pants tied and his doublet buttoned as he runs back to the inn he and Geralt are staying at. He finds Geralt whetting his silver sword by the fire.

“Hello, Geralt,” he says, as casually as he can manage. “If you wouldn’t mind departing just a bit early, I think now’s a wonderful time to leave.”

Geralt grunts. “The room is paid until tomorrow.”

“Yes,” Jaskier says, moving quickly towards the table he’s been using as a desk to pack the papers he’s spread across it. “I’m afraid I’ll have to lose out on that coin. C’mon. Chop, chop. Pack your things.” Jaskier moves onto his small pack of clothes in the corner.

“Don’t forget your weird necklace,” Geralt grunts, shoving Jaskier’s Viper medallion into his hand and Jaskier remembers taking it off before going looking for a lay for tonight, trusting Geralt with it before trusting a random lay wouldn’t steal it.

Jaskier pauses for a second, offended. The Viper medallions aren’t the same heavy stamped discs the rest of the schools use- they were forged individually into various twisting shapes before they’d been enchanted. Jaskier finds them more attractive than the other schools’ medallions and more practical, easier to hide. “Excuse me, as if yours is better.”

“Let’s go, Jaskier.”

Jaskier shuts his mouth and returns to packing for a moment before he’s forced to retaliate. “Fine but don’t think we’re not discussing your terrible taste in jewelry later.”

4. 1251

Geralt’s White Honey is absolute shit and Jaskier knows firsthand because he’s borrowed it before. He’d replaced it after, of course, and he could tell when Geralt used the one Jaskier had brewed because it flushed the toxins much faster than Geralt’s usual swill.

Ivar would be very disappointed if he knew how long it takes Jaskier to figure out why Geralt’s White Honey is so poor in comparison to his own. As it turns out, Geralt is preparing both the honeysuckle and the white myrtle petals incorrectly. He’s managed to flip their preparations, crushing the myrtle petals and chopping the honeysuckle, when it should be the other way around. Jaskier thinks maybe it’s a Wolf thing but he’s not sure it matters because watching Geralt butcher his potions every time is getting old.

Jaskier doesn’t bother to keep his potions stocked beyond a few that are easy to keep in his packs but he helps Geralt when the other allows him to. Mostly he prepares ingredients as Geralt directs but given how sick he is of watching the other witcher butcher his potions, when Geralt asks him to crush some white myrtle petals he takes the knife from Geralt’s hand and chops them instead. “Just give me that,” he says, reaching for the honeysuckle Geralt had been about to chop. “You always do this wrong. You’re supposed to cut the white myrtle and crush the honeysuckle.”

It doesn’t take very long for Jaskier to finish preparing the potion, though he stops short of the final mix lest Geralt actually murder him. He wipes his hands and picks up his lute, idly strumming.

“Where did you learn that?” Geralt asks as he takes the ingredients Jaskier has prepared to finish mixing them.

Jaskier rolls his eyes because White Honey, for all it’s helpful properties, is a recipe shared almost exclusively among witchers. “Oxenfurt, Geralt,” he answers with a hefty amount of sarcasm in his voice.

“Hmmmm.”

And doesn’t that pique Jaskier’s interest. That’s Geralt’s genuinely confused hum, not his ‘Jaskier, shut up, you’re not that funny’ hum.

“Where else would I have learned it?” he prods. “I am a Master of the seven liberal arts, as you know.”

“Didn’t know they taught White Honey at Oxenfurt,” is all Geralt says as Jaskier strums lazily at his lute. Geralt is being serious, Jaskier realizes- he believes he learned how to make White Honey at Oxenfurt.

White Honey is not taught at Oxenfurt. White Honey, per rather extensive experimentation by the Viper School, is mostly useless to anyone without a witcher’s mutations. While Jaskier is sure someone out there has the recipe who is not a witcher, it is certainly not taught at Oxenfurt. Jaskier is sure Geralt knows this but the other witcher is taking Jaskier’s joke seriously.

Oh.

Geralt, somehow, just over ten years into their friendship, does not know Jaskier is a witcher. It takes effort to keep himself from crowing with laughter. This is just- Jaskier would be hurt if he didn’t find it so funny.

Oh, this is incredible. Jaskier is going to milk this for all of its worth.

5. 1251

Jaskier continues to insinuate in every possible way that he can think that he is a witcher without actually saying it. Geralt does not catch on. It is simultaneously amusing and frustrating though it gives Jaskier a lot of perspective on certain aspects of their relationship.

Geralt is always surprised when Jaskier lights a fire quickly because he hasn’t considered that Jaskier is using Igni. Geralt insists that Jaskier’s hidden daggers are for show because he doesn’t quite believe that Jaskier knows how to use them. Geralt dismisses Jaskier’s Viper medallion as an odd piece of jewelry because he doesn’t remember that not all the schools use the same stamped metal the Wolves do for their medallions.

Jaskier’s current favorite game is trying to find the subject of his knowledge that will eventually push Geralt over the edge because he can’t accept that Jaskier learned it at Oxenfurt. He hasn’t found it yet.

He’s trying the Wild Hunt today because there hasn’t been a reliable sighting in nearly thirty years and he knows very few humans who actually study the subject. All witchers know about it, of course, but the Vipers are most familiar. They were founded to study it, after all, and Jaskier’s knowledge on the subject is both broad and deep.

“They’re elves, you know. Not the typical kind, mind you, but they speak an off dialect of Elder. Some of my teachers think they’re from some other world. There’s unicorns there, apparently,” he says as they walk beside Roach. It’s a not-quite-bastardization of the various facts and theories but Jaskier’s not aiming for the truth, he’s aiming to confuse Geralt.

Geralt just grunts. It’s not quite as satisfying a response as Jaskier had hoped but he thinks maybe Geralt is confused.

“I think the unicorns are a little far-fetched, personally,” he continues. “It’s a nice thought, though.”

“The Wild Hunt is not a nice thought,” Geralt says seriously. Which, well, is true.

“I’m well aware, Geralt. I’ve read an entire library on the subject. The Continent’s biggest, in fact.”

“The biggest library on the Wild Hunt was at Gorthur Gvaed. It’s been destroyed.”

“Yes. Well.”

The painful reminder stops Jaskier short. He normally doesn’t have much trouble separating his memories of Gorthur Gvaed from its destruction. He wasn’t there and if he doesn’t think about the raid he missed, it’s easy to pretend it never happened; that the keep, with its hidden passageways and winding rivers, is still standing in the mountains of Nilfgard; that his teachers are still there tending to the library; that his brothers are still out there and they’re narrowly missing each other as they travel their own winding Paths. The mention of its destruction brings his idealized fantasy crashing down. Gorthur Gvaed is nothing but ruins and he has maybe five brothers left.

Guilt wells up in the pit of his stomach and he decides the Wild Hunt is not the topic that’s going to make Geralt realize he’s a witcher.

+1. 1251

Geralt feels hazy and slow as he wakes. There’s the dull ache of a pain in his leg and his blood burns. His vision comes slowly and when it does he takes stock.

He’s trapped under a pile of rocks. The tunnel. The kikimores. The cave-in. The pain in his legs and his ribs is dull, due to his potions, but he thinks his leg might be broken and his ribs at least bruised. He has a concussion but he doesn’t think he was out for very long. There are potions burning through his system, one for the dark, at least, but with his head pounding, he’s not sure what else.

He’s in a fairly large section of the tunnel system, with a small stream running through. There are four entrances to the cavern. He was caught as the fifth tunnel gave way and caved in.

He can see where his sword had landed and he might have enough time to clear enough of the rock to reach for it. He doesn’t like his chances of getting out of the cave on his own but there should only be one injured kikimore left and if it comes to him, he might be able to take it out. Jaskier will come looking for him once he’s been gone long enough and as long as the kikimore is dead before Jaskier enters the tunnels, the foolish bard should be safe.

Geralt closes his eyes, trying to listen for the kikimore, trying to gauge where it is and how much time he has. Not much, he realizes, after a moment of listening to the echoes of it’s skittering legs, but he can do it if he works fast.

His legs are still mostly pinned under the cave-in when the kikimore enters the cavern from one of the tunnels opposite Geralt.

Fuck.

He’s free enough to reach for the sword, stretching his body as far as it will go and exacerbating the pain in his leg, still pinned, as he does. His movement attracts the attention of the kikimore. It’s beady eyes turn toward Geralt. It’s a smaller specimen, a worker probably, but pinned as he is, Geralt knows it has the upperhand. He braces himself, trying to find the position that will give him the most power. If he can time this right, he might be able to behead the kikimore before it pierces his chest.

Suddenly, there’s another body in the cavern, a blur of blue putting itself between Geralt and the kikimore, a dagger in either hand. The kikimore stops, eyes focusing on the new arrival.

“Jaskier, get the fuck out of here.”

“Can’t do that, my dear.” Jaskier lunges at the kikimore, leading with his blades.

Geralt stops breathing. His only goal after the cave-in- to kill the kikimore before Jaskier came looking for him- is now impossible. He hasn’t been fast enough for the bard’s impatience and now the fool is going to die trying to fight a monster some young witchers struggle with.

Jaskier lands the first blow, a lucky hit against one of the kikimores legs. It’s not deep but it’s enough to put the kikimore off balance. It strikes at Jaskier who dodges and pulls away. He puts some space between himself and the kikimore and pulls a small vial from his pocket. It’s one from Geralt’s own stores, though he can’t tell which. It doesn’t matter. It would kill any human. It will kill Jaskier.

“Don’t!”

Almost faster than Geralt can see, Jaskier throws his dagger into the kikimore’s eye with deadly accuracy, stunning it for a moment. In almost the same moment, he downs the potion and pulls another dagger from his boot in one fluid motion. He dives back in to slash at the kikimore’s throat, digging into it with both of his daggers. The kikimore chokes on its own blood, a sick wet, gurgling sound, and then suddenly it is on top of Jaskier, stabbing down and obscuring the bard’s body from Geralt. Geralt can barely see any of it but the sick sound of flesh being pierced overwhelms his ears. Instead of trying to watch, he returns to freeing himself from the cave-in.

It isn’t long before the sound has stopped and the kikimore is moving toward Geralt again. He can sit up fully now but twisting away from his legs to look at the scene behind him pulls at his ribs. Jaskier’s body is motionless on the ground and Geralt is furious. The idiot bard.

He manages to free the rest of his legs as the kikimore approaches. It takes massive effort to kneel up, ready to strike, but he manages. He still does not expect to make it out of the cave system but the least he can do is bring the kikimore down with him in honor of his friend.

Just as Geralt is preparing to swing at the approaching kikimore, it sinks to the ground. Standing over its lifeless body, is Jaskier, once again holding his daggers. His eyes are completely black and the veins surrounding them are dark beneath his pale skin. The toxicity of the potion hasn’t killed him. It’s swirling through his system. Geralt knows his face looks much the same.

“Fuck.”

“Eleven years, Geralt,” Jaskier crows as he helps Geralt back to the clearing where Roach is waiting for them. “How does it feel to have traveled with another witcher for eleven years and never once known? While holding his medallion in your hand and drinking the potions he’s prepared for you? Hmmm, Geralt? How does it feel?”

“Jaskier.”

“Yes?”

“Shut up.”

#the witcher #geralt of rivia #jaskier #witcher!jaskier #witcher jaskier #witcher fic #the witcher fic #abb writes

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plasticnightmaredoll · 3 years

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(art commission by the lovely and talented @curious-menace)

It is a time where I would like to see what my followers think about various concepts I have in mind pertaining to alternate versions of one my fics. It may take some time to write out any alternate versions since I've been busy and stressed out so much lately, but I am very curious as to what others would find intriguing to read.

But first, some backstory so be patient. We'll get to the voting at the end of this post.

I've been having a lot of bad days lately, and my mood has plummeted to a major low. This includes my self-esteem, which has always been in the dumps but is now basically a dumpster fire.

However, I don't want to be entirely cruel to myself. I deserve some sort of happiness, some sort of reprieve, and writing can be a good coping mechanism. I put a lot of my own thoughts, emotions, struggles, opinions, etc. into my works, as they serve as a way for me to get things off my chest. Sometimes, it's just cute and funny stuff, other times angsty but eventually fluffy stuff, and other times it's quite depressing and dark.

One fic, in particular, stands out, and that is the Mortal Kombat/Batman Arkhamverse crossover, "Volunteer," (trigger warnings: mentions psychological torture and suicide...more about this fic in a bit for those who would rather not read it because of those triggers) which features Arkham Knight Edward Nigma and Jonathan Crane, as well as a lady friend for Edward named Sara. It also features Erron Black and Cassie Cage from Mortal Kombat (Cassie is only mentioned in the story a few times).

If you read the blog intro/self-introduction post pinned at the top of my Tumblr, you know very well how I feel about Cassie Cage (particularly in MK11) and the Erron Black x Cassie Cage (BlackCage) pairing. Those negative feelings are mostly due to a very bad experience with a pushy BlackCage fan who just wouldn't relent one bit on their stance and it was emotionally and mentally draining to try and talk to them, including providing counter-arguments.

I've come up with alternate versions for "Volunteer" recently due to the spike in stress, depression, anxiety, and insecurities I've been dealing with as of late. This is where my followers come in!

I would like people to vote on which alternate take on "Volunteer" they would be interested in reading. Now, I can't guarantee when I'd get to it because, as I mentioned already, I've got a lot going on. However, I really want to try and write at least one alternate version of that fic, just to get some insecurities and negative thoughts off my chest.

Now, for those who are wary of reading "Volunteer" because of the trigger warnings, here's my advice: Just read the first chapter, if you want to. Chapter 2 deals directly with the sensitive subject matter, although, you can probably guess what happens anyway just by reading Chapter 1 and if you know anything about Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow...well, he likes to mess with people...mentally. To put it very mildly.

Now it's time for the voting. I have three different scenarios I've come up with that are variations/alternate versions of the current "Volunteer" fic's concept/storyline. I'd like followers to select 1 (one) alternate telling of the fic. I will open anonymous asks again, so if you are shy or just want your vote to remain a secret for some other reason, then that's fine by me. Otherwise, you can reply to this post with your choice.

Edit: if you are turned off by the idea of a Mortal Kombat/Batman Arkhamverse crossover, I get it. I don't read crossover fics myself, and that's usually because the crossovers either make no sense or do make sense but the ideas are poorly executed.

This crossover I'm talking about, though, isn't a full-on crossover of MK and Batman. There's no world-building, no larger plot, and no other characters in MK even appear or are mentioned except Erron Black and Cassie Cage.

If anything, it's more of a Batman Arkhamverse standard AU with Riddler and a female oc, and Erron and Cassie are the only concrete elements of MK brought in. I mean, yes, the other MK characters exist, I guess, but they have no purpose in this crossover I've written, and won't make any appearances.

So, if you had any concerns about the crossover aspect, I hope this clears things up

Choices below the cut!

A) "Don't You Wish"

This version is inspired by a song from Pink, called, "There You Go." In this alternate telling, Erron manages to survive Scarecrow's fear toxin, and escape (most likely because Erron is out of his mind and panicking, thus not a threat, and he has no one to help him, so Scarecrow doesn't give a damn what happens to the dude). The first thing Erron does is go to Sara's place, having already broken up with Cassie after realizing dating her was a mistake, and Sara means more to him than he thought.

Well, it's been several months since Sara basically pushed Erron out of her life for his poor choice in women, and (Arkham Knight) Edward Nigma has proven to be a much better (and, wiser and more sensible -- yes, I know, but he's not a skirt chaser, Guys) friend to Sara. While Erron ran off with a blonde selfie princess, Edward offered genuine comfort and companionship, and now Sara has been in the process of moving on from Erron even further.

Sara humors Erron and lets him tell her -- while sounding terrified, confused, and conflicted beyond belief thanks to the fear toxin -- what happened to him. Now, Sara doesn't know Edward asked Scarecrow to take care of Erron as a means of getting revenge for her. Doesn't matter anyway. She's unsympathetic towards Erron's plight, feeling as if he didn't even give her a chance to confess her feelings towards him, nor did he even seem to notice how she felt; it was like he was too busy with thinking with his privates to realize he had someone in front of him who would have treated him better.

Sara tells Erron -- in a flat, disinterested tone -- that his situation is tragic and all but wtf is she supposed to do? Why not go to his dumb blonde gf? Oh, they broke up? Well, how predictable. And Crane is also a (sort of) friend to Sara, which shocks Erron and leaves him feeling worse than before.

Sara sends Erron on his way, and he wanders off in a daze, unsure of what to do with his life now.

Sara and Edward meet the next day, and they have a pleasant time, obviously moving towards becoming a couple. She chooses not to mention Erron as she is completely severing the cowboy from her life.

B) "I Don't Even Miss You"

This alternate telling is similar to the previous one, but this time it's inspired by a Miley Cyrus song, "WTF Do I Know" (Hey, her Plastic Hearts album is actually fantastic!), and Edward is with Sara when Erron arrives at her place in a distressed state. At first, Sara deals with Erron in the hall of her apartment building, unsympathetic to his plight and basically telling him, "I told you so," and "too bad." Erron is getting more and more upset, even angry at Sara's callous tone, and starts to raise his voice, demanding to know why she is being so cold at a time like this?

Edward overhears Erron raising his voice to Sara, giving her a difficult time, and he gets pissed. Edward steps out into the hall and not only mocks Erron in various ways, but demands that he leave immediately, or what Scarecrow did will seem like a trip to Disney Land. Erron has caused Sara -- who is currently moving on and growing closer to Edward -- enough problems and heartache.

Edward reveals he set up Erron, and while Sara is stunned to find this out, she handles it better than expected. Edward said it was his way of getting revenge for her, and he'd do it again if need be. Erron is sent away feeling so much worse, feeling lost, hopeless, and betrayed.

Sara and Edward talk and she admits she's upset that he did something like this without speaking about it to her first. However, he explains that he genuinely did it for her and he doesn't want her to feel pain at the hands of some "idiotic cowman," who doesn't consider the feelings of others and who behaves like a greedy, violent Neanderthal. (And yes, Edward does care for Sara, and he didn't send Scarecrow after Erron out of jealousy -- maybe a little jealousy but it was mostly rage over Erron causing Sara so much emotional pain)

Sara means more to Edward than he can express, and he may not be the best when it comes to emotions, but he does care about her and wants her to be safe.

Sara forgives Edward, understanding that, through his heartfelt but very nervous and shy confession that he is sincere about his feelings for her, and they make amends. She of course tells him to never do something so extreme without consulting her first, though, because what happened to Erron -- while she doesn't care what happens to him in the slightest -- was a bit too much.

C) "Listen When the Devil's Calling"

Another title inspired by a Miley Cyrus song, "Night Crawling," and this alternate telling involves Telltale Riddler and no Scarecrow. Almost a year has passed since Erron went with Cassie and Sara, out of bitterness and heartache, refused to speak or see him. This didn't sit well with him as she was his only friend, and his relationship with Cassie dies within a few months.

He goes looking for Sara, realizing she has moved out of her apartment. It doesn't take him long to find out where she is, and she's with The Riddler, a notorious criminal genius and one of Gotham's elite villains. Erron is worried for Sara and seeks her out.

Turns out, Sara's just fine. This isn't one of those scenarios where the girl is with a guy who just using her and taking advantage of her vulnerability. No, Edward does actually love her and takes good care of her. He finds people like reckless, selfish, and ignorant people like Erron to be a disgrace but also amusing because of how pathetically primitive they are.

Edward also doesn't appreciate how Erron pushed aside a good thing in Sara to pursue a girl who is a social media brat and has more selfies on her phone than brain cells in her, well, brain. It defies all logic to Edward, but he's also not surprised because of how much of a disappointment Erron is as a human being (hey, this is Riddler we're talking about, and he's not one to be sweet and gentle to those he can't stand). Edward doesn't say these things out loud, though, as it's a bit too vulnerable and personal for him to do such a thing with someone he doesn't know or trust.

Sara is upset that Erron has resurfaced and she remembers how heartbroken she was when he went after Cassie Cage. She wants Erron to leave her alone like she asked, so she can move on. She can't trust him anymore, because he's just a skirt chaser in her eyes.

Erron tries to plead his case, tries to apologize to Sara, and expresses how he really feels, but this just distresses her further. Edward steps in and tells Erron he's done enough to Sara, she clearly doesn't want to see him, and he needs to take his leave.

This isn't a request.

Edward pulls Erron aside, telling the cowboy that the only reason he's going to walk away from this alive is that Sara hasn't asked for him to be killed. Should she tell Edward to take care of Erron, well, you all know what Telltale Riddler is like.

And those are the three variations on "Volunteer."

If you could be so kind as to:

leave a comment with your choice or

send an ask (even an anon ask) with your choice or

suggest your take on this story.

I'd appreciate it immensely!

Thank you all so much for supporting me and my writing and being patient with my sluggish publishing schedule!

#edward nigma #riddler #arkham knight riddler #edward nigma x oc #riddler x oc #edward nygma #edward nygma x oc #crossover fic #arkhamverse #arkham riddler #telltale riddler

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watchtower-feed · 4 years

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Death Do We Part (Part 11)

SSA Spin-off ✧ Jason Todd ✧ Physical Link ✧ 1 ✧ 2 ✧ 3 ✧ 4 ✧ 5 ✧ 6 ✧ 7 ✧ 8 ✧ 9 ✧ 10 ✧ 11 ✧ 12 ✧ 13 ✧ 14 ✧ 15 ✧ Notes: (NSFW) This is looooong overdue. I hope I made the wait worth it. It’s not smut though, I don’t think. I wanted it to be... softer? romantic? special? Words: 3,100+

Where are you headed?

You run a couple of blocks before you hide in an alley and close your eyes. You’re immediately met with a piercing sensation on the back of your hand. You feel Jason take out what was lodged and blood oozes down from your new wound. Then the muscles on your legs are extending and retracting, he’s running away.

This is the hard part but you have to get this right. You grew up in these streets. You know Gotham about as much as you know Jason. You pay attention to the smell, the noise, and the direction of the wind because you need to know exactly where Jason is running off to.

It takes you an hour to finally figure out where he’s going. You’ve been following his trail as best you can. He’s running through streets with the same amount of foot traffic as any other bad part of Gotham. But it’s only when you hear the siren on his end and it’s in tune with the same siren that passes you in the street, that you look around to finally take in where you are and now you’re sure which building he’s in and which unit.

You walk up to the Todds’ old apartment and stand stiff in front of their door that’s been left partly open. The lights are off inside and you don’t hear anything.

As if acting on its own, your hand pushes the door until it’s swung all the way out, giving you a full view of a slightly furnished apartment, with Jason sitting on the floor, his back resting against the back of the couch, tending to his wound.

He doesn’t look at you but the lights from the hallway flood in and illuminate him. He knows you’re there.

“Don’t worry, Y/N. The bleeding will stop soon. Gonna hurt like a bitch for days though.”

Are you dreaming? Have you fallen asleep in the safe house and your mind is only giving you what you want? Or is there still fear toxin in your body and this is actually a nightmare waiting to happen.

Slowly, you take one step at a time until you’re standing in front of him.

Jason snorts and raises his eyebrows but he keeps his eyes on his hand, “Took you long enough to find me.”

You kneel on the floor, making him pause what he’s doing. Finally, he looks at you and stares with half-hooded eyes and the smallest hint of a pout. He has aged, gotten taller and bigger, broad shoulders and bulging muscles, but he still wears the same expression on his face whenever he thinks he’s about to be scolded.

Gently, afraid he’ll move away or suddenly disappear, you bring up your hands to touch his face. The instant you’re holding him, he leans into your touch, with his eyes closed and brows creased with so many lines.

You tear up at the sight of him. His pain and fear and relief are all mixing together. You touch your forehead to his and he places his hands over yours.

“You’re not mad?” he whispers.

You laugh like a long sigh, loud and breathless, “Of course I’m mad. Exasperated. Downright blood boiling, fist-clenching mad, Jason.”

He smirks and nuzzles his nose against yours. “You know, it’s easier to fucking swear.”

16 when he died. 17 almost 18 now. Jason is a killer. An assassin. A Gotham criminal. But he’s also still so young. He was a teenager when he died. A teenager when he came back to life. And right now he’s still a teenager teasing you while your hands are bleeding through his badly done bandages.

You kiss him.

The moment your lips touch Jason takes you in, pushing his lips harder against yours, wrapping his arms around you, pulling you in until there’s no more room in between. You tip your head to the side and kiss deeper. His tongue finds yours first and you never knew until this moment how much you really missed Jason.

It’s like coming home after running in the darkness for so long, almost forgetting what it was like to be in the light and then suddenly being overwhelmed by its intensity and heat.

You part but only enough to catch your breaths. Your foreheads and noses are still touching. Your hands are still framing his face and you feel his laughter vibrate from his cheeks before you hear it. “You know, on paper, this is technically incest, Robin Wayne.”

You instantly bring down your eyebrows in frustration, “Jason, please. I finally have you back. Don’t make me murder you.”

He laughs and it fills the old apartment. You can feel the heavy weight in your heart lifting every time his chest vibrates against yours. You laugh as well. You’ve always known that Jason hides his fears behind humor, and right now he’s terrified.

“The infection will probably get us first,” he looks at the back of his hand from behind your shoulder and you see your own hand still bleeding. Grudgingly, but only slightly, you pull back to bring his hand down and tend to it. You wrap his hand tightly and secure it while he stares at your focused eyes. He wants to apologize.

It’s not just for this wound. It’s all the other wounds he’s accumulated through the years. As Red Hood. As a League assassin. As Robin and as Jason Todd. He wants to mend everything. But you’ve always been the one who’s better at taking care of both of your wounds.

“Thank you, Y/N.”

You blush. He said it before but you weren’t listening then. You haven’t heard him say your name in years. The way his voice always softens when he’s saying it, how his lips curl at the ends after the last syllable, like he’s gloating that your name is something only he can say.

“Ja--”

There are so many things to say. So many questions to ask. Things to clarify, to get off your chest, to shout, to scream, and to whisper. But this universe is shit and you have so little time. Less time than you know and it always only takes a second to change everything from bad to worse.

Your phone rings in your pocket and Jason takes it out far quicker than you. A single bat symbol greets him on the illuminated screen. He quickly stands up and walks over to the window looking over the road.

“Jason, what--”

He waits for a car to come by and then throws the phone on top of the roof with the least pressure he can muster to keep it functional. If it breaks, they’ll go to the last location recorded. If it looks like you’re on the move again, they won’t look for you here.

When he turns back to you, he’s gritting his teeth and clenching his fist. “Are you an idiot? Batman always puts a tracker on our phones.”

You know that. You’re stunned, stuck between staring at Jason’s seething demeanor and wondering why. Why would that bother him? It’s there for your own safety.

“Jason…” you pause, wondering if you actually need to ask this, “do you not-- are you not coming back?”

Jason’s eyes widened, “Back to what?!” He paces by the window. “Back to the manor, to Bruce? Back to Batman and his new Robin?” He suddenly stops pacing and glares down at you, “Tim.”

You shudder, “That’s not fair.”

“I know,” he retorts, mocking you while rolling his eyes, “I heard you. Crying and screaming like you didn’t mean it--”

You stand up quickly, “What about Talia, huh?! You had sex with her, Jason!”

He scoffs, “That didn’t mean anything--”

“Oh, that’s rich! You fucked her, Jason!” You hit his chest, hurting you more than it did him. The pain makes you angrier and you’re shouting now. “We’re soulmates and yet you slept with her!”

Jason stares you down with a steely gaze, “Why does that matter? It stopped mattering to you.”

“No, it didn’t--!”

“I know you, Y/N. Ever since we were younger I felt the little flutters in your chest and the small heat on your cheeks when you watch me, when you’re falling for whatever stupid thing I’d do.” He pauses then leans down closer so you can see it, the hurt plainly screwing up his face, “I felt it when you were with Tim.”

You stare at Jason and wonder if he’s serious. If he really thinks you stopped loving him. Didn’t you? He had Talia. You had Tim. Jason on this warpath that’s gotten you and Alfred hurt. Really hurt.

What if he’s the one who stopped loving you?

“I may have slept with Talia but I didn’t love her or like her. But you--”

“Jason.”

You want to look away from him, to stop seeing the despair and distaste he’s feeling right now. But life has proven to be too short to dwell on anything other than the present, the only moment that truly exists for the two of you.

“Tim was there for me when you weren’t. Like you had Talia--” Jason looks like he wants to interrupt but you raise your voice, “But it’s finally just us here.”

You look into his eyes and with effortless sincerity, you speak your truth. The only truth that matters now.

“I love you. More than anything in the world, I love you. Please understand that.”

Jason’s face immediately shifts. The sides of his mouth twitch as his eyes soften and turn to the floor.

You reach out to touch his face again and to your relief he lets you. He hangs his head so you can reach him with ease. His hair covers half his eyes and they’re staring at you. Jason takes a step forward and slowly embraces you. He rests his weary head on your shoulder and you bury your face against his chest, inhaling every last scent.

You stay like that for a long time, just resting and touching, but the moment you start feeling him move again, it’s too soon.

“It’s almost dawn. You should go back.”

You clutch harder to make him stay and you frown against his shirt. “You’re really not coming back with me?” you whisper.

Jason sighs but he answers you in the same hushed tone, “Y/N, I can’t. Not yet. There’s still something I have to do--”

“Kill the Joker?”

Jason presses his face harder on your shoulder and you feel his lips move against your skin when he speaks, “It’s not just that. Please, Y/N.” His hands move to the sides of your neck and gently push you back until he can look you in the eye. “I need to do this.”

Your lips quiver at all the things you want to say, the words you want to convey to make him go back with you. But fear is overpowering, fear of not knowing is consuming. You have to ask. “Scarecrow hit me with the fear toxin. I’m sure you felt that. I need to know Jason, did you send him? To the cave? To us?” Jason's eyes are narrowed and his brows are creased in concern like your words are hurting him physically. “Alfred got most of it.”

“Is he…”

You shake your head and look down, “He’s okay now. He was sleeping before I left.”

There was a pause before Jason spoke again. “I’m sorry. I really am.” You know that’s all he’s going to say. None of his plans, nothing of what happens next. Even if you ask, he’ll tell you it’s for your safety not to know.

“Once this is all over,” he uses his thumbs to prop your chin up so you’ll look at him, “I promise to come back for you and we’ll go wherever you want us to go. We’ll be together all the time, grow old, and have the most ill-mannered kids. I promise.”

You laugh even though Jason is serious. You’ll definitely hold him to that promise.

You lean your forehead against his and your lips hover in hesitation and frustration before he finally kisses you. It’s not like before. This is a lot softer, more mannered, but it also feels more desperate.

Slowly you separate and Jason’s hands limp down as you turn to the door. He watches your back and clenches his fist to keep himself from stopping you.

But you do stop in front of the doorway, your hand unmoving on the handle. You stand there for a while before you finally close the door and lock it. Then you turn around and march back into Jason’s arms, kissing him deeper.

He welcomes it and embraces you before pulling away. “That’s some goodbye kiss,” he comments and then takes your lips back in full.

You pull back and you shake your head. “It’s not a goodbye kiss. Close your eyes.” You wait until he does and then you close your own. You focus on your own feelings, the way your face is heated, your heart is pounding in your chest, and how wet you are.

He immediately opens his eyes and narrows them, “Y/N, no.”

You’re taken aback. Your brows furrow instantly, pulling your body away from him. “It’s Talia, isn’t it?”

“No, Y/N. No, it’s not. God no--” he steps back and harshly drags his hands down the sides of his face. He looks up at the ceiling and closes his eyes, “I’ve always wanted our first time to be special, okay?” His arms shoot up as he gestures around the room, “Not in this shitty apartment where there’s not even a shitty bed.”

You stare at the blush that’s slowly enveloping his face. You don’t feel the same bashfulness anymore. Life and death have shown you how the world works and nothing ever happens the way you expect it to.

You hold on to his shoulders and wait for his eyes to meet yours. “Make it special later. I’ve lost you more than I should have to. And right now I just-- I want to feel like your soulmate.”

“You are,” Jason cups the sides of your face and stares back intensely, “Not because of our stupid link. But because I want you in my life for as long as I can. And I’ll make sure it’ll be for the longest goddamn time.”

“I don’t care about tomorrow or any future,” you retort. “Right now, I want to be with you, Jason. Now is ours.”

You lean in until your lips are inches apart. His ragged breath dances on your lips until Jason finally closes the gap. He kisses you gently and carries you in his arms, making you squeal into his mouth.

Unfazed, Jason lays you on the couch and slowly undresses you until his hands will only ever touch your skin. You sit up and reach for him. He lets you take off his clothes, pulling his shirt over his head, unbuckling his belt until they drop to the floor, and pulling down his pants along with his boxers.

He kicks off his boots before he hovers over you with his arms framing your body. You both take in each other’s forms and start counting scars, and bruises, and wounds that mimic each other, falsely disguising that you’ve lived your lives together as one.

You touch Jason’s arm, tugging until he finally leans down and kisses you. Your hand travels down his back, to his side, and down to his crotch. He grunts when he feels your fingers wrap around him and you moan when you feel it, too.

Jason dips his fingers inside you, making you gasp. He closes his eyes as he moans at the same time. You touch his face and wait until he opens his eyes to look at you. You nod your head and brace yourself as Jason shifts his body until his tip is touching the lips of your pussy.

When he slowly pushes himself in, your fingers dig into his back and your mouth hangs open as a never-ending gasp escapes you. Your back arches off the couch, grazing your clit against his hip bone and you both yell out at the same time.

Jason looks at you with wide eyes and a hint of confusion, wondering if that was the kind of intensity you would always feel when you do this, when you’re one like this. He kisses you while he waits for your walls to relax around him. When he feels your hips moving beneath him, he starts moving again.

It’s the most sensational feeling either of you have ever felt. All this time, all you’ve known in your life is pain and fear. Endless nights of suffering that you’ve thrown away all hope for anything else. But right here, right now, your bodies are being consumed by the electricity skittering on the tips of your skin and flames pooling at the depths of your stomach and blazing up and down your spines.

You’re moaning without inhibitions and Jason drags down his kisses and takes out his frustration on your neck. He sucks and bites and licks it all better before starting all over on a new patch of skin.

As your voices go louder, your bodies move faster until you can hear skin slapping against each other. Finally, Jason’s name escapes your lips as you cum. The feeling is far too much for him and his body quivers soon after yours.

You’re taking in ragged breaths as you wait for the electricity to leave your bodies. With as much effort as he can muster, Jason lifts you with one hand so you can lie on top of him on the couch. Your head rests on his chest with your arms draped over his torso. Your legs tangle themselves with his and Jason kisses the top of your head.

“We’ll make it special later,” he says breathlessly and you cry softly.

He uses his thumbs to wipe the tears from your face and you want to tell him that this is special. Every moment he spends with you is special.

“I don’t want to go back,” you whisper and it pains you just to say it. The thought of disappearing from Bruce and Alfred and Dick and Tim, and the idea of walking away from Jason now is tearing you apart.

He hums against your skin and continues to massage your cheekbones with his thumb. “We’ll be together soon. But for now, you’re safer with Bruce.”

“We can go home together. Just imagine it, Jason. How shocked and happy they’ll be to see you walking into the safe house with me.” You watch as Jason closes his eyes, picturing the scene you’re dictating to him. You can see the lines creasing around his forehead and you know he wants it too but he doesn’t believe in it.

His lips press harder against your forehead, urging you to stop. More tears stream down your face and it’s you who wipe them this time.

You lean forward and kiss Jason on the lips. Then you watch as the soft light of a new day stream down his features. You have to go.

Jason kisses you again, holding on to your face, and then grudgingly lets you go. He lies on the couch with his hand draped over his eyes as you gather your clothes and get dressed. You kneel beside his head and say his name.

“I can’t, Y/N-- If I see you, I won’t have it in me to let you walk out of here.”

So you kiss his cheeks with quivering lips and your tears warm his skin before you leave the Todds’ old apartment.

✧ 1 ✧ 2 ✧ 3 ✧ 4 ✧ 5 ✧ 6 ✧ 7 ✧ 8 ✧ 9 ✧ 10 ✧ 11 ✧ 12 ✧ 13 ✧ 14 ✧ 15 ✧

✧ Watchtower Masterlist ✧

#ssa #superheroes soulmate au #DC imagines #DC fanfiction #DC reader insert #Jason Todd fanfiction #Jason Todd imagine #Jason Todd x reader #Jason Todd #Red Hood #Red Hood fanfiction #Red Hood imagine #Red Hood x reader #watchtower-feed #atbucud

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gh0stiegirlie · 4 years

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Synopsis: You have been a pro-hero for the past three years, and a damn good one too (although, you don’t think so). When you and Ground Zero are assigned on a stakeout case together to capture a member of the Dark Akumu, which is currently Musutafu's most threatening Villian League, it changes the entire course of your career-- and your life.

Length: 1.6k words

a/n: YOOOO the bitch is back better than ever after two years, and super into my hero academia. this is going to be a multiple parter series, so I hope this is a great lil pilot!

pt. 2 ->

The feeling of civilian eyes analyzing your every move is nothing new; You are a pro-hero, after all. However, the feeling of Ground Zero glaring daggers into you as you enter the sheriff’s office is a new-- and rather unsettling --experience.

“Welcome, Ether.” Sheriff Chie greets and gestures for you to take a seat in her office’s beaten-down spinny chair. “I have a very special case for you tomorrow night.”

“I’m all ears,” you shift awkwardly in the chair, trying to get comfortable. The number of times you and other heroes have sat in this shitty chair and listened to the Sheriff explain a convoluted plan to capture a villain was innumerable. Although, you guess the number is in the hundreds. At least.

“We’ve had a lesser-known pro-hero go undercover, and they were able to join the intermediate group of Dark Akumu. They’ve disclosed that during pro-agencies weekly wrap-ups with their heroes this Friday, they will be attacking several meetings. But, they can’t attack without supplies.” she continues pacing around her office, although she has nowhere to go. Her office is an inadequate size for the amount of time and effort she puts into her job, and every hero here knows she deserves a bigger space for her ideas of grandeur to fester-- and a raise in her salary, too. But since pro-heroes are the ones publicly capturing villains and doing the true “labor”, you’re the ones who receive the fame, glory, and money. Police officers no longer receive the credit they deserve, and some even believe they're no longer necessary. But Sheriff Chie is an example of why the police industry is still breathing within the tight confinements pro-heroes wrapped them in; they love representing and protecting the quirkless people of the world, and society needs that. Even if it doesn’t realize it. “Tomorrow night, the Dark Akumu will have their leader's right-hand man, Youkai, collect a shipment from a smaller underground group.” She slams her hands down on his desk with enthusiasm and points at you. “That’s when you and Ground Zero come in.”

You push yourself away from the desk in shock. “Katsuki Bakugou?” You exclaim, spinning around in your chair to face the door. You stare out the small window into the police department. “I haven’t spoken to him since high school…” you trail off, remembering his bitterly cold gaze from a few minutes ago. It looked like he was trying to ignite an explosion inside your intestines. After a few moments of reflecting, you turn to face Sheriff Chie. “Why us?”

“Your powers aid each other well,” she responds simply. “The two of you will stakeout until both parties arrive for the trade. The combination of your compatible powers with the element of surprise,” she grins, “you two will be unstoppable, and capture Youkai in a matter of seconds.”

“It’s a great plan, Chie, really. All your plans are.” you begin, “But I think you’re underestimating our foes here. Yeah, they only have one villain collecting the supplies, but still. This is currently Musutafu’s most threatening villain league. He's not going down without a fight. And by fight, I mean a full-on battle.”

The Sheriff scoffs. “You underestimate yourself, Ether. Ground Zero holds more confidence in you than you do,” she explains with a wink. You turn away once more, so she can’t see the pink blush encompassing your cheeks.

“You know Bakuguh—uh—Ground Zero and I haven’t spoken since U.A. Even then, we scarcely interacted. Except for a brawl or two.” You twirl a piece of h/c hair that fell out of your high ponytail. “It’s true that our quirks complement each other. So how come we’ve never been paired up before? Why now?” You question.

Chie simply replies with a shrug. “There’s never been a need for two of the most powerful modern heroes to pair up; Now there’s a demand for that exact role. And you two have been selected to fulfill it.” You shift in your chair uncomfortably and avoid Chie's imploring brown eyes. She puts a hand on your shoulder. “Cmon, Skylar. I understand you have a… difficult past with Ground Zero, but I’m asking you as a protector of people and as your friend to please try and look past that. At least for one night. The city needs you. ” Sheriff Chie pleads, and she’s right. You hang your head in your hands before running one through your hair. Then, you spin around with perfect posture and a humbling smile on your face. You respectfully nod your head at Sheriff Chie.

“I’m sorry, Sheriff. You’re right. I’m sure Ground Zero and I are old enough to move on from our past together and instead focus on our future. Thank you.”

The Sheriff's proud grin is contagious, and you can’t help but smile in satisfaction with her plan. As you are about to leave the office, Chie stops you. “Before you go! I want to talk to you as your friend, not a sheriff.” You walk over to her desk and lean in close. “Hero Ground Zero was also somewhat… displeased, when he heard you were his partner. Just... Try not to fall... deeper, into his bad side. He'll lure you in, but you have to be smarter. And you are.”

“But... does he even have a good side?” You joke, and Chie chuckles.

“I know, right! With every passing second he spent in my office he looked more and more like an angry balloon ready to pop. I think his head just holds tons of hot air that he can only release by yelling at someone or punching something.”

“It felt like he spent all of high school searching for a reason two do one of those things! Someone could walk by him the “wrong way” and he would get offended.” You laugh, holding tightly onto your aching sides.

These are the moments with Sheriff Chie you cherish; the one when you two aren’t head sheriff and pro-hero, but Chie and Skylar. Normal people, normal friends.

After laughing over Ground Zero's unnecessarily aggressive attitude towards literally everything to the point of rolling around her modest office and bumping into shelves and knocking down paperwork, you decide it’s time to leave. You hug on the way out.

“I’ll see you tomorrow at three pm sharp. I’ll briefly explain the mission again, and you two will be on your way shortly after.” You nod, and as you walk away Chie calls out from her office, “Oh! And we’ll be providing some spicy food!! The least we can do for our favorite heroes.”

You giggle and shake your head, sending a quick wave in Chie's direction as you continue to the exit. Before you leave, you glance at the spot Ground Zero was sitting in earlier. All that remains of the hero is a minor burn from his butt, presumably after growing impatient from sitting down for too long. Surprisingly, you smile at the thought. Ground Zero must not have changed much since U.A. While part of you dreads working alongside that hothead of a hero, another half appears eager to see what he's like as a pro.

It has only been a few years since you graduated with Bakugou and the rest of class 3-A at the age of seventeen. You're only twenty one now, but you feel like you've lived through three lives since high school, not three years. While the school had prepared you well for the fighting villains part of pro-hero life, they hadn’t prepared you for the physical and emotional consequences. As mentioned, you're barely twenty-one, but you're a regular at the doctor and chiropractor. You bare a heavy burden of having to execute everything perfectly all the time; no room for casualties. Because of this stress on saving every person, along with all your brand deals and sponsorships, you hardly maintain a life outside of work. While you love what you do, you miss meeting with friends at a coffee shop in the morning only to shop at the mall until midnight. You miss cuddling up with your Midnight plushie at 10 o’clock and watching superhero documentaries till the crack of dawn. Now, you are the one protecting those friends lounging around in coffee shops and malls, and the hero starring in documentaries. You truly love it all; You love digging your nose deep into Chemistry books and studying chemicals to create new toxins. You love protecting essential workers from the terrors of those who use their quirks for evil, and consequently beating the shit out of those people. But sometimes, you wish you were another bystander.

As a kid, you watched in awe as the heroes fought tirelessly, day and night, to always flawlessly beat the villain. But actually doing that, especially without complaints, is more difficult than you ever comprehended.

You park your Toyota Supra outside one of your perks of being a top ten pro hero. Currently, you live in a 1286112000.00 yen mansion and recently bought a 5358800000.00 yen estate. You were to begin moving next week and considered holding a little gathering at your new home in Tokyo as an excuse to hang out with your pro-hero 3-A classmates.

When you lock the front door, that’s when the isolation consumes you. Vast linoleum halls and long vinyl walls form a repetitive, meandering maze in your home. The only company you have are the halls that are starting to fill with donation boxes. There is one similarity between you and this house you are preparing to abandon; You both are empty on the inside.

You shuffle your way onto your velvet sofa and turn on the TV, ensuring to avoid the news. While mindless cartoons play in the background, you take out your phone and read every Google result for Ground Zero.

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thebiasrekkers · 3 years

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Make It Right [BTS Mafia AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence (bloody violence), Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 3,239

Tag List: @prisczero, @pinkpjmin, @btsaudge, @flowerwrites06, @unoriginal-username15432, @halussali, @shrimpmsg, @ggukkieland

AN: I need to quit fooling you people. Because the trust issues are going to get worse. Maybe this is a silver lining? Maybe? Yes? ...I’ll go away now.

Chapter 55: Sea

“Praying that we’ll remain in this desert till the end. Praying that this isn’t truly our reality.”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Two Days Later Jeju Island – Seogwipo South Korea

When Taehyung first came to, he felt warmth blanketing his entire body. Every so often, a gentle brush of cool air passed over him. His limbs ached and it felt like a stone was being pressed against his chest. Breathing was a seemingly impossible task. When he could breathe, the sensation of phantom glass fragments scraped along the insides of his lungs. Coughing was a regular occurrence. Through said coughing fit was how he was able to pull himself back to consciousness.

For a moment, he believed he had, in fact, died. There was a part of him that even accepted it. But he wouldn’t have accepted it with a smile, of that he was most certain.

There were people waiting for him; people he would potentially be leaving behind.

The faces of his brothers and of the woman he loved yanked him from the abyss.

An old man sat next to him, moving a fan slowly over his body. Sweat seemed to cover him from head to toe and there was a large basin of ice beside him. Again, Taehyung coughed and tried to sit up. But the old man placed a hand on his shoulder, gently urging him to lie back down on the futon. What energy he managed to muster quickly slithered out of him, the weight of exhaustion overwhelming him all over again.

Had he actually died?

“Don’t make such a fuss,” said the old man.

The stranger’s skin was bronze from being out in the sun, his worn and wrinkled hands and face gave testimony to the life he lived. His hair was a salt and pepper gray, frazzled from being whipped around in the ocean breeze just outside. Despite his seemingly austere appearance and gruff tone, his dark eyes were gentle as he continued to move the fan back and forth over Taehyung’s prone form.

Taehyung squinted slowly, the light peeling in from the window almost blinding him. He tried to lift his arm to shield his eyes, but found it more difficult than he’d anticipated. Sensing his distress, the old man shifted so his small frame could block as much of the light as he could.

“Where am I?”

The question croaked from Taehyung’s throat, surprising him. Attempting to swallow, he mentally reeled at how terrible he sounded.

He heard the man scoff, a sympathetic smirk pulling at his thin lips. “My home,” he replied simply, resting the fan on his knee, “you’ve got the devil’s luck, young man.”

Taehyung tried to smile but realized it probably looked like a grimace. “You don’t know the half of it, Oroshin.”

He watched the man’s smile widen a measure. “You’re young, but I see you still have some manners.”

Again, he attempted to sit up and failed. The old man seemed to take pity on him, reaching out with his thin arms to help him. When he was up, Taehyung winced at the tight feeling around his chest. He rubbed at it gingerly as the elder pressed a cold compress to his temple. Willing himself not to shrink back at the sudden cold, his eyes wandered around the abode to serve as a distraction.

He could tell that it was the home of a local fisherman. Quaint, humble and quiet; save for the crashing of waves along what he could only assume was the beach nearby. The salt was prevalent in the air, seeping in through what cracks existed in the house. Even though he could feel the cold wind, the floor was warm beneath him.

“Did you save me?”

Dipping the cloth into the ice water, he wrung it out and pressed it back to Taehyung’s head. “The gods saved you, my boy. You were already washed up on the shore when I stumbled across you.” He watched his eyes shifting to his shoulder and Taehyung reached up to touch the dressings over his injury. “I managed to purge the toxins out of you.”

His eyes narrowed. So it was poison, he thought angrily, shifting his gaze to the space between his knees, Lee Jooheon, you son of a bitch…

Taehyung lifted his eyes to meet the old man’s. “How long have I been out?”

“Couple of days now. The worst of it passed yesterday.”

Even though he still ached all over, Taehyung quickly shifted to sit on his knees, bowing his head low to the old man. “I’m in your debt, Oroshin.”

“Nonsense. It’s human nature to help those in need.”

Taehyung raised his head. “It’s a cruel world we live in now. Your kindness is rare in it.”

“Your view of the world is too narrow, my boy.” The old man lifted the fan and smacked Taehyung’s wrist with it. “Now enough of this. Sit comfortably.”

He did as he was told, sitting with his legs crossed in a more comfortable position. “Oroshin, I hate to burden you further, but would you mind taking me into town? I need to get back to Seoul as soon as possible.”

For an uncomfortably long moment, the old man peered at Taehyung – as if gauging what his motive was. But there was only one thing on his mind. He needed to get back to his brothers and warn them of the danger that was coming. There would still be time for them to find Eden and return her to the place she belonged.

…at Jungkook’s side.

Jooheon’s words slammed through his body like a wrecking ball, causing him to visibly shudder. Taehyung couldn’t believe it now that he was lucid. How had Jungkook managed to hide such a huge secret from them all? Then again, they’d all been so busy anticipating the moves of the Jade Fangs that a lot of things could have gone amiss. Something as small as eloping could easily be overlooked.

That didn’t mean he was any less salty about it.

When I get back, he and I are gonna have a little chat…

“Well,” cut the old man’s words through his thoughts, “it’s a good thing this washed up with you then.” He reached into a nearby drawer and pulled out Taehyung’s wallet.

He bowed as he took it from him, opening to see the paper money was worthless. So were his cards. But his ID was still intact. That was the only thing that mattered. If he could prove who he was, getting money would be easy. He peered at the old man expectantly who raised his brows at him.

“I’m assuming my phone didn’t make it?” The elder shook his head and Taehyung sighed. Of course it wouldn’t have made it. That would have been the luckiest break he could get outside of being alive. “I’ll just have to buy another one.”

“Eat something and then I’ll take you to town. You can’t function on an empty stomach.”

Taehyung flashed him his best boxy smile despite the agony he continued to feel. “Thank you, Oroshin.”

After filling his stomach with three full helpings of rice, soup, and freshly caught fish, he thanked the old man profusely for his kindness. When he asked his name, the elder simply smiled and told him to come back when all his business was taken care of. Taehyung promised he would return to repay him for saving his life.

There wasn’t much time to waste. He needed to procure funds to buy a plane ticket back to Seoul. He would worry about a phone once he landed safely. Besides, Taehyung didn’t think he could handle the slew of missed calls and voicemails demanding to know of his whereabouts. He went on blind faith that everything was okay; that his brothers were able to find something out on their end since it was obvious that his own trail was a perfectly placed trap.

The flight back to Seoul was only an hour, but he felt like time crawled at an agonizingly slow pace. The time he had alone on the plane was enough to cause Taehyung to fester in his own guilt. He was angry at himself for falling for such a setup, and he was even angrier that he hadn’t seen it for what it was.

Maybe Hyungwon was right, he thought bitterly, narrowing his eyes as he stared out the window, we’ve gotten fucking soft.

But he stood by what he said. This wouldn’t have been a problem had they taken the Jade Fangs out five years ago. Sacrifices be damned. At least they could avoid the headache inducing bullshit they were suffering right now.

He replayed the scene on Dragon’s Head Cliff repeatedly. No matter how many times he thought about it, Taehyung’s conclusion was the same every single time.

…if I hadn’t dodged, whatever came at me would have hit me straight on. He frowned. They were really trying to kill me.

The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth. Curling his hands into fists on the arm rests, he closed his eyes – attempting to stave off an oncoming migraine.

They would be dealt with.

They would all be dealt with.

Taehyung wouldn’t rest until he made sure of it.

Seoul - Cheongdam; Gangnam District South Korea

As soon as he landed in Seoul, he purchased a phone at one of the stores in the airport, activating it on the spot. There were several voicemails and he rolled his eyes. He didn’t have time to listen to them. Now that Taehyung could confidently say he’d met the Reaper at the Gates of the Underworld and walked away, the only person he wanted to see was the woman carrying his child. He had to make sure that he wasn’t dreaming; still sleeping from the effects of the poison.

Taehyung needed just a little more reassurance that he wasn’t dead. That he wasn’t already in Hell.

Hailing a cab, he gave instructions for the driver to take him to Raelyn’s hospital. The woman was so stubborn, insistent on continuing to work as her belly continued to swell with the life in her. Taehyung told her constantly that she didn’t need to work anymore, especially while she was with child. But she was hellbent on having her way and who was he to deny her the freedom to do as she pleased?

He’d have been a fool to try.

Taehyung quickly paid the cab driver, thanking him for getting him to his destination so quickly. He raced through the parking lot, up the steps and just barely clipped his shoulders in his impatience in waiting for the sliding doors to open wide enough to give him entrance. One of Raelyn’s co-workers that he recognized spotted him, her expression forming into shock before melting to discomfort almost immediately. He skidded to a halt in front of her, blocking her path as she seemed to mentally prepare herself to flee.

“Eunsoo-ssi,” he huffed, attempting to catch his breath, “where’s Raelyn?”

She averted her eyes, shrinking back from him as he took a step toward her. Canting his head slightly, he couldn’t hide the confusion on his face. She’d never treated him like this before. In fact, he remembered her playfully doting on him like she would a younger brother. This sudden standoffishness seemed a little unwarranted.

“She…” Eunsoo paused, taking a breath, before lifting her face to meet his gaze. Her brows were furrowed harshly and he could swear that her eyes looked glassier than they had just a few seconds ago. “She’s at the funeral hall.”

Taehyung frowned. “Why?”

“I’m sorry, I have to finish my rounds.”

Eunsoo quickly bowed, side-stepping him to disappear around the corner to the next hall. His gaze followed her as he was left in the main lobby alone.

What the hell is going on? he thought as he made his way toward the elevators. Pressing the button to give him entrance, he pressed the button that led to the mortuary floor where funeral services were typically held. Did something happen to one of their co-workers?

It didn’t take him long to make it to the funeral hall. Various other families were dressed in their traditional mourning attire and rows of wreaths with white carnations lined the walls. White ribbons hung from them, traditional hangul printed on them with the names of the deceased. He barely took notice of them, his eyes frantically searching for any sign of Raelyn.

The weight of sorrow that filled the hall was palpable, making the uncomfortable feeling welling up in his chest almost unbearable. He couldn’t place his finger on it, but Taehyung swore that a dark cloud of dread was hanging over him. He quickly shook his head, attempting to chase the nagging voices from his mind.

This was crazy. He needed to get his head together.

Just as he took another step, he stopped as someone dashed out of one of the rooms. He blinked when he realized the woman dressed in a traditional white mourning garb was Jimin’s older sister. She covered her mouth, smothering a sob, and Taehyung could only blink when she paused just seconds before colliding into him. It seemed to take her a moment to recognize who he was, as it did him for her. Her face was puffy and swollen from all the crying she’d done.

“N-Noona,” Taehyung stammered out, an icy sensation slithering down his spine, “what are you doing here?”

Her bottom lip quivered uncontrollably, her hands reaching out to grasp at the sleeves of his jacket. “Oh, Taehyung-ah,” she choked out, curling her fingers into his arms, “Jimin-ie…he…he…”

Slowly, he craned his neck to peer at the three wreaths lining the walls just outside the room she’d vacated from. He read the names on each of the ribbons draped over the wreaths. Taehyung’s heart froze for half a second before slamming viciously against his chest.

“No way,” he murmured, looking back at Jimin’s sister, “…Noona.”

Instead of answering him, he watched her collapse to her knees – a wailing sound bursting from her. Taehyung heard his very soul shattering as he pivoted on his heels, his legs carrying him into the mourning chamber.

It was crowded, bodies shuffling around as people cried or whispered among themselves. Taehyung didn’t bother removing his shoes as he stepped up onto the small landing. He saw Raelyn out of the corner of his eye. She was the first one to spot him, making her way toward him. But instead of relishing in the comfort of her embrace, the very thing he had so desperately been seeking out since he’d woken up, Taehyung stepped just out of her reach. His eyes focused on the three portraits situated on the table where various foods and flowers were placed.

“Taehyung-ah.” Seokjin called to him, but his voice sounded muffled from the incessant buzzing in his ears. He heard him say his name again and he still couldn’t hear it well.

All he could focus on were the smiling faces of Jungkook, Eden, and Jimin looking back at him from the black frames encasing their visages.

As he took another step, he saw someone move to step in his path – blocking his view of the pictures. When he lifted his eyes, he was now staring into Hoseok’s stern face.

“Where have you been?”

Taehyung continued to stare at Hoseok, blinking slowly as his mind attempted to catch up. He opened his mouth to speak and found he couldn’t find the words.

“We thought you were dead.”

The phrase shook Taehyung; rattling his bones. He visibly flinched, took a breath, then glared up at his older brother.

“Hyung,” he finally managed to say, his voice dropping a full octave, “what is this?” Raising a hand, he pointed to the side of him and gave a wide flourish to the entire scene surrounding them. “What the fuck is this?”

A hand fell on his arm and he felt Raelyn’s swollen belly pressed against his side. She buried her face into the curve of his shoulder, suppressing a sob as she pulled him close. His body felt stiff, like he’d turned into a marble statue. This was all some joke. It had to be. There was no way that any of this was real.

“How?”

“The Jade Fangs were responsible,” cut in Seokjin.

Taehyung’s eyes narrowed. “There’s no way that—”

Yoongi sighed gently. “You told us her location, Taehyung-ah.”

It was like someone dumped a bucket of ice water over his body.

“W-What?” That was impossible. He hadn’t been able to obtain that information. “I didn’t—”

“We realize that now,” added Namjoon. When Taehyung glanced at him, he nearly hiccupped at the dark expression painted over his brother’s face. “They texted us from your phone. It was all a setup from the start.”

Again, silence filled the small space around them save for the members of Jimin’s family who came, as well as friends.

“They’re gone, Taehyung-ah.”

Twisting his face to look back at Hoseok, he noticed his other brothers crowding around him in a semicircle. It wasn’t until his vision went out of focus that Taehyung realized he was now crying.

“What?” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “What do—”

Hoseok’s face softened, his brows furrowing before he closed his eyes. “They’re gone.”

The sun slowly set over Seoul’s cityscape. Lights blinked with life in succession, illuminating the darkness. Taehyung listlessly stared out over the vast expanse while standing on the hospital’s rooftop, lips puckered out while indulging on a sucker. He didn’t remember running from the mourning chamber. He didn’t remember banging his knee on the steps as he tripped over his own feet upon his ascent.

No one chased after him. They knew better. They knew he would likely implode if they did.

Taehyung didn’t stay for the cremation process. He would have thrown himself into the flames right along with them. Selfish? Of course he was. He was man enough to admit that all he could see was red.

Pulling out his phone, he crushed the candy between his teeth. Scrolling through the numerous voicemails left by Hoseok, he stopped until he saw Jimin’s name. His thumb hovered over his name, trembling, before he pressed down on the screen.

It automatically played the message on speaker mode.

“Ya, Kim Taehyung,” came Jimin’s voice from the receiver.

Taehyung’s brows furrowed, hearing the pained chuckle that followed.

“…you son of a bitch. How could you just take off for the gates of the Underworld alone? Huh?”

His grip tightened on the phone, feeling his arm shaking from the force of his hold. There was an uncomfortable stretch of silence before he heard Jimin speak again.

“Don’t even think about stirring up a bunch of shit without me. Jungkook and I will be there soon.”

Without any warning, Taehyung fell to his knees. The phone fell with a clatter beside him as his hands gripped onto the roof’s railing. His whole body shook, his silent sobs rattling through him. The tears that streamed from his face were hot and thick. He swore he could feel his own blood leaking from his eyes.

Jungkook.

Jimin.

Eden.

They were gone.

Mercilessly ripped away from the life they more than deserved to live.

Someone had to answer for this.

Someone was going to answer for this.

“I’ll make them pay,” he growled, glaring at the landscape as he ground his teeth together, “I swear to your God, Jimin-ah…”

I’ll fucking kill them all.

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zimtdraws · 4 years

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list of Arkhamverse Harley/Scarecrow friendship headcanons bc i need to let these out sOMEhow or else i explode:

- they probably met in Gotham university, given they got a bit of an age gap Jon would have been an assisstant professor in his early 30s when Harley started her PhD in her mid 20s

- Harley got her psychiatrist training at Blackgate under Hugo Strange as we see in Origins, where Jon was also canonically working or at least visiting every so often to conduct his fear experiments on prisoners in secret

- They start getting along through similar interests and a shared distorted sense of morals, Jon can tell her about his fear research without getting judged while Harley shares her interest in the criminal mind

- Then at some point they start their lives as criminals independently from each other: Jon‘s kicked out of University and becomes the Scarecrow; Harley becomes a full psychiatrist and starts her work at Arkham and ultimately turns into Harley Quinn

- and when they get thrown into the Asylum cells at the same time they meet each other again to realize they’ve both turned into super criminals and it‘s the same moment like when you meet your teacher at a gay bar or sth

- “PROFESSOR CRANE WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE” - “ I COULD ASK YOU THE SAME MISS QUINZEL”

- getting incarcerated together really cements a friendship so obvsly Jon now has Bestie status for Harley. They have tea and hot cocoa together in the rec rooms and talk shit about the other patients through psychoanalizing their behaviors

- they also talk about each other’s love lifes but it always just spirals back to either “You should break up with him” or “Geez they obviously like you just ask them OUT already you absolute moron”

- but also can you IMAGINE all the angsty shit that goes down as well because Jon would go absolutely feral protective over how Joker treats Harley like Garbage, and then he almost gets eaten by Croc and DISAPPEARS

- and then 2 years later he resurfaces as a half decaying skeleton and all the shit in Knight goes down and Harley ends up losing her best friend and her girlfriend in one night and honestly ???? this shit makes me hurt more than solving all 243 Riddler puzzles

- imagine Jon waking up after the toxin wears off and realizing what happened to Ivy and wondering who broke the news to Harley and how he can EVER look into her eyes again

(- but also this is MY headcanon universe so i‘m going to go off the game‘s hints that Ivy lives and say that she comes back in another human form to kick Jon’s bony ass for having to clean up his toxin again, and then continues to propose to Harley The End)

#long post #*takes deep breath* I HAVE FEELINGS #also if u read thru all this sorry for the grammar errors english isn‘t my 1st language and i‘m writing this at 4am #arkhamverse #scarecrow #harley quinn #jonathan crane

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kiss-my-freckle · 3 years

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The Apothecary

8x5 episode description: “The task force investigates an organization of bank robbers with a special expertise in stealing from other criminals. An old blacklist case resurfaces.”

My suspect: The Apothecary

Reasons why:

1. Red’s collapses.

The timing is perfect because it’s like a reverse of The Apothecary’s episode. Instead of suspecting Dembe of poisoning him, Red’s first collapse came at a time when Dembe’s imam was abducted. Red has no reason to suspect him, which removes their need to do an exact repeat.

Snakes -

The woman’s snakeskin boots as she entered the room.

"The lab did find one distinct element in the molecular structure of the drops taken from Robert Dahle’s apartment. A peptide unique to the venom of Bungarus flaviceps, also known as the red-headed krait."

Jennifer's reference in S6 that reminds me of Liz's reference in S4 and ties in Red's reference in S2.

"I'm the snake in the grass."

"I’ll do my job, but I am done cozying up to that snake."

"Our fake father's a criminal, and our real one's a snake."

Orion Relocation Services + Fate -

There are other seeds, like Dembe standing by the Orion stained glass window.

The Hunter and his arrows. This made me think of The Deer Hunter and Liz's marionette comment, which she first mentioned to Ressler in The Longevity Initiative (2x17).

This also pulls in Keenler’s Capricorn Killer soundtrack.

♪ What arrow? At what angle? And what angel? ♪

And I already know Agnes is that angel because she was referenced twice, by the woman from Paris and Skip Sutherland.

“She’s an angel.”

“For a surcharge, I’ll even watch the cherub.”

Red’s Stairway To Heaven comment. "Who the hell's Elizabeth Keen?" because Liz was wrong. "I'm expecting a little devil of my own." As Red already warned us she would be. "What makes you so sure you're not wrong this time?"

My question is, what the hell happened? You did. You and Agent Ressler.

All that glitters is gold + Like I said, silver linings

Red’s symptoms, which mirror that of his original poisoning, only it’s more like an ongoing attack rather than a one-shot. I think they’re getting the formula wrong because The Apothecary didn’t have Red’s medical file. Kate only needed so much from him anyway because of her skill set.

“Well, just that whoever poisoned him knew his medical history - intimately. The toxins were uniquely designed to target his body chemistry.”

She attended medical school and she knew of Red’s medical history.

"Your tremors are gone. But not the underlying condition."

His tremors were gone because he wasn't drinking the wine.

"Fun fact - Li Qing Yuen ate wolfberries every day of his life and was said to have lived to the ripe old age of 256."

The tests -

“We thought, at first, you may have had a series of mini strokes. But the MRIs, the EEGs, they ruled that out.”

“Vitals are - okay. Pulse. You need an MRI as well as a CT-scan.”

The medical file -

“There were no medical records, nothing about Reddington on file.”

“About my chart.”

The wine (with both his collapses) -

“An old blacklist case” for an “old friend”

“Elizabeth, I found the wine that was used to administer the poison.”

“What? Everyone knows wine is dehydrating.”

The difference in doctors -

Dr. Clemons: "Not for her."

Dr. Stark: "Someone she cared about."

For the same reason the woman from Paris didn't turn to Norman Devane for herself, Red didn't turn to Spalding Stark for himself. He's trying to donate to someone he's related to, someone he actually cares about. That's why Red isn't collapsing, having tremors, or showing signs of vision and/or hearing impairment when he visits Dr. Stark, only when he visits Dr. Clemons. He's seeing two doctors for two different reasons. That’s why Dr. Stark purposefully stated that he doesn’t test on children. He’d experiment on Red because technically, he’s considered terminally ill. He has a running hit on his head. Dr. Stark would provide Red with hope of saving his future - Agnes, his granddaughter. Agnes runs opposite Ames in The Pharmacist. That’s why Red is financing Stark.

“My - My daughter’s pregnant. I want to see my grandchild. I can get you the money.”

Just as he financed Dr. Shaw to save Liz.

2. Elodie killing her husband.

Taking note how Aram's dialogue to Elodie's dead husband mirrors Red's comment to Tom in 5x8.

"I, uh - I know this is super awkward. But I think this might be in your best interest."

"I’ll say this for you - you’ve always believed that you were acting in her best interest."

As well as Red’s comment to Kate.

"And yet, I know you believe what you did was best for Elizabeth, which is why I brought you here."

Aram's comment... lol

"Quick stick. Oh, God. Oh."

This ties in Liz's second memory wipe. “You were drugged. Propofol, Tramadol.” imo, the reason they've been mentioning Tom so much lately.

Add in Elodie's comment -

"Who comes up with all the nicknames? General Shiro. The Pharmacist. The Apothecary.”

And Aram’s -

“You used me. You got me to open up to you. That’s why you kept asking about Blacklisters. To seduce me into giving you a murder weapon.”

3. “stealing from other criminals” like Red’s statement to Marvin.

"I shouldn’t be surprised. We’re criminals, after all. It’s in our nature to betray."

Judas hits back to The Pharmacist (Dr. Stark).

“I’ve always found stories of betrayal to be so compelling, so tragic for all those involved. Judas, Iago, men who were beloved by those they’d betrayed.”

♪ There is a judas among us Nobody here we can trust There is a judas among us ♪

4. Marvin and Becky.

This is a man who already lost a son to suicide.

"They tracked him down, of course. Returned the child to his mother. Marvin was disbarred, convicted, and incarcerated. A year later, Timothy hung himself. He was 15."

Went to prison for three years because of his work with Red.

"He forced the FBI to release you from prison a week before your parole so that you could become his accomplice and help him escape during a police standoff. You had a new fiancé at the time, a whole life waiting. What do you have now, Marvin? Alone, on the run til you die?"

While incarcerated, lost his chance to have children with Becky.

"Becky hit menopause while I was in that bird cage. We wanted kids, but if you must know, I had performance anxiety during our conjugal visits."

The bird references are everywhere. Atticus at the mental hospital. Red wanting to hear the birds sing in Isabella Stone's episode. Agnes and her cuckoo clock. Mato and his cuckoo clock. Red wanting to hear the bird sing in Miss Rebecca Thrall's episode.

"Because I am working in a toy store!"

Then Marvin went to work in the toy section, which likely upset him more, but it's as close to kids as he'll get. It’s also likely he did time with The Apothecary (Asa Hightower) because they took the death penalty off the table in exchange for curing Reddington.

"I’m here because I need information about the prison where you served. Wallens Ridge, something’s happening inside those walls, and I need to..."

"You take the death penalty off the table, and I’ll tell you how to cure Raymond Reddington."

The father Asa became, the father Marvin wishes he could be. Asa raping his wife pushes to Hannah Hayes' episode.

5. My predictions for Ressler.

I already did a full-length post on my predictions for Ressler. Not sure where it is and I don't feel like looking for it, so I’ll keep it basic. Ressler went with Red to Dr. Stark’s lab FOR A REASON. Red’s two-for-one sale will become his two-for-one investment. “This is gonna be a gas.” Damn right, it is. Ressler’s gonna look at Red’s medical file in the hopes of helping Liz, only to find out Red is Katarina Rostova aka N-13. Then Red is gonna threaten Ressler with fire just as he did Minister D because it’s all about those blackmail dialogues - found in Minister D and The Informant, as well as the one Garvey handed to us with the bones. Add in Dom’s warning to Liz in 8x2 because knowing is enough.

“I don’t bite. Unless you ever utter my name. In which case, I’ll gut you like a fish and feed you to the lobsters.”

While Red is threatening him, Ressler’s gonna talk his way onto Dr. Stark’s table like Norman Devane was, only it’ll be for a DNA test to see if he's the father of Agnes. “Because I honestly don’t want her to worry. Whether she does or not is ENTIRELY up to you.” This will be what saves his pretty face from fire, and follow through with Tom’s 4x8 iou. Because Agnes is a Ressler, not a Keen. imo, Ressler’s gonna save two people - Red and Agnes. Red’s two-for-one investment simply by bringing Ressler to Stark’s lab. Because Red knows Agnes is in need of a donation, but he has no idea he’s being poisoned. Ressler’s gonna realize Red is being poisoned, while Red is gonna realize Ressler is the father of Agnes. The not-so- cliché future in-laws.

The Apothecary hits in so many directions.

#Rederina #Anti-Tom Keen #Anti-Keen2 #Keenler baby theory #memory wipe theory #My predictions

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conant21 · 5 years

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Heart of Iron

Sorry for the super long wait. I hope you like this chapter as much as the others. I promise the next one will be out by next week. Let me know what y’all think!!

Prologue: The beginning Chapter 1: Ophelia

Chapter 2: Viper

October 20th, 2010 - 6th months into infiltration

The sound of fists hitting a punching bag could be heard all around the room as you expressed your anger the way you were newly taught. If anyone from your past were to look at you now, they would hardly recognize you. When you had entered HYDRA a man with the name of Daniel Whitehall had taken you and 12 other girls off the street to participate in a program, he had designated Project Viper. In the first month, 5 of the girls had died from the testing preformed on them, in the months that followed you had become the victor and only survivor. With that testing you had learned more about the heritage of your mother. An Inhuman is what Whitehall had called you when you survived the final test when the others had not. With your transformation you had gain the ability to be immune to all toxins and with the added serum, that was like Captain Americas, you had become one of HYDRA’s greatest creations. “Now, now, Miss Sarkissian what has that punching bag ever done to you? I find that there are more productive ways of spending your time,” spoke Whitehall from behind you. Halting your punching, and spinning on your heel “Yes, Sir.” “Come my dear no need for formalities you have become one of us in ever way and that means its time for me to send you on assignment. You will report to Siberia for further instructions it appears that a friend in a high place needs your assistance with his asset.” “Of course, Sir I will prepare to depart right away.” With one final parting glance Whitehall nodded and walked away leaving you alone to prepare for departure. Walking towards your quarters you knew you had to send your message to Fury on your development. You had already gained the trust of most of the HYDRA officials, yet you still didn’t know the identity of the organization’s leader. Fury had continued to stress the importance of the man’s identity repeatedly still you had no idea but the small group you once thought HYDRA to be and been a well concealed lie. You had no idea what was in Siberia but what you could gain from Whitehall’s demeanor was that the “Asset” was synonymous with fear in the organization. You knew you should be afraid yet after the hell Hydra put you through you had just as much of a reputation as this “Asset”. Giving one more look into your rooms you packed the last of your small amount of belongings you turned to leave for Siberia.

November 9th ,2010 - Siberia

Looking into a mirror at your reflection, your once Y/H/C was dyed green to match your new field name Madame Viper. You were given it once you had arrived and it quickly became clear this was not an ordinary assignment. The Asset as you came to learn was the Winter Soldier, the man you learned had murdered your grandparents. At first you had been angry yet once you laid eyes on the broken man you realized he was as much a puppet as you were. The two of you had been training together, HYDRA’s fiercest agents. At first the man only communicated through grunts and hand gestures but as the days progressed, he had begun to speak in small Russian phrases. At one point you had been able to take his muzzle off in a fight and its then that you realize who the solider was. James Buchanan Barnes, Howling Commando and Captain Americas best friend. You had read about him in your studies at SHIELD and yet here he was alive no less, an important member of the evil he had given his life to stop. With things developing rapidly you were unable to convey your messages to Fury and you could only assume that it had been lost or worst compromised. You were on your own, categorize and remember the important information so once communication could be regained you could tell Fury, one of the only two people who knew you were SHIELD. Giving one last look in the mirror you walked out of your room walking to the training area. One of the doctors was leading him out you and couldn’t help but admire the Soldier, he was every bit beautiful as he was deadly. The doctor gave you one last look before walking out knowing you could handle the asset should he act out. In your time together he had been taken in and out of cryo, yet his mind was not wiped to help with the training progress. You had yet to be trusted with going on missions with the soldier but in your gut, you could guess the time was approaching where you would be in the field with him. His eyes were on you like predator and prey. Little did the Soldier know you’re as every inch a predator he was. “давай, кукла давай начнем,” he spoke in a gruff voice and with that fist began to fly.

May 18th ,2012 - Washington Dc

Overlooking the doctors as they transfer James cryo pod and other equipment you stood proud and tall; every bit the fearsome hydra agent you worked to become. The world had changed in the past weeks with the introduction of the Avengers. You had kept tabs on your father as he became Iron Man, but you never imagined Fury to have the guts to put him on a team let alone one affiliated with SHIELD. You had been unable to communicate with Fury since you left for Siberia many years ago. Ignoring the stab of betrayal, you yelled for the doctors to be careful as one almost dropped part of the memory wiping machine. The Soldier and you had been going on missions both together and separate and in that time, you had begun to care for him and so had he. He was James and you were his light in the darkness that was in his personal torment. Your missions with the soldier had made you equal with the likes of Whitehall and other lead HYDRA officials including one Alexander Pierce, whom had been the one to suggest your addition to his services. With the knowledge of his name you had learned the full extent of HYDRA’s power. Not only was every major government infiltrated but SHIELD as well, an organization thought impenetrable. Footsteps broke you from your musings as you turned to look at Rumlow and other strike team members follow Pierce into the bank vault. “Madame Viper report” “The doctors are almost finished with installations and the Asset has been stable for the duration of transport and installation. The lose ends have been dealt with regarding Siberia as well Sir” “Very good Viper SHIELD has decided to step into the light and build roots here it would be prudent that our work were to remain in close contact. The time is approaching for HYDRA to begin to step out of shadows don’t you agree.” Turning to look him in the eye you could see the devil whom you sold your soul to the minute you took this assignment. “Yes Sir” “Very good continue with the installation then await my orders I need to make sure the scepter gets to Strucker. Hail Hydra!” “HAIL HYDRA!”

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ariannjs · 5 years

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KARIN | A SasuSaku FanFic (9/10)

(Karin - Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8)

——–

Hey guys! I know it's been a while. A lot has happened in the past few months in terms of my job and personal life that's why completing this chapter has been quite a struggle. Nonetheless, here it goes! The last chapter of "Karin" before its Epilogue!

——–

“Are you sure you’re just gonna stay here?”

A subtle nod was the only response that she got from the woman who didn’t even turn to face her.

She inwardly sighed. She could only try as much. But after almost a week of trying, she didn’t know what else to do to approach and console her friend. “Just...just call us if you need us then.”

Only another nod came her way, one that wasn’t even noticeable if not for the slight movement of the other woman’s pink tresses. So with a frown, Karin finally turned towards the door with the conclusion that it was hopeless expecting even a single word from Sakura.

She couldn’t blame her for acting this way though. If she was in her position right now, it would’ve been worse.

Gripping the door knob, Karin gave the room a once-over that caused her to bite her lip too hard. Just the sight of it gave an added weight to her own heart, such that you wouldn’t be able to bear if you’d stay in there much longer.

For the white walls consumed every color there was. Even the flowers dropped off by a few comrades on the side of the room seemed pale despite their variety. What made her tighten her grasp on the door knob was the fact that even the brightest of all the colors – the mop of pink with a tinge of green – couldn’t even paint the atmosphere with her usual vibrance anymore.

Releasing another sigh, Karin opened the door to once again leave Sakura in front of a motionless body that was sapped with color as well.

She was then met by a pair of purple eyes that gave her an intent gaze, eyes that she thought she wouldn’t be able to stare at anymore if Shizune didn’t succeed in that three-hour surgery almost a week ago.

Looking down, she shook her head in response to her husband’s unspoken question. “She won’t leave him, Sui. She barely even touched the lunch I’ve left inside earlier. And Sasuke?” She slowly shook her head again. “It’s been six days. I’m...I’m honestly losing hope about it.”

Suigetsu clenched his fists, looking away as Karin’s eyes became glassy. It wasn’t supposed to be this way...

“But Sakura, she wouldn’t budge. She’s the one who knows full well that there’s a thin line between the recovery and the failure of Sasuke’s organs. And the reality is...the chances are very slim. I—” Her voice began to tremble.

The Hidden Mist ninja couldn’t even move a muscle to comfort his wife while he himself wanted to sob from the inside. It wasn’t...it wasn’t supposed to be this way! His fist landed on the wall behind them as his mind traced to that time he and Sasuke were on the way to Suna for that damned mission entrusted to them.

There was that genuine smile on the Uchiha’s face that he never got to witness since he first met Sasuke. And for once, he got to a conclusion that Sasuke was truly happy and well-content, all because of a certain pink-haired woman that he would return to once they managed to successfully end their mission.

And although he teased him endlessly – which only made the Uchiha smirk without attempting to slice him with his kusanagi – he was also very happy that Sasuke finally found a reason to dwell on joy and not on hatred.

A reason for him to come home.

The reason for him to love.

He was there when Tobirama Senju mentioned that no clan could love as much as the Uchiha. That’s why it was noteworthy for Suigetsu to witness love bloom in Sasukes’s life. Yet remembering that only made him feel worse.

“It wasn’t supposed to be this way…” he finally uttered out loud through gritted teeth. “It wasn’t...it wasn’t supposed to be him. He shouldn’t have chosen to save me! K-karin...he was just starting to be happy. I couldn’t be at peace if he wouldn’t be able to survive this. They don’t deserve this, Karin. Both of them! It should’ve been—”

“Suigetsu! Get out of the way!”

On that last split-second, he found himself hitting a tree trunk behind him while hearing a loud explosion from tens of yards away. He blinked and coughed, arm covering his nose as much as he could as his brain tried to make sense of what happened.

He wasn’t in this spot moments ago. And that in itself was an indication as to where his partner ended up in. “What the—Sasuke?! Sasuke!” Whipping his head from side to side, he tried to locate him.

Until minutes later, the entire hideout they’ve accidentally stumbled upon was covered in black flames, dissipating even the smoke with a peculiar smell that came with the explosion a while ago.

And amidst all the chaos came a limping black figure that made him scurry to his feet. He didn’t even feel the pain coming from the injury on his arm because the sight in front of him was much more painful to bear. “Sasuke! Dammit! What have you d—?!”

“Take...me...to Sakura.”

“Don’t blame yourself, Suigetsu!” Karin’s grip on her husband’s shoulders was too firm that the swordsman didn’t realize he has been trembling already.

“But, Karin! If...if he didn’t switch places with me on that last moment, he wouldn’t end up inhaling much of that poison and...dammit! I should’ve been on his place right now!”

“It should’ve been neither of you, okay? Stop thinking as if you should be the one lying on that death bed because—damn, Suigetsu!—as much as I don’t want Sasuke to...to die...Suika and I can’t lose you too!” Her shaking hands made their way to Suigetsu’s cheeks, wiping the stray tears that he was surely unaware of. “Whatever happens here, what he did only showed how much Sasuke cares for you...for us.”

The trembling of Suigetsu’s body slowly ebbed as he leaned on Karin’s touch. “He has already done so much for us, given so much, too. He shouldn’t have reached that point of having to give even his life for me.”

At this, Karin wasn’t able to fight back her own tears, but her lips formed a small smile. “Sasuke has changed a lot, hasn’t he? I still believe that he’s strong. And Sakura did her best. According to Shizune, that operation could've killed her too as she kept Sasuke alive. If we’re already feeling like this, I couldn’t imagine how much worse it is for Sakura. Yet look at her, she still has faith in Sasuke. For now, let’s just hope and pray that Sasuke’s body recovers before a full week ends.”

Suigetsu clenched his jaw. It’s just either that or...he didn’t even want to imagine anymore. He slowly nodded, sighing as he wrapped his arms around Karin’s waist. “I haven’t said it, but I missed you.”

Gone were the days that she felt useless in situations wherein she needed to do something. Gone were the days that she was helpless in front of enemies and amidst missions gone wrong.

As someone who strove to learn and worked really hard to be the woman that she is now, she knew her capabilities, both as a part of the medical field and the shinobi world. She was confident about who she is and what she can do, secured about her worth as a person and a ninja.

But when it came to Sasuke, she has always felt like she was not enough.

Not beautiful enough to attract him.

Not persuasive enough to make him stay.

Not strong enough to kill him with the thought of ending his misery.

Not worthy enough to join him on his redemptive journey.

Not lovable enough to have her feelings reciprocated after all these years.

It was like no matter how much she tried – how much she poured out every ounce of her being all for his sake – Sakura Haruno would never be enough for Sasuke Uchiha.

It even looked like a trend, that every time things were getting better between her and Sasuke, he would be taken away from her in one way or another. Back in the day, despite her declaration of love and promise of happiness, he still chose to leave everything behind to seek for power. Even with the available comfort of a home, a prosthetic limb, and a woman who still wanted to be with him after everything they’ve been through, he still desired to travel to better understand himself and the world. When he finally returned after that, he appeared as if he was already wedded and expecting a child, which in turn made her believe that she would never really have a chance of a happy ending with him.

And now...now that their bond was starting to bloom in the strongest way possible, he was stuck on that thin line between life and death even after being operated with her bare hands and injected with the concoction she has proudly produced.

She thought her insecurities were long gone. But seeing the man she loves lying in front of her – motionless as a rock with no assurance of waking up – she couldn’t help but entertain the demons in her mind that were born that time she was first bullied about her wide forehead.

Even Shizune and the other nurses who assisted her in the surgery could attest that she did what she could in order to remove all the toxins in Sasuke's body and repair the damages he received on his organs.

Yet even that seemed to be not good enough to heal and save him.

Sakura was well aware that there would be another waiting game after the surgery for even after some medicines and medical ninjutsu, the patient’s body should be left to heal on its own until it recovers completely.

And so she waited, barely even moving from where she was seated nor leaving Sasuke’s room.

She wanted to be there when he wakes up. She wanted to be the first person he would see. She wanted to make sure that he’d survive such a catastrophe.

But it’s been seven days since the operation, and only a few hours left til its full week mark.

By this time, Sasuke should’ve woken up or at least had progress with his vital signs, an indication that his organs were slowly becoming normal.

To her dismay, there wasn’t even a tinge of progress at all.

As Sakura monitored the machine beside Sasuke’s bed and checked his vitals, she felt as if the man she loves was now a ticking time bomb. For as much as she wanted to deny the facts that she knew, hitting the full week mark could mean that his internal parts couldn’t recuperate on its own anymore.

And that could only result to one thing.

“Are you tired of fighting, Sasuke-kun?” Her voice came out hoarse. Yet she wished he could hear him so clearly right now. “I’m...I’m still waiting, but...do you want me to still wait for you?”

The last time she cried was right after Sasuke’s operation, breaking down to the point that Shizune had to inject her with a tranquilizer just so she could sleep for the night. Since then, all her pain and thoughts were tucked inside her as if trying to prove the unconscious Sasuke that she wasn't the same weak girl from their genin team anymore.

For days, there were no tears. For hours, there was barely a reaction. But as the clock ticked by, she was also reaching the last straw of her countenance.

Sakura Haruno was no longer weak, but she was getting to the point of becoming ready to let go.

Placing the stethoscope on Sasuke's chest one last time before the “deadline” she was hoping to not reach, her heart constricted due to that fact that this could be the end of it all.

Tears should be coming out of her tear ducts by now but it felt like she has released them all a week ago and all she could do now was simply stare at this man's beautiful face. She could either witness the machine beside him show a flat line as a loud beep fills the room or she could report everything to Shizune and let her handle the situation from here.

Because after everything she had done, with her love for him and her passion and knowledge in medicine, his death would only invalidate all the growth she has accumulated in the past years. She wouldn’t be able to forgive herself if she saw him breathe his last breath in front of her.

Because of her.

And so, she chose the latter option.

She held his hand then, like pretty much majority of the time she was there in the room with him. “I’m sorry. I’m..." Her lower lip started to tremble as she gently moved to caress his cheek. "I'm so, so sorry.”

Leaning closer, she planted a soft kiss on his forehead, lingering for a longer time before pulling away. “It was, and will always be you, Sasuke-kun...in my heart.”

With one last squeeze to his hand, she stood up, heart shattering like never before as she finally decided to leave all the rest to the One who has the only power to give and take away one’s life.

"Always."

As she reached the door, with her limp hand landing on the door knob, there came a sharp gasp of breath from behind her that made her suddenly freeze in place. Her natural reaction should’ve been to turn around and check where the sound came from, but she didn’t want to fool herself. Besides, she hadn’t slept a wink in the past two days and she barely took in some food today.

But when she heard some shuffling of sheets from the bed, her heart raced and her hand trembled as it gripped the door knob tighter.

Could it be…

Could it be that…

“S-sakura.”

Sakura’s eyes widened in disbelief as she whipped her head towards the hospital bed and saw the proof that she wasn’t hallucinating at all.

For there was Sasuke, weakly moving to sit upright while staring at her with that softness that she missed seeing after almost three months.

His lips curved upwards, as if finally seeing light after craving for it in the dark. The sight triggered her tears to finally, freely flow down her cheeks. And it felt like all the colors in the room slowly returned while his obsidian and amethyst eyes reunited with her emerald ones.

Time seemed to stop but Sakura’s body moved on its own. She threw her arms around him – a reprise of an all too familiar scene from so many years ago – barely even noticing the way Sasuke’s lone arm draped around her small frame as she remained sobbing for a minute or two.

His body was cold, yet his familiar warmth eventually returned as he remained in her embrace.

A proof that he’s alive.

A proof that he recovered.

A proof that after letting go of all control and trusting the One who holds it all, her efforts to save him, prayers for his well-being, and the days of waiting were not in vain.

It was only then that another sound filled the room other than the rhythmic beeping of the machine beside Sasuke's bed, but the man didn't seem to mind the broken cries he was hearing. If anything, it calmed his newly awakened senses.

“You’re...you're such an idiot. You’re really such an idiot! If only you brought the potion I made! If only you weren’t too reckless! If only you took care of yourself! You wouldn’t have—damn it, Sasuke-kun!”

Sasuke tightened his hold on her as another smile formed with his dry lips. “I’m sorry.”

“You can’t just do something that could kill you and then apologize afterwards! Please don’t do that again!” Sakura's sobs subsided after a while, until she uttered her greatest fear that awakened her insecurities in the past few days, “Just don’t do that again. I thought I’m...I thought I’m going to lose you once more…” Yet something else clicked in her brain as she slowly pulled back, her eyes averting his. “But then I realized...you’re not even mine to begin with.”

“You’re wrong.”

With a gasp, her eyes widened a bit as she gazed back at him. Taking in his declaration, her mouth parted and closed for a moment, before opening again in an attempt to say anything in response. Yet no words left her throat.

She then realized that Sasuke’s hand was on her waist. And at that moment, with that rare gesture and two simple yet vague words coming from the man she loves, it felt as if every single doubt and insecurity in her body melted away in a heartbeat.

“Sakur—Sa...Sasuke?! Sasuke! You’re awake!"

They were instantly a few meters apart when a certain redhead entered the room. Much thanks to Karin's surprised state, she didn't even notice how Sakura looked bashful as she turned away to wipe her tears.

“Thank Kami! We almost thought you wouldn’t—wait a minute—my goodness, Sakura! Your chakra is fluctuating and you’ll probably lose it any minute now!” Quickly taking command, Karin extended her arm in front of Sakura’s face. “Come on, bite. It will replenish your chakra until you get home.”

“Home? Karin, I still have to check Sasuke-kun’s vital si—”

“No. I guess it’s best that I take it from here. Sakura, you haven’t gone home since…”

It didn't take long for Sasuke to realize what that pause meant. He shut his eyes and sighed. “She’s right, Sakura.”

“But, Sasuke-kun...you’re—”

“I’ll be fine,” he assured her with a soft voice. “Go.”

There was that familiar worried look on her features yet again. And as much as it flattered him to know that she’s still as concerned to him as ever, he was well aware of the fact that Sakura was giving more than he will ever deserve, even to the point of tiring herself. Probably even to the point of giving her own life to him who would never deserve such grace and love.

It was only Sakura who could do that. Only her who could make him feel the warmth in his heart right now.

Karin nodded in agreement, jutting her chin to her arm. It's the only help she could give Sakura before she faints right then and there.

“O-okay, then. I’ll be back soon.” With no apparent energy left to argue, the head medic gently bit Karin’s arm and walked towards the door, glancing one last time at Sasuke while his two words from earlier lingered in her mind.

As the door of his hospital room closed, a smile finally appeared on her face for the first time in seven days.

Sakura had never felt this good being wrong.

“Has she at least tried to sleep and eat well?”

Karin turned to look at Sasuke and then her eyes became glassy. “You—!” She flung her arms around his neck, trying her best to restrain her tears from falling. This was still Sasuke, her former team leader and first love, after all. “You’re the one who’s in pain right now yet you’re still looking after others? Are you out of your mind, Sasuke?!”

“Karin. Get off me. You’re a married woman, aren’t you?”

She pulled away, avoiding his eyes as she bit her trembling lip. “I am. That’s why I want to thank you. T-thank you for...saving Suigetsu.”

A tear escaped her eyes when she remembered the possibility of her husband dying on that last mission alongside Sasuke. Then she wiped it with the back of her hand before wagging a finger at the patient beside her. “But you didn’t have to be as impulsive as that, idiot! Now look at you!”

Sasuke rolled his eyes. The first time someone broke down in front of him today, he was completely fine with it. Of course, it was Sakura. But this time with Karin, he was struggling to tolerate how much of an emotional mess she was, until he remembered why he did what he did. “I only did what had to be done. Suigetsu has someone waiting for him here. He has a family.”

“And you don’t?”

He looked up at the redhead.

“Sakura has been waiting for you to come home, unscathed and alive. She was too excited when she learned that there was only a week left before you and Suigetsu would come home. But then…” She immediately shook her head to shun the memory of that unexpected night. “It wasn't easy for her to see you like that in the past few days, even after doing what she could as a doctor. With everything that I've seen her do for you, you cannot tell me that you have no one to return to, Sasuke. And don't you dare forget about Naruto and the Sixth. You, too, have a family here. So you can’t be reckless just like that! Not anymore, you hear me?”

“Hn." Upon glancing at the door where Sakura left, Sasuke realized that this would be the first time that he'd completely agree with his former teammate in Taka.

She had witnessed everything that Sakura did for him while he was away and after he returned with his life on the line. He didn't even need to be informed, but what Karin stated only added to what he already knows – he could always go home to Sakura. That one woman who reminds him of what having a family feels like, in her own ways.

"Thanks, Karin."

At a loss for words, Karin simply stared at Sasuke after hearing his gratitude. And weirdly, another tear rolled down her cheek as she thought of how far they've come since the first time they've met. They didn't have the affinity that Sasuke had with Sakura, Naruto, or Kakashi, but they now finally have something that she could call a friendship.

And she, too, was grateful for that.

Wiping her tear, she cleared her throat and grabbed Sasuke's clipboard on the bedside table. "Alright, let's have your checkup. I still need to tell my husband the good news."

On the next few days, Sasuke had no choice but to be pinned on his hospital bed. As much as it irked him, he couldn't complain to her beautiful doctor who checked on him everyday. He could've sneaked out of the hospital through the window just like so many years before, or even travelled wherever he wanted to escape through his dojutsu, but Sakura was so firm about him staying in the hospital as long as she said so, that even the powerful last Uchiha couldn't disagree. There was nothing and no one that could stop the head medic from making sure that no poison was left in his body and that his organs were all functioning normally.

And with that, he couldn’t help but fall for her even more. With her every visit, Sasuke found himself observing and realizing a lot of things about her just now. Like how her hair had been a little longer, almost as long as that hairstyle she had before he left her with a forehead poke. How the purple mark of her strength complemented with her fair skin in between her parted bangs. How her green, green eyes squinted in concentration whenever she would check his vital signs, administer some tests, or write something on his chart. And how her lips would curve into a relieved smile before announcing to him his health's progress.

This was one of those sides of Sakura that he didn't get to witness and experience first hand because he was away for so long.

Experiencing it now, he felt proud of Sakura for all her success in her field. And he was appreciative of all her hard work especially for his sake; however, there was still one apparent problem – this doctor couldn't even fit in her schedule a time to rest.

As he stared at her while she was taking his blood test, his lips formed a small frown at the sight of the dark circles under her eyes. And no, it wasn't because it made her less beautiful, it was because he was reminded of Karin's words about Sakura not sleeping well while he was unconscious. Just to take care of him, she didn't even go home at all.

He sighed. “Sakura, you need to rest. Go home and do just that.”

“Huh?” Sakura turned to him after writing something on her clipboard, surprised at the sudden command. “I’m supposed to look after you here and conduct other tests, Sasuke-kun. I can’t just go home and leave that.”

“Then rest here.” In an instant, Sasuke stood from the bed and slowly paced towards the small couch in the room, chin gesturing towards his former spot which shocked the head medic.

“Sasuke-kun! Why did you—?”

“You’re the one who told me that I’m supposed to be moving more now, right?”

Her eyes were still so wide despite the sudden heavy feeling from her lids. “That doesn’t mean that you’re gonna stay on the couch!”

Sasuke only shook his head. “Since you were saying that you’re supposed to stay with me for the rest of the afternoon, and going home is not an option, you’re going to take my advice and rest there.”

Sakura parted her lips but closed it again, unable to form a response to that. He was right though, she badly needed a nap before she does another round of tests and then evaluate them. So when Sasuke sat on the couch and raised an eyebrow at her, she had no choice but to slowly – awkwardly – get on the bed and position herself for a quick nap. “Wake me up in fifteen minutes then.”

“An hour.”

“That’s too long!”

The Uchiha nonchalantly brushed his hand on his hair. “An hour, Sakura.” He then frowned. “That’s nothing compared to the sleepless nights you had when I was unconscious.”

Sakura heaved a sigh in resignation. She couldn’t find the strength to say no to the Uchiha now, to think that she was the doctor here. “Fine. An hour.”

“Or more.”

“Sasuke-kun!”

Then Sasuke chuckled. The Sasuke Uchiha chuckled while Sakura was on the verge of fuming.

He couldn’t help but be amused with the sight or her narrowed eyes and reddened cheeks while reluctantly seated on the bed he has been enduring for days. “Just sleep, Sakura.”

Huffing, that’s what she eventually did, making Sasuke smile in triumph. Winning over Sakura’s antics suddenly became so much better than defeating Kaguya and his evil ancestor. Moments later, he found himself staring at her affectionately as her breathing became relaxed.

Then Sakura dreamt of feeling a pair of soft lips meeting with her forehead.

"You're quite early, Sasuke-kun!"

"Aa."

"Still the early bird, huh?" Sakura giggled out loud. "Please just make yourself comfortable in the living room while I prepare here in the kitchen, okay?" And then she went back to humming an upbeat song just like what she was doing before she heard the opening of her front door.

She was both excited and nervous about today. By dinner time, they would have a simple gathering in her house that she initiated to celebrate the full recovery of both Sasuke and Suigetsu. Karin was giddy with the idea; even Naruto was bouncing off the walls when he learned that Sakura was going to cook for them. Shizune, on the other hand, was thankful that she could leave the hospital early and have friends she could dine with. And Kakashi thought it was worth dedicating some of his time to amidst his busy Hokage life.

Remembering them assured her that her limited invited guests would have fun tonight. But would one of the main casts of the celebration even consider this as something enjoyable?

Apparently, Sasuke has never attended a party even for his own birthday in the past few years. Plus, he wasn't the kind of person who likes a lot of interactions especially if the spotlight is on him. As she turned on the stove, a part of her began to doubt for the nth time if she shouldn't have insisted the idea without even consulting him first.

Because, what if he just gets bored? Or what if he wouldn't like my cooking? What if this would make him so uncomfortable to the point that he'd rather be on his own and leave the vill-?

A hand on the side of her waist made her jerk, effectively stopping her trail of thoughts. And warmth reached her cheeks when she realized that Sasuke's face was just right next to hers as he peeked over her shoulder to see what she was mixing on the saucepan.

Air seemed to have left her lungs as his hand continued to rest on her side. She didn't want to faint right then and there even though he was in the best position to catch her easily, knowing that it would've been so, so embarrassing if it happened now that they're already young adults.

Sakura already had enough of Sasuke seeing her faint because of him before. So a repeat of that now would only ruin her track record as the strongest kunoichi of her generation.

His deep voice then filled her ears. "Do you need any help?"

"Uh...I…" She gulped. You're not 12 anymore. You're not 12 anymore. You're not 12 anymore! Clearing her throat, she mustered the courage to turn around and wag a finger at Sasuke with the hopes that her blush had subsided. "Hey. I appreciate that you want to help but excuse me, Sir, this celebration is for you. So what I need you to do right now is sit back, relax, and enjoy the rest of the night. Okay, Sasuke-kun?" She slightly pushed him on the chest afterwards without meeting his eyes. "Now go back to the living room. Shoo!"

"Tch. Annoying."

"Hey! I heard that!"

Sasuke could only smirk at her over his shoulder as he made his way back to the living room. And the moment he was gone, Sakura let out a loud sigh while leaning on the countertop, heart racing because why in the world would Sasuke – the can't-be-touched-unless-it's-necessary Sasuke – touch her like that? Plus, for the second time around?

It was a very boyfriend thing to do, which also meant it was not a very Sasuke-like gesture. But for him to do that...to me… She bit her lip to restrain a grin and repeatedly patted her cheeks.

Is this finally a sign that her waiting was over?

Things were thankfully not awkward with Sasuke after that. What mattered to Sakura now was seeing how he was smiling every now and then while interacting in his own ways with their guests.

During dinner, she watched as he helped himself with a plateful of various dishes, making her feel proud of her improving cooking skills. And as they gathered in the living room for some tea and desserts brought by the Hozuki family, she couldn't help but adore how he subtly played with Suika while the baby tried to climb onto his lap.

Everything was a lot better than what she initially thought for seeing such contentment on Sasuke's face warmed her heart like never before. It felt so much like a dream come true, knowing that the man she loves deserves all the happiness in the world after everything he has been through. And for once, in one way or another, she had been a part of what made him glad.

"So what are your plans after this?" Kakashi suddenly decided to unite the divided conversations after winning over Suigetsu on a round of Shoji.

With anmitsu still in his mouth, Naruto tilted his head to one side and questioned, "Plans?"

"That's not in your vocabulary, Dobe."

"Oi!"

Everyone chuckled at the usual bickering of Sasuke and Naruto.

"We know you don't usually have that, but yeah, I'm curious about your plans for the future."

"Sometimes I'm not really sure if you've ever loved me, Kakashi-sensei." He pouted. "But for plans, hmm…" His ears suddenly became tinged with red as he pondered about his answer. "Uhm...Hinata and I...we want to have a baby probably early next year."

"Oh my gosh, Naruto!" Sakura gasped, almost tearing up at the news. "That's...shannaro! I'm so excited for you and Hinata!"

"Wow. It's about time, Naruto. Another Uzumaki aside from you and me." With a beam, Karin shot a glance at her daughter who was busy tugging Sasuke's sleeve. "In the past six months, Sui and I have come to understand that having a child is a wonderful thing. Congrats to you and the Hyuga!"

The jinchuriki's eyes gleamed at that. "I'm looking forward to it, 'ttebayo! Thanks, Sakura-chan, Karin!"

"You're a big boy now, huh?" Sasuke smirked but his eyes held tenderness for his brother-like best friend. Pride welled in his heart at the fact that Naruto's finally going to have something that he never had – a real family.

"One more time and I'll Rasengan you, Teme!" Naruto raised his fist. "At least I had the boldness to ask a girl's hand in marriage! Right, Kakashi-sensei?” He stuck his tongue out, which only earned an eye roll from the Uchiha. “Oh! And by the way, you still owe me for ditching my wedding!"

"Alright, stop it. Not in my house, you two!"

"Don't worry, Sakura-chan! I won't embarrass Teme right in front of you!"

Sasuke scoffed. "Usuratonkachi."

"Ah, I guess it's that time wherein I'm about to be a grandpa." Kakashi had a close-eyed smile as he glanced at his former team, marveling on the fact that they've come a long way since that time he entered their classroom with a chalkboard eraser dropping on his head. After everything that had happened to them, he never imagined that he'd still have the privilege of witnessing his students enter into adulthood at such a peaceful time among the villages. He chuckled to himself, he really used to hate them, but his love for them now was already beyond what a teacher could give. "Oh, well. How about you, Shizune?"

"I can see we're really getting older, Kakashi." Shizune cackled. "My plans? Other than helping in the hospital, I'll probably just be stuck with you."

For a short moment, the other five adults in the room just stared at Shizune and Kakashi while their eyes remained fixed on each other.

Until Shizune's eyes widened in realization. She then added, "I-I mean, stuck with you in assisting you on your tasks, Hokage-sama!" She bowed on her seat, hiding the blush adorning her cheeks as an uncomfortable silence continued to surround them.

At this, Naruto stifled a laugh while glancing mischievously at Sasuke and Sakura who both had smirks on their faces. It reminded them of those days wherein they were too sneaky and curious about their sensei's love life, other than the face behind his mask.

Noticing his former students’ gestures despite not having the Sharingan, Kakashi released a nervous laugh. "No need to be too formal, Shizune. And it's not like I'm giving you tons of tasks, right?” He cleared his throat much louder than necessary, and then shifted his gaze to the other side of the room. "Meanwhile, how about you, Suigetsu and Karin?”

Quite surprised with the sudden attention, the Hidden Mist ninja scratched the back of his head as he contemplated for a moment if he should already share about their family’s plans. "Well, actually, we're planning to finally head back to Kiri in a week or two. Since our baby is already in her best physical condition – much thanks to Sasuke and Sakura here – I think it's about time that we settle in our own place."

"Really?" It was Sakura who once again reacted first, with her lips formed in a slight frown. "I honestly felt like we've been with you for just a short time."

Shizune nodded. "Yeah. We will miss you in the hospital, Karin."

"Thank you, guys. We were really quite torn about it," Karin chimed in, remembering so well everything that she has learned and experienced ever since she stepped inside Konoha right next to Sasuke. "This village surprisingly felt like home to us in the past few months, but the reality is, this is not our home."

"Your family will always be welcome here, though."

Both Hozukis couldn't help but smile appreciatively at the Hokage's words. It made them feel like they now have an extended family, residing in the place that they almost destroyed so many years ago.

"And Suigetsu, I'm grateful for all your help on the missions with Sasuke. I know they weren't exactly easy, especially that last one that almost costed you your life. That's why I'm really glad that Sakura initiated this small celebration for you and Sasuke. Thank you for what you've done." Kakashi nodded to the two men before turning to the host of the gathering. "Speaking of Sakura, how about you? Thanks for your preparations, by the way!"

Butting in, Suigetsu raised his hand and said, "Yes, Sakura-san! Thank you! I'm so full I feel like I'm all good until tomorrow!"

Sakura chuckled with him. "You're welcome. It's...well, I remember offering to prepare dinner for Sasuke-kun in my place before." She threw a glance at Sasuke and smiled softly before looking away. "I thought it would be nice serving you all as well. Hmm, for the plans? I really haven't thought of anything other than continuing to manage the hospital."

"You've been working so hard, Sakura-chan! You should probably find something else to do! Or maybe have a boyfriend or something!" Naruto wiggled his eyebrows, but surprisingly, to someone else in the room.

Sakura turned beet red. "E-eh? I'm fine, Naruto. I'm enjoying my job. And, I'm...I'm really not in a hurry for anything else."

"But you still need to rest every now and then."

Naruto smirked upon hearing his best friend's deep voice. "See? Even Teme agrees with me!"

"But I'm resting, Sasuke-kun!"

"It's not enough."

Much to Sasuke's amusement, Sakura could only pout in response to that.

"Sasuke's right though, Sakura. Just tell me if you need some days off. I'm sure Shizune has been recommending you the same thing. And Naruto's also right that you need time for other things."

There was a sudden mischievous glint in Kakashi's eyes as he stared at her. But she couldn't point out what it was for. She appreciated all their concern though, besides, they all have a point, especially Sasuke.

"Yes, dattebayo! Ha! You're the only one left now, Teme! So, any plans?" Naruto grinned like a Cheshire cat, and once again, the Uchiha only rolled his eyes at him.

As Sasuke stared at the now sleeping baby on his chest, he thought about his next steps in life. Although the same question has crossed his mind a few times, he hadn't arrived yet to a specific conclusion for his own plans. He only had two options – to leave or to stay, which were both still vague for him as of now.

But then, his gaze landed on Sakura. And the moment his eyes found her green ones, the answer to the hanging question presented itself as if it's been hiding there all along. Without looking away, Sasuke then verbalized it for everyone to hear, "I'm going to stay in the village for a while."

"Sakura-chan! Thank you once again for the hospitality and good food! It's too bad Hinata missed this due to some Hyuga business she had to attend to," Naruto said before a yawn escaped from his lips as he stood outside Sakura's front door. "But next time I'll make sure she gets to hang out with us, 'ttebayo!"

Sakura chuckled at the sight of the jinchuriki who helped out in cleaning their mess after the Hozuki family, the Hokage, and his assistant have left. He didn't have to use some chakra, but the man wanted to prove to his best friend that he was an efficient husband, one that could even quicken a task by multiplying himself. The whole while, Sasuke could only scoff at Naruto's attempt in housekeeping, but at least he wasn't the one extremely exhausted now, to think that he was helping with only one arm.

"I'd love that, Naruto! Now go home to your wife and rest, alright? You've used lots of chakra for your training and in cleaning today!"

"Ha! If only Teme helped more, the load would've been easier."

"Idiot. I helped in making sure you've left no bacteria in Sakura's house."

"What the—!"

Sakura groaned. "Can you guys at least end the night without bickering? And you! Sasuke-kun, don't forget that you still have a medicine to drink before you sleep tonight. So go home now, you two!"

She dramatically turned to her house, making Naruto cackle before finally leaving in a puff of smoke. She yawned as she reached her door knob, yet there was still one guest left after such a long night.

"Sakura."

Something about the way Sasuke said her name reminded her of the little sweet encounter they had before dinner.

With her heart racing in anticipation and curiosity, she turned to face him again, only to meet Sasuke's chest as he gently pulled her in a very unexpected embrace.

And then he muttered, "Thank you.”

Frozen in place, it took a little longer before Sakura realized what was happening, until she remembered those two moments wherein Sasuke also thanked her with such genuineness. Both incidents were meaningful for her, but this meant so much more. So much more that she found herself smiling against his chest for this was the very first time that it was him who pulled her close.

Her arms took up residence around his waist before she replied, "Anything for you, Sasuke-kun."

It was the death of the old Sasuke and Sakura. For although unspoken, both of them were certain that there was a future in store for them – one that they wouldn’t venture alone, but together.

——–

August 2019 | AriannJS

——–

Finally got to upload the most difficult chapter for me to write! WOW. WHAT A JOURNEY. It took me 4 months to work on this chapter and then after this we're off to the Epilogue! * cries in G#m *

Here's a surprise tho - the Epilogue is already finished and is just undergoing its final revisions! See it FIRST on my PATREON by AUGUST 28! ;) My username is also AriannJS there, and I would appreciate it if you become a patron, which would give you an early (and even exclusive) access to my future fics!

I really can't believe that this story is coming to an end! Thank you for taking the time to read it since the beginning! And most especially, thanks to those who intentionally give their detailed comments about their thoughts and feelings on each chapter! Your words give me a boost to continue writing!

Thanks & God bless! - A

#SASUSAKU #ss fics #ss fanfics #sasusaku fanfics #uchiha sasuke #haruno sakura #Karin Uzumaki #Suigetsu Hozuki #Sakura Haruno #Sasuke Uchiha #sasusaku angst #ariannjfics

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truthbeetoldmedia · 5 years

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The 100 6x09 "What You Take With You" Review

Episode 6x09 of The 100, “What You Take With You,” written by Nikki Goldwaser and directed by Marshall Virtue, saw the return of Clarke, Octavia finally starting down the path to redemption, the return of some old friends, and a farewell to another. Without further ado, let’s dive in!

After Octavia came sprinting back out of the anomaly at the end of the last episode, Gabriel desperately wanted to know what happened in there. He’s been waiting 150 years for someone to go into the anomaly and tell him what it’s like (why doesn’t he just… go into it himself?) and Octavia is the first person to ever come back out of it. But she can’t remember anything. Gabriel has an idea — a concentrated form of the red sun toxin that they have used in the past to uncover hidden memories. He mixes up a concoction to inject into her arm, and Octavia slips into a spiritual journey.

She finds herself alone in his hut, faced with two glowing boxes. The green one has angelic music, voices whispering her name. Then the glowing red box appears, rattling, angry voices emanating from within. We also distinctly see a photo of Josephine on the same table as that box. Octavia has to choose: green for the anomaly, or red for the Red Queen? The sounds coming from the red box definitely bring back images of the fighting pit Octavia ruled over, which makes me wonder if the gentle sounds coming from the green box are also associated with a period in her past, a period of time in the anomaly that she found peace. She opens the red box and a swarm of red, glowing butterflies pour out, reminding us of the innocent moment in Season 1 where Octavia followed glowing blue butterflies. When the butterflies clear, Octavia is standing in the fighting arena, angry members of Wonkru shouting and beating on the fences, Blodreina looking down on her. We also see a large strip of cloth covered in symbols that are familiar to us — we see them in the new opening sequence — but not to Octavia. She flashes back to moments in the bunker, and then further, as she stabs Pike through the gut, as she sentences Bellamy to fight in the pit, as she kills her own people to make them eat human flesh, as she leads them into the gorge to be slaughtered. Octavia tries to flee the pit, but finds herself chained down, and instead collapses into the fetal position and sobs.

After what seems like a long time, the door to the arena swings open, and in walks Pike. Their conversation was so poignant that I just have to share the whole thing here. He tells Octavia that they have unfinished business, and she denies it, simplifying their story to: “You killed Lincoln, and you died for it. End of story.”

“Was it? You think murdering someone in cold blood, even someone you have reason to hate, is justifiable?” “Yes.”

“And yet, it turned you into this.” [He gestures at the pit]

“Think what you want, I’m not here for you.”

“No. You’re here because of me. The path to the future goes through the past, Miss Blake. Psychology 101. We are what we’ve done and what’s been done to us. Now, you’ve had a rough go, I’ll give you that. And it’s made your dark side strong. I suppose you needed that, to protect yourself under the floor. But what about now? Who are you now? What do you want, Octavia?”

“I want you gone.”

“You tried that; it didn’t take. It has to be something else.”

“I want to know what happened inside the anomaly. That’s why I’m here.” “Maybe nothing happened. Or maybe you’re not supposed to know! They don’t call it the anomaly for nothing. What I know is, you chose the red box, so stop wasting my time and answer my damn question! What do you want? … Okay. Because class is in session, allow me to facilitate the discussion. How does it feel to know that… everyone hates you, everyone you care about, even your brother?”

“Not good.”

“Oh, I expect not. But that’s not the worst part, is it? You hate yourself too.”

[Octavia starts crying]

“Good. One more time. What do you want?” “Forgiveness.” “Deeper. Much, much deeper. Forgiveness is for minor offenses. You murdered people to get them to eat their friends and families. And then you burned the farm to get them to march, because you couldn’t live with the idea of not getting to that valley, even when there was another way! You got 400 people killed in that gorge! You caused the world to be destroyed! What you want needs to be earned! Now SAY IT!”

“Redemption.” “What’s that? I can’t hear you.”

“Redemption!”

“Ding ding ding! A gold star for Miss Blake. I was trying to earn mine when you put a sword through me. Which brings us to big question number 2. What are you willing to do to get it?” “What if I don’t deserve it?” “Deserve’s got nothing to do with it.”

Now Blodreina enters the conversation — “Shut up, Pike.” She strides into the arena, and suddenly Pike is in chains too, and there’s a sword at Octavia’s feet. She orders Octavia to kill Pike. “Here we go again,” says Pike. “Doing the same thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. Einstein said that.” Pike and Blodreina argue, the angel and devil on her shoulders, and Octavia crumbles to the ground, whispering her old mantra: “I’m not afraid.” Blodreina holds her sword at Pike’s throat. “Charles Pike of Farm Station,” she begins, and Octavia flashes to a memory of Lincoln on his knees in the mud. “You have been sentenced to death in accordance to the laws of Wonkru,” Blodreina continues. Octavia flashes again to Pike saying a very similar thing as he prepares to execute Lincoln. “Any last words?” Blodreina asks. “Not for you,” reply Lincoln and Pike. Pike looks at Octavia and repeats Lincoln’s last words; “May we meet again” in Trigedasleng. Octavia tearfully leaps to her feet and blocks Blodreina from executing Pike, and in doing so, she breaks the cycle. Pike vanishes, and Blodreina charges Octavia. The two even fight differently now; Blodreina wild and reckless, Octavia careful and guarded. The fight ultimately ends with Octavia stabbing Blodreina through the heart and saying in Trig, “Blodreina no more.” She then wakes up on the table in Gabriel’s hut, a tear leaking from her eye.

Octavia has been one of my least favorite characters for several years, and the deciding factor was when she beat Bellamy bloody while he was chained to a rock. Then in Season 4, they teetered on the edge of making her an antagonist, but didn’t have the courage to pull the trigger. Finally, in Season 5, they went full villain with her, which was the most interesting she’d been to me in 2 seasons. But in Season 6, they looked to be trying to start up a redemption arc, but didn’t start with the most important thing: making amends. Octavia justifies why she turned the fighting pit into a source of entertainment, she justifies why she burned down the algae farm and forced her people into an ambush that killed hundreds, she justifies her abuse of people she loves. And then she demands they wipe the slate clean and pretend it never happened — without so much as an apology. Now, finally, finally, we’re seeing Octavia actually work toward redemption. I’m not gonna lie; seeing Pike rip into Octavia like that, exposing her entitled, selfish nature and listing out all the awful things she’s done was one of the most gratifying scenes of television I’ve seen recently. I want to like Octavia again. I’m invested in this redemption story, to see if she actually learns from her drug-induced spiritual journey and does better and works on her problems. (Can you tell I’m all about Monty’s admonition to “do better here”?) The one thing I would have preferred in Octavia’s breaking the cycle would have been for her to just walk out of that fighting pit. I wanted them to show that she doesn’t always have to kill something or someone. They could have had her leave Blodreina to be miserable and fester in her fighting pit, and walk out and be free to start her journey of redemption.

So, what are we thinking about the anomaly? Any theories? Before the season started, I thought the anomaly could be a temporal rift, a place where two universes were touching. That would explain the showdowns between two versions of Octavia we saw in the trailer, and why some dead characters were coming back. Of course, we now know the reasons for both of those, but still aren’t sure what the anomaly is. It definitely seems that time moves differently there; Octavia ran into it with ratty hair and an old lady arm, and came back seconds later completely normal. But it seemed more time had passed for her, though she doesn’t remember what happened in it. I also have a feeling that Diyoza might not come back out, or if she does, she’ll be much older (hence the kid she saw, Hope). Also, I know this connection has been made a million times, but — the anomaly eats up radio messages and spits them back out at random. Can you think of any other important radio calls that went unanswered but have been referenced several times throughout the season? I will eat my hat if Bellamy doesn’t hear Clarke’s radio messages to him at some point here.

I know a lot of people have picked up on the chemistry between Gabriel and Octavia, I’m not super here for The 100 throwing another love interest at Octavia. She needs to be single and alone and work through her issues because she consistently abuses the people closest to her, who often happen to be people of color — Bellamy, Lincoln, Indra, and likely now Gabriel.

Back in the woods, Bellamy hauls a handcuffed Josephine along to find the Children of Gabriel. Josephine insists that they need to turn back, because they’ll kill her if they find out she’s a Prime, but Bellamy vows he won’t let that happen. And we get yet another instance of a character calling Bellamy or Clarke out on their feelings for each other. “The people you care about are in trouble. I guess you just care about her more,” Josephine accuses him. Bellamy succeeds in finding the Children of Gabriel, but even though they don’t know Josephine is a prime, they still take the two captive and chain them up in a cave that we definitely haven’t seen used before for every cave on Earth. Bellamy tries to tell them that he has information Gabriel needs to know, but the Children don’t seem convinced. While they wait for their fate to be decided, Josephine commiserates with Bellamy about having been in love with and pining for someone for hundreds of years, very clearly implying a parallel with him and Clarke. “What, are we gonna be friends now?” she snarks. “Doubtful,” Bellamy fires back, a clear parallel to him telling Echo that he’d never trust her in Season 4. This clearly means that Bellamy and Josephine are gonna date, right?

And as Josephine tells Bellamy about having been in love with Gabriel for all those years, and how he’s been trying to kill her for the last 70, Clarke taps out through Josephine’s finger in Morse code: B-O-O H-O-O. Bellamy realizes that Clarke can hear them, and Josephine tells him that means the wall separating their minds is almost gone. Which means Clarke will die soon, and Josephine will download back into her mind drive. Bellamy asks Josephine to let him talk to Clarke, but she refuses, saying she’d have to give over control to do that. But she tells him that since Clarke can hear him, “just say what you want to say.” The Bellarke theme swells as Bellamy looks at her, hope and heartbreak evident in his eyes. “I won’t let you die,” he vows, then turns away before tears can spill over.

“My father was a fool for letting you people stay. All that time spent building a sanctuary for the human race, and he destroys it because of the most human thing of all — love.” She looks at Bellamy and adds, “One look at you — he should have known how this would end.” She’s right; Bellamy is going to tear Sanctum down to save Clarke.

“I guess I’m just saying all this because I know so much about you now.”

“Hmm, you do, huh?”

“Mm-hmm. Take you and Clarke, for instance. Now that’s a weird relationship, isn’t it? First you want to kill her to save your own ass, even though it means the genocide of your own people on the Ark, and then you become besties, bonding over the actual genocide at Mount Weather. ‘Together.’ You lock her up, she locks you up, you leave her on Earth, she leaves you to die in the fighting pits. I mean, it’s exhausting, frankly.”

“Tell me about it.” (And all the Bellarke shippers watching yelled, “RIGHT?!”)

Their captors come back into the cave and prepare Bellamy and Josephine to be moved, saying that the Sanctum riders are coming. Josephine struggles against the man moving her, earning a shove for her trouble. The man picks her back up, but a blonde woman notices a trickle of black blood from her lip. The Children of Gabriel prepare to execute her, despite Bellamy’s frantic pleas. As Bellamy tries to convince them to let her live, Josephine closes her eyes, and when she opens them, we can tell that Clarke is back in control. “Wait!” she calls out, head still on a stone to be beheaded. “Gabriel loves her. Is this what he would want?” The man swings his sword down at her neck, but she kicks his knee and quickly kills or incapacitates the group of people in the cave. Bellamy, eyes shining, can tell Clarke is back in control, and Clarke tells him that Josephine knew she had to give control back to Clarke or get her head cut off. Clarke tries to free Bellamy from the chains still holding him to the cave wall, but more Children of Gabriel approach, and Bellamy tells her to run. She refuses to leave him at first, but he insists, so she dashes off, but not before giving him the key to his cuffs. (Can we just take a second to appreciate Eliza? I know I’m always singing her praises, but she makes a distinct difference between Clarke and Josephine, from her voice to her body language, and it’s so cool to watch.)

Clarke sprints through the woods away from the Children of Gabriel, following the sounds of motorbikes. She manages to flag down the Sanctum riders, who recognize her as Josephine, and take care of her pursuers. Most of the riders take off after the rest of the Children, but Jade stays to get Josephine back to Sanctum. But Clarke hits her over the head with a rock and takes her motorbike for herself. But she’s startled to find Josephine 1.0 standing next to the bike, admonishing her for knocking Jade out. Things are getting worse, Josephine explains, and Clarke needs to give back control. Josephine will just take it back when Clarke falls asleep, anyway. But Clarke grabs Jade’s radio and says, “Gabriel, my name is Clarke Griffin. Josephine Lightbourne is in my head. If you can hear this, we’re coming to you.” When Josephine sees that Clarke isn’t going to go back to Sanctum, she offers to drive the motorbike — but Clarke will have to give over control. But with a smirk, Clarke straddles the bike and starts it. Josephine realizes that, just like she got knowledge from Clarke, Clarke got some of her knowledge. “Sucks, doesn’t it,” Clarke says to her in Mandarin, then puts the helmet on and roars off through the woods.

After Octavia wakes up, she makes a beeline to one of the motorbikes she and Diyoza left outside Gabriel’s hut. He follows her, asking what she saw in the anomaly, but she still doesn’t know, but she does know what she has to do now. The anomaly gave her a second chance, and now she has to earn it. The two shake hands as Octavia prepares to leave, but then a radio message comes in, one of the Children of Gabriel telling him that they have a prisoner that claims Primes can now make hosts. Then Clarke’s message comes through, and Octavia decides to stay there and wait for Clarke.

On the Eligius ship, Kane is having trouble adjusting to his new life. He looks at his new body, unsettled by not bearing the marks of his past life, but Abby says that he doesn’t ever have to worry about “that” (being killed or nearly killed) ever again. So she’s definitely not gonna be satisfied giving him this one life; she will try to make him live forever and likely do the same herself. I wonder if they gave Abby a lineup to choose from for Kane’s new body, because he sure is hot, and she’s taking every opportunity to get her hands and mouth on him, to the point where I was howling with laughter during a solemn scene. This is how I imagine the scene where Abby picked a new body for Kane playing out (slight NSFW warning for butts):

Also, Marcus “Known Cannibal” Kane telling Abby she tastes different is hilarious considering, you know, “The Dark Year.” There’s also an interesting parallel (or lack thereof?) in one of his conversations with Abby. Bellamy told Echo in the beginning of Season 5 “Nothing is going to change on the ground,” and Abby tells Kane here, “Things will be different on the ground.”

Raven confronts Abby about killing Gavin so Kane can live. She asks Kane if he’s okay with this, but before he can answer, Simone and a group of guards walk in. As Simone and Abby discuss getting the rest of the nightblood serum down to Sanctum so they can make more hosts, Kane notices one of the guards looking at him strangely. “You knew him,” he says to the woman, who tells him that Gavin was her husband. Kane is already horrified, but then the woman asks him to pass a message on to her husband, and Kane realizes the Primes have been lying to the people. The woman leaves to get the shuttle ready to go down to Sanctum, and Kane confronts Simone, despite Abby’s attempts to quiet him. The confrontation was so “Kane” that I’m half convinced they just put prosthetics on HIC’s face to make him look different! After Kane storms off, Raven gives Abby a self-righteous look and says, “I’m not sure it was worth it to him.”

Raven and Kane wake up Indra (!!!!) and she instantly knows something is afoot. Her suspicions are confirmed when Kane 2.0 warmly greets her in Trigedasleng. We later see Indra looking out the window of the ship onto the planet, while Raven and Kane argue. Raven says that she didn’t know until they got to the Eligius ship what Abby was planning, otherwise she wouldn’t have flown the shuttle, and tells Kane that she tried to talk Abby out of it. “Not hard enough,” he replies, much like his response to Bellamy in Season 2 when Bellamy told him that he’d done his best to protect the delinquents against the grounders. Kane can’t believe what Abby has done, and doesn’t understand why, but Indra tells him it’s because Abby loves him. Kane can’t believe that Indra could be okay with this, but as she points out, “On the Ark, you floated people for stealing food. On the ground, my people cheered as children fought to the death to lead us. Is this so much worse?” She suggests that this might be what they need to do to survive, just like those other scenarios. “What I know is that I am looking at my once crucified, resurrected friend, and I can see why some might think that’s a miracle.” (Side note, does this imply that the grounders do have records/knowledge of religions before the apocalypse? Or that Skaikru told them about Jesus while they were in the bunker?)

Kane tells Indra why the whole hosts and Primes thing is bad, and Raven tells Kane that this is why they need him. This exchange annoyed me, because obviously Indra can tell that murdering innocent people and lying about their deaths is bad, and they don’t need Kane to tell them that. Kane then tells Raven that she’s always known what’s right. I’ll admit I laughed here, because if that’s true, that means that Raven has consciously made the wrong decision time and time again. She tortured Lincoln, she tried to turn Murphy in for Finn’s massacre, she refused to help Luna and her people when they were suffering from radiation sickness. The show and the fandom often try to prop Raven up as this paragon of right and goodness, but the truth is, she’s done just as many terrible things as the rest of them, and is by no means a good moral compass.

Raven, Abby, and the Sanctum delegation, along with the container of nightblood serum, prepare to go down to Sanctum, waiting for Kane to join them. But suddenly Indra, Niylah, and several other members of Wonkru burst through the shuttle doors with guns, and Raven grabs the nightblood serum from Simone and hands it over. Indra leaves with it, while Abby and Simone demand to know what’s happening. Raven tells Abby that Kane told them to keep her there, and when Abby tries to push past Niylah, Niylah tells her that she doesn’t want to see this. Abby pleads with Raven to let her go, and Raven relents and takes her to the airlock. In yet another parallel to Abby’s losing another man she loved via floating, Indra tries to hold her back from the airlock, telling her she shouldn’t be there, but Raven tells Indra she deserves a chance to say goodbye. Abby, sobbing, begs Kane through the airlock door not to do this, and as the camera focuses on their nearly-touching hands, then pans up to Kane’s face, we see the crucifixion scars on his wrist, the symbol of the coalition on his forearm, and Henry Ian Cusick’s familiar face once more. He tells Abby that this was wrong, but that if he’d been in the same position, he probably would have done the same to get her back. But he won’t be able to live with himself, and neither will she. Abby insists that they can make a new life, they can start over. But Kane tells her that he’s doing what she always said she would do — making sure they deserved to survive. But I can’t for the life of me see how killing himself after a stranger sacrificed his life for him is what makes them deserve to survive. Kane tells Abby that she’s strong, much stronger than him, and thanks her for all the times she’s saved him— not just his life, but him. He tells her that if he doesn’t do this now, they’ll both live to regret it, and so many more innocent lives will be lost (again… how?). After all the times Abby has said, “first we survive, then we find our humanity again,” this is how they get their humanity back. Abby breaks down in sobs, and Indra starts to recite the Travelers’ Blessing, with Raven joining in. “May we meet again,” Indra tells him in Trigedasleng, then steels herself and opens the airlock. Raven catches Abby as she collapses, and we see Kane fly out into the vacuum of space.

This show has always had trouble distinguishing between true self-sacrifice and suicide. Within the first few episodes of the show, a young girl threw herself off a cliff to escape the consequences of murdering someone. It was portrayed as heartbreaking, but ultimately the only solution. A few episodes later, when it became public knowledge that the Ark was failing, 320 members of the Ark sacrificed their lives so that their children and the rest of the Ark inhabitants could survive long enough to find a solution. I would argue that this was in fact noble self-sacrifice, albeit unnecessary, as we found out at the end of the episode. In Season 2, after Finn suffered a mental break and slaughtered a village of grounders, rather than deal with what he had done, he sacrificed himself to the grounders to be tortured to death. Now, he was undeniably in a nigh-impossible situation, with Lexa calling for his death, but the Sky People were willing to work towards a solution. Nonetheless, again, his suicide was the only way he could fix things.

In Season 4, Raven and Clarke both acted self-sacrificially — Raven by straining herself to find a solution to save her people, even though she knew it would likely ultimately fry her brain, and Clarke by climbing the tower to align the satellite so that Bellamy, Raven, Harper, Monty, Emori, Murphy, and Echo could get to the Ark in space, even though she stood a better chance of surviving inside Becca’s lab, and very little chance of surviving at all. Again, I would classify those things as selfless acts to save their friends. There have been plenty of others, from Jaha staying on the Ring to get the Ark back to Earth, to Clarke telling Roan she’ll go peacefully with him (to her death, as far as she knows) if he spares Bellamy. But there have also been instances of straight-up suicide portrayed in, if not a fully positive light, at least a neutral light. Finn didn’t know how to deal with what he’d done, so he killed himself. Charlotte didn’t know how to deal with what she’d done, so she killed herself. Jasper and most of the delinquents committed mass suicide because they couldn’t deal with life on the ground. Octavia tried to get McCreary’s men to kill her in the gorge so she wouldn’t have to do the hard work of being better. And Kane threw himself out an airlock because he didn’t know how to deal with what Abby had done.

I understand that Henry Ian Cusick got another, larger role in a different show, so they had to write him out of The 100, but Greyston Holt did a fantastic job as Kane, so much so that I almost believed he truly was Kane. How much more interesting would it have been if Kane had decided to take Monty’s words to heart and do better, instead of just giving lectures on morality like he’s been doing in the last couple seasons? They definitely needed to destroy the nightblood serum that Abby had made so that the Primes couldn’t make more hosts and kill more innocent people to continue living forever, but it was absolutely unnecessary for Kane to die. Clarke has synthetic nightblood too; does she need to die? Yet the show completely framed it as Kane sacrificing himself for the greater good. I mean, at least with Finn’s sacrifice, his death accomplished something. But with Kane it’s like when King David from the Bible, while on the run for his life, wished for some water from his well in Bethlehem, then when some of his men risked their lives to get it for him, poured it all on the ground. Kane killing himself didn’t bring Gavin back, nor was it necessary to keep the Primes from making nightblood, it just spat in the face of the sacrifice Gavin made and was solely because Kane couldn’t accept it. If they really wanted to be done with Kane, and wanted his death to be a heroic sacrifice, it would have been more interesting and heroic for him to somehow sacrifice his own life to let the host, Gavin, continue to live. I mean, Abby can totally fish Kane’s body out of space, take out his Mind Drive, and plug him into a new body! And who’s to say they can’t get the nightblood serum while they’re out there? While Kane’s death was executed (no pun intended) beautifully, the absolute unnecessity of it just left it feeling a little bit hollow.

Michaela’s episode rating: 🐝🐝🐝🐝

The 100 airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on the CW.

#The 100 #What You Take With You

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imsuchmarveltrash · 6 years

Text

Bucky Barnes Imagine - No More Time

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Enhanced!Reader:

Word Count: ~6200

Summary: 2 years after Enhanced!Reader saves both Bucky and herself from Hydra, Hydra decides to take its revenge.

A/N: Hey guys, so this is my first imagine that I’m posting and it’s loosely based on the song No More Time by flor (You should really check them out, both the band and the song are AMAZING!!!), but I hope you guys like it. Feedback is much appreciated. :)

Warning: Angst, swearing

Your life had been difficult, but you had finally gotten to a point where you were genuinely happy. You’d been dealt a bad hand. When you were younger, you had found out that you had an enhanced ability: cell regeneration. Your cells both healed and replaced themselves so fast that you were even able to cheat death (essentially making you immortal).

It wasn’t long until people found out about your ability. Hydra had sent the Winter Soldier to abduct you when you were only 16. You couldn’t understand what purpose they had for your abilities until the torturous experiments started. Each day, they exposed you to painful tissue extractions, trying to find the root of your abilities in order to replicate them. Hydra had taken you from your family, only to replace them with a life of pain without solace.

This continued for 10 years, until you finally broke free. The Hydra base you were in fell under attack and, by some technological error, your cell was opened. You were finally given the opportunity to try and escape the organisation that had made your life a living hell.

As you ran through the labyrinth of corridors, you passed a large room filled with numerous cryo tanks. Being locked in Hydra for so long, you had come to hear about who the Winter Soldier was from various doctors, scientists, and agents that happened to talk about him around the room you were being held in. The opportunity in front of you was too sweet. You needed to rob Hydra of their most lethal and favoured weapon.

You drained and opened the tank that the soldier was being held in, desperately trying to hold up his limp body while trying to help him regain consciousness. After a few angst-filled seconds, he came to, with an exceptionally confused look on his face.

“Where am I? Who are you?” he asked frantically.

“You’re in a Hydra base that is currently crumbling, and my name is Y/N. But, Come on! We need to hurry if we want to make it out of here alive.” You stressed.

The soldier nodded and unsteadily stood to his feet. Once you were sure he didn’t need your assistance, you let go of him, only to grab his hand and pull him as you broke into a run. You needed to escape the facility. You had come too far to take the opportunity for granted.

You and the soldier made it out of the building just in time as its foundation crumbled with a massive explosion. Panting, you finally stopped to breathe once hidden in the treeline of the forest that concealed the Hydra base. You turned to look at the soldier.

“So, now that you know who I am, and I set you free, who are you?” you asked. The soldier blinked confusedly, as if trying to grasp at memories that were barely there.

“My name’s B-Bucky, I think.” He murmured, clearly not trusting his own mind.

He groaned in frustration, clenching his hands in his hair, still wet from the cryo tank. He sank down onto the cold soil of the forest floor, breathing deeply as he tried to compose himself. He opened his mouth again, thinking hard, then closed it and reopened it, before replying.

“My name is Bucky Barnes,” he sighed, “that’s all I can remember. Hydra has scrambled my brain too many times for me to count, so that I could be their soldier.” His voice was full of contempt at the mere thought of Hydra. It was then that you realised that they had ruined his life just as much as they had ruined yours.

“It’s okay, Bucky. I understand how you feel. It’s just that, right now, we need to keep moving so that we don’t get recaptured.” You stressed. Bucky nodded in agreement. Getting up from where he was seated, he seemed to almost choose a point at random, before he led you through the forest until you found any other semblance of civilisation.

2 Years Later

You and Bucky were happily back in New York. After discovering that the Hydra base was in Latvia, you and Bucky managed to find a place for yourselves while Bucky slowly but surely regained his memories. After about six months, Bucky’s memory was sufficient enough that he remembered who Steve was, and that he was still alive. After discussing it with you, Bucky decided that he would contact Steve so that he could go back home. He didn’t want to involve you yet since he knew what the implications of him going home would be–he was a criminal.

Yet, Steve came through for him and got all his charges cleared and his brainwashing removed. Six months later, Bucky was able to secretly move you from the small, one-bedroom flat you shared in Latvia to an apartment in Brooklyn. At that point in time, he was in the process of becoming an avenger, and he didn’t want you to get caught in the crossfire of any battles between him and his enemies. So, you kept your relationship a secret from everyone, including the avengers.

That was how you and Bucky got to your current state: him working as an avenger while you worked as a freelance illustrator for various publishing companies. Although you led very different lives, you and Bucky had become so close that you couldn’t picture life without each other. Even after a year, none of the avengers knew about your relationship. But, that didn’t matter. Your relationship with Bucky had you in a constant state of bliss.

He loved you, and he reminded you of that every day. He felt that he owed you everything: if it wasn’t for you, he’d probably still be the Winter Soldier. Yet, what he felt for you wasn’t just dutiful devotion. You could tell by the look in his eyes that he adored you. His entire world would shatter if he ever had to lose you. And, one day, that was exactly what happened.

It was a Saturday morning and you were walking to the front of your apartment building to pick up your mail. Once you got up to your apartment, you closed the door and made your way to the couch, flopping down and flipping through the envelopes, trying to pick out the important ones from the spam.

You found one with no return address, and you found that strange. You picked up the blank white envelope, turning it over and examining it, yet you couldn’t get any information from it. As you opened it, you felt a feint, heady smell filled your nostrils. You could feel the sickly-sweet aroma slowly clogging your senses, making your head foggy and, before you knew it, you started to fade into a black abyss.

You were woken up by a frantic Bucky shaking you awake. You looked up to see a distraught look in his eyes that only slightly lessened once he realised you were awake. You groggily rubbed your eyes, trying to piece together what happened before Bucky got there.

“What’s wrong?” you asked, noticing the panic on his features.

“Well, I texted you to let you know I was coming through, but you didn’t reply. I came through anyway and the door was unlocked. When I came inside, I saw you lying on the couch, but I figured you were just asleep. Then, I saw the note in your lap. Y/N, you haven’t read it yet, have you?” Bucky replied, the worry in his eyes not lessening.

“No, I haven’t. What did it say?” you asked.

“It was from Hydra. The letter was laced with a toxin meant to attack the part of your brain that triggers your cell regeneration. Essentially, they’ve made you mortal, and now they’re saying you’ve got no more time.” Bucky replied, eyes tearing up at the thought of losing you.

You stood, staring blankly ahead of you as you tried to process what Bucky had just told you. You couldn’t fathom how this was happening. As you stood, you attempted to mentally analyse every part of your body, trying to see if anything had changed or felt different, but you still felt the same.

Bucky was the complete juxtaposition to your stillness. He was pacing up and down through your living room, clenching and unclenching his fists in frustration while muttering to himself as he tried to think of a solution.

You looked up to him, the man you loved so much, and it broke your heart seeing him so scared to lose you. You moved towards him, grabbing his hands and feeling them relax as you wrapped his arms around you. You breathed into his chest, trying to enjoy it while fending off the thought that the threat was true, and it might be one of the last times you get to enjoy being with him. You felt Bucky’s arms tighten around you, and you knew he didn’t want to let go. His chin rested on your head and you felt every deep breath he took, trying to calm himself.

“What are we going to do? I can’t lose you.” Bucky whimpered.

“You won’t,” you replied, adamantly, “for all we know the threat is fake. I don’t feel different and besides, the regeneration was only useful whenever I got injured. So even if I only have just one life, it can still be a long one.”

“Y/N, you still haven’t read the letter. You didn’t see what they said. Does ‘no more time’ not mean anything to you? They took away your ability so that they could do something fatal to you, and even if the threat is fake, I won’t risk that.” He stressed, his blue eyes wide with both worry and sincerity.

“Let me see the letter.” You commanded, fatigue slipping into your voice as you started to feel the weight of the issue.

Bucky handed you the single white piece of paper. As you brought the paper up to reading distance, you realised how anxious this whole matter made you. You could feel your heart rate increase, racing as you slipped into a slightly panicked mental state as you were about to read the single page that may or may not hold your fate.

Good day Miss Y/L/N,

As you might have guessed, we’ve found you. I hope you’ve enjoyed these past two years because you won’t have much longer. This letter has been laced with a toxin particularly designed to target you, specifically your cell generation. This toxin will inhibit your brain from undergoing the process that allows your cells to regenerate, meaning that you can’t heal, and you’ll age. You’re essentially mortal.

Don’t think that we won’t capitalise on that. We haven’t forgotten that you’ve stolen our greatest asset, and we won’t be very forgiving about it either. We’ve been watching you. We know how close you’ve gotten to the former soldier. We’ll give you a slow, torturous death while we make him watch.

Enjoy your last few moments with him because, all too soon, you’ll have no more time.

HYDRA

Processing the letter was even more difficult than processing the news from Bucky. The letter had a kind of finality to it that was just far more terrifying. You could feel your heartbeat thrumming in your ears as you sunk down onto the couch, breathing heavily as you tried to comprehend and anticipate everything that was about to happen to you.

Bucky took a seat next to you, pulling you into his arms and rubbing your back to calm you down. He desperately wanted for you to be okay and at ease, but he couldn’t expect that when he was just as terrified as you were.

“We can get through this, Y/N.” Bucky whispered. “I can call Steve and we can move you up to the Avengers compound. It’s highly secure and you can stay there until Hydra’s officially been destabilised and the threat isn’t there anymore.”

You could only nod, paralysed by the increasing feeling of fear growing inside you. You didn’t realise how scared of death you actually were until Hydra made it a reality for you. It wasn’t only death, though. It was knowing that now your time with Bucky was limited, and it was knowing how much it would break him if they forced him to watch you die.

“Okay,” you breathed, voice barely a whisper, “I’ll do anything as long as it’ll keep me with you. I know I’m the one with the threat of dying, but it hurts even more knowing that my time with you is limited.”

“I won’t let it be. I’ll always be with you, Y/N. Hydra won’t get to you.” Bucky promised, placing a kiss on your forehead.

The next two days passed in a haze for you, not for any lack of event, but only because you couldn’t get out of your head and the fear of any day being your last. You were introduced to all the avengers and they welcomed you with open arms. Steve was the only one slightly disappointed that his best friend hadn’t trusted him enough to tell him about the woman he loved, but he let it go soon enough, wanting to do anything in his power to make sure you were safe.

You moved into a room in the compound on the same floor as Bucky and Steve, though the room was more of an apartment in itself, with its own lounge area, kitchenette, bedroom and bathroom. You knew you’d hardly be spending any time in there anyway as you wanted to spend all of your time with Bucky.

You knew that wouldn’t be possible, though. Just like Steve, possibly even more so, he was doing everything in his power to secure your safety. Unfortunately, that included confining you to the compound and barely allowing you access to the world beyond it.

He’d been increasingly loving with you as the days passed too, giving you everything you asked for, always looking at you as if he was trying to memorise every single one of you features, and whenever you were in the same room, it was as if he always needed to be touching you. It wasn’t in the sexual sense: only ever running his fingers on your forearm, or caressing your cheek, or having is arm around you. It was as if, when he wasn’t touching you in some way, he feared you would disappear.

You’d spent all of the morning in Bucky’s bed while he attended meetings with the avengers regarding your safety and trying to snuff out Hydra. You didn’t really know what to do with yourself. Although the compound had many means of entertainment, it wasn’t the same as being able to go outside and enjoy the city.

You rolled over on the bed, groaning in frustration just as Bucky entered the room. He walked over to you, sitting down at the edge of the bed. He grinned at you as he grabbed one of your legs, stroking his hand over your calf and ankle.

“What’s wrong, doll?” he smiled.

“This compound is mind-numbing!” you groaned, “I know I haven’t been here long, but I have nothing to do. I can’t go to work, or into the city. It’s like everyone throws a fit if I even mention stepping a foot out of the compound! I know you want to keep me safe and that this is to make sure I get to live, but Buck, this isn’t living! This is just waiting.”

“I know, and I’m sorry.” Bucky replied, face falling, “but it’s only until Hydra’s down. I know it’s frustrating, but I’m scared to death of losing you, so I’m sorry I’m taking all this precaution.”

“It’s okay.” You sighed, “I do understand. I also want to be spending as much time with you as I can because, as much as I don’t want to believe it, there’s a chance that they could succeed with their plan. But, all that aside, I miss how we used to be.”

“How do you mean?” Bucky asked.

“Bucky, we can’t really act like this relationship hasn’t been tainted by both of our pasts being difficult, but even then, you always loved me despite that. Now, it’s like you treat me like glass; as if I’m going to disappear the moment you look away.” You replied.

“You can’t really blame me though. Every time I leave you, I get this pressing fear that Hydra could somehow have gotten to you before I get back. Maybe I do treat you like glass, but it’s only because I don’t know if when I see you will be the last time.” Bucky said, despair clouding his once happier expression.

“I understand. It’s just that sometimes I wish you could love me the same way you used to: simply. I used to be able to feel just how much you loved me by just one smile. Now it’s as if everything you do is exaggerated. I know things have changed but I really hoped that how you loved me wouldn’t. I guess what I’m trying to say is, when it comes down to it, can you love me the way you used to, with no more time?” you explained.

Bucky looked at you with wonder, perplexed by your explanation, yet reminded of one of the reasons he loved you to begin with. Despite the shared trauma, and always being there for each other, Bucky loved your mind. To him, every experience with you was like seeing the world from a different perspective. That was how he came to understand how you were feeling. All he saw was that he had a limited amount of time to love you, so he was trying to love you with all he had. Yet, he didn’t realise that that was exactly what he’d been doing for the duration of your relationship. What he was doing now was suffocating.

“I understand.” Bucky smiled.

“I’m still here, Buck, and I love you. Let’s just enjoy that while we can.” You said, raising a hand to stroke his cheek.

Bucky leaned into your touch, savouring the intimacy of it and appreciating your close proximity. You leaned into him, cupping his face as you softly touched your lips to his in a sweet kiss. Bucky brought his hand up to your neck, lacing his hands through your hair as he pulled you closer to him, deepening the kiss and filling it with all the longing and emotion he could muster. You couldn’t help but breathe into him, fully immersing yourself in everything that was Bucky. You dropped your hands, slowly dragging them down his chest and around his waist, getting as close to his as you could.

You both pulled away breathless, Bucky with a loving smile on his face and you with a warm blush on yours. Bucky caressed your cheek softly, his eyes filled with so much adoration as he gazed at you.

“I love you.” He whispered, “with time or not.”

The next few days were better. Bucky had made a conscious effort to make sure that you were less bored. Aside from trying to spend more time with you, while not suffocating you with his behaviour, he’d worked with the rest of the team so that they could keep you company and do fun activities with you on the compound. Clint had taken you to play mini-golf (beating you by a landslide), Natasha had become your gym buddy, Tony let you experiment with some of his suits, Wanda had become a movie night buddy, and Steve had given you some art lessons.

You’d definitely grown closer to all of the team members and the compound was starting to feel a lot more comfortable. Things had gotten so good that, if it hadn’t been for the team members working on the Hydra case when they weren’t with you, you would’ve forgotten the threat completely.

That afternoon, Bucky walked into his room (where you’d basically taken up a permanent residence) with a wicked grin on his face. You cocked an eyebrow at him, wondering what he had up his sleeve this time.

“Come with me. I have a surprise for you.” Bucky beamed.

“Okay.” You agreed, reluctantly, getting up from his bed as you giggled at his antics.

Bucky led you through the compound and after walking through a few corridors you came up to one of Tony’s open lab areas. This was one of the spaces Tony worked in, especially when testing prototypes for his new suits. The area was big enough to test the jet propellers while being wide enough that not much damage came to the room as a whole if anything spontaneously exploded.

As you walked in, you realised that the room had been cleared. It was just you and Bucky enclosed by the four walls. You looked at Bucky in anticipation, waiting for him to tell you what was going on.

Bucky held his hand up to you, and that was when you realised that he’d been holding something. You took the pair of virtual reality goggles that he was holding out to you, but still stared at him expectantly as he hadn’t said anything yet.

“So, by the look on your face, I can tell that you’re quite confused. Well, I was thinking about the other night when you said that you were frustrated because you couldn’t leave the compound. So, I came up with a compromise. I asked Tony to help me and he set up multiple virtual reality scenes into the goggles. The goggles have also been modified to pick up my position in the room, so you’ll be able to see me within your virtual reality.” Bucky explained.

“Bucky, that’s amazing! Thank you so much!” you gushed.

“You haven’t even seen it yet.” He chuckled.

“Well then let’s do it!”

You immediately put on your goggles, switching them on while Bucky did the same. Once they were on, you were no longer in Tony’s lab. Instead, you were in a galaxy themed settings menu. You could see an abyss of stars and an array of luminescent colours, painting the most beautiful image of the universe you’d ever seen. Right in front of you was a list of different virtual realities you could choose from: rooftop picnic at midnight, sunset on the beach, central park, hiking through the forest, haunted house, music festival, and even a virtual version of Thor’s Asgardian palace.

“Where would you like to go, doll?” Bucky asked.

You grinned as you considered all your decisions. They all seemed like really nice places to go, but you couldn’t help feeling drawn to the haunted house. Not that you needed one, but it felt like a good excuse to get close to Bucky.

“Haunted house.” You grinned excitedly.

“As you wish.” Bucky smirked.

You moved your head to focus your gaze on the icon for the haunted house. By holding your gaze there, you were able to select it and were immediately transported from the galaxy to what appeared to be a corn maze in the middle of nowhere. It was the dead of night, and all you could see around you were stalks of corn that came up to the height of your head. If you looked up, all you could see was the blue emptiness of a starless sky.

You jumped up, getting a fright as something lightly brushed your hand. Bucky burst out laughing behind you and you turned around to punch his shoulder at his lame trick. Once he calmed down, he actually took your hand and laced his fingers through yours as he looked around.

“Are you sure you want to come to a haunted house, especially seeing as you scare so easily?” Bucky teased.

“Ha. Ha.” You deadpanned, rolling your eyes, causing Bucky to chuckle lightly.

“Come on, the house is over there.” Bucky stated, leading you through the corn maze as he could actually see over the stalks. “Also, you should know, the lab has been modified to mimic the surroundings of the virtual reality. So, you’ll be able to see, hear, and smell everything around you within the virtual reality. Your only senses that are limited are taste, not that you would be tasting anything, and touch, to an extent. For instance, you’ll be able to feel a breeze in the air or a draft coming through the house, but you won’t be able to physically touch any of the objects.”

You nodded at Bucky’s explanation before you both continued walking in a tense silence, consumed by the eerie feeling surrounding you. It felt like the temperature of your surroundings had dropped by 20°C, and you couldn’t help the shiver that went down your spine. Bucky noticed and unlinked your hands, so that he could wrap his arm around you to try and keep you warm.

“Thanks.” You whispered.

By then, you and Bucky had already made it out of the corn maze and were coming up to the haunted house. The house was quite old. Made of grey wood and with blackened windows, it looked menacing. There was a wooden porch that surrounded the whole house, with bare furniture that only added to the house’s look of desolation.

You and Bucky started your walk up the porch steps, the ominous presence and overwhelming silence made it seem as though you could feel the creaking of the steps reverberating through your entire body. As you made it to the top of the steps, you found that the front door was ajar.

“You ready?” Bucky asked, looking over to you.

“Yeah, let’s go.” You replied, moving to go into the house.

Somehow, as you walked in, thunder struck. Rain started pouring down and the only thing illuminating the house was the brief flashes of lightning, adding to the house’s eerie atmosphere. Bucky stepped in front of you, trying to get a clear look around the house and decide which way to go. While he did this, you felt yourself stiffen, the hair at the back of your neck raising as you felt something uncannily similar to someone breathing down your neck. Immediately, you grabbed Bucky’s hand, squeezing tight to prompt him to turn around.

Bucky turned, and his eyes widened as a deep, deafening laugh filled your ears. Paralysed, you couldn’t do anything but scream. Unable to turn around to look at what was behind you, you let yourself be yanked into Bucky’s arms. Once you’d stopped screaming, you looked back up to Bucky, only to find him with the most amusing grin you’d ever seen on him.

“What is it? Why are you smiling?” you asked.

“You freaked out because of some skeleton ghost. I looked behind you and saw this dark figure, but then the lightning struck, and it was this skeleton of an old man in a suit. It was quite freaky seeing him light up while his eyes stayed so hollow, but then you started screaming and it just got funny.” Bucky said, before breaking into a laugh.

“Yeah. Well you didn’t feel it breathing down your neck.” You muttered.

“Y/N, it’s dead. It literally can’t breathe. Also, the sensory limitations only allow you to feel wind and differences in air temperature. You shouldn’t be able to feel anyone breathing down your neck.” Bucky stated, the amusement quickly falling from his face and his eyes becoming frantic.

He ripped the goggles from his face and you quickly did the same. As you adjusted to being back in the lab you immediately heard someone laughing, namely Tony. Bucky glared at him as he stalked towards him.

“What the hell, man!” Bucky shouted, rage coming off of him in waves.

“Bucky, it was a joke!” Tony said, coming down from his laughing fit.

“It’s not funny, Tony. I thought someone had creeped up on her and was about to take her away.” Bucky stressed.

“Come on, tin man. Relax.” Tony sighed, rolling his eyes, “you know the compound is secure.”

“I know.” Bucky huffed, “I just worry sometimes. I can’t lose her.”

As things quietened down in the room, you saw a flashing light on the window. Suddenly a hologram appeared. In bright red, block letters, the words ‘NO MORE TIME’ appeared and, before you knew what hit you, a searing pain flooded through your head. This time, the scream you let out was genuine and bloodcurdling.

Bucky’s eyes filled with terror as he watched you fall to your knees, clutching your head in agony. Tears streamed down your face at the pain pounding through your head and starting to flow to the rest of your body. He rushed towards you, but when he tried to touch you, the contact felt as though it was singeing your skin. Bucky looked to Tony with a painfilled expression.

“What do I do?” he asked, frantically.

“I don’t know. What’s happening to her?” Tony asked, nearly as panicked as Bucky was, “F.R.I.D.A.Y., call Dr Banner!”

After a few minutes, Bruce burst into the room, immediately trying to come to your aid. He tried to touch you in order to find the source of the problem but, just as he was about to touch you, Bucky stopped him, filling him in on what happened.

“Then what do we do? How do we move her to the med bay to find out what’s wrong with her?” Bruce asked.

At this point, most of the other avengers had filed into the room to see what had happened. They all had solemn looks on their faces, not knowing what to do to help you. Finally, Wanda stepped forward.

“I can help. I can deaden the pain receptors in her head so that she momentarily won’t be able to feel anything, and you can carry her to the med bay.” Wanda suggested.

“That could work.” Bruce nodded.

With a movement of her hand, Wanda’s red energy enveloped your body and suddenly, the pain dissipated. You gasped for air, feeling like you could finally breathe now that the pain wasn’t consuming your entire body. Bucky picked you up quickly, and ran with you to the med bay, where Bruce quickly hooked you up to some machines that could start testing what was wrong while giving you a sedative for the pain that would return as soon as Wanda stopped her magic.

Once you were secure in the med bay and Bruce was waiting for the test results, another hologram appeared at the med bay window. This time, instead of a message, a person came up. You immediately recognised him as the scientist whose control you were under when you were still a prisoner in Hydra.

“Hello, Y/N. I see you aren’t doing too well. I can bet that you’re all wondering what’s wrong. Well, remember the toxin in the letter? It was designed not only to inhibit your cell regeneration, but also, after a certain period of time, to target your pain receptors. When it targeted your cell regeneration, it didn’t stop you from producing new cells. The toxin allowed that those new cells that were produced were mutated so that they didn’t heal you but started attacking other cells instead. Essentially, the toxin allowed your new cells to kill you from the inside. Now, your beloved Bucky and all your friends can slowly watch you die without being able to do anything about it. You’ll be in too much pain to allow them to perform any treatment on you.” He explained, malice dripping from his voice with every word.

“What do you want!” Bucky cried, tears in his eyes at the thought of losing you, “I’ll do anything! I’ll come back! I’ll be your asset, just please stop this! All she ever did was set me and herself free from the agonising lives you inflicted on us! She doesn’t deserve this!”

“Oh, but she does, Mr Barnes. It wasn’t her decision to make to free the both of you. So, now she has to pay and there’s nothing you can do about it.” He replied, smugly.

“Then, I swear to God, I’ll hunt you down and I’ll kill each and every one of you slowly and painfully, just like you did to her, until the world is eradicated of this disease called Hydra.” Bucky seethed.

“Do what you wish, Mr Barnes. You’ll spend your life chasing an act of futility. When you cut off one head, two grow back in its place. Hail Hydra!” He declared before the hologram went black, and all you could see was the clear night sky through the window.

Just then, you cried out, feeling the searing pain starting in your head again. Your regenerated cells had burnt through the sedative and were now burning their way through the rest of your healthy cells too.

Bruce had finally come back with your medical chart, after giving you some more of the sedative, he confirmed everything that the scientist had just told you. They wouldn’t be able to find a cure for your cells fast enough and any medication they administered would burn through your system in minutes. You truly had no more time.

“No. No! No!” Bucky cried, tears really rolling down his face. He started pacing through the med bay, not knowing how to express his angst and heartbreak. Eventually, he threw over the empty bed that was next to yours, knocking over more medical equipment in the process. Steve had to restrain him so that he didn’t cause any more damage to the room.

“Bucky, blowing up like this isn’t going to help–” Steve started, holding Bucky against him.

“Nothing’s going to fucking help her, Steve! She’s dying! I’m losing her…” Bucky choked, his face flushed with pain and anguish as he started sobbing into Steve’s shoulder.

Everyone went silent for a few moments, until Bruce spoke up. “I’m sorry Bucky, there’s nothing we can do for her. If we give her any medication, we’re only prolonging the time before her cells get to her. As much as I want her to live, we already have her on the strongest sedative we have, and she burns through it in minutes. I’m really sorry, but no matter how much we slow down her cells, her death is inevitable.”

Bucky had been listening through his sobs, tears still streaming down. He didn’t want to accept that he was going to lose you. But, suddenly something Bruce said stood out to him.

“Dr Banner?” Bucky started, looking up at him.

“Yes?”

“The sedatives you have, how long would it take her to burn through all of it?” Bucky asked.

“About two hours.” He replied.

“You said we could slow her regenerated cells down. I know that, when you put someone in cryo sleep, there is barely any cell function–it’s extremely slow. Would that slow her cells down enough to find a cure?” Bucky asked.

“That could work.” Bruce replied, after thinking it over for a few minutes. “I can give her the rest of the sedative. That will give you approximately two more hours with her while we prep a cryo tank.”

Bucky nodded. “Do it.” He commanded.

Dr Banner administered the rest of the sedative before him and the rest of the avengers filed out of the med bay, leaving you alone with Bucky. The sedatives made you quite drowsy but, knowing what was at stake and how much time you had, you fought off the urge to sleep. Bucky sat down next to your bed and slowly started stroking your hair back, trying to smile at you through his tear-stained face.

“Everything will be okay, Y/N” Bucky smiled, but it wasn’t doing much to convince him or you.

“Bucky…” you sighed, “you’ll be okay, but I’m dying.”

“Not for long, doll. We’re going to save you. Once you burn through these sedatives, you’ll go into cryo where your cells will be too slow to harm you. That’ll give us enough time to find a cure, then we can be together again.” Bucky explained.

“I’m so sorry, Buck.” You cried.

“What are you sorry for? You have nothing to apologise for.” He stated.

“If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t be hurting so much right now.”

“You’re the one who’s heavily sedated so that her cells won’t kill her, and you’re worried about me being hurt.” Bucky chuckled, looking down at you lovingly. “Also, thanks to you, I’ve had the most amazing two years of my life, and I promise we’ll have so much more than that when all this is done.”

“I love you.” You sighed.

“I love you, too, Y/N.” Bucky replied, leaning forward to kiss your forehead.

Your eyes started drooping, sleep becoming more and more difficult to fend off. Bucky stroking your hair back wasn’t helping. The soft motion only helped lull you away.

“It’s okay. You can go to sleep. I’ll see you again before you know it.” Bucky said, a tear rolling down his cheek.

“I’m sorry. Bucky, I just want you to know, you’re the happiest my life has ever been…” you said, before you felt yourself slowly drift away.

#bucky barnes #bucky x reader #bucky barnes fluff #bucky barnes x reader #angst #bucky barnes angst #bucky barnes au #fluff #steve rogers #tony stark #wanda maximoff #bruce banner #clint barton #natasha romanov #the avengers #marvel cinematic universe #marvel imagine

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xreaderfic-land · 6 years

Text

What Lies Beneath Part 19 Red Hood (Jason Todd) X Reader

Summary: Coming back home to Gotham after several years was a tough choice, but you needed to put the past behind you. You blame yourself for Jason’s death and hope that with a medical degree you can have a second chance at saving the kids of Gotham’s streets, but the past won’t stay buried. As the Red Hood invites himself into your life and the little safe bubble of a lie you call life bursts you’re left struggling to cope. Your secret studying of toxins used by Gotham’s villains is sure to land you in hot water eventually, but you’re always up for a challenge. Life is a game of survival and it’s time you joined in.

Co-Author: @inkteller-17 Tags: @jason-todd-rh @totallynotashieldagent @exotiicqueen494 @dragons-of-the-usa @shadowsndaisies @e-equals-mcommunism-squared @icycoldbeanieweanies @peppermint-17 @theskytraveler @wintersb0ner

Tags CLOSED DUE TO STORY COMPLETION Word Count: 6,712 WARNINGS: Language

Catch Up Here

—— —— —— —— ——-

Bruce and Alfred worked all night. He called in Lucius Fox to bring over some new equipment that Wayne Enterprises had been working on. With the new technology and the three men working nonstop together they were able to revive Y/n when she flatlined twice but also get her back into perfect health.

Jason sat with her all night as the Wayne Technology scanned over her body over and over again. Jason watched in awe as bruises, scrapes, and open wounds began to heal. He could see her side shifting as her ribs began to move back into place.

She didn’t make a sound. Y/n didn’t even move throughout the whole ordeal. When Lucious came to remove the technology he stared at Jason.

“What?” Jason snapped.

“She’s going to be okay, Jason,” Lucius said.

Jason gave him a curt nod.

Lucius took the technology and left Jason alone. Sighing, Jason stood and walked over to the sink and filled up a bowl with warm water. Sitting back down next to her, he dipped a cloth into the warm water and then began wiping away the blood off her skin.

A few tears slid down his cheeks as he thought about what she went through. How Joker turned his anger for Jason onto her. She suffered because of him. This was all because of him and Jason didn’t think he’d ever be able to forgive himself.

“Jay?” A voice said.

Jason quickly wiped away his tears before turning towards the doorway. Damian stood there, his hand on the doorknob and the look of worry on his face.

“What’s up, D?” Jason asked.

“I just wanted to check on her,” Damian said.

Jason waved for his little brother to come over and join him. Damian hurried across the lab so he could join Jason. He looked down at Y/n.

“Has she woken up, yet?” Damian asked.

Jason shook his head. Damian let out a long annoyed sigh. Jason ruffled his brother’s hair.

“Don’t worry, little man. She’ll wake up soon,” Jason reassured his brother.

Damian grabbed her hand in his and gave it a tight squeeze hoping that she’d respond.

“Have you left her side?” Damian asked.

Jason shook his head.

“I can stay with her while you eat and shower or even get some sleep,” Damian suggested.

Jason thought it over. His own stench was starting to make his eyes water. His stomach rumbled and thought of a snack. And he already knew that he was exhausted to his core.

“I’ll only take a few hours,” Jason began.

“Jay, you need the sleep. I’ll wake you up if she wakes up,” Damian interrupted his brother.

“Okay,” Jason said standing.

Damian took Jason’s spot as Jason started to make his way upstairs. Damian rested his chin on his hands as his eyes roamed over Y/n’s body. He was amazed at how healthy she looked. Damian thought that Y/n was already dead when Jason had brought her back to the Manor.

When Damian found out that the Joker had done this to her. Damian felt a lot of things. He wanted to kill the Joker himself. He wanted to pummel his dad in the face for not ending Joker years ago. Damian wanted to slam Jason’s face in the wall several times for not keeping her safe like he was supposed to, but Damian also blamed himself. She was one of his best friends.

Damian loved her like the sister he never had. She was always so kind to him. Y/n always put him first no matter what. He loved the nights she’d stay up late to play video games with him. Mortal Kombat was her favorite and she always kicked his ass.

He also loved Friday nights when she’d come over to hang with the boys, but when his older brothers seemed to be too busy for her and him, they would always end up in the kitchen baking. She had taught him so many different things in the kitchen. And everything she made always was so mouthwatering and disappeared in a matter of minutes.

If she had died, Damian didn’t think he’d ever be able to forgive himself for not being there for her. He’d never be able to look at Jason the same way again or trust his dad to keep Gotham safe.

But now that she was alive and healthy, Damian couldn’t wait for her to wake up again. He just wanted to tell her how much she meant to him and how much he loved her. Y/n had to know that. She just had to.

It had only been a few hours when the door to the lab opened. Dick came in. Damian scowled at his brother.

“What are you doing here?” Damian growled.

“To be your relief,” Dick said.

“I don’t need a break,” Damian snapped.

Dick crossed his arms over his chest.

“It’s 2 in the morning. Go get some rest,” Dick said.

Damian sighed.

“Come on D, you know I’ll wake you,” Dick said.

Damian slid off the chair.

“If you don’t wake me,” Damian began.

“You’ll serve dad my head on a silver platter, I know,” Dick finished for him.

Damian only nodded before leaving Dick alone with Y/n.

Alone, Dick slid the chair out of the room. He brushed some her hair out of her eyes so he could press a kiss to her forehead.

“I’m so sorry,” Dick whispered.

Y/n lay unconscious.

They should have kept her safe. He should have been there for her. She was his friend first. He was the one who brought Y/n into this family. She was his friend first. The two of them were best friends, how could he have just abandoned her like that? She needed him and he was nowhere to be found. He let her down and Dick wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to make it up to her.

He just watched his watch turn 4:43 when Tim came stumbling into the lab with a cup of coffee and a donut hanging out of his mouth. Dick stood. He knew that Tim was coming to take over. As Dick walked past his brother he grabbed the donut from his mouth before continuing on. Before Tim could even think about protecting his coffee, Dick stole that too.

Empty handed and hungry, Tim went over to where Y/n was. He slumped down in the chair and let out a long sigh.

“You know you’re going to make me go full gray before I hit twenty-one,” Tim said.

He sighed.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry that we all failed you. We should have destroyed Joker years ago,” Tim apologized.

He took your hand in his.

“Y/n, we just really need you to wake up,” Tim pleaded but got nothing in return.

Giving up, Tim sat back with a sigh. Still holding onto your hand Tim began to fall asleep and then his head rolled back with slight snores came from his mouth.

Tim was already out of it and didn’t feel Y/n give his hand a squeeze before his hand went limp, his arm falling away, and Y/n’s hand going back to the table.

Eventually, all of the boys ended up down in the lab. They were sprawled out sleeping in odd places. Jason was the only one awake. He sat with Y/n’s hand still in his.

“Jason,” A soft voice broke the silence.

Jason’s eyes shot up.

“Y/n?” Jason said.

“Hey,” You said.

“How are you feeling?” Jason asked.

“For getting my ass handed to me? Better than I should be,” You explained.

“You’ll have to thank Bruce and Lucius,” Jason said.

“God, what did they do? Give me a whole new body,” You asked.

Jason laughed.

“No, but they used some new technology on you that saved your life,” Jason explained.

Slowly, you began to sit up. Jason hurried to help you up. Once you were sitting up you swatted away his hands.

“Stop it,” you hissed, “I’m fine,”

Jason’s hand fell to his side.

“What can I get you?” Jason asked.

“A glass of water would be great,” You said.

“I’ll be right back,” Jason said before rushing out of the room.

Sighing, you looked around. Dick was curled up in a small chair snoring away. Tim was curled up in the fetal position using Damian who was slumped over leaning against the wall as his pillow. A small smile tugged at your lips.

“Hey!” You exclaimed loudly.

Startling the boys they all scrambled to their feet. When they realized that there was no danger you could see their shoulders begin to sag in relief.

“Y/n!” Damian shouted.

The three boys ran over to the table. They argued and tried to hug you first. You only laughed. You looked up as the door swung open and Jason came in with your water. Jason elbowed his way through his brothers over to you.

“Here you go,” Jason said.

“Thanks,” You smiled taking the water from him.

“I see that you’re awake,” Bruce said from the doorway.

“Thanks to you,” You said.

“You’re family, we’d do anything for family,” Bruce said.

“Again, thanks,” You replied.

“Why don’t we head on upstairs to the kitchen. I’m sure Y/n could use a good homemade meal,” Bruce suggested.

“As long as you’re not the one doing the cooking,” Dick said.

Everyone laughed and Bruce glared at his son.

“No, Alfred will be more than happy to whip something up,” Bruce said.

Damian ran over to take your hand in his.

“Come on, let’s go,” Damian said tugging on your hand.

You let the little devil pull you out of the lab and up the stairs to the main part of the house. Everyone walked towards the kitchen.

Alfred and Lucius came out of the kitchen.

“Glad to see you on your two feet again, Miss,” Alfred said.

You smiled and gave the older man a hug. Lucius was next to pull you in for a tight hug. Everyone scattered in the kitchen while Lucius and Alfred began to cook. The conversation was kept light, it felt tense and awkward. Which you weren’t surprised by.

Of course, you were grateful. Without them, you wouldn’t have been saved. But you still felt a huge betrayal with them lying to you about pretty much everything. Especially, all of them lying about Jason hurt the most.

But you weren’t stupid. You knew, in the end, you were going to need them. By now, Joker had to have realized that you were gone and not dead like he had hoped. It was also obvious from past experiences you weren’t going to be able to protect yourself from Joker and his goons.

However, was it really worth it to stay here with Jason and all of them? You knew that eventually, this topic would come up. You knew that Jason wouldn’t want you to leave and be left alone in your apartment being a sitting duck for Joker.

But you couldn’t be around them. They were literally making your skin crawl with nerves and uneasiness.

“Hello, earth to Y/n,” Tim said waving a hand in your face.

You snapped out of it. “Huh? Sorry,”

“What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” Dick asked you.

“Oh, just thinking about what my next move is,” You admitted.

“And what will that be?” Jason asked curiously.

“Whether or not my place is the safest place to go,” You replied.

“Obviously, it isn’t,” Dick snapped.

You sighed,“I know that so that’s why I’m trying to decide what my next move is,” You said.

“It’s here with me and us,” Jason quickly said.

You shrugged.

“I don’t know,” You said.

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Damian snapped.

Again you shrugged with a sigh.

“I mean you’ve all lied to me. This place isn’t clearly the healthiest place to be,” You replied.

“Y/n, this isn’t up for discussion,” Jason growled.

“Um, excuse me, who died and made you my boss?” You growled.

“Well, technically he did die,” Tim interjected.

You threw a glare his way, he backed away slowly with his hands held up in surrender.

“You weren’t the boss of me before you died and you sure in hell are not my boss now,” You snarled.

“Y/n, we have the means to keep you protected here,” Bruce interrupted.

You threw back your head with a laugh.

“You’re right you do have everything to keep me safe, but I don’t trust any of you,” You snapped.

“Y/n,” Damian’s voice cracked.

Your face softened. You knelt down to be eye level with Damian. You pulled him in close and whispered a few things to him. Slowly, he nodded, understanding why you are so upset. You promised Damian that you weren’t upset with him that he was just getting stuck in the middle of a shitty situation.

“Joker could come after you, again,” Jason pointed out.

You stood.

“Yeah, well you’re already his favorite plaything I don’t need you to be more involved with him,” You shot back.

Jason froze.

“Y/n,” Dick began.

“All of you just butt out!” You exclaimed.

Storming out of the kitchen you left everyone standing around with their mouths hung wide open. Damian glared up at his little brother

“What, Damian?” Jason asked with a growl.

“This is all your fault,” Damian hissed.

Jason only nodded. “I know,”

To make a point of his annoyance clear to his brother, Damian punched Jason right in the groin. Jason dropped to the floor, Bruce and Alfred gasped, Lucius shook his head, Dick gasped, and Tim started laughing.

Turning on his heel with his nose high in the air, Damian stormed out of the kitchen. Dick went over to Jason and placed a calming hand on his shoulder. Jason shrugged it off.

At the sound of the front door slamming shut everyone hurried out of the kitchen. Just as they whipped open the front door you were just closing the door to a familiar car.

“Selina?” Bruce asked.

Selina said nothing before pulling away. Jason stumbled down the stairs after you trying to get you to come back.

“Shit, now what?” Dick asked.

“Let’s go,” Jason snarled.

“Where?” Tim asked.

“To Selina’s, we’ll make her realize that she’s safer here with us,” Jason answered.

“Boys, I think,” Bruce began.

Jason turned his cold gaze to him.

“I really don’t give a shit what you think,” Jason hissed.

“Move it,” Jason ordered.

The three adults watched as the boys ran to the garage. Bruce started to go after them, but Lucius grabbed his arm before he could run off.

“Let me go,” Bruce ordered.

“Your boys are worried about their friend. Let them do this,” Lucius said.

Bruce sighed.

“I agree with Master Fox, sir. These boys care about her and want to try and keep her safe,” Alfred piped up.

Bruce nodded.

You sank deep into Selina’s plush seats as she wordlessly drove. The rush of anger and other emotions had you wishing you’d stayed out for longer.

“Y/n,” Selina spoke while tapping your thigh.

Snapping from your thoughts you straightened in your seat to look around only to find a few annoyingly familiar vehicles zipping through traffic to catch up to Selina’s car.

A certain motorcycle headlight disappeared as it inched closer to the car’s bumper you exhaled harshly.

“They are determined to look out for you Y/n.” Selina spoke calmly while pulling into her driveway.

You rolled your eyes, “I couldn’t care less. I don’t need caretakers and I sure as hell don’t need ones that’d rather stab me in the back themselves.”

As Selina put her car in park it didn’t take long for it to be surrounded by the boys. Stepping from the car you walked into Selina’s house fully ignoring the calls of your name and other things said by the boys.

You caught sight of Selina watching you with worried eyes as you went about recollecting your belongings from her spare room.

Flipping through your written notes of the cure you made a few extra scribbles before turning on your heel and slamming the notebook into Jay’s chest as he came into the room.

Jay stumbled back a few steps while clutching your notepad before you silently weaved through the boys back to the main area of the house.

Dick’s firm grasp on your forearm forced you to a stop.

“Y/n come on, we just want to talk,” Dick said softly.

Ripping your arm free, “So now I’m worth the time to chase after and try to talk to? Jeez, Dick, that would have been a lot more useful several years ago,” you said.

Dick’s shoulders dropped slightly before Tim was stepping closer.

“We’re sorry-” Tim started.

You barked a bitter laugh, “You think that makes everything better? You guys apologizing now is like putting a band-aid over a crater-sized hole, it doesn’t do jack.”

Taking several steps back you maintained distance. Your eyes cut to each of the boys before you shook your head. The stress of everything was finally taking its toll and you couldn’t be bothered to feel anything more than nothing at all.

Running fingers through your hair you gathered your thoughts before speaking calmly.

“I’m not going to cry and scream over this anymore. I can’t and I won’t do it. I’m done, with all of you. I appreciate what you all did for me, but I didn’t ask-”

“We weren’t going to just let you die-” Tim started.

“Well, maybe you should have because I can’t do this with you guys anymore. I can’t be around people who feel the need to pick and choose what I need to know. I can’t be around people I can’t trust.”

“Y/n-” Jay interjected.

“And I definitely can’t be around people who manipulate my feelings.” You gave Jay a pointed look making him flinch before relooking at the others, “You had ample time and opportunity to talk to me, and continually decided not to. You all got here on your own therefore you all can leave the same way, without me. Now if you could all be so kind I have to go see what’s salvageable at my place. The notes I gave Jay should be enough to-”

“Look we get it your pissed, and its totally appropriate, but all that aside you need to stay close. We can keep you protected. Just come back to the Manor and we can-”

“Let me break it down more simply since you seem unable to understand. I am not going with any of you. I am done and no longer wish to see any of you ever again. I’ll take my chances with Joker alone, I’m a grown ass woman.”

“Says the quote-unquote grown ass woman that just got kidnapped by him,” Jay said snidely.

You turned sharply to Jay, “You know what, I don’t need your fucking negativity in my life right now.”

“Seriously Y/n? Your acting like a little kid about this. Play things smart,” Jay growled.

Your eyes grew as annoyance flared alive deep inside you, “You know what you all can go burn in Hell for all I care. Just stay away from me and stop trying to fix your fuck up.”

Turning on your heel you opened the front door before turning to look at Selina, “Thank you, Selina. I Would say it was nice visiting but I can’t say that I enjoy your company any longer.”

Selina’s lips thinned as her eyes softened with sadness as you spoke. You frowned slightly at her expression but had to do what was right for you. Trying to please people that were pitted against you wouldn’t get you anywhere. Casting the boys all a parting look you gave them the bird before beginning your trek back to your apartment.

You made it to the end of Selina’s driveway before Jason was rushing up to you.

“Doll, just let me explain-”

“No. You had your time Jason and it’s long since passed. Go find someone else’s emotions to play with because I literally cannot do it anymore.”

“It wasn’t supposed to get this far out of hand-”

“But it did.” You said curtly, “I lost you once Jason and it damn near killed me so let me be the one to repay the favor. Take your words and shove them up your ass. I am done and I mean it.”

“Stop being a fucking child and just-”

“Bye, Jay.” You said while putting your hand in his face to cut off his words. “I’m done talking to people who are a living lie.” Walking around him you kept on your path.

Jay watched you leave as his mouth hung open. A flood of emotions had him frozen in place unable to process anything.

A sleek black car pulled up before the rear window rolled down. Upon seeing Bruce’s sad expression Jason let his annoyance take dominance.

Dick and the other boys made their way over to their dad’s car.

“Looks like things didn’t work out.” Bruce turned toward Alfred in the driver seat, “I don’t think my get along t-shirt is big enough to fix this.”

Alfred sighed, “Master Bruce-”

Before Alfred could even attempt to explain why his idea would never work Jason was hurtling Y/n’s notebook at Bruce through the window.

Dick immediately grabbed at Jay as Damian gave a laugh and Tim simply rolled his eyes.

“Get the fuck off me!” Jay yelled before tearing free. Turning back to Bruce Jay pointed a finger, “Shove your shirt and those notes up your ass, Bruce. Y/n is done with all of us and it's time you take partial fault.”

Stepping around the car Jay shook with anger before shooting over his shoulder, “I’m done with this fucking shit.”

“Jay, wait-” Tim’s words died as his brother tore off on his bike.

Damian thrust his hands in his pockets as he spoke with defeat, “Just let him go Drake.”

Dick looked down at his younger brothers. Rubbing the back of his neck Dick was at a loss for what to do or say.

Tim and Damian made their way toward Tim’s car. Dick eventually got on his bike as well. Both car and motorcycle purred to life as Bruce looked at his sons with confusion.

“Where you guys going?” Bruce hollered.

“Anywhere that’s not home,” Tim shouted before the three were all pulling away.

Bruce sat in stunned silence for what felt like the millionth time. Looking into his lap Bruce finally processed Y/n’s several pages worth of cure notes.

Suddenly an idea popped into his head, “Alfred who’s that one event planner that we used for the gala last year?”

“Master Bruce, champagne and mediocre appetizers aren’t going to fix-”

Bruce spoke lowly, “It’s worth a shot. Y/n will be entitled to come seeing as its medically related to her job and the boys will just have to come.”

Alfred sighed wearily, “Of course Master Bruce, I have dialed their number. The call should be redirected to your personal phone back there sir.”

As Alfred made his way back towards the Manor, Bruce pressed the phone to his ear. He had a plan and he needed to act on it now before there was no hope left for his children and their friend.

----------

You had no idea how he had even found you. But I guess it didn’t really surprise you that Bruce figured out that you were staying with Mariah. You stared down at the large black envelope in your hands. You also couldn’t believe that Bruce would have the audacity to even invite you to one of his stupid balls.

Sighing, you ripped open the envelope and began to read the large gold font. Slowly, as you read your mouth fell open.

You are cordially invited to The Y/L/N Foundation masquerade ball.

Saturday evening we will be honoring Y/n Y/l/n and her brilliant mind. We will be raising money to further fund her research for the cure she has created to save the lives of hundreds of people.

Please join us at 7pm for drinks and hors-d'oeuvres followed by a night full of music, laughter, and friends. The auction will begin at 9pm sharp.

Bruce Wayne & Family

“Y/n!” Mariah shouted.

You tore your gaze away from the invitation to your friend. Mariah came limping into your room on her crutches with a huge smile on her face and an identical invitation gripped in her hand.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this?” Mariah asked.

You tossed down your invitation.

“Because I didn’t know about it,” You replied simply.

“A surprise? How awesome! I can’t wait to go,” Mariah grinned.

“I know you’ll have a great time,” You said.

Mariah frowned.

“You’re not coming?” Mariah asked.

You threw back your head and laughed.

“Are you kidding me? I know what he’s doing,” You snarled.

Mariah sighed. “Come on Y/n, this is a major thing for you,”

You shook your head.

“He’s trying to force all of us to make amends. And the only reason he is trying to raise money for my research is to say sorry and I’m not having any of it,” You snarled.

Mariah just stared at you.

“You can’t stay mad at them forever,” Mariah said.

“Watch me,” You hissed.

Maria limped over to take a seat next to you on your bed.

“Fine, you’re pissed and you want to stay pissed that’s fine with me, but don’t blow this opportunity, you’ll get some serious money to mass produce your cure. Think of all of the lives you could save if you had that kind of cash,” Mariah explained.

You sighed and looked up at her.

“I can’t face them again,” You admitted.

“You don’t have to, at least not alone. I’ll be your date and just think of all of the people that are going to want to talk to you? The girl who created a cure that is saving all of those sick children,” Mariah said.

“You promise this isn��t a trick? I don’t want you to be leaving me stuck alone with one of them,” You said.

Mariah smiled.

“Even though that does sound like something I would do, but I swear it this time it won’t happen,” Mariah said.

You gave in. “Fine, we can go,”

Mariah threw her arms around you.

“Yes, thank you!” She exclaimed.

You rolled your eyes but hugged her back.

“I take it you don’t have a ball gown?” You asked her with a smile.

Mariah giggled. “Nope!”

You let out a long sigh. “Then I guess we have some dress shopping to do,”

Mariah quickly used her crutches to get up.

“Damn, I’m glad I’m getting this sucker off on Friday,” She said.

“Good timing,” You said as Mariah pulled you to your feet.

Together the two of you left her place and headed into town to start the hunt for the perfect dresses for this weekend.

You decided on going back to the shop that you found your first dress in. The ladies were extremely happy to see you stroll in.

“Time for another dance?” Mrs. White asked.

“This time, Y/n is the honored guest,” Mariah beamed.

Mrs. White clapped her hands.

“Well then let’s find you girls the perfect dresses!” Mrs. White happily said.

Mrs. White lead the two of you towards the back of the shop. She pushed you two down on the bright pink sofa before disappearing into the back of her little shop.

“Darling, are you going to be on crutches?” Mrs. White shouted from the back.

“Nope, I’ll be back to normal by Saturday!” Mariah shot back.

Mrs. White came hustling back out and had an armful of dresses.

“Alright missy, let’s get you all situated first,” Mrs. White said.

Mariah left you on the couch so she could try on the dresses that Mrs. White had pulled out for her.

The dresses were gorgeous but nothing caught either of your girls' eyes until the very last dress. When Mariah stepped out, your mouth fell open at the sight of her.

“Damn girl, I think you’ve found your dress,” You told her.

Mariah grinned.

“Phew, I’m glad you like it because I fell in love with it the second it hugged my curves,” Mariah said.

You stood and went over to her. She did a circle so you could clearly see the beautiful lavender dress.

“It also comes with a matching mask,” Mrs. White said holding out the mask.

“I’m sold, I’m in love with this,” Mariah smiled.

“I agree,” You said.

“Now, while you change back I’m going to go pull dresses for you young lady,” Mrs. White said before disappearing again.

Several minutes passed by and Mariah came to join you on the couch. Mrs. White came back out and she was holding a single dress.

“I wanted to give this to you last time, but you loved that other one so much,” Mrs. White explained.

Standing you took the dress from her.

“Go,” Mariah urged.

You entered the dressing room and quickly undressed. You slipped the dress on and you were stunned at the person staring back at you in the mirror.

“Are you ready yet?” Mariah asked.

“Coming,” You simply said.

Walking out of the dressing room you came to stand before Mariah and Mrs. White. Neither women said a thing.

“Does it look bad?” You asked.

“Holy shit, Y/n,” Mariah said.

“What she said,” Mrs. White agreed.

You turned to look at yourself again in the mirror. The dress was red and slim, clinging to your curves.

“You can see my scars in the back,” You began.

“We can hide that with makeup,” Mariah said.

“You sure?” You asked.

Mariah nodded.

“This dress was so meant for you,” Mrs. White gushed.

You blushed.

“I agree, you look amazing, Y/n,” Mariah said.

You turned towards Mrs. White.

“Do you have a mask to match?” You asked her.

Mrs. White nodded and hurried over to her desk to grab a white box. She slid off the lid and held the box out to you so you could see the mask.

“This is perfect Mrs. White,” You told her.

She smiled and you could see that she had tears her in her eyes.

“You two are going to knock everyone over with your looks,” Mrs. White said.

You went back into the dressing room to change. Mrs. White packed up the dresses along with the matching masks before ringing the two of you up at the front register.

After all of the shopping was done for dresses, accessories, and shoes the two of you headed back towards Mariah’s place. As you neared her place, you cursed inwardly as Mariah sat up.

“Who’s bike is that?” Mariah asked.

“Let me handle it, okay?” You said.

“Is it Jason’s?” Mariah asked.

After the huge argument with the boys, you broke down in front of Mariah and told her everything. About the boys’ secret identity, why you created the cure, all of it, you just couldn’t hold it in anymore.

You pulled into the driveway and parked.

“Go inside, Mariah,” You ordered.

“Are you sure?” Mariah asked.

You nodded before hurrying out to at least help her out of the car. Jason watched the two of you carefully. As Mariah began her way towards the house Jason came to her side.

“Let me help you,” Jason said.

“I’ve got it,” Mariah said.

Jason sighed and dropped his hands. You waited for Mariah to make it inside before turning to face Jason.

“I don’t know where to begin. How did you find me or why are you here?” You snapped.

“You’re not that hard of a person to track,” Jason began.

You crossed your arms.

“And Bruce just wanted to make sure that you got the invitations,” Jason said.

“A phone call would have sufficed,” You pointed out to him.

“Wasn’t sure if you’d answer it,” Jason shot back.

Sighing you ran a hand through your hair.

“We got the invitation, I’m fine, and we’ll both be there,” You told him.

Jason curtly nod.

“I was thinking that maybe I could take you,” Jason began.

“No thanks, Mariah is going to be my date for the evening,” You replied.

Again Jason nodded.

You adjusted the garment bags and other bags in your arms.

“Goodbye Jason,” You said turning away from him.

“Bye Y/n,” Jason replied.

You disappeared inside. Leaning up against the door you let out a long sigh.

“You okay?” Mariah asked.

“Just fucking peachy,” You hissed.

“I think wine is called for,” Mariah said.

“I second that,” You replied.

Dropping your bags off into each of your rooms you hurried back to the living room to plop down next to Mariah. She poured you both a huge glass of wine and you turned on the tv.

“Cheesy horror flicks?” You asked.

“Perfect,” Mariah grinned as you started up a movie.

You were so not looking forward to this weekend.

--------------------

Maria was super excited when a sleek black limo came to her place Saturday night to pick the two of you up. You weren’t that surprised but faked enthusiasm for your friend. The two of you helped each other get ready for the night. Mariah kept her long black hair down and curled into loose curls. You pulled your hair up into a braided updo.

“Come on, come on, come on,” Mariah growled.

You slipped on your mask and turned towards your friend.

“I’m ready now,” You said.

“Finally!” Mariah exclaimed and then pulled you out of her place.

The ride to Wayne Manor wasn’t very long. You stared at the scenery as you were weaved in and out of the city limits. Mariah clung to your hand and squeezed it tightly when the limo pulled into the long driveway.

“I’ve always wanted to see this place,” Mariah gushed.

“It’s gorgeous,” You told her.

The limo pulled up in front of the Manor. Mariah moved to open the door but you stopped her. You knew how this part of the world worked. The driver hurried around to open the door and then help the two of you out.

The two of you stood there, Mariah was still gripping your hand and she looked up at the Manor in awe.

“Holy shit,” Mariah gasped.

You laughed.

“Come, it only gets better on the inside,” You said dragging her up the steps.

Hand in hand, you entered Wayne Manor. Mariah’s mouth fell open as she took in the large place. You just laughed at her and let her stare as you dragged her through the party.

“Y/n!” A voice shouted bringing Mariah’s attention back to reality.

“Hey little man,” You grinned.

“How did you know that was Y/n?” Mariah asked.

“I’d know my best friend anywhere,” Damian grinned.

You lifted up his rather large mask to press a kiss to his cheek.

“You look dashing young man,” You told him.

“Thanks, you look pretty as ever,” Damian said.

You smiled then nodded to your friend.

“Hi! I’m Damian Wayne,” Damian said holding out his hand.

“Well hello Mr. Wayne it’s nice to meet you,” Mariah said shaking his hand.

“Pfft, please, call me Damian, Mr. Wayne is my old man,” Damian said.

A smile tugged at your lips.

“Apologies,” Mariah said.

“Damian!” Someone shouted.

“Sorry, that’s Jon I’ve gotta go,” Damian said.

“Hey!” You shouted after him.

He turned back to look at you.

“No stink bombs,” You said.

Damian grinned an evil sly grin.

“Got it no stink bombs,” Damian said before running off.

You shook your head.

“He’s up to something, isn’t he?” Mariah asked.

You only laughed.

“Yes, Damian doesn’t do balls, so if I were you stay by me and if I say run just do it,” You told her.

“Got it,” Mariah said.

The two of you lost yourselves in the party. For Mariah’s sake you tried. You moved from group to group talking to everyone. Taking in their congratulations and thank yous for the hard work you had been doing with the cure.

You had lost Mariah for awhile but finally found her talking to Tim. Mariah waved you over you didn’t want to go, but you promised her to be on your best behavior.

“Tim,” You said as you came to stand next to Mariah.

“Wait! You’re Tim?” Mariah asked.

Tim nodded.

“Is that why you refused to tell me your name and was asking me all sorts of questions about Y/n?” Mariah demanded to know.

Tim paled.

“Come dance with me,” You said pulling Mariah away from Tim.

“What a jerk,” Mariah hissed as you dragged her to the middle of the room.

You couldn’t lie. You were having the time of your life. Mariah was helping you let loose and have fun. Your face hurt from laughing and smiling so much. Several times when Bruce or one of the boys tried coming to talk to you, Mariah easily slipped you away from them.

Lucius had cornered the two of you and told you about all the money that Bruce had raised for you.

“Do you think that makes up for everything?” Mariah asked leaving Lucius speechless before she swept you away.

As the night came to an end, the two of you had lost your shoes, you both sat on a bench while you waited for your limo. Damian was curled up in your lap fast asleep and Jon was snuggled up with Mariah. You looked over at your friend.

“Well, how was your first ball?” You asked her.

Mariah gave you a sleepy grin.

“It was amazing,” Mariah said.

“Good,” You replied while leaning your head back.

When your driver finally came inside looking for you two that you woke the boys up.

“Head on upstairs,” You told Damian as Jon still clung to Mariah.

“I’m not tired,” Damian pouted.

You laughed.

“Go on now,” You said pushing him slightly

Damian reached for Jon.

“Can we come over soon?” Damian asked.

You looked over at Mariah.

“That would be a great day. We’ll set up a time, okay?” Mariah said.

Damian and Jon nodded, hugged you both and then ran upstairs to bed. The driver escorted the two of you out to the limo.

“Y/n!” Somebody shouted.

You groaned, Mariah tugged on your hand.

“Y/n, please!” Jason shouted.

“Just get in the limo,” Mariah said.

You nodded and climbed into the backseat. You couldn’t hear what she was saying, but you could tell by her body language that she was giving Jason a piece of her mind. Jason stood there slackjawed as Mariah turned to join you in the limo.

“Shall we go home?” Mariah asked.

You nodded.

“Great, hey let’s stop for some fast-food!” Mariah shouted at the driver.

“Yes ma'am,” The driver grinned as he pulled away from the stairs.

You leaned your head against Mariah’s shoulders.

“You deserved all of this tonight, I hope you know that,” Mariah said.

You nodded. “I know,”

“Good, now on to some greasy food!” Mariah exclaimed with a laugh and you couldn’t help but smile.

A real smile that you haven’t done in a long time.

“Ah, I’ve missed that smile,” Mariah said.

“Thanks, Mariah,” You said.

“For what?” Mariah asked.

“You know for everything, for being there for me, for pushing me and not giving up on me,” You said.

“That’s what friends are for,” Mariah said.

“Yeah, but you’ve gone above and beyond,” You told her.

Mariah threw an arm around you. “You deserve the world babe and it’s about time you realized your worth,” Mariah said.

“That’s why I’ve been thinking of moving,” You told her.

Maria looks down at you in complete shock. If you moved it was going to throw everybody off their guard and shake up all of Gotham.

#jason todd #jason todd x reader #red hood #red hood x reader #batman #bruce wayne #damian wayne #robin #tim drake #red robin #dick grayson #nightwing #selina kyle #alfred pennyworth #what lies beneath #reader imagine #reader interactive #reader is female

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teamhook · 6 years

Text

CS Supernatural Summer**

Wild Within (Part 2) AO3 or FFN

Early the next morning Killian awoke slowly. He soon noticed he was in a comfortable bed but not the same bed he laid his head to rest last night but a bed of grass. He looked around to survey the location. He then noticed his clothes were covered in blood. The copper scent filled his lungs and the sheer excitement he felt as the scent unleashed a feral craving and the realization scared him. He quickly patted himself down in an effort to ensure it was not all his blood. Deep inside he was afraid of the origin of the blood. He spotted the little creek and washed his face and for a second he thought to go back to the cottage to Emma but opted to leave instead. He didn’t want to frighten her with his appearance.

He went home to shower and get ready himself for the day. He wondered if he should go to the doctor after he showered and was combing his hair he noticed a laceration along his hairline barely noticeable but he didn’t remember it being there the previous night. There was also a new cut on his cheek.

Perhaps he should go to the doctor again and have that checked out. He could have a concussion or something equally as dangerous but no one feels this good with a concussion or any other ailment.

First, he needed to tend to some business. He walked into his office building and soon was saluting Mr. Smee.

"Smee, did you make the calls to the writers?" He inquired impatiently.

"I did sir and so far ten of the top writers are willing to team up. Miss. De Vil said she would follow you anywhere."

"Good job Mr. Smee."

"Do I continue making phone calls sir?"

"No, that should be enough and I'm guessing we should be expecting a visit soon."

"Anything else I can do for you, sir?" Smee asked as he followed Killian into his office.

"Do I have any appointments, Mr. Smee?"

"Yes sir, Mrs. Lucas at 1:00 PM at her home. And please sir if you need to cancel you need to call her. She has called to confirm the appointment several times and she sounded scary."

Killian laughed at Mr. Smee's reaction to an older lady. "Don't fret, I will not be canceling." As Killian was about to dismiss Mr. Smee his door opened.

"Hello, Killian." Mr. Spencer and an unknown man stood by the recently closed door. “This is my counsel, Mr. Midas.”

“Counselor, nice to meet you. Please, sit down.” He pointed at the comfortable leather chairs.

Mr. Midas forced a smile as he sat next to his boss.

Mr. Smee looked at Killian and once his boss nodded in approval he left the office and closed the door behind him.

"It has come to our attention that you are goading some of the writers into leaving the publishing house and join you in a crazy venture.”

“Why is it crazy? At least we tried and we may or may not succeed but in the end, we will be an added bonus to any publishing house.”

“We, so you are including yourself in the deal.”

“Yes sir, It will be at least ten first-rate writers and myself an amazing deal.”

Spencer and his counsel shared a look.

Mr. Spencer is the one that spoke. “You are even worse than Gold.”

“Am I? I thought those were qualities you valued. Imagine the backlash after I issue the press release stating that revered top writers are leaving Excelsior House due to the politics their new owner has. We can agree that the bad press will not do any favors to the value of the firm.”

“Mr. Jones we will not give in to threats...” Counselor Midas spoke and was interrupted. “Wait, what are your terms?” Spencer asked at his companions displeasure.

“First, I keep my job. Second, I want a pay increase and additional power.”

“Fine call it off. I will inform Gold.”

“George may I have a word,” Midas asked of his longtime employer.

“Albert, don’t bother. I know nothing about publishing,” George Spencer looked at Killian. “Alright, you can keep your job. I accept your terms.”

“Good but before I do anything I need it in writing. Oh, and I will give Robert the news.”

With those last words exchanged Albert Midas and George Spencer left Killian’s office.

Killian couldn’t keep the smile from illuminating his face. Now he only hoped that Emma was not miffed at his sudden departure. How would he explain it?

Without ceremony, he got up from his comfortable chair and walked out his office door. First, he needed to find the answer to his immediate problem. What was happening to him?

“Mr. Smee. please get a hold of Miss. Nolan and when you do let her know I will be calling on her.” he scratched behind his ear. “I have a bit of a drive to make if I want to arrive on time for my appointment with Mrs. Lucas.”

“Of course, sir” he paused briefly “Sir? Did the meeting go well?”

“Wind might be turning in my favor. I will be able to confirm by tomorrow. I’m off.” He rushed out of his office and soon he was getting inside his car. The drive felt eternal.

Finally, he reached his destination. A small log cabin in the middle of the forest. It looked cozy and full of warmth.

He stepped out of his car and proceeded to the door. He knocked and soon was greeted with a warm smile. An older woman opened the door wide.

“Are you Killian Jones?”

He answered with a kind smile. “I am and you must be the famous Anita Lucas.”

“I am, please come on in, let me get you out of the cold.”

“Thank you.” He noticed that she was studying him as he walked inside. She guided him to the small kitchen.

“Would you like some hot tea to warm up?”

“I would love a cup. Do you have any earl grey?”

“I do. Sit and get comfortable. I have a feeling this will be a long conversation.” She instructed for him to sit as she prepared the hot beverages.

Should that comment make him nervous? He really needs to find out what is going on. So he does as he was told and waited. He started tapping his foot a bit impatiently.

“Okay, sorry for the wait.” she apologized as she placed the hot tea in front of him along with sweeteners and lemon. “Your assistant mentioned a wolf bite. Mr. Jones and you can simply call me Granny.”

“Aye, I was bitten by a wolf but the reason for my visit is not the bite itself but the symptoms I’m experiencing. Do you know if the toxins of the animal bite can cause any unnatural reactions that conventional medicine would overlook?”

“Symptoms like what exactly?”

Killian scratched behind his ear. “The physical ones are obvious but they are not as concerning as the fact that my senses are heightened beyond their natural function.”

“Let me guess, you can hear conversations from afar. Smell odors that normally would be missed by anyone else. You are more virile and maybe even more aggressive than before?” She looked at him intently.

He simply nodded his agreement.

“When did the bite take place?”

Killian got lost in thought for a second. How could he forget the day it was his anniversary? “March 31st.”

“Very promising. On March 31, the moon was closest to the earth. It has been a little over a century since the last time it was that close.”

Killian cannot help the dread that he felt in that second.

Granny continued with her explanation. “Simple explanation is that you are becoming a wolf. It is not like the movie, no silver bullets needed. During transformation the wolf is vulnerable.”

“Come again? I’m becoming a wolf. An actual wolf?” He scratched his head. “How is that even possible? Is it?”

“You tell me, Mr. Jones. You are the one that searched me out for answers.”

“Mrs. Lucas--” the look the woman sent his way ensured he corrected himself “Granny, do you truly believe that?”

“Mr. Jones life is mystical but we are already used to it so we see anomalies instead of the normal. Now about your situation. There are rules.”

“Rules, what kind of rules?”

“Rules that may help you understand your predicament.”

“What are the rules?” He didn’t expect to hear good news but he was not nothing this fantastical. Bloody hell.

“The wolf is always present but it rests during the day. At night it prowls. That is when the beast is stronger. He grows inside the vessel until the first full moon and then consumes the host. Killing all but his nature and heart.”

Killian paled at the grim prognosis.

Granny continued on. “Not everyone who is bitten transforms. There has to be an analog of the wolf to be wild within. A parallel or match. We can even say an equal of sorts.”

“Granny that is not an accurate description of myself. Most people would argue with that assumption of my character.”

“These people are wrong Mr. Jones. If they were correct you wouldn’t be here right now. It is also said that the bite is not always needed. The passion of the wolf is enough.”

He sighed “Is there a way to stop the transformation?”

“There are herbs but they are not easily found. Especially with the full moon getting so close. But some years ago I acquired an amulet. It is one of the most powerful amulets in existence.” She got up from her chair and disappeared. Killian just sat on his chair and stared at the cold cut of tea in his grip. Granny finally reappeared after a few minutes with a small box. “You are the first wolf demon I have met.”

“Please forgive me if I don’t share your enthusiasm.”

“Mr. Jones, the demon wolf is not evil by nature, only if the man he bit is.” She reached for his hands across the table. “I don’t believe your heart to be dark or rotten. I envy you. Power without guilt. To love without a doubt.” She removed her hands from his and opened the box to hand him an amulet. A silver chain and pendant. The pendant was heavy with symbols and what he could make out a wolf image.

“I cannot accept this.” He stammered as he held the amulet.

“Please accept the gift. I do have to warn you that the amulet has to be worn at all times and it must be next to the skin and never taken off. It will be a great pain and cause weakness while the wolf struggles to emerge. The charm will hold him at bay and sometimes drives him out completely. It is not the silver that weakens the beast it is the mountain ash.”

“Thank you. I must know one last thing is there is a chance it may not work?”

“I have never seen it work but the lore says it will. Before you go there is one last thing. The demon wolf can create a bond with another as well. A mate he feels worthy of his host.”

Killian took in her words and slowly gripped the amulet in his hand. “Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your generosity.” He rose from his sit and said his goodbyes to his gracious host and left.

Killian arrived at his place. He wouldn’t call it a home since it was simply a hotel room. His home had been shattered by betrayal but perhaps there was hope for something new. With that thought, he decided to call Emma and apologize for leaving without a single word. He could only hope that she would be understanding.

He picked up his phone and dialed her number. The line was ringing. The excitement of hearing Emma’s voice made him feel like a kid again. He waited and then he heard a click. “Hello??” The soft breathless voice said. “Emma, this is Killian Jones. I just wanted…” click “Hello? Emma, are you still there?” Bloody hell this was not going to be easy. He dialed again… click… he hit redial… click… he decided on texting her an apology or at least a plea for forgiveness. “Emma, please, let me explain. That is all I ask for.”

Emma stared at her phone’s screen. Standing in nothing but a fluffy white towel, she gnawed at her bottom lip. His assistant had tried to convince her to return the call but she was stubborn and upset. At first, she was even angrier that he had not picked up the phone himself and now he had. Reading the text over and over. She liked the man and that was scary. She had been so upset when she woke up and made him breakfast only to find the room empty. The feeling of abandonment was overwhelming. It was a connection she had never experienced before.

She calmed herself and responded, “okay, I will listen to your plea.” She waited for the phone to ring and almost as soon as she sends the response her phone started ringing.

“Emma?”

“Plea away Mr. Jones.” to hide her nervousness she continued to dry herself with the towel.

“Lass, I’m sorry for my abrupt departure” he paused “Emma, please finish drying yourself, the noise is quite distracting.”

“You can hear that?” she stopped the movement once his words had sunk in. “Okay, I’m going to put you on hold for a second.”

“Alright. Emma, if you prefer I can call you back in a few minutes.”

“No just hold on a minute.” She just didn’t want to hang up. She put her phone down and quickly toweled her hair dry. She combed through the tangles as fast as she could. “Okay. I’m finished, now plea.”

“I sleepwalked and ended up in the woods. I must have fallen and hit my head. There was blood.” Should he tell her that not all the blood was his? At least he didn’t think so.

“And you didn’t think it was a good idea to let me know?”

“I didn’t want you to have to take care of me once more. I have taken advantage of your hospitality as it is. I’m sorry. It wasn’t a pretty sight.”

“If you hit your head that would explain the blood loss. Nothing bleeds like the skull. You could have a concussion. Did you at least go see a doctor?”

“I didn’t, I thought about it because no one feels this good with a head injury but I promise if I start feeling light-headed, I will go see one. Am I forgiven?”

“I don’t know, how will I know if you’re lying?”

“That can be easily remedied. I would love to see you and then you can inspect for yourself. I have some cuts you can kiss better.” He cringed a little at the last part of his invitation.

She laughed. “Okay, what do you propose?”

“Dinner tomorrow night at the Cygnus, I’m in room 815 in case you arrive early and need to ring my room. The restaurant at the hotel at 6:30 P.M. is that acceptable?”

“Okay, I will be there and you’d better look like you fell and hit your head.” She warned.

He laughed “I did and I do. I look forward to our meal. Until tomorrow. Goodnight Emma.”

“Good night Killian.” and with that their call ended. He was thrilled that she had agreed to meet. He finally got ready for bed and with the amulet hanging over his neck brushing against his chest hair. He finally had hope that things would work out. He fell asleep soon after.

The next day Killian awoke to the phone ringing. “Hello?” his voice still raspy with sleep.

“Mr. Jones this is your wakeup call. I have been calling for a few minutes. You must have had a hell of a night.”

“I apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for the call, lass.” He hung up and pushed the covers off. He readied himself for work and left for the day. He had so much to look forward to today.

As soon as he entered his office Mr. Smee informed him that Mr. Spencer and Mr. Midas were in the conference room waiting for him.

He found his way to the conference room within minutes from his arrival.

“Mr. Spencer always a pleasure.” He strode in and sat across the men. “Do you have the contract we agreed?”

Mr. Midas was the one to speak. “Here it is, I still disagree with Mr. Spencer agreeing to such extortion.” He handed Killian the contract to look over.

“Ah, you are entitled to your opinion as I’m entitled to fight for my livelihood.” Killian was reading the contract and was interrupted.

“Mr. Jones it is all there. Please don’t act like you are having any doubts.” Both Spencer and Midas stated oozing frustration.

“Always a pleasure sir” with that he handed their signed copies and folded his own. He tucked them into his breast pocket and walked out with a smile on his face.

He needed to go to the washroom before heading back to his office. He entered and stood in front of the urinal seconds away from doing his business. He paused and remained rooted on his spot. The door opened and the sound of familiar footsteps had him on alert, Robert Gold. The uneven steps his former friend took as he neared Killian. There was a small difference the limp wasn’t as pronounced as it used to be.

“Jones, it has been a while since we last saw each other.”

“Aye, I remember the day clearly. It is seared into my memory.” Killian responded as he looked at his former friend’s reflection in the mirror. He waited for him to stand next to him and make his move.

“Tell me, dearie, how does it feel to lose everything you love?”

Killian’s single left eyebrow rose to his hairline and a small smile appeared on his face. “Did I? Lose everything I love?”

Robert couldn’t help laugh at Killian’s mannerisms. “Your wife has been sharing my bed for at least a year and now your job is mine too. Everything you took from me is where it belongs, mate!

“Everything I took? Are you daft? Milah chose me,” he paused and continued “Arthur chose me as his replacement. Dearie.”

“NO! You took her first.” Robert gritted his teeth. “But that wasn’t enough, you had to take the job too. I knew in time I would get my revenge.”

“All this time you made me think you were my friend...That you had my back but it was all a ruse. You were just biding your time. Unlike you, dear friend, I didn’t need to take that approach.”

That caught Robert’s attention. “What are you talking about?”

“I’ve had some time on my hands since I no longer have a wife to go home to and now I have the power to say, you are fired.”

“You can’t fire me!”

“Oh but I can. I took a page from your book and nagged Spencer until he gave me your job.” With a simple shrug of his broad shoulders, he goes back to do his business. He unzipped his trousers but from the corner of his eye, he waited for his reaction.

“You are lying!” Robert seethed “Spencer and I have a deal!”

“Sorry, mate, I have a contract that says otherwise and that means you are out!” with his final words to his former friend Killian turned to face him and marked his territory on top of the very expensive leather shoes.

“What are you doing?” asked Robert in disbelief.

“Marking my territory and you got in the way.” Killian smiled as he finished, readied himself and washed his hands to leave a puzzled Robert Gold.

Killian was overjoyed that he had saved his job and Emma had agreed to dine with him. The only little hiccup was the beast growing inside him. All that was left to do was to survive the next full moon and he could have his happy beginning with Emma. He was putting his fate in an amulet to end his curse.

He was at the entrance of the Cygnus at the entrance of the hotel lobby. Milah’s scent welcomed him and before he could avoid her presence she called out to him.

“Killian, could we talk?” Her plea clear in her voice.

“I don’t think it is a good idea. Milah please go.” He kept his back to her. He didn’t know how he would react if he would see her face.

“Please come back home. I have no excuse. It was a mistake.”

He finally turned to face her. “Robert become unlovable now that he is out of my job?”

“I never loved him! He never meant anything to me. I’m going to talk to him and end things.”

He towered over her. “You betrayed me over and over again with a man that didn’t mean anything to you, and somehow you think that is better?”

Her teary eyes became outraged. “Don’t be a self-righteous bastard!” she went to slap him.

He caught her arm before it made contact to his face and grabbed her by the elbow, almost yanking it out of its socket.

Milah stumbled on her feet with a small cry. “Killian, you’re hurting me.” Killian immediately released her elbow and was instantly apologetic.

“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me! You should go and never come back.” Milah just kept staring at Killian’s face in disbelief. She’d never seen her husband with that kind of attitude before. He was always much calmer. She slowly retreated in defeat.

Milah called Robert to arrange the meeting. “Robert we need to talk.”

Killian had gone to his room once Milah left. He wasn’t going to let her visit sour his mood. He was going to get ready for Emma’s arrival.

He had changed clothes and decided to trim the thick beard. His sideburns peppered with gray hair. His eyes are as blue as the sea even with few lines that show his age. He felt younger re-invigorated and part of him knew it was more than the bite, that it was because of Emma. She had breathed life into him.

While waiting for his dinner date to arrive he sat on the loveseat in his room as he turned on the television to distract himself from the mess that had become his life. A metallic scent caught his attention, no it was more like stale meat. Where was the foul smell coming from? He followed the scent and soon found the source; on the lush carpet by the night stand’s wooden legs he found the answer. The handkerchief had dried blood, he picked it up to inspect it only to find three fingers wrapped by the cloth. Still on his knees trying to remember anything begging the gods to give him a sign he hadn’t killed anyone. The shiny handcuffs he found near the fingers aren’t inspiring any good thoughts.

What had he done? The blackouts he was experiencing hadn’t been a real concern before until now. He quickly rewrapped the fingers and discarded them out.

Should he cancel with Emma? He glared at the handcuffs. He couldn’t burden her with his troubles. What if he hurt her? He had lost his temper with Milah. He couldn’t risk it with Emma.

Lost in his thoughts he missed the interview in progress on his tv. Sidney Glass had with a young girl, Wendy Darling. She had been attacked by The Lost Boys a group of miscreants. They prowled Sherwood Park neighbor to the town zoo. This time they left without their prize. They had been stopped by a good Samaritan that had intervened before the young girl could be hurt. Her hero had told her to run and not to turn back. “What about you?” She had asked as she turned to make her escape. “I’m a survivor.” He had told her and she did as she was told and ran. Not long into her run, she came across two beat cops in pursuit of a trespasser at the zoo that had fled while still handcuffed.

Killian had decided to cancel with Emma but she didn’t answer his call. He lacked the willpower to keep away from Emma so he decided to use a little help. Click. He handcuffed himself to the radiator in his room.

Emma walked into the lobby of the Cygnus at 6:00 P.M. She had been nervous all day. She wasn’t a teenager but she felt like one but the real problem is that it wasn’t a date or was it? She decided to wear a pale pink dress. He asked her to join him for dinner to explain his absence in the morning. Is it horrible she wished it was a date? He made her forget she was truly alone.

She went up the elevator to his room. She was early and she hoped he wouldn’t mind. Room 815, she knocked. “Killian, it’s Emma, sorry I’m early. Hope you don’t mind.” No answer. She knocked twice more. Louder. “Killian, you cannot do this to me, again. Open. The. Door.” There was scuffling inside. “Emma, please go away. I cannot see you.” His voice barely audible.

Emma noticed a cleaning lady exiting from a room not far from Killian’s room. “Excuse me, ma’am. Could I ask for a favor?”

The older lady smiled and nodded. Emma returned her smile. “Could you please open room 815? I think my friend is sick and I’m worried about him.” Without a second thought, the lady opened the door for her. “Thank you.”

Emma entered the room slowly. Her eyes finally landed on Killian. He sat hunched over on a chair by the radiator handcuffed. She approached him slowly to not spook him. “Why are you pushing me away?”

“Please go away.” He begged defeated.

“I’m not going anywhere.” She answered stubbornly as she moved the hair away from his eyes. “Killian, what happened?”

“It's getting late and I think I've become dangerous ...especially at night.”

“And the handcuffs are to protect me? Because you might hurt me?”

“Aye, I think I’m turning into something else.” He looked away from her.

“You’re becoming what? The thing that bit you?”

“Please, you have to go. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Killian, just tell me where the key is.”

“I don't have it. I have no idea where I got the handcuffs from.”

“You don't have a key? What was the big plan? To sit chained to the radiator until you grew paws?”

He smiled “Gods. You make it sound like if it isn't happening. I didn't think past not hurting anyone.”

“Good thing you don't know who you're dealing with. Even with my amazing parents, I went through a rebellious stage. I picked up some shit that I thought I was never going to need and then I met this man who chained himself to the radiator and it all fell into place.” She was looking for something anything she could use. She was completely focused on the lock trying to free him.

“Emma, love. Why would you want any of this mess? You should save yourself the trouble and go home.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Do you want to know why? Because I like you and you're a good man.”

“I don’t think I’m a good man. If I was this wouldn’t be happening to me. I wouldn’t be cursed.”

“I know you are a good man.” She slowly caressed his cheek. “You look at me like my father used to look at my mother.” She sniffled as she restarted her efforts to unlock the cuffs. “I’ve never met a man that looked at me the way you do and that is very exotic to me.”

“Then why is this happening to me?”

“Well, sometimes the worst things happen to the best people.” The cuffs clicked opened. “It’s all about the tumblers. Now that is taken care of; have you considered that maybe what is causing your symptoms is that you have a tumor?”

“Emma if only it was that simple. With the handcuffs, I found something that confirms my theory.” He looked down at his freed hands. “Please, don’t ask me what it was and then Milah--.” He stopped mid-sentence and his eyes met hers filled with remorse.

“Okay, I trust you but you have to tell me about Milah. Killian,” she noticed there was no wedding band “I know something happened not just the reason you are so upset about right now but before.”

“I’ll make you a deal love. I will tell you about Milah if you tell me about your parents. Do we have an accord?”

“Okay, I accept. I think my parents would have liked you.”

“Do you really think so? It would have been an honor to have known them. As for Milah, she wanted me to go back home.” Emma tensed at the comment. “She was having an affair with the man I thought was my best friend, Robert Gold. And she said he meant nothing to her, she cheated on me for nothing… I just cannot forgive and forget that. The reason I fear for your safety is because I felt anger towards her and I barely managed to control my temper with her. I just cannot take that risk with you.”

“I know you wouldn’t hurt me. Your wife betrayed you and you have a right to feel anger towards her. Do you think you will be able to reconcile with her?”

“She said she was going to end things with Robert tonight but I cannot, I will not be able to mend our relationship with her. I realize she was not the woman for me.”

“She is not the woman for you? Are you sure? There was a reason you married her.”

“Aye, I married her because I loved her but the woman I pledged my life to would have never betrayed our vows. I don’t think I ever truly knew her. Love, could we talk about a better topic? Emma, could you tell me about your parents?”

“They were madly in love and they did everything together. Until today I regretted my little rebellious stage but I guess everything happens for a reason. Anyway, they were in a car accident and for a minute we thought they were going to survive it and wake up from the coma their injuries had caused. The first doctor said it was their bodies way of trying to get better, like a reboot, and then the specialist George hired, Dr. Jekyll, said they were both brain dead. I asked for another opinion but I was told that grandad had already made arrangements. He claimed that was in their will and I could not do anything since he had power of attorney. I looked into it but by the time I got a judge to hear me it was too late.” Her eyes were filled with tears.

“Oh, Emma. I’m so sorry love I should not have pushed you.”

“I don’t mind talking about it with you. Since I met you I’m not consumed by the grief.”

“Oh, so I’m only a distraction?”

“No, you are not.” Somehow during their conversation and the unlocking of the cuffs she had ended up standing between his legs as he sat on the bed. “If you feel more comfortable with the cuffs on we can put them back on.”

He leaned towards her and in a breathy voice he responded, “maybe they are not necessary.” He was inhaling her scent. It was intoxicating to him.

“Easy tiger,” she placed her hands on his chest. She could feel his heart beating.

“I’m sorry-” he looked down trying to calm down. This was different than when he was with Milah.

“Killian look at me.” She raised his face. “I’m not complaining but maybe we can figure something out. Since you are worried you might hurt me. I need you to put your hands behind your back and I can cuff you.”

“Wait, I thought you said it wasn’t needed.”

“Killian. Put. Your. Hands. Behind. Your. Back.” She guided his hands from his sides to behind his back. Her chest meeting his as she slipped the metal cuffs on to his wrists but not completely clicking locked. “I wonder what you can do without hands.” She asked as she played with the buttons of his shirt.

“Oh, you will see love.” His eyes darkened.

Emma pulled his shirt from his pants and slowly unbuttoned it. She suddenly pushed him onto the bed where he was sprawled helplessly.

“Let’s find out.” She smiled as she climbed on the bed.

He couldn’t help but think how uncomfortable his position was because of the cuffs and the fact that the discomfort was a cross he was all too willing to bear.

They were lucky the cuffs were loose and had not completely locked. Soon they were both bare and had embarked on more enjoyable activities. As they laid in bed immersed in their post-coital afterglow Emma decided to ask about the amulet hanging from his neck.

“Killian?”

“Yes, love.”

“Is this silver chain part of a pirate’s treasure booty?”

He smiled as he caressed her back while she toyed with the chest hair surrounding the amulet.

“I’ve done some research about my gifts and this amulet might be the key to stopping this metamorphosis from completing.”

“What can I do to help?”

“You anchor me, Emma.”

“How about we rest for now and tomorrow we can figure out what to do.”

“Did I tire you out, love?”

“Yes you did, you are quite talented with and without hands.”

They both drifted into a deep sleep. A slumber the wolf within rose from. He stared at Emma as she slept. Normally the wolf would wake from his sleep to prowl the night the beast was majorly in control but that was not the case tonight because of Emma’s presence Killian maintained dominance over their shared vessel.

Sherwood Park a few blocks from The Cygnus a lifeless body would be discovered soon. Only her identification card was in her purse. Milah Balefrie Jones in her attempt to save her marriage she made the mistake of angering the wrong person and ended bloodied with her throat torn off.

Killian was the first to wake. He admired Emma’s sleeping form. All he could do is stare at her.

“Hey,” she mumbled sleepily, “staring is not nice.”

“I’m sorry love. I couldn’t help myself.” He spooned her. “Love, you are beautiful even when you snore.”

“Hey! I don’t snore!” She playfully slugged him. He only smiled and held her close, to him. “Is it crazy that I never want to get out of bed?”

“Nope, I feel the same.” She sighed and hummed contently as she cuddled closer to him.

After a few more hours of sleep, they decided to rejoin the world.

“Love we can go eat something at the restaurant down at the lobby or just have room service, what do you desire?”

“Well, we could get dressed and go downstairs to eat or we can stay in bed and get nourishment delivered to us? I vote for room service.”

“Good. Then that is what we shall do. I’ll place the order while you take a quick shower. Okay so what do you want?”

“I don’t know. What is good here?”

“I was thinking of getting the pancakes. They are delicious but they don’t hold a candle to you, love.”

Emma rolled her eyes at his comment and finally got out of bed and ran into the bathroom to shower. She was happy and that scared her. She couldn’t lose him too. She readied herself as fast as possible so he could shower as well.

While she waited for the food arrival and for Killian to get ready. She inspected the amulet and traced the outline of a wolf. She knew there was something to Killian’s conclusion. She hoped he was wrong but deep inside she knew he was right. If he was truly becoming a wolf she would lose him. She turned on his laptop and noticed the history on his browser. He had been doing research but nothing was proving to be reliable. Mostly folklore and mythology. She really hoped they could find a way to survive this together. She noticed that the shower was no longer running. He was going to be out soon and she needed to be brave for him.

Outside of the Cygnus, detectives Oz Walsh and Leroy Brokk were about to inform Killian Jones that his wife was murdered. Sadly with no suspects and the proximity to his home it made him a person of interest.

#cssns #Captain Swan #cs ff #cs au ff #cssns 18 #CS Crew #CS Mafia

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