local-crying-boy

[local-crying-boy]

🅅🄰🄽🄳🄴🅁

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

𝔻𝕒𝕣𝕜𝕤 𝕡𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕤 𝕞𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕖𝕒𝕣

𝙿𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐: 𝚅𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚡 𝙳𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚘𝚗!𝙵𝚎𝚖!𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: 𝙾𝚗𝚎-𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚝, 𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚏𝚏, 𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙

𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜: 𝚊 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚋𝚊𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚗𝚘 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚊𝚊𝚊 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚍𝚎𝚋𝚝𝚑, 𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚘𝚛𝚎 (𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏), 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚂𝚒𝚕𝚌𝚘, 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚏 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍

𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚢: <<𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛>>, 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚘𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢, 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍, 𝚂𝚒𝚕𝚌𝚘, 𝚔𝚒𝚍𝚗𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚞𝚜𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝚅𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚙𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚞𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚖. 𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚂𝚒𝚕𝚌𝚘'𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚘𝚞𝚝, 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚞𝚜𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚍.

𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝: 4.5𝚔

A/n: It has been a long time, and I am so sorry! Howeverrrrr, this was actually so much fun to write and I'm glad that you gave me this request!

Fic made on this ask

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

You shouldn't have been surprised when the news travelled about four Zaunites up in Piltover were stealing, which caused the explosion inside the Academy were actually the kids under yours and your husband's care. Those kids were hard work, always wanting to do more, to prove themselves and, ultimately, go against anything you or Vander had set out of bounds.

Regardless, it seemed like all of the Enforcers were down in the Undercity ever since the incident and, now, you and Vander had to hold out and protect the kids, keep them out of trouble while also maintaining the people who had placed their trust in you.

Simple, right?

The four had gone out, leaving you and Vander to in The Last Drop. You could see the furrow lines in his face as his mind tried to come up with a hundred different solutions on what to do now, how to fix this mess.

"Your face'll get stuck like that." You absentmindedly said as you scribbled down in a notebook about expenses and profits from the patrons in the bar, a task that had fallen to you after Silco and Vander... well, you didn't want to think of that day.

He glanced up from where he was looking, his expression softening as the frown he had was soon replaced by a smirk. "Now, that's a lie you tell the kids."

You shrugged as your own grin pulled on your lips, looking up at the man in front of you, arms leaning against the counter. "Ah, see, but it works. Not just with the kids, I see, too."

There was a little huff of hair that escaped his lips, a slight laugh, if you ever heard one, but one not good enough to be of amusement. You gave your full attention to Vander, then, looking up at him with the notebook closed and pushed to the side, pen rolling towards it.

"Say it out loud." You offered with a subtle motion of your hand that was resting on the top of the counter, "It'll help, that's what I tell Powder."

He seemed to hesitate for a moment, putting down two glasses before he leaned his forearms against the counter. "Grayson came by Benzo's yesterday."

You felt the chills down your spine when you heard that, your shoulders tense as you looked up at Vander with narrowed eyes. "She's the Enforcer who you made a deal with?"

He gave you a quick nod and a grunt.

You were no stranger to the news of Vander having a sort of deal with Piltover's sheriff, Grayson. She would keep Enforces out of the Undercity, if Vander made sure that the Zaunites didn't stir trouble on Topside. It was a necessary deal, you believed, it kept the violence off the streets, or a part of it off the streets.

"The building that was blown up by the kids?" He said with his voice drowned in dread. "It's owned by the Kirammans."

You made a small 'ah' noise, your head slowly nodding along. "And that's why there's such a big deal about it."

He hummed in agreement, a hand leading up to his face to slowly rub at it. You felt the dread in the pit of your stomach, and Vander no doubt did as well. Blowing up a building in Topside was one thing, but having the building owned by the Kirammans was another, two equally bad things mixed up into one? It was a total disaster.

"They'll want someone to be made an example of." You thought quietly to yourself, you eyes falling down to your hands as your nail picked at one of the dents in the counter. "They won't care who, either, as long as it's someone from down here."

"We can't do that." Vander was swift to reply, and you could feel how his eyes burned into where you sat. "I've already told Grayson that."

"I never said we should, Vander." You corrected, slowly looking up at him. Though, you couldn't deny the fact it seemed tempting. Give up one person down here for the four kids that were basically your own? It seemed logical.

There was a moment of silence, Vander staring into your eyes as you did the same. "You're going to add something, aren't you?"

You exhaled slowly, giving him a little nod, oh how you hated how quickly he was able to catch onto your thinking. "Of course I am."

He motioned with his hand to show you that he was listening, even if he didn't like what you were going to say, he was always willing to hear you out.

"It's the minority over majority, Vander." You saw how his head started to shake, how the sigh escaped his lips and how he closed his eyes as if he was just bracing himself for what he was going to hear. "Listen, Vander, listen. We both know how harsh Enforcers will be to us, all of us. Everyone will be in danger if they come down here looking for more trouble than they need to be, and it'll be out of our hands at that point.

It's an invitation, Vander." You sighed quietly, watching as he jaw tightened. "It's an invitation for them to come down here, again, and reek chaos, again, and hurt us, again. You know it. I know it. So will everyone else."

"You're not installing me with the certainty I thought you were." He said plainly.

You tilted your head a little, biting on the inside of your cheek. "I'm just giving you something else to think on. I know you don't give up your own, but... maybe we don't have a choice."

After that, the two of you fell silent. Vander's gaze was cast downwards, you let out a little sigh of your own again, shaking your head before your hand ran through your hair.

"Whatever you decide," You said gently, "I will stand by your side make sure that you and the kids are okay."

You then cleared your voice, pushing the notebook towards him, routine when you were heading out and shouldn't keep such delicate information with you. Without hesitation, Vander dragged it along the counter until he picked it up and placed it someplace that wasn't in your eyesight.

"I'm going to Benzo's." You said, standing up from the stool and grabbing your bag that was barely hanging on by a thread, the clanging of discarded metal being heard from inside of it, "Powder wanted more scraps to make her inventions, figured I'd surprise her and just get some for her."

As you went to turn away to leave, you heard Vander's voice. "I'm not giving up anyone down here."

You looked at him from over your shoulder, a little grin pulling on your lips again. "I know."

∘₊✧────────────────── ✧₊∘

"We should hit them back." Sevika stated out loud enough for everyone in The Last Drop to hear, slamming both her hands against the table as she glared over at Vander, Benzo and I, "We've got the numbers to beat them."

You glanced up at Vander who had an unmoving expression, but your attention was brought to another Zaunite who had spoken up a beat after Sevika did.

"Yeah, let's teach 'em what it means to mess with us." Now that got everyone agreeing, numerous calls of 'yeah's coming from all corners of the room.

You looked over at Benzo, but his gaze was fixed on Vander, his eyes shut as his head was pointed downwards. You were tempted to call out his name, double checking if he was even paying attention to what everyone was saying.

Instead, he lit his pipe and brought it to his mouth, speaking as he breathed out the smoke. "You sure that's what you want?"

"Let's do it!"

"We crossed the bridge once before, and we know how that ended." Vander spoke as his gaze went to everyone in the room.

"You're just protecting your kids."

You couldn't help as your eyes fell to the five at the door way - Milo, Claggor, Vi, Powder and Ekko. They looked so unnatural in this room, full of adults who were discussing the seriousness of what they were going to do in response to the Enforcers. They shouldn't have been listening.

Vander pushed himself off from against the counter, "I'm protecting our people. I'd do the same for any one of you. We look out for each other, it's the way it's always been."

Everyone was silent as they listened into what he was saying. "This will blow over, we just need to stand together."

Sevika was the one who looked unimpressed. "The Vander I knew, the one who built the underground, wouldn't be afraid to fight."

Vander's expression hardened, eyes narrowed at the woman in front of him as he slowly strode towards her. He didn't tower over her, not like he was able to do with so many others, you were sure she was used to being able to tower over others too.

Once he was a mere few inches away from Sevika, he took a puff, only speaking as the smoke slowly came out from his lips. "Do I look afraid?"

"No." She said, then leaned in closer, eyes narrowing as well. "You look weak."

The woman didn't waste another moment, turning on her feet as she whistles for the others in her group, silently walking out of The Last Drop, silently walking out of the conversation, silently walking out on Vander.

Benzo and you shared a look before walking over to Vander, you mused softly as your arm brushed up against his. "You know how the young blood is like."

Vander's gaze was cast down at you as Benzo placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "She'll learn soon."

"That's what I'm afraid of." He grunted, taking another puff. "Whose going to die for her to learn?"

You let out a little hum, crossing your arms over your chest as you fell silent. "Let's just hope not many."

∘₊✧────────────────── ✧₊∘

Later that same day, in the later hours where the sun barely reached the Undercity anymore, you and Vander were silently keeping each others company. You were sipping on your own drink, while he played around with the object Grayson had given him, it clinking against a bottle repetitively.

The door of the bar opened, causing Vander to look up. "Welcome to The Last Drop."

You weren't going to look up, but you felt how the tension rose rapidly in the room, you saw how Vander's body language change. It caused you to look up and see his eyes narrowed, so you looked behind you.

"Well, shit." You breathed out, shaking your head before you turned to back on the Enforcers that had welcomed themselves back in the Undercity.

Vander had placed what Grayson had given him behind the counter, standing up straight as the three came over to the counter. They stood a little to your side, too close for you liking, but you restrained from saying anything, or doing anything.

"What can I get for you?" Vander asked, putting on a feigned act of friendlessness, hospitality.

"Four sump-rats will do." The man responded, you felt your hand tighten around the glass you were drinking out of, feeling your heart drop when he spoke up again. "Search the place."

One of the three Enforcers disappeared, moving to the door that led downstairs. That led to your kids.

"While your wasting your time, how about a proper drink?" Vander spoke, casting you a quick glance as if to say 'pull yourself together' when he saw the concern clear on your face.

The Enforcer, posture straight with his arms behind his back and his hands clasped together. "I'll take the strongest shit you got."

You huffed out an amused breath at the man-boy's attempt to seem tough, shaking your head slowly. The act only caused him to give a glare at you, but you returned it with a stiff expression.

Vander pulled out a bottle and a small glass, pouring out the golden liquid into it before pushing it towards the man before him. The Enforcer leaned against the counter, right next to you, swirling the glass around before bringing it up to his nose and sniffing it.

"Hm, you be careful with that." Vander said with amusement laced in his voice at the man's reaction to the strongness of the scent.

"Nearly forgot. I ran into an old friend of yours. He had some stories." He spoke slowly, you felt your heart drop, eyes locking on Vander's as you held your breath. The Enforcer chuckled, putting down the glass taking the pipe right out of Vander's hands.

A fisted hand slammed on the counter, Vander glaring down at the man beside you, causing a ripple of various sounds of chairs scraping against the floor to erupt. The second Enforcer held out a baton as he spun around to face the patrons, causing Vander to give them a warning look and shook his head.

"You weren't always a peacekeeper, were you?" He asked as he dropped Vander's pipe into the drink, causing it to blow up in a blue flame.

"Yeah, well, you can escape the past. Right?" Vander questioned with a small huff at the end of his sentence, he glanced over at the metal gloves that he'd hung up long ago, causing yourself and the man beside you to glance over as well. "Be a shame if I had to put them on again. Cast iron's, well, it's hard to clean."

"Well, Vander, let's be honest." You mused quietly, a grin pulling on your lips. "I'd be the one cleaning them, got some area of expertise in clearing up, well... y'know."

The tension was so thick in the room you were sure you were going to suffocate in it, though, you were sure you were used to the lack of oxygen down in the Underground since your early work in the mines.

The third Enforcer came back up, looking at the one Vander had speaking to and shook his head subtly, and you finally let out that breath you were holding. The man had a horrible scowl on his face when he saw the grin on Vander's face.

"You people down here are all the same, mistaking arrogance for bravery." He started, moving away from where he was standing next to you, his eyes scanning around the few people that were in the bar. "You think you're standing up for something, but we all know there is a crime behind every coin that passes through this place."

"I wonder why that is." You hissed out, causing him to whip around and look you directly in the eyes.

He was young, full of anger and hatred for your people, clearly. He stood so close to you that you could see every wrinkle in his face that his scowl was causing. Even though he was so close to you, you didn't falter under his gaze, you had no reason to.

You were older than this young man, you'd seen where violence had gotten Zaun and how everyone down here, including yourself, were treated everyday by Enforcers and those privileged Topsiders.

"<<Reader>>." You heard Vander say, his tone cold like it was towards the man a mere inch away from your face, and you knew it wasn't the time to be talking back.

Vander speaking up caused the Enforcer to draw his attention away from you and towards you, taking a step towards the counter again. "You're just a small man in a little hole that the world forgot to bury."

You thought he was simply going to turn around when he finished, and he was going to, but he drew out his baton and smashed the flaming glass. You flinched backwards as your heart dropped at the action, having been inches away from where the flames were.

"And I'm gonna bury the lot of you." He threated, waving the baton around to the other patrons, before he stormed out of The Last Drop with the other two enforcers following from behind him.

You looked back at Vander to try and gauge his emotions, but he simply stood there, motionless, until he sighed quietly as closed his eyes for a moment. You were swift to draw your eyes away from him, however, when your mind was quickly pulled towards whether or not the kids downstairs were safe.

The second the door to the bar shut, you forced your legs to move, sprinting downstairs and slamming open the door to Vi and Powder's room, eyes scanning until they fell on a certain blue haired girl on the floor.

"You all can come out now." You called out, jogging down the steps to make your way to Powder to check if she was alright, having clearly fallen out of where she was hiding - just after the enforcer had left, thankfully.

Vander opened the door moments after, looking around the room as the kids slowly came out from where they were hiding "Are you all okay?"

"No, we're not okay!" Vi was the first to respond, jumping down from her hiding spot, a hand motioning out. "They almost saw Powder. What if they took her?"

Powder, now on her feet, turned on the light on the table, a gentle hand of yours on her shoulder before you moved away to check on the others.

"No one is taking any of you." Vander tried to reassure, though you weren't all that focus on Vander right now as your helped Ekko come down. "Never let that happen."

"It's already happening!" The pink haired girl argued, motioning with her arm once again. "You heard them, they won't stop. We need to fight back!"

The slam on the wall caused your head to snap back over to where she and Vander stood, her fisted hand on the wall. "And if you don't, I will."

Vander simply sighed at the reaction of his daughter, his eyes glancing over at you as you two silently communicated. You'd both heard this kind of stuff before, and you had both learned from the consequences of that kind of thinking. "I've heard this kind of talk before."

He motioned with his head, before turning on his heels and headed out of the room, waiting for Vi to follow before closing the door, "C'mon."

The two of them had left, leaving you with the four other kids, Powder, Claggor, Milo and Ekko. You turned to face them, eyebrows knitted together in concern.

"You four okay?" You asked, eyes glazing over each one of them, trying to figure out if any of them weren't alright.

there were a small strings of 'yeah's, relief washed over you as you walked over to the four of them. First, your hands rested on the top of Powder and Ekko's head, patting their hair before your hands rested on Claggor and Milo's shoulders.

"I promise you four, it's going to be okay." You reassured softly. "We're handling it. Slowly, but it's being handled."

∘₊✧────────────────── ✧₊∘

You were roaming the streets of the Undercity, as you would any other day. Nothing seemed amiss, nothing out of the ordinary, but you still had that little feeling deep down that something wasn't okay, something wasn't right.

It wasn't until you made your way back to The Last Drop until you realised.

"<<Reader>>!" You heard as soon as you walked in, eyes narrowing in confusion when your eyes landed on Ekko.

"Ekko?" You said, watching as he ran over to you, tears streaming down his cheeks, arms quickly being wrapped around you. "What's wrong? Why aren't you at Benzo's?"

"Vi's gone!" He quickly said, stumbling over his words as his voice cracked. "An-and Claggor, and M-Milo! I... I can't find Powder!"

"Slow down, slow down." You were swift to speak, pulling away for a moment so that you could cup the younger boy's face, wiping away his tears with your thumbs. "What do you mean? What's going on?"

What happened after he told you was a complete blur, feeling the anger bubble up within, feeling your blood boil and your fists clench. You had told Ekko to stay put, to not follow and don't do anything stupid - like your other kids had done.

One minute you were at The Last Drop, while the next you were someplace far, still in the Undercity, but nowhere near your home. You were trying to keep your cool, but it was difficult to do when none other than Silco had kidnapped your husband, and tricked your kids into coming to get him.

You shook your head while you were walking, trying rid yourself of the ever building rage inside of you, huffing out through your nose when you felt a certain fire building up - quite literally, may you add.

You could kill Silco for what he has done.

When you had arrived, you saw a giant, purple looking guy pounding into a steel door. It was dipropionate and... unnatural, you felt like the bile in your throat while you looked at it.

However, you attention was drawn to the man standing a little behind. Silco.

That was when you lost it, the mere sight of him setting you off more than you were already set off. You felt your breath become laboured, hands clenched so tightly that your nails were digging into your palms.

You were never proud of your past, and you never wanted to become what you truly were again - you had learnt on numerous occasions that it never came to any good. Today, though? Different story.

You felt the ache in your bones, the pain in your muscles as they stretched out. It was never pleasant, but it seemed more unbearable now that you have remained in one form for such a long time now. Your teeth sharpened, skin got harder and became something else entirely. When you finally came to, your mind reeled with rage and hatred, and with a loud roar, you made your presence known.

Triple the size of the monstrous being that had been banging on the steel door, it ceased it's movements, turning to you - and even it seemed stunned for what you had become: a dragon.

There was silence within the entire building, no one dared move, and it almost seemed like time was frozen in place. You knew it wasn't though, you heard your heavy breaths, and you saw how Silco and Sevika both were frightened at your very presence appearing.

Though, there was a certain noise, a chitter, a clang, mechanical. Your eyes slowly moved down to the source of the noise. A toy monkey with two cymbals. Powder's.

Powder was here, you couldn't see her, but you knew what she owned.

There was a blue light coming from in between the two cymbals, and you knew that something was up with it. It wasn't Powder's creation, no, and you had a voice in the back of your head that told you it wasn't safe.

You were fast, too fast for anyone to realise what was happing. You swept down, tail swinging side to side causing the walls to crack from the weight. Mighty claws clasped onto the toy, throwing it out of the opening where you came from.

Within moments of your action, a enormous, blue explosion came from it, exploding outside - far from harm, and far from your family, thankfully.

You didn't stop there, though, no. Your head whipped around to where the small being was - having seemed larger when you were human. You had no hesitation to take it into your sharp teeth, throwing it into the wall in front of you, taking pleasure in the crack of it's back when it hit it.

When your head turned to Silco, you saw the steps he took backwards, "<<Reader>>, <<Reader>>, don't do anything rash. You... can take them back, no harm was done to your kids!"

Your head tilted slowly, taking a step closer to him. Your head leaned down so that it was a mere few inches away from him. His eyes were locked onto yours, they were wide with fear.

You thought about killing him there, ending all of this now, but... not like this. You couldn't do it how you were now, no, you had far too much to say to him and you weren't willing to let it go unsaid.

You exhaled slowly, your breath causing him to stumble backwards. Then, you slowly turned you back to him.

What you had for him came later.

Instead, you looked back at where you assumed your family was. A simple hit to it with your front leg did the job, the steel door coming off completely and flying off somewhere you couldn't see.

You saw your family, minus Powder and Ekko, all looking up at you with shocked eyes - apart from Vander. You settled down in front of the door, laying as best you could with the structure inside.

"<<Reader>>." Vander breathed out, he looked terrible, covered in blood and bruises - another reason you had to end Silco when you returned to your human form.

Your three kids turned to look at Vander. "<<Reader>>?!"

When the three of them looked back at you, you were descaling, steady turning back to what they had seen you as usually. You were wobbly on your feet, disorientated, of course.

Vander came up to you, embracing you tightly, and you returned it. Your eyes landed on Claggor, Milo and Vi. "Powder is here, I don't know where she is, but you need to find her."

The three of them shared a look, before turning back to you and giving you and, then ran off.

You looked up at Vander, a small smile pulling on your lips as your hand cupped his battered face. "I'm so glad you're okay... Ekko told me what happened to Benzo and I..."

You shook your head slowly, eyes closing momentarily as you felt his forehead against yours. You felt the shaky exhale escape your lips, before you cleared your voice. "I have one more thing to do."

Your head turned, just in time to see Silco and Sevika trying to make their escape. "Silco!"

He stopped in his tracks, but Sevika did not. Some loyalty.

You closed the distance between yourself and him surprisingly quickly, then you had pulled him back from his shirt before throwing him onto the floor.

"You come for my family one more time, I will kill you." You hissed out, crouching down to look him in the face. "I used to think that we could mend the bond that broke, but now? This is unforgivable. In fact, if I ever see you again, you won't be coming out alive, got it?"

"You have to understand-"

"But I don't." You cut him off. "And I never will, I used to understand you, Silco, I used to know your mind, but... this? This is so far past the line. That guy, too? Whatever you did to him, you stop manufacturing it, I don't want to see anyone else down here looking like that, it's unnatural, and I don't want my children exposed to it."

He stayed silent, looking up at you with an expression you couldn't read.

"Do you understand?" You growled, looking down at him with a look that, surely, could have killed.

Through gritted teeth, he responded. "Yes."

You stood up, wiping off your clothes with your hand. You gave him a final stare down, tempted to hit him a final time to get your point across, but decided against it.

You felt Vander's hand on your shoulder, squeezing it gently before - through shared glances - you two decided to find your kids.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Tags: @coolgirl32

Masterlist

[local-crying-boy]

ᴊᴏʜɴɴʏ ꜱᴛᴏʀᴍ ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀʟɪꜱᴛ

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

ᴋᴇʏ

🌧 - Angst

☆ - Fluff

✶ - Smut

♡ - Comfort

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

ᴅʀᴀʙʙʟᴇꜱ

— C'mon! ☆

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Masterlist

[local-crying-boy]

🄹🄾🄷🄽🄽🅈 🅂🅃🄾🅁🄼

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

ℂ'𝕞𝕠𝕟!

𝙿𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐: 𝙹𝚘𝚑𝚗𝚗𝚢 𝚂𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚖 𝚡 𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝙽𝚎𝚞𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚕!𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: 𝙳𝚛𝚊𝚋𝚋𝚕𝚎, 𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚏𝚏𝚢 (𝙸 𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚜), 𝙹𝚘𝚑𝚗𝚗𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘��𝚒𝚗𝚐 <<𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛>>

𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜: 𝚗𝚘𝚗-𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝, <<𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛>> 𝚒𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚕𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙵𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝙵𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚝, 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝙹𝚘𝚑𝚗𝚗𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚘 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚘 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚊 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚖, 𝙹𝚘𝚑𝚗𝚗𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 <<𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛>> 𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚗, 𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚔 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚎 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍

𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚢: <<𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛>> 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚓𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢'𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙹𝚘𝚑𝚗𝚗𝚢, 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎, 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚘 𝚏𝚊𝚛, 𝚛𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 <<𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛>> 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 - 𝚘𝚛 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍.

𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝: 337

A/n: was I zoned out about Johnny about this scenario? Maybe.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

"No, Johnny, for the last time-" You had said for the, probably, hundredth time.

"C'mon!" He was swift to cut you off, his arms extended outwards and his head tilted slightly. "I keep hearing you talk about it! Let me read it."

"No." You repeated, shoving him away - not hard, in a way that you have done a hundred times before. "It's not finished, so you can't read it."

He scoffed, bouncing after you when he noticed you walking away. "Oh, really? You've been working on it for almost a year, how is it not finished?"

"Because it's a first draft, Johnny." You deadpanned, as if it was common knowledge - which it really wasn't because the most the others got out of you was the fact that you were working on it again. "There's a process to these things, besides, it's silly so there won't be a finished product, really."

"Then, there would be no harm in reading it." He tried, his eyebrows lifted as he looked over at you.

"No."

He groaned loudly, throwing his head back. "You're so difficult."

Then, you laughed out, loudly, almost exaggeratedly. "Oh, I'm difficult? You're the one who won't let up on the topic, can't you just take the no?"

"No!" He quickly said.

You snorted at that, shaking your head slowly, before moving to the couch in the living room. Usually, you would have his sister or Reed who would tell him to lay off, but you weren't as fortunate today.

"C'mon, please?" He asked, flopping onto the place beside you, arm resting over the back.

"No, Johnny." You laughed out this time, putting your hand in his face to push him away. "Now, stop following me, I'm sure you have some woman to go and make fall in love with you."

He let a out a breath, rolling his eyes. "I don't have to try to make that happen. I mean, it worked like charm with you."

It was your turn to roll your eyes now. "Yeah, alright, human torch. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Masterlist

[local-crying-boy]

This is freaking awesome omg

tlou/apocalypse au, in which the chitauri invasion had side effects on the human population.

two years later, the world is in shambles, the avengers are nowhere to be seen, and an immune former assassin meets a man trying to find the avengers.

[local-crying-boy]

[local-crying-boy]

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

𝒞𝑜𝓂𝓅𝑜𝓈𝓊𝓇𝑒 || 𝒫𝒾𝑒𝓉𝓇𝑜 𝑀𝒶𝓍𝒾𝓂𝑜𝒻𝒻 || 𝒜𝓃 𝑀𝒞𝒰 𝐹𝒶𝓃𝒻𝒾𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Warnings: Cecilia has a fear of water, implied boat crash(?) incident thingy, she's ligit drowning chat

Summary: While Wanda Maximoff gets into the team's head, Cecilia revisits her worst memories, memories she had wished to of buried years ago.

Word Count: 1.1k

Masterlist

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

𝒞𝑜𝓂𝓅𝑜𝓈𝓊𝓇𝑒 - 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝒾𝓋𝑒- 𝒜 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝓈𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝒻 𝒲𝑜𝓇𝓈𝓉 𝑀𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓈

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

I was no longer inside of the ship where my team and I were fighting, no, I was somewhere completely different. The sounds of gunfire ceased and, instead, all I heard were waves.

I was on a ferry, there was chatter and laughter all around me. I swivelled around where I stood, seeing numerous people, cars too. I was on a ferry, but that didn’t make any sense, right? How the hell did I end up on this boat, if I was off fighting on another?

Then, I saw her. In the white flowery sundress that I used to always see her in, her sunglasses perched on top of her head, instead of actually wearing them even though the sun was so clearly in her eyes.

“Mama?” I muttered, looking up at her, but she still had that big grin on her face.

She let out a laugh, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and squeezing me into her side. “See, I told you, Cece. I told you that this was going to be fun. Now, it’s no ‘just us on a boat with the wind in our hair’ and whatever, but it’s a start.”

“Mama, I don’t like the sea.” I muttered quickly, looking up at her, feeling the tears already prickle at my eyes. I realised that I was smaller than before, and how my voice was higher - more childlike. “Mama, can’t we get inside instead?”

She kneeled down beside me, her hands on both of my shoulders as she brushed the hair out of my face. “It’s okay, sweetheart, I promise you that everything will be okay, you see- look.”

She had ushered me to the end, encouraging me to look over the edge at the water. “It’s beautiful, right, Cece?”

No, it wasn’t, it really wasn’t.

It felt like a blink before I felt water all around me, felt my lungs screaming when I realised that I was holding my breath, and saw the blurry image of the sky ahead of me. I just had to swim upwards, see where I was, figure out what to do.

My lungs burnt as I gasped for air, pushing my hair out of my face so that I could actually see. Though there wasn’t much to see apart from the open sea, the sky and the… sinking ferry… Cars littered the ocean, sinking further down as the ferry started its slow descent into the water, leaving screaming people helpless as they attempted to cling on.

“Mama!” I cried out, quickly looking around as I attempted to find her face.

My heart felt like it was pounding outside of its chest, like it was going to break my ribs if it kept going. My vision was blurred with my tears, face wet from the waver as small waves of the salty water kept going into my mouth.

I was a mess between crying out and coughing, barely able to keep myself afloat as my legs kicked wildly underneath me and my arms flailed out beside me.

“Cecilia!” Hands were clasped tightly on my shoulders, gently shaking me. “Cecilia, hey, come back.”

I blinked a few times, eyes stinging as a few odd tears rolled down my cheeks. I focused on the person in front of me. Barton. I opened my mouth to speak, but it felt like I hadn’t drunk anything in days, too sore to actually speak out.

“Look, I don’t know what that kid did to you, but..” He shook his head slowly, looking around. “She did it to the others, can you walk?”

I felt my head slowly nod, my hands shaking from their place on my lap. Barton nodded in response. “That’s good, I need you to go find the others, can you do that?”

I stayed still at that, clearing my throat as I shook my head eventually. There was no way that I would be able to snap anyone out of what they might have seen, not when I could barely make a noise.

He sighed, but it wasn’t out of frustration, he looked down at the floor - which made me realise that I had been in the exact same place I was when I was fighting Pietro, just now on the floor. He then nodded slowly before speaking up again. “Okay, okay, stay here, I’m gonna go find the others, alright?”

He didn’t really wait for me to respond that time, swift to get up from his crouched position and walking off to go and find our team.

When we had gotten back on the Quinjet, everyone was silent. Barton and Stark seemed to have been the only two who weren’t affected by whatever the girl had shown us, I wasn’t all that surprised, though. Barton was good at not being snuck up on, and Stark wasn’t even on the boat when she started playing with our minds.

Bruce had a Hulk incident, wrapped up in a blanket on the floor. Steve and Natasha were both seated, unmoving as they tried to get whatever they had seen out of their heads. Thor was standing, rubbing his hands together as he swayed slightly from where he sat. Barton was flying, while Stark was seated just behind him

I stayed furthest from the others, hands planted on either side of my legs, head hung low as I tried to take deep breaths. I’d had numerous dreams of that day, but it was mostly when I was kid and I would end up being sick from the anxiety and the whole ‘not-being-able-to-breathe’ thing. I couldn’t do that here, I had to keep my cool. At least, a little bit more than I already had.

“The news is loving you guys.” I heard Agent Hill speak. “Nobody else is.”

My eyes fell to Bruce when she said that, my heart twisting at the fact that he probably has no idea what he really did. “There’s been no official call for Banner’s arrest, but it’s in the air.”

I shook my head slowly, tuning out of what was being said, no longer wanting to focus on all the bad things that were going on right now. I couldn’t.

I wanted to see my Dad, that’s all. It had been that one thing that caused me to go and live with him, and he was the one who helped me every time I had a nightmare. Though, what I had seen was nothing like a nightmare - it was exactly how I remembered it.

When I had nightmares, they were always scattered bits and pieces of what happened. Never enough to show me what happened fully, but enough to remind me of what kept me up for months. I had thought that I was finally getting over it, finally getting past the memories of it. Though, now, I still felt the water crashing over me, still felt how my hair stuck to the back of my neck that day. I remember how she felt, when I had to cling to her.

I already felt the bile rising in my throat, causing me to shiver. My eyes were watering again, but I made no movement to rub my eyes, not wanting to feel my skin, not wanting to be touched - even if it was only by me.

[local-crying-boy]

[local-crying-boy]

[local-crying-boy]

[local-crying-boy]

Realest shit I’ve seen on here in a hot minute

UK heats hits differently and I will not hear anymore on the matter unless it is agreeing with the statement.

WHY IS IT SO HOT.

I cannot with hot weather...my mood immediately flips when it's hot. PLEASE can there be a little bit of rain or fog at least?! ;(

[local-crying-boy]

Kinktober 2025 Masterlist

List I’m using

Characters included (I used multiple fandoms this year):

MCU - Bob Reynolds, Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson, Joaquin Torres, Johnny Storm, John Walker

Harry Potter - Bill Weasley, Fred Weasley, George Weasley

Shadowhunters - Alec Lightwood, Magnus Bane

Twilight - Alice Cullen, Jasper Hale

In bold are the prompts that are being used

Next to prompts are the character/s that are going to be used, anyways without characters mean they have been undecided.

Total fics: 18

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Day 1 - creampie | pet play | sweat // Bill Weasley

Day 4 - nipple play | mutual masturbation | slut shaming // Joaquin Torres

Day 5 - hands | clothed sex | cold // Magnus Bane

Day 6 - massage | thigh riding | biting // Sam Wilson

Day 7 - ribbons | public sex | lotion // Fred Weasley

Day 8- temperature play | sex toys | punishment // Johnny Storm

Day 9 - cockwarming | hickeys | lingerie // Sam Wilson

Day 10 - scent kink | cross dressing | holiday // Jasper Hale

Day 12 - phone sex | first time | closet // George Weasley

Day 13 - locker room | shower sex | hate sex // Joaquin Torres

Day 15 - sexting | masochism | uniform // Joaquin Torres

Day 18 - rewards | dirty talk | knife play // John Walker

Day 19 - Forniphilla | begging | butt plug // Bob Reynolds

Day 24 - teasing | car sex | overstimulation // Alice Cullen

Day 26 - porn | thigh fucking | spit // Bucky Barnes

Day 29 - skinny dipping | praise | edging // Bob Reynolds

Day 30 - ball gag | mirror | voyeurism // Johnny Storm

Day 31 - humiliation | double penetration | rough sex // Alec Lightwood + Magnus Bane

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

[local-crying-boy]

Requests are closed temporarily because I’m currently working on Kinktober 2025 fics :)

[local-crying-boy]

If I’m looking for a playlist and I don’t recognise the first three songs, I’m nawt listening to ts

[local-crying-boy]

ᴀʟᴇx ᴋᴇʟʟᴇʀ ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀʟɪꜱᴛ

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

ᴋᴇʏ

🌧 - Angst

☆ - Fluff

✶ - Smut

♡ - Comfort

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

ꜰᴀɴꜰɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴꜱ

— I am not a woman, I am God [unfinished work that I gave up on]

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Masterlist

[local-crying-boy]

This is the Alex Keller fic that I never finished! Ah, yeah, so have fun with the like 10% of something that was originally meant to be a long read probably around 7-10k words long. I barely knew ya, but it was fun writing it when I had the motivation to do so

🄰🄻🄴🅇 🄺🄴🄻🄻🄴🅁

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

I ᗩᗰ ᑎOT ᗩ ᗯOᗰᗩᑎ, I’ᗰ ᗩ GOᗪ

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

𝑷𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈: 𝑹𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆!𝑨𝒍𝒆𝒙 𝑲𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝒙 𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔!𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓

𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: 𝑶𝒏𝒆-𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒕, 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏, 𝑭𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒚/𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝑼, 𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒑 (𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 10-15 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔)

𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔: 𝑵𝒐 𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒀/𝒏 (𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒅), 𝒕𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒓, 𝒕𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏, 𝑨𝒍𝒆𝒙 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒂 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑭𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒉, 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈.

𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚: 𝑨 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒓 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆, 𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒕. 𝑯𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒋𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒆. 𝑰𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔, 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑲𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒎, 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒚 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆. 𝑯𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒖𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓.

Word Count: 4.8k

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Endless dangers arose everyday, at least, that is what it seemed. It varied from assassins and politics, to chances of war and conflict. You learnt, even from a young age, that leading an Empire was not for the weak of heart, or those naïve enough to fall the traps set by those who wanted to steal the power that was your birth right - however difficult that birth right may seem.

Leading one of the biggest Empires in the realm, however, seemed a task too big for a single person. Regardless of the difficulty, with ties to Los Vaqueros and the Urzikstan Liberation Force you had allies across your Empire, even if they were not large in numbers like other militaries, they aided you when you needed them and you, them.

Despite not having direct relations to Urzikstan nor Las Almas their selves, you were glad to have a forces that you had allies amongst within those two armies. Perhaps even being able to help with the conflict in Urzikstan or help Los Vaqueros in their region.

You were not phased by these petty threats of war made by a neighbouring Kingdom that was not under your rule, they were not considered too much of a threat. However, given the current sickness that has fallen amongst your Empire, you started to wonder if this threat was something you could afford to ignore.

"Empress." The voice caught you out of your relentless thoughts, you looked up from your place on the end of the grand table, threats of war and letters from Dukes and duchesses, Kings and Queens from the other Kingdoms under your Empire's rule, requests from your army generals.

You looked up to see your closest advisor, and friend, Lady Kate Laswell - wearing her usual simple white tunic and her black breeches with a waist coat that fell just to her ankles - her hands behind her back as her gaze was locked onto your cold eyes. "What is it, Laswell?"

"A messenger has arrived," She informed, her voice as even as normal, revealing nothing apart from the fact that she never showed any true emotions through her speech. "Commander Karim has sent word in respondence to your request."

The information peeked your interest, you stood from your chair, hands on either end of the table, your body leaning into the table. "What did she say in this letter?"

"She has agreed to aid us," Laswell said with a nod, "Commander Karim is making the journey, she believes she and her army will arrive in a fortnight's time."

"And given the time for the letter to arrive, she must be only a few days away." You assumed, arms crossing over just where the top of your brown corset sat, the fabric of your sleeves only slightly sliding upwards. "Which means that she is due any day now, does it not?"

"It does indeed, Empress." Laswell agreed with a slight nod, she revealed the rolled up letter from behind her back, an offering for you to read it. "The messenger gave me the letter, do you wish to read it?"

"Leave it amongst the others, Laswell." You said with a sigh and a small wave of your hand. "I shall get to it eventually."

More so, you had hoped you would.

Laswell was quick to place it with the other letters, before she took the appropriate steps back to keep a distance between herself and you. "Very well, Empress."

"You are dismissed, Laswell." You decided, looking up at her from the spot you had yet to move from. "Unless there is something you must discuss with me."

The blonde woman cleared her throat, shifting her weight as her gaze fell onto the floor, before looking back up at you. “The Sick, Empress.”

The Sick. Two words that never seemed to make your heart drop, it had taken so many of your subjects away from the world too early than they should have - including your mother. “What of it, Laswell? Unless it has been mysteriously cured, unknowing to me.”

“Of course not, Empress.” Laswell spoke, if you had hurt her with your harsh tone, your advisor hid it well. “However, it has travelled.”

“Travelled?” You echoed, walking swiftly over to where Laswell stood with long strides, opposite of where you were previously standing. “Travelled? How so?”

“Just of the west of the city.” Laswell informed you, she must have noticed a certain look in your eyes. “A small amount, but it has spread inside of the walls.”

“Early stages, I assume. Fevers, shakes and tremors?” You asked, clasping your hands together behind your back. “Not to the extent of outside of the city? The vomiting? The weakness? Hallucinations?”

Laswell shook her head. “It is the early stages only, barely even that, Empress. We may have nothing to fear.”

You were silent for longer than you should have been, you should have a response quicker than you had. However, in truth, you were mentally arguing with yourself.

You should not underestimate how fast The Sick travels and how deadly it can be, you shouldn’t have even debated whether or not the sickness in the west end of you city would be nothing but a mere common illness. Though, could you risk taking extra precautions and cause possible panic throughout your city and, in result, the rest of your Empire?

“Yet, we do not look at a cobra and hope that it is merely a overgrown worm.” You said, holding your head up high, standing up straight. “We should not look at this and hope to the Gods that it is not The Sick.”

Laswell stayed silent, her eyes on yours as you gathered your thoughts.

“We enforce a quarantine, alongside a curfew so that we can restrict the hours of when The Sick is passed on.” You decided with a small nod. “Inform Captain Price of this, spread the word amongst the guards.”

“Yes, Empress.” Laswell said with a nod, however, she had not moved from her spot in front of you. She would not until you dismissed her.

With a wave of your hand, and turning in your heel, the silent command was enough for her to barely bow her head and walk away.

“If Farah Karim arrives before I am aware, bring her straight to me.” You called out after her before she was able to reach the grand doors of the war room, the red banners on either side of the great wooden doors.

Your close friend turned over her shoulder and gave you a small nod. “Of course, Empress.”

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄���⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

Your fingers impatiently tapped on the armrest of your throne, each tap-tap-tap sending an odd sensation through the tip of your index finger, you couldn't decide if it was painful or just a simple sensation. Your other hand held up your head, palm resting on your chin, sleep pulling on your eyes that you couldn’t give into. Not now.

“Captain Price, are you telling me that your scouts have brought me naught, even after days worth of patrols?” You finally hissed out, the hand that was resting under your chin slamming on the armrest of the hard throne you sat upon. The noise of the slam of your hand echoed throughout the throne room, causing a small grimace from Captain Price and Laswell.

Captain Price subtly shifted his weight, he had nothing and he knew that the lack of information was only going to add to the building anger and frustration that only lingers inside of you. “That is exactly what I am telling you, Empress.”

You let out a quiet breath, rubbing your eyes. “Then why is it you stand there and waste my time with information on nothing, Captain?”

“My apologies, Empress.” Captain Price apologised, his eyes not daring to meet yours while in this angered state, you were angered enough and he was not willing to add to that already boiling feeling. “You told me to inform you once they returned.”

You were silent for far to long, the man wasn't wrong and, therefore, you were half unjustified in your outburst to him, and it was enough for Laswell to signal for Captain Price to leave. And, so, he did, without another utter from his mouth. Laswell, however, did not move from her spot just beside and below your throne.

“I am tired of this, Laswell, of the endless waiting. His army could attack us at any moment, our Kingdom, let alone our Empire, cannot afford a moment of vulnerability, and our scouts are finding nothing." You said with an edge to your tone.

“Once Commander Karim arrives, the Kingdom will be more secured with her army inside of our walls.” Laswell reassured you, she was tempted to take a step towards you, but she restrained herself from doing so.

You looked up at Laswell, slumping in the magnificent throne that you could call yours, chin resting on the palm of your hand once more. Half of your mind believed the words that your advisor were saying, or maybe it wasn’t 'belief', it was wishing. Regardless, the other part of your mind was completely and utterly against the reassuring words that Laswell tried to offer you with because, really, what were the chances that your close friend - the Commander - was going to be able to help against his army.

“Perhaps.” You simply responded with. "Perhaps you speak some truth, Kate.”

Laswell opened her mouth to speak again, however, Captain Price walked back in. Your head turned to the direction of where he was once the grand doors to the throne room, confusion contorted on your face when you saw him.

“What is it, Captain?” You questioned, eyes narrowing at his sudden reappearance. “You walk in here after being dismissed, unannounced?”

"Commander Karim has arrived." Captain Price quickly informed you.

And, almost on cue, none other than Farah Karim walked through those large doors that were now extended widely, welcoming the sight of you sitting on your throne and the clear view of Farah walking through the door with a taller man by her side.

You grinned, taking in the considerably missed friend of yours, standing quickly as you started to walk down the steps that led up to the grand, dark throne of yours - the charcoal fabric of your regal gown sprawled out on the stairs.

"Farah!" You called out to where she was on the other side of the room, walking towards you as the two of you strode to meet in the middle. "It has been such a long time, dear friend."

Once the two of you had met in the middle, you gave her a firm hug, your head on her shoulder and hers on yours. The two have you hadn't seen each other in years, really only keeping up with irregular letters to one another. You would be quick to say that this is one of the few of your allies that you would want to visit without a reason to, however, visiting while both of your lives were compact with chaos was not a feat you could accomplish.

"It has been, Empress." Farah responded, the two of you withdrawing from the pleasant hug. "Although, I wish it were under better circumstances. You think your Kingdom is going to be ambushed?"

"I believe that the Empire is at stake of an ambush." You corrected, your hands finding themselves clasped behind your back, stance poised and refined. "If he finds his army here, if he breaks through our defences and our walls, then he will surely find a way to control the Empire in its entirety."

"By attacking the core of it." Farah concluded with a small nod, causing you to nod in confirmation. "You think Makarov will dare bring a fight someplace where he has a disadvantage?"

You could tell your expression showed on of darkness when Makarov's name was brought up, he'd been a constant problem, but one you struggled to solve when he had done nothing directly wrong to you, your Empire or any of your allies in the recent times you've discussed allyship with these groups.

"I believe he could planning such a thing, yes." You answered back, a small bow of your head as if you were acknowledging the fact for the first time.

You could tell there was a hint of hesitance in her eyes, there was no hard evidence of an ambush and, therefore, no real proof as to why she and her army should be here. Let alone the possibility of her army catching The Sick, which could only result in the spread of the disease throughout Urzikstan. Her people and her country had gone through enough these recent seasons, you knew she didn't want any further issues on her hands.

She was trying to figure out what to do in only a matter of seconds, you knew it, because you do the exact same thing as her. The only difference if that no one else can see what is going on in your head like you could see what was going on in Farah’s head, most of the time.

There was a subtle glance at the man beside her, who you had just now realised was still there. He was taller than her, larger too, with blond, fluffy hair and blue eyes. You wondered why your dear friend had glanced at this stranger, as if having to wordlessly check with him whether or not this was a good idea.

There were no words spoken, no subtle signals or gestures that signified to you that the two were somehow communicating with one another, as if telepathically. However, after that split second glance, the Commander looked back at you and gave you a nod.

“If you are certain that Makarov’s army will try to attack the Empire directly.” Farah started, her arms crossed over her chest as she maintained eye contact with you. “Then, you will have my forces to aid you, if this comes to pass.”

“You have my greatest gratitude, Farah.” You said with a grin, placing your hands on her shoulders. “I feared that you would not arrive in time, and see the downfall of an Empire my family fought so hard to build.”

Farah gave you smile back, looking up slightly to meet your fond gaze. “Anytime, Empress.”

“How is it that you suspect Makarov’s forces will come here?” The man that arrived in the throne room with Farah asked. “Have you gained any insight as to why?”

You removed your hands from Farah’s shoulders, clasping them behind your back again and locking eyes with this stranger. He didn’t have an accent like yours or Farah’s, so he certainly wasn’t from around your Empire and he wasn’t native to Urzikstan.

“You want to doubt my judgment?” You questioned, sharp eyes locking with his in a silent challenge to not look away from this cold gaze.

The man shifting subtly where he stood, taking a quick glance to Farah, before looking back at you. “I do not inte-”

Farah cleared her throat, her eyes landing on the floor for only a moment before sending a glance at this man again. “Empress, forgive him, he isn’t trying to doubt you in anyway.”

Your eyes didn’t depart from the man’s, and neither did his from yours, almost as if he didn’t wish to back down from that silent challenge you gave him mere moments ago.

Soon enough, your eyes ripped away from him and went back to Farah. “Do you care to introduce me to this man, or shall I continue making assumptions? I usually know those close to you and, yet, this man is a mystery.”

You were being pushy, however, this man had already implied that he was doubting your belief that Makarov was going to make a move to attack, and you never did take kindly to that.

“This is my companion Alex Keller.” Farah introduced given the suggestion to do so. “He joined Urzikstan’s liberation force a year ago.”

As Farah introduced this 'Alex Keller', he gave a small bow of his head, not giving a full greeting as others would have done, but you were less bothered with that than the doubt he carried about you.

You recognised the name and, annoyingly so, you couldn’t place your finger on the reasoning as to why for the life of you. You stared at Alex for a few more seconds.

“Your name is familiar.” You said with a quieter voice, accusatorily, suspiciously. “I have heard it before, I am certain.”

A small look of concern flashed across his face, he and Farah shared a look. The shared look between them, like before, did not go unnoticed, for some strange reason it only infuriated you further.

Alex Keller. The name was stuck in your head, the name was important, for some reason. Though, it was hard to remember exactly why. You were always told dozens upon dozens of names, some of allies or those who were in power and some names which were criminals and enemies of the Empire.

The two were silent, and you almost forgot about Laswell, who was still stand behind you a few metres away.

"Alex Keller." She spoke up finally, her sharp tone breaking the deathly silence between the five of you. "He's a criminal of the Empire, Empress, you're Father declared it before his untimely passing and your rule."

Her voice caused you attention to be brought back to her, only remembering the fact that she and Captain Price were still in the room. How could you have forgotten?

"Alex Keller." You repeated with a small scoff, the amount of spite in your voice would have been enough to make eyes be cast towards the floor, turning back to Alex. You knew you could always trust Laswell to remember some subjects when you couldn't.

Alex Keller, a man who was once a trusted knight amongst those who worked closely for your father when he was Emperor. However, when Farah's forces first emerged, they were considered a threat and your father had decided to not build an allyship with them, making sure that there was no communication with them.

However, after a few series of unfortunate events revolving around stolen weapons, Alex Keller had been sent to Urzikstan where he refused to come back as the Empire were denying any help towards Commander Karim and her army.

Of course, after you came into power when your parents passed, you had jumped at the chance to help Farah's forces, wanting to create an allyship between Urzikstan's Liberation Force and your Empire, seeing an opportunity your Father had so easily turned away from. The whole idea of your Father turning his back on people who needed help made your gag with disgust, however, you never remembered why you never thought to clear Alex's name. Perhaps you forgot all about this traitor?

There seemed to be a flash of panic in his eyes when your cold, hard gaze locked back on his. Though, the man was able to quickly cover it up, probably to make sure you didn't think that you had more power over him than you already did.

"You come back here after my Father forbade it?" You questioned, surely a sickening grin on your face. "I could have you arrested on sight for this, or, even, killed."

You weren't one to question your Father's decisions, not when he seemed to make so much sense when making them. Or maybe you were just too young and naïve to see the stupidity in the majority of his actions. Either way, you were taught to go along with his ideas and you weren't about to go back on that, not now that it would mean judging a dead man's wishes.

"Empress, ULF is now a ally to your Empire, we thought that it would be allowed." Farah said, a hint of confusion in her voice, but it was hard to seek out when you heard the natural calm to her tone.

You let out a small hum, not moving your eyes away from Alex, you weren't going to look away first this time. "I am very much aware, thank you, Farah. However, this man is a criminal to the Empire, a judgement passed down by the previous Emperor."

"And, yet, you called for my forces to aid you." Farah replied with a hint of aggression in her voice, it had been a long time since you had heard that tone, specifically towards you. "That means my forces would have to come here, which means you called for him as well as he is my Combat Lieutenant."

"And, yet, you both know he is an criminal in the eyes of the Empire." You responded, you did not linger on the fact that he was now Combat Lieutenant, it was something you’d investigate later as you thought Farah’s brother, Hadir, formerly had the role. "You still brought him here, Commander."

There was a deathly silence amongst all that was in the room, you would have been able to hear a pin drop if someone dared to even move a muscle to drop a pin. You and Alex's eyes were unmoving from each other's gaze, nether of you were going to look away, nether of you even dared to think of being the first to do so.

“My supposed ‘crimes’ should not be validated as such anymore.” Alex finally spoke up, causing Farah to cautiously glance over at him “Farah and her army are your Empire’s allies. I am now part of that, does that not mean that I, too, am an ally now?”

A sick grin plastered on your face, there was a certain need that you had to prove that Alex wasn't what he and Farah were saying he was. You had to listen to your father's wishes, despite him being dead now. “I suppose you are quite right with that…”

Once more the three of you turned into silence, Laswell and Captain Price still lingering in the background of the tensed conversation. You wondered if they were to excuse themselves soon, they were, afterall, no help to the conversation between you, Commander Farah and Alex.

Soon enough, Alex broke the eye contact with you, looking over at his Commander, where Farah was still staring at you.

Now that Alex had broken eye contact with you first, unlike the previous time when you did, you finally spoke up. “I will allow him to stay.”

“Thank you, Empress.” Farah said with a small nod, but she had no time to add anything else onto her gratitude as your words had cut through the grand room with a sharp edge to it.

“However,” you quickly cut her off, glaring daggers at Alex once more, your voice harsh and cold. “If this man does a single thing that might suggest he is what my father accused him of, he is to leave before I am able to get my own hands on him.”

There was a moment of silence, uncertain eyes from the man meeting Farah’s, as if he there was actually a hint of worry behind the persuasive words he had spoken only moments before.

“I can assure you, Empress, he is not what the former Emperor titled him to be. However, it is a deal.” Farah declared with a confident nod of her head, she knew that the man Alex truly was was the opposite of what your Father had entitled him to be.

A satisfied hum escaped your mouth, a small grin pulling at your lips. Your stance shifted, as if to get straighter - despite you already standing tall in front of the two in front of you. Your hands were behind your back, clasped together with your head high.

“I would take your word for it, my friend.” You simply said, not caring to elaborate as to why. In fact, Farah seemed to hang on your words, expecting an explanation as to why. However after a moment, she realised she wasn’t going to get one, and you could see the subtle shift in her expression.

“Laswell.” You called, turning to where your closest advisor and friend stood. “Escort Commander Karim and Alex Keller to the spare room of the East wing of the castle, I expect they and Karim’s army will be staying here for a long period of time and I want them to be situated with the proper expectations.”

“And of Commander Karim’s soldiers?” Laswell questioned lightly, her footsteps echoing throughout the hall as she walked towards you, Alex and Farah.

You remained in thought for a few moments, your eyes landing on Captain Price’s. “Captain, be sure to find someplace suitable for the Commander’s army to stay in our army’s barracks, see to it that there is room for them for the foreseeable future.”

“Yes, Empress.” Captain Price said with a quick nod before taking his final leave, walking swiftly across the hall to the grand doors, he had stayed much pass his stay.

Your eyes landed on Farah’s again, an unfamiliar, pleasant smile on your face, a smile you haven’t given to anyone for a while. “My friend, you and your army can rest for the rest of the day, we will talk of strategy Midday tomorrow. I’m sure your travels have been exhausting.”

“Thank you, friend.” Farah said with a quick, appreciative nod of the head and a small smile pulling at her lips.

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

The sun had peaked through the leaves on the trees in the majestic garden that went in for miles and miles, flowers and plants alike alive and well, all thanks to the gardeners that worked hard to keep that majestic garden, well… majestic.

It wasn’t often that you would find yourself walking amongst the various vibrant colours that cascaded the landscape, you always found yourself much to busy with your duties to slip away and bathe in the peacefulness of the garden. However, you were awaiting for the Commander to be well rested before you and she talked strategy.

Afterall, her and her men had travelled far for a simple conversation over strategic and a suspicion that Makarov's army was going to invade your Empire. You owed Farah and her army the right to rest after countless days of travelling for such a small correspondence that could have been discussed with letters.

However, you were not going to give them more than that. You had summoned them for business, not pleasure, and you needed to have long strategic conversations with Commander Karim.

And Alex Keller.

How you hated how you didn't recognise that traitorous man the second you saw him! How disappointed your father would have been if he saw you speak so fondly in his presence. Yes, you were not talking to him in such a manner, but you were speaking in a manner near him, and that could not be acceptable. You thought so, anyway.

You had to shake your head to rid yourself of these thoughts, your father was a cruel man (though, you couldn't deny his brilliance when he was ruling the Empire) and you swore that you were no longer going to let him infest your mind long after he was dead.

"You have a beautiful garden." You heard suddenly, a deep voice pulling you from your thoughts, causing you to swivel around to face where it came from.

Speak of the devil...

"Truthfully," Alex continued, a hand motioning out to the flowers on his left, his other hand behind his back, "I have yet to see a single flower dying, they are all perfectly healthy, it seems."

"Your attempts at flattery will not work on me," You said with a cold tone, your hands clasped together in front of you as your eyes locked on his blue ones, "I have my thoughts on you and I do not believe you can sway them on your own."

“There was no attempt at flattery, I assure you. It was simply an observation.” Alex had responded with a little bow of his head, a quick show of submission, of friendliness in a way.

"I am surprised to see you here." You stated, looking around the surroundings as if to check if there was anyone else from Farah's army around, "It is not quite yet midday and you have come far, surely you would like to rest before we get into such a serious topic."

There was a soft hum that escaped Alex's lips, a tilt of the head before he spoke. "Perhaps I should, however, your suspicions are one that I fear I cannot ignore."

"Ah, eager, I see." You mused, your lips upturning into a grin. "Is this, perhaps, a scheme to find out what you can, before running along to give this information to a certain someone?"

There was a moment, a flash of panic in Alex's eyes. There was a moment where he, completely, regretted coming to find you when he did not have Commander Farah to vouch for him as she did the previous day.

His expression eased when you slowly shook your head and let out a laugh. "I do not trust you, Alex Keller, but I do not believe you are a spy for Makarov, that is far from what you were deemed as by the previous Emperor."

"I have a feeling that you will not trust me the entirety of my time here." He said with a little, amused huff, but he was far from amused.

You grinned at that, looking over at him with a stern look in your eyes that didn't match the upturn of your lips. "That feeling is correct, I will not trust you and my eyes will be on you as long as you remain within my palace walls."

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Masterlist

Tags: @rmikaelson01 @bumblebeesfromvenus

[local-crying-boy]

There’s a Alex Keller x Reader (fantasy AU) thing I was working on about a year ago and it’s still in my drafts. I have ZERO motivation so I’m thinking of just giving up and putting it out into the world from what I have rn

Sooooo yeah. Guess if you were excited over the updates I was giving over them sorry about thattttt I’m just gonna post it without finishing it cause I’m not rlly into cod and cannot for the LIFE OF ME finish it

[local-crying-boy]

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

𝒞𝑜𝓂𝓅𝑜𝓈𝓊𝓇𝑒 || 𝒫𝒾𝑒𝓉𝓇𝑜 𝑀𝒶𝓍𝒾𝓂𝑜𝒻𝒻 || 𝒜𝓃 𝑀𝒞𝒰 𝐹𝒶𝓃𝒻𝒾𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Warnings: kind of violence?, not proof read

Summary: The Team arrives at the Salvage Yard,  and some familiar faces appear along with a new one with a familiar voice... robot... Automated voice?

Word Count: 3.8k

Masterlist

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

𝒞𝑜𝓂𝓅𝑜𝓈𝓊𝓇𝑒 - 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝑜𝓊𝓇 - 𝒜 𝓋𝒾𝓈𝒾𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝒶𝓁𝓋𝒶𝑔𝑒 𝒴𝒶𝓇𝒹

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

We had all moved into Stark and Banner’s lab, regrouping and nursing the wounds that we - some of us, at least - had taken. Stark had been standing by one of the remains of one of his suits, Thor was attempting to follow where the suits had flown off to with Loki sceptre, Rhodey and Romanoff were standing beside each other - Rhodey holding his injured shoulder -, Rogers had been standing by one of the tables, Bruce was on the other side of where Steve was standing, Agent Hill was trying to get the glass out of her foot and Barton was standing over by the railings with his hands grasping onto it. 

I had settled on one of the chairs, taking out the glass that had been lodged into my thigh, wrapping it up in a bandage and cleaning up the blood that was down my leg. I had started to get really good at taking care of my own injuries since joining S.H.I.E.L.D., so much so that it started to seem extremely normal to get hurt five times a month.

“All our work is gone.” Bruce said aloud eventually, breaking the eerie silence that had fallen around us. “Ultron cleared out, used the internet as an escape hatch.”

“Ultron.” Rogers repeated, one had resting on the table he was near.

This time Natasha spoke up next, turning to look back at the group. “He’s been in everything. Files, surveillance. Probably knows more about us than we know of each other.” 

That hit a little too close, I felt how the shivers ran down my spine as my heart sank to my stomach. If anyone I knew was hurt because of this robot, I had no idea how I was going to live.

“He’s in your files, in the internet.” Rhodey started, walking across the room as he continued. “What if he decides to access something a little more exciting?”

“Nuclear codes.” Agent Hill answered, pausing from what she was doing and looking up.

“Nuclear codes.” Rhodey repeated, he then stopped walking in, around, the middle of the room. “Look, we need to make some calls, assuming we still can.”

“Nukes?” Romanoff questioned, "He said he wanted us dead.”

“Extinct.” I corrected, causing Natasha to look my way.

Then, Rogers added on. “He didn’t say ‘dead’, he said ‘extinct’.” 

Finally, Barton spoke up, taking a few steps towards the little stairway. “He also said he killed someone.”

“There wasn’t anyone else in the building.” Agent Hill stated, looking up at where Clint was standing.

“Yes, there was.” Stark said, walking to the middle of the room, where JARVIS - or, the remains of what JARVIS was - appeared. 

Bruce slowly walked over to where JARVIS was, hands extended as he looked down at the orange hologram, while Stark moved to the opposite side, hands in his pockets. “What…? This is insane.”

“JARVIS was the first line of defence.” Steve said, arms crossed over his chest and head hung low. “He would have shut Ultron down. It makes sense.”

“No,” Bruce corrected, “Ultron could have assimilated JARVIS. This isn’t strategy, this is… rage.”

There were heavy stomps coming from behind Stark, causing my head to turn to see a certain God storming towards the billionaire. His face contorted into one of anger, eyes fixated on the man in front of him.

Stark turned around to where Thor was walking over to him, but wasn’t given much time to react - like the rest of us - when Thor wrapped his hand around his throat. Thor held Stark up in the air, causing the room to tense.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” I heard Rogers shout.

I stood from the chair I was sitting on, taking a small step towards the scene in front of me, before I hesitated. This was a God, there was little I could do to stop him - even if I could calm him down like I did with that enhanced, Pietro, I wasn’t sure if it would work the same on Thor.

“It’s going around.” Barton said quietly to himself.

“Come on, use your words, buddy.” Stark managed to croak out, as his hands grasped onto the hand that was around his neck.

Thor took a few more steps before he stood still, “I have more than enough words for you, Stark.”

When tensions didn’t seem to cease, and Stark looked like he was about to pass out from the lack of oxygen he was receiving, I started to take a few steps towards Thor. I reached out, a hand on his forearm as I focused on his heartbeat - which was beating rapidly - and started to focus on calming him down.

Thor was swift to drop Stark down, his stern expression didn’t cease but I could feel how he calmed down - even if it was only a bit. Stark stumbled back and I went towards Stark, making sure he stood up without wobbling.

“The Legionaire.” Steve said, staring down Thor.

Thor stared at where Stark was for a few moments, before he looked up and over at where Rogers was. “The trail went cold around 100 miles out, but it’s headed North. And it has the sceptre. Now, we have to retrieve it, again.” 

“Genie’s out of that bottle.” Natasha added, “Clear and present is Ultron.”

“I don’t understand,” Doctor Cho spoke, having been standing where Stark was standing originally by the ruined suit. “You built this program. Why is it trying to kill us.”

Stark didn’t reply at first, but I felt my eyes narrow in confusion when I started to hear him giggling. Bruce shook his head, making faint noises to signal Stark to be quiet.

“Really not a laughing matter.” I muttered under my breath. “Blood thirsty robot.” 

“You think this is funny?” Thor asked, which caused Stark to turn around and respond.

“No.” He started, “It’s probably not, right? This is very terrible. Is it so… It is so. It’s so terrible.”

Thor started to take a few steps towards Stark, “This could have been avoided if you hadn’t played with something you don’t understand.” 

“No, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. It is funny. It’s a hoot that you don’t get why we need this.” Stark quickly said, walking up towards Thor so they were a few inches away from each other.

“Tony, this may not be the time.” Bruce chimed in.

Stark turned around to face Banner, “Really? That’s it? You just roll over, show your belly every time someone snarls?”

“Only when I created a murder bot.” He responded.

“We didn’t. We weren’t even close.” Stark quickly spoke, his arms extended outwards. “Were we close to an interface?” 

Bruce shrugged in response, but my eyes were soon fixated onto Rogers when he started speaking. “Well, you did something right. And you did it right here. The Avengers were supposed to be different than S.H.I.E.L.D.” 

Though, Stark was quick to counter his words. “Anyone remember when I carried a nuke through a wormhole?”

“-No, it’s never come up.” Rhodey spoke up sarcastically.

“Saved New York?” Stark empathised.

I heard my sigh before I even realised I exhaled. “No one has forgotten that, Stark, but that isn’t the point here.” 

“No, but that is the point.” He said, looking over at me. “A hostile alien army came charging through a hole in space. We’re standing 300 feet below it.”

He paused for a moment, looking over to his teammates. “We’re the Avengers. We can bust arm dealers all livelong day, but that up there, that’s… That’s the endgame. How were you guys planning on beating on that?”

“Together.” Steve responded simply.

“We’ll lose.” 

“Then, we’ll do that together, too.” 

“Thor’s right, Ultron’s calling us out.” Steve said after a moment of silence between us all, “And I’d like to find him before he’s ready for us. The world’s a big place, let’s start making it smaller.” 

It was a couple of days after Stark’s party was attacked by Ultron when the team band together to try and find where Ultron was. Myself, Steve and Agent Hill were in the elevator as we caught up Rogers on what we found. Myself and Hill, since we were still S.H.I.E.L.D. agents worked on finding anywhere that Ultron had shown his - metal - face.

“He’s all over the globe. Robotics labs, weapons facilities, jet propulsion labs.” Hill said, as the three of us walked through the newly-wrecked room and towards the stairs. “Reports of a metal man, or men, coming in and emptying the place.”

“Fatalities?” Rogers asked.

“Only when engaged.” I answered from behind the two of them, looking down as I walked up the stairs with them. “Some guys left is some fugue state - a dissociated state - rambling about worst fears and old traumatic memories and ‘something too fast to see’, so I think we know who that leads us to.” 

“Maximoffs.” Rogers cleared up, before he continued on, “That makes sense he’d go to them, they have someone in common.”

“Not anymore.” Hill corrected, pulling up the image of Strucker’s dead body on the tablet she was holding. 

The three of continued to walk until Agent Hill went to take her leave. I was going to leave with Hill, until Rogers had turned to me. “Winslow, we could use the extra help.”

“Really?” I asked, taken aback seeing as this was now officially Avengers-only business, I was meant to head back to go back to my usual work.

“Yeah.” He said with a nod, a little smile pulling on his lips. “Like I said, we could use the help.”

I nodded slowly, letting out a little laugh. “Yeah, yeah, alright.”

The two of us continued to head up to where the others were, needing to catch the others up on Strucker’s death and the appearances of, not just Ultron, but the two enhanced individuals - Pietro and Wanda Maximoff.

“That’s a negative, I answer to you.” My head turned upwards to the voice that I heard, Barton, “Yes, Ma’am.”

“Barton. Might have something.” Rogers spoke when we got to the top, seeing that Barton was on the phone to someone.

“I gotta go.” He said to the person on the other side. 

“Who was that?” Rogers asked.

Barton shrugged, motioning with his hand that was holding his phone. “Girlfriend.”

Rogers, clearly, thought nothing of it. Turning around to walk away, not lingering much on it. I, however, remembered something he had said a few days prior, when he was hurt on the mission where we got Loki’s sceptre.

“Wait-” I tried to say, but he quickly shook his head and walked away. “What?”

“C’mon let’s go,” He simply said.

We headed towards the others in time to hear Rogers inform the other Avengers. “A message, Ultron killed Strucker.”

Thor had slapped the tablet against Stark’s chest, he had switched it over and looked over the image. “And he did a Banksy on the crime scene, just for us.”

“This is a smoke screen.” Romanoff said, looking up at the others from where she had sat, “Why send a message when you’ve just given a speech?”

“Strucker knew something that Ultron wanted us to miss.” Steve said, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Yeah, I bet he…” She said, typing on the computer in front of her. “Yeah. Everything we had on Strucker’s been erased.”

“Well, that’s helpful.” I muttered under my breath, walking up beside Banner.

“Not everything.” Rogers corrected.

“Oh, great.” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. “Files.”

There were numerous boxes of endless fails that we all had to read through to find out what Ultron didn’t want us to find. I could feel the migraine coming in as I read through the files that I read, starting to skim through the words that I could see instead of actively trying to read what I was seeing.

There were many times where I caught the words merging together, needing to squeeze my eyes shut to try and reset my mind and pull my focus back together.

“Baron Strucker had a lot of friends.” Steve said once he opened another box.

I mused under my breath as I rubbed my face, I was never one who could read for a long period of time - or retain this much information. “Would’ve been a hell of a lot easier if he didn’t.”

“Well, these people are all terrible.” Bruce commented as he looked through the papers in his hand.

“Wait, I know that guy.” Stark pointed at one of the papers that Banner was holding, taking it once Banner held it out for him, “From back in the day, he operates off the African coast. Black market arms.”

The comment earned an annoyed glare from Steve.

“There are conventions, alright? You meet people. I didn’t sell him anything.” Stark deadpanned, staring back at Rogers, before he looked away and continued speaking. “He was talking about finding something new, a game-changer. It was all very ahab.”

“This?” Thor questioned, looking at the picture of this guy.

“It’s a tattoo,” Stark answered, “I don’t think he had it.”

Thor shook his head subtly, pointing at a different place in the picture that I couldn’t see, “Those are tattoos, this is a brand.”

From the side, where Bruce was sitting over at one of the computers, he spoke up. “Oh, yeah. It’s a word in an African dialect meaning ‘thief’. In a much less friendly way.”

“What dialect?” Rogers asked, all eyes fell on Bruce.

“Wakanada? W-Wa-Wakanda.” 

There was a look of realisation between Stark and Rogers, Tony looking over at Steve. “If this guy got out of Wakanda with some of their trade goods…”

“I thought your father said he got the last of it.” Rogers responded.

“I don’t follow.” Bruce said, standing up from where he sat, walking over to the rest of us.

I chimed in quietly, “Yeah, neither do I. What comes out of Wakanda?”

Rogers’ eyes fell over to where his shield was propped up against some boxes on the floor. “The strongest metal on Earth.” His gaze moved towards Stark again, “Where is this guy now?”

Salvage Yard, African Coast, 2015

When we arrived on the African Coast, by a salvage yard, we hid someplace out of sight before we had an opening to get inside. With a quick disagreement within the team on how we should get in and handle this since we couldn’t actually see or hear inside to find said opening to get inside, I had to swiftly remind the team of my powers, which caused me to be in my current predicament.

Head raging with a heavy pounding that I could feel behind my eyes, my heart racing in my own chest as I tested the limits of how far I could hear. My hands clasped together once again, like they had been a few days ago when we fought in Sokovia, shaking subtly as my mind did mental gymnastics for this.

Eventually, however - even with the hesitant glances that the team had, glances they thought I didn’t notice - I was finally able to hear inside. This time, although, was much different to how it used to be. A wave of sounds of different heartbeats, just like any other time, had overwhelmed my hearing, but there was something else to it, something that I hadn’t been able to do beforehand.

Chatter between the men inside filled my ears, faint over the heartbeats, but still there. Too much to focus on to actually hear the topics of conversation, but I could hear them nonetheless.

I attempted to focus on one voice, one that would stick out, the man we were looking for. “Don’t tell me your men swindled you. I sent you six short-range heat-seekers and got a boat full of rusted parts…”

“Holy mother of-” I breathed out, a little amazed grin pulling on my lips. “I can hear them.”

“Can’t you usually?” Barton asked with furrowed eyes.

“No, no, I mean…” I muttered quietly, my attention faltering on the inside, causing the sounds inside to fade away. “I heard talking, not just heartbeats.”

“Focus on it, Winslow.” I heard from beside me, Rogers who looked like he had a slither of hope for me during this - unlike some of the others.

I nodded and muttered a ‘yes cap’n’, before clasping my hands back together and focusing in on the conversation that was being had.

“...Where were we?” You focused in on, eyes furrowing in confusion as the chatter inside died down, and yells inside started to fill your ears.

“Power’s gone down.” I muttered under my breath, probably just about loud enough to have Rogers and Romanoff hear me since they were closest.

I flinched, the loud gunshot pulling my focus for a split second, I felt my heart drop at the sound. “A shot was fired.”

“Yeah, the Enhanced.” You heard finally, confirming that no one was actually hit from that shot. “Strucker’s prized pupils…”

“Maximoffs are there.” I informed, then heard Rogers, Stark and Thor form a plan to get inside, but I wasn’t too focused on where they were going as it left myself, Natasha and Barton remaining.

“I was sorry to hear about Strucker. But then, he knew what kind of world he was helping create.” You focused back on what was being said. “Human life. Not a growth market.”

“Winslow?” I heard Barton say, clearly wondering why I wasn’t saying anything else.

I shook my head, summarising what  I had heard. “The twins didn’t know Strucker’s true intentions- ah, they’re trying to intimidate him but… it’s not working. He’s… going on about Cuttlefish…? What-”

“Cecila.” Barton said, a little firmer now.

“I know- I know.” I quickly said to reply, shaking my head, “You’re making it harder to hear, Barton.”

“So if you’re going to fiddle with my brain, and make me see a giant cuttlefish, then I know you don’t do business and I know you’re not in charge.” There was a moment where he paused. “And I only deal with the man in charge.” 

Then I heard glass shattering, once again causing me to flinch, shaking my head slowly. “Ultron’s there.”

“That’s our cue.” Romanoff murmured, starting to make her move, Barton following and, a few paces behind, me.

Myself, Romanoff and Barton made our way inside of the ship, splitting up to take out any men that we could before reaching Ultron and the Maximoff twins. I had attempted to ease the growing anxiety within me by using my powers to try and count how many hostiles there were, but it was, ultimately, dozens that I was unable to properly count.

There might have been a chance I was relying too much on my powers and not my actual S.H.I.E.L.D. training. Though, there was the odd moment where I felt the drilled in instinct kick in, like it had now. If I couldn’t exactly make out how many people there were, I could, at least, be on guard and make it through like any other agent would.

There was some idle chatter that I couldn’t make out exactly, but I could hear the robotic voice of Ultron, which made me sure that Stark, Rogers and Thor went to go and talk with him. Once close enough to remain out of sight, but also be able to see the six of them, I peered over the edge of where I was, catching a mere glimpse before going back towards the shadows.

I caught quick glimpses of where Romanoff and Barton were, seeing them slowly make their ways around our team and our enemy, boxing them in from the higher ground we were at. 

Within a second, I heard the chaos erupt between my team and Ultron, seeing how two more robots appeared and started fighting Thor and Rogers, then as Stark made straight for Ultron. Then started the shooting, causing my head to whip around to where it was coming from.

Two men started to come my way, I muttered under my breath and took cover by going back behind the corner I had come out moments ago. Unsure if they had seen me, I waited until I was sure that they were just about to round the corner.

As soon as I heard one of them get close enough, I was swift to jump into action, elbowing him in the face and disarming him while he was taken aback from the hit. I wrapped my arm around his neck and shot the second guy twice - once in each shoulder, then pushed the first away before I shot him in a similar manner.

I turned back around to where Rogers and Thor were fighting, I watched that same blue-silver streak I saw back in Sokovia when we were retrieving Loki’s sceptre the first time round. Within split seconds, Rogers was on the floor after looking like he had been punched and the metal railings had a hole from where a certain speedster fell into.

I hummed in amusement, swift to make my way down to where this Pietro had fallen. Maybe it was time to get a little payback from the punch he landed when I first met him.

As I was running down one of the many sets of stairs, I had the commotion from on top of me, causing my eyes to go straight up. A large hole had formed, and the sounds of Stark’s suit got fainter, meaning that he and Ultron were taking this fight a little higher up than this ship would allow. I shook my head, looking back down and focusing on the speedster. 

I fought any of the men who got in my way, which actually wasn’t a lot, before I made it down to where this Pietro fellow was on the floor, leaning against numerous boxes. From on top, I heard Thor and Rogers fighting one of Ultron’s robots, but I decided to not focus on that.

As the silver haired man started to get up in a disoriented manner, I cleared my throat quietly. “This time I don’t have to make you stay still, how fortunate for me.”

He looked up at me, still trying to catch his bearings, it seemed. “I had to make a quick exit that time.”

“Oh, yes, I saw that.” I said with a slow nod. “Or, rather, I didn’t, just an empty forest when I really had the urge to get some payback on that punch.”

I watched as he stood up straight, he went to open his mouth to speak, but I didn’t give him the chance. I sprung into action, going straight for him, giving him a hard punch just as he did to me.

“Now, we’re even.” I hissed, watching as his hand flew to his nose, “But I should do more seeing as your little stunt almost killed my friend.”

“Almost.” He repeated, taking a moment before he looked back up at me with a little blood coming from his nose.

I was about to continue the fight, even though one had barely even started, before I heard footsteps from behind me. My hands were quick to go to my gun in my holster, holding it up as I swivelled on my heels, turning to the person who was coming my way.

The other twin, her eyes red and her hands lifted.