#we are 11 nearly 2 6 14 and 9 in left to right order

[cloudabserk]

redraw of a photograph of me and some of my siblings playing super mario galaxy 11 years ago

[persevereforahappyending]

Maybe in Another Life |14|

Pairing: Clarisse La Rue x Hunter of Artemis!Reader

Summary: You are a Hunter of Artemis, but you start to question what you truly want when you meet Clarisse and get to know her.

Warnings: Language, Slight The Last Olympian Spoilers

Word Count: 2.3k+

Main Masterlist | Series Masterlist

ch. 1 | ch. 2 | ch. 3 | ch. 4 | ch. 5 | ch. 6 | ch. 7 | ch. 8 | ch. 9 | ch. 10 | ch. 11 | ch. 12 | ch. 13 | ch. 14 | ch. 15 | ch. 16 | ch. 17

You and the Hunters ran through the woods making your way to New York. Luke and Kronos had begun their attack, but there weren’t enough demigods to hold them off. Luke had his own demigods on his side and hordes of monsters. Artemis was away with the other gods fighting somewhere else, away from Olympus, just like Kronos wanted. As you got closer to the city you all came to a stop on Thalia’s order.

“This is as far as you go,” she said, turning to you.

“What?” You asked, furrowing your brow.

“I have another mission for you.”

“You can’t be serious,” you complained, rolling your eyes. “You need my help. Look at that,” you pointed to the city. You were barely on the outskirts of the city; you wouldn’t have been able to see much on a normal day but on this day, you could see hordes of monsters making their way into the city, there had to be thousands of them, out numbering the demigods a hundred to one.

“This is more important.”

“What could possibly be more important?”

You had been at Thalias side for over a year now, she never led you down the wrong path before. Thalia was clever and always did what was best in the moment. Logically you knew Thalia wouldn’t split you off form the others unless it was truly important. The end of the world was right in front of you though, you couldn’t imagine anything more important than trying to prevent it.

“Clarisse,” Thalia said simply. You furrowed your brow, out of all the things, you never imagined Thalia saying that. “She and the rest of Ares cabin refuse to join the fight,” she rolled her eyes.

“Why?” Clarisse was always the first to join a fight, you were all literally at war, she should have been out there and wanting to be the first one to be on the front lines. You hadn’t talked to her all week because of the preparations, you all knew the fight was coming.

“I don’t know something to do with a chariot,” Thalia rolled her eyes again. “I as much as it pains me,” she swallowed as if it quite literally pained her to say the words. “We need Ares cabin; we don’t stand a chance without them. So, I need you to convince Clarisse to put her pride aside end join the fight.”

“She won’t listen to me,” you sighed. You hadn’t argued with Clarisse about much, but you knew when she was against something, especially when it came down to her pride, she refused to back down.

“You’re the only one that stands a chance at getting through to her.” You sighed; you knew that was true. Clarisse listened to very few people, you, Silena, and her father, that was about it, she argued with anyone else. “Once you convince her, come join us in the fight.”

“Understood,” you nodded. You and Thalia gripped forearms, giving a firm shake, before Thalia ordered the other Hunters to continue forward. You watched them go, before taking off in another direction.

You made your way to camp as quickly as possible. When you finally crossed the threshold, you were taken aback at how empty it was. Everyone was off, fighting, only a few stragglers left to defend the camp or people who couldn’t be in battle. You didn’t have to look too hard for Clarisse because you heard her yelling at the rest of her siblings pretty much once you stepped into camp.

You made your way down the hill, headed straight for the Ares cabin. When the cabin finally came into view you saw Silena storming out of the cabin, rolling her eyes as she let the door slam shut behind her. You continued your path towards the Ares cabin, it seemed you were in for a fun conversation. Silena nearly ran into you when your paths crossed.

“Oh,” Silena said, looking up when she realized she almost ran into you. “Hey,” she smiled. She quickly pulled you into a hug, which you were quick to reciprocate. Silena had become a good friend, but you hadn’t seen her in over a year. “What are you doing here?” she asked when she pulled away.

“I was sent to convince the Ares cabin to join the fight,” you answered.

 Silena scoffed, looking back at the closed door. “Goodluck with that.”

You let out a knowing hum. You knew you had your work cut out for you before coming but given that Silena was storming away from the cabin, things were much more dire than you imagined. You took a good look at Silena, noticing that underneath the perfect hair and the makeup were dark circles under her eyes.

“I-I heard about Beckendorf,” you whispered, clearing your throat. Silena blinked away a few tears. You knew what it was like losing a sister, what it was like losing friends, you had no idea what it was like to lose a love though. “I’m sorry.”

“Charlie and I,” Silena whispered, giving a sad smile. “We were lucky. Not many of us are lucky that way,” Silena wiped away a stray tear that had begun to fall. You looked down, it was true, you might have been with the Hunters, but you were well aware of what life was like for a demigod, what a short life the majority of them lived. “When we do, we got to hold onto it as long as we can.” You looked up at Silena, meeting her eyes before quickly looking away, only for your eyes to land on Clarisse storming out of her cabin, followed by Chris who seemed to be pleading at her. “Good luck,” she whispered before running off.

You turned, watching as she made her way back to the Aphrodite cabin. You looked back at the Ares cabin, seeing Clarisse glaring off across camp, her arms crossed as she seemed to refrain from punching Chris in the face. You could only guess Chris was also pleading with Clarisse to join the fight, though you weren’t sure why he wasn’t out there fighting as well. You sighed as you continued to make your way to the cabin.

You silently approached Clarisse, listening as Chris begged her to join the fight. Chris turned his head, doing a double take before his eyes finally landed on you. “If you won’t listen to me or Silena, maybe you’ll listen to someone else,” he mumbled before walking away from Clarisse. Clarisse turned around, furrowing her brow at his words but her eyes quickly widened when they met yours.

Chris stopped before he walked past you. “I wanted to thank you,” he said. “Clarisse told me you were with her when I was found, and you helped her.”

“It was nothing,” you said, offering a kind smile. “I merely punched you in the face.”

Chris chuckled at that. “Yes,” he nodded. “Most of that time is fuzzy, but that I remember, at least my face remembers,” he ran his hand across the spot you had punched when you knocked him out. “Either way, good luck,” he nodded towards Clarisse, glancing back at her one last time. “You’ll need it.”

You smiled, nodding to yourself as you approached Clarisse. “What are you doing here?” Clarisse asked, before glaring back out across the camp.

“No, hello?” you asked, leaning your arms on the porch railing as you looked off across the camp as well. There were no campers out training or playing, the two of you were just looking at a lovely view of the forest.

“I figured you’d have more important matters than visiting me.”

“I’ll have you know,” you glanced at her out of the side of your eye. “I was giving specific orders to come here.” Clarisse let out a scoff. “I’m serious, I am meant to convince you to come join the fight.”

Clarisse scoffed again, barking out a laugh. “Thalia really thinks I’ll listen to you?” she turned towards you, crossing her arms with her usual arrogant smile.

You turned your head, raising your eyebrow in challenge. Clarisse rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what happened,” you started slowly. “But are you really so proud you refuse to join a fight that would literally save our world?”

“If the Apollo cabin had just admitted the Ares cabin deserved the chariot-”

“This is about a chariot?” you interrupted. Clarisse snapped her mouth shut, clenching her jaw, but remained quiet. “Are you serious? Your friends are dying out there!”

“I don’t have friends.”

“All because of a fucking chariot?”

Clarisse took a step back at your outburst. “I thought Hunters weren’t supposed to swear.”

You clenched your jaw, glaring at her. “That’s not technically a rule.”

Clarisse smirked, nodding her head. “I refuse to let Apollo cabin disrespect me, my siblings, my father,” Clarisse said, her voice kind but determined. “I won’t allow it.”

“Who cares about a stupid chariot?” you rolled your eyes. “Is fighting for your friends, for the camp,” you gestured widely, “for the world, not honorable enough?” You rolled your eyes. “You pride yourself on being a daughter of war and yet you stand here, refusing to fight.” Clarisse still had her jaw clenched as her eyes fell to the floor.

“It’s not that easy,” she said but her head was still facing down at the floor.

“Of course it is!” you threw your arms in the air. “I know you care,” you tried pleading with her. “The Ares cabin is crucial in this fight, we need them,” you reached out, gripping her hand without thinking about it. “You are needed.”

Clarisse finally looked up, staring into your eyes. Her gaze flicked down, and you followed, noticing her hand in yours finally. Despite every part of your mind telling, you to pull away, you didn’t. You gripped her hand tighter, stepping closer as you stared into her eyes.

“Everyone of us matters in this fight,” you spoke softly. “My sisters are out there fighting and yet,” you sighed, letting out a humorless chuckle. “I am here because Thalia knows you and Ares cabin joining the fight is necessary. We don’t stand a chance without you.”

Clarisse swallowed nervously, though you weren’t sure if it was nerves from the truth of your words or your closeness. “You sure think highly of Ares cabin,” she finally said, attempting to keep her voice steady and keep the usual arrogance in her tone.

You rolled your eyes. “I do not lose,” you couldn’t keep the arrogance out of your tone. “Therefore, I know what it takes to win, and I know that for this war to be won, we need Ares cabin in the fight.”

Clarisse opened her mouth to respond but the two of you were interrupted by someone running down the hill towards the cabin, screaming Clarisse’s name. You looked past Clarisse, furrowing your brow. “Is that-”

“Chris,” Clarisse interrupted you, rolling her eyes.

“Clarisse!” Chris continued to yell, running full speed down the hill, you were surprised he didn’t somehow trip and end up tumbling down the hill. “Clarisse!”

“What?” Clarisse snapped, moving to the stairs so she could meet Chris.

Chris came to a quick stop just before the steps, nearly falling over from the abrupt stop to his running. Chris rested his hand on the railing as he gasped for breath. He began gesturing, pointing back towards the top of the hill but no words left his mouth.

“What happened?” you asked, going down the few steps to rest a hand on Chris’s back, trying to help him calm down enough to speak.

“Silena,” he gasped out, looking up at Clarisse desperately.

You furrowed your brow looking up at Clarisse to see her just as confused as you. Before either of you could question Chris any further both your gazes snapped to the sky as you saw a chariot take off, followed by several more chariots, all of them waving the flag of Ares behind them.

“What happened?” Clarisse demanded, gripping Chris by the collar, lifting him up to eye level.

“I tried to stop her,” Chris whispered. “She knew it was the only way to get the cabin to follow her.” Clarisse’s eyes widened, looking back up at the sky as the chariots got further away before carelessly releasing Chris and taking off towards the stables.

You didn’t have time to question Chris further before taking off after Clarisse. You had no idea what was going on but clearly Clarisse had figured out something you hadn’t yet. The only thing you were confident in was that Silena had stolen a chariot, somehow convincing the rest of the Ares cabin to ignore Clarisse’s orders and follow her to the fight.

You heard Chris panting as he ran after you and Clarisse. You got there just as Clarisse was getting the chariot ready. You jumped onto the chariot, pulling Chris aboard before Clarisse could take off without either of you. Clarisse grabbed the reins, and the chariot took off before anyone could question her.

You gripped the edge of the chariot, you glanced at Clarisse seeing the determined look in her eyes. This wasn’t how you intended things to go, and you were worried about your friend, but at least Clarisse seemed to be headed to the battlefield. As you got closer to the fight, the clash of swords and the screams of battle, from both demigods and monsters, filled your ears. You pulled out your bow, tightening your grip as you prepared yourself for what was to come. It had been a long time since you were in a fight anything close to what you were flying into, even with the uneasiness that began to fill you, you knew that no matter the outcome of this war, it wouldn’t be pretty.

Taglist: @cxcilla @danonered @touchmyfracturedomens @luclue @manu-007s-world @death-in-love @nenas19 @mynameiskaci @fictionalwhor3

[imekitty]

Danny confronts his parents about the clones they've been experimenting on.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23

-----

"Have you heard from Vlad at all?"

Jack followed Maddie out of their bedroom and shut the door behind him. "Why would Vlad say anything to me?"

"He said he'd send a text when he finalized all the configurations for the new Danielle clones." Maddie looked at her blank phone screen. "I guess I'm just excited."

Jack's shoulders fell. He did not want to think about the new set of clones Maddie had ordered from Vlad.

They walked down the hall, past Danny's and Jazz's bedroom doors.

"Danny's home already," remarked Maddie as she held up an ecto-scanner. Danny's ecto-signature appeared in two locations on the screen, one in his bedroom and the other in the basement lab. "That's good, he really needs to get a good night's sleep. He's been going through a lot lately."

Jack held his tongue, knowing it was no use to remind her that she was the one orchestrating almost everything that had been happening to their son.

Down in the lab, clone 26 was lying on the main examination table right where they had left him earlier, wearing a hospital gown with his wrists and ankles secured in belted restraints. The clone stirred and groggily opened his eyes as Maddie approached. Jack hung back as he usually did. He hated this part, when the clone begged to be freed and Maddie told him no, no, he had to stay here and die.

The clone's eyes widened as Maddie hovered over him, her hood down and goggles up on top of her head. The clone began pulling against the belts, throwing his head wildly as he lifted his upper body off the table as far as he could. Maddie pressed one hand to his chest, forcing him back down.

"Sweetie, calm down," said Maddie, her voice hushed. "I know you're very confused and scared right now, but you're just going to hurt yourself if you struggle."

"What do you mean? What's going on?" The clone's breathing was erratic. "Why am I here? Mom? How did I get here?"

"We have a couple procedures planned for you tonight," said Maddie. "Just a couple, don't worry. Then we'll let you rest until tomorrow night."

The clone stared at her, all fight stopped for the moment. "Procedures?"

"Yes," said Maddie. "Because you're a ghost hybrid, and there is so much more about you that we want to learn."

The clone's eyes widened with shock and panic, as they always did. "You know I'm a ghost?"

"We do," said Maddie, taking the clone's hand in hers.

The clone's gaze moved to Jack. Jack looked away, squeezing and massaging his jaw with one hand.

"What are you going to do to me?" asked the clone, struggling more against the belts. "Why have you brought me here? You know I'm your son, don't you?"

"No, you're not," said Maddie.

The clone froze up. "I am. You know I am."

"No, honey, you're a clone," said Maddie, brushing his bangs out of his eyes. "You're a nearly perfect clone of our son."

The clone stared at her in dumbfounded silence.

"We're going to tell you the truth before we start tonight's work," said Maddie. "You can ask any questions, and we'll answer them. You deserve that much, at least."

Jack grimaced. He hated when she included him like that, using the word "we" when he didn't want to be here at all. At this point, the only reason he continued to join Maddie in this cruel line of experimentation was to ensure she didn't take it too far.

Or at least, that was what he kept telling himself.

"The truth about what?" asked the clone.

"Your ghost powers," said Maddie. "The reason you're a ghost hybrid is because we configured the ghost portal to rearrange the molecular structure of your DNA."

"What—no, you wouldn't do that." The clone fiercely shook his head.

"We had to," said Maddie, her tone soothing. "You had the right DNA that could be stabilized after an ectoplasmic mutation. We tried looking for others, but you were the only one. We had no choice."

"No choice?" spat the clone. "Why did you need to turn me into a ghost at all?"

"For our research, sweetie. You know how crucial our research is."

"Crucial for what? How is this going to help anyone?"

"Oh, so many ways! Health care applications for improved surgery that uses invisibility instead of invasive scopes and expensive MRIs and CT scans, intangibility instead of incisions that can get infected. Military applications for super soldiers enhanced with ghost powers—"

"You can't be serious," said the clone. "You're experimenting on your own son so you can find ways to sell ghost powers to other people?"

"You are not our son," said Maddie. "You remember how Vlad attempted to clone you and created Danielle, right? Well, he didn't actually fail. We asked him to clone Danny so we could experiment on his clones without harming the real Danny." Maddie ruffled the clone's hair. "You are one of those clones, sweetheart."

The clone jerked his head away. "I'm not a clone."

"I know you don't believe it. You're not supposed to believe it," said Maddie. "You're supposed to believe you're the real Danny. That's the only way we can get the most accurate data for our research. And you want to help us with our research, don't you?"

"I'm not a clone." The clone shook his head. "Let me go, let me leave."

"We can't do that," said Maddie. "There can only be one Danny. You have to stay here, and you can't leave."

"I'm Danny," the clone insisted with tears in his eyes. "I am your son."

"Danny is upstairs in his room." Maddie pointed to the ceiling. "You're down here in the lab because you're his clone."

"No, you're wrong," said the clone. "I'm not upstairs. I'm here with you. I've always lived in this house with you."

"Sweetie, those memories you have of living here before today aren't real," said Maddie. "You didn't exist until this morning. You had never been to this house before until this afternoon when Vlad brought you here."

"They're real memories," asserted the clone. "I was hanging out with Dad in the lab earlier today when he showed me the Ecto-Dejecto."

Jack's brow creased. Yes, he did indeed show Danny the Ecto-Dejecto that very day so he could later use it to stabilize Danielle, but it was impossible for the clone to know that. The last time Vlad took an updated DNA sample from Danny was over a month ago. The clone's last memories should not and could not be this recent.

A sinking weight dropped deep into Jack's gut as he stared at the clone, noticing for the first time a scar right behind his ear, the same scar Danny had. But the clones were supposed to have unblemished skin, untouched and new.

The clone continued speaking, "And then I went to hang out with Sam and Tucker—"

"No, sweetie," said Maddie. "Those memories you have aren't real. The only reason you have them is because you're an almost perfect copy of the real Danny, including his memories."

"I am the real Danny."

"No, you're not."

"How can you say that? How can you know that for sure?"

The clone's expression was angry, something Jack had never seen before. The clones were usually frightened or hurt, not angry.

"How do you know I'm not the real Danny?" demanded the clone.

"Because of the tattoo on your arm," said Maddie. "Here, let me show you."

Maddie pulled up the right sleeve of the clone's hospital gown, just as she had done twenty-five times before. But there was nothing but skin, no tattooed 26 on the clone's upper arm that Jack definitely remembered seeing when Vlad first delivered the clone.

All blood drained from Jack's face as Maddie screamed and jumped back, her hand clamped over her mouth. Danny's angry expression broke into a wicked smile.

"I told you I was the real Danny," he said.

Maddie's other hand shot up over her mouth as she shook her head furiously. Jack was frozen in place, unable even to tremble.

Danny sat up, slipping out of all four belt restraints and jumping off the table onto the floor. He changed into his ghost form, black and white jumpsuit replacing the hospital gown.

"Did you really think I wouldn't figure it out?" he asked. "Did you really think you could make Vlad clone me twenty-six times and I would just never know?"

He started walking toward Maddie with slow steps. Maddie stepped back each time, still covering her mouth as she watched him come closer.

"Did you think I was too stupid to figure it out?" Danny paused, chuckling darkly. "I guess maybe you're right. I guess I was too stupid to figure it out. You were able to experiment on me and torture me and—and kill me twenty-five times and I was too stupid to realize it until now."

Maddie cowered, hunching her shoulders and covering more of her face with her hands.

"And you were going to kill me a twenty-sixth time tonight," yelled Danny. "And you—" He turned to Jack with a snarl. "You were just going to stand there and let her."

Jack held up his shaking hands in defense, but he could not think of a good reply. He could only meet Danny's hate-filled eyes, trying to somehow communicate just how sorry he was.

"You and Vlad both," muttered Danny. "You'll both just do anything for her, won't you? You'll even kill for her."

"Danny," Maddie gasped out. "Danny, listen, I'm sorry—"

"No, you're not sorry," roared Danny, turning and pointing an accusatory finger at her. "Don't say you're sorry. If you were sorry, you would've stopped a long time ago." He choked, his voice losing strength as he stifled a sob. "If you really cared about me—" He sucked in a deep breath. "If you really loved me, you would've never done this."

"Danny, I do love you." Maddie clasped her hands as tears streamed down her face. "So much."

"How can you say that?" demanded Danny. "How can you look me in the eyes after everything you've done to me and say that?"

His fists glowed with ectoplasmic light as he stomped toward Maddie, backing her up against a wall. Maddie whimpered and curled in on herself.

Jack stared at her, frozen with shock.

She was scared.

He had never seen her look so scared before. In fact, he wasn't sure he had ever seen her show any sign of fear at all.

And Jack realized he was also afraid, because Danny could very easily kill both of them right now and they would be powerless against him.

His gut sank and twisted with the horror of what they had turned their son into.

"Danny, please," bleated Maddie. "I'm your mother."

"You're right, you are my mother." Tears began falling down Danny's face. "Which is why I can't believe you would do this to me. My life has been hell ever since I became—this." He used one gloved hand to gesture to himself, top to bottom. "Fighting ghosts, protecting the town—it's been painful and terrifying and exhausting."

Danny's tears were coming fast and hot now. Maddie continued to whimper while Jack stayed still.

"But I kept doing it because…I thought I had to," continued Danny. "I thought it was my fault that all of these ghosts were coming in through the portal and invading our town. But now I find out that…you did this to me. It was never my fault; you set me up to do it. You wanted me to do it—you were counting on me to do it."

Danny sobbed, covering his eyes with his hands as his body shook. Maddie looked at Jack, begging him for help. But Jack could only stare back.

"This whole time." Danny uncovered his eyes now swollen with ectoplasm. "You've been pulling strings, watching me like I'm a marionette in your sick puppet show. And you made me afraid of you. You pretended to hunt me down and you would actually shoot at me so I would believe that I really was a freak and I could never trust anyone with my secret."

Danny lowered his eyes, his face drenched with tears.

"You made me believe that I couldn't trust you, my own parents," he whispered. He then raised his eyes, which flashed green. "But I guess I was right about that after all, wasn't I?"

He came close to Maddie, raising both of his glowing fists. Maddie pressed her back to the wall and held up her hands in front of her face.

"Are you going to kill me?" blubbered Maddie.

Danny stared at her for a long, long time.

Then his fists opened, their green glow disappearing as his whole body relaxed.

"No," he said with a soft shake of his head. "Of course not. Because you are my mother."

Danny glanced up at the ceiling, more tears glistening on the lower edge of his eyes. He sniffled and brought his gaze back down to Maddie.

"I hate that my own mother could do this to me," Danny continued, his words strangled, "but I can't hurt you. Obviously you're more than willing to hurt me, but…I can't." His eyes hardened. "But I'm not letting you hurt me ever again. Whether it's the real me or a clone of me, I won't allow it."

Danny looked up at the ceiling again, but this time in a very particular direction, up toward his room. Jack took notice of the look, and he could see Maddie also noticed, her brows drawing together in scrutiny.

"Where is the clone?" Maddie's voice was suddenly much stronger as she straightened her back and stood taller. "Clone 26, where is he?"

Danny's eyes once again returned to her. He frowned but did not reply.

"Vlad delivered him this afternoon," said Maddie. "I saw the tattoo on his arm with my own eyes. Where is he now?"

Danny stiffened. "You don't need to know that."

"I do," said Maddie. "You won't let us experiment on any more clones, fine. We'll stop. But that clone cannot be allowed to exist."

Danny's eyes twitched, his jaw clenching.

"We have to kill him, Danny," said Maddie.

"No," said Danny with a firm shake of his head. "You are not going anywhere near him."

"We can't let a clone of you run around freely, Danny," said Maddie. "People would notice. How would we even explain that? It would only be a matter of time before the police or the Guys in White figure out that you're a ghost hybrid, and then you'd be taken away for far worse experimentation."

"Don't pretend like you care about what happens to me," spat Danny. "You just don't want them to find out what you've been doing."

"You know I'm right," retorted Maddie. "There can't be two of you."

"Then kill me." Danny held out his arms in offering. "Do it."

Maddie's mouth fell open. "Danny—no, I'm not going to kill you."

"Why not?" asked Danny. "If only one Danny is allowed to exist, then why does it have to be me?"

"Because you are Danny. The clone is no one."

"But isn't the clone a perfect copy of me? With all my memories?"

"Most, not all of them."

"He's good enough, isn't he?"

Danny glared at Maddie, still holding his arms out, ready and waiting for her to come at him. Maddie did not move, simply stared back in tense silence. Jack watched, wondering for a moment if she might actually do it, if she might actually grab an ecto-gun and blast a hole through Danny's chest.

Jack was ready to throw himself in front of Danny if she tried.

"The clone must die, Danny," said Maddie. "That's why he was created. That's his purpose."

"So now you think you can just assign people purposes?" asked Danny. "Does this sick little game make you feel like God?" Danny pressed a palm to his chest. "What's my purpose, Mom? Have I been giving you everything you wanted? Or am I a failed experiment now?"

Maddie narrowed her eyes. "The clone has to die, Danny."

Danny shook his head. "No."

"Danny."

"No."

Danny shot up into the air, soaring straight through the lab ceiling and disappearing. Maddie bolted toward the stairs to follow him.

"Maddie." Jack grabbed her arm before she could get too far up the stairs, forcing her to stumble back down onto the main floor.

"Jack." Maddie struggled in his grip. "Let me go, Jack."

Jack kept a tight hold on her, using all his strength to keep her from getting away. "Maddie, what are you planning on doing?"

"We have to kill the clone, Jack," said Maddie, sounding panicked. "We can't let Danny help him escape."

"But why? Why do we have to kill the clone?" asked Jack.

Maddie glared at him. "You know why. I shouldn't have to explain this to you."

"Maddie." Jack took hold of her other arm and forced her to face him. "But maybe we shouldn't, Maddie."

Maddie stopped struggling and became still, unblinking.

"Maybe we shouldn't kill the clone?" said Maddie. "Are you saying we should kill the real Danny? Like he asked us to? Remove the clone's tattoo and just rewrite our son with a copy?"

Jack balked and slacked his grip on her arms, but she did not try to break away.

"The clone's earliest memories will be from a few weeks ago." Maddie nodded as she spoke. "Clone 26 won't remember any of this. We could continue our experiments and Vlad could continue creating new clones and we'd just have to be more careful and watch the new Danny a lot more closely, make sure he never discovers the truth again—"

"Would you listen to yourself?" Jack shouted in her face. "Are you fucking insane? We are not going to kill the real Danny just so you can keep fucking with his clones."

He shook her, causing her head to snap back, her eyes wide as she stared up at him, frozen.

"It's over, Maddie," yelled Jack. "It has to be over now."

Maddie stayed frozen a little longer. Jack waited for her to move, to respond in some way, never letting go of her arms.

"You're right," murmured Maddie. "He's my baby. I carried him inside of me—he was part of me for nine months. The clone was never part of me no matter how much he looks and acts like the real Danny. I can't kill my boy, never."

She started crying. Jack felt a twinge, a strange urge to comfort her even though he knew she didn't deserve it.

"But the clone still has to die, Jack." Maddie used the heel of her hand to wipe her eyes and locked her gaze with Jack's. "And you know it."

Jack stared back at her, the scientist inside of him activating. Because as much as he hated to admit it, he did know it. The clone was an abomination, an affront to the natural order, an entity that was never supposed to exist in the first place.

And Danny himself would be in danger of being discovered and taken away if the clone was allowed to exist as its own person.

Yes, the clone did have to die. It was the only way to protect the real Danny.

And the only way to stay out of prison.

Jack loosened his hold on Maddie and watched as she ran up the stairs, numb and empty.

And then he breathed deep and ran up after her.

Just one last time. One final murder.

Part 25

[allylikethecat]

January OTP Prompts

Update: these are in fact still easier to write in the morning an I deeply regret that I once again left it until the evening. It's such a funny trend, the ones I like I write in the mornings, and the ones I am unimpressed with I write frantically at night. I also did not proof read this in the slightest so lets gooo. On that note, this one is brought to you by the fact that I once absolutely ate shit after slipping on a floor that had Pledge on it (google seemed to think they have Pledge in the UK but to those of you that don't know it's a spray furniture polish that makes floors EXTREMELY slippery)

17. Slippery

George swore softly grabbing onto the edge of the side table, catching himself from tumbling to the ground at the last possible second. He glared down at their hardwood floors in shock and distrust, having not expected to nearly fall onto his ass because he had the audacity to hop skip down the last step while wearing socks. He cautiously let go of the side table, and took a step forward, nearly losing his footing once again as his sock clad foot slid across the floor out from under him. His frown deepened as he tried to rationalize why the floor was so slippery. It looked the same as it always did, and their housekeeper, Sheila, had come by earlier that morning— 

George’s eyes widened. Sheila hadn’t come that morning, her assistant Daisy, had, Sheila was out of town visiting family and George couldn’t handle missing a house cleaning appointment if he wanted to continue living with Matty, the messiest person alive in harmony. Sheila had understood and sent Daisy, whom George had seen spraying Pledge heavy handedly onto the table he was currently clinging to when he left for his yoga class that morning. She must have accidentally gotten the furniture polish on the floor George realized, turning the base of the staircase into a slippery death trap. 

He pulled his phone out of his back pocket, quickly Googling how to resolve the slippery floor issue. He knew that even if he told Matty to be careful coming down the stairs, he would forget within the first ten minutes and fall straight onto his ass if they were lucky, and onto his face if they weren’t. Luckily, Google seemed confident that he would be able to resolve the issue with a bucket of warm water and dish soap, both of which he knew he would be able to find under the sink. If he was lucky, he would be able to resolve the issue before Matty came looking for him.

Carefully, he started making his way towards the kitchen, not trusting himself not to slip even once he was past the Pledge spray zone. 

“Hey, can we order pizza tonight?” Matty called, making his way downstairs in search of George, “I know you said you want to cook more, but I can’t be arsed to go to the shops and pizza sounds so good right now,” Matty said.

“BE CAREFUL,” George shouted, starling Matty as he stepped off the staircase, Matty frowned and took another step forward as George tried to get the words out faster “thefloorisslippery!” 

“The floor is what?” Matty asked, his brow furrowed as he stepped onto the slippery patch and just as George predicted, slipped, landing heavily on his butt, blinking up at George in surprise and confusion.

“The floor is slippery,” George said with a grimace. “You okay?” He carefully made his way over to Matty who still looked absolutely flabbergasted that he had ended up on the floor. 

“The fuck?” he said, taking George’s offered hands and pulling himself up carefully as if he didn’t trust the floor. George could relate. 

“Daisy got Pledge on the floor,” George explained. “And now it’s slippery.” 

“Yeah,” said Matty, rubbing a hand over his sure to be bruised tailbone. “Yeah, I can see that.” 

Day: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

[night-dark-woods]

Alright, charts as promised!

I've excluded the 58 respondents with no relevant experience, leaving the total at 221 instead of 279. Not really a large enough sample size to get meaningful data for the ambidextrous contingent especially, but such is life. Maybe I'll submit it to a poll blog in the future and get a larger sample size.

Tumblr does not allow (text) tables to be inserted as far as I can tell, so data will have to be written out. In order of decreasing percent of respondents, numbers and percentages of the total are as follows:

Right-Handed, Right Tilt: 108, 49%

Right-Handed, Left Tilt: 51, 23%

Right-Handed, No Default: 26, 12%

Left-Handed, Left Tilt: 11, 5%

Left-Handed, Right Tilt: 10, 4%

Left-Handed, No Default: 6, 3%

Ambidextrous, Right Tilt: 4, 2%

Ambidextrous, No Default: 3, 1%

Ambidextrous, Left Tilt 2, 1%

As anticipated, the majority of respondents were right-handed (84%), with fewer left-handed (12%) and ambidextrous (4%). How about whether handedness influences tilt direction?

This chart has the same data as before, but now shows what percent of respondents of a certain handedness have a preference for each tilt direction, with an additional bar for totals (nearly identical to the bar for right-handed respondents, by nature of math).

27 respondents were left-handed. Of these, 11 (41%) tilt left, 10 (37%) tilt right, and 6 (22%) have no default.

185 respondents were right-handed. Of these, 51 (28%) tilt left, 108 (58%) tilt right, and 26 (14%) have no default.

9 respondents were ambidextrous. Of these, 2 (22%) tilt left, 4 (44%) tilt right, and 3 (33%) have no default.

Looking at just right and left-handed (ambidextrous is too small a sample size to make generalizations about i think), it certainly looks like there is a correlation. The spread of tilts for lefties is significantly* more even i think than that of righties: 41-37-22 vs 28-58-14. Presumably if handedness was irrelevant, they would all be 33% across the board (we don't see this hypothesis confirmed in the ambidextrous respondents, but again, miniscule sample size).

i think i will submit this question to a poll blog soon so i can get a large enough sample size to actually get enough ambidextrous respondents to use that meaningfully.

thanks for playin!

*not formally as in statistically significant. just as a figure of speech. I do not remember how to do calculations for statistical significance beyond the concept of a null hypothesis. I once cried in the lab during my thesis at 11:45pm in the dark because of those calculations. I'm not doing them again.

ok prompted by a convo in a group chat:

obvs it depends on the partner, im not including an option for that on here though bc im curious about your automatic instinct not what you practically do.

[candied-cae]

And Who Are We At The End Of The World? - Needing To Do Something

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Chapter 7/? - - - Read it on AO3

Word Count : 8,007

Summary: In the aftermath of their first throw down with Vecna, it's time everyone started trying to get ready for "normal" life. Considering normal would mean a state of constant fear for his return to ruin what's left of their broken town. But they've all got to start putting the pieces back together somewhere.

More ST Fics

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The rest of the day passed in a bit of a blur for everyone.

Susan stayed with Max in the hospital. She was a wreck as she held her daughter’s hand and just sobbed by herself. Across the hall, Wayne sat in a chair by Eddie and quietly watched over him. It might’ve felt awkward for Steve if he hadn’t practically slept through the whole day. Praise be to good hospital drugs and the doctors who order them. But he wasn’t the only one who practically missed all of Friday. Most of the Party slept the day away at their own homes. Even if they hadn’t missed so many hours over the days they were trying to figure out the Vecna thing, just the day before had been so rough that each of them felt tired all the way to their bones.

While they were all out of commission, the police did their job.

They spoke to Ms. Kelley, who was willing to talk about Chrissy’s panic attacks, hallucinations, and lack of sleep with them. She mentioned how Chrissy never wanted to say much, would outright refuse to say who it was, but always talked about someone important to her saying terrible things. Things that made her believe she’d never be enough. Not pretty enough, not skinny enough, not good enough. Someone she loved making her hate herself.

She had suspected that it was Chrissy’s mother because that’s just the kind of things mothers are so good at doing to their daughters. But, it wasn’t impossible to say that her boyfriend could’ve instilled these same ideas in her. That she could’ve feared him if she wasn’t ‘enough’. They reviewed her files at the school and saw a record of growing anxiety and fear right there in ink.

They stopped by Gareth, Jeff, and Bruce’s houses. Each of them confirmed what happened when Jason and his lackeys showed up at their band rehearsal. It all happened exactly as Lucas had said it did, and their families assured that they haven’t seen any of the kids in the Party come to see the boys or call their houses. So it was unlikely they’d have been able to make up the story and tell them what to say. And Gareth still had marks on his hand from Jason’s shoes that were pretty damning.

After that, they tracked down Andy. Found him alone, licking his wounds, back at Benny’s with the very same black eye Erica had promised them. They had him recount how pissed Jason was when Eddie joked at the basketball team’s expense in the cafeteria. And how Jason behaved when Chrissy didn’t show up for the afterparty. Admitted that, the next morning, when he made a joke about the body of a Hawkins student found on the news being Chrissy, Jason didn’t have a single thing to say about it. And he confirmed the night at Lover’s Lake that he was still going through Reefer Rick’s things when he heard all the commotion outside and couldn't go on the record for what happened to Patrick.

They even went to what was left of the Creel House. It was a complete devastation of debris. Like someone had ripped it apart right down the middle and everything has just kept caving in since. But they brought in excavators, and they started to uncover a lot more evidence. They found Jason’s body practically buried under the foundation with a lamp that must’ve nearly burned right through him from the looks of it. Along with various blood-splattered boards which later matched Jason, Lucas, and Max’s samples. They even found the gun Jason had bought, covered in his prints and missing two bullets, as well as a crushed Walkman with a Kate Bush tape.

Every little detail matched what the kids had said.

They might’ve not been able to find perfect evidence that Jason killed Chrissy… but they put together a lot more of the story. And everything that came to light, along with Jason’s unaccounted-for time, did point towards a very different answer than they had been expecting. When they took a look from this angle and noted: Jason’s pious rallying, the manhunt he initiated, on top of Max’s identical injuries, and the proof of Lucas's fight with him? All of it led to an explanation that Jason was an emotionally abusive partner, with something of a god complex, and skill with leading mob-like - or cult-like - behavior.

When that blend of superiority was butted against Eddie’s “I don’t give a fuck about your social hierarchy” attitude? When he was otherwise an undisputed king of the high school to everyone but 'The Freak'? That bred a lot of rage. And when Chrissy came to Eddie for weed to help her escape her boyfriend’s demand for perfection, Jason was so enraged that he broke into Eddie’s trailer, killed her for the treachery, and tried to kill Eddie until he ran off. He probably heard about the Victor Creel killings when he was younger and, when he was blind with fury, they served as an inspiration for the kind of pain he could inflict on someone.

From there, Jason killed Freddie for investigating the murder when he went off alone. Nancy might’ve even been next if she wasn’t busy talking to Wayne Munson and stuck with the police after. Then he killed Patrick for getting in the way of Eddie when he changed his mind. And finally, he chased down Lucas for leaving their side and helping Eddie, nearly killing Max as his revenge against him.

It made sense. And it meant that they almost ruined Eddie Munson’s life because things got out of hand too fast. They wouldn’t be able to officially close down the case and make a statement until they could actually talk to the guy, but it was looking like they’d be able to drop the charges on Eddie as long as his answers matched up.

The police still didn’t like how weird all the murders were. The level of cruelty and disfigurement while leaving no fingerprints or bruising… it was still incredibly weird and didn’t seem like anything that could be possible. But the mortician said, even though he couldn’t figure it out, that the science is always evolving.

“This could be something that makes more sense in the next five years than it does right now”, they excused. And so Powell didn’t worry himself with it beyond that. Decided it was something he didn’t need to understand today.

By the end of March 28th, the world was quiet for what felt like the first time all week for any of the members of the Party.

When morning breaks on Saturday the 29th though, Steve finds it quite loud again. A nurse was at his door bright and early to decide if he was really going to get to leave that day. She poked and prodded and asked way too many questions. Then she called in a doctor, who did the very same poking and prodding and asking. When they were satisfied, they handed him a plastic bag with the clothes he’d come in wearing, but then the clock struck 8 am. And Dustin and his mother arrived.

The boy was in another graphic tee under an open button-up but was missing his current favorite hat, the Thinking Cap. His mother, on the other hand, was in a long dress. It was a pale lilac color, covered with floral patterns, with a necklace and big earrings that matched.

There was less poking and prodding from these two, but they did deliver another barrage of questions when Steve just wanted to get dressed back into his gross clothes from two days ago because it would at least be an improvement upon the robe he was wearing.

He pulled on his WarZone branded get-up - even though it smelled like something he’d rather throw in the wash than wear - except for the brown leather jacket. He didn’t put that piece on. When he looked at it, he saw the dried, crusting blood. It wasn’t even just on the inside from his own injuries. The back was splashed with it.

From Eddie.

Eddie, who was still unconscious.

The doctor said it wasn’t anything to get worked up about yet. His body had been through a lot of stress and just needed more time to rest before he’d be ready to get up. Which was probably a good thing anyway since he couldn’t mess up his stitches if he wasn’t moving around.

Either way, the thought of putting back on the jacket stained with Eddie’s blood churned something in the pit of Steve’s stomach. He chose to shove the thing back into the plastic bag and try not to think about it. He fished his watch out of the sack and put it on his wrist before pitifully looking at the state of himself in the mirror. He’d gone ahead and cleaned himself up a bit the previous day between his naps, but his hair… oh his hair. It was the flattest it’s been since he figured out how all the different kinds of hair products worked. He combed his fingers through the locks for a moment before he just gave up. There wasn’t anything he’d be able to do to improve his current situation until he was back in his bathroom at home.

When he emerged from the bathroom, he honestly expected to see Wayne in the chair by Eddie again. It was already 8:17. But the chair sat empty. Well, it was none of his business what time the guy's uncle was going to be by. And if his gaze lingered on Eddie for a moment longer than was casual, because he remembered being the kid with injuries from monsters who didn’t have his family by his side... well, it didn’t matter.

Steve turned his attention to Dustin, who was gearing up for another hug, and smacked his hand on his head to ruffle his hair while holding him an arm's length away. He had to at least try and protect this newly forming scar tissue. But just as easily as Steve dodged Dustin’s embrace, Claudia had him in hers.

Steve was helpless. What was he supposed to do? Push away the woman kind enough to drive him home? Push away the most recent hug he’s shared with someone who wasn’t one of his rotten kids? Alright, maybe that line of thinking was bordering on ‘too sad’. Steve returned the hug and looked over his shoulder to see Dustin sticking his tongue out in tame retaliation. Guess the little stinker at least tries to tone it down around his mom.

When she released her hold on him, Steve did wonder for a passing moment when was the last time his own mother actually hugged him. At least, hugged him beyond the kind of polite courtesy she’d provide as she was headed out the door. Beyond the quick squeeze and “Call if you need anything” before she was rolling her well-used suitcase away.

But again, Steve’s head reminded him that those themes are ‘too sad�� for right now. Thankfully, there weren’t any tears trying to burst through that he had to fight back, otherwise that would've just been way too awkward to deal with so early. He just needed to get home before he had a chance for any more embarrassing moments.

“Alright,” he sniffled nonchalantly,” Let’s get out of here. I am so tired of these white walls and all that beeping.”

They stopped at the nurse’s station so he could complete his check-out paperwork, and within the next fifteen minutes, they were exiting the front entrance. As they walked into the parking lot, it was the first time Steve really looked at the Henderson’s family car. It was this mustard-yellow color that honestly made a lot of sense for them. They seemed like a bright, loud bunch - without being too gaudy like the TodFather was - but just a little more toned down, a little more down-to-earth.

When they started to climb in, Mrs. Henderson playfully snapped at her son for trying to take the passenger seat,” Dustin! Steve is our guest, you go in the back.”

“It’s fine, Mrs. Henderson.” He tried to shrug it off to just get on his way home,” I’m alright with the back.”

“Nonsense. Dusty can wait until we get you home to hop up front.”

The two boys looked at each other and switched doors, both unable to fight against her.

As Steve got settled into the seat, before Dustin had lowered himself in, Claudia turned to him and said,” And it’s really Ms. Henderson, honey. Didn’t want to correct you yesterday with you still laid up in bed, but I haven’t been a Mrs. for a little while now.”

Steve nodded without reply and cast an eye to the kid in the back, trying not to be obvious. He’d noticed that Dustin never talked about his dad, he wasn’t oblivious enough about the little guy to have not. He figured there was something going on there, but never was really sure how to ask. But that answered that question, at least a little bit more.

Dustin closed the back door and Steve was about to start giving his mother directions, when their driver waved her hand at him,” Don’t worry about that, I know where is it. The Sinclairs and I looked it up in the phonebook when we went out last night and picked up your car from by the lake. Wanted to make sure it was at your house instead of out there in the sticks.”

“Oh, you didn’t need to-”

“Hush. I told you, if there’s anything you need, to just ask us. All of us parents are very grateful you’ve been keeping an eye on our kids these last few years. Especially after the scare we had last night.”

As Ms. Henderson pulled to a stop at the red light, she turned over to look at him,” There aren’t enough words in the world to say thank you. The news says there’s already been over a dozen casualties. Our kids aren’t a part of that number. So if we can pick up your car, drive you home, or drop off groceries or casseroles or cookies, we will. We want to.”

Steve is left just looking at her, silenced as she casually turned her attention back to the road just in time for the light to go green. They pull through the intersection and he doesn’t know what to say. It’s not like he doesn’t know how to talk to adults or parents, but they’ve never done this kind of stuff for him. They’ll sidle up next to his mom and dad at parties to comment on his success in sports, they’ll grab his chin and croon over what a handsome boy he’s been growing up into, and they’ll smile to each other as they wax on without bothering to talk to him.

He knew how to handle that. Knew how to paste a smile across his face while saying “Thank you, sir” and “Thank you, ma’am”. Just like he was supposed to.

Joyce and Hopper were a little different. They’d known about how involved he was with all the Upside Down stuff, so it wasn’t really the same when they saw him. Joyce bandaged him up after he’d faced fights with Jonathan and the demogorgon, Billy and the demodogs - though the paramedics handled him after the Russian affair - but that was it. She cleaned him up, said thank you, and maybe looked at him a second too long. Like, maybe she was deciding if she could do anything more. But Jim would always emerge about then, and clap him on the shoulder so hard he nearly fell over with how woozy his head had felt after the fights.

It was nice the way they had looked at him and saw something more than other people did. But even that was all just the immediately after terror, coming down from conflict, cleaning up stuff.

And here, Henderson’s mom was bringing up food like she planned to check in on him.

That concept was foreign to him. That kind of being cared for isn’t something Steve knows about. Much less knows how to handle and respond to.

Which is why Dustin was his saving grace when he quipped in,” Seriously dude, she went crazy yesterday. Our kitchen is overflowing. You have to take something off our hands, or we’ll never finish it before it goes to shit.”

His mother glanced at him in the rearview mirror and commented,“ Dustin! Language. And I didn’t have anything else to do while you slept until 6:30.”

“I was tired!”

“Yes, you were. And, I do appreciate that you at least fell asleep on the couch.” She nodded before leaning over to Steve,” Our kitten, Tews, curled up on him the whole time. It kept the little baby out of my way while I was cooking, and it was just so adorable. I took these pictures-”

“Mom!” he tried to deter her, but Claudia pushed through.

“My favorite is this one where Tews had rolled over on her back and ended up right on top of Dusty’s face-”

“She tried to suffocate me!”

“It was very cute, Steve. If you wanted to see any of those.”

“MOM!”

Steve couldn't help the smile that tugged at his cheeks.

So this was the Henderson’s? They talked to each other. And not just asking for a basic rundown of how work and school were going. They spent time together, looked at each other, laughed, and teased… It was interesting watching the way they were with each other. Steve might've gotten pretty attached to Dustin over the last two years, but there was surprisingly little overlap between him and Dustin’s mother to have seen it before now.

“You know, Ms. Henderson, I think I would like to see that one.”

The boy in the backseat erupted at the betrayal,“ STEVE!”

“It’s really a very sweet photo. When you get to feeling better, come stop by the house, and I’ll show them all off to you. You can also see the photo albums I have of Dusty from when he was a baby-”

“STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!” he screamed to stop her,” YOU’RE BOTH EVIL! THIS IS CHILD ABUSE!”

By the time Steve and Claudia were done teasing the poor boy and came down from their laughter, they’d arrived at the Harrington residence. It was time for Steve to be alone again. He didn’t let the fact reach his face and instead kept the smile up as he began to climb out of the car. He pulled the house keys from the hospital bag and watched Claudia wait to drive away until he’d unlocked the door and waved goodbye. It was a small detail, but it stuck. She bothered to make sure he was able to make it inside before she left, just like Steve does for the kids, but has never witnessed from this angle himself. But once they were gone, down the road, Steve was met with silence.

Just like usual.

He dragged his feet through the entrance, kicked off his shoes, and let the bag fall from his wrist to the floor as he made it to the hall table where the house phone sat. It was right next to the tape recording answering machine, which had a little red light blinking up at him. He still felt weird about it. He’s the only one he knows who has one at their house, most people don’t like the idea of leaving a message and would just call back later anyway. But his parents got one set up when his father started taking more business trips, and they got the thing updated to the newest model pretty much every New Year.

He took a breath in before he pushed down on the play button and listened to the machine wind the tape back.

“Hello, Stephen.”

It was his mother’s voice that played from it. Because, of course, it was. She didn’t sound tipsy at all, which is enough of a surprise, considering Steve can hardly picture her without a martini in her hand. So, it meant she probably called yesterday morning before she'd had time for a drink.

“I’m sure you’re still at the hospital right now. We heard from a nurse down there at Memorial. She said you got a bit hurt in the earthquake, came in with a few friends. It sounded like it was a big one. But I know you’re an adult, and you can handle yourself.”

Yeah, he was just a little beat up with a couple of buddies. Not a big deal. Nothing to get worked up about. Nothing to bother getting on a plane and coming back home over. Why would anyone think to do that for their kid?

“When you get home, give us a callback. I-” There’s a muffled sound which was probably Mr. Harrington talking to her.

Because why should he want to leave his own voice for his son to listen to fresh out of the hospital?

“And your father wants to make sure nothing at the house got broken, so if you could check around before you call, he’d like to know. Anyway, we're needed at a lunch meeting with a couple of chair members and their wives, so we’re heading off. Don’t forget to check in when you get this, baby. I don’t want to worry.” And then the machine clicked to let him know that’s the end of the recording. That’s all she had to say, so she hung up the phone.

He just stared down at it. His dad wanted to know if anything of his was broken, but besides that, he had nothing he wanted to say himself. His mom just wanted a call back so she didn’t have to feel guilty or think about him too much… The perfect image of parenthood.

In the back of his mind, he whispered to himself,” She didn’t even say ‘Love you’.”

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

It’s not like he expected one.

His father never said it, and even with his mother, it was a rare occurrence. She’d say it easier when she was intoxicated. So maybe it was just his luck she called before their lunch, where she surely got a few glasses deep. It wasn’t a surprise, but it still stung.

He bit his lip and just walked away. Took the stairs slower than he usually does, trying not to jostle his fresh wounds, and he grabbed a spare set of clothes from his room as he made his way to the bathroom. If nothing else, he wanted a damn shower.

It wasn’t incredibly eventful. He shucked off the clothes that’d been dirtied with blood and grime and decided he didn’t even want to look in the mirror until he got cleaned up. When he stepped into the warm spray, he leaned back until it was pelting right into the crown of his head. He didn’t even move. Didn’t reach for shampoo or soap. Didn’t run his hands through his hair. Didn’t wipe away the water as it trailed over his closed eyes. He just stood in it, letting it hit him in the otherwise silent bathroom of the far-too-empty house. He couldn’t tell how long he just stood there, but, after a bit, the water didn’t feel warm enough.

He was pulled from his trance to turn the handle up. Just a little bit at first, but it still wasn’t warm enough. A little bit more, but it wasn’t enough. He kept turning it higher as the water steamed. Once he might call it ‘nearly scalding’ he left the handle alone and let the water strike into his back like it’d be enough to work over the knots and sore muscles. Like its almost burning touch would soothe the open scrapes left behind from the Upside Down.

And it doesn’t. But it does help.

Eventually, the world didn’t feel like too much to handle. Eventually, he was able to make himself turn the temperature down and go through his usual bathroom routine. Shampoo scrubbed hard against his scalp and washed out, conditioner run through the length and left to sit, soap on a loofa against every surface of his body until he started to actually feel clean… he even spared a glance at the razor he hasn’t used since he did competitive swim. But Dustin’s pestering wasn’t going to make him pick it up. Even if his dates didn't love to rake their fingernails through his chest hair, at this point, it was Steve's little spot of rebellion against the little nerd. He rinsed out the conditioner and stepped into the steamy bathroom. The mirror was fogged over, which was probably a good thing because he really hated looking at his stitches. Something about seeing the way they go into his skin usually made him cringe.

He pulled on the clean clothes - a dusty blue sweatshirt and a pair of jeans - before he rubbed the water off the mirror to see himself. And he still looked like a wreck. He was a clean wreck now, but a wreck all the same. Tired eyes, bumps and bruises, messy hair hanging around his face. He grabbed a small hand towel from the closet and shook it against his head until his hair wasn’t still dripping. Then he descended the stairs back to the kitchen, very intently keeping his eyes off the phone as he passed by.

He shuffled through the fridge and cabinets until he ended up with a container of honey granola and laid on the couch to eat it by the handfuls. Was there really a reason to go through the trouble of bowls or spoons if there was no one around to see his less than mannerly approach to breakfast? Steve flicked on the tv, and every channel he tried was running updates on the earthquake.

Statistics of casualties, injuries, missing persons, mass exodus, property damage, and seismic magnitude.

All of which made him feel like shit.

They were supposed to make sure this didn’t happen. They were supposed to deal with Vecna so that everyone else could just keep being ignorant and happy. They failed. And no one was even running the good news of Eddie’s innocence because the police hadn’t done a new press release yet. It was only a few minutes before he couldn’t keep listening to the cycling news stories. He pulled himself up off the couch and started thinking about stuff to donate, but he honestly wasn’t really sure what he should be putting together. Surely, the struggling people of Hawkins have no use for his trophies and medals, probably not the knickknacks his mom's interior decorator had strewn about the house, and nothing in his father's office would be much use.

He returned to the phone set, and instead of calling his absentee parents, dialed Robin Buckley’s house.

“This is the Buckleys.” a man’s voice announced when the line picked up.

“Hello, sir. This is Steve Harrington, Robin wanted to make plans about running donations over to the high school.” he got used to speaking through his introduction and including why he was calling with her parents. They still didn’t like him all that much, so it definitely helped to have a good excuse to call.

“Alright…” her dad replied.

A few seconds passed, some sounds of muttering and muffled movement came through, and suddenly Robin’s voice was the one in his ear,” Mornin’ Steve. You don’t want to sleep in before we get everyone together? It’s not even 10:30 yet.”

“Nah,” he shrugged, not like she could even see it,” I was asleep pretty much all of yesterday. Ready to do something.”

Ready to get out of this big, quiet, empty house.

“Well, I’ve already got a box packed over here, so I’m ready whenever you want to come by. Nancy called yesterday and said she and Dustin already had their stuff together, so we can drop by to grab them too.”

“Yeah, yeah. So, quick question, Rob; what sort of stuff should I be grabbing?”

“Umm…” She hummed for a moment, mulling it over,” They’ve got people who don’t have anywhere to stay sleeping on cots in the gymnasium, so blankets and sheets would be good. Clothes you don’t wear anymore. I think Nancy said she was throwing in some toys and books. All that sort of stuff people could use right now.”

“Okay, give me something like half an hour to get stuff together, and I’ll be at yours,” he told her.

“Sounds like a plan. But, you’re going to fix your hair for me, right?” her voice took the familiar lilt of her teasing.

Steve didn’t even answer, just rolled his eyes.

“Because as much as I was honored to see your natural display, it is unnerving to bear witness to ‘The Hair’ as it was the other night.”

“Jesus Christ,” he groaned,” You’re too much.”

He could hear her smile through the phone,“ You love me, though.”

“Debating that decision now.”

“And you’ll still show up for me anyway.”

“We’ll see.”

“Yes, we will.” She snickered before adding,” In 30 minutes.”

“Goodbye, Robin.”

“Bye Bye, Stev-”

Steve rolled his eyes again as he set the phone back on the receiver a moment early, just to be a little mean.

While he walked around the house, he bothered to mentally inventory the rest of it. His father’s office? Fine, only a few things fell off the bookshelves, but nothing was broken. His parent’s room? Practically pristine considering how often it’s vacant. Guest rooms? Look just like they always do. Closets, the attic, the basement? Nothing to note. Every square inch of the place was, at worst, disheveled.

In between tidying up a little, he put together a pretty good pile of spoils. A couple of spare linens and blankets, old and still nice clothes were the obvious things. But he didn’t really have any toys or games or books, so he thought to raid his parent bathroom closet. They had a huge collection of unnecessary travel-size toiletries. Both things they themselves had bought for travel, as well as items they brought back from hotels and such. His mom originally got into a habit of making his dad bring them home with him before she started accompanying him on his business trips, so she'd know he actually stayed at the places he said he did. And now that she just went with him all the time, she brought them home herself. Because she’s always had sticky fingers for small things she doesn’t need.

Now, they’ve got a shelf covered in mini bottles of shower products, toothpaste, mouthwash, and even deodorant that no one uses. They seemed like the kind of things that would be smart to bring in. He was a little proud of himself for thinking of it. He stopped by his bathroom one last time, to brush his teeth and run some pomade through his hair. Then he tucked everything away into the trunk of his car before finally returning to the landline. He stared down at it with buzzing nerves before deciding to bite the bullet and get it over with. He dialed for his parent’s rental in Washington.

“Don’t pick up, don’t pick up, don’t pick up…” he muttered into his hand as his teeth worried against his bottom lip.

Eventually, the ringing ended, and he was greeted with a voice telling him to leave a message or try calling the front desk at his father’s office instead.

“It’s Steve. I got out of the hospital okay and checked out the house. Nothing’s broken or damaged, the water's running and the electricity is working fine. Everything looks good over here. Uh, nothing on me’s broken, and I just stayed the two nights, so the hospital bill shouldn’t be too bad. Anyway, I was just checking in while I’m here like you asked. Going to head out in a bit, so you might get the machine if you call back again…” he found that his voice faded off a second too soon.

He wasn’t sure if he wanted to punctuate the voicemail with an ‘I love you’ or not. He knows she’d probably like to hear it. Kids are supposed to tell their parents they love them, after all. But the pettier part of him says that since she didn’t say it in hers, he didn’t need to leave it for her in his.

“Bye.” he simply concluded before putting the phone back down and rushing to get out the front door in case one of them happened to call right back.

The drive to Robin’s is easy. It’s muscle memory for Steve at this point to flow through the suburbs away from Loch Nora down to her place on Redding Drive. As he parked his car in his usual spot just past her mailbox, he spotted her already waiting for him, seated on the steps of her porch. She stood up, bringing into her arms a box that looks light enough he didn’t feel like he needed to help her get it in the popped trunk.

She approached the car, but stopped a few feet away and looked at Steve like she was waiting for something.

“Well? Come on, let’s go,” he told her through the open passenger window.

A smirk found her lips,“ Told you you’d come for me anyway.” she chimed with that big smile as she dropped her items next to his and closed the compartment.

“Just get in. We’ve got places to be.”

“I know,” she said as she plopped herself into the passenger seat.

“So, how’re you feeling?” she asked, checking over him with searching eyes that made him feel like he needed to cover up more.

“I swear you’re probably the fifth person to ask me that today-”

She cut him off with a raised finger,“ Am I hearing you right? Are you complaining that people care about you enough to ask?”

He raised his own in opposition,“ I’m not complaining-”

“It sounds kind of like complaining,” she affirmed, connecting their raised fingers like they were Elliot and E.T.

He dropped his hand in defeat and simply told her,“ Buckle up, Buckley.” as he got ready to pull away from the curb.

“Yeesh, what’s got Steve Harrington tied up in knots?” she wondered as she clicked the seat belt into place.

After a beat of silence, Steve decided to just change the subject entirely as they drove away from her house,” So, have you heard anything from Keith about the state of our employment yet?”

”Not yet. My parents told me that the strip downtown looks fine, so there shouldn’t be any damage to the building itself. But I don’t know what the plan is doing to be about people going back to work right now. That new mayor had a segment on the news last night, said the city government was checking all the infrastructure in town before letting people back into the buildings and would take everything on a 'case-by-case basis to get Hawkins up and running smoothly again'. But there’s not even been a decision on if the school’s going to get back in session, and Monday’s only two days away, so I don't think that's really going to happen on schedule. Especially if people are living in the gymnasium right now. And he said the priority would be making sure the essential businesses kept up first; power plant, trash service, postal service, the bus route, and all that stuff. So I don’t know how quickly they’ll be getting to us kids with part-time-” she paused and motioned to him,” -or full-time jobs at the local video store.”

Steve was grateful for her rambling schpeel. It gave him a minute to get out of his head about his parents. He noticed that just listening to her talk could pull him away from a bad mood pretty easily.

“Damn… greatest Spring Break ever. There’s been half an apocalypse, we’ve got friends in comas, and now we can’t even save some more cash watching movies between customers.” he shook his head at the loss.

Robin sighed wistfully,“ You’re telling me. I had planned this week to finally get you to sit through Victor/Victoria…”

“That’s the Julie Andrews one, right?” he asked, pretty sure he remembered Robin saying she was the lead actress in it.

“Yeah”

“Well, if we still have jobs next week, I’ll let you pop the tape in, no difficulty from me.”

“Don’t make me a promise you won’t keep, Harrington. I can’t afford to have you break my heart right now, too.”

There was a somber tone at the end of the joke, Steve looked at Robin hanging her head out the window, and asked,“ We been thinking about Vickie?”

She nodded her head, but kept her eyes off of him,“ We’ve been thinking about Vickie. Vickie and her dumb, stupid boyfriend and the fact that he gets to give her dumb, stupid kisses. I know I said I was going to get over it because it was just my love life against the end of everything as we know it, but…”

“It’s not so easy to just get over it.” he knowingly finished for her.

She agreed,“ No, it is not.”

“Well, if it’s still bothering you, I’ll listen to you rant all night long.” she turned in her seat to look at him, so he shrugged and added,” I’ll even let you give me dumb, stupid kisses if you need to.”

He threw on a big pout and turned to her as Robin gasped and smacked his arm. He threw up a finger to add his condition,” Only on my cheek though! Because, no offense, but you’re a lesbian, Robin! I don’t like you like that! We are as platonic as platonic gets.”

She shook her head at him,“ Platonic with a capital P.”

“Platonic with a capital P,” he swore back.

“You’re so dumb.” she lovingly joked as she reclined back into the seat.

“So I’ve been told. But you still bother to keep me around anyway. Must love me or something.”

“Guess I must.”

By the time it was almost noon, Steve was pulling to the Wheeler’s driveway with Robin and Dustin in tow. They all go up to the door to knock and get greeted by Karen. She smiled at them and offered to have them inside to eat something, but they all noticed the other car in the driveway and the guests at the table, and just decided they’d rather be on their way than seated with some strangers while Ted grumbles about everyone eating him out of house and home. So Karen called her daughter down from her room. The girl came from the top of the stairs with an overflowing box of her own in her hands. Which, upon seeing, prompted the four of them to unpack their boxes and reorganize them all in the driveway. All the bedding went in one box, clothes in another, Steve’s toiletries sat on top of the canned food, and games and books were being put together when Karen came out with a final box of stuffed animals she said she just came across in the attic.

All four of them pile back into Steve’s car once they have the boxes sorted, Robin in the passenger with Dustin and Nancy looking mildly displeased in the back, and they started on their way. It was at the moment Steve was pulling out of the driveway that Nancy spoke up about something she noticed when she was brought home the day before.

“Did you guys see the government suits around town?”

“Yeah” Dustin answered simply.

“They came back?” Steve asked, looking in the rearview mirror for a second to catch Nancy’s eyes.

“Yeah. I didn’t think they would. El’s not even here anymore, and Hopper was, like, our only point of contact for them, so…” Nancy shrugged to Dustin and Robin who were looking at her,” I just figured we were kind of on our own. But I saw a few of them walking around a lot of the bigger damage sites while I was going home yesterday. The library, city hall, and I’m pretty sure one was waiting outside the hospital when we all left.”

“So how long have they been in Hawkins…” Steve mumbled, more to himself than anyone in the car.

Nancy started to answer anyway,“ No clue, but-”

“Why haven’t they tried talking to any of us?” Robin asked.

“I’m not sur-”

“Wait a minute,” Dustin interrupted, voice worried,” They’re not going to let Eddie take the fall to keep eyes off the Upside Down stuff, right?”

“Exactly why I brought it up, I think we need to talk to them and get them on the same page. To make sure they don’t start peddling some coverup story with falsified evidence that will mess things up for Eddie after we might finally have the cops on our side.”

“Yeah, yeah. Um, do we want to do that after we go by the high school or…?” Steve started to ask.

“Well,” Robin reasoned,” If they’re trying to keep an eye on things, they’ll probably have someone at the high school too, right?”

The two in the back seat nodded in agreement.

“Alright, so mission donate to the needy slash convince the government agency to not fuck us over?” Steve offered to make sure he knew where he was driving.

“Mission Supply and Demand” Dustin corrected.

Steve looked into the mirror and locked eyes with Dustin, a disappointed expression on his face. A little annoyed that the kid felt the need to one-up him, and a lot annoyed that he didn’t come up with the name. It was pretty smooth. The kid might have an inflated ego, but dammit if it isn't a little earned. Not that Steve’s going to say that to him.

“What? That was a good one!” Dustin argued.

The driver sighed and yielded,“ Mission Supply and Demand”

When they pull into the school parking lot, Nancy starts assigning them boxes. With his limp, she only let Dustin even look at the bedding, Robin got the food and hygienic items, Nancy took the stuffed animals, and Steve was piled with the box of books and games on top of the box of clothes. It takes practically no time at all for them to drop them off at the table and feel like they can’t just walk away.

Maybe they all felt guilty about not stopping all of this from happening… but, not even a minute later, they were all volunteering.

Robin walked the food over to the lunch station and starts helping out making sandwiches for pick up, Dustin trailed along to get a tray of water cups to pass out to everybody at their cots, and Nancy and Steve were shown to the apparel table to sort everything out by age. Nancy told Steve to keep an eye out for anyone who looked like the secretive government operative type, and they split the gym in half to make it easier. Leaving Steve the perfect view of one Vickie Nelson sliding up right next to Robin.

They were spreading peanut butter and grape jelly onto bread side by side, and for a second Steve was preparing himself to listen to Robin’s rant later. About how she should have done this, and shouldn’t have done that, and how stupid it is to hope… but then he saw her smile. Vickie was saying something, and Robin was smiling at her. A few seconds later and they were laughing together. Robin looked like she was stuck between being terrified out of her mind and thrilled beyond reason. But she was smiling in a special Robin Buckley way that said it was going really, really well. So Steve resigned himself to just smile back at them, and he’d ask Robin about how it went later.

“About damn time…” he hummed pleasingly to himself.

“What?” Nancy asked, having barely overheard the mumble, and not enough to be able to tell what he said.

“Nothin’. Was just happy Dustin’s managing fine without his crutch right now.” Steve answered with a nod to Henderson weaving between makeshift beds and asking if people were thirsty.

“Yeah, I was glad to see he wasn’t really needing it too badly today. That kid likes getting in trouble too much to be laid up in bed.” she agreed.

“That’s what I was thinking,” Steve replied with a warm chuckle, which brought a few of Nancy’s giggles to the surface.

And then Steve caught himself thinking about how comfortable it was, laughing with Nancy again. It was weird, the two of them. They were in fits of love three years ago, breaking each other’s hearts a year and a half ago, nothing to each other until monsters rose again last summer, and here they were now; organizing kid's clothes and laughing about Dustin Henderson.

It was weird, but it was right. He couldn’t figure any other way to think about it, besides it being right. He likes that he and Nancy are talking again. Perhaps, maybe just maybe, he likes-

“There!” Nancy whispered with urgency.

Steve turned to look over his shoulder and saw the person Nancy was pointedly looking at. It was a woman wearing sunglasses indoors, a navy blue pantsuit, with one hand permanently affixed in her pocket, probably holding onto a gun, while the other held tightly to a leather briefcase. She had a short cut of dark brown hair framing her face and bold red lipstick that, honestly, seemed like it would make her stand out a bit much for someone who’s supposed to be keeping a low profile.

Nancy put down the shirt she was folding on top of a stack and glanced at the team leader who told them to sort clothes.

“Cover for me,” she said quickly, as she stepped away from their station and towards the mystery woman.

Nancy took weighty steps across the gym floor to her. She set her face to look serious, determined to get the answers she wanted. As she closed in, the woman turned to her, but before she could speak, Nancy was starting.

“You’re with Doctor Owens’s team. Right?”

The woman paused for a moment and answered with only a recognizing,“ Nancy Wheeler.”

And for some reason, that just pissed her off more.

“I take it, that’s a yes.”

The woman looked around the room, pulled on an attempt at a sweet smile, and started to ask,“ Why don’t we take this outside-”

But Nancy cut her off,“ How long have you known?”

“Excuse me?”

She took a step closer to the woman and set her tone sterner,“ How long have you known we were having another situation in Hawkins before you bothered to show up?”

Her faux expression slipped a bit.

“We didn’t stop keeping an eye on this town after the girl left if that’s what you’re asking.” She breathed and, when Nancy didn’t speak up, continued to admit,“ We’ve known the whole time, dear. We’ve been here since the cheerleader-”

“The whole time? And you just- you just let it happen?” Nancy sneered the words out.

How dare they? How dare this staff who was supposed to keep things in check just do nothing? They didn’t step in, didn’t talk to anyone who knew, didn’t do anything to help them while they were left to try and fight off that monster Vecna-

“Let’s take this outside.” the woman repeated, insisting on the idea through her gritted teeth.

[luciadiosa]

I trust Y/N with my life.

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4/ Part 5 / Part 6 /Part 7 / Part 8 /

Part 9 / Part 10/  Part 11  / Part 12 / Part 13 / Part 14 / Part 15

Part 16 / Part 17 / Part 18 / Part 19

The sweet kisses of the man steal your sanity. His beard tickles you. His hand in your back pushes you more to him. Aleksander loosen the kiss and nipple on your lower lip, biting it softly. You breath out and open your eyes. A small grin on his face gets you smiling. “It has to be a secret for now.” He speaks. “I tell no one your real identity.” You agree while he step to his horse. “Oh no. Us. I have a reputation, you know.” You look at him surprisingly. “Oh.” Your horse gives you a little bump with his head. “Aleksander, you stop calling Zoya or anyone in your bedroom, right?” you ask but it was more an order. The general laughs: “One second the girlfriend of the black heretic and yet so bossy.” You get on your horse and lead it next to his: “I just don’t share. Or do you want me to fuck with someone else?” “Don’t worry; Me neither. I am yours and you are mine. All alone. We should get back, warm up in a nice bath.” “Agree” You smile at each other and hurry on your horses.

You stop in the courtyard. “General, Baghra wants you to see. Now.” One of the squaller say. You get down, after looking to Kirigan, which was off his horse already. “I don’t have the time, right now.”, he reacts and give his horse the stable boy. “It is urgent.” Aleksander looks to you. He doesn’t want to leave you. Not now. Knowing you could take a bath together and spend some time. You nod in the direction of Baghra. He sighs without anyone noticing. “Fine. I’m coming.” Your eyes follow him three seconds then you walk in and order the maids to bring hot water for Kirigan in his rooms. After they left you, you waits for him. Before the water turns cold you decided to get naked and enjoy the hot water. You sigh as the water covers your body.

 Aleksander enters the cavern of his mother. “You want to speak to me?” he starts annoyed because she summoned him like a dog. “Yes. You have to get rid of that one girl/boy.” He sighs. “Which one?” “Y/N. She/He know who you are. Y/N cannot be trusted.” Baghra comes close and places his handy on his arms. “Y/N will be your ruin If the King finds out.” Aleksander lays his Hand in the shoulder of his mother and pushes her away. Softy. “Don’t worry. I know about it. Y/N confront me with it. It is under my control” “She/he is useless without her powers. Is she even grisha without them?” Aleksander stretch his neck. “Y/N is grisha. More than that. Besides she asks for a room in the palace for you. Quite nice of her I think.” His superior gaze turns away from his mother. The darkling leaves the cavern, crosses the park and open his rooms. The steam of the water fills the air. “Y/N?” he shouts looking around the room, then he follows the little noise to his bed room. He stops in the door frame, watching you twist in the black kefta. “Suits you. Hope you like it.” Kirigan smiles and you stop spinning. “You remembered what I said. I love it.” The kefta wasn’t just black. It had dark red applications on it and fits you perfectly. “Everything for my girl/boy. It isn’t finished yet.” You smile at his words. His girl/boy. You like that.“No?” He shook his head and comes closer. “In the middle of the back is still a piece missing. Your scar. The star and half-moon. Maybe in white or silver?” he explains and pointed on the free black fabric under your neck. “Half-moon?”  “The cut will be a scar and it looks like a half moon. The circle is below the star and the star fits in the open end of it.” You smile. “Sounds romantic. Can I tell you something?„ You whisper and fiddle on his kefta. “I am just wearing the kefta. Nothing else.” The Darkling takes a deep breath, tilt his head a little and lean down. Your lips nearly touch. He strikes under your kefta along your soft tights till he reaches your ass. “Naughty.” He grabs your buttock and massage it a little with both hands.

Part 21 (Smut ahead!)

Taglist <3  :

@misselsbells06​ @aleksanderwh0r3​ @dark-night-sky-99​

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Monday 13 July 1840

4 35/..

11 35/.

Leave Khotevi [Khot’evi].

very fine sunny morning R15 ½° and F67°+ at 5 40/.. at which hour all ready and the man came in to pack – on horseback at 6 5/.. (had given the princes’ cuisinier 1/. silver très content) the prince came up to wish goodbye and to give us 2 papers in Georgian one to the chef at Outsére for accommodation and another also for Outséré ordering us an escort – not take less than 4 men in going to Gloga, to the acidulated – to inquire at O- if we could get safely to Vladicawkas [Vladikavkaz] must pass thro’ an independent country – 2 men killed thereabouts lately – the prince very civil – all this took us till 6 20/.. and then off from Kothévi [Kothevi] where we have really been very well  housed for these parts spite of the rain on Saturday one 8tagon (very pretty) dome 3in. thick deals retiring lapping over 2in. or + per 3in. the lap seemed = to the thickness – at 6 35/.. alighted for ¼ hour at the old castle for A- to see it – beautiful morning – line of high mountains clear – did I note last night the vaulted reservoir of good spring water according to Dubois roof not much above the ground – little door and 3 or 4 steps down into the reservoir – full – outside about 5 yards or 4 ¾ yards x 3 ½ - there might have been about 16 steps up to door entering oval tower – the church on pinnacle of high wooded hill mountain seen from Kothévi [Kothevi], Koo-ar-rat-sikhé, tho’ a church Bashna (Russ) not a castle was

no! Bashna tower castle tower the single square towers

high above us right (distant) at 7 40/.. when cross the river (the Chotévi) that we had had all along running down in deep ravine close right and turn right to the Krepost of Quāvărtsikhé the ancient residence country palace of the king of Imeretia – at 7 ¾ we were nearly opposite the picturesque little scattered village of Ăh-hālt-spènĕ, on hillside (plateau) on the other side the Chotévi – 2 other villages (dĕrēvnĕe) on one side at no great distance – our valley that we had turned into running East very picturesque and well cultivated and sprinkled with picturesque little hamlets – with a little stream down the mid[dle] of it – crossed and recrossed the river several times – at 8 ¾ we were toiling up steepish hill to the Krepost – and looking down up the woody, corny, well villaged valley – waited a little for new guide from a village we had passed close by – our Koutaïs, guide does not know the way to anything hereabouts nor even our guide from Kothévi [Kothevi] – the fort ruined by Totleben n 1777 at the same time as Vartsiklé and Bagdad with the consent of the then K. Salomon, lest they should fell into hands of Turkey or Persia – this fort very picturesque – [?] on top of middle and larger of 3 jets of calcareous rock yellowish white sprinkled over with hazels etc. seen from below in the valley but now on the hill a 4th jet behind the other 3 – all in one line up the valley longitudinally  dividing it into 2 gorges with a sort of cirque green valley at the back – pass a cottage and descended to foot of fortress rock and alight under a walnut tree (14ft. 6in. circumference 2ft. from ground) to breakfast at 9 10/.. – while breakfast was setting out sketched the East end of the old castle standing rather to the north – vid. rough book – breakfast from 10 to 11 R in my bag in the shade of walnut tree 20 ¼° and F77 ½° at 11 ¼ a.m. and open close under the tree where I am writing now // at 12 50/.. p.m. with delightful gentle breeze (fine refreshing air that blows leaves and my papers about) R21 2/3° and F81° A- is stretched on her burca fast asleep close by me and all the men are asleep on the grass close by – Dubois was not here – and we must return to where we left the Baragone road at 7 40/.. = 1 ½ hour and then [?] 14 or 15v. to go to sleep middle way the valley of Baragone chez prince Gregoire Eristaf – I understood the employé on Sunday the Krepost here was [?]

and 6 cannon here – deserted a year or 2 since they now say – the cannon left but not a soul hot, terribly hot in the sun but I will try to reconnoitre – Tuesday 14 July Left A- asleep and off alone at 1 10/.. south side – look down into beautiful valley the other branch prong of our valley divided into 2 by the line of fortress rock – river on south side – the fortress rock entirely inaccessible south side – walked along the bottom of the side the rock, à pic, 200 to 300ft. high – at last spied a little cleft and saw in the bottom of the castle wall reaching down to top of this cleft scrambled up with difficulty – the hole did not furnish the means of getting into the castle – scrambling down again took me 20 minutes – I had had 50 minutes toil for nothing back to A- at 2 – a man with a ladder waiting to go with us into the castle – A- staid behind sketching – took George and Adam – broiling walk into the cleft below us and then up along the traverses thro’ the wood to the west end – there (quick going) in 10 minutes at 2 ¼ - castle of Quār-vă-tsikhĕ – all the little villages round about are called one village named Swār-văh – five pieces of cannon, 2 largeish same size as at Gori – one bomb, and 2 swivels of the time of the Tzar Salomon – one with inscription in Georgian –Adam said it signified the cannon of Salomon (I having told him it was so) and the other part the date which he did not tell – 1 piece of cannon afterwards (size of larger) near the Escalier wood gallery that hung over the cleft (south side) I had scrambled up – there must have been stairs up the cleft communicated with a carved passage and this leading on to the wood gallery that opened into the castle by 15+ft. from the hole in the foundation wall that I got to – we entered west – square tower with corners rounded to above top of door à la [Tentoen] – beautiful view – rich winding thickly, peopoled wooded corny valley with its picturesque stream Chrēē-ăh-kăh running down to the river Kothévi [Kothevi] – and valley thickly peopled round its wide circular head at the back of the castle rock, to the East – off from the castle at 3 – back at 3 18/.. en nage, my mouth quite parched – the 2 men (George and Adam) ½ undressed – smoking with heat – at 3 35/.. R32° and F104 ½° near our walnut tree in glimmer of sun – we had the full sun upon us the latter part of the way – the heat must then have = R35°+ - on returning had a mouthful of bread and butter and held water in my mouth till warm enough to swallow – castle inaccessible north south and east – the calcareous strata of rock at [corner] of 45° 200 or 300ft. high perpendicular – wind up steep at west end – low narrow door and passage – then 4 yards square room with little low fire-place – then irregular court – castle irregular but oval according to shape of top of rock which it exactly occupies – the 2 diameters inside court about 70 and 40 yards – narrow gallery walk all round along the parapet wall – several of the timbers that supported it still sticking out from the wall – communication by this parapet gallery from square entrance tower to another habitation a few yards distant littleish room with chimney – then continuation of parapet gallery to a platform rooms underneath it? near the great breach (north east) originally a large window at top of it? – then round tower – the wooden escalier and gallery gone, and the door high by several feet than the west entrance door .:. one ladder 5 step 18 to 20in. rises 3 or 4ft. too short for the other not usable now – sorry could not get into this tower – up to this the lower part of round tower (the donjon keep?) a little church 4 yards x 3? then continuation of parapet gallery all round and machicolations or meurtrières loopholes – wherever these are not it is presumable there was some inhabited building – old entrance south over where I climbed up – 10 years since the Russians left this fort a little building or two more south side towards west end – very interesting old castle – the exterior still nearly perfect and apparently the round tower perfect – gave the man who went with us and carried the // ladder one abasse très content – the Jew peeped into his hand to see what I had given him, and grimed and said it was otchen [charusho] – off at 4 10/.. – back at the Highroad at 6 25/.. Cross the Kothévi [Kothevi] river

SH:7/ML/E/24/0152

Baragone.

over wood bridge at Ammbrăleĕōōlĭ  [Ambrolauri] (with square tower [?] of Dubois?) and turn right leaving the tower and little church and 2 or 3 picturesque neat houses a little distance and in 3 or 4 minutes at the Rioni – (Phase Rion) – beautiful valley – picturesque cottages – well peopled fine valley – wide streamy, rapid, white muddy island Rion – enter the ecluse at 6 20/.. – frail wooden bridge – all dismounted in going over it and went singly – had to wait (A- and I) near ten minutes that not over bridge (fortified little last tower like building pushed into the rock) till 6 ½ - corn (wheat and barley no oats) everywhere ripe, and the people shearing – men and women – Schist rocks began at the Ecluse right – I thought the princes house was just above us (left) on leaving the ecluse, at village of Tzissé – inquired of boy – did not know – did not persist in sending Adam to inquire rode on to the handsome church – there at 7 ¼ - no prince – Adam said he had left there yesterday and gone to his house at Tzisse (where I thought he was) – returned – uphill steep narrow bad road – arrived

Thursday 16 July at 7 50/.. chez le prince Yorghi Metōlich Eistavi sous capitaine – very graciously received – he apologized for not being dressed – did not see his wife because she not dressed – should see tomorrow – he not well – has spit blood for the last 2 or 3 months – under the care of M.D. at Gori (100v. off across the country) who has taken him off wine, tea, coffee all meat but chicken and mutton, and given him a white saline powder to take 3 times a day – the having no wine a great deprivation – drinks 5 or 6 glasses at a meal, morning and night – about 2 bottles a day – no great deal for this country – only makes wine for his own consumption 2 sorts – red and white – had teak brought about 8 ½ or after – had asked for samovar to prepare our own tea etc. but he would furnish us with everything himself – he had ordered bread to be baked and we had a nice hot large thin [?] cake like Tiflis barley-cake but of wheat flour – Great deal of wheat everywhere, but all bearded – from 10 to 11 supper – each a plate of a sort of soup with little pieces of mutton in it (excellent) and 2 dishes of boiled mutton and a dish of roast fowl cut up, and 3 sorts of bread thin as before and 2 thicker sorts of cake the one long and narrow the other round size of a good muffin – we had his white lighter sort of wine – rather brisk – very pleasant – A- drank 3 or 4 or 5 of her little tumblers (about as many English wine glasses) and I 5 or 6 of my rather larger little tumbler – our prince had supped with us – wished him good night – complimented his good cheer – threw off my pelisse and threw myself on the 2 divan (A- at the other end 2 of it) and in a few minutes fast asleep – very fine day R20 ¼° at 11 ½ p.m. –

[notsoguiltykpop]

The Tenth Floor pt22

Pairing: Yoongi x Reader & Taehyung x Reader

Min Yoongi had gone through 34 secretaries in the past 24 months, and each one of them left in tears. This fact alone should have warned you against taking the job, but the pay was too good to pass up. Surely you could put up with a billionaires temper-tantrums, right?

3 years after giving up on the nonsense that happened on the 10th Floor, and after a particularly unpleasant falling out with your former boss, you find yourselves back in each others lives. Can things have changed enough for you and Yoongi to have a fresh start? Or was the damage done too great?

Genre: Crack, Fluff, humor, some angst? Mostly crack tbh.

Word Count: Idk man, this is a short update.

Warnings: Strong language, smut talked about/implied in previous updates, some dark themes occasionally. 

Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,

---

His words hung, uselessly, in the air. He shifted from foot to foot, waiting for you to say something. Anything. To make this less awkward. 

“Funny, after all this time, me bringing you the wrong coffee.”

Why were those the words that came out of his mouth? He had no idea. All he knew was they spilled out in a desperate attempt to lighten the uncomfortable silence that had fallen after you took a sip, made a face, and spat the coffee back into the cup without saying a word. 

“I never brought you the wrong coffee,” You replied dryly. “You just never knew what you wanted until you drank it.”

Yoongi internally cringed. That wasn’t entirely true. He usually knew what he wanted, some part of him just liked to be difficult. 

He thought better than to say that. 

“So this is a nice office,” He tried instead. “Nice... Desk?”

“Thanks I built it myself,” You deadpanned.

“Really?”

“No.” You sat back in your chair, eyeing him warily. “Where’s Jungkook today?”

Right to the point. “He wasn’t feeling good,” Yoongi said smoothly.

You looked at your phone, read something, and raised an eyebrow. “No.”

“He took a personal day.”

“No.” You said again. “He didn’t. What’s going on?”

“Nothing, just felt like visiting our greatest investor in person today. Speaking of, is Changkyun available...?” Even now, after these past several years of only seeing you occasionally, after basically becoming strangers again, Yoongi felt strange lying to you. It didn’t feel good. Like he was reverting to ways he thought he had left behind in therapy. 

“No, something’s up, and Jungkook’s being weirdly secretive about it, too,” You leaned forward on your desk, looking him directly in the eyes. “Is there something we should know? Changkyun’s noticed it, too, over the last several months.” 

“Speaking of him,” Yoongi tried to deflect. “Where did you say he is?”

“He’s out,” You shrugged. “You can talk to me about further investment.”

Yoongi grimaced. “So that’s the thing,” He coughed uncomfortably. “Things aren’t--there isn’t. Uh. It isn’t looking like there’s going to be much left to invest in pretty soon. We’re drowning.” It felt wrong to actually say it out loud, even though the numbers had been saying it for so long.

Your eyebrows knitted together. “I thought you had this whole plan of recovery--”

Yoongi shook his head. “It’s not working fast enough. Changkyun already knows the other investors pulled out. I’m here in a last ditch effort to save some jobs.” He shifted again, then muttered. “I’m selling the company.”

“You’re what.” 

Yoongi couldn’t tell if you actually couldn’t hear him, or if you were surprised. He didn’t think there was any chance you didn’t see it coming--As Changkyun’s assistant, he was sure you got an inside look at how terribly things were going. 

“I’m selling the company,” He said again, louder this time. “I had my chance. I ran it into the ground. My employees shouldn’t suffer for that, though. If someone like Changkyun was to buy it, at least some of them could keep their jobs...”

“You didn’t run it into the ground,” You interrupted. “And you know that. It was failing long before you were put in charge, and even then you had to cater to investors who didn’t understand what was going on. Don’t be so hard on yourself.” 

Yoongi felt his cheeks heat up, and he coughed as an excuse to look away. “Thanks. For that. But,” He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling restless suddenly. “Credit where credit is due, I didn’t fix things fast enough.”

“That isn’t how that saying works,” You muttered, grabbing a sticky note and jotting down a note to yourself. “I’ll talk to Changkyun.”

“Thanks,” He said, taking a couple steps back towards the door. 

“And Yoongi?” You added, giving him a small smile.

“Yeah,” He wasn’t sure what it was about the way you said it that made him nervous.

“It was good to see you.” 

---

Ever the playboy, Jungkook was flirting with a waitress when you walked into the restaurant. 

“I’m guessing the coffee was your doing?” You scoffed as you sat down in front of him. 

“Who, me?” Jungkook smiled innocently. “I would never tamper with a beverage I picked up for my best friend. Even if my annoying boss changed my plans and said he was going to your office instead of me and took said beverage. I definitely wouldn’t put five packets of salt in it when he wasn’t looking.”

“That was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever--Why do you do things like this? What goes on in your head?”

His smile only grew. “Did you spit it out?”

“Who wouldn’t?” You raised an eyebrow. 

Jungkook did a little triumphant fist pump. “How many times did he spit out your coffee when you worked for him?” He asked excitedly, not waiting for an answer. “And now he knows how it feels on the other side of that.”

You shook your head. “So petty,” You chastised. 

“So funny,” Jungkook corrected without missing a beat. 

“I would have appreciated a heads up,” You sighed, opening the menu only to have Jungkook reach over and slide it away from you.

“I knew you might be conveniently out of the office if I told you he would be dropping by,” He shrugged. “Also I kind of already ordered for you.” 

“God damnit,” You complained, sitting back in your chair and crossing your arms. “You always do that. I’m capable of ordering my own lunch, butthead.”

“You’re always late!” He practically whined back. “And then I get awkward, and I feel bad for taking up a whole table and then some random mutters about me getting stood up--which, sorry, but do I look like I get stood up?--so I panic order!” He pouted. “Also. I have great taste. You always like what I get.”

You narrowed your eyes, but let it slide for now. “I didn’t mean a heads up about Yoongi coming in. I meant about his company tanking.” 

“Oh,” Jungkook’s pout dropped. “He told you about that, huh? I guess it really is that bad...” He tilted his head to the side. “If it goes under, I might have to be a regular doctor...Y/n. I might have to see patients again.” He shivered dramatically, and you rolled your eyes. 

“I’m sure you’ll be fine,” You assured him dryly. “I’m more concerned about Yoongi--He’s given it his all. What’s he going to do once it’s gone?”

Jungkook shrugged. “Actually live a little, I hope.”

--

A/N *cough* ‘sup let’s not talk about the fact that this has taken me nearly 3 years to update and pretend everything is normal. Yeah? Yeah. What are your thoughts and feelings? Is the time skip too extra? Or just extra enough? Would you have drank the coffee to be polite or spat it out? Let me know! As always I love hearing from you all! 

If you’ve stuck around this long, omg thank you so much. If you’re new to my writing, welcome and thank you so much. It’s been a hot minute, I hope you’re all doing well and staying safe out there! I’ve been stressed as fuck and figured there’s no better cure than writing absolute crack. Stay tuned for nonsense!

[klarolinelibrary]

Hi KC readers,

We have decided to create a list of KC stories that were updated during the week which we plan to share every Friday. This is one of the ways we plan to promote different KC authors and stories in our community. 

For our first weekly releases, we have collected stories on FFN and AO3 that were updated during the week of April 16 - April 10! We hope you enjoy the new stories.

Happy reading!

FFN

He's got you mesmerised (while i die)

Author: klavscaroline

Rating: T

Length: Drabble

Summary: You gave him your sweater, it's just polyester. But you like him better a.k.a. unrequited carolijah (high school au)

Date of update: April 10 2021

Klaus POV - The Trouble with Spells (chapter 20)

Author: ilovetf

Rating: M

Length: Multi Chapter

Summary: The Trouble with Spells as seen through Klaus's eyes and his POV. Over the years, people kept liking this story and some even asked for Klaus POV, so I decided to give it a try. Hope you enjoy it. All feedback is more than welcome. Good or bad.

Date of update: April 10 2021

Black Roses (Chapter 29)

Author: xKlaroStylesx  

Rating: M

Length: Multi Chapter

Summary: Vampires, witches and werewolves are welcomed at the Whitmore Academy for the Supernaturally Gifted but that doesn't mean they all welcome each other. Ambitious student witch Caroline Forbes shares a mutual loathing with arrogant yet mysterious vampire Klaus Mikaelson. A spiral of events occur when their two dueling worlds collide and a life changing connection is formed.

Date of update: April 13 2021

Our darkest moments (Chapter 8)

Author: CookieDuo

Rating: M

Length: Multi Chapter

Summary: Discovering her entire life has been a lie, Caroline is determined to find out the truth and travels to the small town Mystic Falls in search of answers. Meanwhile, in the woods outside of Mystic Falls, a "monster" prays on unsuspecting young woman. In time the connection between the two becomes clear... Dark Klaroline!

Date of update: April 14 2021

A Failed Sacrifice (Chapter 3)

Author: CookieDuo

Rating: M

Length: Multi Chapter

Summary: She ruined the sacrifice to save her own life, and in order to survive she turned to the only other vampire who'd been able to survive the wrath of Klaus Mikaelson. She gets away, and learns from the master, but when Klaus eventually catches up to her, her life will never be the same again.

Date of update: April 16 2021

AO3

Always Finding Trouble

Author: Cupcakemolotov

Raiting: M

Length: Drabble

Summary: Assassins in love were so cliche, but here she was. Married, even.

Date of update: April 10 2021

In Your Hands

Author: ThrowMeAStory

Raiting: E

Lenght: Drabble

Summary: 4x16 au, Part 6. The date.

Date of update: April 10 2021

The blood in your mouth

Author: perfectpro

Raiting: T

Lenght: Drabble

Summary: After Liz Forbes's untimely death, Caroline finds herself at the helm of her mother's empire. She's been trained for this role, but Klaus Mikaelson is a man she hadn't known to expect.

Date of update: April 10 2021

I AM SORRY BABY 2

Author: wincefish16

Raiting: Not rated

Lenght: Drabble

Summary: CONTINUATION OF I AM SORRY BABY. THIS WILL FOCUS ON KLAUS'S CHEMO AND THE PROBLEMS THAT COME WITH IT.

Date of update: April 11 2021

Give Me A Sign (Chapter 2)

Author: PumpkinDoodles

Raiting: M

Lenght: Multi chapter

Summary: Caroline Forbes is happy that she left founders' parties, competition over guys she'd known since elementary school, and even Mystic Falls itself behind years ago. She's not second-best to Elena anymore. Even Liz would be proud of her new life working on the side of the law. Mostly. (If you need to compel someone into giving up stolen goods, is it really a crime?). Of course he's the one person from her past who comes looking for her. Klaus does that.

Date of update: April 11 2021

The Wolf II (Chapter 31)

Author: Yokan

Raiting: E

Lenght: Multi chapter

Summary: The Guerreras' threat still looms over the Mikaelson house as Caroline tries to adapt to life as a vampire, away from her daughter. But an unexpected family reunion makes everything worse, taking away the little peace Klaus, Caroline and Elijah managed to find after the war that nearly broke them. [It's The Originals Season 2, but Caroline was a witch, had Klaus' baby and now she's a vampire. Klaroline, obviously.]

Date of update: April 11 2021

A smutty anniversary (Chapter 5)

Author: kcatdino

Raiting: E

Lenght: Multi chapter

Summary: Caroline and Klaus celebrate 3 months together with a day full of smut.

Date of update: April 11 2021

One of a Kind, Two of a Kind, or the Three Musketeers (Chapter 9)

Author: Phandancee74

Raiting: T

Lenght: Multi chapter

Summary: Caroline recognizes how hard it is for Elena to be a doppelgänger, her fate predestined as well as her face. It's pretty tough being the last of your kind too though, and Caroline is determined to protect them both, with some very helpful Bennetts on their side. A fic that integrates Malivore and the larger supernatural universe into TVD from the start.

Date of update: April 11 2021

Humanity (Chapter 8)

Author: FandomizedArtist

Raiting: Not rated

Lenght: Multi chapter

Summary: Now with the power of an Original vampire Lucien had everything, everything except his complete revenge on the all mighty Klaus Mikaelson. With the help of a witch he had tracked down the only woman who in thousands of years Klaus had fallen in love with. Miss Caroline Forbes. Adding her name to his list of evil todo’s he created the plan to kidnap, drain the vervain and compel the newbie vampire to be his. In this fanfiction Klaus does have hope but Caroline did not have Alaric’s twins.

Date of update: April 12 2021

Magics Miracle (Chapter 5)

Author: 1Jemmagirl22

Raiting: T

Lenght: Multi chapter

Summary: Caroline is in Paris with out her humanity after the death of her mother. It seems her friends aren't happy with her new state so they inform the one person capable of turning her emotions back on. Klaus. When a prophecy about a second Tribrid comes about in New Orleans, shock to sweeps through the city. It seems nature doesn't consider Hope such an abomination after all as an even greater one is about to be created. The hands of power are changing and when they're done even the worlds most powerful witches won't be able to stop it.

Date of update: April 12 2021

We are young (Chapter 11)

Author: kcatdino

Raiting: T

Lenght: One shots

Summary: Basically, Klaroline flirt in front of their kids who they are barely older than, and Landon is appropriately confused. Edit: Now a series of one-shots!

Date of update: April 12 2021

When Blood Calls for Blood

Author: Cupcakemolotov

Raiting: M

Lenght: Drabble

Summary: At sixteen, Caroline helped kill monsters. Hers, his, and theirs. Ten years later, and Klaus returns to Mystic Falls with unfinished business.

Date of update: April 12 2021

The War of Succession

Author: BelleMorte180

Raiting: E

Lenght: One shot

Summary: When King William I dies without a living male child, the whole of England spends two generations at war over who is the true heir to the throne, sending the houses of Lockwood and Mikaelson into battle. When the love of her life is slain in battle, Caroline realizes that her hand is betrothed to the victor since she is the only grandchild of the late king. Upon her wedding to the new king, she vows that she will hate him for all eternity but time is a fickle thing and so it the heart. Written for Au Season Enemies to Lovers. Kind of based off the War of the Roses.

Date of update: April 14 2021

Some ancient call that i've answered before (Chapter 2)

Author: klarrolines

Raiting: T

Lenght: Multi chapter

Summary: According to Greek mythology, humans were created with four arms, four legs, and a head with two faces. Fearing their power, Zeus split them into two separate parts, condemning them to spend their lives in search of their other halves. Or all the lives throughout time that Klaus and Caroline found each other in.

Date of update: April 14 2021

Soulmate visions (Chapter 3)

Author: kcatdino

Raiting: T

Lenght: Multi chapter

Summary: On your soulmate's eighteenth birthday, you see through their eyes for an hour, but they don’t know. And if your soulmate turns eighteen before you are even born, you never get a vision. Klaus gets his soulmate vision right after he orders Tyler to bite Caroline on her birthday.

Date of update: April 15 2021

World Enough and Time

Author: perfectpro

Raiting: E

Lenght: Drabble

Summary: Caroline is perfection in and of itself, and Klaus thinks that he could search the world twice over and never find a creature so endlessly fascinating, so perfectly enigmatic that he is still finding things to learn about her a thousand years later. Or, what gift is suitable to celebrate the passing of a thousand years?

Date of update: April 15 2021

LITTLE TENSE

Author: wincefish16

Raiting: T

Lenght: Drabble

Summary: PROMPT- HUMAN MARRIED KLAROLINE. THINGS ARE NOT LOOKING GOOD IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP. DAMON IS CAROLINE'S BROTHER AND KLAUS'S BEST FRIEND. HE TRIES TO FIX THINGS BETWEEN THEM.

Date of update: April 15 2021

Reasons Not to Date a Mikaelson (Chapter 2)

Author: kcatdino

Raiting: T

Lenght: Multi chapter

Summary: Bonnie and Caroline gain a new roommate for their freshman dorm when a vision leads them to tracking down a pregnant Hayley in the Rockies. Also, Bonnie may or may not have raised a certain dead Original instead of Jeremy and Klaus takes a job at Whitmore teaching, to be annoying. He’s very good at it. This is a season 5 rewrite where the Originals never leave for New Orleans. But you know, with comedy.

Date of update: April 15 2021

Quiet Light (Chapter 4)

Author: coveredinthecolors

Raiting: E

Lenght: Multi chapter

Summary: Caroline Forbes sets off to the Bahamas with her boyfriend, Elijah, where she'll finally meet his brother for the first time. But as it turns out... she knows Klaus Mikaelson a little too well.

Date of update: April 16 2021

AO3: Contingency Plan (Chapter 3) FFN: Contingency Plan (Chapter 3)

Author: Eliliyah  

Rating: M

Length: Multi Chapter

Summary: When Stefan's idiocy threatens Caroline's carefully laid plans, she has no choice but to turn to Klaus Mikaelson for help. Unfortunately, the criminal king of Philadelphia won't be swayed by simple seduction and has a different kind of proposition for her. It's a good thing she has a contingency plan. Never try to overthrow an empire without one. Dark Klaroline Mafia AU. COMPLETE

Date of update: April 11 2021

AO3: Last Love FFN: Last Love

Author: kirti_01

Raiting: M

Lenght: Multi chapter

Summary: Klaus had promised to be her last love, was sure that Caroline, will come to him. Maybe in a year, or a 100, perhaps. But Caroline decides not to wait for that long. After graduation, Caroline moves in with Klaus to give her feelings for him a chance. And Elijah finally lets go of his obsession with Katherine and finds himself attracted to a university student, his student, a human named Samara.

Date of update: April 12 2021

AO3: A Beautiful Symmetry (Chapter 153) FFN: A Beautiful Symmetry (Chapter 153)

Author: Uppity Bitch

Rating: M

Length: One shot

Summary: A collection of random AU one-shots featuring Klaroline. *2019 KC Award - Best one-shot series* Chapter 153: The Blonde Identity. Spies on opposite sides always had one mission, and nothing should ever compromise an operation. But Klaus always had a weakness for a woman who wore murder in her eyes.

Date of update: April 14 2021

AO3: Always and Forever (Chapter 8) FFN: Always and Forever (Chapter 8)

Author: WingedLadyColette

Raiting: E

Lenght: Multi chapter

Summary: Always and Forever is put to the test when the Mikaelson siblings  all gather together once more to throw the balance of nature into disarray when the Petrova Doppelganger reappears once again in a little Virginia town of Mystic Falls. But that's not the only thing that catches the big  bad wolf's attention.

Date of update: April 16 2021

[marshmellowtea]

i woke with her walls around me, nothin' in her room but an empty crib

listen on 8tracks here.

listen on youtube here.

this is a playlist for mia and ethan winters, spanning across their relationship pre and post resident evil 7 and 8 (though it mostly focuses on resident evil 7 and the space in between the games). the songs are ordered in a way that’s meant to loosely order the events of said games, though of course things don’t always match up exactly. i hope other mithan enthusiasts will enjoy this, cuz i had a lot of fun making it! :P 

tracklist, annotations and timeline under the cut: 

Pre Resident Evil 7

1. When the Day Met the Night - Panic! at the Disco 

When the moon found the sun // He looked like he was barely hanging on // But her eyes saved his life // In the middle of summer ... Well, he was just hanging around, then he fell in love // And he didn't know how, but he couldn't get out // Just hanging around, then he fell in love 

2. Fidelity - Regina Spektor 

I never loved nobody fully // Always one foot on the ground // And by protecting my heart truly // I got lost in the sounds

3. Who’d Have Known - Lily Allen 

I haven't left you for days now // And I'm becoming amazed how // You're quite affectionate in public // In fact your friend said it made her feel sick // And even though it's moving forward // There's just the right amount of awkward // And today you accidentally called me "Baby"

4. Every Night - Imagine Dragons 

My mind is made up // Nothing could change that // I'm coming home to you // Every night, every night, every night, every night ... No matter, no matter, no matter what we're facing // It don't matter, it don't matter // 'Cause the reason that I'm here // Is the same through all these years // I'm not changing, I'm not changing anything at all

Resident Evil 7

5. Candy (Paulo Nutini Cover) - Marina

I was perched outside in the pouring rain // Trying to make myself a sail // Then I'll float to you my darling // With the evening on my tail // Although not the most honest means of travel // It gets me there nonetheless

6. Ilomilo - Billie Eilish 

Where did you go? // I should know, but it's cold // And I don't wanna be lonely // So show me the way home // I can't lose another life ... The world's a little blurry // Or maybe it's my eyes // The friends I've had to bury // They keep me up at night ... I tried not to upset you // Let you rescue me the day I met you // I just wanted to protect you // But now I'll never get to

7. Are You Hurting the One You Love? - Florence + the Machine 

Are you hurting the one you love? // And was it something you could not stop // Could not stop // Stop // Could not stop...

8. the run and go - Twenty One Pilots 

I am up against the wall, the wall // Pa, I hear them coming down the hall // I have killed a man and all I know is // I am on the run and go // Don't wanna call you in the nighttime // Don't wanna give you all my pieces // Don't wanna hand you all my trouble // Don't wanna give you all my demons // You'll have to watch me struggle // From several rooms away // But tonight, I'll need you to stay

9. American Beauty / American Psycho - Fall Out Boy 

You take the full, full truth, then you pour some out // You take the full, full truth, then you pour some out // And you can kill me, kill me or let God sort ‘em out // And you can kill me, kill me or...

10. Dixie Boy - April Smith And The Great Picture Show 

Don't make me come over there // 'Cause ladies, I'm a lady but please understand // When it comes to my boy, I will fight like a man // I will seek, and I will destroy // For the apple of my eye, my pride and joy // My Dixie Boy

11. Evelyn - Kim Tillman & Silent Films

I've been awake // To see the day // Devour the night // I've seen decay // Give way to growth // And make the most // Of nearly nothing ... These lofty thoughts are killing me // Preoccupied by what I could be // I get so high on my ideals // Don't call me down // But you can meet me where I land

Post Resident Evil 7

12. Woman Woman - AWOLNATION

I may be worthless without you // I'll never decide to replace you // Amen, the worst is behind us now // (Woman woman)

13. Holding Onto You - Twenty One Pilots 

I'm taking over my body, back in control, no more "shotty" // I bet a lot of me was lost, "T"'s uncrossed and "I"'s undotted ... You are surrounding, all my surroundings // Sounding down the mountain range of my left-side brain // You are surrounding, all my surroundings // Twisting the kaleidoscope behind both of my eyes // And I'll be holding on to you 

14. Tiptoe Through The True Bits - Los Campesinos! 

Girl, I helped you with your demons // But your ghosts are now haunting me too ... But if we tiptoe through the true bits // We might make it to the other side // What doesn't kill you leaves you wounded // But I will nurse you better, alright // I've been waking on your side of the bed // As the sun's been rising in the West

15. Like Real People Do - Hozier 

I knew that look, dear: eyes always seeking // Was there in someone that dug long ago // So I will not ask you why you were creeping // In some sad way, I already know // So I will not ask you where you came from // I would not ask and neither would you // Honey, just put your sweet lips on my lips // We should just kiss like real people do 

16. Me And My Husband - Mitski 

But me and my husband // We are doing better // It's always been just him and me // Together // So I bet all I have on that // Furrowed brow // And at least in this lifetime // We're sticking together // Me and my husband // We're sticking together // And I'm the idiot with the painted face // In the corner, taking up space // But when he walks in, I am loved, I am loved

Resident Evil 8/Post Resident Evil 8

17. Sleep Awake - Mother Mother

Lie awake, I sleep awake // I sleep with one hand on my 45, the other 'round my baby's waist // Lie awake, I sleep awake // I go to bed with all my lights turned on // So I don't slip away // I stay awake

18. Four Seasons - Los Campesinos! 

When I come home it will be with // Someone else's blood on my shirt // Another county's dirt on the knees of my ripped jeans // And I won't wanna talk about it ... As you bathe the stains from my skin // Only dirt is washed away // 'Cause all the bad lays far more deep // Please, I don't wanna talk about it

19. Work Song - Hozier 

When my time comes around // Lay me gently in the cold dark earth // No grave can hold my body down // I'll crawl home to her ... My babe would never fret none // About what my hands and my body done // If the Lord don't forgive me // I'd still have my baby and my babe would have me

20. I Will Follow You Into The Dark - Death Cab For Cutie 

Love of mine, someday you will die // But I'll be close behind; I'll follow you into the dark // No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white // Just our hands clasped so tight, waiting for the hint of a spark // If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied // Illuminate the "No"s on their Vacancy signs // If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks // Then I'll follow you into the dark

[broken-balance-baby]

forgotten idols and their intertwined destinies (chapter 12)

Chapters: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/25/26

CHONCHALE KARAANA

Without Carlos’s mind he would have been nothing since the start of this battle. This little tirade he and Bhadra have going on, calling back and forth during and after each battle is something that entertained him— whether it be from the fact she was still alive, or that she still made it through each and every outpost with a weapon, he didn’t know. 

“She thinks ahead of us, what will we do?” Carlos asked. 

Diego muttered, “Do the same. She expects us to be there already, so let’s set up guards in each outpost prior. We use mines on the rooftops and hold the place down with hunters in the bushes. If they enter through a disguise, we rig the trucks with explosives.” 

“We are not supposed to kill her.” Carlos reminded him. 

Diego huffed. “ Ninguna promesa .” 

“Diego?” Ajay asked at the doorway. “Who are you talking to?” 

Diego looked to where Carlos was, meeting eyes with the wall. “Nobody.”

And then he left for the field. 

The outpost was covered with what he said would be— Diego watched from afar in his own overwatch as truck after truck came to KEO Pradhana Mine, while no attacks had been made yet. He counted them; four were supposed to come, but if another was going to come it would not belong there because of the proper scheduling. 

By the time a fifth one arrived, Diego called to set the explosives off on the grounds, and Bhadra had jumped out the moment she heard. As the guns pointed at her, she raised her hands up, only for her to drop her right hand down as the mines atop the roofing exploded. He watched as she escaped into the smoke, calling to attack from above. 

Diego ordered for the archers to shoot, then the snipers on top fell. He grabbed his sniper rifle and put it on its stand, holding it up to the balcony where he aimed and fired. Bhadra was finally seen, destroying the alarm systems as she ran and hid from Diego’s bullets. 

What he didn’t notice was the sniper who shot back at him. 

He felt the kiss of a bullet whizzing past him as he realized they spotted him. He hid behind the walls, feeling the bullets pierce through the wood, before taking his sniper rifle again going back up to concentrate the shot to the source. 

The source was however, nowhere to be found, and as soon as he looked back into the outpost, a good chunk of both Modern Shangri-la and his own were dead. 

Then his radio chimed.

 “Surprise!” Bhadra greeted. 

Diego took his radio out. “That was my line.” he said. 

“Sorry you took so long then. I was worried, where did you go, hm?”

“I am never too far, remember that.” Diego sneered. 

“Close by, I assume. I take it Divin also sent you a welcome present.”

“Did you think we were done, ni ña? ” Diego chuckled, reaching for his pocket.

Then the silence commenced. 

“What did—”

Diego pressed the remote. 

From a distance, he heard the chain of explosions coming one after the other, echoing into the other end of the call as she screamed in shock. He could picture her nearly tossing the radio as she scrambled away, and he laughed. 

“ MADARCHOD! ”

“ Surprise .” He grinned, but to his own, she laughed back. 

“You played my move, you dirty piece of shit!” 

“Better get creative when you come back out, mami .” Diego snorted, moving to climb down the overwatch. 

“You can bet on that, baba .”

 And then she buzzed off. 

The last thing Diego expected when he returned to the palace was a punch to the face. 

“YOU COULD’VE KILLED HER!” Ajay screamed, held back by guards when he scrambled to punch Diego again. 

“And then I didn’t!” Diego said, holding his jaw, spitting blood onto the floor. Ajay’s eyes were wide and wild, seething with complete rage in contrast to his usual calm demeanor. His hair was messy, his clothes were more ruffled than before. 

“If you wanted to take any part of this, you should have been planning with me!” Diego added, but Ajay elbowed the guard next to him and headbutted the next, charging at him through the hall. Diego threw an uppercut to his stomach and hooked him right in the neck. Ajay swept his foot under Diego’s, and as both fell down Ajay straddled the man and punched him again. Diego reached out to grab his wrists, yelling in protest as he tried to buck Ajay off of him. 

“ ENOUGH! ” Pagan shouted, storming into the hall, as equally disheveled as Ajay was— the old man’s glasses were crooked on his face, and he was dressed in his fluffy pink robe. They must have woken him up halfway across the palace. “You’re getting blood all over the fucking place!” 

“I’m sorry that your precious million rupee TILING is more important than A PERSON !” Ajay roared, then got off of Diego. Pagan slapped him in the face. 

“Ajay, listen to me ,” Pagan hissed, grabbing him by the collar, “You’re not going to strangle my fucking nephew over a measly little prank .” 

“It’s not a prank, it’s a fucking bomb.” Ajay spat. 

“We are going nowhere with this.” Diego said as Pagan helped him up. The old man went to wipe the blood off Diego’s mouth with his thumb, standing between Ajay and him to prevent another fight. “She is alive . Be happy about that.” 

Ajay stayed silent. His glare was still going on for ages, but as he heaved with his shoulders, he finally turned and left. 

Diego was about to turn until Pagan reached out to him. 

“Bathroom’s on the right, my boy.” he muttered. Diego nodded, wiping the blood from his mouth. 

As he looked into the mirror, washing the blood away, he clenched his fist. 

His jaw was aching. 

Fucking cabrón . 

[baoshan-sanren]

Chapter 52

Emperor Wei WuXian And His Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Birthday

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

“Perhaps I do not actually require a palace,” the Royal Companion says.

XiChen hears the words clearly, each one perfectly audible over the sounds of the guqin. The Rogue Prince had taken his leave only moments ago, but Lady Jiang is still present, having settled at the head of the bed. The Royal Companion had settled at the bottom, with an ease that suggested he had done so frequently in the past.

The words sounds nonsensical to XiChen’s ears, but the atmosphere in the Imperial chambers noticeably shifts, the Emperor stiffening in WangJi’s arms. A silence descends, just as incomprehensible as the words had been. XiChen is not familiar with the Royal Companion’s mannerisms, but the young man is holding himself stiffly as well, his lazy posture doing little to conceal the tension of his muscles.

Perhaps the sentence is a code that only the Emperor and the Royal Companion understand?

Still being held up by WangJi, the Emperor turns his head and whispers softly, words that are clearly meant for his brother’s ears only. He is reclining easily in WangJi’s arms, their heads close together, their cheeks nearly brushing.

XiChen turns his gaze back to the guqin.

It is not uncomfortable, precisely, watching his brother be so easily intimate with a person he cares for, but it is very much out of the ordinary. WangJi’s cool demeanor conceals a heart prone to excess of emotion, a depth of feeling that has always existed beneath the surface, rigorously concealed from the world. To see the Emperor so easily coax that emotion out into the open is miraculous, but it is also unsettling; XiChen does not know if the Emperor comprehends the true extent of WangJi’s affection, or how precious and rare it is, to have it so visibly displayed.

“Young Master Lan,” the Emperor says, startling him out of his thoughts.

Lady Jiang and WangJi are helping him shift into a better position, propped up against pillows and covers, no longer having to rely on WangJi for support. Despite his obvious physical weakness, the Emperor’s tone is clear and forceful. It is a skill, the ability to don a mantle of power and authority all while being maneuvered about one’s bed in such an undignified manner. XiChen both respects and envies this ability.

“Your Majesty?”

“I am grateful for your assistance, but I believe you are long overdue for some much needed rest. Would you be so kind to escort my shijie back to her chambers? Lan Zhan will continue the Cleansing in your place.”

“As you wish, Your Majesty.”

Of course, the insistence that he pass his duties to WangJi and rest, is nothing more than a polite method of removing him from the Emperor’s chambers. Any doubts he may have had would have been dispelled by WangJi’s vaguely apologetic look as he replaces XiChen at the guqin.

XiChen does not require an apology. He is tired and restless, his aching wrists welcoming any interruption of the tedious task. The two Imperial guards at the entrance are also ordered to take their duties outside, leaving WangJi and the Emperor alone with the Royal Companion.

In the hall outside the Imperial chambers, Lady Jiang smiles, “I hope you are not offended by such an abrupt dismissal, Young Master Lan. I am sure, once the situation at court has been stabilized, the Emperor will properly express his gratitude. We are in your debt.”

“There is no need,” XiChen says, realizing that he had not expected gratitude, nor does he know what to do with such a sentiment, “I am sure anyone would have done the same.”

“They would not have,” Lady Jiang says easily, her tone unchanging, “but thinking so does you credit. Please do not feel obliged to provide an escort. I am sure the Imperial guards will prove equal to the task, and my chambers are not far.”

Taken aback by the frankness of her words, he only bows in response.

He had not yet considered all the political repercussions of the Lan Sect having saved an Emperor who is so frequently a subject of assassination attempts, but Lady Jiang’s words raise many questions he cannot answer.

What will be the consequences of the Lan Sect aligning themselves so firmly with a Divine Ruler who does not intend to father an heir? Will their actions, committed over the course of the last day and night, be seen as monumentous as the assassination of the Empress had been? Can any succession of honorable deeds ever erase the dishonors of the past?

At this very moment, uncle has many more pressing issues to consider, and will doubtlessly remain occupied by them for days to come. But XiChen wishes he could simply yield to his uncle’s understanding of the matters, as he often had in the past, without having to reason out the answers to these questions on his own.

Chagrin immediately descends, propelling his restless feet to move, as if urging him to run away from such uncomfortable thoughts. XiChen is to be the future Sect leader, to occupy the same seat that uncle now holds. He should never shy away from being guided by those who came before him, but his deference has always been a little too excessive. It is a frequent source of his brother’s frustration, XiChen’s insistence on ceding ground to avoid disharmony and conflict.

It is not for the lack of firm beliefs that XiChen so often gives way. It is simply a habit, one borne of insecurity. In order to hold firm in the face of opposition, one must believe that their own understanding is impeachable, that their opinions have been properly formed, that they are indisputably in the right. XiChen firmly believes that Nie MingJue’s intentions are honorable and genuine, that his own affection is steadfast and unimpeachable, but he has never possessed the necessary self-confidence to insist on this belief in the face of uncle’s disapproval.

Lack of a spine is not a virtue, but XiChen had dressed it up as such, so that others may admire his amicable nature, while he, alone, is left to despise the roots from which it grew. He wonders how long he would have gone on this way, draping his self-doubts in a cloak of respectful deference, had Nie MingJue not entered his life.

As if summoned by his thoughts, Nie MingJue appears at the head of the hall, his stride quick and purposeful. Guards had been sent to inform him that the Emperor is awake, XiChen remembers, and the man doubtlessly expects to be admitted to the Emperor’s chambers without delay. XiChen is certain that Nie MingJue will be disappointed in his expectations. Any conversation that requires the removal of both Lady Jiang and the Imperial guards from the Emperor’s presence must be highly sensitive in nature, and is likely to go on for some time.

The General of the Emperor’s army is no longer wearing his armor, his Nie Sect uniform silver and black, the cut severe, clearly intended to project authority. In the early morning gloom, his face is a collection of shifting shadows, his mood impossible to discern. Faced with such a presence, the few servants finishing up their nightly tasks scurry out of the way with their heads bowed, the guards straighten their shoulders as if expecting to be scolded, even the walls themselves seem to stand at attention.

It strikes XiChen fiercely, how the attributes he admires so fervently in Nie MingJue are those he has always felt a lack of in himself. Even the man’s boldness, so often displayed in mortifying ways, is a trait that XiChen wishes he can possess. It has inspired a boldness of his own, although it appears pitiful when compared to MingJue’s. In the same vein, his own temperance is likely to have suppressed at least some of MingJue’s brashness. They fit, the two of them; one yielding while the other remains unmoved, one sure to hesitate while the other barrels bravely onward.

Do you truly think that there is a single part of you that I will not admire?

MingJue does not have a chance to express his obvious surprise at encountering XiChen during such an early hour, nor is he given an opportunity to ask any questions. XiChen is not certain what his course of action would have been, had MingJue resisted the firm grip on his wrist, had he refused to let himself be steered. To his relief, MingJue obediently allows XiChen to pull him aside, to push him past the unguarded doors of the Emperor’s study.

The room beyond faces south, the early morning light some hours away from reaching the single window hole. XiChen is relieved. He does not want MingJue to see the flush across his cheeks, or to discern the anxiety in his eyes.

Under his hands, MingJue’s braids are impossibly intricate, each one a tiny, delicate wonder. Under his mouth, MingJue is made rigid by surprise.

XiChen had not exactly expected an immediate response. This action, this impulse decision, it is so unlike himself that MingJue may as well think he has been accosted by a stranger. Still, each breath is centuries long, each one riddled with seeds of doubt.

Perhaps XiChen was wrong after all. Perhaps Nie MingJue does not wish to--

He is pulled forward with such force that he stumbles over his own feet. The cold steel of MingJue’s belt scrapes across the tender flesh of his stomach, an earth shattering contact even through two layers of robes. MingJue’s tongue, hot and insistent, licks into his mouth, sliding against his own. The sensation is a shock; XiChen feels it all along his spine, curving around his limbs, pressing into each sensitive stretch of his skin. He does not realize he had tightened his hold on the handful of braids until MingJue makes a sound, a pitiful noise that seems to border on pain. Even as XiChen struggles to release his grip, the arms around his body tighten, a searing hot palm pressed against his shoulder blades locking him in place.

XiChen has never kissed, or been kissed. The few times he had imagined such an act, it had been a rarely reached conclusion of some distinctly chaste fantasies, gone no further than lips pressing together, breathing each other’s air. He does not think that any stretch of fantasies could have prepared him for this.

He is certain that his lack of skill must be obvious. Yet, each hesitant lick of his tongue is followed by a series of shudders he can clearly feel cross MingJue’s shoulders. His own trembling, impossible to suppress, is made less shameful by the knowledge that MingJue is equally as affected. It seems impossible to concentrate on anything but the movement of their lips, the slick slide of their tongues, but XiChen manages to release the handfuls of braids he had gripped. MingJue whines softly, a noise that sounds suspiciously like a complaint.

When their lips part, XiChen finds himself struggling to breathe normally, his chest both too tight for the air he needed, and somehow larger than the space it must occupy.

“XiChen,” MingJue rasps.

His voice is raw and thick, the sound unexpectedly arousing. XiChen is moving to kiss him again before realizing that he has done so, and manages to pull back just in time.

Firmly placing his hands on MingJue’s shoulders, he tries to say what must be said, words he had avoided since his last argument with uncle, “You-- my uncle will only allow your presence at Cloud Recesses if I enter secluded meditation for the duration of your visit. I will not attempt to convince him to change his mind. He does not trust me to behave-- in a virtuous manner, nor do I intend to persuade him otherwise.”

MingJue makes a soft sound, but XiChen does not look up; he is embarrassed enough by the admission as it is, he does not want to know what expression MingJue’s face may hold.

“You had said once that your situation is not nearly as inflexible as my own. If you are still willing-- to offer me a lifetime, I am ready to listen.”

He has hardly finished speaking when MingJue’s mouth finds his own again, infinitely more careful this time, the act very close to the chaste kiss of XiChen’s fantasies. XiChen is the one who presses closer, deepening the kiss, feeling brave and reckless in the wake of his confession.

Perhaps he may never possess MingJue’s boldness, but he has managed to find some of his own in the process; as paltry as such a thing may appear to be, if it serves to ensure him a lifetime of happiness, he will never again view it with scorn.

[vcg73]

FIC: Kurt Birthday Drabbles

Earlier this week @elledelajoie left a comment on something I wrote all the way back in 2014.  I had genuinely forgotten I ever started it, but the original idea was to write 21 Kurt Hummel birthday drabbles. I had written just 7 of them, but after we chatted about it, I decided to go ahead and finish.  

If you’re not familiar, a drabble is a scene of exactly 100 words, not counting title headers. Since Chris Colfer and Kurt Hummel’s co-birthday (May 27) is coming up this Thursday, here they are. This goes definite AU at Birthday #19. Because you know I would never sentence my beloved Kurt to a life of being a doormat to people who did not appreciate and value him.

Never underestimate the power of feedback!

~*~*~*~*~

Birthday #1

Kurt’s blue eyes went wide as a frosted cupcake was set upon his high-chair tray, a single candle ablaze on its surface.  

When Mommy, Daddy, Uncle Andy, Grandpa Curtis and Grandma Eileen started singing to him, he smiled and clapped both hands hard around the tempting pile of frosting.

Kurt laughed when the sugary topping went flying and a big splatter of white abruptly decorated Daddy’s surprised face.

Everyone else started laughed too, including the startled father, who retaliated by giving his birthday boy a sticky peck on the cheek and then helped him to blow out a new candle.

Birthday #2

Kurt looked between his presents, confused.

Mommy had given him the pretty dolly he had begged for at the store. Daddy had given him a truck, not big enough to ride but too big to live with the little cars Daddy gave him at Christmas.

His parents seemed to be mad at each other.

Kurt looked at the doll, then at the truck. He smiled and placed Dolly inside the truck and began to drive her around the carpet.

Mommy and Daddy seemed surprised by his actions, but then they laughed, and Kurt knew he had figured out the puzzle.

 Birthday #3

His shoes were black and shiny, buckles on the sides and 1-inch heels on the base. He clomped over the hardwood floors, listening to the click-tap-click-tap in delight. They went perfectly with his dove gray coveralls with “Kurt” sewn on the pocket in black sequins. Mommy had made the outfit for him.

Spotting Daddy watching him, Kurt threw himself into waiting arms. Daddy’s smile looked like he had an owie but was trying to be a big boy and not cry.

Kurt hugged him. “It’s okay, Daddy.”

Burt looked surprised but hugged him back. “Yeah, buddy. I think it is.”

 Birthday #4

Ballet girls were nice. When they heard it was his birthday today, they threw him a party. Kurt puffed up with pleasure when presented with cookies, a sparkly wand and a tiara that read ‘Happy Birthday’ in shiny letters. He was not as fond of the kisses they gave, but four was very grown up, so he screwed up his face and allowed it. The teacher even let him wear the special puffy pink tutu over his little black leotard! 

 He saw Mommy and Daddy up in the gallery taking pictures, so he waved.

Kurt hoped today would last forever.

  Birthday #5

“Can I have cupcakes?”

Kurt’s mother looked up from her book. “I don’t think we have any, sweetheart.”

“Can we have some Thursday?  My birthday is the last day of preschool.”

“It is?” she said, looking surprised. “Is it your birthday already?”

He nodded seriously. “Don’t you remember, Mommy? You were there.”

She laughed. “Well, you have me there.  What kind of cupcakes would you like, sweetie? And don’t say cheesecake. Those are two completely different kinds of dessert.”

Kurt’s hopeful expression fell. “Oh,” he said, clearly disappointed. Then his face brightened again. “Chocolate?”

She nodded. “That we can do.”

   Birthday #6

“Daddy!”

Burt sat up just in time to catch the little body that launched at him. “What’s wrong, slugger?”

“It’s my birthday!”

Grinning despite the way his heart was hammering at the abrupt awakening, Burt asked, “Yeah? I like birthdays. Do I get a present?”

“No,” the boy scoffed. “I get presents!”

 Burt squinted at the clock. 3:15am. “Not until morning, you don’t.”

Kurt pouted and tried, “It’s almost morning.”

“Not close enough, kid. C’mere,” Burt pulled him into the warm bed between himself and his wife.

Kurt snuggled down and went right back to sleep.  

Burt was less lucky.

 Birthday #7

Kids had started treating him funny this year. He was too fancy, too girly, holding hands was weird.

Nobody was coming.

“I’m sorry, sweetie.”

“Am I too late?”

They jumped as a little black girl with pom-pom hair popped out of nowhere.

“I’m Mercedes,” she greeted. “We just moved here. Mom said you would have invited me if you’d known.”

“I’m Kurt.” He smiled. “Do you like tea parties?”

“Is there cake?”

Mrs. Hummel beamed. “Cake, ice cream, and Kool-Aid.”

Kurt shrugged. “Nobody else came.”

She grabbed his hand like she’d known him forever. “More for us!  Happy Birthday, Kurt.”

 Birthday #8

Kurt took a deep breath, thought for a moment, and carefully blew out the candles. All but the extra one that his parents always put on his cake.

“Aren’t you gonna finish, bud?”

He looked from Daddy over to his mother, home again, but so frail he was sometimes afraid to hug her, worried she might pop like a fragile soap bubble. He offered her the candle. “Here, Mommy. Blow it out. Maybe you’ll get another year to grow on.”

The eyes of the two adults met, then Mommy nodded. The three of them blew out the final candle together.

 Birthday #9

Barely daring to hope, Kurt came down the stairs.  Birthday cakes and presents had been Mommy’s specialty.  Daddy had forgotten his own birthday and had nearly forgotten Christmas.

Kurt gasped when he saw it, waiting, shining and spectacular against the front door.

“A bike!”

Bright green, sissy bars with foil streamers, and a banana seat. Perfect!

Burt smiled. He had scoffed a such a “girly” bike when Kurt spotted it at the toy store. But now, looking at the all-too-rare joy in his son’s eyes and feeling the approving smile his wife would have given, he nodded. It was perfect.

 Birthday #10

Buying gifts was tough when your kid always clammed up on you. A dad had to be observant.

Ten years old. A landmark like that needed something special, but the only thing Kurt seemed into was clothes. He had enough of those for ten kids.  

He’d probably like a Barbie he could change in and out of different outfits, but Burt cringed at the thought.

He did doodle pretty good though. Sure, it was mostly pictures of clothes, but that was a start.

A fancy sketchpad with a case and a hundred different colored pencils. Yeah, that was the ticket.

 Birthday #11

“Dad, where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

Kurt sighed with exaggerated impatience. He had come home from school to find Dad waiting at the truck, ordering him to get in, then not saying another word. The suspense was killing him.

“Ta-Dahhhh!”

They had pulled up in front of a nondescript brick building. “Columbus Culinary Arts?”

“You like to cook right?  Well, we’re gonna fix your birthday dinner this year with the help of a real chef. Lessons are once a week for the next couple months.”

Gourmet cooking lessons!

“Oh wow. Dad, this is amazing!”

Burt grinned. “Happy Birthday, kid.”

 Birthday #12

Last year’s surprise had gone so well that Burt had decided on a repeat. But when he saw the excitement on Kurt’s face at finding a pair of tickets inside his birthday card turn to disappointment and horror, quickly masked with a fake smile, he knew he’d goofed.

“I know baseball isn’t your thing,” he said, almost pleading. “But you’ve never seen a live game before. It’s a whole different experience. It’s a home game. We can yell and scream, and cheer our team on with thousands of other fans.”

The stiff not-smile never wavered. “Sounds . . . fun.”

 Birthday #13

Dad had bought out one of the partners at the garage this spring and now owned a majority share of the renamed “Hummel Tires & Lube”. Kurt wanted to snicker at that name, but he was proud too.

His birthday this year coincided with Friday Night Dinner. Dad had invited all the mechanics over for a potluck. They’d had Mary’s special fried chicken, Cassius’s homemade cornbread, and Davy’s mac’n’cheese. Now Dad brought out the cake.

Kurt laughed. A sheet-cake with a tow-truck and two little plastic mechanics for decoration.

“You and me kid. Partners.”

The mechanics cheered and everybody dug in.

  Birthday #14

Kurt froze when he saw tickets peeping out of his card. Not again. Noise, sunburn, unhealthy food, tacky uniforms, and Dad trying so hard to make a boring sport seem like fun.

He sighed and pasted on a smile, which quickly transformed into shock.

“Wicked?” he squeaked, staring hard at the little papers as if the printing might change if he dared to look away.

“Embassy Theater is giving regional business owners a discount this year,” Burt said apologetically. “It’s just a traveling production, not real Broadway, but I …”

His apology was cut off by a joyful teenaged hug.

 Birthday #15

“Don’t worry, son, you got this.  Just remember everything I taught you.  You got a whole year to get ready for the practical test.”

“I know.”

“And it’s okay if you don’t get it right the first time. Not everybody does.”

“I’m fine, Dad.”

“I’ll be right here waiting for you when you’re through.”

“I know that, Dad. I’ll be okay, really.”

At that moment, Kurt’s name was called and he sprang from his hard green plastic chair. His dad’s repeated reassurances were making him jumpy.

Twenty minutes later, a brightly grinning Kurt was waving his freshly minted driver’s permit.

 Birthday #16

Burt patted the giant blue bow the dealership had provided over the hood of the shining black Lincoln Navigator.  

Kurt was gonna flip! He’d passed his DMV test with flying colors and was no doubt showing off his shiny new license to all his friends at school.  

He paused. Did Kurt have any friends to share this accomplishment with? He always seemed so alone.

Maybe that’s why he had decided to spoil his son with a huge birthday gift.

It wasn’t right for such a good kid to be all alone. Maybe having his own ride would help change that.

  Birthday #17

A dozen teens gathered in Kurt’s basement to celebrate the end-of-school, non-disbanding of Glee, and Kurt’s birthday, all in one.

“Not like ten years ago,” Mercedes said to Kurt, as they watched Mike and Brittany dance.

“Ten years?”

“Your seventh? It was just you, me, your mom, and lots of chocolate cake.”

Kurt was astounded. “That was you?”

“You forgot?”

“I remember a little girl who showed up and invited herself to my party.”

“And I remember a little boy who needed a friend as much as I did.”

He squeezed her hand. “Thanks for coming.”

She squeezed back. “Always.”

 Birthday #18

Kurt stared at his birthday cake, unable to think of anything to wish for.

He was 18-years-old today, a legal adult. He had new family in Carole and Finn, his dad was on the mend, he would be back at McKinley for senior year, he had made his first visit to New York City, and he had a boyfriend! One who had just told Kurt that he loved him for the very first time.

‘I wish for next year to be as good as this,” he thought, taking a deep breath and blowing.

The flames flickered out, all except one.

 Birthday #19

Senior year had been a disaster, and now he had not gotten into NYADA, despite his well-praised audition.

“Blaine wants me to spend another year here,” he whispered. “I just can’t.”

Burt’s callused hand squeezed his neck. “Then don’t. You’re 19 now, a man. You got talents galore, work experience from the garage, enough drive for ten kids, and your mom’s life insurance money to give you a start.”

“But…”

“No buts,” Burt said firmly. “You go on to New York and grab life by the balls.”

Kurt felt his optimism rise. “Help me look for apartments?”

“You got it.”

 Birthday #20

What a difference a year made.

He’d dumped Blaine after being cheated on less than a month after leaving Lima.  He was enrolled at FIT and sharing a shoebox apartment with a fellow design student and a Broadway hopeful, but both were young gay men from small towns, and they had a lot in common.

“Happy Birthday!” Elliott shouted, tossing a handful of glittery sequins at him.

Adam came in playing the birthday song on a kazoo he had gotten from who-knows-where. “Ready for Callbacks? $20 on who gets the first hot guy’s number!”

“I already have yours. I win!”

 Birthday #21

“I have the honor of presenting your first official grown-up drink,” Adam said, smiling lovingly at his grinning boyfriend of nearly a year. He set down a martini glass with a cherry floating on top. “A Manhattan seemed appropriate.”

Kurt beamed and gave him a kiss, then took an experimental sip. “I’ve had alcohol before,” he admitted. “Mostly wine, though.  Mm, this is good!”

“I thought you’d like it. Happy Birthday, my love.  May the future bring every good thing you wish for, and never more heartache than you can handle.”

Kurt could not have asked for a better sentiment.

THE END

[after-avenging-hours]

Heart Skip [15]: Steve x Reader

Series Summary:  A soulmate AU where from the moment you are born, two partners share a heartbeat.  They race in times of joy, slow in times of sadness, and they skip at the same moment.

Word Count: 2617

Warnings: None

Heart Skip / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8 /  Part 9 / Part 10 / Part 11 / Part 12 /  Part 13 / Part 14

Gif Credit

The splattering of water droplets against tile is the only sound that fills the empty space of the bathroom.  Steve’s broad frame nearly fills the small shower stall.  He stands unmoving, shoulders tensed, one hand pressed to the tile as his head hangs low.  He’s so lost to his thoughts; he doesn’t even hear you approach.

You place a tentative touch to the center of his back, stepping behind him.  He inhales sharply, snapping out of it.  He glances at you from over his shoulder before pushing off the wall and turning around.  He sees the concern in your eyes and pulls you in close.

“I’m okay,” he tries to assure you.

You press your cheek to his chest, the water droplets pressing into your skin and sliding down your neck.  “No, you’re not.”

He holds you tighter, resting his head against the top of yours.  You wrap your arms around him and mold your body to his.  You both need this.  To feel as much skin to skin contact as possible.  Not to incite anything sexual, but because both of you need the reassurance.  Need to know that, at least physically, you were both still okay.  You had come far too close to losing each other.

Steve fingers ghost up and down the length of your spine, feeling the reflection of your heartbeat against his chest.  Slowly some of the tension in his body begins to ease.  Not everything, but at least it’s a start.

“I should have gone back for him,” he whispers just above the sound of the shower.

“Steve…”  You squeeze your arms around him.  “There’s no way you could have known.  And even if you had…  There was no time.  You had to stop Schmidt.”  You lift your head from his chest to look into his gaze.  “None of that is your fault.”

His eyes are sad as he looks back.  “It feels like it is.”

You lift a hand to cradle the back of his neck, pulling his head down until your foreheads touch.  You both stay like that until the water begins to turn cold.  You reach around him to shut off the water before leading him out of the shower. You both towel off together.

“What can I do to help with the mission?” you ask.  You’re so sick of feeling useless, you’ll do just about anything.

Steve meets your gaze for a moment, thinking it over.  “Well, I can’t exactly walk into SHIELD headquarters stark naked, now can I?” His lips quirk into a small grin.

You raise a curious brow. “What did you have in mind?”

 “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” you grumble quietly, pulling the uniform taught over Steve’s torso.

He grins down at you in amusement.  “If you’re gonna fight a war, you gotta wear a uniform.”

You roll your eyes. “You’re damn lucky I created this based on your actual measurements.  It’s supposed to be hanging off a mannequin, not going into battle.  This suit isn’t going to protect you like your other one.” Your fingers fiddle with the straps going down his front, making sure they’re at matching lengths leading to his utility belt.

“I know.  I’ll be careful.”

You release a low sigh when there’s not much else you can mess with.  “I guess it’s a good thing I don’t work there anymore either.  I’d totally be fired for this.  I may have been the one to make it, but it’s still stealing from the government.”

“We’re not stealing it. Only borrowing,” he grins crookedly.

You raise an unamused brow. “Borrowing without asking is still stealing.”

“If it means that much to you, we can give it back when I’m done.” He chuckles.

You shake your head and attempt to suppress a smile. “Just shut up and kiss me already.” You tug at his uniform to pull him into a kiss. His gloved hands move up to cup your cheeks as he kisses you long and slow.

“Cap, we gotta go,” you hear Sam from the other room.

You both pull back with equal sighs of disappointment.  “Duty calls,” Steve mutters, eyes flickering over your face.

“Good luck, soldier. Stay safe.”  Your hands give his uniform one last squeeze before you pull back.

He nods once.  “You too.”  He steps forward for one last quick kiss.  “I love you,” he breathes against your lips before moving back.

“I love you, too,” you whisper, turning away as he begins to head for the door.  You don’t have it in you to watch him leave.

You move to the pile of clothing that Steve set aside after changing into the uniform. You reach for the jacket he had been wearing during the fight against Bucky. It’s dusty and smells like gunmetal and smoke, but it’s still warm. You find yourself slipping it on over your shoulders trying to draw comfort and strength from it.

“Are you ready?”

You turn to find Fury standing in the doorway. “For what?” you ask in confusion.

He lifts his good arm, a set of car keys dangling from his hand. “You’re my ride.”

You follow him outside to the nondescript van Maria had been using. You scramble into the driver’s seat as Furry climbs into the back where he’ll be hidden from view. He gives you a set of directions to a private airfield nearby where he has a helicopter waiting.

You follow his directions, trying to take back roads and avoid popular areas to stay off SHIELD’s radar. You’re not even sure how much time has passed by the time you make it to the airfield. Based on your accelerated heartrate, you can tell that Steve has already gotten himself in a world of trouble. Your hands tighten around the steering wheel as you do everything you can to stay calm.

“So, what now?” you ask after parking on the runway near a black helicopter.

“Now?” Furry responds, before you hear the back door to the van slide open. “Now, you stay here where it’s safe until we get back.” He exits from the van and slides the door shut behind him.

“Wha-” Your jaw drops and then you quickly scramble out the door. “Hey, that’s not fair! I’m here to help!”

Fury releases a long sigh and looks at you with zero amusement. “You want to talk to me about what’s not fair? What’s not fair is getting hunted and nearly killed by the very agents that I trained. What’s not fair is having the agency that I have dedicated my entire life to stripped apart in a single day. What’s. Not. Fair. Is having to send your boyfriend to destroy the one thing that was going to be my legacy of protection for the world. So, yeah… you can throw your tantrum and cry all you want, but that won’t change the fact that the best place for you is here. Out of the way, where you can’t get hurt, and where you won’t jeopardize the mission.”

All you can do is stare, mouth agape as he walks away from you and heads for the chopper. The rotor blades soon begin to spin and once the wind picks up, you’re forced to retreat back inside the van. You slam the door shut like a sulking child and watch as the helicopter lifts into the air and disappears out of site.

You sigh loudly and drop your forehead down against the steering wheel. With nothing but silence engulfing you, your thoughts are left to run rampant in your mind. No matter what you did, Fury would only ever see you as Steve’s weakness. The chink in Captain America’s armor. A nuisance. Something to be pushed aside, or locked away for safe keeping.

And maybe he was right. You would have been captured by those Hydra agents if Maria hadn’t come for you when she did. Fury had actually told her to prioritize finding you first, because you were a greater risk to lose to Hydra, than Steve. You couldn’t even manage to stay out of their crosshairs for a single day. What in the world did you expect to be able to do against an entire building and three Helicarriers full of those people?

“Stupid,” you berate yourself, squeezing your eyes shut as they begin to sting. You try to fight off the tears, knowing that if Steve can sense your distress, he’ll become distracted. Yet another thing to add to the list of why you’re his weakness.

Your breath catches when you feel a jolt in your chest. And not a good one. Your eyes snap open and the blood drains from your face. Something is wrong.

Your heartbeat sputters and struggles to keep going, despite the lag that seems to be on the other end. Steve is hurt. Bad.

And you’re all the way out here.

You lift your head back up and find your hand moving to the keys in the ignition. Gritting your teeth, you push your despair to the side and steel your resolve. “Screw this.”

Turning the ignition, you bring the van back to life and make a U-turn on the run way. You’re not entirely certain how to get back, with all the random turns and loops Fury had you take in order to get to the air field. Now that you think about it, the crazy route probably had more to do with confusing your own sense of direction, so you wouldn’t be able to get back on your own, and less about the defensive maneuvers to keep Hydra off your tail.

With a determined huff, you pick a direction and drive, letting your instincts and your connection to Steve guide you. After traveling a few aimless miles, you manage to catch a freeway entrance. From there, the rising smoke in the distance is the only confirmation you need to know you’re heading in the right direction.

You watch in the distance as the last helicarrier left in the air slams into the side of the Triskellion. Your stomach flips upon the impact and you just know that Steve is still on that ship. You pull over abruptly on the side of the freeway and jump out of the van. Your knees slam into the pavement as you bend over and expel what little food you’d had earlier that morning.

Rising back up onto shaky legs, you wipe at your mouth with the back of your hand and stumble around the van. You walk off the freeway and into the copse of trees that line the bank of the river. You lean your weight against the trunk of a tree as you get a front row seat to the horror show before you. The last hellicarrier is steadily losing altitude as the other two burn in a fiery heap of rubble upon what’s left of the Triskellion.

You watch as pieces of debris fall from the belly of the flying ship, and mixed in the middle is a body clad in a red, white, and blue uniform. When his body hits the water, your vision swims and your knees give out once again. You are certain that these are going to be your final moments in this world, when a second body falls out of the ship and dives straight into the river.

Your heartbeat slows and it becomes the only sound you can hear, ringing in your ears. Time seems to come to a standstill.

Then, suddenly, two heads pop back up to the surface.

You release an audible gasp, finding the strength to get back on your feet. You stumble like a newborn fawn, tripping over tree roots and rocks as you make your way down the river bank.

“Steve!” you don’t even feel the water against your legs as you rush forward to help the man dressed in black carry him to shore. The man releases his metal grasp from the strap on Steve’s shoulders, setting him down on the muddy river bank. “Steve!” you call out to him, a choked sob leaving you as you take in the cuts all over his face and the wound on his torso.

A weak cough escapes him and a dribble of water leaks from his open mouth. You whimper in relief when he continues breathing. Your fingers brush against his jaw, tears spilling over and running down your cheeks.

The man in black shifts his weight and begins to step back.

“Wait!” you lift your gaze to meet his. “W-where are you going?”

He stares back at you blankly. “I don’t know.” His voice comes out broken and raw. He turns away and takes a few more steps.

You quickly scramble to your feet. “Bucky!” The man pauses once again, his posture stiffening. “You are Bucky, aren’t you?” you question carefully.

He keeps his back toward you for a long moment, before turning his head just slightly. “I don’t know,” he repeats, this time with anguish in his voice.

Your heart breaks for him. “There’s a van pulled off the side of the freeway, just a short way up. The keys are still in the ignition,” you tell him. “And here,” you quickly shrug out of Steve’s jacket that you’ve still been wearing. You hold the garment out to him. “To cover up your arm.”

Bucky looks down at the metal appendage and frowns before slowly turning toward you and taking the jacket with that same hand. He hesitates for another second, before lifting his gaze to yours once more. “Thank you,” he says the words strangely, like he’s grown unused to the phrase.

“Thank you for saving him,” you respond, glancing briefly back at where Steve lays.

Bucky nods once, stiffly, before turning and disappearing into the brush.

You release a shaky breath and crumple down once more at Steve’s side. The wound at his stomach is continuing to bleed and you know that if you don’t get help for him soon, you will both probably die anyway.

You reach for the commlink in his ear and pull it out. You hope that the thing is water proof, but it’s the only way you’ll be able to contact anyone else. You tuck the device into your own ear. “Hello? Is anyone there?”

All you can hear for a moment is static, before that cuts out and you hear a voice. “Y/N, is that you?”

You sigh and drop your shoulders in relief. “Nat! I’m with Steve. We’re on the west side of the river. He’s hurt. I think he’s been shot.”

“Keep pressure on the wound. We’re coming to you.”

“O-okay.” Your hands shake as you place them over the blood-soaked patch on his uniform. He groans in pain as you apply pressure to the spot, but continues to remain unconscious. “Don’t you die on me, Soldier,” you try to say firmly, but your voice breaks.

It feels like hours have passed by the time you hear the beat of a helicopter. Looking up, you recognize Fury’s copter as it flies above you and lowers onto the freeway. Nat and Sam burst through the trees moments later.

Sam kneels down on the other side of Steve, opening a first aid kit to begin triaging the wound. Nat gently grabs your shoulders and pulls you back. “Hey, you did good,” she encourages, pulling you to your feet.

“Is he going to be okay?” you ask.

“An ambulance is already on the way.”

Your breath catches in your throat as you look down at the blood covering your hands. “Oh God…” you barely manage to get out, before the world fades to black.

Part 16

[corvus--rex]

Another one that's not truly abandoned, working title Code Violet. Post s.8 Omegaverse, Klance slowburn. Omega Lance has been put on medical leave by the Garrison after the war because of his PTSD, which really just translates to secondary sexism as he's the only Omega among the Paladins. But then Keith goes missing on a Blades mission and Shiro calls the team back together.

~*~*~

He could deal with torture. At least, that’s what Keith told himself, having never been through it personally. But he did know how to deal with pain. A result of too many fights and questionable decisions in his life. But the sensation that overwhelmed his senses wasn’t pain. Or maybe it was. He didn’t know precisely. All he knew at that moment was that he could actively feel every last one of his nerves. He could feel the normal everyday functioning of his body mixed with a racing heartbeat and hyperventilating lungs. And yet he felt oddly detached from it. It felt as though his Alpha was protecting his mind like a mother wolf with her threatened pup. It was a very strange sensation. It felt like it went on forever. He felt something in his body shift. Something new and wholly unfamiliar. And then the pain actually hit. It crept in slowly, radiating from his core until the blooming white-hot flames licked their way through all of his nerve endings. He might have screamed, but he could never be sure. And when the searing pain left, it didn’t go quickly. It smoldered like the embers of a bonfire, burning low in that deceptive way that made it unclear as to whether or not the charred remains were still alight. But Keith could feel it, the low, steady flame that curled its way through his fingertips and all the way to his toes. Neither mind nor body relaxed until the cool touch of unconsciousness wrapped him in its embrace. He was blissfully unaware of being lifted, carried, and finally left in a dark cell while his captors waited for him to wake.

~~*~~ 5 Movements (7 Weeks) Later ~~*~~

Lance was startled awake by his comm screaming for his attention on his nightstand. No one he knew would call at half past five in the morning. All the official evaluations he’d undergone concluded that yes, he had PTSD just like the rest of Team Voltron and everyone else who’d fought in the war, but that with his weekly therapy sessions, he was handling it well enough for active duty. He had the unpleasant suspicion that it had something to do with him being the only Omega on Team Voltron. It didn’t seem to matter, however, as he was kept on medical leave.

When he was woken at the barest hint of dawn’s asscrack, squinting at his comm’s screen, he was shocked to see Shiro on the other end of the call. He fumbled for the button, accidentally dropping the device on himself. He figured he must have hit it somewhere in his sleep and adrenalin-fueled struggle when Shiro’s sleep-deprived face popped up in the holographic projection.

“Shiro? What? What is it? What’s going on?” Lance asked, voice low and rough, his mind not yet fully engaged.

“How soon can you get to the Garrison?” Shiro answered, sounding more awake than he looked.

“Um, probably about an hour. Why? What’s happening?”

The face of the Atlas’ captain darkened. “Keith’s gone missing. He was supposed to check in one movement ago, no one’s heard from him and they can’t trace his comm. It’s the second one he’s missed. Acxa and Kolivan are here requesting a team from the Coalition.”

Lance was awake. He knew Keith was away on another mission, he’d heard it directly from the man himself. He knew Keith would be out of reach for a while. He knew he wouldn’t know if Keith was ok until the mission was over. But he also knew that Keith was expected to keep to the check-in schedule, sending a scrambled message to a secure communications outpost that would then be sent on to Acxa, who was leading the Blades for the duration of the mission. It was almost overly complicated, but the mission was one that required careful stealth. It was the only thing Keith had been allowed to say about it before disappearing for what was supposed to be an extended 3 phoeb mission.

Acxa made sure to keep Team Voltron informed when it came to the check-in schedule, letting them know that Keith was ok. He had made the first three check-ins, even if the team was kept in the dark as to the messages’ contents. Acxa knew that there was a possibility that he could miss a check-in, but as long as his comm was active and could still be traced, she would know that the mission was still going. If he missed more than one check-in, it would raise alarms. Shiro said that he’d missed one a movement ago, which meant that he should have checked in again and hadn’t. If Shiro was calling to say that Keith had missed the check-in, and not that the mission was confirmed to have gone wrong, well, Lance didn’t quite know what it meant, but it wasn’t going to stop him from finding out.

“I’ll be right there,” he said, fully awake and already half-dressed.

Shiro nodded and cut the call.

Forty-five minutes later, Lance was walking into the conference room. He was surprised to see that he was the first one there save for Shiro. Lance was the only one of the team who wasn’t either assigned to the Atlas or stationed at the Garrison. Given his leave status, he’d decided to stay home with his family. The Garrison knew where to find him if they wanted to.

Taking a seat in the middle of the table, Lance leaned forward, resting his arms on the metal surface. “Who else is coming to this?” he asked.

“Adam, Pidge, and Hunk, Acxa is bringing Kolivan, and against my wishes, the MFEs will be here as well. They don’t have the security clearance our team has. They were involved on the front lines, but they’re not us. And they know even less about the Blades. But Iverson ordered it, so they’re coming.”

“Kinda surprised I still have the clearance,” he muttered, even though he knew Shiro would hear him anyway.

“And you know that if I had any real say, you’d be on the Atlas with us. You’re an outstanding pilot, the best at small team tactics I’ve ever seen, and I know no one can iron sight a target like you can. We wouldn’t have made it through several of our missions with Voltron if it hadn’t been for you. I don’t know if you realize it, but we never would have won the war without you.”

Lance looked up at that. Shiro was watching him, the Alpha’s expression one of pride and affection. “How’s that? We did it as a team. I wasn’t any more or less important than anyone else.”

Shiro shook his head. “Not at the end. You’re right about that. It was a team effort. I meant before that. Back when we rescued Slav. We only had one chance at getting him out, and we almost didn’t. If you hadn’t made that shot, we never would have succeeded that day, and – as much as I hate to admit it – Slav’s input and genius went a very long way in helping us win. Without you, none of it would have happened.”

Shock and realization flashed across the Omega’s face. “I – I never thought about it like that. I just did what I had to. We needed him, and I just did it. I never put it together like that.” He stumbled through his words, understanding the weight of what he’d done hitting him. He started at Shiro’s hand on his shoulder.

“I hadn’t either until recently. But that wasn’t a conversation to be had over a call. And I want you to know from me that I have been fighting Administration over your forced medical leave. It isn’t Iverson who’s sidelining you, it’s the heads of the Medical Division. They’re the only ones who can overrule him. Your evaluations confirm what we already know – that you're fit for active duty. The shrinks know it, we know it, even Iverson knows it. I don’t know why the med admins won’t clear you, but I have an idea, and their thought process is wrong. Being an Omega has nothing to do with your capability as a Garrison officer. We will get this sorted out.”

Lance stood up in a rush, nearly knocking the chair over, and crushed his pack Alpha in a tight hug. “Thanks, Shiro,” he mumbled into the Alpha’s shoulder.

“Anytime. I mean it. You’re more than just your service record. You are still, and always will be, part of the pack. Part of our pack. You do know that, right?”

Lance huffed a laugh into Shiro’s shoulder. “That’s about the only part I haven’t questioned. I – I miss him, Shiro. I just want to get him back safe.”

Shiro pulled back, holding onto Lance’s shoulders. “We will. We’re not giving up, not even if I have to go after him myself.”

The door gave a soft hiss as it slid open and closed. Lance and Shiro snapped to see who was there.

“We interrupt something?” Pidge asked, Hunk standing beside her.

“Lance! You made it! Oh, man, I am so happy to see you!” Hunk practically yelled, rushing in to wrap his old friend in a crushing hug.

“Yeah, I made it. I'm happy to see you too, Hunk,” Lance said far more softly and returning the enthusiastic hug.

~*~*~*~

Links to the rest of the series:

1 | 2 | 3* | 4 | 5* | 6* | 7 | 8 | 9* | 10 | 11 | 12* | 13 | 14 | 15* | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19*