#when... when shall my costume abilities return to me...

[i-did-not-mean-to]

YOTP - January

So, let's start this off with Farawyn. It's a continuation of this story!

So, that kicks off YOTP...Stay tuned for February!

Pairing: Faramir x Éowyn

Prompts: First Kiss, Mission Fic, Fake Dating, Historical AU, Snow, "Whenever I look at you"

Words: 2 050

Warnings: /

Éowyn knew that something was the matter as soon as Faramir entered the room they shared—his cheeks turned bright red as soon as he saw her sitting there, darning her own socks, evidently lying in wait for him.

“Did you get your grades?” she asked breathlessly and threw her handiwork to the floor to wave a thick piece of paper in front of his widening eyes. “I did very well.”

“Of course, you did,” he replied warmly. The enthusiastic joy in her voice thawed him instantly, and he gave a long, weary sigh. “You have never given me any reason to regret breaking I don’t know how many laws.”

“You know exactly how many.” Leaning back against the wall, Éowyn motioned at the cold supper their landlords had brought up and cocked her head. “What ails you, friend?”

“Nothing that should preoccupy you,” he said hastily and turned to the old table to pretend to fix himself a plate.

With a soft snort of affectionate derision, Éowyn sprang to her feet and gave his shoulder an encouraging push. “You’ve made my dearest wish come true—I am in your debt.” When his tense posture did not relent, she made a small cooing sound.

“Jest aside, Faramir. You can tell me what weighs on you—if at all possible, I shall endeavour to help you!”

“You cannot,” he groaned. “I’ve just received a letter from my father, informing me that I am to attend the Winter Ball in Minas Tirith. I don’t understand why he’d want me there—I’ll only embarrass him by awkwardly lurking in a corner.”

As he spoke, he gestured with a piece of soft bread, and—taunted by the repetitive motion and the alluring smell—Éowyn simply took a bite out of it.

Chewing in pensive silence, she looked on helplessly as Faramir became increasingly agitated.

“And he’ll certainly expect me to dance with all the eligible ladies who will then make faces at me because they actually wanted to dance with my brother instead…”

“I can come with you!”

In the sudden, deafening silence, one would have been able to hear a single pin drop to the impeccably swept floor.

“I beg your pardon?” Faramir gaped at her in evident disbelief.

“Every day, we pretend—with much success if I may say so myself—that I am a young gentleman. You treat me as a cherished friend, and it is your acceptance and encouragement that keep our wicked ruse alive,” Éowyn explained in a voice that was ripe with self-evident smugness. “I would not do this for a lesser friend, but—for you and in return for your endless kindness—I shall change my costume and pretend to be an accomplished lady.”

Faramir then realised that he had never investigated where the enchantingly versatile creature with whom he shared his room, his studies, and his secrets came from exactly.

“Don’t stare at me so,” she exclaimed, cackling wildly. “I can wear my frilliest dress and sit prettily. After all these months, you’d still doubt my abilities as an actor?”

“I wouldn’t dare!” Faramir replied vehemently, but they both knew that he was lying. While he did not put her skills as a scholar, sportsman, or satirist into question, he was not entirely certain whether the same fey changeling who had infiltrated the seminary would be able to sit through a whole dinner during which people much less smart and educated than her would patronise her cruelly.

“Then it’s decided,” Éowyn declared. “I will make it my solemn mission to convince your father of the fact that I am on the verge of ruining my name and my reputation for your admiration and affection!”

Aghast, he threw the remnant of his bread at her. “Do not! He’d never believe that!”

“That, my friend, remains to be seen!”

Faramir paced nervously through the hallway; even if they were to leave right away, they’d be fashionably late for the grand opening of his father’s cherished ball.

“You can blame me,” a soft, sensual voice resounded behind him, and he instantly whirled around. “How do I look? Convincing?”

Swallowing thickly, the young scholar ran a trembling hand across his suddenly uncomfortably numb lips.

He had known Éowyn for months—they had shared many a joke and had brooded over partially incomprehensible texts side by side. A mere five minutes ago, he would have boldly and unwaveringly claimed that he was intimately familiar with every facet of her being.

This, as it turned out, was not so.

Before him, bathed in the soft glow of the forgotten lamp on their shared desk, stood a young lady.

“You’ll have to carry me to the carriage,” Éowyn laughed and pointed at the delicate silken shoes she was wearing, revealing slender ankles clad in a powdery, translucent layer of impossibly thin fabric that made Faramir’s heart skip a beat. “Henceforth, you might be able to better appreciate why I avoid conforming to the farce that is ‘appropriate’, ladylike garb too often—it’s laughably unpractical.”

Extending his arms, Faramir was presently not convinced that he’d be able to support the weight of a feather, let alone this wondrous creature gleaming with self-satisfied triumph.

“I clean up nicely, don’t you think?” she teased and patted the complicated updo into which she had wrestled her stubborn, flaxen hair through some impressive display of hitherto unrevealed masterfulness.

“You look stunning,” Faramir whispered, utterly awed.

“Ah!” Frowning, she walked past him and down the stairs, her head held high and her chin jutting out petulantly. “Am I to surmise then that you’re no better than my uncle’s most duplicitous courtiers?”

Despite her forcibly teasing tone, Faramir could tell that she was genuinely hurt.

“I do not know the good men,” he replied cautiously. “Nevertheless, I merely sought to compliment you on yet another wonderfully executed disguise.”

Huffing, she threw open the front door and grimaced at the thin, slick layer of snow that would delay them even further.

“Milady,” Faramir invited coyly and assumed the necessary posture once more to lift her into his arms and ferry her over to the waiting carriage without creasing her dress or damaging any other adornment overmuch.

He had to suppress another tremor of unidentifiable unease—Éowyn felt soft and supple in his arms, and a discreet smell of wild lilacs and river grass tickled his nose.

In truth, all his senses were entirely taken over by the complex beauty of the one he was holding as if she was made of glass and ice crystals, and yet he couldn’t deny the surge of instinctive reluctance taking hold of his heart.

“I wish you didn’t have to do this,” he whispered dejectedly as they started rumbling along the merciless, frozen path in jolting fits and bursts.

“Béma—we would have made better time on horseback without—”

“Not in that dress, dear,” Faramir interrupted gently. “Anyhow, I doubt that anyone is expecting my arrival anxiously.”

“Fools,” Éowyn declared haughtily and pushed a stray pin back into her ornate coiffure. “Having had the pleasure of your company for many a night now, I can vouch for your excellence as a conversation and study partner!”

Despite suspecting that she was lying to assuage his mounting anxiousness, Faramir felt considerably heartened by her words and smiled at her gratefully.

The rest of their journey was spent in companionable silence; each was mentally preparing for the great unknown that was awaiting them.

When the carriage came to a sliding halt and a young man with impeccably polished buttons and fastenings opened the door to help the latecomers alight, Éowyn nodded at Faramir encouragingly. “Same as before.”

It was undignified to have to be carried thus, but Éowyn was nothing if not steadfast in her resolutions and brave in the name of duty and loyalty—looking up at Faramir’s tense, pale face, leisurely, she was reminded once more of how unobtrusively handsome her roommate was.

Of course, she usually did not waste any time or thoughts on his countless qualities—the man was her most trusted confidant, he not only knew about her devious charade, no, he actively facilitated and endorsed it.

Surely, he would never see her as anything other than a rebellious, reckless fool.

At times, Éowyn earnestly regretted the fact that the only man she had ever liked enough to consider him as a romantic partner had been made irreversibly inaccessible by her achieving her most cherished dream,

She sighed softly. Her uncle was right—she was a selfish creature, and she had sacrificed the matrimonial bliss she owed to her name, her family, and her sex on the altar of her personal fulfilment.

“We’re almost inside,” Faramir whispered, hastening his steps. He had mistaken her shivering exhalation as an expression of dismay on account of the blistering cold air and felt bad for her.

Indeed, while he was wrapped in a thick coat, Éowyn had only been able to conjure up a woefully flimsy shawl.

“You’re right,” he admitted as he set her down carefully inside the brightly lit foyer. “These clothes are ludicrous! I shall give you my coat for the ride home! You’ll catch your death in that!”

“It matches the dress,” she shot back defensively, fussing with the delicate fabric ostentatiously.

“Humbug!”

Chuckling, Éowyn allowed herself the treacherous indulgence of touching her cheek to his shoulder briefly—then, the doors swung open, and they stepped into a lavish ballroom.

“Oh no,” Éowyn whispered, gripping Faramir’s arm with unladylike strength and vehemence. “My brother is here!”

He turned his head a fraction to glimpse a tall, broad-shouldered paragon of strength, smiling at them.

“I was under the impression that you were devoted to him—why are you upset?” Faramir pointedly avoided looking at her face—flushed from the heat and radiant with virginal fairness—as she insisted on mooning at him in a shamelessly exaggerated display of admiration and unspoken affection.

At least, he thought her demeanour to be hardly credible—his father and brother, on the other hand, had smirked at him and clapped congratulatory hands onto his stiff shoulders.

In his heart of hearts, he was dismayed and disgruntled by the discovery that—while his academic prowess and the deep, meaningful friendship he had established with the authentic Éowyn meant nothing to them—the simple act of parading a handsome maiden at a lavish feast seemed to suffice to gain their approval.

“I do love him,” Éowyn replied in a hushed hiss. “But his being here means that I’ll have to up the ante if I want to be believed.”

“You don’t have to—”

“You’ve once told me that we were in this together,” she said softly and cupped Faramir’s burning cheek tenderly. “Allow me to reciprocate that sentiment and battle cry.”

Pushing herself up on her tiptoes, she cocked her head to the side, her hair glistening like pure spun gold in the flickering light of the sconces. “Can you pretend for a moment that I am pretty? No doubt, my valiant effort in the defence of your reputation would earn me so minor a boon?”

“There shall be no need to pretend. I marvel at your beauty whenever I look at you,” Faramir answered before his mind could censor his tongue, loosened by the glowing atmosphere of the room and the double-edged victory of the night.

Éowyn blinked. “Whenever?” she then asked demurely, colour flaring in her cheeks.

“You look stunning tonight,” Faramir grinned, elated that he got the opportunity to set right his previous misstep. “The dress compliments your smile. Nevertheless, I would be a poor friend and a despicably shallow nincompoop if such caparison was needed to alert me to the rare beauty of one I see every day in all her glory.”

Shining brighter than all the gold in the room, Éowyn brushed her now flawlessly clean thumbs against his bearded jaw to tilt his head back.

“I was right,” she crooned. “You are the most precious! I’ll have you know that I love being right!”

Before Faramir could assure her that he was well-aware of that fact, she had drawn herself up further and pressed her lips against his in a kiss that spoke of deep trust, enduring loyalty, and nascent love.

My very dear readers; I hope this has been enjoyable!

-> Masterlist

[iceblastersdenofstuff]

Solo RPG Log #0 (Hex Girl II)

So! Fair note, when I was brainstorming names I kinda just let my mind wander. Little did I know my sister's binging of Steven Universe and memories of old scooby doo characters would jump out and insert themselves into my game :P

--

The game is set in 20X3 in a city on the west coast of the USA called Beach City. When I plotted up the city in a general sense, I rolled on Mythic's settlement description table, and ended up rolling the Impressive and Old descriptors. So, I decided to make it some long standing city with a history of tech innovation, making it have a bit of more advanced tech fitting of a typical superhero city, though of course as stated before I've made it clear that superheroes aren't exactly a common affair. No definitive number, but superpowers are uncommon enough that when you do see someone with them it's an event to remember -assuming you aren't living in the city where they operate of course.

My character -generated using the Mutants and Mastermind's 3e hero handbook generator bc while I love making characters, I wanted to get right into play- is a female-presenting non-binary super named Riley Ikaru(she/they), going by Hex Girl -and is the second to have said moniker. Her mentor is of course Hex Girl, more on her later.

While the name would indicate a lot of magic -and to be frank I might use my 'this is literally just me' powers and change that-, she's mainly focused on more psychic abilities, with telekinesis featuring heavily though they do sport magically halted aging and self-enchanted costumes.

Hex Girl I is as far as anyone is concerned 'effectively retired', though the generated NPC descriptors threw a wrench in that idea -rolling for appearance I got Athletic and professional, and disposition is Knowledgable and Disagreeable-, so I had a bit of thinking on it and had the thought that despite having mentored Riley, they were rather distant in terms of closeness, and nowadays while Riley is off doing whatever they do, she's at her hideout with what amounts to a giant conspiracy board of the various underworld elements, trying to figure out some hidden plan without really being able to put together what's going on.

The first and second session make more sense to lump together, so! I shall.

Riley was tasked with infiltrating and investigated a newly arrived corporation -whose CEO seemed to be quite interested in psionics and powers of the mind-, as there have been allegations of unethical experimentation. They successfully sneak in and even get to a storage room to get at some files, however they find a guard that seems to have been waiting for her, as they soon get into a fight.

I. Did not balance the fight well, so despite being half the power level -MnM rates PCs on a '15 points = 1 power level' basis, I made a PL 10 character- my modified street thug to have some psychic abilities forced a retreat after they activated an alarm.

So, without any proof and with the corporation now on high alert, Riley returns to Hex Girl's hideout to give the news, who after a few rolls, was none too pleased about the result and essentially threw Riley out while she tried to salvage whatever plan she had. I last left off with Riley heading out, so, next time I play, I'll be exploring that!

fun.

[ive-tumbled-down-a-rabbit-hole]

Stories of Paris

Part 4

Part One Part Three AO3

Masterlist

................................................................

Damian was unhappy with the fact that with ‘strangers’ in *his* house their nightly activities would have to carefully navigated. His father nor Pennyworth had not explicitly said anything about it, but he assumed it was because they all knew what was expected. So, being told to line up in the entrance hall by his father went down like a lead balloon.

His pout turned in widening eyes of shock as he witnessed the tall wiry young woman (and a large man he supposed) exiting the car. SHE was his father’s babysitter. This was who oversaw the European branch of W.E. The person who owned the largest portion of shares of W.E (after the Wayne family that is). He was doomed. Damain watched as his father soften as he saw the woman.

“Mari! You never seem to age!” he exclaimed as she gracefully walked up to him and into his embrace.

“Mon cherie! It’s miraculous isn’t it,” she drew back slightly to look over his shoulder, “I see you have taken found family comment to the extreme, but I suppose you were never one to do things in half measures. It’s good to be back here after so long”

Looking at her like he was a child with pleading eyes, “You are staying here, right?”

With a gentle smile with a smirking edge, “Yes. If I tried to leave for a hotel, I’ll end up having the shadows watching me all night. Plus, this place always did feel like my home away from home.”

Damian glancing at his supposed siblings to see that they were also in shock. Probably not for the same reason. Panicking with it all, as he saw his father turn to introduce them to the woman, Damian drew his katana and aimed it at her.

“YOU were fathers' babysitter!!! But... what... you’re younger than him!!!! .... You’re the Grand Lady Guardian... I *refuse* to return.”

Damian vaguely recognised his name being shouted at him, but all his attention was on the Grand Lady Guardian of the Miraculous who stood, rolling her eyes, before him. He could feel her power radiating off, surrounding them all.

“Petit Tresor. I’m not taking you back there. Did you not learn anything from my teachings? Did you not learn to read between the lines? About looking deeper than the surface. You are with *your* found family. THEY are what is important. Bruce may have picked up a lot of my unhealthy habits about vigilantism, but he made a point of understand a good support network and the importance of chosen family. Despite how he enacts the teachings.”

The Monkey with her came to her shoulder and raised his eyebrow at Damian. He finally understood why he was always her bodyguard now rather than the Cat, being that he was her husband.

“You can stand down Petit Tresor. League and Court business will *not* be found here. The League know what will happen if they cross the Court, and I made it very clear after our last encounter when they tried to manipulate us to their advantage.”

Damian assessed the woman before him as he withdrew his katana from her and starting to become aware of the others around him again.

“Why has he got a chaos shard within him Bruce?” The monkey growled looking at him with a dangerous glint in his eye.

Everyone in the entrance hall was frozen in shock and panic. What was meant to be a happy reunion had been derailed but now, suddenly, somehow gained an even sharper edge. Marinette and her husband were aware of their nightly capers, and they also knew of the League, they were involved in something similar and aware of chaos shards.

Damian watched as his father gulped as he looked at the Monkey and the Guardian. It wasn’t often his father showed fear, but it was clear on his face as she arched her eyebrow at him. His siblings all looked on in surprise and uncertain of what to expect. Only Pennyworth and Todd seemed to be handling the situation with any sense of calmness. Surprising for Todd...

“Mari... his mother... the league...”

At the mention of the league the Guardians eye twitch so subtly you’d hardly notice it if not trained and with a minute flicker of her hand, the Monkey flipped his phone out and was walking out back outside to call someone... Damian straining his ears heard Peg and plan 42c being mentioned by the Monkey to whoever he had called.

“They were warned. Tsk, Assassin’s bullheadedness. Kim will sort this out for me for the present moment and we will discuss healing at a later point. Anyway, mon cherie, you were about to introduce me to your children. Petit Tresor I know, and I believe that that is Jason, mon rêveur, in the background though he has grown so much since our last meeting. So, I could guess everyone else, but why don’t you continue?”

The Guardian stated as if the topic of what just happened was over, much to Damian’s surprise. He sheafed his katana but still was wary of the woman and slightly in awe. He had a feeling that the chaos and downfall of his grandfather may have due to her in some way. Slight fear and dread for his mother was building as well. He finally starting to understand the reason for her over protectiveness when she taught him in the league now.

“Right. Mari, this is Dick, Jason who you already met in person? Cass and alongside her Duke, Tim who you meet briefly in the W.E. meeting the other month, Steph who has wormed her way into the family and Damian you who’ve also already met?”

With a polite cough drawing attention to himself, Alfred spoke. “Perhaps, instead of having a mother’s meeting in the entrance hall, we retreat to the drawing room where we can have some refreshments. I am sure that Ms Marinette and Master Kim are exhausted from their travels. It is most unbecoming to stand around loitering, wouldn’t you agree Master Bruce?”

Bruce muttered something as his ears started to tinge red, Marinette turned to Alfred and smiled as she drew him into a hug while Bruce collected himself.

“Yes, right, that sounds like a fantastic idea Alfred. Mari, shall we?”

Bruce offered her an arm which she elegantly took as the took off in the direction of the drawing room delving into conversation with Bruce leaving behind a shocked collection on children in the hall. Alfred slipped off to prepare the refreshments.

Damian cringed as Dick exclaimed, “YOU GUYS KNOW HER?!?!?!!” which echoed around the manor as he finally processed what had just happened.

______________________________________________

Alfred smiled as the atmosphere within the Manor shifted over the last few weeks. It now had a different air about it. Master Bruce became less sullen and slightly less repressed under Marinette’s watch and the Manor started to feel lighter again.

Alfred had found great amusement when he stumbled in on Master Kim lecturing Master Bruce on being dense especially the “I know I’m dense but kwami Bruce! You’re worse than me realising all the competitions I got Mare rigged into was because I wanted to impress her! Let’s start at the beginning, ok?!”.

He hoped that Master Kim might be able to knock a bit of sense into his wayward charge. He knew Ms Marinette, though full of good intentions wouldn’t be able to with Master Bruce’s strange ability to pick up on the wrong message being given.

The highlight of the week was when he entered the family living room to find all his grandchildren looking pale as Master Bruce acted semi child-like in front of Ms Marinette. It was a delight to see Bruce act like the child that he knew he was reawakened again. Even if it terrified the grandchildren.

The whole family discovered that Bruce had been very selective of the stories and information that he had told them about Marinette. She had taken great delight telling them all about what teenage Bruce really was like.

About the time Bruce had a fan induced panic attack on meeting the Jagged Stone. Alfred was slightly aware of something happened but not the details.

About the time Bruce decided to practice parkour in the Manor gardens and ended up stuck halfway up the side of the Manor unable to climb up further or climb down. Alfed was positive he was unaware that Marinette joined him and had to coach Bruce down.

About the series of times that Bruce attempted to prove to Alfred that he had ‘outgrown the kitchen ban’ and had ‘observed Mari’s baking skills sufficiently’ to be able to try again for only the attempts to go south fast. Alfred grimaced at the memories that that bought up. He was glad that he’d got a good working deal with local kitchen fitters and suppliers given the number of fires.

It became a daily breakfast occurrence that Bruce mortified Marinette in his outfit for the day. The breakfast entertainment became watching Marinette tear into his fashion choice of the day, drag up some past clothing or costume disaster. She ended up moaning that he had learnt nothing from her rantings about clothes over the years and stare forlornly into her coffee cup. It was providing the bat boys a wealth of black mail material that Alfred had to on numerous occasions reel Marinette from her tangents.

The only time he let her completely go to town with was letting her regale to everyone about Bruce’s dramatic and insistent argument on fighting crime in Lyca, wearing pants on top of tights and with a cape, that he really insisted that he didn’t need to use Kevlar (that decision didn’t last beyond a few training sessions and one patrol night). Alfred was pleased with her ability to rein that disaster in quickly.

It was in the comfort of the kitchen away from the antics that happened Alfred mused and reflected on his notional niece's visit. Alfred wished he had thought to bring Marinette over sooner as he witnessed that fraught relationships between the Waynes soften. Issues didn’t disappear but Marinettes presence, and ability due to dealing with Akuma, helped mitigate situations which typically would have blown up. Kim always by her side would help soothe, distract, or explain to the puzzled Bruce the techniques Marinette was using to stop the escalation.

She’d slowly began charming and connecting with his grandchildren. Be it by giving Tim pointers on how to manage W.E board members effectively and playing video games. It was eerily like how she warmed Bruce up to her.

By Sitting quietly reading with Jason or playing chess and talking in metaphors about life, death and balance. Slowly having ‘healing sessions to calm the pit madness’ with meditation and grounding sessions.

With Damian she seemed to remind him of alternate grounding techniques which she’d shown him in the league. They seemed to spend time talking in hushed whispers about other stuff that Alfred wasn’t currently privy too.

Duke was with poetry and music. Cass with dance and gymnastics, silent subtle conversations occurred but seeing Cass smile and edge towards being more tactile made Alfred glow with warmth inside. Steph and Marinette commanded the kitchen numerous times baking pastries, waffles and other treats.

Dick took the longest to warm up to the woman, having heard and known about her for over a deacade but never met it was understandable. Alfred wpould never knew what Marinette had done but one day the hostility and coldness disappeared. A joy, childlike smile appeared on Dicks face every time she was in the room, and he’d follow her round like a loat puppy. Watching and mimicking her techniques to calm his brothers down.

How his grandchildren acted with Marinette in the activities brought echoes of memories of her with Bruce to the forefront of Alfred’s mind.

Sighing, in the short time the Manor felt warm and like a family, a home should feel like. Much like before his friends’ death. Schooling his emotions, Alfred set about to serve the family and Parisians last dinner together.

______________________________________________

Bruce tried not to sulk. Tried not to revert to the mind set of when Marinette originally disappeared physically from his life. Especially in front of his children but it was hard. She somehow always managed to take the overwhelming pressure away from him, like he could breathe and be.

Alfred was his father, in all the ways that counted, but the burden of death and saving the world was something Marinette understood at a deeper more personal level. Having her here made it feel safe to feel, that he would always be caught. That she would save him from the consuming darkness. She was the light in the world shining out in the Gotham gloom.

As expected, his children adored her in their unique ways. Following her around like little ducks scrabbling for crumbs of knowledge and titbits of information. Bruce lips twitched as he witnessed them behaving much like he used to. Taking the gems’ she passed on to them and ferreting them away much like he did.

“Master Bruce, I expect better behaviour this leaving gathering than our previous party, please.”

With Alfred’s comments Bruce gave into the feeling of pouting. Why deny how he felt toward the situation where he wasn’t in control. He pointedly ignored the stares that his children were giving him. Again.

“Mon tresor! It’s not like you aren’t going to see or speak to me again. We speak regularly as it is. It’s not the same as it was last time. You know this.”

“But Mari, it's nice having you here. This is your home.”

“Is he always like this Mare, Cupcake? How is it that all the kid’s you’ve looked after end up demanding you live with them?”

Bruce choked at Kim’s statement and the Wayne clan burst into laughter. Alfred let a small smirk grace his face.

“Oui, Mon Amour, He wasn’t happy last time I left at all. Be grateful I learnt to resist kitten eyes or we’d never have reconnected. Manon doesn’t count. She’s practically family as well with how close Maman and Nadja are.”

“What about Elle, Etta and Chris? What about Ivan’s and Mylene’s sproglian? Fang? Jagged’s second round of terrors? Luka and Jules too really.”

“Hush, Mon Amour, circumstantial evidence.”

Bruce observed Kim stare at his wife in disbelief before waving his hand around the room.

“What about these then. Don’t give me that look Cupcake. I’m gonna end up needing to fight the whole batclan at this rate to get you on a plane with me! Maybe I should give Peg’s the heads up that I’ll need his help.”

“I can assure you Master Kim that you *both* are free to leave. The young master's understand that they cannot kidnap you. It would not be becoming of them OR look good for the company for the family to kidnap its own workers.”

Bruce and his family guiltily ducked their heads at Alfred’s comments. When Alfred turned away to start talking to Kim, Tim leant in close to Bruce to whisper to him.

“Do you think we have the power to move her to being director of North America rather than Europe? Mari would be closer then? Plus, the guy in charge isn’t all he’s cracked up to be so the board would likely approve it.”

Bruce stared at his son at the ingenious and simple solution and smiled, before ducking his head when Alfred pointedly looked his way.

“We’ll discuss that concept later.”

Bruce gave Tim a subtle nod as if he was approving the idea. Technically he was but Alfred didn’t need to know that. Nor did Kim really, as he would fight him if he found out and he’d rather not deal with an ex-olympian superhero, even when he pulled his punches they hurt far more than the average persons.

Bruce sat back into his seat and smiled as the conversation and chaos flowed around him. His whole family finally together and he cherished it. He knew it wasn’t going to last much longer with the impending flight looming but for now he had a potential and creative plan to work on. If he framed it right it could also become the prefect family bonding activity that both Marinette and Kim thought he needed to do more of outside of vigilantism. And if the end result was that she moved closer, well, that’s just an added bonus in his eyes.

With that in mind, Bruce joined in with the choas enjoying the moment with his complete family. Nothing could take this away from him.

Tag:

@neakco @corporeal-terrestrial @jayjayspixiepop @lady-bee-fechin @prettylittlebutterflie

[justthehiddleswrites]

Dark Delights | Tom Hiddleston x Reader

Pairing: Tom Hiddleston x Reader

Summary:  Tom has been having late night shooting the new Loki series. When he comes home late at night, he makes a startling discovery about what you dream about at night.

Warnings: Smut, Roleplay, Talking in your Sleep, Sex, Vaginal Sex, Teasing, Light Dom/sub, Vaginal Fingering

-

Tom hated these late night shootings. He recognized you hated them just as much, even if you never said a word. He spied the disappointment in your eyes every time he told you not to wait up. Tom promised himself to make it up to you the first night off he got.

Tom entered the dark apartment and didn’t bother to turn on the lights. At this hour, you would be asleep and he feared any light would disturb you. He moved through the sparsely furnished place, dropping his belongings on the kitchen counter. Bobby scampering up at the sound and Tom smiled as he leaned down to scratch behind Bobby’s ears.

“Keeping watch over the lady of the house?” Tom asked as Bobby leaned into the pets. Bobby barked before heading back to his bed in the corner. “Good boy.”

He pushed open the bedroom door and squinted to find the outline of your body under the sheets. His stomach flipped at the sight of you sleeping peacefully as his eyes adjusted to the dark. You struggled to sleep under the best circumstances and Tom made every accommodation he could, including hanging blackout curtains in the room.

As he pulled off his sweater, you stirred, a slight whimper escaping your lips.

“Darling, are you awake?” Tom questioned into the dark void.

You answered with another whimper. Tom slid off his jeans, laying him across the back of a chair in the corner. He slipped off his boxers before slipping between the sheets. You rolled from your side to your back as Tom moved towards you.

“Darling…” Tom asked again as he caressed your arm with the back of his fingers.

You moaned at his touch and Tom’s eyes widened in realization as his lips curved into a smile.

“What are we dreaming about tonight, love?” Tom cooed into your ear as his fingers teased at the straps of your camisole.

“Hmm… Loki.” you breathed as if in response.

Tom leaned back in surprise. He shook his head as he couldn’t be sure he heard you right. Due to the late hour, he didn’t trust his hearing. Tom tested his theory.

As Tom pressed against your side, he draped one hand down your leg, teasing your inner thigh, while his other one ran across the curve of your breast.

“In the end, you crave subjugation.” Tom growled into your ear, using the timbre he reserved only for the screen.

You arched your back, your ass pushed against Tom’s crotch. You licked your lips as you groaned.

“Yes, Loki!” Your breath hitched, and you groaned as you turned onto your side, your breath returning to an even and heavy tempo.

Tom chuckled as he returned to his side of the bed. “Interesting.”

-

You woke the next morning to find Tom’s side of the bed cold. You envied his ability to wake early and go for a run. You stood and padded off to the kitchen, hoping to find Tom there.

“Morning, love.” Tom greeted you as he turned from the fridge. “Coffee?”

“Hmm.” you nodded. Tom retrieved a mug from the cupboard and pour your coffee, adding sweetener and creamer.

You inhaled the aroma before taking your first sip, savoring that taste. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I am making some eggs if you want some.”

“Please.”

Tom smiled as he turned his attention to the stove.

“So how late did you get in last night? I didn’t hear you.”

“After midnight. I didn’t want to wake you. Did you sleep well?” Tom prodded.

“Hmmm. yes. Thank you for hanging those curtains.”

“My pleasure.” Tom plated the eggs and joined you at the table. “I’ve been wondering how do you like the black hair?” Tom ran his fingers through his hair.

“It’s nice but I prefer you ginger.” You took a big bite of eggs.

“You are too kind, darling. Have you ever considered about using it to our advantage in the bedroom? I could bring home a costume from the set or something?” Tom raised his eyebrows, staring at you.

You dropped your fork. “No, no, no!” you stammered. “I don’t think I would like that.” you lied as you reached for Tom’s hand, giving it a squeeze. “You are plenty of an adventure in that department.”

Tom chuckled as his head dropped. “Thanks, darling. If you ever change your mind…” He gave you a knowing glance.

“You will be the first to know.”

Tom squeezed your hand back and rose to clear the plates. He headed to pick up his things.

“Will you be late again?”

“I’m afraid so.” He leaned down and pecked your lips. “Don’t wait up.”

“I won’t. Love you. Kick some ass.” You playfully swatted at Tom’s backside.

“Of course.”

-

Tom again returned late in the evening to a darkened apartment. He repeated the routine from the previous night before. As he entered the room, he glanced at you. Your knees were pulled up, tenting the sheets. Again, Tom noticed the telltale moan escape your lips.

Tom slipped next to you. He didn’t bother asking if you were awake. He decided instead to have a bit of fun.

“Oh dear, look at the state you are in.” he purred into your ear.

His fingers traced along your thigh before he grazed along your slit through your panties, already soaking with your arousal. You squirmed under his touch. You gasped.

“Would like me to help you out?” Tom continued to tease you.

“Please, Loki.” you begged.

Tom laughed. “I would much prefer to see you bring yourself to completion. Play with yourself, dove.” Tom commanded.

You groaned at the authoritative tone. Tom swore you gushed just at his voice as Loki. Your hand made its way down the front of your panties.

“Yes!” you hissed as you played with your clit. Your orgasm already near.

The sight of you pleasuring yourself caused Tom to fist his hardened cock, chasing his own release.

“That’s it, darling. You delight my senses.” Tom teased, his breath heavy as his own orgasm approached.

His words spurred you on and you slipped a finger inside of you. You curled it inside you, hitting that spot making your knees quiver.

“I’m close.” you whispered.

“As am I. Cum for me, dove.” Tom’s head fell against the pillows.

Your orgasm hit you hard, and your toes curled. “YES!”

“Fuck!” Tom hissed as he orgasmed himself.

Your body relaxed against the mattress. Tom kissed your cheek before getting up to clean himself up in the bathroom.

“How delightful.” Tom’s mind raced with possibilities for tomorrow night.

-

You slept in the next morning, exhausted. You had a very vivid dream last night involving Loki. You would never admit to Tom about your dark fantasies regarding Loki. You rolled over to find a note on Tom’s pillow.

Darling,

I am sorry I’m not there when you wake up. I am also sorry I won’t be able to make our lunch date today. Last-minute change to the call sheet. But I made you an appointment at your favorite spa to help soften the blow. Another late night. Don’t wait up.

Love, Tom

P.S. After tonight, I am yours all weekend.

You allowed yourself to be sad at the lost lunch date for a moment or two before moving onto the excitement of a day of pampering. You skipped out of bed and headed to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

Four Hours Later

“She made it there, okay?” Tom asked the person on the other line.

“Fantastic. And how long will she be there?” Tom nodded. “Two hours? That is perfect. Will you ring me when she leaves? Thank you so much.”

Tom hung up the phone, and then hit a different number. “We have two hours. Meet me at the apartment.”

-

You got back to the apartment well before dinner. All the lights were out, which you swore you had left a few on. You dropped your purse and shopping bags by the door and headed to the bedroom to change into lounge wear.

“How dare you keep me waiting!” a familiar baritone echoed in the unlit room.

“Tom?” you asked the void. It was impossible to see anything. Those blackout curtains did their job.

“Your precious Tom is not here. He sent…” Tom stepped out of the shadows of the room and into the little light let in from the bathroom and living room. “… me in his place.”

He was dressed in his Loki costume. All leather and metal. His black locks slicked back.

“What on earth are you wearing, Tom?” Your voice cracked as he strutted towards you.

He held his hands out. “This is my regular armor.” He backed you against the wall. “Call me Tom one more time…” His hands hit the wall by your head. “… and I will punish you.”

You opened your mouth to protest but considered otherwise. You tilted your chin. “Then what shall I call you?”

A chuckle rumbled in his chest. “You know all too well what to call me, pet. It is the same name that has fallen from your lips the past two evenings.”

Your eyes widened, and your mouth dropped open. “But I—”

Loki placed a finger upon your lips. “There is no need to explain. I am well aware of the desire I spark in many a Midgardian woman.”

Loki pressed against you to hover his lips over your ear. “And tonight I am here for you. To make your darkest fantasies a reality.”

You gasped as his words sent a shiver down your spine and heat straight to your core.

“All you have to do is say the words and I’m all yours.” He stepped away. You leaned forward, hungry for his warmth.

You bit your lip, choosing your next words carefully. “Take me, Loki.” His lips curled up into a mischevious grin. “My king.” you added with a smirk.

Loki pushed you back against the wall, hitching your leg up. His lips attacked your neck, nipping and sucking with each kiss.

“You will leave marks.” You whined.

He laughed against you, bucking against you in dominance, his erection straining against his pants. “Then everyone will recognize that you are mine.”

You snapped your hips against him. “You are aware I am taken by another.”

“I don’t see a ring claiming you.” Loki pulled your top over your head. His hands slid over your torso. “He must not realize what he has.”

“Oh, I think he does.” you smirked. “He is a gentleman.”

“How boring.” Loki squeezed your breasts, and you arched your back.

“Yes.” you sighed.

“Does that please you?” He reached behind and unhooked your bra. You let it fall to the floor. He pinched your nipples, teasing them to hard pebbles.

“It does.” you breathed, palming him through his leather trousers. Loki growled through his teeth. “Does this please you?”

“Well aren’t you full of mischief?”

“I would rather be full of the God of Mischief.”

“In due time. First, I must…” He tugged your pants down to your ankles, you kicked them away. “… prepare for you a god.”

Loki’s fingers trailed down your body and you shifted your weight to open your legs to his touch. He swiped along your folds.

“Perhaps you don’t need as much preparation as I first imagined. Already so wet for me.” He pushed a finger into you. You gripped his shoulders for support. “And tight.”

He added a second finger, and you bucked against him. Your release coming upon you fast.

“Please…” you begged.

Loki pressed his thumb against your clit. “Cum undone for me.”

You spasmed around his fingers as you saw bright white. You clung to Loki for support as your legs gave way. He pulled his fingers and popped them into his mouth.

“Delicious.”

You groaned.

“Lie down on the bed.”

You did as you were told, settling against the pillows. Loki undid buckles and snaps as he shed layers of leather. He soon stood in front of you, naked. The mattress gave under his weight as he crawled towards you.

“You are a vision.”

“You’re not so bad yourself.”

“Well, I am a god.” Loki commented. “Now to make good on my promise.”

He teased your folds with the tip of his cock, collecting some of your juices before pushing into you, filling you completely.

“FUCK! Yes, Loki!”

“You are divine when you moan my name. Although I much prefer you to be awake.” Loki snapped his hips against you.

Loki rutted against you with an animalistic need. You bucked your hips to match his thrusts. His pubic bone grazed against your clit, creating delicious friction.

“Loki, I am close.” you panted. Your nails dug into his back.

“Then cum for me. I want to feel you around me.”

Loki snaked his hand between your bodies to find your clit, drawing tight circles. You screamed as you orgasmed. Your pussy clenched around his cock, causing him to soon follow with his own release, spilling inside you. He stilled inside you, and you twisted underneath him, signaling for him to fall to your side.

“Tom?” you asked tentatively.

His eyes soften, the crinkles appearing around his eyes as he smiled at you. “Yes, darling?”

“How long do you have the costume for?”

“Um… Monday. Why?” his brow furrowed.

“I have a few other ideas in mind.” Your hands swirled across his chest hair.

“What did you have in mind?” His eyes sparkled.

[dfcfanfics]

The Last Deal You'll Ever Make Miraculous Prompt of the Day

She's coming for me.

Shadowmoth stood before his wife, quivering deep inside himself.

My last gambit has failed, he sulked to himself. The Akuma that was to encourage Ladybug and Chat Noir to take foolhardy risks backfired badly. And now, after all that happened in the battle, Ladybug knows precisely who I am beneath this mask.

I might have a short while before my home is flooded with costumed teenagers. I might have only minutes. She could be up there now; my home security system certainly cannot keep her out, and the hidden elevator will not fool her for long.

Emilie, my love... I have failed you. I have no more cards to play.

An errant thought flickered through his head; his first instinct was to reject it completely, for many reasons. But as his desperation and his degree of painful anticipation grew, his will wavered.

I swore that I would damn myself to the depths of Hell, if that was what it would take to bring you back, he thought in Emilie's direction.

And now... perhaps I shall.

When Gabriel and his wife scoured the world for the Miraculous, one of their first clues was a crate of extremely old books, one of which was the Book of Lore that now rested in his wall safe. Most of the others were more valuable for their age and rarity than for their contents; they were miscellaneous compilations of stories, mythology and shadowy rumors at best.

But then... there was that one.

Shadowmoth read from it now, unfamiliar phrases in ancient Latin emerging from his lips, doubting himself even as he continued.

At worst, I am making a fool of myself with this, he reasoned. The heroes will find me here holding a useless book, I will fight them, and I will fall.

A low rumble -- have they come? Am I too late? -- filled the room as he concluded the passage.

A louder rumble followed... along with a chasm emerging in the floor in front of him, a roar of flame and a strong aroma of sulfur.

~-----~

Very tentatively, Shadowmoth leaned forward to stare into the newborn pit of flame...

SPEAK.

An impossibly deep voice emerged from the chasm, older than time and yet speaking perfect, unaccented French to Gabriel.

SPEAK, MORTAL. YOU HAVE SUMMONED ME; TELL ME WHAT YOU WISH OF ME.

"What... oh," Shadowmoth stammered, clearly out of his depth. "What... name shall I call you?"

YOU SHALL NOT. NAMES ARE IMPORTANT TO MY KIND, AND NOT TO BE SHARED WITH THE LIKES OF YOU.

"Ah. Do... do you have the power to heal my wife, the woman across from me?" he breathed. "To bring her back to life and health?"

There was a long pause.

I DO, INDEED.

"And I suppose that... that my soul would be my side of the bargain--"

NAY. THAT BELONGS TO ME, ALREADY.

"Wh-what?"

THE ACT OF SUMMONING ME FORFEITED YOUR SOUL TO ME. BARGAIN BETTER, LEST I SIMPLY SEIZE IT AND RETURN FROM WHENCE I CAME.

Shadowmoth's reaction to that, one of utter horror and disbelief, caused the netherworld being to laugh loudly.

MORTAL... YOU AMUSE ME. YOUR SOUL IS PATHETIC AND WEIGHTLESS, AS WITH ALL FOOLS AND COWARDS. SURELY, A MAN OF YOUR MEANS CAN OFFER TASTIER FARE?

At that, Shadowmoth's brain reasserted itself for one last desperate plea.

"A set of heroes is on their way here. Young champions of justice in bright costumes, carrying magical artifacts that power their abilities," he barked out. "They seek to capture and humiliate me, and prevent my wife's revival. Would they..."

NOW... YOU SPEAK MY LANGUAGE. LET ME SEE...

A tendril of... something reached out from the pit and lashed out, wrapping itself around Shadowmoth's ankle. All at once, an alien presence overwhelmed Shadowmoth's consciousness; he tried to scream, but conscious action on his part no longer seemed possible.

As quickly as it had arrived, the tendril disengaged.

I CAN REVIVE YOUR WIFE, GABRIEL. BUT YOU WILL MAKE IT WORTH MY WHILE TO DO SO. BRING ME THESE HEROES AND CAST THEM INTO THE PIT, NEVER TO RETURN. FEED ME THREE, AND YOUR EMILIE WILL LIVE AGAIN; FEED ME THEIR LEADER, THE LADYBUG, AND YOU CAN KEEP YOUR OWN WRETCHED SOUL, AS WELL.

"I have t-tried to battle them many times," protested Shadowmoth. "But they have overwhelmed me, time and again."

AS I SAID, YOUR SOUL IS MINE TO PLAY WITH AS I WISH. DO YOU ACCEPT MY POWER INTO YOUR BODY, AS WELL?

The irony was not lost upon Shadowmoth, this time on the receiving end of a monkey's paw of power.

"I d-do."

A crimson energy swept forth and engulfed him... and Shadowmoth howled in pain as his body transformed and twisted. Leathery wings erupted from his back, strong and sturdy... coming to an impossibly sharp edge at each wingtip. The end result was far from human; it was difficult to imagine that it had ever been one.

NOW... GO FORTH, SHADOWFIEND. GO FORTH AND SERVE ME WELL.

[randomfandomimagine]

Love’s Worth Running To. Chapter 5: Hero Work

Pairing: Barry Allen x Stephanie Williams (OFC)

Fandom: Justice League / DCEU

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AO3

A/N: Another chapter! I think this one as very interesting stuff, and it’s finally starting to move on to my favorite part of the story, I can’t wait to post the few next chapters!

Also, and as always, remember to give this some love! Please reblog and leave feedback if you’re liking it, it would help me out a lot and it’d mean the world to me!! 🙏 Thank you so much to everyone that’s supporting this series 🥰💜

With the excuse that she needs to face it sooner or later, Stephanie starts trying out her powers. She promises herself that it means nothing, only a way to ensure they won’t become something dangerous because she can’t control them. It doesn’t mean she will recklessly go out trying to be Wonder Woman. But the improvised hero outfit still lays on the ground. She hasn’t put it away. Keeps glancing at it.

Meanwhile, as her eyes are fixed on the costume, a light crackle of electricity hovers over her palm. Stephanie sighs and focuses her attention on it, watching how the small force field slowly grows. The semi-transparent sphere, at first as small as marble, has reached the size of a football ball now.

Stephanie tells herself that big progress has been made, as at least she is now in control of it even if the force field isn’t big enough to really protect anyone. Its surface is also irregular and unstable. She grits her teeth, frowning in confusion, but the very best she can do is maintain the current state of the force field.

“Ah!” Stephanie suddenly yelps when her phone buzzes. The force field in her hand crackles, creating a mild disturbance in the air, before completely fading.

Promising to keep working on her newfound abilities after checking her phone, she picks the device up and looks at the screen. Her heart halts in anticipation as she reads the text. It’s from Ben.

While it isn’t the person she was expecting, it still warms her heart that Ben is reaching out and checking on her. For that reason, she proceeds to read the message and a small smile finds its way to her lips when she does.

Good morning, Stephanie! How are you feeling? I hope you’re well and recovered. There is no rush to return to work, but I must insist that you rest and properly look after yourself. I’m your boss, so you have to do as I say.

Best regards, Ben.

Stephanie chuckles, endeared by his thoughtful message and amused by the fact that he signed it like he would a written letter... despite the fact that the phone already showcases the sender. Grinning, she starts typing to reply to him.

You may be the man in charge for the project, but shall I remind you that you’re not my boss?

Best regards, Stephanie.

However, and despite the lighthearted interaction, a void settles in her chest.

For a moment, Stephanie had hoped it was Barry contacting her, only to remember that she had been ignoring his many calls and messages. He has probably given up on talking to her, figuring she will do so when she feels comfortable with it. And she misses him. For that reason, she dials his number while Ben types back.

Barry takes a few rings to answer, but when he does his warm and familiar voice is filled with excitement. It makes Stephanie smile as soon as she hears it.

“Steph?!” He answers. “Oh my gosh, hi! How are you feeling?”

“Hi, Barry” The girl can’t stop smiling now, while at the same time wondering how she had survived so many days without him. “I’m feeling better, thank you”

“That’s great, I’m so glad to hear it!” He sighed from the other end, as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “Um… did you need anything? Or did you just call to chat?”

“Well…” Stephanie awkwardly chuckles, feeling embarrassed for isolating herself. But now that she has her powers mostly under control after that long week, she feels like she can talk to him again. “Actually, I wanted to apologize… I know I’ve been very distant, but…”

“Hey, no” He gently interrupts her. “Steph, you don’t have to apologize, don’t say a word. I understand that you needed some time, anyone would after what you went through!”

Stephanie pauses for a moment while the nerves suddenly stir in her stomach. In the end, noticing his silence as well, she pipes up once more.

“I’m sorry for worrying you, Barry”

“I’m always gonna worry about you”

She smiles to herself, knowing that he means that in the best way possible. The nerves disappear, replaced with a wave of warmth that fills her. Suddenly, all those negative emotions she has been experiencing for days are gone. All thanks to his magic.

“Listen, I’m in a hurry. I’m so sorry, I really can’t talk more” Barry mumbles. “But, uh... how ‘bout we meet this evening? I’ll take it easy on you, I promise, I just want to hang out with you for a bit”

“Sure” Stephanie chuckles. “I’d love that”

“Cool!” She hears him happily chuckle as well. “Pick you up at 7?”

“Yeah, see you later” And Stephanie hangs up, unable to erase the smile from her face.

_

When Barry arrives to the place of reunion, he heaves a big sigh. The sky suddenly looks bluer, the birds are singing louder and the sun shines brighter. Everything is okay.

“There you are” Clark pats his shoulder, warning him of the team’s presence. They had been waiting for him. “How can a speedster like you be late?”

“Right, sorry about that” Barry grins instead of taking his words as a scolding.

“You look happy…” Diana tells Barry, kindly nudging him a little.

“Yeah, well” The boy suddenly feels slightly flustered by everyone’s gazes on him. “I talked to Steph”

“Your friend?” Bruce pipes up, the hint of a smile peeking in the corner of his lips. “We told you she just needed some time”

“She doing okay?” Arthur asked, frowning slightly in concern.

“Yeah, she’s fine… she’s fine” Barry sighs like that again, feeling lighter. “Phew, it was such a relief”

“Sorry to burst your bubble, Barry” Victor gravely tells him. “But we have work to do”

“You’re right, I know” The boy nods to himself. “I’m ready, let’s go”

The silence settles for a moment. Overlooking the city from their high spot at the top of the skyscraper, the six pensively observe the atmosphere beneath their feet. There is the usual busy sound of traffic, of the crowd’s murmuring and the occasional ambulance or police cars sirens in the distance. Other than that, there are no signs of an imminent threat.

“What are we doing here again?” Arthur pipes up. “Everything seems calm”

“Too calm” Bruce grimly replies, glancing at the rest. “I know something’s wrong”

“I can feel it too” Victor adds. “The electric devices feel erratic, like a virus is slowly poisoning the city”

“What we can do about it?” Diana stares at the cyborg, whose eyes are fixed on the city underneath.

��Can you do something to stop that virus?” Barry suggests to him. “Get into their systems or something?”

“I can’t” Victor gravely says, locking eyes with the speedster. “That’s how I know something’s wrong”

“I can feel it too” Clark admits. There are no traces of his usual smile. “Maybe it’s just an intuition, but-”

Before he can even finish his sentence, a loud ruckus startles them all. Something has changed right under their field of vision. An automated train, moving on its own and filled with thousands of innocent passengers, is violently wavering and making the people inside it scream and panic. It moves at a vertiginous speed. More strange noises ensure that the train isn’t the only electronic device malfunctioning there.

“You wouldn’t be doing that, by any chance?” Barry asks Victor, who slowly shakes his head.

As on cue, everyone moves at his denial. The six seem synchronized as they throw themselves down the rooftop. Diana uses her lasso to soar through the air, Bruce glides with his cape and Barry speeds leaving behind a faint blue tail. Clark flies, followed by Victor with his propellers, and Arthur throws his trident and rides it like a surf board.

In the blink of an eye, the six have landed on top of the train. More panicked screams fill the interior with the loud thud of their landing. They struggle to maintain balance in the speeding train. Moving quickly, Clark tears the metallic top of the train open and so everyone drops to the inside.

“Please stay calm” He kindly says to the terrorized passengers.

“We’re here to help” Bruce assures them with his deep voice.

“We’re saved!” A blond woman exclaims. “It’s Superman!”

“And Wonder Woman!”

“And The Batman!”

Although a warm welcome, the Justice League focuses on the mission ahead: saving those people. They exchange quick glances between them and get to work. There is no time to lose.

“Barry” Bruce lowly tells him. “Get rid of all the electronic devices as soon as possible”

“Before they overheat and explode” Victor urges him, his red eye seeming to recognize the extent of the danger they present. “They’re malfunctioning just like the train”

“Copy that!” And with that, the speedster is gone in the blink of an eye. With shocked gasps, the people find that their phones, tablets and any other electronic devices are taken from them. Some explode as soon as they’re thrown out the window, causing an even further outrage.

“I’ll try to stop the train” Victor closes his eyes, focusing his mind on the electric system.

“I’ll do that too” Clark nods, helping the cyborg by flying to the front of the vehicle. As soon as he disappears, the train produces a strident creaking as it drags along the rails. Carefully. Very slowly, it starts losing speed. He can’t risk harming the people inside with a violent halt.

“We’ll get the people safely off” Diana taps Bruce, who doesn’t lose one second to go with her.

“And I’ll help you out” Arthur throws his trident to the doors, breaking through them to allow them an exit.

Soon after, Barry has returned and instantly goes with Diana, Bruce and Arthur to help them move the passengers out of the speeding train. Clark seems to continue his part of the rescue, because it loses speed by the second. Slow and safely.

While Arthur breaks open all the doors he can to create more exits, the rest gets ahold of as many people as possible. The train hasn’t quite stopped yet. Bruce carries three grown men, using his grappling hook to swing to safety. Diana has picked up a group of four children while Barry puts their parents to safety. Perhaps they can’t quite understand and solve what is happening in the city yet, but in the meantime they can always protect the people.

_

Seven o’clock can’t come soon enough. Time passes slowly, and Stephanie’s eyes keep landing on the discarded outfit on the ground. She bites her lip. Knowing she is meeting Barry later seems to fill her with courage. Hope. Maybe she can be like their heroes, like Wonder Woman and Superman. At the very least, she can try.

“Maybe I’ll just try it on…” She mumbles, trying to get rid of her impatient energy, and as though they outfit would have changed sizes during those few days she hasn’t touched it.

Telling herself that it’s only a way to stay distracted and busy while she waits for Barry to arrive, although that isn’t for two more hours, Stephanie gets changed. The tight leggings slip on easily, like a second skin, like they’re the right thing to wear. After she puts on the tank top as well, she stands before the mirror once more. The same sense of excitement and wonder settle in her stomach, taking the form of butterflies that take flight inside it.

The look is almost complete. Just when she is applying the eye shadow like the other day, a sound interrupts her. Several police cars pass by her apartment at top speed, illuminating the streets with their blue light. A test. A call to adventure. Will she answer?

“I can do it” She whispers to herself. “I want to help, I can do it”

Anxious as the police cars wail in the distance, Stephanie nods in resolution. After such a long time of inactivity, her muscles complain at the sudden energy bursts. Ignoring the light aching of her body, Stephanie runs. She leaves her apartment, leaves behind her building and runs in the direction the police cars took. After days if inactivity, she feels alive again. Her lungs urgently fill with air, her heart begins beating so fast that it throbs in her ears.

Stephanie doesn’t stop running, chasing the call to heroism and smiling widely.

_

She gasps for air as she watches the scene before her in confusion. The streets are total chaos. Even the few policemen that have stayed seem to have lost their minds. All the people, from ordinary bystanders, to service workers that have left their establishments, are running aimlessly and screaming in a panic.

“HEEEELP!!! He will kill us all!!” A shrieking voice gathers her attention upwards. A man is teetering at the very edge of a ledge, at the top of a building. He seems about to jump. Stephanie can’t get there in time to save him. Where is the Justice League when you need it?!

Trying to make herself audible among the shouting of the panicked people around her, she focuses on the man whose life is in immediate danger.

“Stay where you are!” She shouts at him, but he only dedicates her an absent glance.

Stephanie frantically looks around, searching for something that can help her. Nothing of use is in sight. What can she do? An idea suddenly pops up in her brain. Wiggling her fingers, she tries to create a force field around herself. If it’s stable enough, maybe it can lift her off the ground and transport her to him.

But it’s all for naught. It’s too late. Her heart skips a beat.

The man has walked off the ledge.

“NO!” Stephanie screams, so violently that she hurts her throat.

On an instinct, she reaches out in his direction despite the big distance that separates them. Her head fills with uneasy thoughts, all of which are focused on helping him. Saving him! Her first attempt can’t end like that, she needs to do something!

Just as the man is about to step into the air and commence a free fall of several stories high, a bubble creates around him. The man gasps, suspended in the air by a wavering force field.

Realizing it is her doing, Stephanie clenches her jaw and focuses all her might on it. Although it quakes with her effort, the bubble carefully glides downwards until it touches the pavement. As soon as it does, the man looks around in a daze and begins to walk away.

Stephanie finds that such small deed was too great for her. All her energies abandon her and she suddenly falls to the ground. She sits there helplessly. Her heart has recovered that unforgiving pace and she breathes heavily again, even worse than after her dash.

In a daze, feeling how her brain slowly fills with fog, Stephanie watches the scene. Two men are fighting close to her, shouting as they’re convinced the other is a threat. A woman and her baby run aimlessly, wailing as each make more noise than the previous. All around her reigns absolute chaos. Panic. Terror. The reason? She doesn’t know. She doesn’t understand.

A man runs for his life, anxiously looking over his shoulder as though something or someone is chasing him. Stephanie can’t see anything behind the man. Just as he passes her by, she weakly holds on to the leg of his pants.

“Sir, sir!!” She calls out, trying to get through to him. Fighting his panic, he nervously turns to her. “What is happening?!”

“T-The scarecrow!” The man gulps. “We’re all going to die!”

And with that her breaks free from her grasp with one simple jerking motion and continues on his escape from an invisible foe.

Stephanie frowns under her eye mask. There are no signs of any scarecrow, and even if it was… what would a scarecrow be doing in a city? Why would an inanimate object be a threat? These people seem to be frightened of an imaginary foe. The only thing different aside from the panicked people is a strange ambiance. Although slightly similar to the way her force fields change the air, this once it feels heavy. There is a mild odor of something burning, like popcorn that has been on the microwave for too long.

But… there is no fire. Stephanie suddenly gets an urge to leave. She makes to stand up, but she remains too weak to move. Anguish overcomes her. Something is happening in that place, something that she cannot comprehend but that is starting to take over her too.

She doesn’t know what, but something is wrong. Something is about to happen. Something bad. Something terrible. She can’t stop thinking about it. A feeling of dread overpowers any other rational thoughts. Now Stephanie understands how all those people feel. Panicked She does too.

Her eyes frantically travel all around her, expecting hidden enemies in every corner. Her powers are useless, even if she could use them. She can’t protect herself, or anyone else.

Static-like void fills her brain, causing her to push her hands against her ears when it feels like her head is about to explode. Her temples throb. Her heart thumps. Her breathing quickens.

Just as she feels herself about to completely lose control, a figure appears in front of her as though it has fallen from the heavens. Stephanie yelps and whimpers, shielding her face with her hands and leaning backwards to get away.

“Hey” A deep dark voice approaches her. “You okay?”

Stephanie dares to peek through her fingers, only becoming more frightened when she actually sees the person… the… creature? It looks like a man, but her panicked mind can only see an enormous bat standing on two legs with its wings wide open.

“Ah!” She screams, so the figure folds the wings and cautiously approaches her. She still doesn’t trust him. “Please don’t hurt me!”

He can hurt her. He will. Anyone can. Anyone will.

“I’m not going to hurt you” He slowly crouches down to be at eye level with her. She can see his worried brown eyes through the mask that covers his features. “Look at me”

“You’re… you’re…” The world seems to spin around her, and Stephanie is out of breath. “You’re The Batman”

“That’s right, I’m here to help” He reminds her, offering her his hand. “What’s going on?”

Stephanie gulps as he pulls her to her feet. It comes to her attention that he looks her up and down, reminding her of the outfit she’s wearing. A hero… she failed. The reason why she went there on the first place was because she wanted to help those people, but… reality becomes a little more stable as she realizes… not even the police stuck around.

“Can you hear me?” The Batman tries again. “What is happening?”

“I don’t know… I don’t know” All her thoughts are scrambled, too fast to stop as they slip through her lips. “Something… is wrong… I can’t explain it...”

A sudden urge to cry causes her to stare at him, begging for help. Maybe he knows what strange occurrence takes place in that street, or how to stop it, or how to end it. He doesn’t seem to, but his eyes are filled with compassion.

“I assume you wanted to help, but you can go” He tells her, supporting her as she feels herself swaying. “Don’t worry, everything will be alright”

Stephanie slowly nods, taking a deep breath and making an effort to fight through that strange trance of terror. No one has attacked her yet, despite her irrational conviction that they would.

“Go, get to safety” The Batman insists, gently letting go of her. “I’ll take care of this”

She opens her mouth. To warn him. He doesn’t know. Since he has just arrived, he has no idea what he will soon experience. But Stephanie can’t speak up. She barely has the strength to stand.

Stumbling and in a daze, she takes a step. She needs to get away from there, breathe a different air. Clean air, not contaminated with whatever is hurting her so. For that reason, she takes another step. And then another. Little by little, she gets away from there. The safety of her home has never felt so distant.

_

When she wakes up, Stephanie can barely remember how she clumsily plopped on the bed and fell asleep. She had nightmares that are impossible to remember. The fact that she is still wearing her hero outfit is proof that it really happened. She still feels feverish and exhausted from her attempt. Something out of the ordinary was happening there. She can only hope The Batman helped those people, and that he himself was safe after all of that.

Remembering she is supposed to meet Barry when he texts her a quick ‘omw’ that lets her know he will arrive soon, Stephanie gets up. She gets changed and stumbles through her own house as though the ground is shaking under her feet.

Her mind seems to clear up as the minutes pass. When she is done getting ready, she goes to the door where she is supposed to meet Barry. He isn’t there yet. At least, her thoughts feel more coherent and ordered now.

Even after that strange effect has passed, adark feeling stays with Stephanie, like a black cloud that stays with her. At first she assumed it was the rare burst of adrenaline traveling through her veins. Now she’s not so sure. Her heart hasn’t stopped beating erratically ever since then, and although there is no more danger she feels on edge. Frightened. She wonders if she really wasn’t as brave as she though she was, or that she abused her still recovering body too much, or if the experience was too harrowing to easily leave behind. Whatever the case, a sudden presence forces her away from those thoughts.

“Hi!” Barry jumps into place in front of her, bearing a wide grin that seems to brighten up the subtle darkness that has clouded her heart. “I’m here”

“You’re late again” The girl only says, even if she’s already smiling. Barry’s feeling has a healing effect that cures her lingering restlessness.

“I know, I’m so sorry” He dramatically sighs, although he does look a little tired. “Busy day”

“What did you do today?” Stephanie asks, trying to start a conversation while at the same time distract herself from her unease.

“Uh….. you know...” Barry shrugs. “Run around, do some errands, save the world…”

Stephanie laughs out loud at his joke, and he grins widely in return. However, the gesture vanishes from his face immediately after. He is staring at her with his brow knitted in concern.

“Steph, you look pale…” He whispers, rubbing her arm. “You okay?”

“Y-Yeah” She chuckles, internally panicking at the mere thought of him finding out about her powers and her little adventure. “I just… went for a walk to kill time… Guess I’m a little tired”

Barry pauses. She can almost see the wheels turning in his head. He is about to tell her that she should rest and take it easy, but he doesn’t. Instead, he dedicates her his best encouraging smile.

“I’m gonna spoil you today” His hand lingers on her arm. “You’re still recovering and you deserve to be spoiled”

“So it was a trap” Stephanie smirks, playfully rolling her eyes at him. “I should have known”

“There’s no escaping now” Barry offers her his arm, which she links with his. He then playfully arches his eyebrows. “Shall we?”

The pair smile at each other as they begin to walk. Barry immediately goes on about what they can do. They can get some snacks and take a little walk. Since she’s been locked inside for so long he wants her to get some air, but he’s stern on letting her rest, so maybe they should sit at a terrace. She doesn’t care what the plan is, she’s just happy to be with him. His presence is reassuring, silently reminding Stephanie that there is nothing to fear.

_

It has returned. That feeling of dread, of imminent danger. It isn’t nearly as strong as before, it merely feels like a shadow of its former self. Nonetheless, it is barely enough to make even breathing exhausting. Stephanie can’t focus.

Night is slowly falling as the sky turns a slightly darker shade of blue. It has orange and purple tinges as the last traces of the sunset erase from the horizon. The early night breeze envelops them, gentle like a caress.

Barry has been talking almost all evening, but Stephanie is no longer answering him. She is absently playing with the paper that the hot dogs they ate came in.

“What do you say?” Barry is saying then, but she’s not listening. “Steph?”

Stephanie is so out of it that she can’t answer. She grits her teeth, trying not to wince, when her temples begin throbbing. Her entire body is giving her signals. All she wants to do is rest. Sleep. Sleep for a really long time.

“Steph” He sternly calls her, taking her free hand when she feebly leans on him. “W-What’s wrong?”

“Nothing…” She gulps, avoiding his gaze as she lowers her head in the hopes that the stillness can level her dizziness. “Just got a bit light-headed”

“You sure you’re okay?” When she doesn’t answer, he continues. His voice carries a hint of panic. “You’re still recovering, maybe you should have stayed-”

“I’m okay” She rushes to say, trying her best to smile at him. “Just a bit tired”

“Steph, you almost died not that long ago” Barry gravely says, subtly sinking his fingers into her arm. “And you don’t look so good”

“Barry” She begins to say, tiredly tilting her head as she peers at him. Her vision blurs, but she tries to fight through her unwell. “I’m just… a bit weak…”

He doesn’t reply, only furrowing his brow and feeling a pang of concern in his chest. He had been scared enough to find her after the accident, it only makes it worse to see her in that state still. He doesn’t think he could take the idea of her not being alright.

“And…” Stephanie gulps, wobbling slightly. “V-Very dizzy…”

Barry wraps an arm around her. His heart is racing in unease. Just as he supports her, Stephanie falters. The breath hitches in his throat as he tightens his hold on her and presses her against his side.

“Steph?!” His voice breaks as the concern completely takes over him.

For a few seconds she doesn’t reply, only limply lying against him. Memories of finding her after the accident return to Barry, and he grimaces at the mental image. Luckily, she reacts in time to pull him out of those dark thoughts.

“I’m… okay…” She tells him in a daze, voice weak.

Still firmly holding on to her, he presses his free hand against her forehead. Stephanie’s skin feels warm, confirming his suspicions that she was still sick.

“I’m taking you home” Barry states. “No buts, you need to rest”

Stephanie babbles, opening and closing her mouth. If only he knew the true reason behind her state. But he can never know. In any case, she doesn’t feel lucid enough to speak. The mere idea that she has a secret identity feels far too surreal at the moment, even to herself.

“Can you walk?” Barry tenderly moves the hair away from her face, trying to take a good look at her. She only shakes her head, frowning as she tiredly puts her head on his shoulder. “Okay, up you go”

Straining a little, he grunts as he sweeps her off the floor and into his arms. Stephanie suddenly feels incredibly safe and comfortable in his embrace, and the deep unwell lessen slightly.

“You’re strong…” She chuckles, and she briefly wonders why she’s tilted to the side even though her head is still resting against his shoulder.

“See? You’re clearly delirious” They peer at each other for a moment.

The slight motion of picking her head off his shoulder sends a wave of vertigo through her. She whimpers, closing her eyes tight and gingerly resting her head on his shoulder again. Then, a sudden change of position startles her. When she opens her eyes, they are already at her place. Baffled, she feebly glances around. A moment ago they were… and now… she must be really delirious...

“We’re here” Barry carries her inside. “Do I need to take you to the hospital?”

“No, I just…” She starts to say, but her voice then becomes urgent. “Put me down”

Confused, Barry does as she says. When she is on her feet again, Stephanie presses her hands over her mouth. The wave of nausea soon passes, much to her relief. However, everything else does too.

Barry exclaims as he throw himself forward to catch her. Stephanie drops down, falling limply to the ground. His arms break her fall and he nervously scoops her into them again.

“Oh my gosh…” He mumbles as he rushes her to the bed. “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh…”

He shakily sighs to himself as he carefully lies her down. The girl’s arms stay locked around his neck even when he lets go of her. Barry stops to intently watch her. She now looks peaceful, as though she badly needed that rest. She’s resting, he tells himself. Yeah, just resting. Her chest softly moves up and down with her calm breathing.

“She’s okay” Barry assures himself, although he begins pacing up and down her room.

Thousands of terrible thoughts battle in his brain. She’s sick again. She hasn’t recovered. She’s dying. The accident was too much for her, she will never fully recover.

“Okay, calm down, Barry” He takes a deep breath, even if he still paces. “She’s fine, she’s gonna be alright”

He tells himself that all those thoughts are lies. They are just fears, not reality. Interrupting himself, Barry stops and looks at her again. Stephanie lies motionlessly in the bed. She is still pale, but she doesn’t look terribly sick. He sighs and resumes his pacing.

“She’s not as bad as she was in the hospital” Barry whispers, trying not to wake her. “She looked much worse then. Besides, Steph’s strong, she’ll be fine, she’ll be-”

Barry’s phone rings, startling him so much that he yelps and jumps in place.

“H-Hello?”

“Barry?”

The boy finally quits his pacing for good. His hand flies to his forehead. He had totally forgotten he was supposed to return to the Batcave after being with Steph. Things had seemed to gotten worse. After their rescue on the train, panic had seemed to reign on the streets for several hours. There was no explanation, but they knew it had something to do with the rest of strange events. And maybe a villain was behind it all.

But now… Stephanie needs him. She is sick. Now he can’t leave her.

“Bruce! I’m so sorry” Barry rapidly says. “I know I should be there, but Steph got really sick and…”

“Is she alright?”

“Y-Yeah, yeah… I think so…”

“And you?”

“I’m fine, I just got scared…” He sighs, settling his nerves. “Really freaking scared”

“So you can’t make it?” Bruce asks him, but at least Barry is relieved that there is no anger or annoyance in his voice.

“I’m afraid not… I’m really sorry, I just…”

“I understand” The man replies. “But we have to check that out”

“Sure, yeah!” Barry nervously ruffles his own hair. “You guys be careful out there, okay?”

“We will” Bruce gently says. “Take care of your friend”

“Yeah” The boy absently hangs up, turning to her once more. She is now lying over her side, having turned slightly in her sleep.

Barry watches her, wondering how he can contain such an immense amount of fondness for her. Just the sight of her pale face was enough to break his heart. If he could, he would hold her tight and never let go, protect her from everything.

When he slowly walks closer to her, a board of the wooden floor creaks. Barry freezes, but it’s too late. Stephanie groggily turns around, opening her eyes moving her head to look around her.

“Barry?” She mumbles, looking around, disoriented. “What…?”

What is Barry doing there with her? However, she quickly forgets about him when her eyes fall on the window. It’s almost dawn. An alarm blasts in her head as her usual routine occupies all her thoughts. She needs to get ready!

"I gotta go to work!" Stephanie makes to stand from the bed, but Barry is faster. He pushes her by the shoulders and forces her to lie down again.

"What?” He exclaims, feeling that anguish that he had just gotten rid of creeping up again. “Are you… are you serious?"

"Barry, I’m gonna be late! Our investigation is very important, it will help so many-"

“Oh my gosh, Steph!” He exclaims, in a surprisingly loud and exasperated voice that instantly silences her in astonishment. “Can you stop thinking about everyone else and take care of yourself for one minute?! Don’t you remember what happened to you?!”

And suddenly, with his words, Stephanie does remember. The accident, the hospital, the heroic attempt, the inexplicable dread in the air… Everything. She relaxes, forgetting about work. She now remembers she hasn’t gone to the lab in a week. But it’s too late for Barry.

Stephanie gawks at him, having no words to retaliate. His sudden outburst is so unexpected that she is utterly speechless. A second after he finishes his sentence, however, his eyes widen in surprise as well. They silently stare at each other.

“I’m so sorry” He utters, averting his gaze in shame. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you, I just…”

“You’re right… I just got a little disoriented” Stephanie reaches out to delicately take his hand, which he reluctantly allows. “I’m going to lie down, okay?”

The boy nods his head, and he doesn’t move at first even as she insists. When Stephanie tugs at his fingers, he starts to move slowly. Barry turns, hesitantly facing her. Stephanie only pulls a little harder, inviting to sit with her as she returns to her previous spot. Exhaling all the anguish in a shaky breath, Barry joins her in the bed.

No more words are spoken for several seconds. Stephanie doesn’t let go of Barry’s hand. His eyes are watery. Even as he looks away again, she knows, and that is why she tugs at him until they’re both lying down. Resting on their sides, they’re now facing each other. They just rest there for a moment, letting all the tension in the air to vanish and lingering on their positions until Stephanie’s soft voice breaks the silence.

“Are you okay, Barry?”

“Yeah...” He takes a deep breath in. “Just a little shaky”

“I’m sorry…” She mutters, and her hand is delicately pressing against his cheek before she can stop herself. “I really hate to worry you”

“You can’t scare me like that again, okay? Ever” Barry replies, taking her hand off his face and clutching it between both his palms. “Just when I thought you were out of danger you faint on me like that and…”

“I’m okay, Barry” Stephanie assures, chuckling a little when his eyes fall upon hers in a skeptical manner. “I’m better now, really, I just need some rest”

“I can assure you, you’re getting some rest” Remnants of that exasperated tone linger in his voice. “I’m making sure you get some sleep even if I have to lie all day here with you!”

“Is that a threat?” She tenderly smiles, and the callback causes Barry to chuckle.

He pauses, taking a moment to sigh and calm himself.

“Are you really feeling okay?” He lovingly presses her hand against his chest. His heart is drumming underneath it. “Don’t lie to me, Steph, I’ll know”

“I am, I promise” Stephanie snuggles closer to him, embracing his warmth and comforting presence. “Just a little tired”

“What happened to you?” He whispers in concern, even if his arm automatically falls over her frame. “I thought you had rested a lot, that you were recovered. Did I overdo it today? I really tried to…”

“No, no, it’s not that” The girl locks eyes with him, biting her lip as she wonders if she should tell him. In the end she partially does, thinking that he doesn’t need to know the true reason behind her little adventure. “When I went for that walk earlier I… I don’t know… Something affected me… It was like the air was contaminated… It made me feel scared and horrible”

“What was it?”

“I have no idea… I just know there’s something strange going on in this city”

“Yeah, I know…” Barry somberly mutters. After a brief pause, he feels his shoulders relaxing the closer she is. “Try to get some sleep, okay? I’ll watch over you”

Stephanie breathes in, just at the same time that Barry does, and peacefully exhales with him. She hasn’t been feeling safe ever since that awful experience from before. Now, next to Barry and enveloped by his arms, she feels the safest she’s ever been.

Tag list: @scared-to-be-lonely345​​ / @ocfairygodmother​ // Ask to be added to be notified when I post for this series!!

[isthisthingeven0n]

starting over, with you : s.r

after everything you went through with spencer, life decided to give you another shot. and this time, neither of you took the opportunity for granted. (3.5K)

we’re finally here, the epilogue to this little series. thank you for reading and supporting it. i hope you like the ending as much as i enjoyed writing it. 

knowing you / forgetting you / remembering you / with or without you / starting over, with you 

“She truly is just wonderful,” Maggie happily sighs as she rests her head in her hands, staring out dreamingly to the front door whilst you clean the spout of the steamer. “what did I do to find someone so just,” Maggie trails off and you quickly notice from the corner of your eye her standing up straighter.

Following her line of vision, you clear your throat as the woman in question walks in. Her blonde hair flows behind her shoulders as she slips her jacket off, resting it over her tote bag.

“Hey, sunshine.” She beams to Maggie who suddenly has lost the ability to speak. “Hey, Y/n.” She waves over to you as Maggie chuckles under her breath nervously.

Moving to stand beside Maggie, you nudge her playfully. “Use your words Mags,” You mutter.

“Yeah, I know that,” Maggie retorts as she focuses on the woman she’s been seeing, Delilah, for the past few weeks. “what can I get for you, D?”

Raising your eyebrows, you just catch the smirk on Maggie’s lips before you busy yourself once again, not wanting to get involved.

Slipping aside from the counter you pick up two plates and the muffin you kept from this morning. “So, this is the girl then?” Sitting down opposite him, you can’t help but smile at the excitement in his gaze as he focuses on you.

“That’s Delilah,” You tell him, passing him a plate as you split the muffin in half. “you were in such a rush this morning I thought I’d keep this as a treat when you finished.”

Smiling brightly at the muffin in front of him, he shifts for a moment before taking a bite. “Nothing beats your blueberry muffins. Did you know that blueberries are filled with antioxidants and phytoflavinoids. They’re a top choice for doctors and nutritionists as they also contain high levels of potassium and vitamin c.”

Chuckling under your breath, you poke your half of the muffin with your knife. “I don’t think it counts as much once they’ve been baked though, Spence.” You state, glancing up as Spencer chews another piece of muffin, his eyes not leaving yours.

“True, but you’re a benefit of these muffins too.” Spencer mutters, tearing his eyes from you as your lips part, humour filling the space around you.

“Did you just try and use a line on me?” You remark as Spencer shakes his head profusely. “Because if so, it was shocking.”

Spencer shyly smiles up at you as a small laugh leaves his lips. “Well, something worked clearly.” He reaches out, taking your hand in his just as Maggie rushes over to you.

“Sorry to interrupt lovebirds, but we’re out of pumpkin spice syrup.” Maggie sighs heavily, focusing on you with endless apologies in written across her expression.

Taking your hand from Spencer’s, you rise to your feet. “If you’re gone before I get back, I’ll meet you at mine?” You ask as you rest your hand on Spencer’s shoulder.

“I’ll wait, Y/n.” Spencer tells you as he turns his head, kissing your hand gently before you follow behind Maggie. “Don’t you worry.”

*

You could already see kids rushing around in various costumes as parents ran frantically behind them. Giggles of excitement and evident sugar rushes fill the air as brown and orange leaves coat the ground.

Leaning behind the counter the all-consuming scents of cinnamon, hazelnut and pumpkin spice filled your nostrils, acquainted by the occasional breeze of fresh air whenever a customer entered or departed.

Halloween always came around too quickly as you busied yourself with seasonal treats and limited edition beverages that brought new customers in every year. Yet, this year it was different. Usually, you’d spend the holiday working through the evening and spend time with Gary or your friends. It was always a quieter holiday compared to others, but this year things weren’t going to be the same.

“Come on, you have to tell me what your costume is.” Maggie practically begs you as you shake your head once again.

“It’s a secret, Mags.” You remind her for the twelfth time this week. “Besides, Spencer picked it out.”

A loud groan escapes Maggie's lips as you glance over your shoulder as she crosses her arms. “That means it’s going to be all nerdy and not slutty.” She rolls her eyes, watching as you nod along, knowing it’s true.

“There’s some slutty element to it.” You shrug a shoulder, trying to convince yourself moreso than Maggie. “I personally love it,” You comment under your breath before returning to work in the hope of distracting your mind a bit longer.

“Are you nervous at all?” Gary emerges from the far side of the cafe, his left arm still trembling as he grips onto a tray tightly.

Looking between them both, you roll your eyes. “You two trying to push my buttons tonight?” You feign anger as Gary shakes his head whilst Maggie nods. “Of course I’m nervous, I’m shitting myself!” A laugh escapes your lips involuntarily as you lean against the counter with your back turned to the entrance. “This is my chance to make a good impression on the people who pretty much watched me for months whilst Spencer was,” You trail off, it’s still something you both struggle to openly discuss.

Maggie’s eyes dart over to the open doorway, Spencer standing proudly as he removes his purple scarf, his wild curls fluffing up outwards. “Y/n,” Maggie tries to interrupt, but you carry on regardless.

“It’s just, I really care about him, I, I think I might be in love with him.” You finish as a light sound follows as a smile graces your lips.

Biting his lower lip, Spencer steps forward whilst you remain oblivious to his presence. “I always thought I’d be the first to say it,” Spencer can’t help himself as you whip your head around like a deer caught in headlights. “shall we Miss Y/L/N?”

Stuttering silently as you focus on his hazel eyes, you feel a gentle nudge from Maggie as you mumble in agreement.

“Wow, this isn’t at all awkward.” Maggie jokes, causing Gary to give her a fatherly look as you move out from the counter, removing your apron and throw it back in Maggie’s general direction.

“Yes,” The word barely leaves your lips as you walk closer toward him, taking his hand as he guides you towards the exit.

Quickly you glance over your shoulder, receiving thumbs up from both Maggie and Gary before you step out into the Autumnal breeze, wishing you had brought another layer with you.

“Do you wanna talk about it?” Spencer asks as he struggles to hide his smile, but he can sense your worries as you focus on the browning leaves as you shuffle down the street.

“I didn’t intend on you hearing that,” You admit shyly as Spencer’s grip on your hand loosens. “I mean, sorry, that sounds dreadful.” You force a laugh, looking up as Spencer keeps his eyes fixated on the street ahead, knowing there are two hundred more steps to take until you reach your car around the corner beside the lamp post with the missing cat poster that’s faded entirely.

“It’s okay.” Spencer mutters, but it doesn’t take a profiler to know he doesn’t mean it.

Pausing, you take a hold of his arm, causing Spencer to turn around as his long legs guide him back to face you.

“It’s not okay, Spencer.” You huff as you sigh into your hands, oblivious to the loving way Spencer is looking at you. Despite having barely made it back in time for Halloween and sleeping on the jet, Spencer couldn’t have been happier to walk in at that precise moment.

Taking your hands from your face, Spencer brushes his fingers across your cheek. “It is, Y/n.” He hushes you, his hand now cupping your cheek. “Because I think, no, I know that I am in love with you too.”

“Wait, you do?” Your immediate reaction is to deny it, but as Spencer dips his head closer towards yours and his lips brush against your skin, you listen to him mutter a simple yes before kissing you affectionately.

Leaning into his embrace, you deepen the kiss, only breaking as the sound of children giggling increases from down the street.

“Ew, they’re kissing!” One child calls out and you shyly bury your face into Spencer’s chest, hiding behind his scarf as you feel the vibrations of his laughter.

His hand rises to rest on your back. “They’re gone, Y/n.” Spencer mutters to you as you step backwards, trying to suppress the heat rising through your body as you carry on walking to your car as if nothing had happened.

*

“Oh my god,” Penelope squeals as she opens her front door, clad in pumpkin dress with her mouth ajar as you stand besides Spencer who is unable to stop his smile from growing. “you look amazing!”

Looking up at Spencer you can’t help but laugh as butterflies flutter around in your stomach, even after all this time he still can muster this effect on you.

You have to admit, despite your initial uncertainties about the costumes Spencer suggested they have turned out better than you envisioned.

“And Y/n, you look well,” Penelope stumbles over her words as she brings you into a tight hug. “and I, I want to apologise about well,” She looks up to Spencer and back to you.

“It’s all good, Penelope.” You tell her as she reaches for your hand, her eyes softening. “I should thank you really, I mean, without you I don’t think we’d be here.” You admit as Spencer wraps his arm around your waist, and it’s enough for Penelope to lose her mind as she sighs happily.

“Come on in lovebirds, god.” She huffs as you both walk in and pause as several pairs of eyes greet you.

“I have to say, it’s hard to find profilers intimidating when they’re all dressed up for a Halloween party.” You admit, and Spencer chuckles, nodding along as he pushes his goggles further up from his forehead.

The first to step forward is a blonde woman wearing a Super Woman costume. “Hi, I’m-”

“JJ?” You ask as she nods, glancing up to Spencer as your smile brightens. “I’ve heard so much about you! Well, I’ve heard a lot about everyone, but you’re Henry’s Mom!” You happily tell JJ who warms to you instantly, having only ever seen footage of you previously down in the dumps and unsure of everything.

Instantly, you are swept away by the women of the BAU, leaving Spencer watching in awe as Luke pats his shoulder. “You really got her to agree to this?” Luke motions to Spencer’s outfit.

“It was the first movie we watched together,” Spencer states. “and she makes a cute Marty.” Spencer half-smiles as he lip-reads your conversation with Emily and JJ.

“He really got you to dress as Marty Mcfly?” Emily chuckles into her drink as you nod along, taking a sip of the concoction Penelope created before everyone arrived.

“I’m not sure if I like it or if it’s the number of chemicals I’ve inhaled making Spencer’s hair white with dry shampoo.” You joke, and the sound of laughter spreads through the group as you glance over your shoulder, watching as Spencer is sat with Rossi and Luke, flashing you a reassuring smile.

“Gives you an idea on how he’ll look in the future.” Penelope nudges you, and JJ rolls her eyes.

“A mad scientist sounds about right.” You nod in agreement. “So, what’s it like, on the field? Spencer only tells me so much, but I’d love to hear more from you guys.”

Rossi interrupts your conversation shortly after Emily explained the latest mission and how she managed to get the cut across her forehead which conveniently was covered by her fringe.

“May I?” Rossi asks as he holds out a glass of wine to you, which you gladly accept.

Walking with Rossi, you follow him into the kitchen as you lean against the counter, feeling somewhat at home here as the music plays faintly in Penelope’s living room.

“You know, when Spencer was inside I heard your name mentioned countless times.” Rossi begins.

“Sorry ‘bout that.” You force yourself to joke, and Rossi senses the change in your stance as you hide your left hand in the pocket of your bodywarmer, picking at the tissue buried inside.

Rossi shakes his head. “No need to apologise. It’s never an easy thing to talk about, but we both know Reid well enough to know he can talk for days about anything and everything, but often miss the most important thing.”

You nod along with Rossi as you take a sip of your drink as a temporary distraction.

“Do you talk about it? What happened when Spencer was inside?” Rossi delves deeper, knowing the answer before you shake your head. “Something changed in him, but what didn’t change was his determination paired with his intelligence and though he can be an ass about it, he often is right about things.” Rossi chuckles to himself. “I listened to everyone talking about this girl in a cafe for months before Spencer went away, waiting for him to make a move.”

Listening intently, these were details no one had ever shared. This was the perspective you were missing in your story.

“Penelope offered countless times to march in and talk to you, but an old friend, Morgan, refused to let that happen.” Rossi sighs, remembering it like it were yesterday. “And he told us on the flight back to Quantico that he was going to see if you were open that evening and ask you on a date.” Rossi trails off, not needing to fill you in on the rest of the story.

“And he did.” You finish. “What was it like, knowing he was in there all that time?”

Your eyes follow Rossi’s as he looks out into the living room where Spencer is lost in conversation with JJ. “Difficult, knowing he was in there for something he wouldn’t have ever done. We all worked tirelessly, trying to find a way to get him out.” Rossi explains as he places his glass down on the counter, finding a spot amongst Penelope’s various trinkets. “Do you wish you knew? If you could go back?”

“That’s the million-dollar question.” You huff as you finish the last of your wine. “I don’t think I would, no.” You reason, thinking back on the heartache you went through, the unknown reason Spencer never called you. “It hurt, and I think everyone here knows that firsthand, but I don’t think I would’ve forgiven him if I knew without the full story that was to follow.”

A smile forms on Rossi’s face as he steps forward and kisses both your cheeks. “I can see why he’s so fond of you.” He pats your arm, leaving you alone with your thoughts for a moment before you step out, resuming the evening with everyone.

*

Hearty laughter echoes throughout the apartment as the hours roll on. Children have long gone home and have dealt with their sugar crashes as the adults roam the streets in search of a very different kind of candy.

Leaning against Penelope’s balcony, you welcome the fresh air as you run your fingers through your hair, thankful for the warmth the costume provides unlike the girls below.

The sound of the door opening and closing catches your attention as Spencer stands beside you, his arms resting on the railing as he looks out at the city below and the drunken chatter climbing up the walls of buildings.

“Did you know Halloween is one of the more dangerous holidays?” Spencer asks, and you raise a brow to him as his smile widens before he carries on. “Between 2009 and 2013 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 40% of deaths were caused by drivers who were intoxicated from 7 pm to around 1 am.”

“Cheerful, Spence.” You mutter as a chill spreads through you once more.

“Here,” Spencer speaks up, wrapping his arm around you as he kisses the top of your head as you watch girls stumble over their heels as they yell for one another. “I’m glad you came tonight.”

Glancing up to Spencer, you push his goggles further up onto his partially white hair. “Oh yeah?” You tease, something you can’t help but do as Spencer nods.

Spencer watches as you rest your head against his shoulder, your thoughts clearly elsewhere as you hum contently.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Interrupting your daydreams, you straighten up.

“When did you know that you loved me?” You ask the question that’s been circling in your thoughts all evening.

Pausing for a moment, Spencer turns to face you, his eyes darting over to the balcony doors as everyone remains occupied.

“Truthfully, Y/n,” Spencer starts as he exhales shakily, something you weren’t anticipating. “the night you came over and wanted to give us a go.”

Your eyes widen in surprise, that night was filled with mixed emotions.

* that night *

You weren’t sure how your feet had guided you to his front door, but here you were.

Crumbling the piece of paper back into your pocket, you force back any worries as you knock on his front door and step back, preparing yourself to turn back and run if necessary.

Yet, the door swung open, revealing Spencer in comfortable attire as he tiredly rubs his eyes before focusing on the figure before him.

“Y/n?” He mutters, shocked to see you after how you dismissed him days prior. “What’re you doing here? I mean, how did you get my,”

“Penelope.” You tell him, cutting him off as he nods, who else could it have been?

Silence settles over you both as neither of you are sure what to say. On your drive over, you had a vague plan in place, an idea of what you want to say. Yet, standing in front of Spencer up close, the stubble lining his jaw and above his lip, you were lost for words all over again.

“Would you like to come in?” Spencer steps aside from his front door, revealing his slightly messy apartment as books are scattered across the floor.

“Okay.” You force confidence to strive through your voice as you step inside, your eyes wandering over his vast library as the front door closes behind you. “What I said the other night,”

“Was perfectly valid.” Spencer comments, holding his hands up before resting them in his pockets.

You suppress your sigh as you focus on anything but him and your eyes lock on a beaten copy of a book in front of your feet, ‘The Narrative of John Smith.’  

“I heard you, but I wasn’t truly listening. I mean, it was a lot to take on board.” A short laugh leaves your lips as Spencer nods. “If you’ll let me, I’d like to hear about it, all of it.”

Lifting your head up, you see Spencer focusing on you with a perplexed look crossing his gaze. “But, why? You made it clear that night that you didn’t want to see me again.” Spencer reasons, fighting against his heart as it yells for him to shut up.

“I don’t know.” You admit, lifting your arms up as you sigh. “I just, for peace of mind, please? I waited three months to hear from you, and now I have I, I don’t want to just let it go.”

Stepping closer, Spencer hesitantly reaches out for your hand and squeezes it lightly. “Okay.” He whispers before guiding you to his sofa. “Well, I guess I’ll start after you drove off.”

*

Looking in awe at your boyfriend, you can’t help but notice how he retreats into himself after his statement.

“I just knew if you were willing to give me a chance after all of that, after listening to my story I wasn’t just interested in you, Y/n. I knew I loved you.” Spencer tells you as you nudge closer into his embrace, rising on your tiptoes.

“Want to know a secret, Spence?” You whisper into his lips. “I knew I loved you the moment you opened the door.” You chuckle, closing the distance between your lips as you kiss him, only to be interrupted as the doors slide open.

“Love birds, come on we’re about to play say it or shot it!” Penelope calls out as Spencer’s cheeks burn up and his goggles fall down onto his face.

Chuckling to yourself you force his goggles back up. “Shall we?” You ask, stepping forward as Spencer nods, taking your hand and following you back inside to join everyone else.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. - Martin Luther King Jr. 

The end. 

TAGLIST (for this mini series) : 

@koc-help​ @bellomi-clarke​ @castbyfox​ @http-cherries​ @easygoingtheatre​ @tomorrowmeansoportunities​ @rainsong01​ @rexorangecouny​ @radtwinkie @eldahae @l0ve-0f-my-life​

[hela-avenger]

To the Stars Who Listen- 9a

Author: hela-avenger

Word Count: 2177

Summary: When Loki desires to never fall in love, he casts a spell to prevent such a thing from happening. Except, well, in the matters of love and magic, you never know the result it may have in the end. Loki x Reader

A/N: Ok so I started to write this and then had to go back to edit it and then I added more and then it was all just angst and it was just getting so long and I couldn’t fix it. ANYWHO, the Halloween special will now be two parts. I’m really hoping it won’t be three but we shall have to wait and see. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! Please be safe out there! 

Tags are open! (Send me an ask/message/response.)

TTSWL Masterlist

Loki refrained from groaning as he stepped into the jet that would take them back to the Tower. Sam and Bucky were fighting over the pilot seat while Wanda was chattering loudly about the costume she had managed to find for herself and Vision. Loki catches your eye and he can tell you wish to speak to him. He doesn’t allow you the chance as he storms out of the seating area in preference of the solitude found in the back. 

The quinjet finally sets out of the compound and Loki manages to survive the short ride without being pulled into whatever conversation you wish to have with him. You most likely wanted to know the truth behind what you had revealed previously. An answer he would refuse to give you. 

Loki is almost cornered by you in the arrival at the tower but by sheer luck, you are called away by the AI allowing Loki to peacefully make his way down to his residential floor. The peace he had in mind at the return of his familiar abode is disrupted at the sight of Thor waiting for him there. 

Loki’s annoyance grows at the sight of his brother regaled in his Asgardian armor swinging Mjolnir with ease. 

“Welcome back, brother.” 

Loki just grunts in response as he tries to maneuver around the big oaf. 

“I went ahead and prepared your armor for the party tonight,” Thor continues with a smile. “It should be a merry night full of drinking and dancing. We should thoroughly enjoy it.” 

“I’m not going to that party.” 

“Why not?” 

“Because I refuse to partake in Midgardian celebrations.” 

“I would think you would enjoy this one, Loki. It’s all about mischief and magic.” 

Loki rubs his eyes tiredly. 

“I am quite tired, brother. I am in no mood for festivities.”

“You never are,” Thor states, forcing Loki to stop right outside his bedroom door. “You always hide out here and avoid having any fun. You’ve been here for months, Loki, and you have failed to participate in any way or form to enjoy humanity.”

“I hate this place,” Loki responds. “Why would I try to find some silver lining?” 

“If that is the case then perhaps I should report to father that you have made no progress and have you sent back home.”

That definitely deepens the foul mood Loki was already in.  

“If I go to this party will you refrain from reporting to father?” 

Thor thinks for a few seconds before relenting.

“Yes, I would.” 

“Great, good,” Loki mutters as he slips into the darkness of his room. “I’m not wearing my armor though.” 

“Then what will you wear?” 

Loki doesn’t respond promptly slamming the door closed to Thor’s face. 

The lab was as pristine and proper as the day before you had come in and destroyed it. The wall had been repaired and the equipment that had been easily thrown before was now bolted to the ground. You let out a sigh as you try to forget that dark moment of your life when you had turned against your friends for no reason. 

You still couldn’t remember what happened but it still shook you to the very core. The truth was something everyone valued and yet you had overlooked the darkness it could truly hold. Lying didn’t seem so bad now and you miss having the simple ability. 

Shaking yourself from that thought, you scanned the rest of the room looking for the man of the hour. 

The moment the jet landed at the tower you were promptly told by FRIDAY that Tony requested your presence in the lab. 

You tried to make a quick stop towards the Asgardian floor but the AI had overlooked your floor request in preference of following its creator’s demand. 

The lab remained silent after you came in. FRIDAY had announced your presence but Tony was nowhere to be seen. You felt yourself being watched but could find no one. You were starting to grow paranoid which didn’t help when a loud bang resonated nearby.

Your head snaps towards the source of the crash and you relax when you realize it’s just Dum-E hitting against the nearby desk.

“Oh Dum-E, I thought I was…”

“BOO!” 

You jump at the sudden shout behind you. Out of pure instinct, you throw your hands in front of you causing your gauntlets to shoot out two straight lines of energy. The beams scorch two black spots on the recently repaired wall.

“Well that’s new.” 

You turn around and glare at Tony. 

“What the hell, Tony!” you shout at him. “I could have killed you.” 

Tony chuckles in response and is quick to apologize. 

“Sorry, kid,” he answers. “Didn’t realize you were Iron Man 2.0.” 

You roll your eyes at him and laugh sarcastically at him. 

“Ha, ha, ha, very funny,” you joke. “These things are the only reason I have some semblance of control.” 

“Let me see them.” 

You raise your hands and show him the golden gauntlets. 

“Interesting design,” he mutters as he grabs a hold of them, turning them around back and forth. “I’m assuming the stones are important by their placement. I wonder what they’re made of. Carbon-based, maybe? Rare space jewel? I would have to run some tests…”

“Yeah, not possible,” you comment. “I can’t take these off. Things could go very wrong.” 

Tony scowls as he lets your hands go. 

“Can’t risk it for a few minutes?” Tony asks. “I’m sure I could improve them for a nicer aesthetic and easier mobility.” 

“Tony…”

“Come on,” he nudges. “You don’t see me wearing my blasters because they’re comfortable. It’ll only be a few minutes. Five tops.” 

You hesitate and Tony pesters on.  

“Let me do this for you. It’s the least I can do if you have to wear those atrocities for the rest of your life.” 

You chew on the inside of your cheek before relenting. 

“Just be careful with the stones and be quick, please,” you plead at him. “I don’t wish to have a repeat of my last mishaps.” 

Tony snorts as he helps you slide the gauntlets off your hands. 

“Heard about that,” he snickers. “A little birdie told me and by birdie, I obviously mean Sam.” 

You laugh and shake your head at him watching as he steps towards his desk and pulls out an array of files into the screen. He flips through them quickly before stopping at one. 

Pepper Gift Ideas. 

“Um, Tony?” 

He ignores you as he opens the file up and scatters out the multiple designs he’s sketched out. You’re shocked at the multiple documents in the file but don’t have the chance to inspect them closely as Tony finds the one he was looking for. 

“Here it is,” he states as he picks the design and throws it onto the screen next to his equipment. “What do you think, kid?” 

“Oh, wow,” you whisper as you look at the design on display. “That’s beautiful.” 

“Was tinkering for a while about making Pepper her own jewelry,” Tony responds beside you. “But she never wears what I get her.” 

“I’m sure she would wear this,” you tell him. “Are you sure you want to use this design on me?” 

Tony is quick to nod. 

“You’ve been dealt a shitty hand with this power,” Tony answers honestly. “I just want to make things better for you in any way I can.” 

“Thanks, Tony,” you tell him, heartfelt at his generosity. “Really, thank you.” 

Tony clears his throat from the rising emotion and looks away. He picks up your gauntlet and begins to disassemble them. 

“Now go away,” he mutters. “Let me work in peace.” 

“You told me it would only be five minutes.” 

“Well I lied. I’m surprised you didn’t notice.” 

You roll your eyes at him and Tony simply smirks. 

“I’ll have them done soon, I promise, so why don’t you go ahead and find your partner in crime, Natasha. She’s got your costume in her room.” 

You hesitate but you’ve already done your daily exercises to tire your powers out. Nothing could go wrong. Or at least that’s what you hoped for. 

You wince at the sharp tug of your hair. You glare at Natasha through the mirror but she simply smirks in response. You had no choice when it came to getting ready for this impromptu Halloween party. Natasha dragged you into her room the moment you showed up at her door. 

You didn’t mind her help for the party. In fact, you were glad to have it as the redhead went above and beyond to have everything ready for you. From the costume to the hair and makeup, Natasha had arranged it all. All you had to do was sit there and allow her to make her vision into a reality. 

Though you would use this time to catch up with your close friend, your mind was far away at the moment. 

Ever since your last lesson, Loki had avoided you like the plague. Any attempt of trying to apologize to him was somehow thwarted by Loki himself or some outside force. It didn’t help that Tony’s impromptu invitation and the jet that followed severed any chance of forcing him to see you. 

You felt guilty.

You had crossed a line by revealing something he wasn’t ready to when all he had done was help you. You needed to apologize and you needed to do it soon. 

“Ok, spill it.” 

You look up at Natasha’s pointed stare and sigh. 

“I can’t hide anything, can I?” you mutter tiredly. Nat tugs on your hair again and you hiss at the action. “I’m fine, Nat. Just trying to settle my mind.”

“Of what?” 

You take a deep breath debating whether it was a good idea to tell her of your past week with Loki. 

Nat despised him with every fiber of her being, but you… you didn’t. 

“Loki’s been a great teacher considering I’m a ticking time bomb...”  

“But?” Nat interrupts. 

“But,” you repeat with a huff. “I keep ruining everything with this stupid power.”

“You?” Nat asks, confused. “You ruined everything? Not him?”

“Nat…” 

“I’m sorry,” she sarcastically laughs. “That doesn’t make sense. You’ve done nothing wrong.” 

“You don’t understand,” you sigh. “If you just let me explain…”

“Then explain.” 

You take a deep breath and turn away from the mirror to look at Natasha directly. 

“I have invaded everyone’s privacy. I’ve learned things I have no right knowing and revealed things without permission. You already know how guilty I felt because of it,” you explain. “Yet, Loki wasn’t one of them. He’s immune to my power as I am to his but I recently crossed a line and uncovered something I wasn’t supposed to.”

“What was it?” 

“You know I can’t tell you.” 

 Natasha huffs in response but shrugs her curiosity off. 

“So?” she asks. “What’s wrong then?” 

“I feel really bad about it, Nat, and he’s avoiding me and I just want to apologize to him because I invaded his privacy but he won’t even let me get close to him to do it.”

“He doesn’t need an apology,” Nat scoffs. “He’s a grown man. He can lick up his wounds and move on.” 

You’re starting to regret confiding in her about your situation but Loki has yet to teach you how to evade telling the truth without necessarily resorting to lying.

“I apologized to you and everyone after my first outburst,” you remind her. “You didn’t need me to but I’m sure it helped.”

Natasha lets out a breath but she knew you had a point. 

“Loki doesn’t deserve your kindness.” 

She’s being honest with her opinion but you don’t feel the same way. 

“I think differently,” you answer. “I think it’s been a long time since Loki’s been treated with some kindness.” 

Natasha's eyes narrow down at you. 

“Do you…” she hesitates. “What exactly is your relationship with him?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Are you acquaintances? Friends? Or is it more?” 

You’re surprised at the question. 

“I guess we’re friends?” you answer unsurely. “Mentor and student seems weird so yeah… friends.” 

Natasha seems unconvinced but she doesn’t speak up on it. Instead, she motions you to face forward again so she could finish up with your hair.

“So do you think I’ll have time to slip out to apologize or am I going to have to wait until the party?” 

Nat can’t avoid the snort from escaping her promptly earning her a confused look from you. 

“Loki doesn’t go to the parties,” she tells you. “Not since I could remember.” 

“Then why did he come with us in the jet?” 

“Maybe because he has to monitor you and we have to monitor him?” 

Nat’s right but you can only hope that Loki might prove her wrong. 

“If he’s there… apologize to him,” Nat tells you hoping to ease the scowl that was settling on your face. “Just don’t expect him to forgive you. He’s not apologetic, far less forgiving.”

TTSWL Tag: @catsladen @is-it-madness @manyfandoms-marvel @mejusttryintogetby @illogicalfangirl @ariel-snow-tmnt @islinglivesinshire @musicconversedance @missmadwoman @smaranshakthi @adaydreamingdragon @poetic-fiasco @like-a-wildfire @jasminecalia @ha-tep @charbokbok @setsuna-meiou31 @ms-blvck @country-cowgirl-101 @bepo-is-sorry @hufflautia @waitforthehurricanrose @fictionalhoomanofnowhere @sanniegirl1214 @telenari @anonymouscastiel12 @ddaeing​

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[shadowturtlesstuff]

I’m sorry too..

Based off Speak now by Taylor Swift. There will be a chapter two eventually in Thomas’s perspective which will be way more dramatic but my brain is bad at finishing things so we shall see how long it takes. Posting this during my history class as there is nothing else to do...so enjoy

In all my time falling in love with Mr. Cresswell, I never expected to be an outsider at his wedding. Sitting alone on the back row to wallow in my misery. It is cruel that once I got over my fear of marriage and decided it would be perfect to spend the rest of my life with Thomas, it is torn from us by his father. The church is nice, made up with everything his bride-to-be wanted without a trace of his charm. He stands at the front, staring intensely at the door as though it will swallow you up and save him. He tries his best not to look at me or display his heartbreak. To everyone else he is impatiently waiting for miss Whitehall. However, I know all his calls. Knuckles white as he tries and bite down his anger. Pushing his emotions away in order to get through this.

This is surely not what any of us thought it would be. I want nothing more than for it to be our wedding. For him to be more relaxed, truly impatient and bursting with emotion. His expression will haunt, embedded in my brain like a wine stained dress, I'll try my hardest to forget his grief stricken face watching his future- our future, dissipate. To count the minutes until everything changes and we become trapped in our feelings that can never show. With everything that is happening I may have to stop working with Thomas. How would it be fair to us both if we continue on thinking nothing has happened and pretending we are not in love? That when I am away from Thomas I almost lose my mind. Yet, not only is our wedding taken away from us, our friendship shall be too. Back in Romania Thomas had told me the world is neither kind nor cruel; but as I sit and watch Thomas become shackled in this marriage I find it hard to believe the world is not vicious. It is full of murderers, liars, thieves and people intent on ruining other peoples lives.

The organ starts to play a song that sounds like a death march and everyone in the room stops breathing as the door opens and Miss Whitehall begins to float down the aisle like a queen. I steal a glance at Thomas who has finally caved and is staring at me. It is a piercing gaze, pleading and begging for something to save him. Even though there is nothing to be done.

Thomas’s stare costumes me, setting me alight, destroying me completely. He is stranded, helpless. I feel sick. I want to reach out and tell him it will work out even though it won’t. I want to hold him close to me, to feel his arms around me as we try and hide in false hope. But I am not the kind of girl who would interrupt a wedding even though my skin is crawling with the need to scream how wrong this is.

Miss Whitehall nudges Thomas and he reluctantly looks away from me. She throws a scowl my way because I am all Thomas can think about. I ignore it, just as I ignore the growing silence that pounds against me. The priest starts to do the speech but no sounds are made except my beating heart. Silence stretches on for an eternity and my heart stops beating as I hear the words: ‘Speak now or forever hold your peace.’

There is a silence that differs from before. It has changed as anticipation seeps into the room. Thomas looks, scanning the crowd before landing on me. Could I really interrupt? Save Thomas from this fate and change our futures. It is perhaps my last chance. I take a risk and make a decision so reckless Thomas would've been proud at the dramatic nature of it -if it wasn't about us.

I close my eyes and breathe in deeply as I stand up slowly. My eyes open and Thomas is still staring at me. I hide my hands behind my back. There are gasps and horrified looks from everyone in the room but I can only focus on Thomas. Relief and fear and emotions I can't figure out are mixed in his dark brown eyes. There is a faint smile as we stand staring at each other.

I recall all the times Thomas has saved me, how many times he has dragged me from dark thoughts with his teasing, witty remarks. I remember all the times we have saved each other. How we were meant to spend the rest of our lives having adventures, saving one another and loving each other with our whole heart. I can't imagine a world where I am not beside my annoyingly charming best friend. To not be able to rely on someone who knew what I was thinking when I didn't seems impossible. We were meant to stop crime together with uncle Johnathan. Start a family so one day sir Isaac can have a friend. I wanted to keep discovering everything about him and never feel like I truly know everything because we promised each other a lifetime of surprises. I want to be able to fall in love with him in ways I never expected. For his love to make me feel safe, for early mornings where he traps me in his arms and we forget everything but each other.

I want to be the one walking down the aisle to Thomas surrounded by our family. To feel loved by everyone in that room as I take my place beside my friend and hear Thomas's vows to me. Ones that radiate his love and make me feel his promises to me. I want to do the same for him, say my vows and see him smile, no doubt saying something inappropriate just to see me smile. I want to spend the rest of my life making Thomas smile and smiling freely at him.

We cannot do any of that if he is married to another.

The world fades till it is just Thomas and I. Staring and waiting for me to interrupt. Slowly I let my fears ebb away as I began to say all the reasons why this wedding should not occur. No words escape. Thomas remains still, waiting. I reach up for my throat and try to say his name.

Nothing.

I remain silently screaming, pleading, hoping that I will regain the ability to speak or Thomas will react. Yet nothing happens and I feel as though I am suffocating. There is nothing I can do, no way to prevent such heartbreak. There is just nothing i can do no matter how much i try and move or say Thomas’s name. Helplessness gathers around me, suffocating, crawling all over my skin.

No. No. No. No. Please....

“Audrey rose?'' Thomas's voice slices through me. The world comes back to me and I am not standing up interrupting Thomas's wedding, but sitting across from him in the library. His glance is filled with concern and I wonder how long he has been trying to talk to me. I blink away the image of his wedding I conjured in my mind and how real it felt. How real it will be as he is still yet to marry miss Whitehall today. The sound of his fingers tapping on the wood is normally a sound I hate. However, I stare at his hand and wonder when the sight of him will not be available to me because I am no longer in his life.

He clears his throat and I slowly look at his face. My handsome friend is full of grief and concern as his eyes meet mine. He tries a smile, a sad smile that breaks my heart because instead of his usual smirk or his genuine smile, it is small and full of pity for us both.

Swallowing my own pain I return it as I don't know how long or how many smiles we have left. We haven't spoken about after the wedding or after this case but we both understand how unfair it will be if we remain working together. So I cherish the smile even if it will remain in my dreams whenever I think about everything that has and will happen.

“Thomas?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. I watch as he quickly glances at the clock, the one hanging above us that feels like it is counting down to the end of the world. I have refused to look at it, to count the minutes until Thomas has to leave for his wedding. His. Not ours.

It is time, no matter how much I want to deny it, it is time for him to leave and get ready for his wedding. Sucking in a sharp breath as I look back at Thomas, I can't decide whether marrying someone you don't love is worse than watching someone you love marry someone else. Either one creates such hopelessness and a pit of despair that threatens to drag me down and prevent me from ever escaping. I can't imagine what Thomas is feeling, the emotions waging war inside of him.

“I am so sorry about this Wadsworth.”

“I know, I don't blame you Cresswell, you know this.” I interrupt him before he apologises again.

“Even if you don’t blame me I can be sorry for you, for us both.”

We sit in silence and I feel I can hear the time speed up and try to take Thomas from me even if he remains seated across from me.

Thomas begins to stand, my heart rising as though to go with him. Before he leaves I debate trying to keep him here but instead I say “I'm sorry too.”

It makes no difference, solves nothing as he grabs his coat and leaves to get ready for his wedding.

@fangirling-again @kittycat2187 @goatahoan @city-of-fae @the-hoofflepooff @ink-insomnia @purplecreatorhorsewagon @boredbookwormgirl @goddess-of-writing-wars @lovecakeandmore @yikesitsmaddie @loveyatopluto @bookscressworth @androgynousdeputylawyershoe @fandomtakeover @throneoftsc

[rosevanhelsing]

Wendigo

Chapter 20.

As Vic made her way to the gas station, Manx straightened up, sat on the couch, and watched Alice. The girl was shivering with cold since she was only wearing a nightgown.

-Come on, pretty. You're shivering with cold and you're going to catch pneumonia.

Alice approached him suspiciously. Charlie smiled, trying not to show his pointed teeth and said:

-Come, sit here a little while. I do not bite.

She sat on the opposite side of the couch but she didn't say anything. Manx took his coat and wrapped Alice up so she wouldn't get cold.

-That's better, isn't it? - said Charlie

Alice nodded in response. Charlie was curious to know what kind of inscape and special ability that girl might have to attract the Wendigo's attention so he subtly started asking her.

-Why was that bad man chasing you to kill you?

-I do not know. That man came into our house at night, I don't know why the alarm didn't go off, he came into my room, woke me up and said that people like me shouldn't exist, that we are bad and that he was going to kill me and then eat me - she said in a distressed voice.

-It is awful. You must have been terribly afraid. Lucky Vic rescued you.

-What was that man referring to "people like me"?

Charlie said:

-It means that you are a very, very special little person. Tell me, have you ever been in a place that is the same as you have imagined?

-Yes. Repeatedly. I have a place that I always go to. I call it The Forgotten Yard. I discovered it one day while going for a walk with my parents. Once I was there for a long time and my parents were very scared. They believed someone had kidnapped me.

- Oh, and how did you get in? Did you take something special with you?

- Like what?

- Something that you like a lot, and that you always wear when you go to the Forgotten Yard

 Alice thought a bit, and said:

"I think this," she said showing him a pendant of a little angel.

- How beautiful. Did your parents give it to you?

- No, my grandmother before going to heaven

- "Wow. I must be losing my faculties”- Manx said to himself, -“I should have been able to guess this”

At that moment, the Wraith sent him a telepathic message:

- This woman is a mess. She is driving me out of pain ...

- Well, take the initiative. Make driving easier.

The Wraith's engine roared a little under its breath as if it were huffing with resignation, though Vic didn't notice. In a subtle way, the Rolls made it easier for Vic to drive, anticipating her movements on the gear lever and clutch. Vic arrived at the gas station, put in the gasoline that Charlie had indicated, and went inside to buy a can of gasoline, oil, distilled water and some food.

While Vic was shopping, the Rolls asked Charlie if he wanted him to turn Vic into someone like him .... Charlie thought for a moment and said:

- No, now is not the time. That moment will come, sooner or later, Vic will end up being mine ... and she will be the one who begs me.

The Wraith's engine purred and she waited patiently for Vic. She loaded the bags into the front seat and they returned to the library. Vic called to let them  know that she was there and went upstairs

- Wow, Charlie. You have better color ... - Vic said- At least now, you don't look like a vampire at all ...

- You are so funny ... - Manx said sarcastically

 Vic looked at Alice peacefully asleep on the sofa and decided to wait for her to wake up alone, she sat on the floor and said:

- I'm going to call Tabitha to send the FBI and Child Care to take care of Alice and give her police protection as long as they don't capture or kill the Wendigo. If he is smart, he will not face the police, fortunately he is not practically immortal like you.

- I keep insisting that Alice should come with me to Christmasland, Vic. She is a creative soul, they will not understand her and that matter will get out of hand- said Charlie- By the way, in your absence, I have found out what her inner landscape is called, and what is her supposed "knife" ...

-Maybe it would be better for her if she didn't use her powers, so that the Wendigo couldn't track her again ... -Vic said

- Definitely. To do this, if you don't want her to come with me, we should take the knife from her, even destroy it. It is the pendant that she wears, it was given to her by her late grandmother.

- Charlie! Surely it is the only memory left of the poor girl of her grandmother. Surely there is a better way to explain it to her or to convince her to "lend" us her pendant while the Wendigo is on the loose ...

- What about my pendant? Alice asked half asleep

"You woke up, sleepyhead," Charlie said affably.

- Nothing, Alice.  I was simply commenting to Charlie that we had to tell you that you should not enter the Forgotten Yard while the Wendigo is on the loose.

- The Wendigo is the bad man who killed my parents?

-Yes. In a while I will call the police and they will protect you and hide you. The Wendigo will not come near you. But while to facilitate their work, do not enter your inscape.

-Inscape?

-That's what the Forgotten Yard is. A place created with your imagination and that you can make real and enter it.

- The Bridge that we cross also an inscape?

-Yes. It's mine

-And the amusement park where it is always Christmas from Mr. Vampire, too?

"Yes, it is too," Vic said as she laughed at the nickname Alice gave Charlie. "Now what do you think if we eat a little?"

 Alice nodded and Vic took the sandwiches she had bought out of her backpack.

-Are there any without meat or fish? I am vegetarian- Alice asked

Charlie rolled his eyes and said:

-You have to see  that you children are fussy  nowadays ... that if I'm allergic, that I don't like that or that ... take a walk with the Wraith and she will take away all that nonsense ...

-Don't worry Alice. I can take the ham off the sandwich… Vic said. She removed the ham from the sandwich and handed it to the girl with a reproachful look at Manx.

Alice stuck her tongue out at Charlie. Manx grunted and said:

- Jesus, look at how badly they educate children nowadays ...

Charlie took the distilled water and oil and said.

-I'm going to put the water and oil in the car. Leave me some of this delicacy ... he said ironically

While Manx was busy with the car, Vic called Tabitha to arrange Alice's pickup time. She also took the opportunity to call home and inform Lou of the situation and calm him down. Lou said:

- An invitation for Halloween has arrived from the publisher of your books. For a costume party, set in the 1930s.

- For parties I am ... we'll see ... how is the theme of Wayne's birthday?

- All ready. I have bought everything the puppy will need. Shall we pick up the puppy with Wayne or may he be surprised when he arrives?

- I don't know, Lou. I don't know what would make you more funny ... Let me finish fixing the girl and when this is over, I'll go home and talk about it. I have to hang up or I run out of battery.

- Okay.

When Charlie returned, Alice was half asleep with her head in Vic's lap. Manx took one of the sandwiches and one of the sodas and satiated his hunger a little. Vic said:

- We have to take care of the Wendigo, Charlie. I'll do it with or without you. I can't allow it to destroy more lives, like Alice's.

- We'll do that.- Charlie said sitting down next to her. -Miss Leigh predicted with her Scrabble tiles that we could beat him together." If the two of you were about to kill me ... imagine what the two of us can do. Vic, I am sure that right now we are the most powerful creatives- said Charlie enthusiastically, taking Vic gently by the shoulders and turning her towards him so that he looked into her eyes - We will come up with something ... and we are not going to die, none of the two. Since we have started this, we are going to finish it.

Vic smiled at him and held out her hand to fit him

- Done deal. The creative soul team will kick the Wendigo's butt and send him to hell.

Charlie laughed and looked directly at Vic as if he wanted to hypnotize her with his gaze, suddenly the Wraith began to honk its horn, and police sirens sounded in the distance.

- I think I'd better go, Vic. When you have a plan and are ready, just tell me.

- I will do it.

Charlie went downstairs, but instead of leaving, he sent the Wraith a few miles farther and hid in the shadows to watch. Vic and Alice went downstairs and spoke to that police officer who had chased him once. Vic hugged Alice and said

- They will take care of you. The bad man won't come for you.

Alice hugged him back tightly and said:

-Thank you for saving me, Vic. - She suddenly took off her pendant and said, "I'll lend you the little angel that my grandmother gave me to protect me.  It sure protects you too. You will return it to me when we meet again. Why will we meet again, right?

- Of course. When the Police and I are done with the Wendigo, I'll come see you and give it back to you. You have my word.

From the darkness, Charlie watched the scene intently, licked his lips and said to himself:

- You have changed a lot, Vic McQueen ... now you are worthy of being Mrs. Christmasland.

[valeriethepussycats]

Inside Out

Chapter 6

Pairing- Loki x Reader

Warning-cursing

Your thoughts and other characters are in italics.Flashbacks are in bold.

Back on Earth, Darcy paces around her apartment as Ian is sat watching the news on TV. “Y/n not answering her phone. Jane isn't called me back. Erik isn't calling me back. Stupid SHIELD isn't calling me back!”

“What's SHIELD?” Ian asked.

“It's a secret.”

Darcy leaves a voice message for Erik. “Uh...hey, Erik. It's Darcy again. Uh...Thor came back, he took Jane to Asgard and um...I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do.” As Ian is watching the news they start reporting about Erik being arrested at Stonehenge.

“Something else went missing this week when Astrophysicist, Dr. Erik Selvig, notable for his involvement in the Alien invasion in New York streaked nude across Stonehenge..

“Darcy, you really need to look at this. Your friend Erik, what was his last name again?” Ian wondered.

Darcy looks at the news report on TV.

“...disrobed and began shouting at visitors at the historic site. He was later taken into police custody for psychiatric evaluation. The police are still refusing to confirm...” Ian presses the pause button on Erik's face from footage taken at Stonehenge, Darcy sits in dismay as she looks at Erik's face on the TV.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

In Asgard,

Thor and Y/n is sitting at a table.

“You’re brooding.” Y/n announced. “What are you thinking about?”

“You’re the mind reader.” Thor teased.

Y/n looks at Thor with a cocked head then gasp. “ You want to take Jane to the Dark World to get the Aether out of her.”

“Shhh, it’s the only way.”

“You’re also thinking I can help with the Aether.....How?” Y/n asked.

“You have the ability to stop even slowly time down you can slow down the Aether’s control on Jane.”

“I can’t come with you, Thor.”

“What...why not?” Thor questioned.

“Thor, this is what Loki wants he wants, me to leave Asgard.” Y/n explained.

“Why would he want that?”

“He doesn’t want to.....watch me die.”

“That’s understandable.” Thor mumbled.

“Do you feel the same way Loki does? Should I not be here?” Y/n asked but before Thor could answer, Heimdall walks up to them.

Thor exhale deeply. “You’re not in Odin's war council?”

“The Bifrost is closed by your father's orders. No one is to come or to go.”Heimdall takes off his helmet and places it on the table. “We face an enemy that is invisible even to me. Of what use is a guardian such as that?” He sits down looking defeated.

“Heimdall, it was literally invisible go easy on yourself.” Y/n said as she lays a comforting hand on his shoulder. As doing so she stars to to see..different pictures of worlds. She takes her hand off of Heimdall’s shoulder and the picture stop. “Weird.”

“Malekith will return, you know this. I'll need your help.” Thor replied.

“I cannot overrule my King's wishes, not even for you.” Heimdall answered.

“I'm not asking you to. The Realms need their All-Father strong and unchallenged, whether he is or not. But he is blinded, Heimdall, by hatred and by grief.” Thor explained.

“As are we all.”

“Well I see clearly enough.”

“The risks are too great.” Heimdall disclosed.

“Everything that we do from here on out is a risk.” Y/n said looking at Thor.

“Your going to help me?” Thor asked.

“I’ll find my way back to him.” Y/n proclaimed with a smile.

Heimdall hesitates before replying. “What do you require of me?”

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

“What I'm about to ask of you is treason of the highest order. Success will bring us exile and failure shall mean our death. Malekith knew the Aether was here, he can sense its power. If we do nothing he will come for it again, but this time lay waste to all of Asgard.”

Thor is holding a meeting with Sif, Fandral, Volstagg, Y/n, and Heimdall. “We must move Jane off world.”

“The Bifrost has been shut down and the Tesseract locked away in a vault.” Sif shared.

“There are other paths off Asgard, ways known only to a few.” Heimdall revealed.

“One, actually.” Thor disclosed.

The others suddenly realize he means Loki.

“No.”

“Oh this is gonna be fun!” Y/n said with a broad grin.

“Y/n....” Thor started.

“Oh no you got this Thor.”

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Thor walks up to Loki's cell where he is standing looking well kept and clean.

“Thor, after all this time and now you come to visit me. Why? Have you come to gloat? To mock?” Loki wondered.

“Loki, enough. No more illusions.” Thor stated.

Suddenly Loki's cell is transformed, the illusion is lifted and we see that Loki's cell is a mess, everything has been thrown around and he's sat on the floor, looking unkempt and messy, in the other corner of the cell. “Now you see me, brother. How is Y/n? She won’t see me because....we had a disagreement.”

“She’s fine.”

“No quakes? No abnormal weather?” Loki asked.

“Heavy rain.”

“Good.” Loki said with a note of relief. “Her powers are truly something else...I fear I can’t be the man she needs me to be......she told me I was her happy ending.” Loki said with an Inappropriate laughter. “What did I do to deserve that?.......go ahead I’m asking you.”

“Nothing.” Thor answered.

“Nothing.” Loki agreed. “I do not deserve Y/n or...mother.” Thor walks up to the other side of the cell to be closer to Loki. “Did she suffer?”

“I did not come here to share our grief or giving you advice. Instead I offer you the chance of a far richer sacrament.” Thor made known.

“Go on.”

“I know you seek vengeance as much as I do. You help me escape Asgard and I will grant it to you, vengeance. And afterward, this cell.” Thor remarked.

Loki chuckles. “You must be truly desperate to come to me for help. What makes you think you can trust me?”

“I don't. Mother did. Y/n do. You should know that when we fought each other in the past, I did so with a glimmer of hope that my brother was still in there somewhere. That hope no longer exists to protect you. You betray me and I will kill you.”

Loki smiles.”Hmm. When do we start?”

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Back to the meeting with Thor and his comrades

“He will betray you.” Fandral proclaimed.

“He will try. Loki will not try anything with Y/n there.” Thor noted.

If he does I’ll just kick his ass again. Y/n thought.

Loki and Thor walk out of the Asgardian prison. “This is so unlike you, brother. So clandestine. Are you sure you wouldn't rather just punch your way out?”

“If you keep speaking I just might.”

“Fine. As you wish. I'm not even here.” Loki said using his diversion tactics, turning himself into an Asgardian guard. “Is this better?”

“It's better company at least.” Thor admitted.

“Still, we could be less conspicuous.” Loki turns back into himself but turns Thor into Sif. “Hm, brother. You look ravishing.”

Thor looks down at his body then replies in his own voice. “It will hurt no less when I kill you in this form. What would Y/n think?”

“Very well. Perhaps you prefer one of your new companions, given that you seem to like them so much.” Loki then turns himself into Captain America in his full Captain America costume. “Oh, this is much better. Woh. The costume's a bit much, so tight. But the confidence, I can feel the righteousness surging. Hey, you wanna have a rousing discussion about truth, honor, patriotism? God bless Amer–“

Suddenly Thor grabs hold of Loki puts his hand over his mouth and pushes him against the wall making Loki turn back into himself. “What?” Thor looks to the side and they see two Asgardian guards walking away. “You could at least furnish me with a weapon. My dagger, something!” Loki exclaimed

Thor looks at him and we hear a noise like a sword being drawn. “At last, a little common sense.”

Loki then looks down then holds up his hands which now have iron handcuffs on them.

“And I thought you liked tricks.” Thor laughs and turns to walk off.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Back at the original meeting Thor was holding with his comrades.

“Well, what then? Your lovely mortal is being guarded by a legion of our Einherjar who will see you coming from miles away.” Fandral reckoned that.

“I won't be the one who comes for her.” Thor looks over to Sif.

Jane is sat in her guarded room when one of the guards enters. “I'm not hungry.”

Suddenly Sif comes up behind the guard and knocks him out, she looks over to Jane.“Good, let's go.”

Jane and Sif meet up with Thor with Loki standing beside him, Jane points to Loki. “You're...”

“I'm Loki. You may have heard of... “ suddenly Jane slaps Loki hard in the face.

“That was for New York.” Jane voiced.

Loki smiles and looks at Thor. “I like her.”

[piabu]

BAKUGO KKATSUKI (x blind reader)

Getting into UA and becoming a hero, is every young kids dream. And for some its more realistic than it is for others. You always thought that your chance was slim, but when the letter came saying you got in to class 1-B, you were more than estatic. When it comes to stealth and combat your quirk comes in extremely handy. Using echo-location you can "see" many things others can't. Your ears are more sensitive to movement and noise, giving you an advantage, even though you are blind.

Being blind you had to have an aid in classes with you to be your eyes during lessons, but during training, you quirk was better than haveing 20/20 vision. UA was very accomotading to you and your aid. And for the most part everyone was nice. Monoma wasn't your biggest fan and often got on your nerves however.

Today as you entered the school someone bumped into you. You figured it was just Monoma picking on you again tho.

"Hey, watch it extra." the person grumbled. Not Mo.. The voice is somewhat familiar though.

"My appologies." You bowed facing what you thought was the boy. He stood beside you and clicked his tounge.

"Whatever." You heard footsteps and figured he was leaving. Quickly you activated your quirk to see his retreating form and some other students in the hall. His hair was spikey and his shoulders were slightly hunched. You tilted your head studying him.

A hand on your shoulder startled you. You turned your head in the direction of the hand. "Oh hey Erushī." you greeted your aid. "Did you happen to see who I bumped into?"

"Oh yeah, the angry blonde boy. Thats Bakugo Katsuki from class 1-A." Erushī explains. You think back to the some of the "horror stories" you have heard of the explosive teen.

"I see." You laugh at the irony of your statement. "What color is his hair?" Eru links her arm through yours.

"Blonde. Why?"

"Just forming a mental image." You shrug as the two of you enter the classroom.

(Timeskip to lunch)

Erushī walks you to the lunchroom and you sit with your usual table group. You think back to your encounter this morning and use your quirk to scan the lunchroom for Bakugo. You see his figure sitting at a table with some other students you assume are from his class.

"Earth to y/n!" Kendo says as she taps your shoulder. "You okay there?"

"Oh yeah. I'm fine." You flash a small smile to your friends, and close your eyes losing yourself in your mental images. They continue their conversation as you eat.

----

"Hey Bakubro!" Kirishima greets him, and scoots over for his friend to sit down. "You've been quiet today."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean!"

"Ah, theres the Bakugo we know." the redhead jokes.

Bakugo rolls his eyes and lifts his head to see you enter the cafeteria and sit at a table with you classmates. Mina notices him staring and follows his gaze.

"Her name is F/n L/n/." Pretty right! She is in class 1-B."

"Shut up Pinky. I didnt fucking ask." The blonde grumbles and focuses on his food.  Mina shrugs.

"I saw you looking, and thought you might wanna know."

"Well you thought wrong." He snaps. A smile creeps onto The pink girl's face and she winks at Kirishima, then guestures to Baku with a nod of her head.

Kiri gets the hint and his eye widen. Sero and Kaminari look between the three of them in confusion. Sero shrugs giving Kami a confused look. And the yellow head returns the look.

"Anyways, so aparently we are training with class 1-B after lunch." Sero says, breaking the silence that befell upon the group.

"Really! Cool!" Mina pipes up.

Katsuki steals a quick glance at you before getting sucked into the conversation by his friends.

(Time skip to sparring)

"Students will be paired up with someone not from their class to train with. Is that understtod?" Eraserhead explains the rest of the rules for training and Mic announces the partners. You were up against a girl named Hagakure. Her quirk was invisibility. You smiled at the perfection of the situation. Someone who is invisible to most, is not to you. You raise your hand.

"Yes y/n?" Aizawa calls on you.

"Could I perhaps have another partner. Hagakure's quirk is invisibility, but I can see her clear as day." you explain. A few heads turn as not many of the A students know of your quirk, but the hero agrees and pairs you up with Bakugo, and giving his partner to the invisible girl.

You all go get changed into your costumes and meet on the training grounds and get ready to spar. Your costume is quite simple. A pair of black leggings with thigh holsters for a few blades to fit. Your (color) top is cropped, sleveless and skin-tight. The lack of sleves allows for straps on your biceps to hold throwing stars. The outfit is pulled together with combat boots and a black blindfold over your eyes for dramtic effect.

"Whats with the blindfold extra? DO YOU UNDERESTAMATE MY POWER THAT MUCH?" Sparks fly from katsuki's palms as he accuses you.

"No, sorry. Its part of my costume. I dont doubt your abilities, Actually I admire how strong you are." You beam at the blonde. A blush tints his cheeks and he is thankful for the bindfld covering your eyes. "Shall we start?" you ask.

He grumbles a response and the two of you fly into action. You immediately activate your quirk and see his figure and take in his costume. Gauntlets. Avoid his hands at all costs. Katsuki moves to launch a blast your way and you move to the side, dodging it effectively. You use this advantage to get closer and land a punch to his shoulder. He spins on you and his elbow makes contact with your stomach. You cough as the wind is knocked out of you and quickly regain your composure. The thing with Bakugo is that he is a loud fighter. So you really wouldn't need your quirk much to fight him anyways. You see, or rather hear, his attacks before they happen.

"Why do you keep dodging? STOP HOLDING BACK DAMNIT!" You laugh quietly and take your blindfold off, wrapping it around your hand.

You decide to humor him and give in to his request. Katsuki is able to land a few hits on you, but for the most part he just tries to avoid your blades. Baku jumps and a blast comes your way and you duck down and slip under and between his legs. You unwravel the blindfold and wrap it around one of his ankles slamming him down onto the ground. You tie it around his other leg, imobilising him on his stomach.

Bakugo puts his palms on either side of him but you grab them and pin them behind his back with one hand, the other holding a blade to his wrists.

"Congratulations y/n." Present Mic says to you. You nod and get off your partner untieing him.

"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT? YOU DIDN'T EVEN USE YOUR QUIRK! I TOLD YOU NOT TO HOLD BACK!" Katsuki explodes and his hand grabs your throat. His palms are warm and you can feel the slight sting of a burn.

"Y/N!" Erushī yells as she rushes up to you. Bakugo lets you go.

"Who the fuck are you?" he snarls.

"I am her AID." Eru says firmly. "L/n is blind." You cough and rub your throat and the two of them look at you.

"Im fine Erushī. And yes Bakugo, i did use my quirk. I may be blind, in a literal sense, but I can still see." He looks at you blankly, then to the girl beside you.

"My quirk is echo-location. I use sounds to see, and you my friend are very loud." You laugh and link arms with your aid. "Good fight." You bow and walk back to the changerooms.

----

'She is blind. That explains why she bowed in the wrong direction this morning, and the blindfold.' Katsuki thinks to himself. 'So she doesn't know what I look like. She probably doesn't even know what she looks like. She can't see facial expressions.'

Part of Bakugo was saddened by that. You were quite a good looking girl. But you would never know it. His thoughts drift to all the things you can and can't do. No wonder the other girl was always with you.

Kirishima clapped Bakugo on the back, pulling him from his thoughts. "Hey bro. How was it?"

Bakugo rolls his eyes and lets out an annoyed "tch," remembering that you pinned him. He shrugs Kiri away and heads to change.

"You should ask her out." the readhead says nonchelantly.

"That's none of your buisness Shitty Hair."

(Time skip)

You sat at home listening to music, when your phone buzzed.

"You have a text from and unknown number: Oi its Bakugo, I got your number from your friend." The automated voice on your phone read the text out loud.

"Text back: Hello there. Smiley face." you say to your phone. "Please name the contact Bakugo."

"Incoming call from: Bakugo."  You press on the screen to answer the call and hold it to your ear.

"Hello."

"Hi, meet me at the park near the school." Wow he is forward.

"Uhh.. sure i guess."

"10 minutes."

The line goes dead before you can respond and you turn your phone off. That might have been the shortest call ever. You go downstairs and ask your parent to drop you off. 10 minutes later you are sitting on a swing waiting for Bakugo.

"Can you see me?" Bakugo's voice startles you slightly.

"Sort of. I can see the outline of your figure. You have spikey hair." You say. He hums in agreement. You see/hear him move closer and he takes your hand in his, they are surpizingly soft.

"Can you see yourself?" he asks somewhat quieter.

"No, only from what i can feel.." You face him and your empty eyes stare at him.

"Your eyes are (e/c)." he says. "And your hair is (h/c). Your cheeks are pink."

"I know all that. Ive been told." You laugh dryly. "Can we sit on the grass?" Bakugo hums, and brings you out of the sand. He sits down and you sit next to him, bodies touching.

"Why do you keep your eyes open if you cant see?" he asks.

"I guess just to seem a little more normal. Does it bother you?" you explain.

"No. I like your eyes." You smile to yourself. The boy beside you is completly different from the one you were sparring with at school, and yet its the same person.

"I like this soft side of you Bakugo." you say.

'Its only for you.' he thinks. You feel his hand drop yours and move to your cheek. He turns your head to face him.

"Can you see me?" he asks again. You nod your head. His facial features are more visible to you but still fuzzy.

"What color are your eyes?" you ask.

"Red."

"May I touch you?" He doesnt answer, so you clarify. "Your face i mean."

"Yes."

Your hands come up to his cheeks and you take in all his facial features with your hands. Touching people allows you to have a better sense of what the person looks like and you add this to your mental image of the boy.

Katsuki grabs your wrists stilling your movements and brings your hands back down to your lap.

"Now i can see you." you say.

He stares at you for a brief moment and closes your eyes gently. His hand rests back on your cheek.

"Good." is all he says before his lips are on yours.

[night-unfurls-its-splendour]

The Critique of Manners: Part III

~Or~

A Somewhat Indecisive Review of “Emma” (Miramax, 1996)

I have a feeling this review is gonna be a little harder for me to write. Everyone knows that recaps and reviews are most entertaining when the writer has an intense dislike (or intense feeling of any kind) for the drama they’re reviewing. It falls to other writers to pan or praise this film as they will, but I simply don’t have many particularly strong feelings about it at all. I have neither that repulsed dislike for this movie such as I did for Emma 1997, nor that disappointed frustration as for certain aspects of Emma. 2020, but neither do I have a deep, profound love and appreciation for it as I do for Emma 2009.  

Written and Directed by American Screenwriter, director and actor, Douglas McGrath, Emma (1996) is rather what one expects it to be: a 90’s romance film. Perhaps it’s because I had expectations due to the era in which it was made, but I think I have a tendency to excuse some of the problems with this film. There are many unnecessary additions (for comedy’s sake usually and often quite cringe-y) and one definitely can’t claim that the dialogue hasn’t been tampered with. I don’t normally side with the “I do so miss Austen’s biting wit” crowd but, by ‘eck I felt it this time. That’s because Austen’s Biting Wit™ just doesn’t suit a fluffy 90’s chick flick (which this film is in a way that other big screen Austen adaptations of the time just aren’t – and I think approaching this film from the 90’s chick flick perspective is probably the best way to digest it.) This version, more than any other (except perhaps 2009) brings the concept of Emma-as-Matchmaker to the fore with a particular emphasis precisely because it’s a concept that fits well with the rom-com style of filmmaking used here.

The bones of this review, like my review for the ITV version, were written six years ago following my initial viewing only a select number of portions survive from that review (which is still on IMDb).

As with all my reviews I'll be comparing the script, characterizations and plot to the book and commenting on the authenticity and attractiveness of the costumes, and suitability of the houses and sets.

Let’s dive in.

Cast & Characterization

Emma is arguably the easiest of Austen’s works to read because of Emma’s generally good (if condescending and overly self-confident) character, and Mr. Knightley’s sober, mature but exceedingly pleasant manner. I had my doubts about Gwyneth Paltrow playing an Austen heroine, but I at least had faith in Jeremy Northam’s ability to portray the mature Mr. Knightly. My expectations were not entirely disappointed in either case.

My prevailing feeling about this film is that it’s not so much set in Jane Austen’s Regency England, but in an American fantasy of what Regency England was like. Perhaps the biggest factor that reinforces this impression is (of course) the casting choice for our leading lady, Gwyneth Paltrow.

Freckled, ruddy and thin as a twig, Gwyenth didn’t quite, to my mind, fit the physical description of Emma, who is supposed to be “The picture of health” according to Mrs. Weston. Add to this the Regency beauty ideal of a soft and shapely figure with regular features. Fair hair was generally preferred (and I have always imagined Emma as blond, although I’m given to understand that Austen’s idea of pretty generally favored dark hair), so I can’t fault Gwynnie there. What I can fault though is her so-so British accent.

I recently learned that the reason McGrath thought Paltrow would be a good choice was because she’s the only Texan he’d ever met who’d managed to entirely throw off her native accent; I guess he decided that if she could do that she could do any accent work? I guess? Seems questionable to me.

You know Joely Richardson was considered for this part? Gorgeous, refined (British) GODDESS Joely Richardson was passed over because Gwyenth managed to shake an embarrassing accent.

I hate American directors.

I’m not sure if it’s just part of the accent, or her attempt to sound upper class, but on this most recent re-watch it hit me for the first time how very nasal many of her line deliveries are. She also has this problem with looking (and sounding) sort of vapid and… just what is happening here?

Is she having a stroke at the end there?

A bigger problem than Emma’s casting, however, is her characterization.

Part of the above mentioned script tampering is in lockstep with some of the issues with Emma’s characterization here. Her very teenager-esque swings from vowing to never make another match again to immediately trying to think of another guy to set Harriet up with, and her getting carried away in potential scenarios “But if he seems sad I shall know that John has advised him not to marry Harriet! I love John! Or he may seem sad because he fears telling me he will marry my friend. How could John let him do that? I hate John!” (Especially when you never even really get to meet John Knightley in this version? Ugh, pass me with this shit) is so bizarrely childish it’s a little hard to stomach. She spends the movie going back and forth between mature and manipulative to childish and naïve and it just… doesn’t work for me.  Emma can be all of these things but the transition from one extreme to another here seems a bit disjointed to me.

Knightley was a bit of a disappointment to me in this version. That’s not Jeremy Northam’s fault because I can’t think of a better choice they could have made. McGrath showed much better judgment with his choice for Mr. Knightley than he did with Emma.

My biggest problem with this interpretation was how laid back he was when he was supposed to chastising Emma. Their quarrels became more like mere disagreements so the proposal line of lecturing her and her bearing it as no other woman would have isn’t entirely earned. Even in the big scene at Box Hill where Knightley is really supposed to lay into Emma, he starts off pretty solidly, but by the end so doe-eyed and apologetic it fails to deliver the sting of rebuke that is Emma’s biggest learning moment in the story. Perhaps they were trying to go for a more disappointed feel (the kind that makes you feel worse than being shouted at because you really respect the person you let down) but it just didn’t come through for me.

Also of note is the fact that, (I assume) because John Knightley isn’t really allowed time to be a character in this film, McGrath took some of John’s introverted tendencies and transplanted them into his more convivial older brother (“I just want to stay home, where it’s cozy.” – I mean I feel that, but this isn’t something George Knightley would say.) 

Onto the less central characters

I question also the choice of Toni Colette for Harriet Smith. I mean I actually liked her performance more on this watch than previously but I just don’t think she’s pretty enough for Harriet, and she looks a bit clumsy (though that might have more to do with her costumes.)

I also noted that McGrath bumps Harriet’s comprehension skills up just a scooch. Emma never has to explain the “Courtship” riddle to her, Harriet figures it out on her own after a while, while she never manages to in the book.

Now we come to the crux of Jane Fairfax, played by Polly Walker. I don’t care for this choice. My issue is the simple fact that she just isn’t believable to me as a demure, wronged character like Jane Fairfax. Seriously she looks like she would sooner throw Frank across the room than take his cruel teasing, and not in the subtle way that Olivia Williams managed to. They never even utilized her by including some of Jane’s more pointed returns to Frank’s jabs, which they even managed to squeeze into the massively cut down TV movie.    

Speaking of Frank; Ewan McGregor, though generally delightful, was so under-used. Frank and Jane’s plotline always kind of gets shafted in Theatrical release adaptations of this story. It’s not as bad here as it is in say, the 2020 adaptation (they were in that version so little I actually forgot what their actors looked like), but it’s still pretty stunted.

I find it interesting that Ewan McGregor himself thinks his performance in this movie isn’t good; and I’ll agree it’s not his best (certainly it’s no Obi-wan Kenobi) but I thought he did a pretty good job with obviously unfamiliar material

Also if the Davies screenplay of ’97 made Frank’s character too caddish, I think this version didn’t make him caddish enough. I mean he’s hardly around enough to really develop his flirtation with Emma, and they merged Strawberry Picking and Box Hill into one sequence so we never see Frank’s ill humors. I can perhaps excuse this, since it seems like a nuanced story really wasn’t what McGrath was going for here, I think. This is a lite version of the story; schmaltzy fluff for teenage girls’ movie nights. Frank’s ill humors wouldn’t really have fit the tone of this version at all.

Interestingly enough, though it’s taken me a long time to make this decision, I think Alan Cumming might be the definitive Elton? He’s the only one who doesn’t immediately read as a slime ball from the get go. I mean he’s got all the warning signs that Austen wrote into him, but no more than that. He’s not slinking about greasily or obviously pandering (at first), so Emma’s uneasy realization of what’s really happening here isn’t a hundred miles behind the viewer’s (maybe just fifty).

There are as many Mrs. Eltons out there as there are adaptations of this story, and they’re all pretty great (funky accents aside), but other than the 1997 take, this one might be the least great to me. She’s not nearly pushy enough, because Mrs. Elton would never let Emma prompt the conversation when she could do it herself.

  Also, I think McGrath misunderstands Mrs. Elton’s brand of New Money vulgarity. He has her talking with her mouthful, clanking her utensils on her plate as she eats, putting biscuits which she’s bitten into back onto communal plates, which I think even Mrs. Elton would know not to do. Table manners are pretty basic; the couth that Mrs. Elton lacks is of a more nuanced social kind – for instance, what is and isn’t considered gauche to talk about (like how big one’s brother in law’s house is or how many horses he keeps.)

(A sudden thought has just occurred to me: is Mrs. Elton just a more mean-spirited Hyacinth Bucket from Keeping Up Appearances? “It’s meh sister, Mrs. Suckling! That’s right, the one with an estate in Warwickshire and the two barouche landaus!”)

Sophie Thompson’s Miss Bates is chatty and one of better takes on the character, but lack of necessary background hinders her impact on Emma’s story. The comedy in her scenes is some of the best and actually made me laugh, although I think she was just way too giggly.

Miss Bates’s mother, Mrs. Bates, is played by Sophie Thompson’s real-life mother Phyllida Law in a completely coincidental quirk of casting. (I noted in this film how very much Emma Thompson, Sophie’s older sister looks like their mother.)

My only other serious issue with characterization in this adaptation is the representation of Mr. Woodhouse. He is somehow simultaneously more cheery and more disagreeable than he is in the book. His chiding about the cake at the Weston’s wedding seems more like a scolding rather than an anxious admonishment. In one of the first scenes, during Mr. Woodhouse’s “Poor Miss Taylor” speech, he says he cannot understand why she would want to give up her comfortable life with himself and Emma, to have “mewling children who bring the threat of disease every time they enter or leave the house,” and he says this IN FRONT OF ONE OF HIS TWO DAUGHTERS.

Of course in the book, Mr. Woodhouse does lament Miss Taylor marrying, leaving and even having children – but this is all in the context of the danger childbirth presents to Miss Taylor (And the fact that he can’t stand losing a companion). These are his complaints – not the children themselves. In addition, his elder daughter has quite a fine number of children, all of them very young, of whom Mr. Woodhouse is very fond. He’s a character that needs to be carefully handled because, much like his daughter, it’s very easy for him to become unlikeable.

For the rest of the time, though, he just sort of cheerily laughs and is very at ease, when Mr. Woodhouse, as a chronic hypochondriac should be made anxious by just about everything.

Sets & Surroundings

One thing I find interesting about this adaptation is that the houses they chose to use are all of a very neo-classical Palladian style, which I believe (given her disdain for the contemporary trend of knocking down England’s great houses just to rebuild them in a more fashionable style) Austen may have disliked to some degree.

One such house is Came House in Dorset, which was used as the Woodhouse’s estate, Hartfield. Now Hartfield is, I think, described as a well-built modern house so this could be pretty accurate (although Modern could refer to the red bring, boxy style of Georgian architecture, such as the houses used in the 1997, 2009 and 1972 versions.)

Another, Claydon House in Buckinghamshire played the role of Donwell Abbey. I think this might be the worst exterior ever used for Donwell, from a book accuracy perspective. Utterly Georgian, with its’ square façade, Claydon house sort of directly contradicts Austen description of being “Larger than Hartfield, and totally unlike it, covering a good deal of ground, rambling and irregular…” not only is the architecture totally wrong, so is its’ situation, in Georgian fashion, perched on a hill, when Donwell (a very old building) is supposed to be “Low and sheltered”.

Mapperton House is maybe the grandest house yet used for Mr. Weston’s Randalls (I’ve already covered in my review of Emma (2020) why this is a problem – although in this version, as in the 1997 adaptation, there’s no full panic over the snow, so this is less of a problem, but a house like this is still too grand for the reasonably sized Randalls of the book), but it fits the usual 15th-16th century house type that always seems to be used for Randalls.

A myriad of other great houses were used for interiors, however other than Crichel House (Dorset), which was used for Donwell’s interiors, I can’t find information on which ones where used for what. They include Breakspear House (Harefield), Coker Court (Somerset), Stafford House (Staffordshire) and Syon House & Park (Middlesex).

I really appreciate the interiors which were all very colorful and even included doors and molding painted the same color as the walls which is a very Georgian decorating convention, although it looks odd to the modern viewer.

Costumes & Hair

As a rule, the costumes (Created by Ruth Myers) in this movie are pretty damn good, composition wise, but the arrangement leaves a lot to be desired. Myers talked extensively of wanting the costumes to be colorful and bright like the water colors of the time, which she achieved brilliantly. What I find funny is that she talked about using color as if it would be controversial from a historical accuracy point of view, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

The evening wear is generally excellent

My only question around evening wear here is… what’s up with the waistline on Harriet’s ball gown? Why is it going up in the middle? Toni Collette (who actually gained weight for the role, since Harriet was described as “Reubenesque”) verged on looking a little dumpy throughout the film and awkwardly bumping up her waistline in the middle really didn’t help.

I’m pleased to report that is is the one version where Miss Bates’s evening-wear is allowed to look like evening wear. Even Maiden Aunts wore shorter sleeves and lower necklines at dinner or balls. They fussed her up with some lace gloves and frilly fichus but it follows the conventions of the time. I appreciate that immensely, though I have the sneaking suspicion that it’s because of Sophie Thompson’s age.

At 37 Thompson was an unconventionally young choice for Miss Bates, a character who previously had only been cast as older than 50 (Prunella Scales, who would play the role later in 1996, was 64). Indeed, Douglas McGrath almost passed Thompson over for the role on account of her age, but reconsidered after seeing her in spectacles. It seems possible to me that since Thompson was considered young they dressed her “young” as well.

The daywear is where the costumes start to really fall apart. There are a lot of looks here worn in the day that are VERY not day/outerwear appropriate, especially on Emma, most especially the yellow dress she’s wearing while driving that carriage (which, btw is inappropriate on a whole OTHER level). Can we just talk aboutt he cognative dissonance of bothering to put a bonnet on her when her arms and boobs are just hanging out like that? Like, it would almost have been less egregious to just leave the bonnet where it was.

But then there are a lot of Emma’s day-wear looks that are perfectly suitable and appropriate. What I find ironic about that is that most of the short-sleeved, low-necked “Evening-gowns as day-wear” looks are worn OUTSIDE in the sun and most of the long-sleeved, sun protecting, day-wear appropriate looks are worn INSIDE.  She’s also got a profusion of dangling curls in day-time settings that are also more evening-wear appropriate (to match the dresses, perhaps?)

I’m also pleased to report that even in day-wear Miss Bates gets a break from brown in this version. Her clothes are nice, but not fancy like Miranda Hart’s in Emma. 2020, and I like to think that nice thick shawl with lace overlay is the one mentioned in the book that Jane’s friend Mrs. Dixon sent along home with her for her aunt.

My only problem with Mrs. Elton’s kit is that it’s all perfectly nice, but none of it is overly-nice. There’s no extra trim, no unnecessary lace, not even any bold colors. I hope Myers and McGrath didn’t take Mrs. Elton’s line in the book about her fear of being over-trimmed seriously.

Let’s talk outerwear. There’s a lot of going into town with JUST a shawl on in this movie (usually over short sleeves), and I’m sorry but I don’t think that’s how outer-wear worked in this time period. A shawl is good enough when you’re taking a turn in the garden but not for going out in public into town, unless maybe you’re wearing long sleeves, or perhaps paired with a SPENCER.

Never mind Mrs. Elton’s line about a shocking lack of satin at the end of the movie, I’m more concerned about the shocking lack of spencers. There are precisely three in this film. I counted (and the sleeves on Emma’s look like maybe they’re too long for her?) Mrs. Elton sports the only redingote in the film.

Jane Fairfax is, as always, in her classic Jane Fairfax Blue™,

although she has some nice white gowns at some points too.

Now, onto 

Definitely a bit more colorful than the 97 adaptation. Mr. Knightley benefits most from the addition of colors other than green. He’s even got some smashing waistcoats and a very nice blue evening coat (I couldn’t get very good shots of them though). The problem is; those trousers? NOT. TIGHT. ENOUGH.

Also… you all see it, right? I circled it in red so you should. Yeah. Knightley is dancing in boots. WTF RUTH? Please! You’re better than this! Who dances in Prussians like that? I ask you! (Frank also wears boots to the Cole’s dinner party so that’s two strikes.)

I’m not sold on Frank’s looks. His day-wear is a bit sedate for such a confirmed dandy (I believe he’s called a “coxcombe” in the book?) and his evening wear… well he apparently only has the one look.

And speaking of Frank’s look in this film, I’d like to know at whose doorstep I should lay the blame for what Ewan McGregor himself has called “The Worst Wig Ever”; and why the hair designer in charge decided to model Frank’s aesthetic on a theme of “Chucky meets the Mad Hatter”.

This hairstyle not only looks dreadful, it’s not at all fashionable or authentic to this time period! Fashionable mens’ hair styles at this point were all relatively short. A Beau Brummel coiffeur, or a short Roman style, or a fashionable head of curls like Mr. Elton’s! Not this farmer chic. Robert Martin’s hair is more fashionable than Frank’s!

The tune they chose for Emma and Knightley’s dance is a baroque melody (so a hundred or so years out of fashion) called “Mr. Beveridge’s Maggot” and as is pointed out in the video linked above, and is the same tune and dance used for Lizzie and Darcy’s big dance in Pride and Prejudice (1995).

I get why it was used in P&P because, slow, stately baroque tunes are often used as on-screen short hand for snobbish character like Mr. Darcy. It’s not super intense either, like the baroque tune used in P&P 05, which was chosen for more romantic effect. So why use this kind of “stuck up” tune for what should be a romantic dance? Maybe because it was used in the 95 P&P which became, almost instantly, one of the most popular Austen adaptations?

Quick note on the dancing and music in this movie. I’m not an expert on English Country dance (I’ll outsource that by giving you the usual link to Tea with Cassiane’s analysis on YouTube) but I’ll add my two cents  - I know Cassiane gave this a pretty favorable three full dance slippers but I think the way all of the actors and dancers move looks very poorly rehearsed and kind of sloppy. I think everyone just spread out way too much.

Douglas McGrath’s Script

I have to say one of the things this film did very well and brought to the forefront is how insular Emma’s life is. The opening credit sequence brings this to our attention right away by showing a spinning globe which, once it slows down is shown to be, literally, Emma’s whole tiny world. Hartfield, Donwell, Randalls and Highbury. That’s it. It’s perhaps not a very subtle device, but it does get the job done and very succinctly too.

I would now like to talk about my issues with the script of this movie; I have some problems with it. Very different problems than it’s 1996 counterpart though.

 First let’s go over the comedic device that jumped out to me most in this movie: the awkward pause.

I think it’s only used twice but they both bothered me.

First there’s the pauses while Emma and Mrs. Weston grill Knightley on whether he considers Jane Fairfax romantically. It’s all written as very “OoOoOooo” with Knightley answering their interrogations and then sitting between them awkwardly as they stare him down as, none of his answers giving either Emma or Mrs. Weston satisfaction. This is one of the most teen rom-com moments of the film to me.

Next there’s all the quiet stretches while Emma and Mrs. Elton have tea at Hartfield. I don’t like the use of awkward pauses in this case because (as I mentioned in Mrs. Elton’s characterization section) it’s so ludicrous to me that there are pauses in this conversation at all. Surely the point of Mrs. Elton is that she loves to hear herself talk and her conceited obsession with the idea that everyone around her must only benefit from hearing her opinions. There should be no conceivable reason why Emma should have to prompt conversation like she does in McGrath’s version of this scene, except to derail Mrs. Elton’s constant self-important yammering.

Watching it this time around I found myself wondering exactly what McGrath wanted to do with this film. I mean I’ve been attempting to decipher exactly whether the changes made were conscious and based on artistic vision, or whether they were changed because the source material just flew over McGrath’s Hollywood Director head.

I mean he gets the important plot points across, but there were other scenes that I had issues with: namely, the Archery scene. This is a pretty intense part of the book because Mr. Knightly goes from astonished, to indignant, to truly vexed with Emma in a short period of time. But this scene in the movie is very casual. The part where Emma’s arrow goes wide and into the general direction of Knightley’s dogs, and he takes an opportunity to make a quip and says “try not to kill my dogs” particularly annoyed me. My issue is that this totally ruins the tension of the scene; and why are Knightley’s dogs sitting BEHIND THE TARGETS ANYWAY? Knightley is a sensible man, and one who knows better than to let his dogs rest in a place where stray arrows could hit them!

The dialouge is very jarring because it flips back and forth beetween being alright, and period appropriate and then it will just spring a very modern turn of phrase and pull you completely out of the setting. I know this is something that’s been brought up with the 2009 version as well but maybe it’s because the actors in that version have (in my opinion) better chemistry that it simply doesn't stick out to me as much.

The comedy in general in this movie just makes me cringe a lot of the time (Sophie Thompson’s “oh sorry, napkin” bit notwithstanding). Like the soup thing when Emma and Harriet meet Mr. Elton after visiting the poor, and the random kid that gets tossed into this scene with Emma… just doesn’t work for me.

Wikipedia describes McGrath’s tweaks on Emma and Knightley’s banter (which really weren’t changed that much, textually) as “Enlivened” to make the basis of their attraction more apparent, which… I’m sorry but nothing about the exisiting banter isn’t lively if delivered in a lively manner. And I wouldn’t exactly call Gywneth’s performance lively, because she has to concentrate to keep that accent up.

I mentioned already that what McGrath essentially did with Emma was take Austen’s story, and remove the nuance (Such as lightening Frank’s infractions in his relationship with Jane and, while not totally contradicting, but also not highlighting the economic commentary of the story that is thematic in Austen’s novel) in order to make a straight up 90’s comedic romance film (Which, if you doubt this, look no further than Rachel Portman’s Oscar Winning but very dated score).

My Question is why? Why bother when the SAME STORY had been adapted into a HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL, modernized rom-com THE PREVIOUS YEAR, which actually, even while being set in the 90’s, did the story greater justice, with far more insight and quality?

Emma (1996) was always going to be over-shadowed by Clueless. At the end of the day this whole movie was kind of a futile effort because despite excellent production quality, the actual contents are watered down and, in my own opinion, pretty roundly mediocre.

Final Thoughts

When I first watched both of these versions I came at it from a very one-or-the-other perspective. I forgave McGrath’s film because it was light and colorful and I’d heard Davies’ version praised so highly at that time as the only faithful, definitive version (only to be let down by it in almost every possible way). But coming right down to it now, it’s hard for me to really excuse McGrath’s effort because a version of Emma that doesn’t take itself seriously enough is almost as bad as a version that takes itself too seriously.

It never fails to jump out at me how diametrically opposed these interpretations are, from the characterization right down to the tone and lighting.

McGrath’s Emma is light in every sense of the word, where Davies’ is dark and ponderous. McGrath’s Knightley is laid back where Davies’ is aggressive and ferocious. Frank, in McGrath’s version, is let off easy by the narrative playing down his moodiness, while in Davies there’s an overshadowing dark-cloud of off-putting caddishness.

Ribbon Rating: Tolerable (58 Ribbons)

The more I watch the 1996 adaptations of Emma (invariably back-to-back) the more firmly I am convinced that Andrew Davies’ made for TV film was (in some ways) a direct response to McGrath’s motion picture.

Tone: 7

Casting: 7

Acting: 5

Scripting: 5

Pacing: 4

Cinematography: 4

Setting: 5

Costumes: 6

Music: 5

Book Accuracy: 6

[lilfellasblog]

Truly *Nothing* Is Spookier Than Self-Care

Summary: Janus absolutely despises being accepted by Thomas and the Light Sides. He can’t help but notice how they very much do not put themselves first. He decides to change that.

A/N: If you liked this, please reblog. It is the only way to help this fic reach a wider audience. This story comes from this ask by @foreverfangirlingalways! Thank you so much for the inspiration and the wonderful prompt! I hope I did it justice!

TW: very light angst, like almost no angst. Small amounts of stress and mild flailing to adapt when the plan doesn't go perfectly.

Word count: 2648

AO3 here!

Fic Masterlist here!

Although Janus was grateful to be accepted by his Host, an aspect of such that he absolutely loved was seeing just how dysfunctional the Light Sides were in their self-care. They certainly had a great deal of work to do, but they held themselves to such high standards, they seemed to constantly move around every waking moment. Janus had been attempting to get the Light Sides more focused on taking care of themselves throughout the day, but the key word here is attempting. They’d thank him for his suggestion and promise they’d do it later.

Janus wondered why he was the one stuck with Deceit as a name.

It was now time for more drastic measures that he hoped wouldn’t land him with a giant frog again. He knew he’d have to go one at a time if he wanted any chance of success, so he decided to target each Side according to the level of concern he had for them. Naturally, this meant Roman would be his first vict- *cough* recipient.

He found Roman precisely where he’d expect him: inside his en suite gym, hair damp with perspiration.

“In the gym again? Don’t you have anything else to do with your spare time?” Janus asked innocently.

Roman started and placed the weight he’d been lifting on the ground. “Greetings Janus! And I do, there’s just always room for improvement!”

Hm, direct won’t work with him in this. Interesting. “I was wondering if you might help me with a sewing project, although I see you’re busy.”

Roman grabbed a nearby towel to wipe his face. “I’m never too busy to assist a Side in need! What is it you’d like my assistance on?”

Janus hummed. “I was hoping to experiment with a few costume ideas for Halloween. I think a pirate might be suitable for me.”

Roman grinned, excitement beginning to shine in his eyes. “Indeed! Allow me a few minutes to wash up, I’ll join you!” He waved his hand. “You’ll find two sewing stations in my room!” He pranced off to the bathroom without another word.

“Don’t take too long!” Janus called after him, hoping he wouldn’t have to wait much longer than an hour for the prince to get his appearance in order.

He only had to wait a half hour before Roman joined him in the room, hair still slightly damp. Janus internally cheered when Roman didn’t have his ridiculously complicated prince uniform on, instead wearing a red sweater with pumpkins stitched on.

“Roman, would you mind trying on the clothes once I’ve finished them? We have similar body types, although you’re more muscular, and my current outfit is simply a bear to get on and off.”

Roman blinked in surprise. “I… I suppose I could, are you certain you want me to do that?”

“If you wouldn’t mind, yes.”

After another moment of prolonged shock, Roman pulled himself together and struck a pose, exaggerated grin on his face. “Well far be it from a prince to forsake a Side in their hour of need!”

Janus smiled, relieved. “Wonderful.” He summoned his nearly-completed pirate costume: tight black pants, calf-high boots, and a billowy shirt with a deep V-neck. “I’m just about to finish these, would you mind taking a look at the seams on the outside of the leg and in the armpit of the shirt? I want to make sure I’ve pinned those in a way that won’t pull.”

Roman and Janus discussed the different options they had for stitching, and once they’d decided Janus had Roman put in the stitching for the pants while he finished stitching the shirt. Janus was pleased that Roman had decided to go for a more complex stitch; he knew the Side enjoyed getting absorbed in a task, and that he enjoyed sewing. Sure enough, after an hour, he looked over and saw Roman’s irises sparkling in red and gold, tongue stuck out of the side of his mouth. 4 hours later, and they’d both finished.

Janus stretched, watching Roman bounce slightly in his seat from excitement. “Well Roman, we did good work. Would you try these on?”

Roman hesitated, then forced himself to smile, Janus watching him carefully. “Certainly! Are you sure you don’t want to?”

“I am, I’d hate to keep getting in and out of my outfit, especially if changes need to be made.”

Roman inhaled deeply and took the clothes, holding them carefully. “I shall not dilly-dally then! I shall return soon!”

Janus plastered a wide smile on his face. “Wonderful!”

That was another thing, the sheer amount of smiling the Light Sides did and how he found himself going along with it. It made his face hurt at time from the sheer amount of smiling.

Roman emerged, posture stiff and forced but proud. Janus raised both eyebrows.

“Roman, you look wonderful! Stand in front of the mirror, won’t you?”

The prince shuffled over, eyes darting between himself and the ground.

Janus appraised the Side before him, and was relieved he wouldn’t have to lie about a single thing. “Goodness Roman, you like incredible! The skin-tight pants look wonderful on your legs, and the shirt highlights your figure! I must say, I’m quite jealous. I’ve been also considering going as a bard this year, why don’t you just take this costume? I shows off all of your muscles and your broad shoulders especially!”

Roman looked at him, surprised. “Are you certain? You’ve spent so long on this, I couldn’t possibly-”

“I am, I’ll enjoy knowing you’re enjoying something I made. Come now, Thomas is tired, and it’s best to look in the distance to prevent eye strain. Would you like to watch some Disney movies?”

Roman frowned and looked back towards where his en suite gym was. “I really should be getting back to a workout…”

“Nonsense, you’ve been working out so much, and you’ve been working hard in other areas. You’ll be more productive after some rest.”

Janus let out a breath when Roman shrugged and summoned a large television. He got some beanbags and snacks for them, and Janus watched as Roman slowly relaxed and got engrossed in the movies, eagerly agreeing to watch one after the other. Once dinner rolled around, Janus suggested a famILY movie night, which got Patton on board, which meant everyone would attend. Roman had changed back into his pumpkin sweater, and Janus was the last one awake, pleased to see the other Sides asleep, surrounded by snacks and illuminated by the glow of the television. He sank out to his room, and planned his next intervention.

/////

Janus waited a week so as to not draw any suspicion to himself, and found Patton in the kitchen. He was typing furiously on a tablet, Thomas currently working through whether or not he should use his celebrity status to get ahead in line so he could get back to editing a new video faster so he could get that out to his fans so he could-

He pulled his mind back from Patton’s, reeling slightly.

You need this more than I thought.

Janus backed up a bit, then walked more heavily to announce his presence to Patton. Patton looked up at him happily.

“Heya Janus! What can I do ya for?”

Janus smiled easily, the cheerful Side great at lifting moods. “I see you’re in the middle of something, but once you get a moment, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind helping me bake something? It’s a skill I’d like to acquire.”

Patton lit up. “Well sure!! Give me just a few minutes and I’ll be right with you!”

Janus set a tea kettle to boil and put a mint tea bag in Patton’s mug and a black tea bag in his own. Just as Patton sighed and set the tablet on the table, the kettle went off and Janus poured the water before Patton could do it. He didn’t miss how Patton rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck.

He gently set the mug of tea in front of Patton. Patton lifted and smelled it, closing his eyes.

“Mmmmmm, mint, my favorite!”

“Oh really? Lucky guess, I suppose.”

Patton looked up at him knowingly. “You’re good at guessing,” he teased.

“Thank you for noticing. I’ve noticed that Thomas’ Sides have been quite busy lately. Do you think a chocolate beet cake would go over well?”

“Do I?!” Patton asked, eyes shining and the edges of his irises glowing light blue.

Patton donned plastic gloves and got to work peeling and grating the beets, while Janus combined the wet and dry ingredients in separate bowls. He asked Patton for reassurance on occasion, despite being confident in his abilities. He let Patton take over once it was time to combine everything and put it in the oven.

Patton tapped his finger against his chin. “Hmmmmm… what kind of frosting should we do? I’m thinking either buttercream or ganache, what do you think?”

Janus shrugged. “Why not just store-bought frosting? It seems easier.”

Patton looked at him incredulously. “For a beet cake?! Oh no, we may as well make something while it’s baking!”

Shitshitshitshitshitshit- Janus frantically thought back to the brief research he’d done on cakes.

“How about ganache? I’ve always been intrigued about that.”

“Sure!” Patton chirped. Janus let out a breath as Patton bounded over to the fridge to grab heavy cream. Patton showed Janus how to make ganache, and Janus was surprised and relieved at how simple it was.

As the cake cooked and the ganache cooled, Janus and Patton chatted amicably, Janus asking questions about something Patton would bring up and watching Patton’s eyes become bluer and bluer as he kept talking. The oven pinged, and Janus convinced Patton that a game of cards was in order while they let the cake cool. One game led to five, and by then it was time to gently reheat the ganache and pour it over the cake.

Patton jumped when he realized the time. “Oh gosh!! I’m so sorry, I don’t have dinner planned! I can-”

“Don’t worry about it Patton,” Janus interrupted. “I actually have a recipe I’ve been meaning to try out if you don’t mind relinquishing the kitchen?”

Patton smiled nervously. “Do you want any help?”

I might have to adjust my plan. “No, but I would like some pleasant company. You’re on your feet so much, it’s good to soak them.” He summoned a bucket filled with warm water and a bag of lavender-scented epsom salts. “I won’t be long.”

Patton poured some of the epsom salts into the bucket of water and groaned and whimpered at the relaxing sensation on his feet. Janus turned and allowed himself a small smile, then cooked up some 4-ingredient Italian chicken breasts from a recipe he’d found online, along with some roasted veggies and some pasta aglio e olio on the side. He set the table when Patton had his eyes closed in pleasure, then got everything served and helped Patton massage and dry his feet.

After dinner, in which everyone complimented the cooking, Patton declared he would go to bed a little early tonight, so Janus sent him upstairs with some chamomile tea. He cleaned the kitchen, and felt rather accomplished.

Roman and Patton are taken care of, thank God. He chuckled to himself. Up next, two for the price of one!

/////

Janus stood in front of Logan’s closed door, holding a pencil and large pad of paper, uncharacteristically nervous.

I’ve been able to fool Roman and Patton, but Logan is smart. He may see through this.

He knocked on the door, uncertain of his success.

Logan answered the door, every hair and fiber of clothing in order. “Hello Janus.”

Oh dear Lord in Heaven, this man needs to relax. Janus put on his best smile. “Hello Logan. I’ve become rather fascinated with the constellation Serpens and was wondering if you’d help me chart it and some stars and constellations around it? I’m afraid this is out of my area of expertise and I know this happens to be a field you’re familiar with.”

Logan looked at him skeptically. “You want to chart the stars with me,” he deadpanned. “You have no ulterior motives?”

“None whatsoever,” Janus said.

Logan looked over Janus’ shoulder at the wall, upset.

He knows you lied, salvage this! Janus sighed, pushing it a little. “Truth be told, Logan, I would like to get to know you more, and although I truly am interested in learning more about the constellation of the snake, spending time with you was my ultimate goal.”

Logan looked surprised, a faint blush on his cheekbones. “Oh. I suppose… that would be satisfactory.”

Janus leaned on all of his acting abilities to look relaxed. “Excellent. Would your room suffice?”

“It would.”

Janus laid his pad of paper and pencil on the floor where Logan indicated, and timed his next move while Logan was looking over his books.

“Say, Logan, you and Virgil seem to enjoy each other’s company, shall we ask him to join us?”

Logan stopped flipping through the thick tome currently in his hand long enough to raise his arm in a summon. Virgil rose up and grabbed his head.

“God L, how are you guys not constantly dizzy?” Virgil jumped when he saw Janus. “Oh! Hey, what’s up guys?” Janus made sure to hide his endearment for the anxious Side when he saw Virgil cringe

“Janus would like assistance mapping the constellation Serpens and the surrounding night sky. He suggested you accompany us,” Logan explained without raising his eyes from his book.

Virgil looked between Janus and Logan. “Just like… hang out?”

Janus decided to step in. “Yes. I noticed you seem to enjoy the company of others, but aren’t always interested in participating.”

Virgil offered a soft smile. “Yeah, I guess… that’s chill. Mind if I just listen to music and stuff?”

“Not at all,” Janus and Logan said at the same time.

Virgil snorted, then flopped on the bed, put in an earbud, and started up his phone.

One down, one to go.

Logan sat in front of Janus, irises already dark blue.

Two down, it seems.

Janus listened intently as Logan spoke at length about Serpens, and then about related constellations, and then about related galaxies and stars, with Janus asking questions along the way. They charted out Serpens and filled the large piece of paper with other stars and constellations, and even Virgil would chime in every now and again.

Janus definitely didn’t almost get emotional when he saw how relaxed the two normally-tense Sides were.

When Patton knocked on Logan’s door for dinner, Virgil swore.

“Shit! Did I miss something? Did Thomas need me?! Fuck, I-”

“Relax, Virgil,” Janus soothed. “I kept an eye on things, Thomas is just fine. See for yourself.”

Virgil’s eyes grew distant for several long moments before refocused. He blew out a breath.

“Okay, whew,” he sent a grateful look towards Janus. “Thanks man.”

Janus waved. “Not a problem. Let’s not keep Patton waiting.”

Janus followed the two Sides downstairs, feeling victorious at how relaxed their shoulders were. Virgil was even walking with proper posture!

Dinner was a relaxed affair, the Sides content and laughing easily. Remus was chattering on about one thing one moment and another the next, with Logan offering feedback and Virgil changing the topic for Patton’s sake. Janus ate, not admitting how nice it felt to be included in famILY mealtime. It took him til nearly the end of dinner to realize no one was watching him out of the corner of their eye.

They trust me, he realized.

By the end of the night, he stretched out on his bed, pulling his heated blanket up to his neck.

What a waste of time. Totally not worth it, he thought to himself as he planned his next meeting with Roman.

[cipheress-to-k-pop]

Just A Nightmare

Pairing: Danny Rand x Reader

Warnings: None.

Word Count: 3.5K

Summary: When Nightmare shows his ugly head, Danny has to take the help of an unexpected sorceress.

“Doctor Strange, I presume.” Spiderman remarked from his place on the floor.

“You may address me as Sorcerer Supreme.” He replied, stepping into the foyer. Spiderman and Iron Fist found themselves at Doctor’s Strange’s manor after Nightmare took over the world and put everyone to an endless sleep.

“So, what exactly is going on here?” Asked Peter, scepticism dripping off him so obviously that Strange resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

“We shall discuss it once my company arrives.” He said, guiding the two superheroes into another large room but stopping in his path when he recognized the intruder sitting in his chair.

You were lazily strewn across his gaudy armchair, “What is it this time, Stephen? I thought we had a deal.” Your annoyance was apparent to everyone in the room but once your gaze landed on the blonde in the doorway, the words died in your mouth.

“Oh.”

Your cheeks immediately coloured and you muttered a spell underneath your breath to turn your pyjamas into something more suitable. You were used to Strange seeing you in your dirty clothes when you haven’t showered.

And it wasn’t a rare sight to see you like this to Danny either, but you felt the need to look more put together in front of him. There was a warmth on your body before the comfortable set you were wearing morphed into your costume, the cape flowing behind you as it hung off one shoulder as you walked to the centre of the room, avoiding Iron Fist’s gaze.

Spiderman, even with his poor perception of people, could still sense how stiff his teammate had gotten beside him when he saw you. His first instinct was to ask him what was wrong but when he glanced at Danny, he was surprised to see the distant and cloudy expression on his face.

Danny’s voice seemed far away and he could only stare at you. Take in the sight of you and see how you’ve changed. It had been a while; it had been a long while. The last he saw you was months ago and truthfully; he hadn’t been expecting to see you again.

He missed you.

 “I’m sure you’re well aware by now Nightmare has taken over the dream dimension.”

You wanted to look at Danny again. Take in the view of him once again but something inside you was forcing you to avoid his gaze. It made your body stiff and it wasn’t a change you welcomed. Especially since you used to feel safest when he was around.

So, you kept your eyes trained on Doctor Strange.

You rolled your eyes, “Maybe if you had restrained him properly in the first place, we wouldn’t be having this problem.”

“I’m sorry, who—or what is Nightmare? And who is Miss Magic over here?” Said Spiderman and you tilted your head, doing a silent reading of him.

“I’m (Y/N), I’m a dream walker.”

“Uh-huh, yeah and what exactly is a dream walker?”

“It’s exactly as it sounds, Peter, I can walk through dreams.”

His eyes widened at the sound of his name, “How did you—?”

“The entire planet is asleep. Sorcery is real. I can walk through dreams. And yet you want to know how a person of magic knew who you are underneath the mask?”

“We need you to take us to the Dream Dimension before Nightmare gets more powerful.” Strange began, folding his arms in a way that made you lower you gaze to the floor. You felt like you were doing something wrong even though he was the one asking you for help.

“While I would love to drag along three unsuspecting mortals into the Realm of Dreams, I don’t think you have a stable enough mindscape for me to pull you into it,” You eyed Spiderman who was roaming about and touching half of the artifacts in the room, “Some of you more than others.” 

“Will you take us?” Asked Danny, finding his voice for the first time since he saw you.

You sighed, holding his gaze. Your hand twitched by your side and you had to stop the instinct to untie his mask. It had been a while since you saw his gorgeous green eyes, “It’s dangerous as I’m sure you know, if you go, and something goes wrong—”

“But if we don’t then the world will never wake up.” 

You but your lip in worry, “I could go alone—”

“Nightmare is too powerful.” He replied, shutting you down instantly, “You can’t do this alone.”

“I don’t want to put you in danger.” You replied stiffly, noticing the way Spiderman’s eyes flitted between the two of you. He was calculating, wondering what the two of you knew and he didn’t but the smarter part of his mind seemed to keep himself from opening his mouth.

“I can handle myself,” You sensed he was getting frustrated and some sick part of you felt pride at the fact that only you could get him worked up, only you could see what he really feels, only you could get him to show his true emotions, “Besides, it’s not your position to worry about my safety.”

Ouch. That hurt to hear.

Your jaw tightened just a bit, “Fine then, if you die, don’t come back to haunt me because this isn’t my idiotic choice.”

You saw a wisp of a smile grow on his face but he caught himself quickly and you stepped away from him muttering a spell as a pentagram began to glow beneath your feet.

“As mortals, neither of you have any ability to enter so we will have to enter my mind to be allowed access to the world of dreams. So, before I let you in a word of warning, if you die in the realm of dreams, your soul will forever be lost. With no chance of return.”

“Don’t die. Got it.”

“Also, my mind is very muddled at the moment so don’t judge me if you see anything weird.” You muttered, slightly embarrassed at the thought of either of them seeing the memory of you dancing around in your room in your underwear.

You took a deep breath, closing your eyes and casting a silent spell to open your mind, the four of you began levitating in the pentagram and you felt their souls leave their bodies before entering your mind.

When you opened your eyes, you were in a new world.

“Welcome to the most dangerous place in existence, the human mind.”

 The trek to the portal to the dimension of dreams was a mundane and boring one. It was mostly with you completely on edge and trying to spot anything embarrassing so you could prepare yourself for Spiderman’s quips before he managed to spot it.

There was no way to speed the process up since the rest of them weren’t dream walkers. They couldn’t phase through the place like you could and they also wouldn’t be able to find their way around, so you had to guide them.

So far, you were yet to see anything embarrassing as you walked through your path of memories. Although they did see you dancing around your apartment in footy pyjama’s which Spiderman laughed off good-naturedly.

A small purr reverberated through the world and a familiar memory floated besides you. You wished it would go away but that only made it get more persistent. But you couldn’t help the small smile that grew on your face.

 “What are you doing sleeping out here?” You pouted, crouching in front of Danny who stirred on the couch.

His blond hair was sticking up everywhere and he seemed unusually comfortable sleeping on this tiny couch. He opened one eye to peek at you.

“Do you know how many times I almost fell of the bed? I didn’t want to wake you up, but I also wanted to sleep.” Came his muffled reply.

“But I wanted to cuddle you.” You whined and he sighed, shaking his head, “You’ll kick me again.”

You hummed contemplatively before a lightbulb flickered over your head, “Okay let’s do this then.”

You quickly climbed in between his legs, wrapping your arms around him tightly all while giggling like a child. His body reacted to you almost automatically, burying his face in your neck and hands settling on your back.

“You hold me so tightly that I can’t move.” You whispered into his hair and he nodded holding onto you tightly.

You tightened your hold on him, expecting him to support you as you rolled over into a slightly more comfortable position but instead you tumbled off the couch and pulled him with you.

The two of you immediately burst into laughter and you ran your hands through his messy hair, “That hurt.”

“Are you alright?” He asked, concern flashing briefly on his face even though he knew you were. You giggled, hand coming up to frame his jaw and pull him into a kiss.

“No, I’m not okay.”

The two of you burst into laughter again.

 “Hey quick question.” Spiderman spoke up and you hummed, “If this is your mind then why am I seeing so much of Danny?”

You released a sharp breath through your nose, glancing at all the memories around you. He was right, it was like every second an image of Danny floated by, whether it was him as Iron Fist, or just himself.

You were either training, or spending time together. Many of the memories was those lazy mornings where you would stare at the pretty boy as he slept soundly before complaining that your stare was overwhelming. Although every once in a while, you would stumble across a milestone memory.

 “Are you meditating?” You asked even though you already knew the answer. He had been in the same position for about an hour now and even though the two of you had been meditating together you were quick to grow bored.

He obviously didn’t answer you and you sighed, “How much longer are you gonna do this? I don’t see the point. I sat just as long as you and the only thing that’s happened is that I need a nap and my ass hurts from sitting down for so long.”

Ah, that little smile that appeared on his face. It disappeared as quickly as it came and if you hadn’t been looking for it, you would have missed it.

“How about we go get some ice cream? Or we could go for a walk? Or we could go to that music store that you like and listen to some records?”

He still didn’t move and you huffed, moving closer to him, just by an inch, “I know I’m interrupting your whole zen mode and I’m sorry but I’m bored.”

You moved another inch but were still met with silence.

“Hm, maybe your asleep? Maybe secretly you just think that meditating and sleeping is the same thing?” You mused as you moved closer and this time you could spot the smile that was growing on his face.

You sighed again, “You remember that rude guy we met yesterday?” You didn’t bother waiting for an answer, “I stepped into his dream last night. He dreamt that he was a Tellytubby yesterday.”

The smile got wider and he was trying hard to resist opening his eyes.

“He spoke the whole language and everything. And the sun baby was his mother.”

Your knees were brushing against his and you could hear him taking gentle breaths. You were sure he knew you were sitting right in front of him but you still tried to smother your giggles as you reached closer.

Quickly, you pressed your lips to his, pulling away immediately to see his wide eyes.

“Oh? Sleeping Beauty is finally awake?” You teased as you spotted his ears turn red.

“Did you just? Kiss me?” You nodded unabashedly, giggling as he sputtered, trying to hide the red that splotched his cheeks.

“Why?” “Because I wanted to. Can I do it again?”

He met you halfway this time.

 It was obvious that he made you happy. It was so obvious. And while you enjoyed taking a stroll down the literal memory lane, you were quite embarrassed that everyone else was seeing it. Especially Doctor Strange.

“It’s because I think about him a lot.” You replied quietly keeping your eyes trained on the path. Now that you think about it, it was ridiculous that you were taking so long to get to the Dream Dimension. Even though only a few minutes would have passed in the real world, it felt like you had been walking for hours.

You were slowly becoming more and more uncomfortable as you realized that everyone knew that you were still very much in love with Danny, who could have very possibly moved on from you. You were vulnerable.

Whatever peace and security you felt being in your own mind fled and was replaced with burning embarrassment. So bad that you felt your stomach coil tightly.

“(Y/N),” Danny started but you quickly cut him off, not wanting to hear what he had to say, or rather you were afraid of it being not what you wanted to hear and that others would witness it. 

Seeing your destination approaching, your eyes lit up, your pace quickening as a response, “There it is! The gateway!”

You all hurried towards the arch that was decorated with ancient runes and language, pressing your hands to it and watching the inscription glow as you spoke an incantation, activating it before stepping in as the others followed suite.

Even though you felt a bit more vulnerable being in the Dream Dimension and outside the safety of your mind, your relief was apparent as the 3 of them crossed the arch to join you on the other side. No more memories for them to see.

But the relief was short-lived when you sensed the disturbance. There was so much negativity surrounding you that it was suffocating. You couldn’t believe a single entity could command so much despair and fear. Even the thought of having your magic touched with such negativity drained you, but Nightmare managed to feed off it.

You couldn’t imagine how. 

“Anyone or anything you see here isn’t real. If you see your friends in their nightmares, remember that you cannot help them.” A sudden chill ripped through you, “Nightmare is close.”

“You would be right little dream walker. I caught you and the good doctor sleeping on the job and now the world belongs to Nightmare.”

You rolled your eyes, getting into a fighting stance which prompted the rest to do the same, “You really shouldn’t speak about yourself in the third person. It makes you creepier than you already are. I will ask you once, leave this world and leave the people’s minds.”

“Or what?!”

You whispered a spell and watched as the air around him hardened to shackles before grabbing him with a burning grip, “Or you’ll see what it’s like to fight a dream walker.”

The fight broke out instantly.

 You managed to weaken him enough to have to retreat. At least that’s what you liked to think. When you finally caught your breath after the fight, you looked around to realize that only you and the doctor had been left behind.

It didn’t take long for you to locate both Peter and Danny, you realized with a sinking heart that they had been separated.

Although you wanted to go after Peter as well, to see if he was doing alright, something inside you managed to convince yourself that he could handle himself. You wondered whether that was true or was it because you quite obviously wanted to go after Danny.

You summoned the door to the dream Danny was in, immediately recognizing it as one from his homeland, K’un Lun. The stench of Nightmare was dizzying, you could feel his overwhelming power.

He was trying to get a hold of your nightmare, you could feel it, his magic was prodding at the deepest recesses of your brain, trying to grasp at the fear that you kept hidden for so long.

You were powerful enough to keep him from reaching that part, though it took a lot of your strength. Trying to keep consciousness, you held yourself as the snow fell harder, a cold breeze making your nose redden.

When you found Danny however, everything melted away and you ran to his side as he cowered in front of Shou Lou. Your arms wrapped around his waist to keep him upright.

“It isn’t real Danny, snap out of it.”

It seemed like none of your words were reaching him.

Shou Lou neared the two of you, baring sharp teeth and you tensed. Nightmare was so strong, he was seeping into your mind and before you could stop it, the world changed around you.

Snow stopped falling and the temperature began rising, however you couldn’t tell where you were. Everything dulled around you and faded to a blackness and you looked around, but you couldn’t see anything past your nose.

Before you knew it, your vision started getting clearer. You couldn’t tell if it was because your eyes were adjusting to the darkness or because it was getting brighter in the room.

Either way, you caught the movement of a figure hidden in the shadows and you jumped into a defensive stance. Just as you were about to shoot a spell at it, the figure slumped and hit the floor, the glow from its hand dulling.

Wait...glow from his hand?

“Danny!” You cried, rushing over to the figure on the ground, turning him over and you gasped. His eyes were frozen wide and his face contorted into the expression of absolute terror.

His heart wasn’t beating, he wasn’t breathing.

“Wake up! Wake up!” You screamed, shaking him wildly. He didn’t move. His head lobbed lifelessly as you tried to wake up him.

“Please, please, don’t do this!” You sobbed.

“Don’t leave me!”

“(Y/N)!”

You gasped and the colour returned to the room, the darkness faded and the light was blinding. When you opened your eyes, Danny, alive and well, was holding you with a look of concern on his face.

Realization dawned on you and your muscles relaxed as you slumped against him, wiping away your tears quickly.

“Nightmare’s stronger than I thought.”

“What....was that?” He asked quietly, looking over to the space where he saw his own body as you cried over him. At first, he was too shocked to say anything but when he tried calling out to you, you couldn’t hear him, falling under the influence of Nightmare too quickly.

He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to pull you out of your trance.

He was afraid that you might not come back to him.

“My worst nightmare.”

Your breathing was still laboured and for some reason you couldn’t pull your gaze away from the empty spot where his body was. Nightmare was cruel. It had been too real.

Shakily, you got to your knees before pulling him into a hug. His arms gently wrapped around you and you sighed, trying to sink into his embrace and you gently brushed your fingers through his hair.

“I’ve missed you.” You mumbled into his neck.

“Then why haven’t we been together for the last year?” He asked and you bristled. You had known the question would come eventually and yet it had somehow managed to catch you off guard.

“You saw what would happen if we had continued.” You murmured, vaguely gesturing to where his body or rather where the illusion of his body was.

“That was just a nightmare.”

“I live in dreams, Danny. Had we continued to be together this could have possibly been your future.”

Telling him had been liberating, like a wight had been lifted off your shoulders but at the same time it was sorrowful to admit it. To admit that being with you could bring about his demise, could bring horrible nightmares to life.

And knowing this, he would probably leave you in the dust now.

“Then we’ll just have to find a way because I don’t want to spend another day without you.” He said and you looked up in surprise.

“You aren’t afraid?”

“I’m afraid that when my time comes, I won’t have you by my side.”

It was the sincerity and warmth in his voice that made your heart falter and tears brim in your eyes. All the love for him that you had been keeping away bubbled to the surface and you found your heart being weighed down and simultaneously be set free.

“Really?”

He nodded, cupping your cheek before pressing a soft kiss to your lips. You gently returned it, twisting in his grip to settle comfortably in his lap. Everything felt right in the world, everything balanced out and you felt the world around you dissolve into nothing.

“It’s just a nightmare!” You heard Peter’s voice echo in the background and giggled against Danny’s lips. He chuckled as well, before running his hands through your hair and kissing you again.

“Boy, I hope not.”

[dreamingwithbts]

Demon (Boku No Hero) - Chapter 4

Warning: Swearing

“Now, it’s time for combat training!” All Might say. “Sir!” I hear Lida and I look at him in his costume. “He looks like a transformer.” I think. “This is a battle center from the entrance exam, so will we be conducting urban battles again?” Lida asks All Might. “No, we’re going to move ahead two steps! Most of the time, fighting villains takes place outside, but if you look at the total numbers, atrocious villains appear indoors at a higher rate. Imprisonment, house arrest, backroom deals. In this society filled with heroes, truly intelligent villains hide in the shadows!” All Might say and everyone hears him attentively. “For this class, you’ll be split into villains and heroes and fight 2-on-2 indoor battles. However, the key this time is that there’s no robot you can just beat up.” All Might say. “Can we beat them up anyway?” Bakugo says of course. “Will the punishment be expulsion like with Aizawa-sensei?” I hear Uraraka. “How shall we be split up?” Lida asks. I see Dad explaining the exercise by reading a scrip and I couldn’t listen to him since I was trying not to laugh. “Teams and opponents will be determined by drawing lots!” All Might say showing us a yellow box. “Sensei! There’s an even number!” Lida says. “Yes, one group will have 3!” All Might say. “Isn’t that unfair?” Kaminari asks. “Expect the unexpected!” All Might say laughing loud.

 I went to the box and I took the letter B, I look around seeing who has the same letter. “Who has the letter B?” I ask. “Me.” I hear a familiar voice. “Shoto!” I almost scream, happy I was in a familiar face. “Aka.” Shoto says nodding, smiling a little, missing the glare Bakugo was giving at Shoto. “Why did she end up with him? Does she know him?” Bakugo thinks frowning. I look around, and I see Lida was paired with Bakugo. “Good luck Lida.” I think then I see Izuku with Uraraka. “Yes! My ship is sailing!” I say under my breath celebrating. “What?” Shoto asks me serious. “Nothing, nothing!” I say still smiling.

All Might picks up the starting team, and how coincident. “Team A will be heroes, and Team D will be the villains. Everyone else, head toward the monitor room.” All Might say. “Shit.” I think when I see is Izuku versus Bakugo. “His going to kill him.” I think, imagining Izuku death. We started leaving them. “Good luck Izu-kun, I know you can do it!” I say smiling and patting his back. “T...thanks Aka-chan.” Izuku says nervous. “Don’t kill him.” I say to Bakugo when I pass next to him. “Shut up.” He responds.

 Everyone was in the monitor room watching has they prepared the battle, I was next to Shoto nervous for Izuku, looking at Dad I know he was nervous too. I see Deku successfully dodging and able to attack Bakugo. “You can do this Izuku, but I have a feeling this is making him more angrier.” I think serious watching the battle. I heard All Might talking with my classmates, but I was to focus on the battle.

Minutes passed and the battle is getting worse and worse. “All Might.” I warn him. “Young Bakugo, the next time you use that, I’ll stop the fight, and your team will lose. To attack on such a large scale inside is inviting the destruction on the stronghold you should be protecting. That is a foolish plan for both heroes and villains! You will lose a lot of points for it!” All Might say. “His not going to stop.” I say making everyone look at me. “Why do you say that?” Kirishima says, and I could feel Dad eyes on me. “Bakugo deeply, isn’t doing this to win. His doing this to destroy Izuku, winning this would be a bonus.” I say serious, not taking my eyes off Izuku and Bakugo and everyone stays quiet. “Akuma is right, as a teacher, I should stop this.” All Might think. I hear everyone talking about Bakugo, but I only stay beside Dad worried about Izuku. “All Might!” I scream watching the battle, seeing Izuku being destroyed. “Bakugo! Stop! Don’t do this!” I yell in the mic. “Aka-chan!” Izuku says shocked while Bakugo stops walking frozen. “SHUT UP DEMON!” Bakugo yells angry but doesn’t move. “This doesn’t concern you.” He says and starts running towards Izuku again. “Dammit!” I say. “Akuma voice almost stop him, why?” All Might thinks. I saw Dad struggling to know what to do. “All Might!” I say and also Kirishima tried to stop the battle.

Everyone was shocked looking at the end of the battle, I look at the ground my hair covering my face while I try to control my anger and Quirk. “I’m disappointed with you.” I say to Dad, the only one to hear me. “Akuma.” He whispers while I leave the room and go to the battle building. “Aka-chan.” Mina says seeing me leave. “Eh? Where is she going?” Kirishima asks. “Hero Team wins!” I still hear All Might.

 I enter the building room seeing Izuku being taken to the infirmary by robots, I stop and kneel beside him. “You did good, Izuku. You won.” I say and get up again seeing him go with the robots, then I look at Bakugo who was frozen in place. Silently I walk towards him and stay in front of him, red mist covering my fist, he looks at me and I punch him hard making him go against the wall, making a hole with the strength I throw him. “I’m going to kill you.” I say quietly making his eyes big, shocked, my eyes were almost red in anger, looking at him. “Not now, but if you do that again. I will kill you.” I say my red mist disappearing, and I leave the room leaving him hurt on the floor, both physically and mental. I passed by Dad without looking at me, and we don’t say anything. “WHY? WHY DOES SHE PROTECT HIM? WHY DOES HE HAVE SO MUCH LUCKY? WHY DAMMIT?” Bakugo thinks watching her leave.

 I enter the room and stand beside Shoto and everyone went silence looking at me, but no one said anything. “You okay?” Shoto asks me. “Fine.” I answer, and he goes silence again, then All Might and the others enter the room. “Well, even if I say that, the MVP for this battle was Young Lida!” All Might say, while Yaoyorozu talks I observe Bakugo, who doesn’t takes his eyes from the floor.

“All right everyone, let’s change locations and start the second match. Match two! Team B are the heroes, and Team I are the villains!” All Might continues the class.

Shoto and I were in the front of the building. “Like old times right Shoto.” I say smiling. “Yes. Let’s go.” Shoto says, and we enter the building fighting against an invisible girl and a guy with a tail. “They know each other?” Kirishima asks noticing that we knew each other. “Lucky guy.” Kaminari says. “So she does know him, how?” Bakugo thinks.

“Now, let’s start the second indoor person-to-person combat training match!” All Might say. “You know what to do.” Shoto says, and I nod immediately start using my red mist to levitate myself, trying not to touch the walls and floor while Shoto freezes everything. Shoto and I enter the room where they are with the weapon. “Hello!” I say levitating smiling at them who pose to fight. “You can move if you want, but the skin on your feet will come off, so you won’t be able to fight your best.” Shoto says stopping at the door. “That was dark Shoto.” I say while levitating towards the weapon. “He did not cause any damage to his teammate or the nuclear weapon, and on top of that, he weakened the enemy. And her using her Quirk was able to be with him and assist in any case, she was able to control her Quirk good enough to not touch the ice and is able to support the cold.” All Might say to the class. “They are so strong!” The class says.

“Hero Team wins!” All Might sas when I touch the weapon. Shoto starts melting the ice, so I levitate myself to the ground stopping my Quirk. “Sorry. The difference in our ability was too great.” Shoto says making me shake my head smiling. “You never change Shoto.” I think and all of us leave the building. “All right, everyone gather round for a review of the second match. Next, we will begin the third match!” All Might say. “He is very strong. She is too. Both stronger than me.” Bakugo thinks angry.

 The rest of the battles went on normally and the end of class came fast. “Good work everyone! We didn’t have any major injuries other than Young Midoriya, either!” All Might say, and I glare at Bakugo when Izuku was mention, and he only ignores me. “Well then, I must review the results with Young Midoriya! Change and return to the classroom!” All Might say running out. “Review, sure!” I think rolling my eyes teasing him in my mind.

The girls, who I finally knew the names, and I were changing to our normal uniform. “Aka-chan? Are you going to visit Deku?” Ochaco, who insists for me to call her that, asks me. “No, I know his going to be fine.” I say. “You were terrifying when you went to Bakugo.” Jiro. “Especially the punch!” Mina says imitating me. “He deserves it.” I say like it has nothing. “Is Midoriya your boyfriend Aka-san?” Yaoyorozu asks me making me almost shock on air. “What! No! His like a brother to me.” I say clarifying everything, and I swear I heard Ochaco sigh in relief.

The rest of the afternoon classes went normal with Izuku still in the infirmary, but Dad text me saying he was fine.

 The last class ended, and I see Bakugo quietly get out of the classroom without talking to anyone, a few minutes later I see Izuku entering the classroom, I smile at him who smiles back before everyone surrounds him, then suddenly he looks at Bakugo seat, seeing his not there and quickly left the class. “Well guys, I’m really tired, so I’m going to go home. See you tomorrow!” I say waving goodbye. “Bye Aka-chan!” Some yell at me while others just nod, and I leave following Izuku, but instead of listening to his conversation with Bakugo I teleport to the school gate waiting, for him.

“As I watched the ice guy and the demon girl I thought, ‘‘I can’t beat them’’! Damn it! I ended up agreeing with what that ponytail girl said! And I should have listened to the demon girl when she told me to stop! Damn it! Damn it, damn it!” Bakugo says to Izuku.

I see Bakugo passing beside me crying not noticing me. “Going home Time Bomb?” I ask teasing him starting to walk with him and I see him trying to cover his crying. “What do you want Demon?” He asks. “It’s okay to cry, you know.” I say. “I’m not crying!” He screams. “Okay!” I say putting my hands in surrender, then we keep walking in silence.

“Aka-chan?” Izuku says when he notices me walking with Bakugo. “Oh, I understand now.” All Might say making Izuku confused. “This may be good, they can support each other.” All Might think.

“Why are you following me?” He asks putting his hands in the pocket. “I’m not, were just going in the same direction.” I say and we both know that was a lie, but we kept walking together in a comfortable silence until we came to a crossing road. “Well, I’m going this way.” I say pointing to the right. “I’m going here.” He says pointing to the left. “Well then, see you tomo...eh?” I start saying. “What are you doing?” I ask him when I saw him going right. “What do you think I’m doing you stupid girl?! I’m taking you home!” He says not looking at me, so I didn’t see his blush. “Own! Who knew Bakugo could be nice!” I say laughing. “SHUT UP!” He screams.

 Note: Hope you like it! New chapter every Friday!

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