#u put a ball in the ground and wait and suddenly its beautiful have u guys heard of this

[coelakanths]

i understand the tulip mania of 1634

[theringers]

counting crimes - pierre gasly

illicit affairs, part three

summary: “wandering eyes and comfortable lies, you seem to sleep just fine” counting crimes / nessa barrett

a/n: i’m thinking there’s only gonna be two more parts but that may change, we’ll see. enjoy this and let me know what u think! feedback is always appreciated xoxo

also this gif today killed me

warnings: 18+, nsfw, smut, semi public sex shocker!, lil angst, cocky pierre

Your eyes widen as you try to comprehend what to do. Someone was at the door and Pierre was still inside of you, in shock. “Hey, y/n? Are you in there?” Max’s voice could be heard through the door. He tried to push the door in but the deadbolt stopped him.

You glared at Pierre, cleared your throat and placed a finger on his lips. “Yes, give me a few seconds.” You panicked and pulled your dress up, trying not to make too much noise.

Where the fuck was Pierre supposed to go? You should have just kept quiet. Your eyes focused on the window and you pointed towards it, quietly shoving him out.

He squeezed himself through the window and stepped down onto the grass. After quietly shutting the window, you looked in the mirror and readjusted your dress. Your hair needed some readjusting as well, so you quickly brushed through it.

You unlocked the deadbolt and opened the door to see your husband. “Hey,” he smiled at you, genuinely happy to see you.

“Hi, Max.” Your voice was shaking but you smiled to try to play it off. You usually had a good amount of time to psych yourself up before you went back to Max but you could still feel how Pierre had fucked you.

You were awful. He placed his hands on your hips and kissed your cheek. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay? You’re kind of hot.” He placed the back of his hand to your forehead.

“Yeah, it was really hot in there but I feel better now.” Hopefully he would buy that story.

“Well, if you’re feeling better now, I have an idea.” His hands rested on your hips again and pulled you into his body. “We have a few minutes to kill. What do you say we have a little bit of fun in here? It is our anniversary after all.” His lips found your neck and placed soft, gentle kisses on the skin. “You look so beautiful tonight, baby.” You were feeling sexually frustrated after being interrupted but he was right. It was your anniversary, so what the hell.

You leaned your neck to the side, inviting him in. “I love this dress, but it needs to come off.” He looked you in the eyes and smiled, reaching around for the zipper. He bent his knees and slowly pulled your dress to your ankles. His hands rested around your calves and move upwards while his lips trailed kisses on the soft skin of your thighs.

His finger pushed aside your panties and he slid a finger between your folds. “Jesus baby, you’re so wet.” He smiled and looked up at you. You moaned and rolled your eyes into the back of your head to avoid making eye contact with him. His tongue found its way between your legs, licking lightly before fucking your pussy with his tongue. You let out a moan while your body jerked toward his face uncontrollably. You needed him to finish you off so badly.

His fingernails ran lightly over the skin on your abdomen down to your thighs. “Oh, Max” you moaned.

Your hand quickly covered your mouth, remembering that even though he wasn’t out there possibly listening there were other people who shouldn’t hear you right now either.

He pulled his suit pants down and took himself in his hand, smiling at you. “I love you,” he said before entering you. He pressed against your body and thrusted up into you while looking in your eyes.

“I love you too, baby.” You squeezed your eyes shut and let out a moan.

Sometimes you forgot what it was like to have sex without the looming threat of someone finding out. Instead of worrying about someone catching you cheating, you were able to focus on the sensation and the intimacy but even now, something was missing.

Max left the bathroom before you, allowing you more time to clean up and look normal. You didn’t want to draw any more attention. “Hey guys, sorry I wasn’t feeling to well.” You said, grabbing your napkin off the table and taking your old seat. Max looked flushed for obvious reasons and couldn’t hide his smile.

You turned to your left and smiled at Pierre and Anna. “Did I miss anything?” Pierre’s gaze was glued to the stage ahead and he refused to look at you. His jaw was clenched and you could feel the steam coming out of his ears. You made eye contact with Anna and cocked your head in confusion. Why was he acting this way? Maybe Anna thinks it’s something she did wrong.

“Nothing important, for us at least,” she said, fixing single pieces of her hair.

Max’s hand gripped your inner thigh and he looked over to you and smiled. You returned the smile but immediately looked in Pierre’s direction to see him still refusing to look at you, his fist balled at his side.

Hotels in random cities at 2 am are lonely. The sound of Max’s snores kept you awake longer than expected. Your mind was wandering to places you wish it wouldn’t and you couldn’t get silence long enough to dream. The air conditioner in the room was set to the coolest temperature - hotel air always hitting different. Your mouth was dry, making you uncomfortable and adding to another thing making you unable to sleep.

You pulled the covers aside in frustration and grabbed a pair of shorts to put on under Max’s oversized Red Bull Racing shirt. You looked around for the room key and slid it off the table as soon as you spotted it.

As you stood in the elevator, you looked down and noticed your bare feet. It was 2 am so you were hoping there was no one important in the lobby. You just wanted a sip of cold water to help put you to sleep.

The night before races always made you nervous. You never knew what was going to happen so you had a constant pit in your stomach over your husband’s safety. That stress only increased when you began sleeping with another driver. Someone else’s safety to worry about.

You smiled at the older couple that greeted you when the elevator door opened. You crossed your arms and tip toed to the mini bar, grabbing the largest bottle of water they carried. After giving the gentleman your room number, you ran towards the closing elevator doors only to be met with familiar blue eyes. His hair was messy and his skin was glowing from sweat.

“Don’t mind me,” he said, stepping to one side. Even though he clearly just worked out you could still smell the strong scent of his cologne. “How have you been, y/n?”

“I’ve been okay. Your summer break looked fun,” you took a quick sip of your water and smiled at him.

“As did yours.” The silence was uncomfortable. You two were always laughing and talking nonstop. It was what you loved about him.

You focused on the pounding of your heart and your eyes wandered, trying to pass the uncomfortable time.

You suddenly lost your balance as the elevator shook, the lights flickered off, and the cables stopped. Turning your head towards Pierre, you began to get worried.

“Did this just break?” He asked, pressing the floor buttons and hoping the lights would come back on.

“Just our luck.” You laughed at yourselves. Why did the universe hate you? You plopped down onto the ground and twiddled your thumbs, realizing that you left your phone in the hotel room. “Do you have your phone?” You asked Pierre.

He lifted his wrist to show his apple watch. “I just went on a run. I never bring it with me on a run.” Of course he didn’t.

You groaned and banged your head on the wall behind you.

“Looks like you’re stuck with me.” He laughed, pleased with himself. He slid down to join you on the floor, the summer heat starting to creep into the elevator.

After not speaking for the entire summer break, this unconventional meeting was quite uncomfortable. You watched on Instagram as him and his wife vacationed in Bali, looking happy as ever. Granted, he did the same with you but he would never admit it. He had too much pride.

“Why didn’t you ever reach out?” You asked him, bluntly.

He looked at you making you feel dumb. “Why do you think I didn’t? I spent four weeks straight with Anna. Would you want me calling you up while you were on holiday with Max?”

“I don’t know,” you stumbled over your words. “I just would have liked to talk to you.”

“I told you before, I can’t keep doing this.” He said, exhausted at the back and forth you two had done.

“Yet, you do. You tease me and torture me and then say you need to be devoted to her. It’s not fair to me.” You let out a deep breath, exhausted over feeling this way.

“You want to talk about fair? You had sex with Max right after me. Less than five minutes after I was inside of you, he was too.”

You looked at him confused.

“I thought you were just going to talk to him for a few moments and then send him off.” Oh no. “I was waiting for you to open the window and let me back in.” He ran his hands over his face.

“Pierre, I’m so-”

“Don’t, y/n.”

He heard you and Max. You felt remorse for doing it, putting Pierre through that. But at the same time, you didn’t. Pierre is sleeping with his friend’s wife. He has no place to be jealous or mad. He comes second.

“How much did you hear?”

“I left when I heard him talk about how wet you were. He thought it was because of him but he had no idea that it was all for me.” Pierre scooted closer to you and put his hand on your thigh.  “He has no idea how wet you get for me.” He moved in closer to your ear. “How good I make you feel.”

Your head spun at his words. When he made you cum, you forgot about everything in the entire world except for him.

“I’m really sorry, Pierre. That was shitty of me.” You rested your hand on his chest. “Let me make it up to you.” Your hand moved to his thigh and grazed over his thin mesh gym shorts.

You pulled his shorts off and took him in your mouth, slowly bobbing your head. He pulled your loose hair into his hand as a makeshift ponytail. He let soft groans escape his lips, being mindful of the setting. He would look down to see you taking him fully and have to look away or else he would finish quicker than he would like. Each time his eyes trailed down, his hips thrusted uncontrollably and a grunt would leave his lips.

“That’s it baby,” he said, in a low tone but almost whining. “God, your mouth feels so good. It was made to take my cock.” He continued to fill your mouth and throat, making you gag and tighten around him.

He pulled your head up by your hair and looked at you. “Come sit on my face.” He looked at your outfit, examining how he could take it off in the easiest way possible. He slipped off your comfortable sweat shorts, leaving you in just your Red Bull tee.

He laid down on the ground and hoisted your legs up and around his chest, getting the perfect view of your ass.

You stroked his cock and started to grind your hips against his chest. He took you in his hands immediately, not up for teasing, and pulled you onto his face. You rocked your hips over his face at a slow, light pace while still focusing on taking him in your mouth.

His tongue flicked your clit while his thumbs massaged your ass, pressing down hard and most definitely leaving bruises.

You moaned at the feeling of your legs beginning to tingle. He loved to 69 with you because every time you got an ounce of pleasure, your moans vibrated around his cock. You would tighten your throat and gag, sending him down a spiral. You both knew how to make each other feel incredible.

His facial hair tickled your inner thighs and left light scratches on the skin. As you ground your hips into his mouth, the sensation got rougher but the pleasure just increased.

He used his ab muscles to thrust into your throat, looking for his release. You tightened your grip around the base of his cock and suctioned even harder with your mouth as he let go.

Your legs went fully numb as the tension began to build in your stomach. You reached your peak, hearing Pierre’s tongue lap at your juices.

You rolled off of his body, looking for your shorts. The guilt was already beginning to set in and you couldn’t escape it now. You were stuck.

Pierre wiped his mouth with his hand and you noticed his whole face was wet. He was still smiling.

“I just hope Anna and Max aren’t standing there waiting for us when these doors decide to open.”

“Wouldn’t that be the icing on the cake?” You laughed, brushing your fingers through your now knotty hair.

Pierre pulled his shorts back on and looked at you. “Now be honest with me, who eats your pussy better? Me or him?”

“You can’t ask me that.”

“I can and I did.”

“Well, I’m not going to give you an answer.”

He laughed at you, not the reaction you were expecting. “Don’t worry, I already have the answer. I heard the sounds you make when he’s between your legs. It’s nothing compared to the sounds you just made for me.” He winked at you, knowing exactly where you stand with him.

next part

[hufflepuffhollander]

apocalypse: tom holland series pt. 3 (finale)

a/n | this is the final part of the apocalypse series (sad face)! i felt it was a strong way to end the story without dragging it out. i definitely got a lil teary eyed writing this so brace urselves! (& thank you to all of the readers who stuck w me through this trilogy, u are greatly appreciated).🤍

summary | a toxic storm that has wiped out most of the world’s population has you taking shelter and fighting for survival with an unexpected ally.

cw | language, a tiny argument, lots of panic, fluff, and truly poetic smut. you’re welcome.

Read Part 2, join the taglist :)

The toxic fog enveloping your car seemed to have a personality; to be alive. It clawed its way up your windshield and clung to the side mirrors, threatening to seep in and join your quest for refuge. It whispered to you as you drove, Tom fast asleep in the seat next to you. Any time the fog started to get under your skin, you could just look over at your sleepy passenger and take a sigh of relief knowing that you weren’t alone; and you had a pretty good feeling that, no matter how much further the world sank into apocalyptic ruin, you would never have to face it alone again.

Driving far down a nameless road on your way to find Tom’s brothers, you heard a distinct grumble come from the sky, a noise you’d been able to go the last two days without hearing. Another low, loud clap of thunder made you yelp, waking Tom up. The sky started to look darker, more menacing...and your heart rate started to skyrocket.

Tom rubbed his eyes and yawned. “Hey, love, what is it?”

“Tom, I think the rain is coming again,” you said shakily, brain too focused on scoping out what neighborhoods were closest to find shelter in. There was no way in hell you would risk bracing the storm in a car.

“Are you sure?”

“Just look outside.”

That finally woke him up, as his eyes went a little wider looking at the state of the sky above you.

“We need to find somewhere to stop,” he murmured, taking the map off the dashboard and turning it every which way, trying to orient himself. “I think there’s a town a few miles north of here- take your next left and follow the road, and hopefully we’ll see some houses.”

The clouds grew larger and more threatening as the seconds passed, your speedometer not able to keep up with your pulse.

“How much further?”

“Just another mile or so,” Tom said, strangely calm.

As he spoke, it was as if someone had thrown a black curtain over the planet, and you had to turn your brights on just to see in front of you.

“Tom, we're running out of time,” you felt your whole body go cold, the warmth of his hand suddenly placed on your arm putting your body in a sort of shock.

“We’ll make it, y/n,” he said, his voice faltering. You saw houses start to appear behind the mist.

“I’m just going to pull into one of the closest ones,” you decided out loud. Tom grumbled in disagreement.

“I think we should drive a little further to the bigger houses up ahead, they’re more likely to have generators.”

You shot him a look of disapproval. “Why would we stay on the road any longer than we have to? I’m pulling over here-”

He spoke harshly. “y/n, do not stop driving.”

You started to panic more as you saw lightning not too far ahead. “Tom, this is absolutely idiotic.” 

“We need to give ourselves the best chance of survival.”

“By driving right into the rain?!” Against your best wishes, you pressed the gas pedal into the floor and continued to move forward.

Once the larger houses started to come into focus, you heard light patters start to hit the metal roof of the van. Tom looked up at the car ceiling, a string of expletives leaving his lips.

“Fuck. Fuck. Tom, it’s raining!” you yelled, gripping the wheel tightly enough so that all of the blood had drained from your hands.

“Just keep driving!”

“We’re going to fucking die!” You made an executive decision to careen into the empty driveway of a nondescript house, but the garage door was closed. “How the hell do you expect us to make it inside now, genius?”

He swallowed hard and looked around frantically. “It hasn’t picked up yet. We can make a break for it...but it has to be now.”

You felt the fear palpably pinpricking your eyes. “Tom, what the hell were you thinking-”

He reached in the back and grabbed his coat, wrapping it around you in your seat, ignoring your comment. “I’m going first so I can knock down the door if it’s locked. Don’t waste any time and run the moment you see it open.”

You didn’t have time to reply before he tossed his hood up over his head, threw open the door, and jumped out of the car, running straight into the rain.

“Tom!” 

You were scared out of your mind watching him sprint to the porch of the house. Right as he made it, he cried out in pain, clutching his arm close to his chest. But he kicked the door in and stumbled inside, falling over the threshold. You felt stiff, frozen, going insane with worry and fear- but if you waited any longer, you knew you wouldn’t make it. You flung open the door, running as fast as you ever had to the porch, Tom’s coat protecting you from the few drops that fell to the ground. Seemingly, right as you were under the cover of the roof, the sky opened up, and once again the world was engulfed in torrential tar.

You slammed the front door shut behind you and fell down to your knees when you saw Tom curled into a ball on the floor. You tried to turn him over as you let a panic attack get the better of you. “Oh my god, Tom, please be okay, are you with me? Tom?!” You could barely see him through the thick tears streaming down your face. After the longest minute of your life he slowly groaned and opened his eyes, seeing you but closing them again as he winced in pain. His arm was still tucked tight into his body.

“Love, I- I got...b-burned,” His face was scrunched and pale as he let his arm fall to the floor, and you saw the atrocity that was at least a two inch circle of burned flesh painted bright red on his forearm.

“Oh god, fuck, Tom, what do I do?” your voice cracked as you continued to cry, completely stuck in place.

His breathing became choppier and his eyes fluttered open and shut again. “I don’t- I don’t know...”

“Baby, don’t leave me,” you lowered your head to his and sobbed, holding onto his shoulders for dear life. “Please be okay. God, please don’t leave me.”

Truthfully, you had no idea if this was all it took to kill a person. You couldn’t think straight as you heard the love of your life whimpering, his body vibrating softly as he fell into some kind of paralyzed sleep.

You stood up as your body went into hyperdrive, running through the house and looking around for something, anything that might help. In the master bathroom you found alcohol, antibiotic ointment and bandages, and thanked whatever was up there beyond the rain as you rushed back to Tom, still lying on the foyer floor. He was unresponsive.

“Stay with me, Tommy, come on,” you untwisted the bottle of isopropyl. “This might hurt a bit, sweetheart,” you whispered as you poured it out over his wound.

That jolted his system awake and he cried out as it sloshed around the exposed burn. By some type of miracle, the acid clinging to his skin seemed to disperse as the alcohol flushed it out, washing into a sizzling pile on the floor. Tom’s entire body relaxed suddenly, and he took a long, jagged exhale. Careful not to touch the burn, you squeezed the ointment across his arm and wrapped it up in the long bandage you’d found. Tom opened his eyes again, found your worried stare, and his eyes filled with tears of relief.

“Thank-...thank you.” His eyes shut again.

“Tom...” you whispered, putting a hand up to cup his cheek, one of your tears falling onto his forehead, making him flinch. “Are you okay?”

His chest rose and fell a few times, bringing you some semblance of comfort. “I’ll be alright, darling,” he said quietly, resting his own hand over yours. He was eventually able to meet your gaze and sat up slowly, ignoring the pain and moving to cradle you with his good arm. Somehow, it was the tightest, most loving embrace he’d ever held you in.

You wept into his chest as he kissed your forehead. “Love, please don’t cry.”

You brought your face up to his and kissed him desperately, body still shaking. “Tom-”

“What, darling?”

“I- I love you s-so much.”

“I love you too, y/n. I love you too.” He nuzzled your nose up with his own so he could bring his lips to yours again, the taste of him mixing with the salty tears clinging to your face. “Thank you for saving my life.”

You spoke quietly as if the rain would hear you. “I was so scared...I thought you were- I thought you left me.”

“I could never, sweetheart.”

Tom tried to lift up his hurt arm and frowned. “I feel like my body is made of lead.”

“We should get you some rest,” you said, standing to help him up. “There’s a big, comfy looking bed in the master bedroom.” You shined your flashlight around the hallway until you found a candle, and took the matchbook from your pocket to light it. The house was only growing darker, and you knew that soon you wouldn’t be able to see. Supporting his weight as you walked to the bedroom, Tom finally collapsed into the blankets with a contented sigh.

“I’ll go look for some food-”

“Baby, don’t go anywhere.”

You looked at him quizzically, and he motioned for you to come lie with him. “I want to just stare at your beautiful face for a while, is that alright?”

You smiled and crawled in next to him, wrapping the thick comforter around you both and cozying up in his chest. You took a deep inhale to revel in his comforting smell, and he kissed your forehead over and over again, tickling your face. You giggled into him, and he let out a small, breathy laugh.

“That’s what I wanted to hear.”

You brought your face to his to kiss him tenderly, and you rested your hand in the crook of his neck as you fell into a slow rhythm. You didn’t think you could be any happier in that moment, just to have him back, completely tuning out the downpour coming from outside. You pulled back to look into his eyes backlit by the candle.

“How is your arm?”

“Feels much better now, thanks to you,” he said, moving it slowly back and forth, getting used to the discomfort. “But let’s not worry about me, darling. I want to focus on you.”

You raised an eyebrow at him as you heard his tone change. “What are you talking about?”

“I believe I owe you something,” he said, moving to place his mouth right under your jawbone, giving you chills. “You did save me, y’know. You deserve to be properly thanked.”

He moved to support himself with his good arm and lightly rested his bandaged one on your waist, continuing to leave a trail of kisses down your neck.

“Tom, what are you doing? You need to take it easy-”

He shut you up with a hard kiss to the lips, and started to tug down at the neckline of your t-shirt. 

“No, love, what I need right now is you.”

He used his body weight to push you flat against the pillows, moving on top of you and pressing his lips further and deeper into your skin, now wriggling your shirt up and over your head. You started to giggle again, unsure of how to process it. Tom lifted his head up from kissing your belly button to look at you inquisitively. “What?”

“Aren’t you tired?” you whispered, fingers running through his curls.

“My veins are pumping with adrenaline right now, darling, and you have no idea how long I’ve wanted you.”

You tugged at the shoulder of his hoodie to bring him back up to your face, kissing him again and sucking his bottom lip lightly between your teeth, starting to feel the heat rush up through you too. He sat up on his knees and took off his sweatshirt and tee underneath in one fell swoop, his injured arm seeming to be the furthest thing from his mind right now. You couldn’t make out most details in the candlelight, but were able to see the love and lust swirling together in his eyes in some mesmerizing way. Placing your hands delicately on his lower back, you smoothed them over his skin all the way up to his shoulderblades and loved feeling him shiver underneath you. He pulled away from your liplock to stare into your eyes, and you pushed the pads of your fingers a little harder into his back, whispering. “Why did you wait so long, then?”

He rested his forehead on top of yours and smiled through his words. “I guess I was too busy falling in love with you in the dark.”

You had never seen Tom this way, hungrily nipping your skin and letting his hands explore your body as if they’d never experienced touch until this very moment. He left hot paths of kisses and bites across your neck and chest, all the while relentlessly grinding his hips into yours, which you encouraged with your own bucks upward. Eventually, you had your legs wrapped around his bare body, and he gave you the slowest, deepest kiss humanly possible as he eased himself inside of you, both of you shuddering at the feeling.

“Tom-” you inhaled sharply and would’ve done absolutely anything to have all of him just then, rolling your body upwards into his. His ragged breaths were drowned out by the sound of the violent rain falling above you, but you had become an expert at hearing his voice through the noise. 

“I’m so...fucking...in love with you.”

He continued to slowly push into you, his body shaking underneath your grip more and more with every bit further he felt himself go, lapping at your mouth with his own. He refused to break eye contact, and his glossy stare sent you reeling, only able to breathlessly speak a few words back.

“Show me.”

Your toes curled, you aimlessly pawed at his back. He sent waves of ecstasy coursing through you, the shadows of your bodies intertwined flickering onto the walls. He fucked you slow and hard, with every thrust sputtering out sweet nothings into your ear. Every twitch and flex of muscle you felt through his skin just made you fall deeper into a state of bliss, and you swore you had never felt a love like this before.

Through lofted breaths, Tom moaned in time with you rhythmically gasping out his name. He was littering your neck with bruises, you were carving scratch marks into his back; and you pushed each other over the edge at the same time, sealing in your bond as apocalyptic soulmates. 

He had collapsed next to you, his heart still in full sprint as he pulled your tired, loved-up body into his own, nudging his face into your hair and rubbing aimless circles on your arm with his thumb. The candle was dwindling and the storm raged on, providing an almost soothing white noise throughout the still room, only accompanied by the sound of you existing with one another. You fell into a deep sleep for countless hours, only waking up because Tom was standing over the bed, shaking you.

“Wh- what?”

“y/n, you have to come see this,” he said, hand still clasped around your wrist before you’d even wriggled out of the blankets.

He guided you by flashlight to what you assumed was an office, and you were shellshocked as you stood in front a computer screen, bright with power.

“I found a generator.” Tom smiled brightly, waiting for you to put the pieces together.

“So...there’s power?”

“Babe, there’s connection. My brothers have been sending me messages for weeks.”

Your jaw fell open as you looked at the monitor, sure enough alight with internet, a phenomenon of the past. “Your brothers, they’re... alive?!” You couldn’t find the words as you saw Tom shed a few joyful tears, the two of you hugging and jumping around like excited toddlers.

“We can talk to them, y/n. My family is still out there waiting for us, and in the next wave of light, we’ll be able to find them,” he said through cracks in his voice, happier than you could ever remember him being.

“I’m so happy for you, Tommy,” you kissed his cheek, but didn’t convince him as he could hear the sadness hiding in your voice. He knew you were thinking about your own family, and how you knew you’d never see them again.

“Love, listen to me,” he kneeled down in front of you and you followed suit so you were both sitting on the fluffy rug of the office. “I know you’ve lost so much. But you found me, we survived. And we’ll keep surviving—we don’t have another choice.” You sighed and nodded. “I know.”

“And it’s not the same, I know, but...you have a family now, with me, with us. We can rebuild together, darling. Fuck the storm. No matter what it throws at us, we have each other to help us through it.”

You reached for his soft hand, melting under his sweet ramblings. “...I know.”

“I never thought it would take the world ending to find you,” he said, lacing his fingers between yours. “but I did, and I’ll be forever thankful for that. We’ll be alright now, sweetheart. I’ll live the rest of my life to keep you safe.”

You gave him a knowing nod and sat in silence in the dark of a room that wasn’t yours, listening to the world unravel on the other side of the wall. Your chest flurrying with a mix of hope and heartache, you resolved yourself to understand that this was living now, that you would have to adapt to this new normal. You were petrified of what the future held, but seeing the boy sitting across from you, holding your hand and your heart in his steady gaze, helped you to breathe through the fear. 

The rain had taken everything from you—but it had given you your everything, too.

[teeztheflag]

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Wolf!Ateez Reaction to finding their mate

warnings: strong language, blood, violence, slight possessiveness, smoking

a/n: this has more open endings & sorry for the long writings; also I have a littler writer block at the moment & I am definitely not pleased with this but I have to write through it until it’s getting better again 😂

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k i m h o n g j o o n g

„is this the last one?“

„yes, alpha.“

hong joong eyed the rogue in front of him and gave the omegas the sign to kill the scum off. there were indeed too many attacks in the last months and he wouldn’t risk it to lose one single soul of his own pack again.

you watched everything with a stoic face and decided to try as quiet as possible to leave from the scene but right as you made a step back with your paw you tripped over a branch.

hong joong turned around like all his omegas and the beta, although you had a distance between you like a few hundred meters he knew where the sound came from and before you could see how they were changing and running after you the wind brushed through your fur at the high speed you were passing the trees.

fucking shit, you were a really good runner but beating an alpha when he’s angry wasn’t a good idea at all. it couldn’t get any better because a mesmerizing scent filled your nostrils and distracted you only more so eventually before you could reach your own territory something pounced on you and lunged for your neck.

hong joong being in his rage didn’t even realize that the sweet scent the female wolf in front of him giving off was his mate, only before he could hurt you he looked into your beautiful eyes and froze. you still struggling under him to get free recognized all the other wolfs gathering around your two entangled forms and with a deep growl he clarified for them to leave.

hong joong changed back and watched you in awe, keeping you in place with his arms. you snorted at him when he neared your neck to take a sniff from the sweet aroma you were giving off. why did your mate had to be the kim hong joong? you changed back, too.

„hello there, little mate“ he smiled at you, eyes golden and fangs still showing from the excitement. you raised one eyebrow at his words, little? and why was he looking at you with those loving eyes, he wanted to kill you a second ago.

„can you, maybe, please get off of me?“ your wolf protested at your remark, she didn’t want your mate to leave you at all. hong joong and his wolf on the other hand purred at the sound of your voice but he soon realized why you were being so hostile towards him. he smelled that you came from another pack, wondering if the territory in front of him was yours.

„I am sorry, I thought you were a rogue... I wouldn’t have tried to attack you if I wasn’t this angry before, you know the rogues are a huge problem these days...“ his eyes were glued to the ground and you saw the honesty in his eyes and he was right, it was the reason you have been there in the beginning.

„I - my name is Y/N...“

a big smile spread on his face and he thought to himself. „Y/N...what a beautiful name“ he looked at you with pure adoration and you blushed hard because of being naked in front of him and only being able to shield alway your most private parts, what an embarrassing start to find your mate.

„maybe we should go to your pack first? I mean, if I am allowed to guide you there...“ okay, who would’ve thought that the ruthless alpha could be a gentleman? but your heart nearly busted at the thought because he also tried hard to not look at your exposed body...

„I think it would be okay“ you gave him a cheeky smile and he gave you one in return

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p a r k s e o n g h w a

park seong hwa was probably the most popular wolf in your pack. he was handsome, a good fighter and had the best manners. every unmated female admired him and wished to be his mate, the boy himself watching how every friend of his finding their own and him being the only one still unmated...

he was sad, to be honest. he tried everything from visiting every other pack in the region to travel to other countries but nowhere he was able to find that delicious smell of his mate everyone was talking about.

and there was you. a not really admirable girl with zero talents, as you thought so yourself. your birthday was tomorrow and then you would be able to find your mate.

you occasionally played with the thought of it being seong hwa, your best friend knowing you had a crush on him since you were small. but you knew in this universe there wasn’t a chance you could have him... only thinking about the two of you standing next to each other made your face fall... it just didn’t match at all.

apparently there were many prettier girls than you that were after seong hwa, too. everyone hoped a girl named hee seon would turn out to be with him... and you understood why they thought so...

but as the day came and you saw seong hwa in the town you couldn’t believe it. there he was, your mate. your mate as in park seong hwa, you sensed him before he could do so and a tear rolled down your face, no. this couldn’t be! you weren’t good enough for him...

you knew what to do and ran home as fast as you could, packing only the most important things. thankfully it already was evening and your chances to get away unnoticed were higher. you took a way through an unpopular part of the forest and the distance to your mate hurt your wolf, the pain only would worsen.

before you could make another step something attacked you from behind and you felt a sharp pain in your arm, seeing a bright white wolf plunging its canines deep into the flesh. you let out a loud cry and tried to get the wolf off you by changing but your own was too frightened and sad to do so...

the wolf let go of your arm and licked it‘s mouth from the blood, you could swear it was smirking. by that time you were already crying from the pain and fear and tried to crawl away from it. you saw the wolf lunging at you again but before it managed to attack another big black wolf jumped in front of you growling so loud it let your blood freeze.

you were smelling the rich aroma from the wolf and immediately knew it was your mate who came to rescue you. the other wolf fled before seong hwa could make a move knowing exactly it wouldn’t stand a chance against the big black beauty.

he turned around and you could hear whimpers leaving his form when he neared you carefully. he started licking on your wound to lessen the pain and snuggled into your neck to comfort you.

„please, no... just leave me here“ your heart and wolf hurt at those words but the black wolf stepped away from you and changed back to his human form. you averted your gaze to not see him naked and seong hwa reached out for you to take you into his arms.

„what are you saying... I love you... don’t you know how long I waited for this moment?“

─────────────────────

j e o n g y u n h o

ending up blindfolded and bondaged in a cage wasn’t really your plan when you managed to slip out of the kingdom for a night trip. you only wanted to visit the nearby town but managed to came into the way of some rogues who were attacking and chasing you all the way into the near forest. when one of them hit you with their big paw on the head you fell unconscious and now you were trapped in god knows where...

after a while you startled when you heard foot steps nearing you and suddenly the cage was opened and your blindfold was taken away from you leaving you trying to make out your surroundings in the moonlight.

in front of you two boys were eyeing you and one of them made a move to touch your hair. instantly you crawled back to the end of the cave and gave him your feisty eyes.

„haha, why so shy little wolf?“ they both snickered but stopped when someone else entered the room and your heart sped up the sight. you didn’t know why but you immediately felt the urge to present your neck to him. his eyes were glued on your bruised form in the cave and his heart fell at the sight.

„get her out of that!“ the two boys shrieked and grabbed you by your ankles and out of the cave. you shyly looked to the ground while they freed you from the rope and you pushed your knees up to your form to shield something of your body.

the boy that told them to free you crouched down in front of you and tried to catch your eyes. „princess, you’re far away from home, am I right?“ he knows who you are? you’re eyes widened at his question and locked them with his. he definitely was the most beautiful being you ever layed yours on...

„mh, it’s okay. don’t be afraid we won’t hurt you... my pack rescued you from the rogues.“

so they weren’t the ones attacking you? but why did they smell like rogues, too? „my name is jeong yun ho... and I think you know what we two are...“

„jeong yun - yun ho? you’re one of the notorious rogue pack leaders!“

you shivered back in fear and panicked when he tried to hush you, he motioned for his members to leave you alone and sat in front of you. he sadly looked to the ground. his wolf being embarrassed the princess being their mate and they only being a rogue...

„yes, I am... but please, don’t judge me before you know me, I am begging you“ he breathily said and you saw his eyes watering at your slightly disgusted look but you felt your wolf faltering...

─────────────────────

k a n g y e o s a n g

it was time yeo sang attended the yearly meetings of all the alphas of the region with his father, training to take over the task in the future. the alphas‘ families were also allowed to follow the invitation and at the evening their was a ball being held.

yeo sang checked his attire a last time in the mirror and ventured out of his hotel room to meet up with his father and mother downstairs. as they drove to the mansion yeo sang felt a slight excitement, something was definitely going to happen tonight but he couldn’t put a finger on what it was...

when everyone took a place on their reservated tables the ball was opened and yeo sang‘s gaze driftet through the crowd and caught some unmated alpha‘s daughters flirty looks on him.

he grinned to himself, always so thirsty the girls for a soon-to-be alpha... after everyone ate people started to spread all over the place and occasionally talked with each other. his father waved him over from the other end of the ball room and when he took his position next to him his breath was caught in his lungs.

there in front of him the daughter of a good befriended pack stood hand in hand with another future alpha. he felt his claws emerging at the sight and a sudden jelousy nearly eating him alive.

„fingers off from what is not yours!“ his wolf brought him to spit out the words in the most venomously way he was able to.

„what’s wrong son?“

„mate“

your own wolf pushed you away from your current boyfriend who also got into a fighting position, ready to attack the wolf that was trying to catch you away. the atmosphere in the room got heated when the two werewolves growled at each other. suddenly yeo sang smirked at the other wolf changing in highspeed and lunging at the younger boy going directly for his neck.

you cried out when you heard bones cracking and you changed, too, to stop your mate from killing jong su. just before he was able to break his neck you jumped on him and took him down. the two of your rolled through the room breaking tables and glasses. you knew you had to distract your mate so you sped outside of the mansion firing up the instinct in him to hunt you.

problem was, you underestimated the pretty and not very strong looking boy when he cought you after a few miles and went on top of you. you gasped and howled out when you felt the stinging pain in your neck of him marking you in your wolf forms and creating the mind link between the two of you.

„game over.“

─────────────────────

c h o i s a n

sweat formed on your forehead and you heard strange noises leaving your stomach. why the heck did you have to meet the wolf prince? you really hoped he wasn’t your mate hearing he was a cocky ass and too arrogant to stand... and to be presented in front of him with other unmated females like it was a bazaar he could choose of... your wolf let out an annoyed growl at the thought. you hoped there were other pretty girls he would get distracted by and leave you alone.

entering the hall where he would be waiting you focused your gaze on to the ground while walking and not once looking up. you felt the other girls getting into a line next to you and did so, too.

you heard guards talking to eachother and suddenly stopping when someone entered the room. this smell... you had to find the source of it so your eyes searched for every spot in the room to find it. and there he stood. a young boy, indeed prince material, already watched you with his hands behind his back and a slight smirk playing on his lips.

oh no, please no!

he emerged your form with confident steps and all the other girls gasped some seemingly jealous because of the attention he gave you. well, not one of them being able to feel what you felt in that moment... the feeling of meeting your mate for the first time.

your became really insecure with your attire, you didn’t want to look your best for the prince because of reasons but now you wished you had put more effort... you bowed down in front of him feeling that it was expected from you.

„my prince...“

suddenly your mate chuckled and put his warm hands on your chin to lift your face.

„I am sorry, but I think I am not the one you think I am... prince woo young will arrive in a few minutes... but I think you won’t have to see him anymore.“ he winked at you and you felt your cheeks heating up because of embarrassment.

„my name is choi san, first protector of the wolf prince but if you like to address me as a prince I am happy to call you my princess“

─────────────────────

s o n g m i n g i

min gi couldn’t believe his eyes, out of all places he found you in fucking club, dancing down on someone‘s crotch that wasn’t his.

he was mad, furious even. his wolf pushed him to you and he grabbed the dumb boy by his neck and smashed him to the ground letting out a protective growl in the process.

you stood there shocked and gasped when the tall boy grabbed you by your waist and pushed his nose into your neck muttering a low ‚mine‘ that shook you to your bones, your knees practically went week at this and he held you tight before they gave out under you.

„what’s your name angel?“

„y/n... you, you and me-“

he smirked at you confidently and guided you out of the club. he steadied you against a wall and took in your body from your toes up to your eyes. he purred at the sight and really liked what he saw, your little dress leaving little to imagine what beauty lied under it only for him to see and feel.

„fuck, you’re so hot... what a lucky wolf I am...“ you deeply blushed at his statement and started to fiddle with your fingers not knowing what to say or do. usually you were a confident girl who liked to party and always caught the gazes of the boys. but with this one, your mate, you felt like a shy high school girl...

he chuckled a little bit and pushed a loose strand of your hair behind your ear, the skin he touched immediately forming goosebumps in the process. he leaned down and took a sniff of your hair.

„well, my name is song min gi, and I would like to ask you if we want to leave this place.“

─────────────────────

j u n g w o o y o u n g

four years of hard training. four years of blood, sweat and tears... and the result was a fiery and unstoppable assassin with only one goal. kill jung woo young, the future wolf king.

being born by a rogue mate couple you always have been an outsider in the pack that decided to take you in after they killed your parents. being adopted by the alpha that held a grudge against the wolf king that killed his own mate he decided for you to fulfill his desire of revenge.

and that’s how you got into the situation of sneaking into the palace at midnight and into the chambers of the wolf prince. he layed there soft breaths leaving his mouth. you took out your knife and placed it on his neck but something stopped you from slicing into it... your wolf pleaded with you to not do it. you suddenly started to sob into your left hand being so exhausted and disappointed in yourself for not being able to kill off the boy.

one tear fell on the boy‘s face and his eyes opened flinching at recognizing the knife on his throat and the girl above him. his eyes turned into a rich golden color and he slowly felt the pull to you.

„what are you doing, my soulmate?“

mates... you heard of the phenomenon. was it the reason your wolf stopped you? why was the thought of him getting hurt more painful than thinking of the consequences for your thoughtless behavior right now?

„y - you don’t have to do it... please, we are meant for each other...“

─────────────────────

c h o i j o n g h o

„hey, jong ho! you already heard? sweet y/n‘s birthday is tomorrow, I am really curious who’s the lucky guy to fuck that pretty thing.“

one of his friends eyed your small form through the windows of the ice cream shop where you happily chatted with children. nearly every male wolf was swooning over your personality and charms and if you were considered the sun of the pack he probably was the moon. well, seems like a bad metaphor...

he was the bad guy of the pack. the one who always got into a fight and chilled with the troublemakers, making out with the hot chicks. you on the other hand probably never have been touched before and were too pure for him. although he wasn’t into girls like you something triggered him to keep an eye on you wherever he saw you.

he threw his cigarette to the ground and scoffed at his friend. „poor bastard who gets such a lame and unattractive mate.“

you were so excited, waking up in the morning you already felt it. today you would meet your mate. your friends hyping you up since a month and making you nervous in the process, too. you decided to celebrate your birthday in a bar tonight and you went for a pretty sexy look, despite you always being keen on wearing not too revealing clothes.

the moment you saw him making out with a definitely more exciting girl than you your heart literally broke... the fact that choi jong ho knowingly watched you suffering from the scene made your blood boil. you vanished back to the restrooms blocking yourself out in a cabin and cried into your knees on the ground.

did you deserve this? the most beautiful day in your life also turned out as the most gruesome... being rejected by your mate was one of the worst things a wolf could feel in their life. something in you broke and maybe alcohol was the curse for your pain.

he couldn’t take his eyes off you. swaying from side to side with your too short dress and all those bastards checking you out like they had the right to. he just wanted to play with you a little bit but the plan obviously backfired when his wolf went rigid at one of his friends smacking your ass from behind.

in a second he had the boy by his collar and pushed him against the bar. he went to grab your hand planning bring you to a safer place but you were quick to get out of his grasp.

„no! you are a b - bastard, choi chong do!“ your words came out so slurred he had to listen carefully.

„y - you don’t have a rrright to take me anywherrrr!“

„oh, believe me. I have any right to take what’s mine!“ and with that he swang you over his shoulders like a prey and vanished out of the bar.

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↺ back to navi

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[hallospaceboyy]

So much sadness, Zelds derserves loooove! Please do something entirely sweet, romantic and/or smutty with her like a wedding ceremony (either theirs or anothers persons) a ball or anything. Thank u!!!!!

I agree, Zelda deserves all the love and happiness!! Here you go, nonnie. I hope you like 🖤

Zelda wore an elegant, form fitting, red lace dress as she descended the staircase, her hair perfectly styled as it always was. The dress was off the shoulder, showing off a delicious amount of pale skin, and the sweetheart neckline showed just the right amount of her breasts. You can’t help the wide smile that lights up your face, as your gaze falls on her, can’t help thinking how beautiful she looks, flawless, and you know that you’ll happily worship her for the rest of your life. You're clad in a long black evening gown yourself, high necked, and long sleeved, and the torso delicately embroidered with sequins, sparkling in the light of the entrance hall as you turn to fully face her. When she reaches you, her arms snake around your waist, her red lips meeting your own, and you grin against her.

“You look beautiful, Zee,” She smiles at you, a soft, genuine smile, and you wonder if there’ll ever be a day that her smile won’t make you melt. You are, and always have been putty in her hands. You'd do anything for her.

“As do you, my love,” She imparts a final peck to your lips, before taking your hand in hers. “Now, we have a ball to get to. I can’t wait to show you off to the Coven,” You giggle and she squeezes your hand, and you feel the familiar pull that you had almost become accustomed to now, when Zelda teleports with you, and then you stood at the threshold of the Academy. You close your eyes for a second, waiting for the dizziness to subside, and when it does, you give Zelda a nod, and she leads you inside, and you tuck your arm in hers. You feel suddenly nervous, and keep a tight hold on her as she leads you into the bustle of the ball, and she let’s you, keeps you grounded and reassured.

The room is alive with the activities of intricately dressed witches and warlocks, the room filled with loud chatter, and upbeat music. Zelda had finally given in to Sabrina, and let her choose the music to be played, and you smirked, knowing she probably regretted it now. Modern music in no way appealed to the witch, preferring the simple elegance of classical genres. The redhead weaved with you through the crowds, exchanging brief pleasantries, her first thought to claiming a drink, and she knew you were thinking the same, grabs a glass of champagne for both of you and hands you one.

“Thanks, I think I’m gonna need this,” You giggle, casting a trepidatious glance around the room, saw people staring, and whispering – knew they were gossiping about the High Priestess and her mortal.

“Just try and enjoy yourself, Y/N. If it becomes too much, just tell me, and we can sneak off for a little while,” She pecks your cheek, and you see Sabrina across the room, surrounded by her mortal friends, and she sends you a friendly wave. Your heart warms at how kind Zelda's family are, treating you as family from day one.

Zelda herself was a little fidgety, so unlike her in social situations. Zelda was the most composed person you had ever met, when she needed to be, and you studied her, chatting pleasantly with people that approached her, and her hand came to the small of your back, sensing your gaze and your anxiety. You sent her a reassuring smile, leaving her to her duties and made a beeline for Ambrose, standing solitary at the side of the room. You lean against the wall beside him, sipping your drink.

“She really loves you, you know. I’ve never seen Auntie Zee so... content,”

“I really love her too. I’d do anything for her,” You feel yourself grow warm, butterflies in your tummy as you share just how much you adore Zelda. Ambrose drapes an arm across your shoulder, giving you a friendly squeeze.

“I’m glad she’s found someone to make her happy. Glad it’s you, too. Auntie deserves only the best, and we really are all quite fond of you,”

Grinning, you lean into him. “You can call me Auntie Y/N if you like,” You both laugh, and he shakes his head.

“Not a chance. I may look youthful but I’m old enough to be your Grandfather,”

Your banter is suddenly interrupted, when Zelda saunters over, offering you a hand. “Dance with me?” You notice the previously upbeat music has been replaced by something slow, and romantic, and many couples are beginning to sway together. You swallow thickly and nod, and Ambrose takes your now empty glass, his eyebrows raised. You take Zelda's soft hand in your own, and let her lead you to the centre of the floor. You take a shaky breath, gripping Zelda tightly as she takes you into her arms, knowing people are watching you both. “ Just relax, sweetheart. Follow my lead,” Zelda gives your hand a reassuring squeeze and winks, holding you close and swaying with you to the soft music.

“What were you and Ambrose giggling about?” Zelda questions, eyebrows raised and smirking.

“Oh, nothing really. He was telling me that he’s happy for us, happy that you’re happy. And I told him he can call me Auntie,”

Zelda laughed, and your stomach flipped. Her laugh was like a healing balm. “He's old enough to be your grandfather!”

“Yep, that’s what he said,” You’re both in fits of giggles now, and Zelda rests her forehead on yours.

“Speaking of familial ties, I have something I'd like to ask you,”

“Okay?” Brow raised, you scrutinise her face, your eyes finally settling on hers, and the fondness, the palpable affection you see there almost makes your knees grow weak. There was a look of such adoration there, and you feel the same adoration for her, worship her very being – your High Priestess, your other half.

“You know, Ambrose is right in saying how happy you make me. I feel things for you that I have never felt for anyone, in all my centuries of life. I can share anything with you, and you’re never the least bit judgemental. I’ve never once doubted your love or devotion for me. Its wonderful. An emotion such as love that I’ve always thought to be so complicated is so simple with you,” She swipes at the corner of her eye, chuckling at her own state of sudden emotional overload. “Not to mention how wonderful you are with my family. They all adore you,”

You can feel tears welling in your eyes, but you keep your gaze on her, on her moss green eyes that have always captivated you. You continued to sway to the music with her as you spoke, following her steps automatically now. “I love you so much, Zelda,”

Zelda removes you from her embrace then, and Ambrose steps forward, handing her a small, black velvet box, and you begin to shake, eyes never leaving the redhead before you.

“I love you, Y/N. Marry me?” The words are posed as a question, although you’re certain Zelda knows your answer. Your hands come up to your face, pressing to your cheeks, shell shocked. You know Zelda loves you, know that she wants you by her side, but you had always thought marriage to be out of the question. Her previous marriage ending in such shambles that you were certain she had been entirely put off the idea. But here she was, opening the box, showing the most gorgeous ring you’d ever seen. It was a simple, silver band, with a large ruby in the centre of it, and two small diamonds either side. Although the ruby was eccentric in size, the ring was still delicate, and beautiful, and so very Zelda, and you knew she had chosen that ring so carefully, just for you, and your heart soared. The entire room was watching you both now, and you began to sob, intense happiness coursing through you, and you couldn’t speak, so you nodded, and flung yourself into Zelda's arms. You heard her sniffle herself as she buried her face in your hair, holding you tight. She pulled away, and slid the ring on your finger, and it fit perfectly. You gazed at it for a second, and then back to Zelda, and you kissed her, deeply and passionately, Zelda's mouth opening to grant access to your tongue, forgetting about everyone else in the room, or simply not caring. There was a rupture of applause, and you heard loud woops and cheers from Ambrose and Sabrina, and as you pulled away from Zelda, laughing in pure joy, Zelda wiped your eyes, and you saw Hilda wiping her own from her place beside Sabrina, and she sent you a thumbs up, grinning.

They all came dashing over to you, sharing hugs and kisses. Ambrose sauntered over and hugged you both, giving you an especially long, tight squeeze. “Congratulations Auntie Zee. Auntie Y/N,” and you all burst out laughing then, and you truly felt like a Spellman now, here with her family, that was now also yours.

[poisonedapples]

The Dark Side of Christmas

Summary: Christmas is known as the happiest, most welcoming time of year. But when you’re Roman, that’s not always the case.

TRIGGERS: Roman has PTSD but it’s not stated by name in the fic, fighting, swearing, mentions of past shootings, mention of a car accident/explosion, blood. panic, past death and grieving, mental health problems, anxiety, dissociation and flashbacks, Christmas, tell me if you notice any more, cause this one has a lot

Note: HAPPY LATE HOLIDAY! This was supposed to be done by Christmas, but this month has Sucked so I’m using that as my excuse. My friend @theultimatemomfriend was my secret santa for something I did in the Powerless server, so here is your gift mixed with my own self indulgence! Hope you like it <3

But also , thank you to @romansleftshoulderpad and @ultimate-queen-of-fandoms2 for saving me some time and editing it for me. I appreciate you two

He was driving in a car.

She was screaming at him at the top of her lungs, all about how he was a failure, couldn’t do simple things, is only a disappointment to everyone that’s ever known him. The screaming was like a concert speaker right next to his ear; loud, loud, loud.

He couldn’t steer in these conditions. Not with a rocky road that bent in so many directions, a skinny single lane on a cliff with traffic cones instead of a protective railing. His foot was all the way on the brake, yet the car was speeding down the road faster than he’s ever driven before. The tires were screeching. She was still yelling.

It’s so loud.

She jumped on top of him suddenly, grabbing a hold of his neck with her long nails digging into his throat. Everything burned, he couldn’t breathe, and no one was steering the car anymore.

It’s so loud.

High pitched screeching echoed from nowhere. She was still screaming in his ear while his neck fell asleep, desperately trying to pull away her hand in order to breathe.

You’re going to die.

The car fell down the cliff. Completely on its side, such a smooth yet loud fall, the car came crashing into the woods under it, fire consuming his sight and all of his brain, the loud crash coming to a complete, deafening silence after an overwhelming boom.

Roman’s body jerked awake.

He scrunched up his shoulders to immediately cover the tingling part of his neck where he was being strangled in his dream. His mind was foggy while his body felt ready to run a marathon, heart beating fast and every inch of his skin shaking violently. Roman curled into a ball trying to calm down in the pitch black room, to no avail.

Phone. Phone. Phone has light, where’s my phone-

Roman’s Rapunzel figure on his bedside table crashed to the floor from his lack of coordination, pretty stones meant for healing and love moving out of their places and into undusted territory. Roman dropped his phone on his chest once he grabbed it but was only grateful it didn’t hit the floor this time, turning on the bright screen and blinding his eyes.

It was better than the darkness.

5:48 AM, his clock said, the lock screen blurry-looking because of Roman’s unfocused eyes and the tears pricking out certainly not helping. But he could tell there were no notifications over the night.

It’s always weird when he has to delete the Instagram app. His phone doesn’t buzz nearly as much without it.

He unlocked his phone and opened up one of his word puzzle game apps. Although it pained him to admit that Logan was right, lighthearted thinking games helped him on nights like these. Where all he needed was to calm down, but no people were around to help him with that.

As the game loaded and he was wondering what words to make with the letters F, I, G, U, E, and R, Roman clung tightly to his giant stuffed animal Magic Bitch the Queen, a rainbow pegacorn that was perfect for squishing. The name only made it better. Weirdly more calming.

Things were calming down. He definitely won’t be able to go back to sleep tonight, but given the date it was a miracle he felt as calm as he did—

“Virgil, quiet down-”

“I’ll do whatever the fuck I want!”

“Virgil!”

...Nevermind. 

Roman curled in on himself at the sound of the yelling. He hated fighting. He hated it with a burning passion, loud noises made him jump out of his skin and it was only worse when it was them yelling. They’re usually a lot more calm when Roman is around, but sometimes things just...got out of hand.

This was one of those times.

“This bitch thinks he can just walk in here and act like he owns the damn place! Well newsflash fucker, you’re not the only person who cares about Roman! Stop acting like you can fucking control him!”

“I’m not controlling him! Is it a crime for me to want to care about my own brother!? Last time I checked, you’re not family!”

“Remus-“

“Oh cram it, calculator watch!”

“Go fuck yourself, you walking STD!”

“Virgil Foster! If you end up waking Roman, I swear-”

Patton paused mid sentence when he saw the figure standing in the middle of the steps. Everyone looked over at Roman, his hand fiddling with the end of his sleeve and way too tired eyes. His posture a little too straight, smile so dead it was hardly a smile at all. “It’s alright, Pat. I was awake anyway.”

“I assume another nightmare?” Logan asked.

Roman went to the kitchen and grabbed a glass from the cupboard. Filling it with milk until it was overflowing, Roman smiled. “You know me so well.”

Patton’s face grew concerned while he chugged some of the milk, Remus crossing his arms and glaring at Virgil. “You wouldn’t be having these problems if you’d stayed at my place instead of this dump.”

“This dump is our home, trash panda. Watch your fucking mouth.”

“Ironic.” Remus towered over Virgil with his hands on his hips when he stepped closer, Virgil hissing when he got too close. “All I’m saying is that isn’t it better for Roman to be with family who can help, instead of stuck in the same place that caused all this in the first place? With people who don’t even understand?”

“You know that I’m here, right? That I can hear you talking about me? Cause I can hear you talking about me.”

“Or maybe he needs to be around family that actually cares instead of being around the same deadbeat bastard who only comes visit to be the same pile of dog shit he makes everyone step in!”

Patton sighed. “Virgil, please stop. Can we please just go back to bed? Without all the fighting?”

The looks on Remus’ face was too taunting. Blood boiled in Virgil’s veins from three weeks of dirty glares at each other while he watched his best friend curl around him for comfort instead of anyone else. The cockiness of him trying to take Roman off to Florida for the holiday, like he was the only one who cared. He hated his stupid gross smile and how Roman snickered at his dirty jokes, he hated how he was genuinely helping and how useless their help was.

How threatening this bitch actually made him feel. But Virgil refused to lose.

“I’ll go to bed when this bitch stops acting like he can walk into my fucking house and act like he owns the fucking place! Eat my food, use my water, and steal my fucking friend because apparently this human embodiment of the feeling you get right before you fucking projectile vomit is the reincarnation of Christ!”

“Virgil!”

“And I’ll go to bed when this ‘Roman’s my best friend’ wannabe stops getting in between my family because his self esteem’s so low in the ground that sharks can have sex on it!”

“Fuck you!”

“JUST SHUT UP!”

Everyone paused when Roman screamed, his hand too weak to hold onto his glass and his hands shaking too hard to fiddle with the end of his sleeve anymore. His eyes were glassy and his chest felt like it was caving in on itself, with evil butterflies chewing apart his ribs and leaving hollow discomfort. Patton’s eyes went soft as he slowly approached Roman, keeping a loose grip on his hand and saying something to him that Roman wasn’t listening to in order to calm him down. But he was just tired. So tired. Tired of the yelling and the fear and the everything that he just wanted to get away.

So he did.

“Roman?” It was all he’d heard from Pat even after all his talking, but Roman still decided to ignore it. He quickly slipped on some shoes and grabbed his coat from the closet, opening the front door without another word.

Patton’s eyes widened when he realized what was happening. “Roman, wait-“

But just like that, the door had slammed behind him and he was making his way down the street.

He could already see his therapist’s “I don’t get paid enough for the shit you put me through” face when he eventually talks about this, but that was future Roman’s problem.

...He still had no clue where he was going.

That was always the worst part about Roman’s “run away from your problems” habit. He never had any plan. He could end up three towns over, he could end up across the street. In one of the first incidents, he ended up at a McDonald’s right on the outskirts of the state and fell asleep in the bathroom stall. When he called Logan and told him where he was, it was an hour drive to come get him since they didn’t trust him to drive back in his state. That’s why they first started looking for a therapist for him.

He wished he had his car this time. Walking around in freezing weather with pajama pants is cold.

Roman made his way down the hill where the house was to head downtown, where a good handful of stores were open at every time of day. He needed the heat.

“Eileen, you will pay for making me lose my beauty sleep.”

“You’ll be okay. It wasn’t working for you anyway.”

“...Hey!”

...And the distraction.

It was at 11:30 when Ellie woke him up. Dragging him out of bed and making him help her “sneak” out—if you could call going through the front door sneaking—, they ended up in a supermarket at around midnight on Christmas Eve. 

“I got Remus this giant ass octopus stuffed animal that was literally like ninety dollars, but I need a gag gift for him. Something completely and utterly stupid, and I need you to help me look for it. So I can go home sooner.”

“A giant octopus isn’t a gag gift to you?”

“He’ll love it and you know it.”

“...Touche. Maybe just get him toilet paper?”

“Too enjoyable. Too useful. He’ll set the rolls on fire in the backyard or something.”

“...Nevermind then!”

The first store Roman found with its lights still on was a small convenience store next to a gas station. His legs were starting to get slow from the cold, teeth chattering slightly with his arms tucked close to his body like a penguin.

Roman went inside.

“Oh my God, Roman, it’s perfect.”

“What is it?”

“‘Maybe you touched your balls’ hand sanitizer. I’m getting five.”

Roman tried not to laugh too hard, especially when the store was so quiet at this hour, but he couldn’t help it. With slight sleep deprivation and the look on his sister’s face, Roman burst out a laugh and gave Ellie a lazy push. Ellie took five of the hand sanitizers and piled them in her hands, making their way toward the checkout.

Alone in a store on the night of Christmas Eve.

Roman didn’t want to think about it, but then again, he never did. And every time he focused on one thing, half of his brain was still on his sister.

His throat felt weird.

“I’m dreaming of a white...christmas…”

Ellie was basically skipping on her way to the checkout. She loved old Christmas songs, and not being able to resist the temptation to perform must be another “Sanders Siblings” thing.

Roman was staring at the chip aisle when his chest started to expand, his hands growing weak and absolute fear taking over. Why was breathing so hard? What is it now?

His eyes became glassy again, his vision becoming more distant and distorted until he couldn’t tell what he was looking at. But his ears seemed to focus on something else. Something so distant but close at the same time, ringing in his ears while he felt like he was looking through a TV screen.

“And since we’ve no place to go...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…”

Fuck. Shit. Roman started fumbling in his pockets for earbuds, but in his haste to leave the house, they were forgotten in his room. Fuck, fuck, fuck!

He could hear the silence of the store, but in the back of his brain he could feel the sound of gunshots.

“He’s alive, but he’s been hit around five times. Get him in the ambulance.”

He knew there wasn’t hands on him. He knew there wasn’t any blood, his or otherwise, on the floor. But it sure as hell didn’t feel like it.

“Duck!”

There was no figure that caught Roman’s eye as they made their way to checkout. There was no moment of adrenaline as he tried to cover his sister, ducking for cover while people walking down the street also screamed. There was no glass breaking. There was no shots of pain as he realized the blood on the floor was his. There was no noise. No screaming. No sirens or commands being shouted or deafening silence that made Roman want to scream. It didn’t exist.

But it didn’t feel like it.

He didn’t know how to work his limbs, his body felt fake and his vision was just a TV screen looking at a world that felt anything but real. His ribs felt like they should be in pain for more than just his shaky breaths and his back should be cold from the hard floor instead of being supported by a cooler door.

What was the pattern again? Three things you can hear—wait, no, fuck, what was it? What was it?

There was blood going through his jacket and blood on his fingers. His thumb was cut from a piece of glass and he couldn’t move off the floor. As tight as he could, he kept a grip on his older sister. The hand sanitizers had sprawled out across the floor, the hands that were holding them now lied lifeless in Roman’s grip.

Roman heard something. More than the music, that stupid fucking music, but he could focus. He wanted to cough until he could breathe again, he wanted to be here, without a single doubt that history can't repeat itself. But trauma doesn’t work that way.

Shooting down on Taft Avenue. Four injured, one dead. 

“Roman, hey, it’s just me, it’s just Virgil—shit, hey, it’s alright, focus on me. Let me get you out of here, okay? God you’re heavy, okay-”

It’s Virgil. It’s just Virgil. No Ellie, Ellie’s dead, Ellie’s been dead, it’s just Virgil, he’s here. 

Thank God.

“Here, just listen to this for a bit. You’re the reason I have a Disney playlist, I hope you know that.”

They were in a car now. Roman could feel the pressure of Virgil’s bulky headphones on his ears, as well as the start up to Tiana’s “Almost There”, even if his hands he was staring at still didn’t feel like his own. The explosion in his chest lessened some, even if his breaths were still short and it was a miracle he wasn’t sobbing yet.

Virgil moved one of the ends of the headphones to the side. “Feeling a little better?”

Talking took so much energy, way too much energy, but he’d worried Virgil enough for one day. “...Yeah…”

“Do you need the volume turned down?”

“...Maybe.”

The music got a little quieter, and Roman felt his body relax a little more. He didn’t even realize it was overwhelming him.

“Alright...now, five things you can see?”

“Virge-“

“Five things you can see, fucker, let me help you.”

Roman let out a huff of a laugh, but looked around anyway. “Uh...you, carseat, wheel...um...the thing…”

“Thing?” Virgil looked around. “...You mean glove compartment?”

“...Yeah, that.”

“Okay, one more.”

“...Coat?”

“Alright, four things you can hear?”

“Music, heater, uh...I don’t know…”

“Can you hear me?”

“...Now I can.”

Virgil laughed. “That’s good enough, I’ll take three. Three things you can touch?”

“...Headphones, coat, seat.”

“Alright, good...two things to smell?”

Blood. “Pat’s air freshener, and the fact that you haven’t showered.”

Virgil lightly punched him in the arm, Roman letting out a small laugh through a shaky smile. “And I bet what you’re tasting is the fact that you haven’t brushed your teeth.”

“...I did not come here to get roasted.”

Virgil shook his head in amused disappointment at him, but started the car and put it in reverse. Roman sighed, looking out the window at the soft snowflakes and lights on houses that made his stomach curl. He hated this holiday. All it did was bring back bad memories, every corner surrounded in his triggers and nightmares increasing tenfold with the stress. He wanted to go home. He didn’t know where home was.

“Wanna talk about it?”

Roman looked over at Virgil, with his knuckles turning white on the steering wheel as he tapped nervously. Roman rubbed at his eyes. “Do you want to? I heard you and Remus.”

“This isn’t about me, it’s fine.”

“You’re my best friend and he’s my brother. It involves me too.”

Virgil didn’t answer. He kept his eyes on the road intently, and Roman wondered if he should just put the headphones back on his ear and let that be that. But he really didn’t want them to keep fighting, so it’s better to at least make an attempt, right?

Roman put the headphones around his neck. “We were buying his gift.”

“What?”

“The night Ellie died. Her and Remus had a little tradition of getting each other a gift and a gag gift. The older we got, the more inappropriate they became, which was very ‘them’, in all honesty. She had forgotten to get it earlier though, so she took me to the store at midnight on Christmas Eve so we could pick something out. And that’s when the shooting happened.

Virgil didn’t react, but Roman gave him a tired smile. “I’m fairly certain that’s why he gets so protective. He feels like he caused it somehow, so he tries to solve all my problems on his own. It’s sweet in its own way.”

Virgil hit the break roughly at a stop sign. “Well now I feel like an asshole.”

“...You were a little bit of a bitch. But I don’t blame you, since so was he.”

“I just wanna help you too, you know? I get it, he’s your brother and all that shit, but he’s not the only person who cares about you, so he can back the fuck off. Especially when he’s spending time in my fucking house.”

“You say that like three other people don’t pay rent.”

“It’s my house when it’s convienent to my argument, fuck off.”

Roman laughed, Virgil taking a turn to a stoplight and waiting. “I just want you two to work things out. We can talk once I go home, take my meds, and at least sleep for two hours.”

“Only two hours? You’re starting to become me, Princey.”

“It’s an anxiety disorder buddies thing.”

“Fuck yeah, anxiety disorder buddies. Who can’t wait for therapy to start up again.”

Roman pumped a fist up lazily. “Next thursday!”

“Next thursday mother fucker!”

They both started to laugh, the soft glow of the read light and the headlights of passing cars being strangely calming. Roman’s eyes felt so heavy, the glassy tears he still had sealing his eyelids together like glue. “Wake me up when we get there.” He mumbled.

“And if you have another nightmare?”

“We get there when we get there.”

Roman heard one last soft laugh before his body went still. He wasn’t completely peaceful, but at least he was sleeping. It would be enough for now.

Virgil didn’t wake him up when they got home. It took both him and Remus to be able to carry him inside, but they managed to do it without waking him up permanently. He moved, but at least he managed to sleep some.

When he wakes up, they’ll fuss at him for running away and Patton will hug him close for Roman’s comfort and his own. He’ll make Remus and Virgil talk peacefully about each other without too much complaining until they can at least stand to be in the same room as each other. Then when things are calm, the brothers will cry when they remember the date, and Patton will give them blankets and hugs while the other two stand around a little awkwardly until it’s lunch time. Neither of them will eat much, but leftovers exist for a reason. They’ll be taken care of.

But for now, Roman will sleep.

[letshaikyuu]

hey hun good luck for your new blog!! i hope you enjoy the experience and not let the numbers get to your head! could i please request a tendou mafia au fic where he falls inlove with an assassin (reader) that keeps defeating him everytime they meet?? thank u so much and sorry for giving u a tough request lmao.

I am so sorry for taking so long to write this T^T This was officially the first request I’ve gotten on this blog and it has a special place in my heart uwu 

Tendou Satori Mafia AU

"How come we end up bumping into each other every time I have something to do?"

His fiery red hair and heavily tattooed arms stood out to you in the darkness of the night. It wasn't your first encounter with this asshole. He was irritating since the first time you've met. And when you beat him into a pulp. The mafia isn't your cup of tea so your job is to intersect and cut off any chain of activity they have going on. 

Time and time again you are faced with the same tall, lanky, hot, loud male with- 

"Did I just call him hot?"

Shaking your head at that, your gaze is brought back down to the said male. He had a bandage wrapped around his left forearm. You smirked because that was the exact same spot your knife cut into his skin and left a big wound in its place. Every single time you two meet and go up against each other, you end up defeating him. It wasn't like he was weak, but you were just better. He couldn't handle the teasing back at the base anymore because you end up beating him.

"What's that lovely little bandage covering on your arm?"

 Your shit-eating smirk made his blood boil and eye twitch. You were enjoying this a bit too much for a measly assassin, one on one is easier than his whole gang against you. They did offer to take care of you instead of him, but he'd refuse and say he'll finish this on his own. It was odd, him actually going against his gang like that. You were just a minor step back that needed to be gone. What was the problem with that?

"Oh, this?" He lifted up his arm, "This was a gift from a kitten that thinks has claws of steel but is still just a kitten." A smirk danced on his face at the look on yours. He was really testing your patience. It was running kind of slim already and his face didn't help. Did he actually have the balls to insult you? Apparently, so...he is definitely going to pay for that.

"Well, this "kitten" is pretty sure that it has left many beautiful markings on your skin already...Care to have another one?"

 He didn't care. Why would he miss an opportunity of being up-close and personal with you? He acknowledged that he has a crush on you, so what if he has been purposefully hanging around, waiting for you to show up and then exposing himself to "danger". Were you really that strong that he couldn't beat you or was it just his goodwill not to harm your perfect body? And he didn't care if he's checking you out now, in all your glory. Is that a crime? The rain was starting to fall and it made your clothes stick to your body. Now that was a sight to see. 

It didn't take long for you to get annoyed by his lingering gaze. "Why is he checking me out?"

You tried to ignore the way your knees would feel like they're on the verge of giving out and how your heart would start beating faster at the sight of him in front of you. Were you really developing a crush on a member of the mafia? (not like your job is any better but oh well)

He would appear in your dreams from time to time, his tall body straddling yours and a knife trailing your neck ever-so-gently. He'd confess his feelings and you'd always wake up before anything else happens. All the damn time.

"Is the kitten too scared to make a move? Cause I'm certainly not-"

*He quickly charged towards you, his movements surprising you cause he had never initiated the first move before. A punch here and a punch there. You miss some, you hit some. He misses some, he hits a lot. Surprisingly enough, you felt your back hit the concrete floor for the first time ever. And he was on top, his foot pressed on your chest to prohibit some movement. Groaning due to your aching back and probably a concussion, you closed your eyes and waited for the inevitable.

Suddenly, his foot wasn't on you anymore but more weight was put on your body and a small pocket knife was pressed against your taut neck. He was straddling you, a few cuts and bruises here and there from the previous combat but in a lot better position than you. Opening your eyes, you took in his full appearance. He was even hotter up close and on top of you. Looking him dead in the eyes, it's almost as if you were encouraging him to do what he is supposed to. But time passes and he has yet to do it.

"Are you too afraid to hurt a kitten? You didn't strike me as a softy, especially with you being part of the mafia~" 

You got no reaction. The knife was still grazing over your neck and his eyes were still watching you. Pressing down more, his face was inches away from yours and the knife was almost puncturing your neck. Your breath was starting to become heavier as the knife was pressuring your skin more and more. Water trickling down his messy hair fell onto your face due to the close proximity.

"I don't plan on hurting you cause you intrigue me kitten. I don't know what it is about you but you're special enough not to hurt."

He was soon walking down the rainy streets and disappeared into the night. You were still lying on the ground. Moments before he got up and walked off, he leaned down and softly whispered in your ear.

”Can't wait to be in this position again kitten. See you soon~"

Hopefully, that dream of yours will continue on...

* - I want to apologise for this shitty combat writing cause the only combat I know how to write is ninja combat lol 

[gaiyofanfiction]

Twisted Karnival - Chapter 3

Stray Kids x Reader

Horror/Thriller/Drama

Twisted Circus!AU

A/N: Omg, we are getting such amazing responses to this series. Please, any feedback you guys have or any reviews, please let us know! We love to hear from you. Please enjoy the next chapter. This is where it starts getting interesting hehe. ~Liz

Warnings: Mentions of seduction, blood, soul stealing and kidnapping. Possibly more in the future. We also write for 0t9, so Woojin is going to be in this series.

Disclaimer: This story is pure fiction and in no way represents the idols of Stray kids or JYP.

~~~

[Before Reading, check out the Masterlist and profile boards for each member HERE.]

~~~

The lights dim as the parade of circus performers march offstage. It was silent for a split second before a large fire bursts in the middle of the ring. The audience lets out a sound of surprise at the size of the fire. As soon as it disappears, a man steps out with his hands raised, causing the audience to go wild. Your eyes are wide in awe at the muscular, attractive man that stands in the ring. Your jaw slowly drops as the man moves forward. He smirked widely at the crowd taking a handful of rings from Jeongin. The man places his hand over his mouth for a split second, quickly spitting fire over the rings. Everyone gasped in amazement as the rings bursts into bright flames. 

The crowd leaned against the seats in anticipation as the man began to juggle the rings into the air, throwing them around his body. You gasp as you watch his movements, amazed at how he doesn't get burned even though he's touching fire. After a minute, he waves the rings in the air and the fire disappears, like it was never there. He raises the now extinguished rings in the air as the crowd cheers.

“Thank you everyone! Now, I need a willing vict- er, I mean, assistant from the audience to help me with my next stunt.” Mass hysteria fell as hands rose into the air and screaming commenced. He scanned over the audience, gazing over the faces in the crowd until his eyes matched with yours. You saw his persistent gaze as he slowly approached your section. You pushed back against your seat, trying to act as if you weren’t the prime target… but you were.

Without taking his eyes off you, he holds out his hand. "Miss, would you please join me on stage?"

Your friend squeals and pushes you up, making you stumble into the fire breather. He grabs your shoulders to steady you. "Woah there, little lady. And what's your name?"

"U-um. Y/N." You blush slightly.

His hands squeeze your shoulders as you feel a cold shiver run down your spine. A smirk spreads across his face at your reaction, his eyes flash a shade of orange. "Well, my dear Y/N. I am Changbin. Would you please follow me to your mark?"

You follow the man to the middle of the ring, feeling like your feet are following the command of another. You stand in the center of the ring, facing the muscular fire breather. Changbin raises up your arms so your hand sit flat and face up. He then sits an apple in each hand and one on your head.

"Now! My beautiful assistant will be holding these apples for me as I attempt to knock them off with fire!"

While you hear a mixture of gasps and cheers coming from the audience, you internally start to panic. What if Changbin misses?! What if you catch fire?! What if you die?! You wanted to move, to run from this situation but you felt glued to your spot by some force.

Changbin moves back a few feet and faces you. He once again puts a hand to his mouth and breathes in. Suddenly, a ball if brilliant flames shoot out towards you, causing you to shriek. You close your eyes and wait for the impact but instead you feel your hand was lighter. You open your eyes to see the apple was no longer in your hand, but on the ground burnt. The audience cheers at the trick they just witnessed. You watched as Changbin once again put his hand to his mouth and huff out two more balls of fire. They quickly shoot your direction, knocking off the other apple in your hand and the one on your head at the same time. The crowd roars in delight at the amazing act. Your body relaxes in relief that it's over.

Changbin saunters his way to you and bows his head. "Thank you, my dear Y/N." He takes your hand and guides you back to your seat. But before you sit down, he speaks lowly into your ear. "I cannot wait for your further assistance in future acts." He returns back to the ring, his words leaving you dumbfounded.

After a few more amazing fire tricks, Changbin takes his bow." Thank you all for making this performance something special! It means the world for everyone to be here tonight!"

The crowd cheered on as Changbin disappeared in a blast of bright flames. You and your friend clapped endlessly at the breathtaking performance. As Jeongin and Felix quickly moved around the ring, cleaning up the debris, Chan slowly made his way back out to the ring, mic in hand. 

“How exciting was that?!” He screamed, throwing his hands into the air. The crowd cheered louder, showing their excitement from Changbins performance. “That’s what I like to hear! Keep it going for your next upcoming performer! Give him a lot of love and attention!” Chan disappeared off in a cloud of smoke as the low growling sound of tigers filled the dim lighting arena. 

“Now now my pretties. Let's have a good night tonight.” Minho appears from the darkness of the tent, the crowd cheering wildly. A giant formed cage descends from the ceiling of the tent, taking up a good portion of the ring. He rolled his head slowly as two large beasts approached him from the darkness, crouching lowly. Minho smirked lightly, looking out to the crowd as all eyes landed on him. He jumped from the ground landing on the side of the cage and climbed to the top. He snaked his way through the bars, flipping down and landing feet first. The crowd watched on as Minho waited. 

Felix and Jeongin ran into the arena, quickly opening the gate as the angered looking beasts were lead into the large cage with Minho. You leaned nervously forward. 'Wait a minute...is this a part of the act? The tigress was acting so tame and nice earlier.' You watched on as he leaned back against the bars, cockily waiting for the tigers to attack. He smirked widely, licking his lips as Felix closed the cage, trapping Minho inside with the tigers. Once locked, he signaled to Minho that everything was good to go.

“Come on. You know what to do.” He whispered beneath his heavy breath. Leaning forward, his darkened locks fell over his face, hiding the glowing yellow hue coming from his eyes. A sudden roar fell from the tigers mouths, one charging towards Minho. He looked out to the crowd, keeping that smirk over his lips. The tiger lunges, swinging its giant paw, claws fully extended. Minho jumped onto the cage, sliding along the bars, dogging the tigers massive attacks.

The crowd grew silent as slight worry fell. You pushed yourself against the barricade watching the tigers swiping at the animal tamer left and right. You were so confused, you just had your hand on that tigers back a moment ago...right? Minho huffed, looking back towards the worried crowd. He released a heavy chuckle, swinging up on the bar above him, snapping a whip in the direction of the tigers. They paused, growling deeply. 

“Keep up my beauties. Their adrenaline is rising. I can feel it.” He hung upside down from the top of the cage, snapping the whip once more. You watched carefully. He wasn’t aiming the whip towards the tigers, but away from them. The tigers slowly backed up, surrendering to their master as he flipped back down to his feet. The crowd watched in amazement as he slowly approached both beasts, resting a hand atop both of their hands. He smirked wildly as the tigers slowly began to bow their heads. 

“Oh my god, do you see that?! They were going to have him for dinner and now they are acting like normal pets to him!” The child screamed behind you. You nodded your head in slight agreement watching as Felix and Jeongin helped the tigers out of the cage. 

The next few animals also showed bits of aggression towards Minho, slowly falling to his hand. The crowd cheered loudly as he strut around the circle, a king cobra wrapped firmly around his shoulders, down both arms, and head resting in his hand. He looked towards you smirking once more, posing with the deadly creature that rest peacefully in his care. 

“Any animal can be tamed!” Minho called out to the crowd. “It just takes… strong will and power to do it. You have to be firm. And you can’t show any sign of fear.” He spun around a few times showing the entire arena that he was still standing in one piece, feeling the excitement roaring from the stands as he sends you a wink and slowly made his exit.

As Minho made his way through the side curtain, Chan made one last quick appearance.

“Is everyone still with us?? That was quite the heart stopper wasn’t it? Damn near thought Minho was gonna be tiger chow tonight.” He chuckles, Minho leering behind him. 

“Haha… you know better.” He scoffed, headed towards the back. Chan shook his head laughing slightly. 

“We will take a quick break before the next act so if you need to get up, move your stiff bodies around, now would be the time to do it! You don’t want to miss what’s next to come!” Chan disappeared in another shroud of smoke.

“Oh my god, Y/N, this is incredible! I’m so glad we came tonight!” You flopped back and forth as your friend shook you aggressively from the unbearable excitement.

“Yeah, it has been quite an interesting show..” You paused for a moment thinking back to Changbin’s soft words. “I cannot wait for your further assistance in future acts.”  His voice rang strong causing you to shake your head in disbelief. 

“Y/N lets run to the bathroom to freshen up really quick.” You looked at your friend sighing softly. 

“I-I’m alright. You can go though.” Your friend folded her arms, slightly pouting before you. You leaned back taken aback by her reaction. 

“You’re going to make me go alone?” She continued to pout causing high levels of guilt to build. You sighed once more. 

“Alright… you got me. Let’s go.” Your friends pouting lips grew into a giant smile as she yanked you up from your seat and towards the curtains. She drug you all the way to the bathroom where a line of people stood. 

“Here, you wait in line and I will be waiting for you. Okay?” Your friend replied with a slight head nod and smile as she smoothed her way into the line. You took a heavy breath, moving through the crowd until you found a small abandoned area of the hallway. You breathed quietly, slowly laying your head back against the wall. 

“Well well, look what we have here.” You looked up, releasing a soft gasp. Your eyes fluttered at the marvel that was walking towards you, eyes completely locked. You stumbled, feeling the wall pressed firmly against your back. Jisung moved closer, biting his lip ever so lightly as he closed in the gap between you. 

“You know…” he paused for a moment rolling his head over your neck, turning back to face you. “We really have to stop meeting like this. I don’t think I’ll be able to hold back if you keep this up.” You gulped heavily as Jisung’s teeth matched with his lower lip. 

“I-I…” you stammered as he pressed his finger to the center of your lips. 

“Shh. Don’t say a word.” he whispered, slowly dragging his fingertips through the locks of your hair. “Let your body do the talking." 

Jisung inched closer, brushing his thumb against the side of your cheek, pulling your face closer. His sensitive touch leaving you weak in the knees as a chilling shiver fell over your spine. He smirked teasingly, biting his lower lip once more. His eyes began to glow a magenta hue as you began to roll your head back, unable to fight his sensual desires. 

“That a girl. Just give in to me...” he whispered pressing his lips firmly against yours nearly stealing the very air from your lungs. You exhaled heavily as he pulled away. Your eyes locked on his as he gushed over your flushed complexion. He smirked wildly feeling your energy as he moved in for another taste. Just as his lips were inches away from the nape of your neck… 

“Jisung! What is the meaning of this?!” Jisung quickly turned to the sound of Woojin’s angered tone. He sighed heavily as Woojin stormed towards him.

“Ahh calm down Woo.” He slowly turned back towards you, gently lifting your chin with his fingertips. “I’m just having a little bit of pre-show fun.” he continued to smirk, slowly moving past Woojin who was now fuming in place. 

“Oh you little- when I get my hands on him...” Woojin paused looking over towards you in your tranced state. He walked forward, gazing over your body quickly recognizing you from before. His eyes leered towards your hand confirming his suspicion.

“Are you alright miss? Do you need some help getting back to your seat?” You shook your head weakly feeling a slight fog setting over your body. Woojin looked you over once more and growls beneath his breath. Jisung had cast something over you just before he walked away. 

“Here… allow me to help you.” Woojin quickly pulled you from the wall, catching your wobbly body before falling over. You looked up into his eyes, feeling a sense of comfort as he rest your arm over his shoulder, helping you back to your seat. He pressed his hand to your shoulder, causing a heavy chill to fall over your entire body, missing the silver glow of his eyes. Woojin smirked widely feeling the tension against your body as he slowly moved you back into the arena. He walked you all the way back to your seat where your friend was stomping her foot in a huff. Woojin slightly bowed his head, quickly leaving before your friend was able to speak. 

“What was that, Y/N? You left me alone to go meet up with a cute guy?” Your friend continued to rant, watching Woojin’s backside as he quickly moved up the steps and out of the arena. You looked up at your friend as your vision blurred in and out. Rubbing your eyes softly, you blinked multiple times before finding your vision. 

“I-I didn’t leave you to do an-anything…” you grumbled, trying to get your head straight. 

“Then why did that guy bring you back here, hmmm?” She pouts.

You wrinkled your nose in frustration, falling on the brink of screaming out. “I got lost...okay? I went to find something to drink, and got lost. That’s it. He found me, and brought me back.” Your friends eyes narrowed towards you as she slammed back down next to you. Her arms quickly unfolded as she wrapped her arms around you tightly.

“I’m sorry y/n. I just got really worried. I didn’t know where you were.” You looked at your softened friend and hugged her back, your mind flashing back to Jisung’s crooked smirk. You shook your head slightly, tapping the side of your temple.

'What the hell is happening to me?!'

[spiritvinex]

marichat may day 3

hi peoples! here’s my twist on marichat may day 3: mouse!

it’s a little late, sorry! but i based this chapter off of the movie 'cinderella - a twist in time' with a little bit of my own twists! enjoy, i really liked this chapter and the next one should be up shortly!

read it on ao3!

@marichatmay​

This couldn’t be happening. It was like a dream that Marinette never wanted to wake up from and now she was back. Marinette whispered, “I-I don’t understand.” 

Her stepmother had forbidden her to go to the ball, but she had anyway. With some luck, her Fairy Godmother had shown up to save her, allowing her to go to the ball with a glorious dress. Even with curfew at midnight, the night went better than she had expected. A dance with the Prince? It was almost too good to be true. 

But was it real? The slipper had fit Chloe. Was this just some silly dream she had thought of while sleeping? 

Marinette stood up, gathering the remaining pieces of her glass slipper that her stepmother, Lady Bourgeois, had broken, the only evidence of the night she had just experienced. Looking into the glass, she imagined the dance. Her in a beautiful, sparkling gown, moving through the night with the masked prince, Chat Noir. Marinette sniffled. 

“I have always dreamed that my life would be like a fairy tale, a perfect fantasy. Was it nothing more than a dream?” She stood up. Her tattered dress, flowing at her feet. Just one magic night, a single dance, had turned her life into a storybook romance. If she were to forget it ever happened, Marinette would live forever with a broken heart. 

Facing the stairs, Marinette saw Mullo and Tikki, her mice friends on the stairs. Mullo was crying on Marinette’s behalf as Tikki comforted her. “Don’t cry, Mullo! Princey knows that Mari was the one he danced with!” 

Marinette froze. Wide-eyed she turned to her little mice. “Yes, of course he does! Oh, if I just see him again, he’ll recognize me and everything will be alright!” She scooped them up, gently hugging them in excitement. 

Marinette burst out of the manor doors, Mullo and Tikki tucked safely away in her pocket, and ran down the steps to the path, headed straight towards the Prince’s castle. She found love in his arms the first time, now she had a chance to try again. If she couldn’t trust her heart to believe in that moment, how would she ever know? There was no way for her dreams to come true if she just waited. 

She bounded through the fields, hope in her heart for the life that was awaiting her. At the peak of the hill she stared, breathlessly, at the castle shining in all its glory. “I want so much more than a dream.” 

»»——————-««

Marinette sneaked to the servant’s entrance behind the castle. Peering over the corner, she saw many men carrying large stacks of cheese into the hall. Trying not to be suspicious, Marinette marched up to the cart of cheese and picked up one of the heavy mounds. She struggled to walk, but made her way to the man who looked strangely like a gorilla. He glared down at her, eyes narrowing. She pulled her sweetest smile, then he grunted and gestured for her to move on. 

She scurried into the hall, setting the cheese down quickly. Marinette walked towards the kitchen, but was at once stopped by the head maid, Nathalie. “And who are you? I know every maid in this castle and I don’t recognize you!”

Marinette blanched. She felt the mice jump out of her pocket and run towards the end of the room. “U-uh, I-I’m the…,” she stared at her friends, gesturing with her hands to go, “I’m the, uh, royal mouse catcher!”

Nathalie’s eyes narrowed. “Royal mouse catcher? I assure you, in all my years working here, I have ever, ever seen a single-,” A crash resounded from the kitchen as one of the cooks screeched: “Mouse!”

Nathalie spun around and ran into the kitchen, Marinette following quickly at her feet. The cooks were running around, trying to avoid the chaos the mice were causing. Nathalie took the matter into her own hand and lunged to capture Mullo. Mullo managed to evade her and ran to hide with Tikki. Nathalie stared, wide-eyed and turned to Marinette. She tucked a strand of hair back behind her ear. “You,” she huffed, “Go along and do your job.”

“Oh! Right. Of course, ma’am,” she curtsied and ran off to find the prince. 

 »»——————-««

Chloe sat nervously, unsure for once in her life if she knew what she wanted. Her, Lila, and her mother sat anxiously, awaiting the prince’s arrival. 

“Now, now, Chloe,” her mother cooed, “Don’t you fret, we have a magic wand now. Nothing could possibly go wrong.”

Chloe swallowed. Of course. The prince would fall in love with her and everything would be okay. Nothing could go wrong.

Suddenly, the doors burst open and the masked prince from the night before bounded through. He looked straight at Chloe, and his smile faltered. “Ah, I apologize, ladies, I must have entered the wrong room.”

He turned to leave but her mother stopped him. “No, no, my Prince. You are not mistaken. This is my daughter, Chloe, the maiden with whom you danced at the ball.”

Face contorted, Chat Noir said to Chloe, “You fit the shoe?”

Chloe stiffened. She could feel her mother’s burning gaze on her, and so she nodded. “Yes, your highness. I am the maiden from the ball last night.”

Slowly, Chat Noir moved back. Clearly confused at the situation before him. He didn’t notice the white wand that was discreetly pointed at him, or the words said by Chloe’s mother. 

The prince’s eyes suddenly glazed over for a second. Then, as if shocked, they cleared up again. “Of course! I do remember you!” he ran forward, taking up her hand, “I apologize, I don’t know what came over me!”

Chloe was startled. She desperately looked to her mother for assistance, but was only given a nod towards the prince. She grimaced. She turned back to look at him, but instead found a ring held in front of her by the kneeling prince himself. 

“Lady Chloe. Would you do me the honor of marrying me?”

Chloe spluttered, but remembered her mother’s purpose. “Y-yes. Of course, my prince.”

He grinned, sliding the gorgeous ring onto her finger. He bounced up, “We will be wed as soon as possible. I will let my father know!” He pressed a kiss to her hand, and happily walked out of the room. 

A hand was laid to Chloe’s shoulder, “Good job, Chloe,” her mother sneered, “Now, let’s move along. There is much to prepare for.”

Lila followed her mother out the door, sticking her tongue out at her sister. Chloe stared down, still unsure of how she felt about these events. 

»»——————-««

Out of breath, Marinette hurried down the hall. She turned to make sure she was not being followed, but was unsuspecting when she ran into a broad chest. “Ah! I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you!” She looked up, surprised to see the familiar green eyes of the Prince. 

“Oh, Chat Noir! It’s…,” she blushed, “It certainly is nice to see you again.”

Chat Noir tilted his head. “Um, sorry, but do I know you?”

Confusion flew over Marinette until she remembered what a big jokester he was. She laughed. “Oh, and I suppose you don’t remember our dance at the ball last night?”

“I apologize, but I really don’t know who you are. There was only one girl I danced with last night and that was Lady Chloe!”

Marinette’s face fell. “L-Lady Chloe?!”

“Yes! And I’m going to marry her! Tonight!”

Marinette couldn’t believe this. He didn’t dance with Chloe last night! “B-but, there must be some misunderstanding, I-”

 She was cut off. “You there! Royal mouse catcher!” Nathalie was marching towards her, and grabbed a hold of her arm, “I need you to rid the castle of each and every mouse by tonight. The prince is getting married and the castle needs to be in top shape!” She stopped when she saw the prince, and quickly released Marinette’s arm. “Ah, Chat Noir! Did you need this servant?”

Chat Noir shook his head and smiled. “No, Nathalie, there was just some confusion.”

Nathalie nodded and proceeded to pull Marinette back down to the kitchen. Marinette longingly glanced back at the Prince, who was unaffected by the departure. She felt her heart break slightly. 

Nathalie pushed her into the room. “Now, I need you to rid the castle of these mice. I expect you to be done before the wedding starts.” She slammed the door and Marinette fell to the ground. Her heart felt empty from what she just experienced with the Prince. It was a dream. Nothing more, and she had hurt herself from hoping in the process. 

Her eyes filled with tears. There was nothing more she could do. The Prince didn’t love her, he loved Chloe. The night that had Marinette clinging to, in hope that it was real, was nothing more than her imagination. But yet, she couldn’t seem to let go. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by the scurrying of mice as they ran inside the room towards her. “Mari! Mari! You won’t believe it!”

“What happened? Is something wrong?”

“Stepmother has the magic wand! She put a spell on Princey! We saw her!” Mullo cried. 

“Magic? A spell?” It all made sense. The Prince didn’t remember her because of magic! She just had to make him remember! “Thank you, guys! We still have a chance!”

The mice dashed back into the wall, and Marinette ran to the room in which her stepmother and sisters resided. They were very loud, the echoes resounding throughout the whole castle, leading her straight to them. 

She heard a crash from inside, here stepmother’s voice calling out for a maid. Marinette tied a bonnet, lowering it to attempt to cover her face. She cleared her throat and knocked. The door was opened and she walked over the spilt water and glass shards. 

“You certainly came fast,” Lila sneered. 

Marinette coughed. “Yes, we are very good.”

She picked up a rag and slowly started to scrub the floor. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Mullo and Tikki crawling up the drawer, where the wand must have been placed.

Marinette could feel that she was being watched. Her stepmother's footsteps grew closer. “Well. This is a surprise, isn’t it, Marinette?”

She snatched the bonnet off of her head. Both Lila and Chloe gasped. “What are you doing here?”

“Why, clearly, girls, she came to stop us. She didn’t heed my warning, and now, here she is. Oh, what would the King say if he knew a dirty scullery maid had snuck into his own castle? He would banish you for good,” Lady Bourgeois sighed. “Such a pity.”

Lila cackled and ran to call the guards. Marinette glanced at Mullo who finally grabbed the wand and threw it up to Tikki.  Marinette shouted, “Tikki, the wand! Now!”

The wand flew through the air and was caught by Marinette. She cast a spell towards Lila and Chloe to deter them as she ran out the door. Behind her, she heard Lady Bourgeois screaming for the guards. 

She sped down the hallway and made her way to the foyer. The guards were close behind. She shut the doors quickly and slid a sword, from one of the standing knights, through the handles. Immediately, they began to push on the door. 

She only had a few seconds to make a plan. She hurried down the steps, when the doors burst open, letting that guards run in, but also the Prince. He must have heard all the racket. She took her chance. “Break the spell! Make him remember!” She pointed the wand at him, but it was snatched out of her hand just before the spell was cast. 

The Prince ran towards her. “What’s going on?” he demanded. 

“Ah, just a petty thief snuck into our room,” Lady Bourgeois smiled, “Don’t worry, I’ll have her taken care of accordingly. We wouldn’t want the wedding to be disrupted because of her.”

Furiously, Marinette cried, “No! You have to remember! She cast a spell on you!” She reached out her hand, desperate to touch his. When their hands met, a wave of surprise flew over the Prince’s face. Before he could act on anything, Marinette was carried out of the room by the guards, “You’re under a spell, that’s why you don’t remember me!”

Chat Noir frowned. 

“Poor child. Obviously, out of her mind.” Lady Bourgeois linked her arm with his and strolled out of the room. 

»»——————-««

The Prince paced back and forth, behind his father’s fitting. “I just don’t understand it, Father. Last night, I felt something. But with Lady Chloe, it was nothing like before. And… then there was that girl.”

The King sighed. “What girl, Adrien? Remember, you are to marry Lady Chloe tonight. I agreed to your terms to marry the girl who fit the slipper, and you already found that girl.”

“Yes, Father, I know, but,” Adrien pinched the bridge of his nose. “Remember when you were telling me about Mother? How when your hands touched, you knew it was true love? Well, I think I found that, but it definitely wasn’t with Chloe. But when that maid touched my hand, it felt right.”

He zoned out, thinking about the turn of events, when he heard a small squeaking noise, coming from the fabric closet. He took a closer look, and was startled to find two mice jumping up and down, gesturing for him to come inside. He glanced at his father, who was completely distracted, then walked inside. 

“Hello? Uh, little mice?” He looked around, and found nothing. He scoffed, “Great, it’s official, I’ve lost my mind. First I’m confused about the ball, and now I’m talking to imaginary mice.”

He moved to leave the room, but stopped when the curtains were pulled open by two small bluebirds. The light shined, enhancing the mice who were calling, “Hey, Prince-Prince! Down here!”

Okay. Maybe not so imaginary. 

The two mice started blabbering. He sat down, trying to comprehend their words. “Hold on, I think I understand!” he paused, “Actually, I got nothing.”

The mice stopped and looked at each other. Then, the one in the little red dress gasped. It ran to the music box and winded it up. The ballerina on top began to spin, and the mouse with the blue dress jumped up and began to dance.

“You were dancing with a very pretty girl!”

The other mouse ran down some books, leaving a single shoe behind. “At midnight, she ran off! Well, her name was Mari, she’s the servant girl you met! She’s the one you want to marry! You can’t forget!” They began to dance together, “Mari was the maiden at the ball!”

Intrigued, Adrien leaned forward, “That can’t be. I danced with Chloe at the ball!”

“No, no! Princey only thinks that because of Mari’s stepmother!”

“Yeah, that mean old lady!” Mullo added. 

“With her magic wand, she cast a wicked spell, which is why poor Princey isn’t feeling well! You’ve forgotten Mari and the dance you shared that night at the ball!”

Adrien swallowed. “Woah, woah, woah, wait. You’re telling me I’m under a magic spell?”

The red dress mouse replied, “And here’s the worst part! When Mari tried to make things right and take a stand, the mean, old lady had her banished from the land! Now she’s on a ship, that will take her far away! So, it’s up to Princey-Prince to go and save the day!”

“Magic?” It all made sense. He looked at his hand; that’s why he felt something. Chloe wasn’t his true love. “I have to find her.” He bolted from the room. 

He ran past his father. “I have to go!”

“Go? What do you mean? But you’re about to be married!”

“But the talking mice say she’s the wrong girl!” He pulled open the doors and continued to sprint.

His father chased after him. “Son? Talking mice? This is ridiculous, Adrien! You agreed to marry the girl who fit the glass slipper! I was completely with you on that one!”

“Yes, Father, I will marry that girl. But Lady Chloe isn’t her. I just have to find the right one.”

“Adrien! I forbid you to take another step down these stairs!” his father shouted. Adrien stopped and turned around. He glanced towards the window and smiled. “Okay.”

He ran and leapt out of the window, hearing his father’s call behind him. He grabbed a hold of the vine that was cascading down the wall. Climbing down he called for his horse, Plagg. Plagg came running and Adrien jumped on, speeding towards the gates.  

His father called for him again. Adrien pulled Plagg to a stop. “Father you have to trust me.”

“Son, I do trust you. It’s the talking mice I’m worried about!”

Nathalie called for the gates to be closed, and Adrien took off again, just making it under. 

“I’ll send the troops off for him at once, your Majesty!”

“No need, Nathalie. Let him go.” The King shook his head with a small smile, recalling the crazy acts a person will do for love. 

»»——————-««

Marinette sat in a small wagon, hay laid on the floor, acting as a cushion under her. The guards stood in front of her, making sure that she could not escape. Her eyes were puffy from crying. She failed to make the Prince remember her. And now he loved Chloe and not her. 

A different guard approached her. “Time to go.” 

She pulled herself off the wagon, and slowly made her way to the ship. Before she walked up the board, she looked back at the castle. It still shone white in the light, reminding her of a lost adventure. Feeling defeated, she walked aboard the ship. 

The perfect fantasy that Marinette imagined was just a fairytale. Her hopes made her believe in something that could not be real. It was nothing more than a dream. 

The ship was unanchored and the sails were pulled loose. Marinette sat on a barrel, staring out to the sea, as the ship began to leave. 

A yell and a ripping sound pulled Marinette out of her reverie. She jumped up and spun around. A man with blonde hair was sliding down the mast, tearing it as his knife ran through it. He jumped down and looked around. He ran up the steps to reach Marinette.

The Prince came for her? Her heart thumped in her chest, once again rekindling the hope she had before. 

“Remember me?” he asked. 

She smiled. He reached for her hand, holding it up linking their fingers together. As soon as they touched, a spark ran through, making her feel warm and loved. 

Marinette laughed and jumped into his arms. He spun her around, holding her tight. Once he released her, he knelt down. “Will you marry me, Mari?”

A blush spread on Marinette’s face. “Yes, but…,” she giggled, “it’s Marinette.”

He laughed. “Marinette!”

He alerted the crew to turn the ship around. He rode with Marinette back to the castle, elated at the twist of events. 

»»——————-««

When they arrived at the castle, it was made aware that the Bourgeois family fled, only leaving behind a single white wand. 

And, of course, Marinette and Prince Adrien were wed immediately. Marinette in the most gorgeous dress she had ever seen, one thanks to her Fairy Godmother. 

Adrien, who she formerly knew as Chat Noir, was happy he finally found his bride, his true love, just as his father had when he was young. 

Everything was perfect. Almost like a dream come true.

[gofancyninjaworld]

OPM manga chapter 119 Review: A Conspiracy?

Buckle up, this review gets long.  I was away on family business for a few days so I missed this one’s drop.  It’s meant though that I’ve had longer to ponder my thoughts. 

Core take away for me is that like Hellfire Flame and Gale Wind trying to recruit Sonic set us up to better understand the Ninja arc when it showed up in the webcomic, this ‘glimpse behind the scenes’ at the conspiracies brewing sight unseen is foundation for what will burst into the open later, apparently from nowhere. 

Anyway, onto the review.  Much more under the cut.  First though, One-Shotter is still alive!  Looks like his mechanised parts are much more extensive than initially appeared. 

I tell you, it doesn’t pay to be a cyborg hero in OPM. It’s just inviting gratuitous cruelty into your life.

Soon Gets Sooner

This chapter, I honestly expected Drive Knight to just leave with Nyan and stay the international Cyborg of Mystery he'd been to date.  But he stuck around to talk to Sekingar and what we got was a glimpse indeed to the mystery plot that has been brewing from the very start.

We find out just why Drive Knight has a 100% win record: he never, ever fights unless he has carefully studied and formulated an excellent battle plan. Even if it means sacrificing his fellow heroes like pawns.  

And then things get weird. After offering data on the strong monsters in the MA, Drive Knight changes the subject to asking Sekingar about the state of the Hero Association, being very interested in just which capable heroes were left available to respond and whether or not Blast was likely to attend if the Hero Association were attacked.  And then Drive Knight went into full tin-foil hat conspiracy mode, painting the loss of the Metal Knight as a deliberate action by Dr Bofoi to gift the Monster Association with the way to take out the Hero Association.

When Sekingar spoke of not expecting the support heroes to carry out their mission without injury, I’m sure he couldn’t have imagined ending up a casualty.  When he tries to call the Hero Association to check, none other than G5 shows up to shoot his hand off.  As G5 approaches, Drive Knight makes no move to either attack G5, claiming lack of power, nor to protect Sekingar.  Even in extremis though,  Sekingar is still thinking about the support team, the hostage, and what action he could yet take.  Truly, a hero is being forged before our eyes.  He just has to survive the experience.

‘Why not me?’ That’s the central question heroes ask themselves.

Fee, Fi, Do, Fum, Cinderella's At The Ball

We'd seen Garou, who I'd dubbed Sleeping Beauty awaken from his unconsciousness. With a roar, he pummelled PPP into the ground.

Cyborg Cinderella, whom we'd left vacuuming and washing dishes while the others went ahead, may be attending the ball late, but his entrance was no less spectacular. With timing worthy of Saitama himself, just in time, one mighty kick all but split G5 in half, arriving so fast the robot barely had time to register his presence.  It's interesting what summoned him; Saitama's punch may have gotten his attention, but it was G5's energy signature that really got him on scene.

Insane kicks, flips -- and upgrades

Kuseno magic extends to clothes: the last time he used Jet Drive Arrow, he ended up naked. Now Genos isn't just very fashionably dressed, but his raiments are fire-resistant and wonderfully form-hugging.  Until the clock strikes twelve (or ten in his case), he is here to cut some terrifying shapes.

And now all the pieces are in play.

The chapter ends suddenly and ominously.  On one side, we have Genos asking, looking about as cunning as a newborn lamb, what’s going on: 

On the other, if it’s possible for an expressionless face to look unamused, then the very cunning Drive Knight looks most unamused:

Meta: “The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy. No more. No less.”  

 -- from the webcomic ‘Schlock Mercenary’ (more here)

I’d wondered why ONE had split Genos off from the rest, in difference to the was he’d gone together with the rest in the webcomic.  It was definite that ONE intended to test Genos in a situation where he had no support, bu the potential for him to discover something new and relevant to his quest is the last thing I expected. 

A peek behind the scenes indeed!  Where from and why Genos came to fetch up at Saitama’s door in chapter 7, telling a tale of evil cyborgs and total extermination, we know not.  It’s seemed increasingly far-fetched as nearly nothing happened with that storyline and the monsters we meet have nothing to do with the sort of intelligences behind any such cyborg.  It’s led to some, too many, fans claiming that in that absence the ‘mad’ cyborg must be Genos himself  -- in a twist of logic too stupid for real life  [Then again, the typical SF story seems to be written by an individual who never met an actual human being...].  I don’t know about the veracity of 90% of what Drive Knight said, but there is a conspiracy indeed. 

So, now we get to understand a bit more about Drive Knight. It’s something I’ve long wondered about:

The thing about Drive Knight is that he hasn't told us who he is yet. At present, he's a blank slate for whom many alignments are possible without betraying who he is. He could be entirely a hero, just acting in ways that are more independent than most would appreciate. He could be a member of The Organization, acting as a mole in the Hero Association. He could be an entirely amoral person, aligning himself to one group or another as suits his goals and all would be consistent with what we don't know about him. Once he declares who he is, we'll be down to many fewer possibilities.  -- myself, Reddit post   

“Everything that can be used must be used.”  With that, Drive Knight has finally told us who he is.   He is highly calculating and will use anything he can to achieve his ends.  At the expense of anyone and anything. 

What to make of all of this? One thing we can be certain of. Drive Knight really hates Bofoi, considers him a threat and reads the worst possible motives into his actions. He wastes no time in trying to sew suspicion about Bofoi whenever possible.   Why?  We don’t know. 

At its most benign, Drive Knight may be like Zombieman and the House of Evolution, seeing evil in Metal Knight and a grand conspiracy where none actually exists.   A less benign possibility is that Drive Knight may be projecting his ambitions onto Metal Knight and describing what he fears Metal Knight has in possession in order to thwart them (whoever ‘them’ is). 

Since we as readers have a quasi-omniscient view of the story, we know that quite a lot of what Drive Knight said about Metal Knight is factually wrong.  We know that he is wrong bout the circumstances under which Bofoi lost the Metal Knight.  We know that he is wrong about its fate.  We know most of all that he is absolutely wrong about Bofoi wanting the capable heroes scattered or defeated.  Dr. Bofoi has been furious with the Hero Association executives for risking the lives of any heroes raiding the Monster Association precisely because he feared what might happen if the ranks of the heroes were thinned. 

Interesting that G5 is definitely its own entity!  Once I realised that the tactical transformations formed around Drive Knight, I’d started to entertain the possibility that the two of them were the same.  That said...

I could well understand Drive Knight having done his own work to understand the nature of the strong monsters actually in the Monster Association base.  However, there is one piece of information G5 has that it could not have reasonably obtained without Drive Knight sharing it. 

When they ran off a second time, they ran off separately.   More pertinently, there’s no reason for G5 to show Sekingar this information: it puts psychological pressure on him, but if G5 just wants to kill him, there’s no point to it.  Instead, Drive Knight drawing attention to the support team and G5 drawing attention to the hostage act as a double-team interrogation to see if Sekingar has some way yet of reaching Blast in time of most extreme need. 

We’ve also learned that Blast is all but retired. It falls into line with what we've gleaned from the webcomic and suggests that he's quite old.

He's just a poor boy from a poor family: spare him his life!  (and limbs)

Dr Kuseno's occasionally prodding Genos to not forget his primary task of finding the 'mad' cyborg, as well as his warning not to fight it alone both make great sense.   In OPM, you get good at what you actually  practice.  Fighting monsters as a hero has been very useful for Genos developing raw fighting prowess. It has done nothing to prepare him to face the cruel, conniving, and creative people that the not-quite-mad cyborg and those behind him are.  Watching Genos ask straightforwardly what the situation and contrasting it to Drive Knight's complicated narrative was to realise how painfully naive Genos is. 

It's all very well to counsel non-engagement, but you deal with the monster before you: situations aren't neat and don't wait until you feel prepared. I'd hoped for another conversation between Genos and Drive Knight but this looks far more dangerous.  I've no doubt that Genos won't die, but his participation in this battle could be VERY short.

So many ways this story could wend.  A few that come to mind:

The most tragic:Drive Knight convinces Genos of his predicament, perhaps offering data on the cadres as a sweetener and Genos escorts him and the fallen heroes out of the war zone.  As soon as Drive Knight is sure Genos is safely underground, he'll kill Sekingar... and probably the support heroes into the bargain. If he burns them, the only fire-wielder known is Genos.  If he's really clever, catching up with Waganma and Food Battler, dragging them back and burning them too creates a compelling narrative of Genos (already suspected of colluding with the monsters) waylaying the support heroes as they tried to retreat and killing them all.  Drive Knight can show up at the Hero Association and continue his activities. No witnesses, a convenient scapegoat, and near total freedom to carry on his agenda.

Mortal combat. No matter what changes to the webcomic ONE has planned, Genos isn't about to get killed, so Drive Knight is either going to have to run for it or else get killed. Knowing who Drive Knight is, there is no possibility that he would defeat Genos and leave the latter alive -- even if he were that careless, Genos announcing that any enemy that gives him trouble will find that he comes back very quickly and very much stronger would put paid to that. (yes, he’s so naive!)    Either way, Drive Knight won't be working as a hero any longer.   For Genos, victory is likely to be expensive -- he runs the risk of sustaining critical damage, which will force him to retreat, or of wasting precious, precious energy that he could really use later.   Very interesting repercussions will definitely follow.

Hit him in the heroism. Drive Knight could use the heroes and Sekingar as hostages and get Genos to allow him to leave unmolested. He won't be coming back to the HA but it looks like he knows all he needs to. Genos won't like it, but as a person who has long established his willingness to take incredible punishment to protect others from harm, he won't have any other course of action.  I suspect that this is the most likely outcome.

Whatever actually happens! Only ONE (and Murata) know.  I know I need the next instalment!

Bonus question. Where is the cat?  Drive Knight dropped it when G5 showed up and it hasn't been in evidence since.

[revengeworld]

Robin and Batman

DETROIT BECOME HUMAN RK900 x Reader

Words: +4.000

Warning: none, I think ... o.o

Request: Ok! So...I have an idea for an RK900 story. So, most of the stories I find with him he is so cold and a bit cruel to everyone. By what if he was like that to everyone...except the reader? You know, that one random girl who like comes by to help Hank and Connor or something. I just see him finding that “special someone” and just being like “this is my human, hurt her and they won’t find the body”. XD  She just turns him into an adorable sweet and awkward fluff ball that we know he is XD - by @sdavid09

A/N: Hello my Beautiful Deviants!!! ♥ and Hello my dear @sdavid09 I´m finally getting back into things and tried to work on another request for Nines. I hope you will like it <3 I´m a bit nervous >.<

MY MASTERLIST

Since the Android war was over and Program Amanda was shut down and eliminated, RK900 was allowed to work for the DPD like his earlier model RK800 or Connor like most of them called him.

Now standing in the office of Captain Fowler, RK900 could see Connor outside with his Partner Hank Anderson.

The Android was already wondering who his Partner would be or if he could possibly even work alone, that was something he was quietly wishing for.

“I will introduce you to your Partner now, he is a little …peculiar, but a good detective.” the Captain announced and RK900 adjusted his collar, before following him. While he stepped down the small staircase in front of Fowler's office, the Androids eyes landed on a young woman that excitedly entered the office.

Her open lab coat was waving behind her while she was approaching Connor and Hank with determination. The black clothing underneath not really fitting her image as a Forensic Scientist, like the entrance in his Databank was showing.

“You won't believe what I find out!” he could hear her call excited to the others while waving with her pad.

“I have analyzed the samples of the red ice you guys had given me and ….” stopping mid-sentence a dark shadow was suddenly looming over her.

Slowly lifting her gaze she soon met the ice blue eyes from the Android that suddenly stood right next to her, staring her down.

“U...uhm, can I help you?” she asked with a polite smile but didn't get an answer.

“What is he doing?” Y/N whispered to Connor who started to chuckle.

Watching his little, but taller brother he saw how his LED was blinking profusely before it stopped and suddenly RK900 eyes softened.

“I'm not quite familiar with the new program, but I think he just picked you as his Master.” Connor mumbled amused.

“I heard that higher rank Androids, like him, are allowed to choose their own, since Amanda is no more. I just didn't expect it to be this quick.”

“I can't believe it.” they could only hear Captain Fowler groan in annoyance before he sighed.

“As long as he does his work as a detective satisfyingly. I guess he can stay with you if there is nothing else to do...”

Y/N looked around the Android that was still standing in front her and nodded to her boss.

“I guess that's fine… What is your name?” shrugging with her shoulders, she looked back up into those blue eyes and pressed her pad against her chest.

“RK900.” he answered shortly with the slightest bow of his head.

“Another Number, mhmm?” her shoulders slouched down in disappointment until the tall Android leaned down to her, the tip of their noses almost touching.

“You are very welcome to give me a name, Y/N.” she noticed the little smirk on his lips and raised her eyebrows with a smile.

“Is that so, Mister?” thinking for a moment her eyes landed on her shoes where they fixated on the little bat wings on the side.

“Fine, you can be the Robin to my Batman! So into the batcave we go.” she jokingly said before turning back to the other Android.

“Ah, Connor about the thing I found out….” without being even able to finish her sentence, Robin had lifted her up by her hip and threw her over his shoulder to make his way to the labs.

“Seems like he misunderstood your instructions.” the smaller Android tried to hide his laughter while Hank only shook his head with a grin.

“Uhm yeah. I send you everything!” Y/N called out while she pushed herself of his back to look at them until her arms gave out and she ended back upside down. Looking at the flashing number ‘RK900’ on his jacket it changed to Robin and she couldn't hide a little smirk that appeared on her lips.

When they arrived in her Lab, he gently sat her back down on her own feet.

“Okay we need to work on that.” she sighed and patted her hair down.

“Was that not to your liking?”

“Nobody likes to be suddenly picked up, dear Robin.”  fixing her lab coat she turned away from him to tend to her machines.

“According to your heart rate and the grin on your face, it seemed like you very much enjoyed it.” the Android calmly stated while looking around in the lab, the front room was full with machines, and monitors but at the end of the room he could see a smaller office behind a glass wall. But it didn't seem like an office at all, there were posters on the walls, a big coach, probably where she took naps between works, a microwave on a small fridge and a tv with a gaming console.

“Do you even go home sometimes?” Robin suddenly asked her and she pushed her safety goggles up on her head.

“Of course I do… sometimes.” stepping closer, Y/N inspected his face closely.

“Say… you can analyze things in an instant, right? How does that work?” grabbing his chin, she gently opened his mouth and looked inside it with a light on her bracelet.

Carefully wrapping his fingers around her wrist, he pulled her hand out of his mouth.

“If you want an understandable answer, you will need to keep out of my mouth.” he stated and she looked a bit ashamed since her curiosity got the best of her again.

“I will answer every of your questions.” he promised.

“Well I have a few ...” she mumbled, while she looked on her feet again.

“But first! You can't be affected by drugs right? I need you to confirm something for me!” with one swift nod of her head the safety goggles landed back on her nose and she quickly put on some gloves, before grabbing a small bag with red crystals out of one of the cabinets with evidence.

“Since I'm not in possession of a human body, I won't be affected. There will be no need to worry, Y/N.” he had noticed her knitted brows while she had placed one of the small crystals into a bowl and started to crush it into a fine powder.

“Okay, sit down here. Then we can start the analyses. You might be able to find something I have overlooked.” grabbing a spoon from a drawer, she stepped in front of Robin who had sat down on the assigned chair.

“Okay... now open wide.” placing a bit of powder onto the spoon, she held it in front of his mouth that he slowly opened for her.

“Hey I'm here to get my new partner, The boss said you kidnapped… what the fuck?!” Gavin Reed, a young detective was walking into the lab, before he stopped shocked in front of the scene he was seeing.

“It's not what you think!” Y/N immediately shouted and instantly stood in a straight position. Quickly grabbing her hand, Robin placed the spoon in his mouth, so nothing would get spilled onto the ground.

“What the hell?!” the man in the doorway shouted, with quick steps he stood next to them and pushed the other man's arm away.

“Don't you fucking dare touch my sister again!” he hissed before noticing the yellow blinking LED on the Androids temple.

“A fucking Tincan again?” Gavin scoffed while he could feel the small hand of his sister pulling him away.

“His name is Robin and he is mine.” placing her hands against her hips, Gavin instinctively tightened his jaw, since Y/N reminded him of their mother in this stance.

“Well, the boss told me something different. He is supposed to be my Partner and we have a case we need to work on.” Gavin explained, still suspicious of this whole thing he just had barged into.

“He is your partner, but he choose me...” avoiding her brothers gaze, she mumbled her words shyly.

“He did fucking what?!” turning back around to the man that was calmly sitting in his chair, waiting for his instructions, Gavin grabbed the Android by its collar, but Robin didn't even flinch and only scoffed at the other.

“You little sh...” Gavin was about to send his fist in the Android's face, but Y/N was quicker and loosened her brother's hand and pressed Robins head protectively against her shoulder.

“Would you stop this already?!” she shouted at her brother while the Android only smirked spiteful.

Pointing a finger at her brother, Gavin started to cringe and sighed defeated.

“You won't hurt him, You won't bully him and you will call him by his name! No insults!” Y/N said sternly.

“Pff why do you even care.” crossing his arms in front of his chest, Gavin really needed to hold back not to throw that bastard in the recycling bin.

“He chose me as his Master, which means I need to take care of him. He is my responsibility.” she tried to explain her actions, but Gavin only rolled his eyes.

“As if he would need you. You're just happy that at least somebody shows the slightest interest in you...” immediately he regrets his words when he saw the hurt look on her face.

“Y/N I ...”

“You better go now!” turning away from them, she started to clean up the instruments she had just used.

“Well come on then...” Gavin sighed and waited at the entrance for the Android.

Robin quietly stepped closer to the small figure who was standing at her desk.

“I send my results to your computer.” he stated softly and she could hear a confirmation beep from her bracelet.

“Thank you ...” Y/N only mumbled quietly, not to let her tears get the upper hand. When one still rolled over her cheek, Robin gently brushed it away.

“Come one! Let's go, we have a job to do!” Gavin shouted and Y/N nodded to the Android.

Adjusting his collar, he followed the furious detective to their first case together.

“Let me be very clear here, Android!” The detective already started to growl but immediately got pushed against the wall.

“No let me be very clear with you, Detective!” Robin hissed threatening.

“If you dare to harm your sister in any way, physical or mentally, I will break every 206 bones in your body. Do we understand each other?!” now he was the one who had the other grabbed at the collar of his sweatshirt.

For a moment Gavin was too shocked to even answer before he quietly nodded.

“Say it!” the Android whispered dangerously low, his cold eyes fixated on Gavins.

“I… I understand.” he mumbled while avoiding the others gaze.

Letting go, Robin stood up straight again and adjusted his collar, before continuing their walk to the police car.

When they came back in the evening, Robin volunteered to bring the new evidence to Y/N while Gavin followed a few feet behind. Not only did he feel bad, because he hurt his sister, but the constant nagging from RK900 was going on his nerves. He rather wished he would leave again but the young detective needed to admit that the Android only seemed to have the best things in mind for his sister, which was at least one positive thing about him.

Entering the lab they could see Y/N, sitting on her couch in the back, having headphones on her head, while she was munching on a granola bar, her eyes fixated on her pad to read the latest analyses results.

After setting the box with the new evidence down, Robin entered her little office before Gavin could even stop him. Squatting down in front of her, the tall Android gently pushed the big headphones back before she looked up into his blue eyes.

“You're back!” she instantly smiled, but it soon fell again when she noticed her brother.

“We brought the evidence from the scene it would be good if you could take a quick look at it.” he explained when he noticed her eyes on him.

Rolling her eyes the slightest, she munched down the last bit of her snack and threw her pad on the other end of the coach. Taking the pad from Gavin she walked to the box and opened it after getting rid of the safety tape.

“Robin can you tell me what exactly we have?” she asked.

“Of course, Y/N.” controlling the evidence with the list, she soon signed it and pushed it back against Gavin's chest.

“What do you want to know?” putting on some new gloves she looked at the pieces of evidence in the plastic bags.

“We need to find DNA from this subject.” Sending the file to her Bracelet, it gave the confirming beep.

“Alright... now leave, I need to concentrate.” suddenly feeling Gavin's hand on her shoulder she flinched slightly.

“How about you rest first and come home?”

“You want this data as soon as possible right? So let me work and go home yourself.” pulling away from him, Gavin only scoffed and made his way out of the office.

“Nines,! Make sure she eats properly and sleeps at least a little bit.” they heard him shout and Y/N only sighed before she looked up at Robin.

“He is right, you look sleep deprived.” gently he laid his hand against her cheek and looked into her eyes.

“I'm okay. Let's throw the hints that we have in my little boys, they will do the work for us. I promise I rest after that.”

Nodding the slightest he agreed, but still took over most of the work and soon banished her onto the couch so she could rest.

In the next few days, nothing much changed from the first day Robin came in her life. Most of the time he was constantly by her side, helping her with her work and sometimes even Gavin stayed there since it was easier to stay down here to discuss the case instead of dragging the Android back up into the office.

“I brought lunch.” Gavin mumbled when he entered the Lab, but stopped surprised when he saw Connor and Hank here.

Y/N suddenly rolled by him on her chair and grabbed the cup of ice coffee before taking a sip.

“Just one moment...” pulling a diagram on her big monitor she just explained to the other two what she and Robin had found in the newest Red Ice that they had confiscated.

Robin was sitting in the Corner of the lab in a chair while his arms were crossed in front of his chest and one of his legs was laying over the other, ignoring the others.

He was always cold to everyone else but when he was with Y/N he was completely changed that most of them couldn't believe that it was really him. How soft and gentle he took care of her and made sure she was always well with such care.

For Connor it was obvious that his little brother wasn't following a program anymore and seemed to have started to feel emotions which nobody had noticed yet, not even Y/N who seemed oblivious to the looks Robin was sometimes giving her.

But at the moment he wasn't very pleased with all the males in the room that were cornering her because of her work.

“So thanks to Robin, we could determine that the Dealer must have been in this area of town. You should look there next.” trying to hide a yawn, Y/N bit nervously on the straw from her coffee.

“Thank you, we will go there, now.” Connor nodded and left with Hank, while Gavin placed the bag of food in her little office on her desk.

“You should really eat, you have been working nonstop.” her brother mumbled but didn't get any answer until Robin stood up from his chair and noticed that Y/N had fallen asleep right as soon as Connor and Hank had left them. Her head had sunken down on her arms, the cup of coffee was dangerous loosely hanging in her hand, while they could hear quiet snores coming from her.

Gently picking her sleeping figure up, he slowly walked over to the couch to lay her in a more comfortable position until Gavin's phone started to ring.

“We got a lead! An anonymous tip to the serial killer! Come on.” already running to the door he took a last look over his shoulder.

Watching the Android take off his jacket, Robin laid it carefully over Y/N so she would be kept warm, while they would be away.

Brushing a few strands of hair out of her beautiful face, his normal stern look softened and even Gavin seemed to realize now that this Android wasn't seeing his sister just as a Master anymore.

Out of respect he quickly averted his eyes and waited until Robin followed.

Flinching out of her sleep, Y/N looked confused around before shutting off her blaring bracelet.

“I get it I get it, the Sample test is done...” with another yawn, she rubbed over eyes before she noticed something heavy on her body.

Surprised her eyes widened when she recognized Robins jacket and without thinking, she pressed it closer against her chest. The sharp scent of Thirium was lingering on it, but when she buried her face in the fabric, Y/N could even smell a hint of her own perfume.

Feeling the heat rising in her cheeks, she quickly looked around her Lab, just to make sure it was empty before she jumped from her place and threw over the jacket, which of course was too big for her.

Chuckling over the long sleeves, Y/N suddenly shook her head. There was no time to be goofing around. She was so close to finding something for Gavins and Robins case that it was time to give it her full attention, instead of getting her hopes up for something that wasn’t going to happen.

Folding up the sleeves and putting on her safety glasses, Y/N got back to work.

Looking around the empty factory building, Robin tried to find any clues that the anonymous tip had mentioned, but for now he came up with nothing.

“Are you sure the address is the right one?” he asked coldly and looked over to Gavin who seemed confused.

“Of fucking course it is the right one!” the other hissed and continued looking.

Carefully walking up the rusty, metal stairs, Gavin tried to get a good look with his flashlight, his gun always ready.

Searching the upper floor they soon stopped in front of a giant wall.

“What is that…?” seeing something wet smeared on it, Robin immediately started running back to the car.

Taking a few steps back, the detective's eyes widened in shock when he read the words and the picture that hung next to it.

-She will bleed, just like the others.-

When his eyes landed on the face of his own sweet sister, he instantly broke into a sprint.

“Come on!!” Robin screamed, already sitting on the driver seat, to take over instead of letting the autopilot manage the driving. As soon as Gavin entered the car, the Android stepped down on the gas pedal and with screeching tires, they crashed through the next metal fence.

“Why …. why her?!” Gavin cursed while trying to call her.

“Don’t you get it? It was a trap! He wanted to get us away from her because he knows that we never leave her side. The picture that hung with the threat was taken inside the DPD! He is one of us! Which means he knows she might be close to finding out his identity!” running over a red light, Gavin wanted to throw up.

“She isn’t picking up...” seeing the LED from Robin turn to red, he knew nothing good would happen to whoever would harm her.

The car wasn’t even parked yet, but Robin already jumped out and ran into the police building.

When he stumbled into the Lab and saw her well and safe, the Android couldn’t describe how much relieve he felt until he noticed the red dot pointed at her back.

“Get down!” he screamed.

Turning around to him, Y/N had a smile on her lips before he tackled her down onto the ground and a bullet storm was raining down into the lab.

Glas was shattering everywhere and Robin covered her whole body with his, while he could feel her fingers dig into his shirt.

“Robin … the office, it’s bulletproof.” she breathed under his heavy weight.

“I got you.” he answered and waited for the right moment before he picked her up and punched the alarm as soon as he slides into the room on his knees.

The glass door behind them closed with a hiss and the lab was drenched in a red light and the alarm blaring in their ears.

“Are you hurt?!” he shouted through the tumult and cupped her face gently. With a relieved smile she shook her head lightly even though her cheek hat a few small cuts.

Wrapping her arms around his chest, she soon had her head buried in the crook of his neck before a shaky breath escaped her lips.

“It's okay, I’m here now.” he whispered, laying his own arms around her to calmingly brush over her hair.

Hearing another two gunshots, Y/N instinctively pressed herself closer against his chest until they heard a knock at the office door. It was Gavin with a few police members.

“Thank goodness you’re okay … fuck...” falling on his knee, Gavin just hugged both of them tightly, knowing full well Robin wouldn’t let go of her for a long while.

“What about Johnson… is he?” she asked her brother.

“He won’t harm you, don’t worry.” he nodded, confirming the suspect's death.

Watching both of them quietly for a moment, Gavin saw how dearly the Android was holding on to his sister and how much she clung to him.

“I will talk to Fowler, he needs to know what happened. Nines, take good care of her until I’m back.” giving the two of them a bit of space, he soon left the lab.

After sitting there on the floor for a moment, Robin gently picked her up to sat her down on the comfortable couch.

“Are you really alright?” he asked now calmer since the alarm was shut off.

“Maybe we should switch. You seem to be a much better Batman than me.” Y/N chuckled lightly.

“You can be Catwoman instead.” with a small smile Robin leaned his head gently against hers.

“You researched…. Sounds like a good plan.” taking a deep breath, she pressed a quick kiss on the Androids lips.

“Thanks for saving me...” she whispered but was surprised to see him even more shocked than expected.

“Sorry … I thought ...” quickly looking back down onto her own two feet she avoiding his gaze before Robin broke from his daze and gently laid his hand under her chin, to push it up so she would look at him.

“No, you thought correctly. I just didn’t think you could ever feel something for someone like me ...”

“Well, now you know...” she said a bit pouty and he could only smile.

“At least I didn’t fry your circuits.” with a chuckle she leaned her head back against his shoulder.

When Gavin came back, he was relieved that Y/N seemed to have calmed down.

“I talked with Fowler. After a short questioning, we can all go home.” he explained, but nobody seemed to listen.

“You know what, since you are Batman now and I’m Catwoman. Gavin can be Robin.”

Scoffing immediately Gavin crossed his arms in front of his chest.

“As if! Come on you freaking nerds. Let's get home.”

Picking her back on his arms, Robin held her close while she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Then we need to get a key for Robin as well.” she called to her brother, who was walking in front of them.

“Sure, whatever.” he only shrugged his shoulders, both of them not able to see the little smirk on his lips.

[savory-n-sweet]

May I Have This Dance?

requested by anon: 011 and 012 with racetrack higgins?? thank u ur writing is amazing!! :)

pairing: racetrack higgins x female!reader

words: 1.9K

warnings: smoking, its long as hell

princess au (you’ll get it once you read, i promise)

2017 | 1992

edited | not edited | skimmed

this has been in my drafts for so long?? like i’m talking MONTHS. but anyways enjoy. reblogs are always appreciated!!

- - -

racetrack higgins was nowhere near being a prince, or even someone that hung around royal families. his friend jack, however, was. they had paid jack to paint a mural, and he invited race as his plus one to the reveal party. race was unsure of going at first, but once he found out about you, he decided to give it a shot.

he was sitting at a round table next to jack. they were both in suits, but race’s was a rental. jack owned his, though it wasn’t tailored like everyone else’s. his pant legs pooled around his ankles, making him look shorter. however, the two of them were enjoying themselves. they were cracking jokes and engaging in pleasant conversation with the other members of their assigned table.

race felt extremely out of place. he was a poor kid while everyone else in the room was filthy rich, practically showering themselves in money. the guests were in fancy ball gowns and tailored suits accompanied by even fancier jewelry. he was insecure, more so than he’s ever been. the only accessory he had ever owned was a silver watch his father gave him.

suddenly, a hush fell over the room. he noticed the guests move out of the way, and immediately fall silent. he stood up and brushed off his pants, purely out of habit.

then, he saw you. he saw you in that dusty pink, glittery gown. he saw your smile and his heart fluttered. he watched you descend the stairs in awe. you walked with such grace and poise.

when he noticed you walking towards his table, his palms instantly went sweaty and his mouth dried.

“hey jack,” you hugged the shorter boy, smiling on his shoulder. you let go of him before noticing the drink in his hand. “what’re you drinking?”

“scotch,” he handed you the glass. you took it and downed what was left.

“thank god. planning these balls are so stressful,” you sighed, placing the glass on the table to your side. you looked over his shoulder, noticing race. you walked around jack, holding your hand out for race to shake. “hi, i’m (y/n).”

“uh, yeah i, uh, i know,” he took your gloved hand and shook it. he was extremely thankful you wore gloves tonight.

you laughed, looking down at your shoes, still shaking race’s hand.

“kid, tell her your name,” jack coughed from behind you.

“race,” he cleared his throat and let go of your hand. you smiled, glancing from your burgundy heels to his blue eyes.

he was beautiful. his curly blond hair, his deep blue eyes, and his tan skin were absolutely stunning. you assumed he was your age, maybe a little bit older. he looked like a deer in headlights at the moment, though.

“oh! jack told me about you!” you exclaimed, lightly hitting his shoulder out of sheer excitement.

“what? why?” he swallowed rather loudly. he looked like a deer caught in headlights, but you thought it was cute.

“when i invited jack, he asked to bring a plus one. when i asked who, he told me about you.”

race didn’t look any more relaxed. in fact, he looked more terrified.

“oh, don’t worry! he said nothing but good things, i promise,” you placed a hand on his shoulder, a dopey smile on your face. “i just hope you live up to those good things.”

“i’m gonna get something to drink. you kids want anything?” jack winked at race causing him to blush heavily.

“surprise me,” you said.

“whiskey?” race requested. “you have whiskey here, right?” he looked down at you.

“we have just about everything,” you grinned.

-

about an hour later, the three of you were having the time of your lives. race had had a few glasses of whiskey, causing him to relax quite a bit. you were seeing more of his smile as well as his humor. you had relaxed a bit too. the conversation never seemed to dull. the three of you were telling stories, jokes, and race even showed off how many peanuts he could catch in his mouth. race was showing off in general. card tricks, magic tricks, you name it. you loved it though. it was nice to be able to be yourself without having to worry.

“i’ll be right back,” jack excused himself, placing his napkin on the table. you looked to race, then grabbed his hand.

“wanna get out of here?” you raised your eyebrows, smiling like a maniac.

“where are we gonna go?” he furrowed his.

you got up and dragged him through the crowd. the two of you dodged too many people to count, waiters included. you ran, with him in tow, out of the ballroom and up the grand staircase. you lead him to a room far down the indoor balcony, pushing him inside first. you closed to door behind yourself, promptly locking it.

“it’s just quieter up here. and,” you pointed to your balcony doors. “fresh air.”

“it’s pretty in here. your room?” he questioned, looking over your knick knacks and photos. he held a ballerina figurine in his hand, examining it before moving onto the next thing.

“yeah. hey, do me a favor and unzip me?” you turned around. he nodded, doing so. you pushed the sleeves off your shoulders, letting it fall to the ground. “god, this thing is suffocating.”

race covered his eyes and looked away. “hey! i’m still in here! don’t you want me to leave or something?”

“race, i still have the underdress thing on. it’s fine,” you smiled when you saw him peek through his fingers. “but you can stand on the balcony or wait in the hall if you’d like.”

“i’m gonna go on the balcony,” he stated as he walked toward the doors.

“okay! i’ll grab you once i’m changed.”

once he was out there, he lit his cigar. he leaned against the railing and thought for a bit. he knew two things; he absolutely loved spending time with you, and that you were very far out of his league. he didn’t know what to do or even if he should do anything.

“hey, you can come back,” you popped your head out beyond the doorway.

he didn’t look back at you. he kept his eyes focused on his cigar he kept flicking with his thumb. “give me a minute?”

you nodded, closing the door. it took a few seconds before you stepped onto the balcony. you threw a blanket over race’s shoulders, getting close to him so it covered yours as well.

“don’t want you to get cold or anything,” you smiled up at him. he smiled lazily in return, bringing the cigar to his lips. “so, how do you know jack?”

“we work together,” he shrugged. you nodded, sensing he didn’t want to talk about it.

you leaned against the railing as well, propping your head on your hand. you closed your eyes as you listened to the song below. it was fairly muffled, only becoming clear when someone walked onto the patio below. one of your favorite slow songs was playing, causing you to smile softly.

race looked at you, smiling when you did. he put out his cigar, placing it in an inside jacket pocket. he got out from under the blanket, then held his hand out to you.

“may i have this dance?”

you raised your eyebrows, then giggled. you took his hand and stepped closer to him.

the two of you swayed to the music, slowly inching closer to one another. by the end of the song, your head was on his chest and his arms were wrapped around your torso. you felt safe and comforted right there, in his arms. you never wanted to leave them.

the song ended, but the two of you stayed like that—in each other’s arms, swaying. you sighed in content, a small smile on your face. you closed your eyes, taking in the smell of his cologne.

race rested his chin on the top of your head, holding you close. he didn’t want this to end. he knew that once he left, there was a rare chance he’d ever see you again. he held his wrist high enough he could see it and checked the time.

“hey, i actually have to get going,” he mumbled, disappointment lingering in his voice. “i’m sorry.”

“what’s there to be sorry for?” you asked, following him to your bedroom door.

“leaving,” he shrugged. he was really apologizing for his thoughts. race wanted to kiss you, right then and there, but he knew it was inappropriate. he just met you, barely an hour ago. he knew life wasn’t like the movies, especially his life. nothing came easy for him, so why would this?

“you don’t have to apologize. i’m sure we’ll see each other around,” you smiled as you leaned against your doorframe.

“i hope we do,” he smiled, too.

-

it had been close to a week since you last saw him. you couldn’t get him out of your goddamned head. everything about him was wonderful. you wanted to learn as much as you possibly could about him, but you couldn’t even find him. so, you ran to jack.

he was sure to know where to find him. you assumed they were close, so you hoped he knew. if he didn’t, you were back to square one.

you found yourself in miss medda’s theater, searching for her or jack. you made your way backstage when you saw jack on the top of a ladder, painting a backdrop.

“oh, thank god. jack!” you jogged towards him. you had never been happier to see someone who was covered in paint.

“hello miss (y/n). what’re you doing over here?” he looked down at you. there was a small smirk playing on his lips.

“do you know where i can find race? i need to speak with him.”

“sounds serious. everything alright?” he asked as he climbed down be shaking ladder.

“yeah, everything’s fine,” you nodded. “do you know where he is?”

“he’s in the bathroom,” he smiled, pointing behind you. “can i have that brush?”

you handed it to him, unsure of what to say. so, you looked at what he was working on.

it was a woodsy scene. it was unfinished, but still beautiful. the sun was setting behind the trees, giving them a faint orange glow.

“this is stunning, jack.”

“thank you. it’s taken me about two days so far. i’m hoping to be done by tomorrow.”

“jack, who’re you talking to?” a familiar voice mumbled.

you turned around to see race. he had his cigar dangling from his lips while he was trying to tuck in his dirty, paint stained shirt.

“hey,” you smiled once he looked up.

“(y/n), i-i didn’t know you were gonna be here,” he took the cigar and put it in his shirt pocket. “i would’ve dressed up.”

jack snorted from next to you, then quickly covered it up with a cough. you smiled, shaking your head.

“you’re fine, race. can i, uh, talk to you?” you nervously picked at your fingers.

“yeah sure,” he gestured for you to follow, and you did. you were farther backstage with more props and equipment. “what’s up?”

“this is going to sound weird, and maybe a little crazy, but i can’t stop thinking about you. you’ve been in my head since the night of the ball and you won’t leave.”

he smiled and shook his head before pulling you into a hug.

“wanna go on a date sometime?” he laughed, still holding you.

“yeah, that’d be great,” you laughed into his chest.

- - -

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[pinkykitten]

I can be Loved

Marvel

Stephen Strange x plus size & fire power! female reader

Warnings: some curse words, violence, reader being self conscious, death, also i did not re-read this cuz i made this too dang long!

Specifics: death, sadness, romance, comedy, Avengers: Infinity War, man vs man, fire power, pictures, videos, plus size reader, race neutral reader

People: Stephen Strange, you, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Wong, Peter Parker, Ebony Maw, Black Dwarf, Peter Quill, Drax, Mantis, Thanos, Gamora (mentioned), Thor (mentioned).

Words: 4,229

Requested: By anonymously Hi doll❤️ I love your writing please keep doing what you are doing! Do you write for chubby girls or plus size cause I live for that!!!! If so could I request a plus size reader, where she is with doctor strange and many think she is all scrawny and can’t stand up for herself but she proves them wrong by fighting like a bad ass like Thanos makes fun of her and tries to degrade her but she is just too cool and she fights along side Dr. Strange so fluff and angst cause she reacts to his death

Authors Note: hi there anon! thank u so much for ur kind words. i do write for plus size beautiful woman! i luved this request and it makes me kinda sad to not see a lot of fanfics for dr. strange cuz he is such a cool character and it is the benedict cumberbatch. i went a lil bit overboard with this its just i really lived for this request also i made the reader have fire power because i wanted her to be powerful hehehe. but there is a lot to read so im srry. i loved writing this i didnt reread this so there may be mistakes but my back, fingers, legs hurt so yeah. thnx for requesting and i hope u enjoy this. remember i luv to hear ur guys thoughts. 

The world as you know it was going to change, one way or another it was going to either perish or fight.

You all looked outside. The wind was strong and the noises of people screaming was all you could hear. Your heart racing in fear you consciously grasped Stephen, your fiance’s hand. 

As Tony opened the door many citizens raced the opposite way of..something. Some falling, some terrified, like you. 

“Y/n, I should go see what it is. You stay here,” Dr. Strange ordered you, letting go of your hand. 

“No Steph, where you go I go. I can fight too you know.” With that you walked ahead of him following Tony. 

Stephen quickly grabbed Wong’s attention. “Whatever you do, you keep y/n alive. Alright?”

Wong saw the seriousness in his friends eyes and just nodded. 

As you turned the corner a ship that was a circle with a hole in the middle landed on New York City grounds. You gasped loudly at how large it was. This was no human tech, this was some alien crap. 

Stephen, Wong, and Bruce followed you and Tony. Suddenly, a blue beam appeared and out came a skinny alien guy that looked like Voldemort, and another alien guy except he was huge and kinda looked like a dung beetle. 

Your group walked to them, curious expressions. 

The skinny alien then started to say how they were Thanos children, and that you all were about to die from them and it was a privilege. 

You turned around all sassy to Bruce, “Is this guy serious?”

“I’m sorry Earth is closed today,” shouted Tony Stark to the alien men. “You better pack it up and get out of here.”

The skinny alien then focused his attention on Stephen, “Stone keeper. Does this chattering animal speak for you?”

“Certainly not, I speak for myself!” Stephen using his magic to maybe scare off the aliens and show that he was not playing. (god that part that he does that hand thing is kinda hot......anyways enjoy reading) “You’re trespassing on this city and on this planet.”

Wong after him brought out his magic. 

Just then the huge alien was walking towards your group, hitting his giant hammer on anything he sees. 

You tapped your foot impatiently, “hey guys are we gonna do anything? I really don’t think this guy likes us!” 

Well since he was big you all then looked at...Bruce...well you all wanted the Hulk. You all stared at him awaiting for the green monster to rage on out. Instead, Bruce was having trouble getting him out, “c’mon man, c’mon.”

He was still pushing, and pushing, and pushing some more. Everyone awaiting, and staring impatiently. 

“Ugh men!” You stated placing a hand on your plush, curvy hip. 

“Wheres your guy?” Tony Stark asked looking as if Bruce lied to him. 

“I don’t know we’re sorta been having a thing.”

“There’s no time for a thing. Thats the thing right there, lets go.”

The big alien man was coming closer and closer. Then he started running towards you all. You quickly turned your whole body into fire, your skin turning orange, and your hair turning into flames. Your eyes a bright sun orange (kinda like flame princess from at). “Step away boys.”

“I love it when she does that,” Stephen said as he stared all amazed at you. 

(not my art! do not own!)

You stood in front of the massive alien, ready to shoot him with some fire balls.

(TONY’S COOL MOVE YASSSSSSSSSSSSSS srry) Tony decided to help as well. He turned his track suit into his Iron man suit. But in a cool way. 

He added some blasters to his suit and all of them came out to shoot at the alien. You and Tony shot at the same time making the alien fall back onto the skinny one but surprise surprise, his powers were telekinesis. 

He, with the power of his mind moved the other alien harshly to a car. 

Tony put his blasters away. 

“Holy crap that was frickin amazing!” A excited Bruce yelled, making you turn around and chuckle. “You turning into fire and you, Tony, where’d that come from?”

“Its nano tech, you like it?” Answered Tony, turning around to you all. 

“I got to say that was pretty awesome,” you smiled placing a hand on Tony’s shoulder. 

Tony placed a hand on his mouth and gasped, “ooohhh wizard man, how you feel about your fiance touching me and oh wait, yeah, calling me awesome?’

Stephen shook his head and his cloak smacked your hand off Tony’s shoulder, “she was only trying to be nice to you...she calls me better things in bed.”

“Wow,” Tony said. 

“Babe! Thats private,” you shouted, laughing at the end. 

“Wow, that was so unneeded, like to the point where you didn’t need to do that.” Tony shook his hands, shaking his head. 

Suddenly, the skinny alien man used his powers to throw a car at you all. The other worked on it while you and Tony threw it back to him. He used his powers to cut it in half. 

Tony then used his boosters to try to fly to him. You used your fire power to fly to him as well. As you tried to fly, Stephen brought you down. “Hey sweetheart, why don’t you stay here, I really don’t think you going over there is such a good idea.”

“Are you serious? Honey, I’m fine.”

Bruce came into the conversation, “yeah y/n, maybe Stephen is right. Maybe this is a little bit too much for you.”

“You know what, I know this isn’t a woman thing because you all let Natasha fight. This is a size thing. Are you all serious? You think I can’t fight cause I’m too big, too fat for the normal superhero.”

Wong then raised his hand and tried to tell you something, but you just ignored him. “Thats fine think what you want to think,” you almost cried, Stephen going to you and saying that thats not it, and of course it wouldn’t be it.

“Y/n, I think you’re the most beautiufl woman on this Earth, and trust me I know you are capable-”

“Save it. I don’t need any of you. I am going to fight, whether you like it or not, and I’m gonna show you all that bigger woman can do things in this world, especially be a superhero!”

Your fire became more intense and you flew next to Tony. The skinny alien was using his powers to throw some of the road on you two. The big alien threw a claw at Tony and this set Tony back. 

“Stark!” You shouted. “You are not eleven from Stranger Things, are you?” You raised your eyebrow to the skinny alien. “Thats okay, you look more like the demogorgon.” You blasted flames at both aliens. Dodging one of the punches of the big alien. 

The skinny alien threw the fire back onto you. You just chuckled, “You do realize I’m made of fire, right?”

The skinny alien smiled and heaved a huge piece of building onto you. 

“Y/n!” Yelled Wong and Stephen. They tried to get to you but they had to fight the skinny alien. 

“Ouch!” You quickly burned the piece of building into ashes and saw the skinny alien go to your fiance. “Steph!”

He put Stephen to the wall and placed bricks on him. You knew he wanted that stone. You also knew Stephen placed a spell on it. 

“-then I’ll take it off your corpse.” The alien took Stephen and threw him to you. 

“Oh my god babe, honey,” you took off your fire power to touch him, carressing his face. “Steph are you okay?”

His cloak brought him up and he nodded to you. He tried to use the time stone but the alien wrapped thorny vines around his arms. 

“Let him go!” You try to burn the vines away but its not use, they just keep reappearing. The vines go around his neck and knock him out unconscious. 

“Are you serious?” You try to take the vines off of him, they are strong and grab on real tight. “C’mon babe, stupid frickin things get off!”

The alien brings Stephen with him and you fall off the platform. The cloak then takes Stephen away from the vines. You, your fire power ignited, go after him, with the skinny alien following you two. 

“Steph I am right here. I got you.”

He then goes by Tony, and you notice Tony fighting with the big alien. You also notice your favorite...SPIDER MAN!!!!!!!!!!!

“Hi sweetheart!” You wave to Peter. 

“Hi Ms. L/n!”

“Kid thats the wizard and y/n, get on it,” ordered Tony to Peter. 

“On it!”

You flew backwards now, your attention on to the alien behind you. “Go away freak!” You started shooting fire at him, him dodging every time. Peter tried to get the alien but he through a piece of debris at Peter.

“Peter!” You shouted look at his state to make sure he was fine. 

“Not cool, yeah Ms. L/n, I’m fine!”

As Stephen was getting away from the alien, the alien used his powers to stop Stephen. By bending the street lights one of the lights caught Stephen by the cloak making Stephen fall out. You tried to catch him but you would of burned him. In that moment you felt defenseless, helpless, unworthy. You couldn’t even do a simple job as saving your future husband. They were all right about you. 

Peter came to the rescue and saved Stephen. With a sad face you thanked the young boy for doing something you couldn’t do. You just followed them slowly, until you were lifted in a beam. You tried to hold onto something but it was no use. You were going to die, how did you know this? What use were you, they didn’t need you, nor want you. You were garbage to them. You were garbage to everyone. You tried to shake the self conscious thoughts out of your mind, but you couldn’t. They were eating at you, telling you things that were not true. 

Peter tried to hold on with his spider web to Stephen but the skinny alien used his powers to bring Peter up. 

You entered the ship with Stephen and ran to hide behind a piece of the inner ship. Watching to see someone come by. 

“This is bad,” you thought. “Really bad.”

You meet up unexpectedly with Peter and Tony. You see in the distance the alien is pointing these needle like things to Stephen to get the time stone. The needle things go into his skin and you hear his screams. Tears coming out of your eyes you try to go to him but Tony stops you. 

“Don’t blow our cover y/n, we will save him.”

As you all try to think of a plan Peter says, “hey have you guys ever seen a really really old movie called Aliens?”

As the alien is threatening Stephen, you and Tony go behind him ready to blast him away. He turns around to the sound of Tony’s high pitched suit. 

The alien uses his power to bring out pieces of the ship to you and Tony. You smirk and say, “have fun in space.”

You and Tony blast a hole in the ship sending him and Stephen flying.

“Steph! Peter get him!”

Peter grabs Stephen with his web and then a new feature of his suit comes out. HE HAS SPIDER LEGS!

“HOLY SH*T THAT IS AMAZING!” You squeal in excitement. 

Peter jumps up and brings Stephen in. Tony closes the hole. 

You quickly run to Stephen and hug him, “oh my god, I thought I lost you. I’m so happy you’re alive.” You look into his eyes and he looks into yours. 

“Sweetheart about earlier, what I was trying to say is that-”

You stand up quickly, the emotions and self conscious feelings interrupting your mind again. “It doesn’t matter right now.” You turn around, shyly placing a hand on your arm and rubbing it. You then mutter as you’re walking away, “I don’t matter.”

Stephen tries to go to you to help you and to make you feel better but Tony places a hand on him to decide where to go. 

Stephen thinks Earth but Tony thinks wherever the ship is going. His thinking is he feels wherever this ship is going Thanos must be there, if all of you were to go then it would be an element of surprise. Stephen disagrees in the begging but you agree with Tony. 

“If Thanos is going to be there then maybe this isn’t such a bad idea. I mean I know, we have to protect the stone but I don’t think Thanos is awaiting this much of an impact or this much of a plan. I say we go for it.”

The ship lands harshly on a planet named Titan. 

A smoke bomb lands between you all and with impact you all go tumbling back. 

“What in the world!”

You look up to see some wannabes trying to fight you all. You fly to the one with the funny looking goggles. 

He shoots you with his gun while you blast a hole power of fire. 

“I call this roast some buns,” you blast harder your fire at him. He dodges it with his cheap looking jet pack thing. 

“What are we in The Krusty Krab?” The unknown person jokes along with you. 

You all fight with each other and form a circle of whos killing who. 

The person you were fighting takes his mask off and point the gun at Tony. “I’m gonna ask you this one time, where is Gamora?”

“Yeah, I’ll do you one better,” Tony took his mask off. “Who’s Gamora?”

And then the alien, buff man talked, “I’ll do you one better, why is Gamora?”

“I’ll do you all one better, why are we still talking about this Gamora?” You stopped your fire powers.

After going back and forth on where this Gamora was at the guy holding Peter mentioned Thanos. 

“Wait, what Thanos. Alright let me ask you this one time, what master do you serve?” You looked at Stephen as he questioned the new comers. 

“What master do I serve? What am I supposed to say Jesus?” The guy answered back, still holding Peter. 

After explaining that you were trying to defeat Thanos as well Peter took off his mask, “We’re the avengers man.”

Just then the alien bug looking girl said, “you’re the one Thor told us about.”

Tony asked, “you know Thor?”

The Missouri guy nodded, “Yeah, tall guy not that good lookin, needed saving.”

You eyes widened, “oh my god Thor’s alive. We may still have a chance...I say we all work together on this. We all want to take down the same purple raisin so we should combine all our powers to become one and destroy Thanos.”

“Thanks for the input lava girl, didn’t know we were all gonna turn into Voltron with all our lions.” The blonde hair man said as his eyes were on you. 

You walked up to him with a serious face, “my name is y/n, and I don’t think fragile skin can stand against hot fire.”

You walked to the exit while Tony, Peter, and Stephen giggled. “Gotta love her,” Stephen said as he followed you. 

You all came out of the ship and stood on the planet, trying to come up with a plan. You learned all the names of the new people.

Mantis in a low voice asked, “Does your friend do that?”

You all look back to see Stephen moving his head quickly back and forth. You go to him and place a hand on his cheek. He comes back to reality with a startle cry. 

“You okay?” You ask worried. 

Stephen was using the Time Stone to look into alternate futures. You ask about if you win the battle, but out of the millions of futures he foresaw, he sees that you are all victorious in none but one alone.

Your heart pounds and you squeeze your hand shut, tightly. All in your head was how you are going to die feeling worthless, feeling like you contributed nothing to this world. Tears start to form in your eyes and you walk to a nearby rock, covering yourself from the others. 

You wanted to show Stephen that you were not just the girl that got made fun of in high school because of her weight. You’re not someone you can make fun of and push around as if you don’t have feelings. You wanted to come out victorious and explain these terrible feelings you’ve been having lately to Stephen. 

Stephen see you crying behind a rock and walks over to you. He kneels down to you and takes your hands in his. 

“Sweetheart please talk to me, I’m here for you.”

You wipe your tears, “I know I can’t do many things in life, I can’t prevent many things. But I can try to fight. I know I’m fat and ugly and big but I want to try to prove my worth. To you and to them.” You pointed to the group. “I’m so useless, aren’t I?”

Stephen kissed your hands. “No. You are so much more than those degrading words. Back there I wasn’t trying to make fun of you honey, or bring you down in any way. I didn’t want you to get hurt, I didn’t want, I don’t want anything to happen to you. You are so important to me and to so many others, you just don’t see it. You prove to others and to other young girls, just women in general that even if you feel useless and nothing you can make something of yourself, you can save the world. You are beautiful in and out y/n, you are my superhero, my hero, you save me y/n. It will always be that way. I know you are so capable of so many great things and I encourage you to do everything in your power to be you, to be the amazing, powerful, strong you. This means so much to me,” Stephen said holding up your ring on your finger. “It means that soon you and I will be one, we will be husband and wife. We will not just show love but be love. You are my everything y/n, thank you for standing by me sweetheart.”

Your eyes were wide and you were shocked. “I love you so much Steph, thank you for saying those things. I really needed to hear that, you make me so happy Stephen Strange. I can’t wait to get married to you and when I call you mine. Thank you love.”

You sit on his lap, not caring about your weight. Stephen holds you upright with ease, resting his hands on your hips. You trace massage your fingers into his dark locks seeing his ice blue eyes look into yours. You place your hands on his cheeks, taking in his complexion of high cheekbones and milky white skin. You kiss him on the lips lightly, enjoying the presence of him. He deepens the kiss his right hand going to your cheek, making the kiss more passionate. In the middle of the kiss you hear a cough. You and Stephen turn your heads to see a startled Peter, and a annoyed Stark. 

“Sorry am I interrupting something, cause we’re in the middle of a war if you haven’t noticed. Anyways, you two, The Notebook, we have a plan.”

Thanos had come to the planet Titan and tried to explain his belief of genocide. It all seemed so crazy to you. You all almost got the gauntlet off but you all especially Peter Quill learned that Gamora was dead. Peter got so mad at Thanos that he punched him knocking him out of the sleep phase he was in with Mantis. 

It almost worked the plan, now it was to make it up as you guys went. 

You gave this war, this battle everything that you had. All your being your strength, everything. 

Everyone was focused and paying attention to other things in their way that you were left with Thanos. 

By yourself.

All the struggles in life, all the beat downs, the I’m not good enough have led you up to this moment. You were going to show this monster, this demon that you are good enough and you do deserve love and happiness.

“I, I’m not afraid of you,” you stood proudly in front of this giant. 

“No my dear child not of me, but of others.” Thanos said as he walked slowly to you, bringing out his hand to your cheek. You gave him a scowl, scoffing. 

“What do you mean?”

Thanos shook his head, “I know your deepest fear. Y/n, you are afraid of how others perceive you, how they think of you. You try your hardest to please others. You are the coward, you say you are not afraid but I know deep down you’re terrified.”

Your eyes were wide, “no, no, no, I’m not like that. Stop.”

“But of course you would be young one, you know how it feels to have your inner demons. To know your not good enough, not even good enough to be in this world.”

You started to shake your head, hands clutching the sides of it trying to not listen to those terrible words that have scarred you. Thanos smiling, knowing that he was getting to you. 

“Stop leave me alone you monster,” you cried out. 

Stephen came out and stood by you, “Y/n don’t listen to him. Remember what I told you. You are better than this.”

“Leave her be, let her make her own decisions. Y/n you are not happy with how you look, when you see yourself you see disgust. You are not afraid of me.”

You started shaking your head while tears were starting to come out, “no stop, stop!”

Stephen tried knocking sense in you, “Honey don’t listen to him, you are better than this. Remeber how much I care for you.”

Thanos kept going, “you are not afraid of death.”

“STOP! Just stop it!”

“No, you are afraid that no one will love you for who you are.”

At that being said it ignited something in you. All your power, the fire held inside you spilled out with a cry and shriek. 

Thanos eyes widened and he used the power stone to be able to go through the fire you ignited. 

“You are wrong about me Thanos! I have love, I have someone who loves me! You don’t, you know why, because you KILLED HER!”

Thanos used the power stone again on you to try to destroy you, but you were too powerful and uncontrollable to stop. 

All the fire coming out of your body amazed everyone, you were so powerful. With another cry more fire came out making Thanos go behind some boulders to shield himself from the flames. Stephen stared at you with immense respect, amazed at how you fought. After a time your body was drained from all the power you used. Your eyes felt heavy and your body wanted to just lay down. The fire stopped and you were normal now, you fell from up in the air but you were caught in a pair of strong arms. 

“I got you sweetheart,” came the soothing voice of your dear love, Stephen. 

You smile weakly, “I know.”

Thanos came to you both threatening to kill you. Of course Stephen loved you so much that he gave up the infinity stone to save you. 

He risked the whole world to save you.

“Why would you do that?”

Stephen just hugged you tightly like his life depended on it while kissing your forehead, “we’re in the end game now.”

You all waited for a sign, for something to show..anything. You hugged Stephen the whole time, enjoying what you didn’t know was the last moments together. 

Suddenly, Mantis disappeared like the wind. Your eyes widened and then it went to worse. Like a list, others started to become ashes right before your eyes, and you could not prevent it from happening. Next came Drax, then Peter Quill. Tony then went and looked at Stephen. Automatically you started crying, “no, please, don’t tell me...no please no.”

Stephen looked so guilty and so pained at you and Tony, “There was no other way.”

Stephen grabbed your face and kept his forehead to your, “Time is so important yet so short. No words can describe how much I love you and will always love you even in death. I love you y/n, I love you.”

Stephen starts to disappear making you sob. Your heart is broken and all that is left is his ashes. You start to feel strange and notice in your hands you are also turning into ashes. Tears start to form in your eyes but you welcome this feeling because no feeling is worse than the feeling you just experienced of losing Stephen. 

[merlinthoughts]

Season 1 Episode 4 - The Poisoned Chalice

- god fucking dammit here we go again, i'm bloody done with my life and do not, at all, want to see merlin die bc i don't remember anything except that, yeah, he dies and someone has to get off their ass and save the motherfucking day and kiss him

- i realise how much i swear in these posts bc 1. when do i not? 2. i'm emotionally invested 3. i have no other excuse i just like swearing

- AAAND NIMUEHS IN CAMELOT SHE THINKS SHE'S SO SLY WITH HER HEAD THING

- id recognise her in a split second tbfh, she aint subtle

- *heterosexual tension*

- merlins skin be looking so smooth this episode, this boy be wearing lots of Dove

- he looked so excited to be in the banquet, then arthur just fucking slashes him with “not quite” and his hopes and dreams are destroyed

- “wanna see what you’ll be wearing tonight?” arthur says as he's behind the fucking changing curtains, about to get undressed and show merlin his birthday suit

- i honest to god thought that was where he was going, but no, he was just getting something from behind it

- “tonight you’ll be wearing the official ceremonial robes of the servants of camelot” IT'S A FUCKING DRESS ISN'T IT

- aw damn id have preferred a dress

- that smile shared between them was the most adorable scene

- god

- i

- fucking

- love

- their

- smiles 

- sm

- best thing ive ever seen

- i mean… hunty look at that piece of glistening butter beauty

- wow ok back to the episode:

- bros being bros and giving each other a handshake to destroy the mortal enemy pack and put together a family, we stan.

- as if a servant who has only had eye sex with another servant ONCE would trust them enough to say that one of the chalices were poisoned. like??? “ur the only one i could tell” LMAO NO?

- she's a sly fucking dog tfbh

- “if he kills arthur, uthers soul will be broken and camelot will fall” at this rate uther prob wouldn't care if his son dies or not, look at him, he's already mentally broken. he has anxiety and paranoia over magic. child services where u at in the medieval ages?

- i wouldn't believe a word she said, or well, id have believed it was poisoned but id say yeah no damn way you aren't in on it if you know which one it is. bayard wouldn't tell a fucking servant.

- HE'S GONNA SNAP ISN'T HE

- MERLIN FUCKING SNAPPED

- yknow what we say here folks? U DO U MERLIN

- okay i was fine if uther made bayard drink it but like the moment uther said “mmmh… no.” and slowly turned to merlin i think my arteries just crunched together and died so

- “if it is poisoned, he’ll die” HE'S FUCKING SCARED MERLIN WILL PASS AWAY ISN'T HE?

- “it's fine” he says, then starts to fucking choke

- ah fuck he's down

- my boy is down

- FUCK ME SIDEWAYS WITH A CHAINSAW

- ARTHUR CROUCHES NEXT TO HIM LIKE “BB NO”

- lmfao bayard looks so shocked, his face is in disbelief and confusion, he's like who tf done me bad

- arthurs carrying merlin fireman style this is what i live for folks

- did like nobody notice the flower stuck on the inside of the cup? like honestly if you take a sip you’d kinda spot it or perhaps even the person pouring the drinks would have been “is this chamomile tea? no? then what the fuckery-doo is this leaf in here for?” yknow. it's like that scene in Matilda when the angry buff lady completely missed a fucking salamander in her cup when it was the size of her bloody hand. it brings out the same mood honestly

- does gaius have an index for these books or does he just have every page memorised and know exactly what page to go bc I FUCKING NEED THAT it would make bio so much easier if i knew what page it was on instead of looking back and forth from the homework sheet to my textbook, then closing it by accident and having to find the index again for that specific page i need

- arthur wants to fucking go on a life-or-death journey to save merlin i've never been so happy

- this is honestly my favourite episode, like it may be really fucking angsty but i love it so much

- arthur betrays his dad and leaves his room even after being told not to just so he can save a servants life is literally my new moto

- NO IT WON'T LOAD MY NETFLIX IS STUCK ON 99%

- okay so while i'm waiting for my shit to load, i just discovered the new fucking tumblr rule starting dec 17 and i'm like 0.2 inches away from just spamming NSFW pics on here just for laughs

- like hunty, that won't stop people from posting elsewhere or for thinking about sex bc like??? whatchu gonna do tumblr?? get the fbi to erase it from our minds

- i think nOT thot

- watch me get flagged for just using the fucking term “NSFW”

- i'm gonna end up asterisking everything (is asterisking a word? wow it has red under it so like probably not but i just added it to my dictionary so uhh it is now)

- by asterisking i dont mean furry kin shit ew no

- i mean like N*FW, s*x, t*mblr, m*rthur

- god it took me like 20 minutes to calibrate my fucking wifi and fix the connection problem

- wow the stage for the poison increased by 75% in 30 mins, damn

- merlins like like having a conniption on his bed lmao, chanting arthurs name and sweating lot

- do we ever find out how uther gets that scar bc i'm like 100% positive arthur was a little child and swayed his fucking sword too hard just as uther rounded the corner. the sword then collided into his fucking brain and destroyed a good part of his intelligence, targeting especially his morals on how to accept people and how to be a good father

- that’s my theory

- merlin starts talking enchantments in his sleep while gwens watching, and gaius is just there like wtf merlin ur blowing ur cover “oh! gwen!! uhhh sorry. he’s just... in a latin study group in his pastime and has an oral presentation in minutes”

- omg, nimueh, stfu

- i didn't know dinosaurs existed back then, this reptile be whack

- y’know what's funny? ppl thinking dinosaurs didn’t exist. i find creationism very very very intriguing bc how fucking stupid could you be

- that sword throw was faker than my moms tits

- arthur could have done better

- k but like what if merlin’s hand wasn’t under the covers? like he was just throwing that blue ball around right in front of gwen

- can arthur like not hear her? nimuehs literally enchanting the rocks right behind his ear lobes and arthur acts nothing of it until those said rocks collapse and he gasps and suddenly he realises shes evil

- also his fucking hair in this scene looks glorious. perhaps bc it's pushed back rather than his bowl cut, but its doing things to my abdomen

- i thought for a second she was pulling off her mask to say “nimueh” and arthur was gasping bc he only recognised her after her hair was shown, just like in that scene with joker and harvey in the hospital

- OH RIGHT THE SPIDERS I LIKE COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT THOSE SONS OF A GUNS

- i’d be dead if those spiders came crawling up to eat me lmfao

- k so nimueh went from :) to >:D in half a second

- i'm smelling up those symbolisms, boys

- watch out pals cause here are some of them:

- merlin is the LIGHT of arthur’s life

- he LIGHTS up the party

- he gives arthur a BRIGHTER future

- he's the GUIDE for his path

- hahhahahaha

- i'm serious when i say i have a huge fear of insects (spiders count in that too, no discrimination) so i'm just putting that there, saying to yall id be fucking terrified

- gaius would be so confused, like we don't see his face here but merlins close-up sweaty concentrated frown, but he’s literally just screaming “ARTHUR!!” “FASTERRR!!” “YESS!!” “CLIMB!!!” gaius would be looking like he walked into something he wasn't supposed to. prob thinking he should just let the kid die so he doesn’t have to deal with this shit anymore

- UTHER LOCKED HIS SON AWAY I'M FUCKING QUESTIONING HIS PARENTING SKILLS

- that's grounding???? throwing ur child in prison???

- yes 999 can i have child services on his ass

- gwens so smart honestly i love her

- pretending to be a maiden for the food, god what a queen

- arthur buying it and saying “yuck you say this is food?! disgustang!”

- the fact that i misspelled disgusting but it autocorrected to disgustang (which is originally what i wanted but autocorrect shouldn’t have known) makes me consider if i should really check my dictionary…. who knows what words are on there

- they’re so smart

- and then this fucker ruins it all while eating his food, checking her out and saying yeah arthurs a prick, hyuck hyuck, realising only that wait fuck u aint the maiden

- how’d they know GWEN was the one not supposed to have delivered the food, what if it was that chick right there???

- welll….. maybe it's because gwen took her sweet time up those steps, staring as if she couldn’t blink at the guards below

- i forget what happens at the end of this episode besides the kiss, and there's like 9 minutes left my fingers may rot at this point

- wake him up! wake him up!

- OH WAIT HE DOESN'T FUCKING WAKE UP DOES HE AND EVERYONE PANICS

- YEAH OKAY I'M SEEING THAT NOW

- MERLIN STOPPED BREATHING

- LMAO GWEN IS IN TEARS

- “HE'S DEAD” SHE SAYS

- ARTHUR BB COME IN HERE TO KISS UR HUBBY ALIVE

- OH WAIT UR IN FUCKING PRISON

- WAIT UP, HE'S ALIVE AND SHE KISSES HIM AFTERWARDS????

- FUCK ME I THOUGHT FOR THE WHOLE EPISODE THE KISS HAPPENED BC HE COULDN'T WAKE UP THAT'S FUCKING WITH ME I DIDN'T KNOW

- i keep forgetting to switch up the cap locks, sorry if it seems im screaming im legit using my inside voice for most of the time just emphasizing my words a little more

- goddamn, everytime they say mercia i just think of “murica”, like those americans on the 7th of july or whatever date the “we love our country” day is, chanting it as they throw around beers and fireworks as people gather round in jerseys or crop tops

- it's not that hard to spot the european on here

- the most celebrated holiday here which contains a lot of beers and big pub gatherings (besides every fucking night honestly) is either new years, lowkey stereotypically correct saint patricks, and ig easter monday but that's more for the kiddos

- i mean ofc christmas and all that shit but im not the most devoted christian, i just like presents and small gatherings among good friends

- wow okay it wasn't the 7th of july

- i mean at first i looked up “USA day” (i couldn’t remember the name) and it popped up today’s date, and i was like no thats not it at all. dec?? its in like july i think. and i was close! it was july 4th.

- uther damn knows it's nimueh!!!

- i mean, he just overheard morgana and arthur talk about it, and initiated himself into a convo about it once morgana left, as his sneaky ass just slithered up like “hey man, u know that woman? yeah uhh, what she say? anything about me? no? k i know who it is tho”

- i thought he was going to apologize or like explain to arthur what's the sitch, but he just waits for five whole seconds before saying. “those who practice magic know only evil. they despise and seek to destroy goodness wherever they find it.”

- arthur, confused: sounds as if you know her

- uther, walking away: i do

- arthur:

- wow k lots of fucking quotes here cause it's the merthur reunion

- get ready babs

- arthur: still alive then?

- merlin: oh yes, just about… i understand i have you to thank for that

- arthur, leaning on the chair merlin is sitting in, stifling a smile: ah it's nothing, a half-decent servant is hard to come by. i was only dropping by to make sure you’re alright… i.... expect you to be back to work tomorrow

- merlin, watching arthur as he slightly walks away having embarrassed himself: arthur... thank you

- arthur, slowly: you too

- they stare for like 5 whole seconds

- arthur, uncomfortable: well… get some rest

- there we go folks: my eulogy.

- hope someone reads it at my funeral

[marypsue]

Something Borrowed, Something Blues 5 / ?

Part One / Part Two / Part Three / Part Four / Part Five / Part Six / Part Seven / ?

I’m also on AO3 as MaryPSue!

...

When Ian woke up, the other side of the bed was empty.

The covers were all rumpled and pushed down to the foot of the bed, the blue light on the coffeemaker was on, and the window was forced wider than it had been last night, wide enough to blow the curtains out into the room like a couple of very ugly snot-green-damask ghosts. Somehow, it was still unbearably hot in the room.

Ian patted the mattress beside him, but it was only about as warm as the rest of the room. He couldn't tell how long Mira must have been up before he was.

Ian pulled the pillow over his head and pressed his face into the mattress. The radiator's rattle was muffled, but he could still hear it, drumming out a syncopated rhythm. Every so often, a beat would turn into a hiss, and Ian held his breath until the next clunk or pop finally came.

He wasn't getting back to sleep. And he wasn't thinking of anything brilliant and beautiful and meaningful and human to say to his girlfriend when she became his wife. And it was way too hot under this pillow. 

Finally, Ian shoved the pillow off his head with a sigh, sucking in a long breath of fresh, relatively cool air. He lay still for a moment, bracing himself, before letting his arms, then his legs flop over the side of the bed.

The bathroom door was closed, so Ian started to pull on his clothes, thankfully (and maybe magically) dry after last night's hasty hand-wash in the tub. The coffeemaker turned out to be covered in buttons, all of which had little iconographic symbols on them, none of which seemed to correspond to the prompts on the device's tiny LCD screen. Ian jabbed at buttons at random until the screen froze, and then gave up.

"I'm gonna run down to the lobby and see if they have coffee," Ian said, rapping on the bathroom door. "You want any?"

There was no answer.

Ian gave the door another, harder knock. "Mira? You all right in -"

The bathroom door swung open under Ian's hand. The lights were off, and the room beyond was empty.

"Seriously?" Ian asked the empty hotel room. He cast around for a minute, before finding his phone in his back pocket, and fired off a text to Mira.

hey early bird, where r u?

He waited a few minutes, leaning against the doorframe, but didn't get a reply. Ian sighed, stuffing his phone back into his pocket.

"Coffee first," he said, out loud, for no real reason than to hear a human voice in the hotel room, which, even with the clunks and rattles of the radiator, suddenly seemed unusually quiet. "Then whatever this is. But coffee first."

...

There wasn't, as it turned out, coffee in the lobby. Ian had to go into the restaurant attached to the hotel and actually order one. And at that point, he might as well just order breakfast too. Ian texted Mira to meet him at the restaurant or miss out on waffles, and then turned all his attention to his breakfast, resolutely ignoring the little sliver of worry building in the back of his mind. Alcor hadn't been hanging around annoying Ian, either. This wasn't the first time they'd disappeared on a cult bash or something without leaving so much as a note. Ian briefly entertained a thought of Mira showing up at the front desk of their hotel covered head to toe in blood. He wondered if that would get a reaction out of the front desk clerk.

Besides, there were all kinds of mundane reasons she might be gone. Maybe she was scouting out an officiant or a location for their hasty nuptials. Maybe Alcor had popped her over to Japan to pick up her wedding dress. Maybe she'd just gone out for breakfast with Rosa or Sun-mi. It wasn't usual for her not to text him back, but maybe she was just having such a good time that she'd forgotten to check her phone.

Mira hadn't decided that the whole idea of marrying him was cursed and backed out at the last minute. She wouldn't. At least, she wouldn't without telling him.

The waffles were delicious. Mira didn't show up.

...

The construction site was in an uproar when Sun-mi arrived. Apparently, a wizard had been in the day before to inspect the cave, but hadn't left any official record of the investigation and nobody could figure out who he worked for. To make matters worse, the wizard who had been called in had arrived to do the inspection, been told his services wouldn't be necessary because one of his colleagues had already been there, and had left annoyed. The upshot of all this, Sun-mi gathered from the information the site overseer spewed at her at top speed, was that it would be another few days or even a week before they'd have a solid assessment of whether and how they could start work again.

"Fucking ridiculous," the overseer complained, as she lifted the orange tape cordoning off the cave for Sun-mi to step under. "And now we've got press. Wonder what else can go wrong here. Maybe we'll have a surprise inspection, who knows."

Sun-mi offered an apologetic smile, but she couldn’t bring herself to focus much on the overseer’s litany of complaints. The hole in the side of the cliff consumed all her attention, drawing her eye like a black hole drawing light. There was something about the sight of it that unsettled her, a strange feeling she couldn’t quite put a name to, somewhere between enchantment and dread.

The overseer must have noticed where Sun-mi’s eyes went, because she cleared her throat, and Sun-mi realised she’d been quiet for a while. “Well, there it is. Never knew a hole in the ground could be such an almighty pain in the ass.”

Sun-mi had just enough presence of mind to pull out her phone and snap a few pictures of the construction site, the hole stark black and unnervingly out of place in its aggressively mundane setting.

“Guess you’ll be wanting a tour next,” the overseer said, a note of frustration in her voice.

“If at all possible,” Sun-mi agreed.

“It isn’t. Our wizard inspector was a fraud, we got no guarantee it won’t all collapse on top of you. Or turn you into a newt.” There was a relish in the overseer’s voice that made Sun-mi sure she was finally seeing a silver lining in her wizard problem. “You could try coming back later, but like I said, it could be a week before we can get somebody in here to look at it.”

“Oh,” Sun-mi said. She glanced over at the hole again, and tried to convince herself she was more disappointed than relieved. “That’s too bad.”

“Not that I care if you get turned into a newt,” the overseer said, without malice. “Damn reporters. Just one more thing I don’t need right now.”

“I’ll try not to take up too much of your time,” Sun-mi promised. “So how was this discovery made?”

“Marybeth!”

The voice made both Sun-mi and the overseer start, the overseer turning to face the approaching newcomers. Sun-mi glanced over her shoulder, but didn’t turn. There was something about the hole leading into the cliff that made her not want to turn her back on it.

The young man who skidded to a halt just outside the barrier of orange tape was breathing hard, but beaming. He waved the person who was following a little ways behind him forwards, but didn’t wait for them to catch up or even check to make sure they were following. “Marybeth! I found the wizard!”

“What?” the overseer - Marybeth - asked, looking over the young man’s shoulder at the person following him, and then let out an exasperated sigh. “Oh, no. Rashid, that’s not -”

“No, no, the wizard we sent away yesterday!” Rashid gasped, seemingly starting to recover his breath after his mad dash. “He was still in town, he stayed the night, I caught him at the diner having breakfast and he’ll do the inspection for us now.” He beamed.

The overseer - Marybeth - didn’t look particularly impressed by this, but Sun-mi caught the shadow of a smile crossing her broad features. Sun-mi herself felt a flutter of excited apprehension at the news, and stole another glance at the cave. It hadn’t moved.

“For a hundred-dollar call-out fee,” the wizard interrupted, ambling up behind Rashid. Sun-mi took a moment to look him over. He didn’t look much older than she was, wiry and insubstantial, but there was a certain cast to his expression, a shadow of disdainful superiority, that she disliked instantly. “And travel expenses paid. I don’t like getting jerked around like this.”

“None of us do,” the overseer said shortly. “When I catch that so-called wizard...” She cleared her throat into her fist, letting the rest of the sentence dangle like a sword suspended in the air overhead.

“Whatever,” the wizard said, clearly not interested. “Are we doing this thing, or are we standing around here talking all day? My time is valuable.”

The overseer rolled her eyes, but stepped around Sun-mi, lifting the orange tape with a wordlessly-raised eyebrow. The wizard attempted to duck under it with dignified grace, and only half succeeded. He brushed simulcrete dust from his black dress pants, taking the yellow hard hat that Rashid offered and clearing his throat pompously before putting it on. A snap of his fingers, and a ball of bluish light appeared hovering just above his head. Another snap, and a tablet and stylus appeared in his hands with a small thunderclap of displaced air.

“Cool. Let’s get this over with,” he said, affected boredom filling his voice, and turned, walking fast into the black hole sinking into the base of the cliff. His light illuminated the cave around and a little ahead of him, rough rock and dangling stalactites gleaming wet in the dimness. After he’d taken a few steps and nothing had fallen on him or turned him into a newt, the overseer and Rashid followed him.

After a moment’s hesitation, fighting off a sudden and inexplicable reluctance, Sun-mi hurried after them.

...

Finally, finally, after what felt like hours and might actually have been, Ian's phone dinged. He nearly dropped it, fumbling to get it out of his pocket, but the message wasn't from Mira.

Ian let out a sigh as he tapped out a response to Rosa's complaint. If she was already so bored, then why had she bothered coming to town so early in the first place? He knew, of course, it was probably because of ancient demon magic, but still.

Stars, was there even anything left in his life anymore that wasn't because of ancient demon magic? Had there ever been? Even trying to get away from it had just brought him straight into the middle of another mess that had probably been set in motion centuries before he was even born, and Ian was sick and tired of it. Just once, he wanted to make a decision and be sure it was his idea, and only his idea. And that it wasn't going to bring about the end of the world.

His phone dinged again, and Ian sighed. He also wished Mira would start leaving a note or something when she had to go out on cult-bashes and other dark and terrible Mizar errands, like getting milk. He couldn't even lay the blame for this one on Alcor being petty, Mira just had her mind elsewhere half the time. She'd come back bursting with stories and he'd ask her, again, to let him know when she was going to need to disappear with no warning for several hours, and she'd very solemnly promise never the let it happen again. The very next time she had to go out, she'd leave a note, or text him. Then she'd forget all over again and they'd have to start over from the beginning.

Ian opened his new message. Rosa wanted to know if he could meet up to do something entertaining. Ian huffed out a sigh, and sent back a text telling her to meet him at the hotel in ten minutes.

Rosa was there in fifteen, with a holographic lipstick and a very pissed-off expression on her face. She stomped up to the door of the restaurant, slamming it open and throwing herself into the seat across from Ian.

"Transportation in this place!" she huffed, bringing up the menu on the tablet surface under the table glass. "You know I had to walk here?"

"The hardship," Ian said, and Rosa's eyes flicked up to shoot him a glare under her brows.

"I'm a celebrity, B- Ian. I don't walk places." She didn't seem to be able to completely wrestle down the smile, and quickly turned back to the tablet. "Tell me this place does a decent caramel macchiato."

"Don't know, haven't tried it," Ian said, and Rosa looked up, frowning.

"Where's Mira? What're you doin' eating breakfast so late, anyway? Aren't you two gettin' married today?"

Ian leaned his chin in one hand. "I'm actually not sure."

Rosa's eyes went wide and almost perfectly round, and she clapped a hand to her rosebud mouth. Ian groaned and buried his face in his hands.

"Beale," Rosa hissed. 

"Look, just don't ask, okay? I don't know, and I'm trying not to worry about it."

"Do you even know where she is?" Rosa demanded, poking Ian in the shoulder, hard. Ian shook his head, without removing his face from his hands. Rosa's gasp was audible. "Ian Thomas Beale! Why didn't ya call me right away? What the hell happened? Did y'all have a fight?"

"This is why I didn't call you," Ian groaned, finally lifting his head from his hands. Rosa paused mid-poke, but the look on her face said clearly that she'd gladly complete it if Ian said anything stupid. "Because I knew you'd worry, and make a big deal out of it, when I don't even know for sure that anything's wrong. It's probably just -" He paused, significantly, meeting Rosa's eyes like that might help her pick up on his meaning. " 'Tyrone' business."

A frown creased Rosa's forehead. "What, that skinny nerd y'all had with ya at the coffeeshop yesterday? Who is he, anyway? Mira ain't never mentioned anybody named Tyrone before, but she said she'd known him since - oh." Her eyes went wide all over again, though thankfully not in worry and outrage this time. "Ohhhh. Y'mean that was -"

"Shhhhhh," Ian said, leaning across the table to press a hand over Rosa's mouth before she could finish the sentence. Rosa's eyes narrowed, and something slimy and warm that could only be her tongue swept over Ian's palm. He yanked his hand back, wiping it hastily on his pants. "Okay, you're disgusting, but yeah. That's him, and I haven't seen him all morning either. They're probably just off together, doing - that thing they do."

Rosa batted her eyes innocently. "Disgustin'? That there's a perfectly natural bodily function."

"Just what I said. Disgusting." Ian gave up wiping his hand on his pants. "You know what, I'm going to the bathroom. Gotta wash the digestive enzymes off my hands."

"There aren't digestive enzymes in spit," Rosa scoffed, but she looked perturbed. Ian gave her his best, most perturbing grin.

"Wanna bet?" He pushed himself up from his chair, leaning across the table to rub the palm she'd licked on Rosa's rosy cheek before walking away from the table towards the bathroom.

Behind him, he heard Rosa make a little strangled noise, and then scrabble for the napkins.

...

The sunlight at the end of the tunnel was the most beautiful thing Sun-mi had ever seen. She stumbled towards it, bashing her knee against a stalagmite as she went. She barely noticed.

The air outside was fresh and warm and faintly pine-scented, a welcome relief from the stifling air in the cave. It had started out cold, like a mausoleum, in the tunnel leading through the rock, but the cavern at the end -

Sun-mi sucked in a long, deep breath of fresh air, leaning heavily against one of the stakes holding the orange tape in place around the cave.

"Hey, are you all right?" Rashid's voice called from behind her, and Sun-mi half-turned. Just the sight of the cave mouth, black and hungry, sent a fresh wave of sick terror through her. Out here in the sunlight, with the normal sounds of life all around her, it wasn't quite the all-consuming, driving force that it had been underground, but a shiver still ran through her at the sight of it.

"Seal it back up," Sun-mi rasped, a little astonished by the sound of her own voice and by the words coming out of her mouth. She deliberately shut her mouth and swallowed, trying to get the feeling of sandpaper out of her throat. "Nobody should be in there. Nobody should see that. It should be lost and forgotten forever. Seal it back up."

"That's what we want to do," the overseer said, emerging from that black hole in the side of the cliff. Her voice was as gruff and as unbothered as ever, but she crouched down next to Sun-mi (when had Sun-mi sat down? She wasn't sure) and put a broad hand on her shoulder. "You aren't some kinda psychic sensitive or something, are you?"

Sun-mi shook her head no. The strange terror that had seized her when she'd laid eyes on that cave painting of the wheel was starting, slowly, to fade, and she felt more and more embarrassed of her reaction with every passing second. When she tried to stand up, though, her knees still felt like they were made of very weak springs, wobbling in unpredictable directions and threatening to collapse at any moment. She sat back down on the dirt pile, silently mourning her pencil skirt.

"You have any idea what happened down there?" the overseer asked, almost kindly, and Sun-mi shook her head again. She should have brushed the woman's hand aside, should have composed herself and regained control of the situation, but - there was something very comforting about the hand on her shoulder.

The overseer and Rashid shared a look.

"Rashid, get back down there and make sure the wizard doesn't disappear," the overseer said, finally, before turning back to Sun-mi. "You got a friend or somebody I can call to come pick you up?" she asked. "I don't think you should go down there again."

Sun-mi started to shake her head no, again, but then remembered.

"I - I can call my friend Mira," she said. "I'm sorry about what I said, I don't know what came over me. Obviously that cave is a vitally important archaeological find, it would make no sense to seal it up again now that it's been found."

The overseer shrugged one shoulder. "It does if you're planning to build a tourist trap on top of it. Give your friend a call. I'll sit with you until she gets here."

"Thank you," Sun-mi said, and the overseer nodded.

"But we're not sitting on this dirt. Think you can make it over to the site office?"

...

Ian looked at his face in the mirror, and sighed.

The cold water tap took a couple of solid yanks, but finally it turned in his hand. The faucet shuddered, and then belched up a flood of icy water. Ian stared at it. It was brown.

"Hotel that's hundreds of years old, in the middle of a national park," Ian reminded himself, before leaning over to splash cold water over his face. It didn't exactly help, but it did make the buzzing restlessness of anxiety a little easier to ignore. It was fine. It was fine. The hotel probably drew its water from a well, and Mira was fine, she was with Alcor -

Ian straightened up, groping for a towel to dry his face, and saw Alcor's face reflected in the mirror just behind his right shoulder.

Ian swore, spinning around with his arm raised to hit the demon before he even really knew what was happening. Alcor yelled too, flailing backwards, and there was a confused moment before Alcor slipped on the tile floor and went flying into one of the stalls headfirst. There was a splash, and a gurgle, and Alcor emerged a second later, glowering up at his dripping hair until it dried, seemingly from the heat of sheer embarrassment. 

"Not one word," he grumbled to Ian, who had pressed a hand over his mouth to hold back the snicker.

"You have got to stop popping up behind me in mirrors like that," Ian said, in return.

“Maybe when your reactions stop being hilarious,” Alcor said, putting his pinkie into one ear and wiggling it around. When he pulled it out, a small waterspout shot out of his ear and splashed onto the tiles. Ian noticed that he hadn’t bothered to put on his ‘Tyrone’ body again. “How’s Mira doing? Did you guys finally settle on a venue?”

Alcor suddenly seemed very far away, down the end of a long tunnel. “I don’t know,” Ian said, but he could barely hear his own words over the hollow ringing that grew in his ears. “I haven’t seen her this morning. I thought she was with you.”

Alcor stared. “I thought she was with you.”

Ian’s limbs suddenly felt as though they were both leaden and light enough to drift off and float away. “It’s okay,” he heard himself saying, as if from behind a thick glass wall. “Maybe Rosa’s seen her. Or - maybe she’s with her other friend, Sun-mi -”

As if on cue, Ian’s phone started to ring. Ian and Alcor both stared at it, blank, for a long moment, before Ian finally picked the call up. “Hello?”

“Ian?” Sun-mi’s voice blasted out of the speaker. Ian winced. He’d forgotten he’d had the sound all the way up to play jazz in the kitchen two nights ago. “I’ve been calling Mira and she isn’t picking up - is she with you? Would you two come and pick me up?”

Ian and Alcor locked eyes over the phone’s glowing screen.

“You go get her,” Alcor said, finally. “I should be able to find Mira, wherever she is.”

“Hello?” Sun-mi’s voice echoed out of the phone speaker. “Who is that?”

“Mira’s friend Tyrone,” Ian said, hurriedly. “Look, I’ll pick you up. Where are you?”

“Do you not know where Mira is?” Sun-mi asked, and now she sounded anxious. Ian wasn’t sure if he’d ever heard her sound anxious before. As far as he knew, she had two modes: suspicious and sarcastic. “Please tell me you know where Mira is. I have -” She stopped, cleared her throat, and continued, sounding sheepish, almost like she was embarrassed of the words coming out of her own mouth. “A really bad feeling.”

“Me too,” Ian answered, honestly. “We’ll figure it out. Where do you want me to pick you up?”

[jiminthestreets-bonesinthesheets]

OK!!!! here it is! So, fair warning, this story will be done in episodes. so each fic will be posted as one episode with chapters and its gunna be a long trek, but i like it that way lol

also sorry for any spelling or grammer mistakes, i tried to get  them all but i may have missed some... oops! and if you like it let me know if you want to be tagged in the future! ok... here we go...

Chapter 1:

         “Graduation tomorrow, Bones, can you believe it!?” Jim smacked his friend in the chest as they strolled through the Academy halls, “And after summer we have six months of placement, the only thing currently standing between me and a ship. Once placement is finished then it’s space, space, nothing but space, sitting in my captains chair.”

    Bones groaned beside him, the thought of being in space still haunting him all these years later, “Space is disease and danger, wrapped in darkness and silence. We’ll be lucky if we don’t end up with Microbian Stephis, see if you're still bouncing around when you're bleeding from every organ you’ve got. And let’s hope we don’t come across Glorian Pink Eye, cuz I don’t wanna hear you complaining when you can’t see through you're swollen, puss filled eye balls.”

    Jim laughed, turning to look at the scowling man beside him. “Bones, why did you even signup for Starfleet?”

    “I told you, the ex-wife took everything in the divorce, all I’ve got left-”

    “Is your bones,” he finished for him with a smirk and a nod, “I know, Bones.”

    Bones stopped walking, Jim turning to face him, “Well,” Bones said, crossing his arms, a hint of mockery in his voice, “if you’d listened that well in your Earth History class then maybe you would have passed with a better grade.”

    “Earth history is boring.” And it was true, even Bones had to admit he hated that class just as much as Jim did. As a peace keeping planet, not too much happened on Earth.

    “I know it was boring, but…” he sighed, wondering if he should even bring it up, “Jim, you're Pa is a major part of Earth’s history.”

    He regretted bringing up the topic immediately as he watched as Jim’s bright, hopeful, ready to take on the universe attitude did a complete u-turn right before his eyes.

    “I know,” he replied, suddenly finding something on the floor fascinating, before whispering, “I just wish he could have been part of mine.”

    Bones was about to reach out, tell Jim he shouldn’t be upset but instead should be proud of his Pa, because if it wasn’t for him, Jim and so many others wouldn’t be alive today. But right before his arm made contact with Jim, his friend was shoved violently into him from behind, Bones catching him just before he hit the floor.

    He peered around Jim to see who had been able to shove him so hard to knock him almost clean off his feet, and was surprised to see a dirty blonde pony tail standing behind him.

    He pushed Jim off of him and continued to stare at this girl, unable to even comprehend the English language let alone speak it. He couldn’t see much of her face, for it was shoved nose deep in a PADD, but he could tell she was the most beautiful thing this side of the whole damn planet but… what should he say?! He had been married once before so he should know what to do by now… shouldn’t he?!

    Before he could manage to compose himself she began walking past them, not seeming to be the slightest bit bothered by what had just occurred. While all Bones could do was just stand there wide eyed while the cat had his tongue, Jim decided he was going to give her a piece of his mind.

    “Hey!” he shouted, “Maybe you should get your nose out of that PADD and actually pay attention to where you're going! Damn near killed me!”

    The girl turned, shifting her eyes away from her PADD and to Jim for a mere fraction of a second, before turning back.

    When she looked at him, Jim became as stoic as Bones, there was something about this girl… but it couldn’t be, “It can’t be her,” he whispered, more to himself then Bones, “Not after all this time, it…” he shook his head, fighting the back and forth in his mind, then decided to just go for it. He suddenly bolted, sprinting across the hallway leaving Bones behind. He raised a hand in the air as he ran towards her shouting, “Rielle!”

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    “Rielle, could you please assist me later on this evening in completing a laboratory experiment on the chemical attributes of the flora the U.S.S Hudson retrieved on their mission to Reverion last week?”

    The dirty blonde turned slowly in her chair as her fingers slid gracefully over the PADD she had been stuck to for nearly three days now. Without removing her eyes from the screen she answered, “Of course, Spock, when and where?”

    “Laboratory B, at 1800 hours would be excellent.”

    “Sounds good,” though Spock wondered if she was actually listening to him.

    Before he could voice his concerns that she would leave him standing in the labs alone tonight, her comm went off.

    “Lieutenant Rielle,” she answered, still not removing her eyes from the object before her.

    “Rielle, it’s Pike. Meet me in my office in ten, we have some last minute details we need to go over before tomorrows graduation.”

    “Roger that!” Spock shook his head at her lack of restraint. Had she have been anyone else, the captain would have had her head for forgetting to add “sir” to the end of that reply.

    She placed the comm in it’s holder on her belt and stood making way for the door. “Spock,” she turned, “I don’t know how long this meeting with Pike will take, but knowing that man, probably forever. Is there any way we could do the experiment tomorrow? Same time, same place?”

    “I see no harm in waiting one more day, Lieutenant.”

    “Thanks, Spock.” And with that she was gone and practically running through the halls, which she would soon come to regret.

    She was almost there, mere meters away from Pikes office, when some bozo decided it was a good idea to stop in the middle of the hallway. Right smack dab in her way. Now, it was partly her fault since she couldn’t tear herself away from the article on transwarp beaming she had been reading for three days, Montgomery Scott was a fine engineer indeed, but she would never admit to anyone that she was to blame for colliding with the idiot in front of her.

    She decided now was not the time to get in a heated argument with the blond she almost knocked to the ground, hoping maybe that would be enough to perhaps knock some sense into him, and carried on past him. Apparently not.

    “Hey!” he shouted, “Maybe you should get your nose out of that PADD and actually pay attention to where you're going! Damn near killed me!”

    It took just about every inch of self control she had to not turn back and punch that mouthy son of a bitch in the face, but somehow she managed it. She turned, throwing a wave in his direction and making slight eye contact, and instantly wished she hadn’t.

    As soon as her eyes made contact with those baby blues, she knew. No one else in the entire galaxy could ever match that shade of blue, no one, and her suspicions where right when he called her name.

“Rielle!”

    “Oh god, no…” she didn’t want to turn back, didn’t want this confrontation now, or ever again to be honest. Maybe if she just kept walking there was a chance he wouldn’t get to her before she could get to Pike’s office. Today, it seemed, was not her lucky day.

    Steps away from the door the boy grabbed her arm, stopping her just before she opened it.

    “Rielle!” she dropped her PADD to the floor hearing his voice, “Rielle… don’t you remember me? It’s Jim-”

    He was stopped short by a sharp slap to the cheek as she turned to finally face him.

    “Oh, I remember you Jim Kirk!” her face red with rage.

    He let her arm go, pulling back a step to place a hand on his now burning cheek, “Still as fiery as ever, I see.”

    “Screw you Jim! How dare you come up to me after all these years and act as if nothing happened! Did you think I would just forgive you? Did you think you could just walk up to me, strike up a conversation, and we could just step right back into where things left off?!” she paused to cross her arms, “you do remember how things left off, don’t you?”

    “Rielle, I-”

    She put a hand up, stopping him again, “Save it, Jim, I’ve got a meeting with Captain Pike, and now you’ve made me late.”

    With that she opened the door and quickly closed it behind her.

    Bones, finally remembering that English was his native language, came to stand beside a still dumbfounded Jim. “What the hell was that all about? Why’d she hit you?”

    “Because,” he replied mindlessly as he reached down to grab the PADD she had dropped at his feet, “I’m a huge idiot.”

    “Yeah,” Bones sighed, “what else is new?”

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    Chris Pike looked up from his desk as his office door flew opened and quickly slammed shut. He was even more surprised by the fact that the blonde who rushed in also locked the door behind her. Unusual.

    Without sparing her a second glance, he returned to his work and muttered mindlessly, “Everything alright, Rielle?”

    “No!” she practically screamed, “I just bumped into Jim Kirk.”

    “Jim Kirk?!” Chris abandoned his work, pushing it aside, “The Jim Kirk?! He's here?!”

    “Yes, the Jim Kirk.” She peeled herself from her previous place leaning on the door and made her way to the chair in front of Chris’s desk, planting herself there. She put both feet on the desk in front of her, crossing her arms across her chest. “How did you not know he was at the Academy?”

    “There are so many students here, I barely know any of them, and I rarely teach.” He raised a brow at her as she slouched further in her chair, attempting to read her as he then asked, “And how do you feel about Jim being at the Academy?”

    “Angry,” she shook her head as she continued, “furious, upset, used, left behind, appalled, and did I mention angry? God, I'm so mad at him!”

    Chris sighed, he knew everything there was to know about the history between Jim Kirk and Rielle. He knew there was so much to their past that meant the world to her, but what Jim did, he was never sure she could forgive though he had hoped she would should this day ever come. But if there was one thing in the universe that Chris Pike was absolutely sure on, it was just how stubborn he knew Rielle could be.

    He pushed out from his desk and moved to sit on the corner beside her feet. He let out a small chuckled at her scornful expression before asking, “Well, did you tell him that?”

    “Are you kidding me?!” she exclaimed, eyes wide, “After what he did, I think it’s quite clear he doesn’t care at all! About me, or anyone other then himself. Not to mention the fact that when I bumped into him and he finally realized it was me, he walked up to me as if nothing even happened. Does he think that I’m just going to forgive him and move on, just like that?!”

    Yep, just as stubborn as always. “Rielle, I'm going to give you my honest opinion here, and I want you to listen to everything I have to say.” She nodded, urging him to continue, “Jim Kirk is, and always has been, your world. Maybe he was right to act as if nothing happened, maybe you two should just move forwards instead of looking backwards.”

    Rielle scrunched her brows and sat forwards ready to argue but was cut off by Chris's hand.

    “Wait,” he stopped her, “listen to every word. Instead of brushing Jim off why don’t you see what he has to say? Maybe he has a good reason for what he did.”

    “A good reason?!” that’ll be the day, she thought, “What good reason could he have for abandoning me?!”

    “You’ll never know the truth unless you ask,” he shrugged.

    “Well…” she sat back in the chair, staring straight, “what does one even say in a situation like this?”

    “Hi,” he said simply, “nice to see you, I missed you, can we talk?”

    “I don’t know,” she brought a hand up to her head resting it on her temple, “I don’t know if I even want to know what insane, hair brained excuse that giant idiot can come up with.”

    “Look,” he began, a stern look in his eyes, one she had seen many times, “I saw what he did to you, how badly he hurt you, and how it affected you even years after. The least he can give you is an explanation.”

    “Yeah, I guess you're right.”

    “Good,” he gave her shoulder a light tap before returning to his chair behind the desk, “now, we still have a lot to do before graduation tomorrow and I am panicking!”

    She chuckled as she found comfort in the thought that some things never change. Sit Chris Pike in the captains chair and throw him into battle, and you'll witness the most well put together man the universe has ever seen, cool, collected, and confident. But ask him to do the simple task of organizing this year’s graduation and a chicken with its head cut off would look more organized then Chris.

    She reached out and took a small stack of papers from Chris, getting right to work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    “Good god, man!”

    Jim and Bones were sat across from each other in the cafeteria. Jim telling Bones all about the blonde from the hallway, while a stunned Bones listened with a mouthful of spaghetti hovering halfway between his mouth and his plate.

    “I can’t believe you did that?! I mean, I knew you didn’t have a heart, but come on!” He placed the fork on the plate, giving up on his food altogether, “I don’t think even a Klingon is that cold blooded, Jim.”

    “Come on, Bones,” Jim slouched deeper in his chair, “I already feel awful about it, don’t make me feel worse.”

    “Well you should,” he nodded at him, “pretty girl like that, you should feel worse then my Uncle Charlie after Thanksgiving dinner. And let me tell you, six helpings of turkey dinner washed down with an entire bottle of whiskey ain’t a pretty sight.”

    Usually Jim found amusement in his friends’ metaphors, but not today. Today he sat across from Bones, his appetite completely vanished, and his usual Kirk charm nowhere to be found. All of his thoughts were on Rielle.

    Bones took the last bit of food off his fork and noticed that Jim’s plate remained unusually full, the kid had a black hole for a stomach he was sure, but instead he stared blankly at the table. “If it’s bothering you that much, would it kill you to try again?”

    “No,” he slowly looked up to Bones, “but she might.”

    He waved a hand at him, “I think you're over exaggerating, Jim, she looks harmless.”

   “Looks can be deceiving, Bones.”

    “Look,” he began, stern faced, “I say tomorrow, after the ceremony, you find her and apologize.”

    Jim shook his head, “You don’t know her like I do. She won’t forgive me, I wouldn’t forgive me.”

    “You might be surprised, Jim,” he took up his tray and turned away from the table before shouting back, “I'm sorry goes a long way”

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    Jim and bones filed into the stadium with the rest of the graduating cadets. It was decorated in star fleet colours, complete with chair covers, banners, even balloons. Jim was impressed, so was Bones.

    He let out a whistle as they entered the stadium, “You wouldn’t think it but the professors sure do know how to put on a good spread,” he nudged Jim as they went to find their assigned seats.

    “Yeah,” he said as they came up on row 12E for Bones and 13G for Jim, turns out Jim's seat was right behind Bones, “I just hope the foods good.”

    “You not gunna ask your pretty friend to dinner after the ceremony?” Bones tried to make it sound like a tease but Jim knew it was a serious question.

    “She might not even be here.” Jim thought back to his years at the academy. He had taken the mandatory courses but also chose to take on almost five times that of a normal course load as extra electives, and he had never seen Rielle in any of them. In fact, aside from yesterday in the halls, he had never seen her in the Academy, period. “She might not even be graduating. I don’t know what year she's in, or if she graduated already. I mean, before everything went down between us, she was talking about enlisting, so there’s a chance she's way ahead of us.”

    Before Bones could give his two cents the lights dimmed and the stage before them lit up as their professors, captains, and admirals lined the stage before sitting on the chairs placed there for them.

    Bones turned back to Jim tapping his leg, and Jim leaned forwards, “Front row, second from the podium. There’s your pretty blonde.”

    Jim gaped, wide eyed at the stage, “She's a teacher?!”

    A man, who Jim recognized as Admiral Markus, came to the podium silencing the crowd before him, but Jim remained hunched forwards close to Bones as Markus spoke. “Welcome, everyone! Today we gather to celebrate the great minds of these wonderful people sitting here before us. Our future.” He gestured to the cadets below and the crowd gave a short cheer, “But I'm not going to take all the credit for this brilliant ceremony, and instead I will hand you over to Captain Pike, one of our most esteemed members of Starfleet. He singlehandedly organized this entire ceremony for you, so cadets, make sure you give Captain Pike your thanks on your way out. Over to you, Captain.”

    Jim paled for the second time that night. He thought bumping into Rielle was bad enough, but this was worse. “Bones!” he whispered harshly while smacking his shoulder, “Bones!”

    “What?!”

    “I know him too!” he pointed to the man now standing at the podium.

    “Seriously?! You think you know a guy,” he shook his head, “What did you do to him?”

    “No, it’s not like that, he's-”

    Jim was cut short in his explanation as Captain Pike began his speech, “Thank you, Admiral Markus. But, this is not about me, this night is about you. Your hard work and dedication has gotten you this far and let me tell you, it does not end here my friends. In fact, this is just the beginning. Now, I’ve had the pleasure of teaching some of you, and I use the word pleasure lightly here, looking at you Kurt Mccullen.” A small hoot was heard from somewhere to Jim’s right and the stadium erupted in a rumble of laughter. Jim shot his attention to the chair second to the left and watched as Rielle let a small smile escape. That smile, Jim thought, I missed it. “But honestly, in all my years as a teacher and captain, I have never known a better group of cadets. I am confident when I say that I know you were all meant for great things, and we all expect it of you. So, with that I will say congratulations on making it through and let’s kick this ceremony into full gear. If I could have row 1 please join me for your degrees.”

    It took what felt to Jim like a lifetime before Captain Pike called row 13 to the front, but it finally happened. Bones passed him on his way back to his seat, giving him a “good luck” bump on his arm, and then it was Jim’s turn. He stood a few feet away from the stage, waiting for his name to be called, butterflies doing flips in hi stomach. He couldn’t even look up as Captain Pike began to speak.

    “And now, I call upon a cadet who…” Pike paused, turning to look back at Rielle for a brief moment before continuing, “Who I have known for a long time. Someone I, unfortunately, did not have the pleasure of teaching during his time here at the Academy, though someone who I am sure exceeded the expectations of his teachers, and will continue to do so as he ventures forth on whatever path he should choose. Cadet James T. Kirk, come on up and get your degree, son.”

    Jim took the four small steps up to the podium and stood before Captain Pike. He looks Jim dead in the eyes, and for a moment Jim wasn’t sure what he would say, but what he did say left Jim a bit shocked, “Well son, despite everything, congratulations.” He took Jim’s hand, holding it between them, “I'm sorry I didn’t know you were enlisted in the Academy or I would have tried to contact you sooner, I…”

   Pike noticed as Jim glanced at Rielle from the corner of his eye. She was standing with the other Academy Officials, trying very hard not to make any eye contact with him. Pike gave Jim’s hand one final squeeze before finally handing him his degree and saying with a pat to his shoulder, “Go on son,” and nodding in her direction.

    Jim couldn’t even speak, he didn’t know what to say. All he could do was nod and slowly make his way over to Rielle. He was standing in front of her, trying to think of what he could possibly come up with that wouldn’t make her hate him even more then she already does, when just as she was about to look up, a hand took her shoulder turning her away from Jim.

    He jumped out of his trace and looked to see some bowl cut, pointy eared guy behind her, now holding all of her attention. He shook his head, deciding that maybe right here on stage wasn’t the place to be harshly rejected in front of his entire graduating class, and made his way back to his seat behind Bones.

    He plopped himself down hard with a huff as Bones leaned back to ask, “Didn’t go well, did it?”

    “No!” Just my luck, he thought, “Who is that pointy eared bastard, anyways?”

    “Alright,” Pike began again before Bones could answer, “now that everyone has received their degrees and awards, there is one more item on the agenda that needs to be tended to. So, without further adieu, I would like to invite someone very special to the stage to present our last but perhaps our most prestigious award. I would like to invite Starfleet's very own head researcher, data analyst, science officer, engineer specialist, and all round go to girl, Rielle.”

    “Wow!” Bones nodded as he watched her walk across the stage replacing Pike, “Pretty and smart.”

    “I… I never knew she had accomplished so much.”

    Bones turned in his seat to face Jim completely. He leaned an arm on the back of his seat and sighed, “Well, Jim, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, it's kind of your own fault that you don’t know anything about her anymore.”

    As Bones turned his attention back to the stage Jim couldn’t help but feel he was right. It was all his fault.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Rielle stood, hands clasped in front of her, watching from the corner of her eye as Pike gave Jim his degree. All she wanted was for him to walk past her without so much as a second glance and take his seat in the sea of cadets. Then she saw his feet move, towards her instead of the stairs to her right. Panic swelled in her chest, her breathing escalated, and when his feet stopped moving right in front of her she thought she would pass out right there on stage. Rielle was a strong girl, there was hardly a conflict she couldn’t handle, but Jim Kirk was the one exception.

    She thought maybe it would be best to just get this over with. To give him what he wanted and talk to him, maybe then he would go away. Surely the interest he currently holds in trying to talk to her would soon fade and she could go back to pretending he no longer existed.

    With a sigh she swallowed her pride and slowly began lifting her head to meet his eyes, when a god send grabbed her shoulder turning her completely away from Jim and she could not have been happier.

    Her head snapped up to find Spock, hand still on her shoulder as she whispered, “Is he still there?!”

    “He has returned to his seat.”

    “Thank god,” she clutched her chest, bending over slightly, “that was not something I wanted to deal with right now.”

    Spock moved his eyes along the crowd, finding Jim almost directly in the center of the stadium, “That is him, correct? The man you told me of before?”

    She nodded, “yeah, that’s him.” She brought a hand up to ruffle the hair in her pony tail, “I thought he was gone Spock, I thought… I thought I would never see him again. Here I am only now getting over him, ten years later, and he shows up just to blow my emotions back into hyperdrive.”

    “Perhaps,” he shifted his weight slightly and tilted his head to whisper only to her, “I should take on the form of human culture and offer my services should you need someone to, as you say, “give him a good beating””

    She couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her lips. Rielle had known Spock for a long time now and was used to Spock being all Vulcan all the time, but whenever he let a little bit of human slip through the cracks of his hard Vulcan exterior, it made even the worst of days seem a little brighter.

    “I would like to invite Starfleet's very own head researcher, data analyst, science officer, engineer specialist, and all round go to girl, Rielle.” She tuned in just in time to catch the end of Pikes speech and turned her head to the podium. Pike was gesturing her over to take his place.

    “Well, that’s my cue,” she flashed the Vulcan a small smile and a wink before she left, “thanks Spock.”

    With a salute she replaced pike at the podium and faced the crowd. The stadium was completely full, not an empty seat to be found. Did it scare her, to be in front of all those people giving a speech? No, not one bit, she lived for this. She just hoped that she could keep her wandering eyes at bay, should she dare to spy Jim in the crowd.

    With one single breath, she placed her hands on the podium and began, cool, collected, and confident, “Thank-you, Captain Pike, and hello cadets, congratulations to you all. I am here to award a very special cadet with one of the Academy’s most distinguished awards.

    When I graduated the academy eight years ago, I was honoured to receive thirteen awards in various subjects ranging from linguistics, to engineering, nuclear biology, xenoethics and culture, captaincy, ambassadorial introduction, and many others. I received the highest marks in the courses and received high praises from teachers and guests to our Academy on my high level of understanding in all areas of study. And that is what this award is all about. This award will be given to the cadet whom the staff have widely recognized as an all round achieving student, but instead of handing out thirteen awards, we have decided to join them together into one."

    Now, I do not know the name of the recipient of this award, only Admiral Markus holds that knowledge, but I have been told that this cadet is someone that everyone should aspire to be, should look up to. I am told that they excelled in all areas of study and continue, even now, to seek out new opportunities to further their knowledge and understanding of everything we stand for here at Starfleet. This cadet leaves here tonight with offers from not only Starfleet, but from outlying planets such as Ateron, Vulmencia, Draxus 9, and even Niam. They have received offers from various science academies, ambassadors, and have been hand picked by several captains here at Starfleet who would like to offer them a place on their ships. These include the U.S.S Galdor, Victoir, Gazine, as well as the Enterprise captained by Captain Pike, whose offer was submitted last night. This cadet clearly has a great future ahead of them, one that they deserve, and any of these offers would be a great path to follow. Though, I might suggest the Enterprise, it is after all the ship I will be serving on come summer and I would love to work with and get to know this amazing cadet. Now, I think we have left this cadet in enough suspense so Admiral Markus,” she turned then, one hand outstretched towards the man in question, “may I ask for the envelope now, please?”

    With a smile he stood, reaching a hand inside his jacket, and retrieving a small palm sized envelope handing it to Rielle.

    “Thank-you, Sir,” she turned back to the crowd holding the envelope up slightly, “Inside this envelope holds the name of the very remarkable cadet I have had the absolute honour of speaking about tonight. I encourage you all, as fellow cadets, friends, and possibly future coworkers, to congratulate this cadet in their hard work and dedication that got them to where they are today. And so, the recipient of this years Starfleet Achievement award is…” she broke the seal of the envelope and slowly pulled the paper out. She could hear the anticipation in the air, the hope and desperation. She turned the small piece of paper over to reveal the name and instantly felt all the blood drain from her body, “James T. Kirk,” she whispered to herself. Well if someone was trying to make her day go from bad to worse, they did it.

    Realizing that all eyes were still on her she moved closer to the mic, regaining her cool, collected, and confident attitude that she normally held, and spoke, “The recipient is James T. Kirk.”

    The crowd erupted into cheers and her head turned to her right as she saw Jim stand and begin making his way towards the stairs. Once he had made his way to stand before her, she steadied her breath and looked him dead in the eyes as she said without waiver, “James Tiberius Kirk, I am honoured to award you with the Starfleet Achievement award.”

    He flashed her that James T. Kirk smile, the one that always used to bring her to her knees, and damn if she wasn’t feeling that now. After he took the award from her he held out his hand waiting for her to take it. Truthfully, she didn’t want to, but she knew what it felt like to be embarrassed in front of so many people. Reluctantly she took his hand, and the second she made contact with Jim she never wanted to let go again. It was like everything came rushing back and she realized just how much she truly missed him. Missed his smile, his charm, his whit. She missed scary movies in the dark, star gazing on the roof, staying up all hours of the night just to talk about nothing. She actually missed James T. Kirk.

    Before she could collect her thoughts and say anything else the crowd of cadets stood and suddenly they were standing under a cascade of graduation caps. She removed her hand from where it was still connected with Jim’s and took her chance to escape through the sea of people now making their way to the stage. Jim tried to grab her before she could but lost her faster then he could blink an eye. Bones found him then, and informed him that there was food being served in the main hall if he cared to join, to which Jim turned down. Normally, bones would insist on a physical after personally witnessing Jim turn down food twice in less then twenty-four hours, but he knew why. He knew the rejection from the blonde was hitting Jim in a way that bones didn’t quite understand yet, and he knew Jim just needed time.

    With a clasp on the back bones left and Jim stayed in the stadium, sitting on the edge of the stage watching as the crowd got smaller and smaller, until finally it was just him.

    Footsteps made their way towards Jim, slowly and cautiously. The clearing of a throat bought Jim out of his slump long enough to look up to the owner of the feet in front of him.

    “Rielle!”

    She shifted nervously, not quite knowing what to say, then decided to follow some wise advice, “Hi,” she said quietly, almost so Jim couldn’t hear, “nice to see you, I missed you, can… can we talk?”

    “Yeah,” he said, a bit shocked, “yeah of course.”

    “Good,” she nodded, “coffee on Dunstan Street?”

    Jim stood, a little too quickly almost sending himself flying off the stage. He wasn’t sure what this was, whether she was still angry, hurt, he didn’t know, but he did hope that this was a sign she was possibly willing to let it go and move forwards. Either way, he was willing to give it everything he had if it meant a small possibility of having her back in his life.

    He held an arm out, leading her towards the exit, and she allowed him to without struggle. Halfway across the stadium she tilted her head up to Jim, “oh! And you're definitely buying.”

    He stopped, staring at her with mock anger before bursting out laughing. Some things never change.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SOOOOOOOO let me know what you guys think!!  happy thoughts i hope!!

thanks for reading XD if you made it this far lol