#“except for all the others” doing atlas-level lifting right now

[centrally-unplanned]

I would love to say reading about all the voters who think Biden is repealing abortion rights and so dont want to vote for him is shaking my faith in democracy but that would imply this is shocking to me and I had any to begin with.

[rachetmath]

Favorite (Characters)

Ruby: *barges in* RatchetMath!

Me: What is it Ruby?

Ruby: You’re showing favoritism.

Me: Okay. And?

Ruby: You need to stop. Why not draw us for once?

Me: Hm, maybe because I like Jaune more. Hell I like Penny and Neo more than you or your team.

Ruby: Why?!

Me: Because your team is horrible.

Ruby: So is team JNPR!

Me: Yeah, but only because they have to follow you. They have some individuality but we don’t explore that as much. Plus, your team would be dead without them. But you know what Ruby, I would rather draw Yang, Blake or any other character except Weiss than you right now.

Ruby: What?! But I’m-

Me: The main character that barely does main character things. Woman, Salem was in Atlas! Why was she not your top priority? Why was James your problem?

Ruby: Um well…

Me: Ruby, she knows your mother! She might know what happened to her! I get Yang was some levels your mom but shouldn’t learning what happened to your actual mom be just as important? Especially after that dark memory.

Ruby: That is true.

Me: You have silver eyes but you still don’t know how to use them. There was army of grimm around Mantle and that would have been good practice. And a better solution than Ren.

Ruby: But then I be overpowered.

Me: No. Ruby your silver eyes only work on one person. If someone sneaks up on you or doesn’t care about that light you give off then, you’re dead. Maria is proof on that.

Ruby: Um..

Me: Plus, the question that everyone in the audience could have an answer to is whether your silver eyes can even work on Salem. In all honesty, it proves the writer don’t keep track of the characters and their personalities to where they fit together in story. You know what I have been making skits, trying to be funny but… the jokes died. Look guys I-I’m sorry but… let me explain.

1. Ruby and Blake should have stayed in Mantle. Why?

1. Salem is the main villian. She knows Ruby’s mother. You know the same mother who left for a mission and didn’t come back. The same mother, who Ruby knows nothing about while everyone seems to have different perspectives of her. Or has a better clue on who she is, than Ruby herself. Plus wasn’t Salem after her too? She basically would be killing two birds with one stone by kidnapping Oscar and giving Ruby a reason to see her. That way Ruby isn’t assuming what happened to her mother. Let Salem antagonize Ruby. (Question: Can silver eyes work on Salem?)

2. Perfect training for silver eyes. Let’s face it, Ren proved to us he can mask a bunch of people without Jaune’s help. All he needed was concentration. However, Ruby is more effective because silver eyes seem to be able to destroy multiple grimm on sight. And with lives on the line that gives Ruby plenty of reason to start using them.

3. Ren calling Ruby out on her issues. Look I loved how Ren was willing to tell the truth, but him revealing Jaune cheated Beacon was… weak. Reason being it relates to Jaune’s character and Ren still follows Jaune’s orders. However, Ruby, who is supposed to be a prodigy because she came to Beacon two years ahead of her class, has not proven once that she is worthy of such praise. The only reason-The ONLY reason Ruby was enrolled into Beacon was her silver eyes. Ruby even in volume one has been nothing but liability. Initiations, she almost dies from a Stinger. Stake out, she almost got run over by a truck and it ended in failure. First mission, she gets kidnapped and almost destroyed a city block. Roman, a man with no semblance or aura continues to beat her four times in a row. And it gets worse. Ruby almost got her uncle killed. She was the first to get knocked out by Emerald. Almost dies by a robot and Godzilla. And the moment she arrived in Atlas her first move was to lie to James. She didn’t even try to stop Tyrian when she saw him. She had her gun with her too. Ren is not her sister, he might as well tell her the facts so she can do better.

4.  Blake is Faunus. Mantle hates faunuses. Why not have Blake help them to prove faunuses are people too? Let Blake represent her people. I mean Velvet and Sun represent faunses more than she does her whole existence. Blake also can relate to Ren’s problem. How? Blake was a part of the White Fang, so there were expectations she had to fulfill. Especially when trying to measure up to Adam. However, she explains the longer she was in the White Fang, the more she found out how messed up and extremely bias it was. Including with Adam to the point she decided to leave. She even states she was lucky that Yang even forgave her after all the trouble she caused her. Blake challenged her bias nature, and it made her stronger for it. Blake would be basically telling Ren the more he tries to live up to someone else’s expectations, without seeing their flaws, the more he loses touch with himself and everyone around him.

5.  Oscar shouldn’t have been able break out of Salem on his own: I’m sorry but… Oscar got beat up. Took a magic beam to the chest. Had to switch between him and Ozpin and mind you he had no aura to help him. He should be tired and unable to move. (In my opinion, this kid was given too much screen time. At first I was worried about him but now I’m wondering why was I worrying at all.)

2. Jaune and Yang should have gone to Atlas.

1. Penny is basically Pyrrha in the opposite light. Penny’s special because she’s a robot with a soul, a mind of her own and an attitude to prove it. She is just as human as everyone else, but no one seems to treat her as such. James only sees her as something of a weapon. Pietro treats her like child even though she’s more mature than the rest of the female cast, except Maria. And now with maiden powers, everyone is out casting Penny even more. Jaune is perfect for her because he has experience with this kind of issue. However, he would’ve had to take different route to the situation considering his failure with Pyrrha last time they had discussion on maiden powers or responsibilities (Destiny.).

2. Jaune already has been a part of maiden business since volume three. His reason to be with Penny would be make sure she doesn’t meet the same fate as Pyrrha or Amber. Not just for himself but for others around him. Especially since Cinder was in Atlas and is willing to hunt her down for the maiden powers. And James was willing to turn Penny into a soulless machine to follow his every command. (Actually, Watts is more a fault considering he hates Pietro.). James and Cinder are also opposite to Jaune in some ways.  James earned his position and earned respect from his military. Jaune on the other hand cheated, and unlike James might not have everybody’s respect. Cinder treats her allies like tools. And with power she just consumes and gives nothing return. Jaune however treats his allies like family. And instead of just taking power he gives power to others around him. He’s the reason Cinder has maiden powers. So, him making it his personal mission to make sure Cinder doesn’t get more power only increases his resolve to protect Penny. (Especially since he already had to kill her in the canon finale.)  In other words, James and Cinder purposed a challenge to Jaune. Can he pervert history from repeating itself? Can he really protect the maiden powers? Is he truly worthy of being a huntsman? What is he willing to risk in achieving his goal? (Also let’s be clear. Hazel beat Oscar down for the password to the relic. James shot the kid and was willing to let him fall to his death. Qrow intentionally punched the kid.  I don’t care if it was for Ozpin, he still punched Oscar. Lion before even knowing Oscar was Ozpin reincarnation was already about kill him anyways. All Jaune did was push him to a wall. Yes, Jaune still would have hurt Oscar, but he didn’t. He walked away.)  

3.  A lot of the situations could’ve been avoided or mattered if Jaune was there. Don’t believe me? Well let me explain. Was Ruby the only option when sneaking pass Central Command? No, because they had Weiss, Nora and Penny. Weiss could have done a freezer burn like in her fight with Marrow. Or Nora could have thrown her grenades and Penny just shoots them before the hit the ground or damage anything. Both causing a smoke screen, so no one sees them. Plus, they were already caught by using Pietro credentials. Did Nora need to get knocked out for the team to escape? No. If she had Jaune with her they could’ve one caused an EMP wave being Jaune has gravity and Nora has lightning. Or two, if Nora still went through with it, Jaune would have healed her immediately. Penny lifting and keeping the arena in place. If Jaune and Weiss were with her then once Amity was in position, Weiss with Jaune’s assistances can keep it place so Penny can come back inside and the whole video could be played. Also, Pietro would know what was going on with his daughter and can properly explain how to fix her. (Better than Jaune healing her.)

4. Nora’s whole character is knowing who she is without Ren right? Then why not just have her lead the evacuation once she’s done with Atlas? Why not have her and Yang work together along with the happy huntress to evacuate Mantle? Especially if their friends disappeared to save Oscar. (And before ya’ll tell me they can’t do it….. Yang, blocked a punch from a mech, held off a Manticore, and has a semblance that literally lets her take damage and dish it back five times harder. Nora who literally crushed Weiss and Yang in a food fight. Knocked a giant horse down on its knee. And knocked Hazel away.  Are you seriously saying these girls are not enough to take on a few little tigers? Come on!) If the whole point of Nora’s character development was finding out more about herself then let Nora try something without Ren. Let her call the shots. Let her take charge. Give her a character. (Hell don’t stop there. Have her interact with other characters. Like Jaune. Yang. Weiss. Or anyone other character than Ren. Let them tell her what they think about her. Let Nora be a solution to a character’s struggle. Ya’ll make it sound like Nora has no friends.)

5. All Yang needed was a break from Ruby and Blake. In all honesty Yang should have been the one to see the hounds face and kill it. Why? Well Ruby is Yang’s sister and only reminder of her nonblood related mother. And Blake is her girlfriend. And if we saw the hound’s face, we know it’s not just a silver eyed person. It’s also a faunus. This will give her a reason to protect both her loved ones because by seeing the hound she knows Salem intention with Ruby and want to keep her, and Blake from meeting the same fate of being turned into monsters. Yang should’ve been the 2nd to 4th member of team RWBY to fall. Why? One, a Yang vs Neo fight. Two, Cinder and Neo both wanted Ruby dead. So why not get rid of Ruby first? The fights would have been more thrilling and seeing the character, the show is named after, presumed to be dead would have added stakes and tension to the fight. (Also let me say this. Why is it, that the only great display of the maiden powers I’ve ever seen, was from Amber and not the maidens, as of now, Winter, Raven, and Cinder? The maiden powers are basically magic right? Why isn’t Cinder using any other element than fire?)

6. Weiss was completely useless. Look, as the saying goes, “You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family.” And when it came to Weiss and family, she has little to no clue of what it is nor deserves it. Weiss should have been more of an inspiration for Whitley to do right. How? By simply talking to him. What reason would she have other than Mantle? Simple, he’s her brother and she started off like him. Beacon, she was a brat. She was arrogant. And more importantly a jerk. Blake ran because of her racist attitude. Ruby literally had to impress her to prove she can be leader. Even though Weiss is not leadership martial herself.  Plus, hearing May and how she and her family never resolved their issues should inspire Weiss to not repeat that mistake. And guess what, her mom, Willow, the drinker of the family, wasn’t wrong. Both her and Winter left Whitley alone. Klein wasn’t there for him either. All Whitley had was his father. So Weiss, actually acting like his sister and trying to help him allows him to feel less alone. Instead Weiss was complete Jacque through out the entire volume.  

And that’s all.  Look I know I should have seen this coming but I had to say it.  Volume 8 could’ve been good. The problem was.

1.       Characters are not placed well within the story.

2.       We lost track of who said characters are.

3.       The ships are in the way.

4.       Being dumb for the plot. (Sometimes it’s necessary.)

[good-rwbyaus]

Au where Whitley has actually been running the bank accounts since he was young and keeping the group financially viable

#Rising Snow AU - mod lilac - [ next ]

1. Beginning

It started when his father, smelling like expensive liquors and overbearing perfume, shoved a packet of folders at him and stated “You deal with it. Your father has a hang- headache” before staggering off back to his bedroom to sleep off yesterday’s social gathering.  

He was ecstatic. His father began to trust him to handle things in the company. Before he was a mere fixture in the company, only present to speak pleasantries and let others know that Jacques Schnee had a well-bred son. But now he had responsibilities and power.  

Whitley Schnee, soon-to-be-heir of the Schnee Dust Company since Weiss didn’t seem to care about it and Willow just left to join Atlas, will show everyone his worth, starting with.... a whole lot of complaints about their customer service.

_______________________________________

2. Complaints

“This motor is covered under warranty. I still have the original receipt. You have to take it back.”

“Sorry, but the warranty only covers usage in automobiles. You said you tried installing it in a motorcycle, so your warranty is void.”

“...A motorcycle is an automobile, sir.”

“Look smartass, you’re getting on my nerves. You’re not going to get a refund from the Schnee Dust Company, got it?”

“Excuse me!? I want to talk to your manager. Now.”

“I am the manager. Now stop wasting my time.”

“Wh-” 

Click.

Whitley’s eyebrows creased sharply as he closed the Scroll. He took slow deep breaths trying to get rid of the anger trembling through his body. A Schnee is like ice. They do not show their rage unless they can leverage it for their purposes. His teeth gritted once more and relaxed.

Those two-faced bastards. He knew the customer service staff were no good when they started fawning over him, telling him that “of course they got complaints when they couldn’t fulfill their requests” or “we got everything under control.” 

In reality, they were all just disgusting liars who couldn’t do their job. If he hadn’t been suspicious of them, they might’ve gotten away with it. Those people had to be removed before they truly caused an incident; he cannot let such unsightly things remain. 

He picked up the phone.

________________________________________

3. Fired.

“You can’t do this to us! This is going against our contract.”

“Just because you’re your father’s son doesn’t mean you have any power here.”

“You’re going to speak to my lawyer about unfair dismissal, kid!”

It’s funny. The half-dozen or so people who were fawning over him just hours earlier were now cursing and shaming him. Of course they were angry. He just told them they were all fired a couple minutes ago and stopped saying anything when they started yelling like a mob. His lips trembled, trying to stop himself from smiling. 

Gods. He was so angry that he’s finding humor in it. Do they really think they have power here?

Bang. 

A bald-headed tall man - the manager he spoke to last - slammed his hands onto his desk, looming over him as if to intimidate him with the threat of physical violence. The noise made him flinch slightly, breaking his facade of calm and causing the other guy to smirk mockingly at him. 

Bastard.

This farce has gone on long enough.

“Okay. You can keep your jobs...”

Immediately, the six people leered triumphantly with the one at the head of the pack messing his desk up proudly stood up. 

“Good kid, see you know when you’re in the wrong.”

“Yeah, smart like your father,” said the man at his desk about to pat him on the head. Immediately, he swatted the man’s hand away.

“...as I gather the audio logs for our lawyers to peruse and determine how much damage you’ve done to the company’s image.”

That silenced the room better than a dead body being found in it. 

“If you didn’t do anything wrong, you’ll have my apologies and a bonus for your troubles. But if you’ve damaged our image... well, a company’s face is priceless - but I can definitely try to get back some recompense.” 

He lifted a finger which everyone else in the room followed.

“That’s your first option. The other option is to resign quietly, and I will not pursue this in the future. You can take the time to think about it. 

“You can-”

“You’re all dismissed. If you linger around a second longer,” he glared at the group, “I’m going to assume you’re taking the first option and want to be escorted out.” 

Immediately, upon realizing who had the actual power in the room, the group of six began to scramble out of the room, but just as the bald-headed manager exited out the door, Whitley spoke up. The words caused the man to stiffen up.

“Except you. You don’t get an option, manager. You're fired. Wait to hear from my lawyers.” 

He steepled his fingers together, a vicious satisfied smile on his lips. 

________________________________________

4. Security Card

...Okay. That was scary. He honestly thought that baldy was going to hit him at the very end. In the future, he was going to have a bodyguard in the room or Klein just in case. He loosened his vest slightly, the cloth sticking to his back from the cold sweat.

It was weird though. Why did something like customer service go all the way up to the level of the President?

Wasn’t that something for managers or department heads to solve?

“Maybe it’s just a test from father,” Whitley spoke out loud. He shook his head.

Yeah, that was probably it. 

----

Little did he know that his carelessly stated statement was caught by a hidden camera in his room.

---- 

The next day he found a folder on his desk and a white card with the label of 00 on it. 

________________________________________

5. Assignment

“Hey, Klein,” Whitley asked cautiously as the loyal man handed him a glass of water, “Did father come into my room yesterday?” 

He didn’t know what to make of the butler at times or how to treat him. Father said never to treat the help too kindly or they’ll take advantage of it, but Klein was someone he knew since he was born. He’s never seen him be anything but loyal and attentive. He wasn’t like the people he just dealt with.

Maybe he would’ve just dismissed him as just the help, but after having seen a very recent example of two-faced people, he couldn’t quite agree with his father’s assessment of Klein.

“Your father has gone on va-,” the man paused upon seeing the contents on the desk, particularly the white card on his desk. “That card?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a card like this before,” Whitley replied, “What does it actually do?”

Klein stared at the card quietly before saying, “Only the Master of the House could’ve given you that card. It will open every lock and file in the Schnee Dust Company. It means the Master has given you authority second to them.”

“Father must really trust me after I got results, right?” he proudly stated as he started shuffling through the documents. In doing so, he missed Klein’s smile, both proud and pained at the same time. 

The cursory review made his self-praising words die in his throat.

“Wait...He wants me to solve all these?!” Whitley yelled. It wasn’t that the entire packet consisted of a single problem. The entire seventy-two page packet was a large list of overdue problems and documents that required his attention. 

“Where’s father?”

“He’s currently on vacation. He won’t be here for a month.”

“Didn’t he just go on vacation two weeks ago? There should be someone to substitute while he’s gone?” 

“...No, sir. This is how it always has been.”

“Haha. You’re joking. Or is this part of the test, Klein?” He laughed but it soon died on his throat, seeing the man’s grim face. 

 “I will not lie to you, young master.” Klein remarked before adding with a nudge of his head, “There’s a note.”

He’s right. There was. The script was in cursive; it would’ve been elegant and soft if it weren’t for the shakiness in it. 

‘You have the right idea. Sometimes problems need to find the right people.’

________________________________________

6. Delegation

This was stupid. The purchasing of toilet paper or whether it had to be 2-ply or 3-ply or setting the price of bubble-gum at the employee store did not need to pass through the president’s desk.

Hell. It’s like anything that involved the tiniest amount of money or required the slightest authority needed to make its way to his desk. 

This was not a functional solution. He’ll die of exhaustion by the end of the week if that continued.

And the answers from the department heads were incredibly unhelpful.

‘It has always been this way.’

But it hasn’t. Looking through the records only he could access, everything changed when his father inherited the company from his grandfather. His father first fired anyone that disagreed with him and then diverted anything that looked like it involved money up to the very top. Maybe it was important back then, but those measures certainly didn’t need to be used now. 

His father ruled with an iron fist when it came to the company. No one dared to challenge his authority now. 

His father was smart. Intelligent. These actions didn’t match that. Was this just another one of his tests? He wanted to believe that, but...

‘The only person you can trust is yourself. Everyone else can betray you. Even family. Only trust others if you have power over them, that is trust.’

...It did match what his father would do. And if there was nothing else he learned from all those official dinners and parties, he knew how to read people, especially his father and his mercurial temper. 

With how many of these documents have been untouched and unread, what exactly is his father doing? 

Come to think of it. When was the last time his father sat in front of a computer instead of going on vacation or to one of his many dinners with his business associates?

He shook his head. Impossible. His father definitely worked hard. How else would this company be standing if he was that neglectful? Maybe these files were just like the 5% of untouched work since he had so much wor-

His screen flickered as he clicked on another file. The pillar of red pointing downwards made him pale. 

[ next ]

[ellavorer]

“And you know I’d never hurt you...” (or the first vore experience in the Borrower!Verse)

*Opens my laptop*

*Stretches out fingers*

I’ve been teasing this for a while and it’s finally here as an early Christmas present to y’all (and by y’all, I mean @gr00vyr0se, because she seems to be the only one interested in vore content for this specific fandom.

Warning: Vore and angst under the cut

So, by now, Alex and Ellen have warmed up to each other enough.

His family is now aware of the Borrower living in the walls of their house, after Jennifer saw her brother talking with to this tiny girl in the kitchen.

Ellen often hides in the pocket of Alex’s jacket when he attends college classes or goes to parties.

Now, in this universe, Borrowers have become an urban legend on the level of how people in the 80s thought that there was a ghost in Three Men and a Baby, or the whole “you’ll die if you mix pop rocks and soda” bull. Only it’s obviously real.

Based on how Alex has been acting recently, a lot of the students at Leland have figured out that he has befriended a Borrower.

But they’re not stupid and they don’t say anything directly to him.

Though, they think it would be fun to use it to mess with him.

Ellen accompanies Alex to a party held by the Theta Pi Sigma sorority, hiding in his jacket pocket as usual.

Mallory even surprised her by making a new outfit for the party (even though both Ellen and Alex pointed out that no one can see her at all).

Whenever no one seems to be looking, he checks in on her.

“You doing okay?” “Just a little too loud... but I like the song.” “Yeah, me too...”

And, yes, Ellex fans... it’s THEIR song that’s playing.

They stay silent for a while, Ellen nestling as close to his chest as she can, hearing his heartbeat and swearing it’s syncing up to the song.

“Ellen...” “What?”

Alex: Nothing.

Ellen: What is it?

Alex: Nothing. I-- nothing.

Ellen: You were gonna say something.

Alex: No, no, no, no. I thought I was gonna say something, and then I realized I wasn't.

Another few seconds of silence pass. Alex takes in the feeling of Ellen’s warm, tiny body snuggling to his chest.

Alex: Ellen...

Ellen: What?

Alex: Nothing. Uh, that time it was really nothing.

A group of obnoxious frat boys notice Alex supposedly talking to himself and decide to mess with him.

“Who are ya talkin’ to, Keaton?” one of them slurred, fairly sloshed.

Alex almost jumps, but is able to keep his composure. “Ju-- Just myself.”

Afraid that he might’ve been caught, he tries to make small talk to get them to go away.

But they’ve already noticed the little lump in his jacket pocket.

“Whatcha got there, Alex?” one of the boys ask, reaching for the pocket.

“Nothing!”

Ellen curls up in a ball, trying to avoid the grasp of the drunken young men.

But she feels fingers wrap around her body and lift her up.

“C’mon, Alex, you knew you couldn’t hide her forever! Everyone knows ‘bout her!”

Ellen yelps when Alex yanks her back.

“Leave her alone!” “But th’fun’s just starting!”

Alex is about to turn to leave when his stomach growls loudly.

“Hungry, Keaton? Well... y’do got a little snack right there.”

Alex’s face pales. “No!”

“Okay, then, but I’m pretty sure that there are a few others ‘round here that would appreciate a treat like her.”

The frat boy reaches back for Ellen, but Alex slaps his hand away.

“Fine. I’ll do it.”

Ellen freezes. “Alex...”

He moves her up to his face, his hand wrapped tightly around her waist. “Ellen...”

She continues to plead with him. “Alex, please, let me go.”

“Ellen, I’m sorry.”

He slowly lowers her into his maw as she continues to scream.

The lead frat boy presses his hand against Alex’s throat, as if to make sure that he goes through with it.

All of Ellen’s kicking triggers Alex into swallowing before he’s ready, as her path through his throat is tracked.

He gasps as Ellen drops into his belly, hearing her cry.

The frat boys taunt him about it, asking if she was delicious, etc.

Alex snaps and punches the lead frat boy in the face before he bolts.

He makes it back to his car, pressing his hand to his belly. “Ellen?”

Ellen looks back up, feeling her blood boil from anger.

She kicks at the stomach wall. HARD.

“What the hell is wrong with you? I should’ve known not to trust you! I should’ve known this would happen!”

“Ellen, I’m sorry--”

“I DON’T CARE! Cough me up right now, or you’re gonna get a stomachache that lasts until next week!”

At her sharp words, Alex obliges and forces her back up his throat.

Ellen begins crying again as she falls onto the palm of his hand.

“PUT ME DOWN!”

Alex lays her down on the dashboard, whispering “I’m sorry.”

Neither of them say anything else during the whole ride home, except for Alex apologizing.

But Ellen doesn’t believe him.

She doesn’t even go in with him; she uses one of the shortcuts into the house that she made when she first moved in.

In her little home, she looks at one of the pages she tore out from an old atlas that was going to be thrown away before she found it.

Lancaster, PA.

That’s where I’ll go, she thinks. No more humans to manipulate me, just me on my own. I don’t need humans, I made it well on my own before I met Alex or Dennis.

... But why do I feel so upset about leaving?

Meanwhile, up in his room, Alex is kicking himself for being so stupid.

But I was trying to help her-- but you could’ve figured something else out. You’re supposed to be the smart one in the family, right?

Either way, he knows that he has to gain back her trust.

He just doesn’t know how, yet... but he will.

[aries-writingblog]

Atlas (5)

Summary: After years of being imprisoned on the Raft, Tony negotiates freedom for his sister Tessa. When she’s free- so is her past, and it will never stop hunting her.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x OC(Stark)

Chapter Word count: 383

Warnings: PTSD (subtle ish), trauma, torture (in later parts), suicidal behaviors and thoughts, mentions of death, character death, injury, violence, angst, and a lil bit of fluff in there

Disclaimer: Atlas is my own, original work with characters belonging to Marvel (except Tessa and Dr. Clifton). Plagiarism is not cool kids.

A/N: this is my first work Im posting to this platform and I’m really excited and nervous about it. Hope you enjoy- constructive criticism is always helpful as well!!

Dr. Clifton watched from his perch- waiting for the Avengers to fall directly into the trap he’d laid. The whole plan went off with a hitch, he was delighted to see his toy out of her box once again. After hearing about how her freedom was negotiated, he quickly began a plan to lure her to him. Everyone played their parts so well- he forgot it wasn’t even scripted.

“Williams!” He snapped, watching the woman fire a shot into a man’s kneecap before landing a roundhouse kick to his jaw. The man scrambled forward, standing at attention. “Make sure cell number seven in secure... when we have her, I want to be able to begin work immediately.”

“Yes, sir.” He quickly moved to do as ordered. Clifton smiled once more, seeing a well balanced flame appear on the screen.

“Excellent...”

~~~~~~~~~~~

“Shit- they keep coming!” Bucky exclaimed, holding a hand up to catch the magazine clip Tessa had thrown to him. He changed clips, firing another round of rapid shots at the men. “Have you gotten your comm unit back online yet?”

“No- I don’t think we will. We’re pinned down and they have no clue we don’t have backup!” Tessa explained, cursing as her gun jammed. She threw it down and ducked behind the crates beside Bucky. “I’m out of extra clips too- I’m down to my knives and this is still a gun fight.”

Bucky didn’t want to admit it but he didn’t see this ending well. He was on his last few bullets and there was a steady stream of men coming from the hallway ahead. The whole thing had been a trap- he knew it had to be. What the trap was set for- he wasn’t sure, he just knew he had to have Tessa’s back.

“If the other levels are overrun like this, they may have retreated.” Tessa admitted, looking to Bucky. “I can’t see a way out though. We’re trapped.”

“I’m aware.” He grumbled, crouching down as he fired his last bullet. He looked to Tessa, meeting her eyes. They were about to have trouble. “We’re gonna have to fight. If we can get back into the hallway, we can find a way back out but right now we’re at a dead end. I need you to use your powers.” Tessa blanched at the idea.

“I don’t think it’s safe.” She admitted, tugging at her vest. Bucky took her shoulders, holding her still. She flinched, eyes shooting back up to his.

“Listen to me- I’m going to be okay. Even if you set my clothes on fire again, I’ll deal. I was taught stop, drop, and roll.” He teased, beginning to hear footsteps again. “I believe in you. Just remember you’re in control. You can do this.”

Tessa knew it was a bad time. Surrounded and alone, it wasn’t a good time for a pep talk and it certainly wasn’t a good time for feelings. But looking at Bucky, truly listening to his words, she couldn’t stop herself. She threw caution to the wind and grabbed his face with both hands, smashing her lips to his. He let a surprised grunt out as she held him close, molding their faces together. His hands squeezed her shoulders and she felt... right. She hadn’t felt this normal since high school.

“Right...” Tessa muttered, pulling apart and standing up. She shook her shoulders out as she psyched herself up. “I’m in control. I have the control.” Then, she leapt out of their hiding place, hands out to her side, white hot flames pouring from them.

As a gun barrel was lifted to her chest, she took hold of the metal, melting it and jamming it backwards into the man’s face. She shoved him back into another soldier, knocking them both to the ground. Tessa managed to land a kick to the chest of a man who was close range, then swinging him by the arm into the pile of men she was creating.

Meanwhile, Bucky was still knelt behind the crates, the heat of her lips still lingering on his. Finally, he took a deep breath and allowed the grin to take over his face. She kissed him. She made the first move. He was so proud in that moment that the first bullet that nicked the crates didn’t even register on his radar. The second, however, brought him spiraling back to his reality of gunfire and actual fire, dancing along the clothes of the men Tessa had already taken down.

He leapt into the fight alongside her, helping push their way through the swarm and finally taking the last one down. That’s when Bucky turned to Tessa and grabbed her waist, yanking her body to his, craving that addictive taste. He rested a hand on her jaw, angling her lips to his and pressing her to him. He tried to convey everything he felt for her into that kiss. He hoped his message got through to her. When they pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers.

“I’m sorry I pushed you away.” Tessa apologized, letting her hand run up his arm and rest against his chest, where her dog tags sat. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“You could never hurt me.” He promised, leaving a lingering kiss to her forehead before backing away. “We can figure it all out later- we just need to get the hell out of here right now.”

“That, I can agree with.” Tessa nodded, quickly searching one of the fallen men for a handgun. She gave one to Bucky and kept one herself, checking the clip. “Let’s move out.”

He nodded and stayed glued to her side as they reentered the hallway. Only to find several rows of armed men on either side- weapons leveled at their chests. Bucky cursed softly, biting his tongue. They’d been played. A loud clapping broke through the silence as the men closed ranks, opening only slightly to let a man walk into the ring. He heard Tessa whimper beside him, her whole body going stiff. Her gun dipped, her arms going numb.

“Well, well...” Dr. Clifton gave her a sickening smile. “That was quite the show. I’m glad to see you putting those talents to good use, Atlas. I was beginning to think you resented my gifts.”

Tessa didn’t respond and Bucky didn’t know what to do. They were surrounded and alone, hilariously outgunned. Dr. Clifton began circling the pair, inspecting them.

“What do you want?” Tessa’s voice was shaky but she was beginning to overcome her shock, her steel coming back slowly. Clifton took a moment, humming as he continued his inspection. Bucky shifted slightly to cover Tessa’s body with his own- the look in the doctor’s eyes too wild to be contained. Clifton took notice.

“My darling phoenix, I only want to see you thrive...” he stopped his pacing and stared at her. “You were my best project- the top of the class, my muse... such a pity you misbehaved. Bad little girls always get time outs.” He pouted at her before a smirk pulled at his lips. “But here you are- and you brought a friend. My, my, you’re on track to being on top again.”

“I’ll never be anything to you except your worst nightmare.” Tessa snapped, holding a hand out and engulfing it in flames. That’s when she felt a prick in her neck. It felt like she’d been doused in cold water- her limbs felt heavier and her eyes started to close before she even hit the floor.

“No, my dear...” Clifton’s face appeared above her. “You will be magnificent once more.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I’m not leaving my sister here.” Tony argued, already beginning to suit up again. Steve sighed, and stepped in front of him.

“We don’t have a choice right now, Tony. You think I want to leave either of them here?” Steve snapped. “We just have to hope they can make the rendezvous point. We have to hope they’re alright.”

After taking care of the first few levels, both Steve and Tony realized the comm units went down. They found each other and then the rest of the team, save Bucky and Tessa. Then, soldiers began pouring out of the buildings, almost surrounding them until they retreated to the quinjet, forced to take off. Leaving two members behind. Of course, the team had coordinates in place as a rendezvous in case they were separated. Today was one of the days they had to be used. Tony clenched his jaw, looking Steve directly in his eyes.

“If something happens in there and Tessa... if anything happens to her, it’s on you.” Tony shoved past him, colliding shoulders with the brick wall of a super soldier. Steve exhaled sharply, feeling that anxiety begin to eat at his gut. He didn’t want to leave them, he was taught no man left behind. And he left two. But they were tough. Tessa and Bucky could handle themselves. He had to believe in their combined strength. He had to believe he made the right call- for everyone’s sakes.

[wu-sisyphus-gang]

Motion Sickness: 5.2 Sector 7

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“Alright kid, just follow my lead and stay quiet unless someone asks you something.”

“Got it.”

“Don’t screw this up for us.”

“Are you done?”

Dust crystals, weapons, and all other kinds of malicious paraphernalia were sold in the lower levels of Mistral. Beneath wired poles and under shady market stalls you could evidently buy pretty much whatever you wanted. In broad daylight. Probably pretty hard to enforce law when everyone was breaking it. The entire place was pretty openly criminal with people who were wearing masks purchasing put together bombs in full view of the sun. Or what counted for sunlight down here.

We followed a spider’s web marking on a wall into a dimly lit bar in which the only barrier between the inside and the elements was a flap with a Mistrali Flag on it. As though that was fooling anybody. It didn’t fool me and I colored myself as someone who was pretty easily fooled.

I took a look around the inside and noted several dozen people in similar purple drab. As if that weren’t enough, many people inside had that same spider web symbol tattooed to their forearms, bicep, or even their neck. I knew enough about gangs to know one when I saw one being so open.

I wheeled Qrow in.

“That's far enough now sweetheart.”

A woman sat alone at a table with two of what were clearly bodyguards on either side of her. I stopped pushing Qrow’s chair and held up my hands in surrender. I wasn’t about to start anything, even if some of the people we had passed were clearly on something and had glints in their eyes that made me want to draw my weapon.

Ether, I hoped, but perhaps even Hyper was on the table. Literally on the table as a dude did a line of white powder nearby.

I made no move towards my weapon anyways because it wasn’t like I could defend Qrow or myself in a tight space like this. We were very outnumbered and probably outgunned and entirely at the mercy of our hosts. I like to believe that I was alright in a fight, which was to say maybe I could take the lady’s two body guards if it was just the three of us and I managed something clever. This was something different. We were surrounded and they were in front of us, behind us, to either side, and, just to make things worse, above us. The place had two floors that I could see.

“Well if it isn’t Qrow Branwen. It's been a long time and you have gotten much shorter.”

“You know, you loose one fucking fight.”

“And who’s this? Some new protege or apprentice?”

The bodyguards came up to search me and I cooperatively handed over my sword and shield to the girl who staggered under its weight for a second before reclaiming her balance. “Jaune Arc.” I introduced myself as the dude patted me down. He came away with some fire crystals and an Atlas army knife. Nothing crazy for a place like this; I mean probably. I didn’t frequently search people who went to bars like this one.

“Didn’t answer my question, hun.” She probed. Jabbing at me with the spoon she held in a pudgy hand.

“He’s teaching me, yes ma’am,” I erred on polite caution.

“Good boy. You can put those arms down.” I did as she directed. “Now I’m sure you’re not here just to catch up with me, now are you?”

“I’m not no.” Qrow wiggled his stumps. I almost laughed. “I need a set of prosthetics, Atlesian or Valean or good enough for hunters.”

Would his prosthetics transform with him or-

“It’ll cost you.”

I’m sure it’ll be fine. Its magic so why not? I couldn’t think of a good reason why his new legs wouldn’t transform with him and Ozpin hadn’t said anything. Not that that meant anything.

“We don’t have much Lien.”

“Oh Mr. Branwen. Lien is how I run my business,” the spider said from her seat. She managed to glare down at Qrow still with a soft smile.

“You also run it with favors and errands.”

“A favor from the great Qrow Branwen.” She took a long drag of either tobacco or perhaps even some greens. It smelled most like tobacco, I think, though. “It would mean a lot more if he was capable of walking,” she jabbed easily. Which I think was perfectly fair.

“You provide the legs and I’ll do the walking. And if you don’t like that then the kid isn’t half bad in a fight either.”

“Hmm.” She pondered. “Okay.” She said with a sly smile. The dude handed me back my switchblade and crystals and the girl handed back my harness with my bigger blades sheathed as though that was some well rehearsed signal.

"I'll need real surgery." Qrow admitted begrudgingly. "Not those ones you just attach and pull off. I'll need them grafted on."

"Well that'll just cost you extra. Two favors.”

“Lets talk it over. Hey kid?”

“Hm?” I wondered.

“Why don’t you wait at the bar while we talk. You’re making me nervous just standing behind me.”

“Alright. Sure.” Why not?

I mosied up to the bar. The bartender in purple had a kukuri and some light armor. He didn’t card me or anything, just looked across the rosy counter towards me. “Whisky on the rocks.” Keep it familiar, keep it simple, keep it dumb, or else you’ll end up under some ganglord’s thumb.

My drink was slid towards me in a crystal patterned glass that I examined. It seemed clean enough. I had a sip. It was smooth. I had another sip.

“Who’s this Melanie?” A voice purred from behind me. A girl’s voice. I ignored it because ignoring women was my MO.

“I don’t know Miltiades, some new huntsman.”

“He’s decent looking.”

“Tall, too.”

I looked around. There were two girls looking at me. They had dark hair and pale green eyes. I looked them up and down. “Are you talking to me?” I wondered. It went against my MO. Explicitly, even. One had a pair of silver blades attached to white boots to match the overall assemble of a white dress. The other had red claws strapped to her back. The red claws matched a tighter red dress than the girl in white who could only be a sister. Maybe a cousin if I was stretching.

They looked damn near identical, though, so I was really stretching.

“Who else would we even be talking to?” I looked around, the girl in white made a fair point. There was nobody even close to me. They were to either side of me out in the open.

“So what brings a huntsman like you down here?” The girl in red asked.

“I’m with him.” I pointed to Qrow, not seeing any point to lying. I pushed him into this place afterall. Out in the open. “Need to get him back on his feet but we’re a little short on cash.”

“And what is he to you?” The girl in red asked.

“He’s not much to be completely and totally honest. Family of a friend,” I answered vaguely. “I didn’t catch your names.”

“I’m Melanie Malachite.” The girl in white introduced herself. “And this is-”

“Miltia.” The other finished. Malachite, like the woman in charge. Well I'd better be polite and not fuck things up. That was all the advice I’d been given.

“Well, can I buy the two of you a drink? Or drinks, rather?” I doubted they would be sharing.

Instead they just giggled a little at me. Cute girls laughing at me was nothing new though and after a few years it meant surprisingly little. Girls like this tended to laugh like that. It would be better for my sanity if I didn’t take it personally.

“I thought you were short on cash.” Miltia returned, hiding her smile behind a hand and failing. Probably intentionally.

“Short on cash for a pair of legs. Not for three drinks.” I lifted my glass to my lips. It was already empty and the glass clinked around in no liquid. “Make that four drinks. What’ll you two have?”

“A white russian,” Miltia said.

“A hurricane.”

I ordered for them and another whiskey for me. Then I slid the red drink to the girl in white and the white drink to the girl in red. I was sixty percent sure they were fucking with me. Somehow. And it was totally working. They were messing with my head completely and totally and probably for kicks.

But they took drinks from their cocktails with a familiarity that threw me off. Maybe they did drink these exact drinks a bit. I nursed my own, making sure to take it slower on my second glass of something straight.

The last thing Qrow and I needed was for me to be wasted.

"So where are you from?" Melanie pulled back from her red drink and bounced out the words. I hope she wasn't clumsy because that drink would stain like a nightmare on her white clothes.

"Vale. I, uh, I used to go to Beacon." I took my weapons off my back and set them on the stool to my left. The stool on my right was occupied by Miltia.

"We're from Vale too." Miltia said.

"Not really the biggest fans of Beacon students but we can make an exception."

"Lucky me." I slipped. "Well the 'ex-Beacon student' is kinda important anyways. I left that place behind after the attack."

"We left with the collapse as well." Melanie added.

"Decided it just wasn't safe enough." Miltia clarified.

"Makes sense. I was out of there in a hurry myself. How did you two get here then?"

"Airship." Miltia informed me.

"Our parents own several so we just flew." They were sisters, then.

"Must have been nice," I let myself grumble. The thought of my feet aching from walking ached.

"Sounds like there's a story to how you got here." Miltia pressed.

"I walked, rode horses, and took a train. Just extra steps comparatively. More monsters, you know?"

Melanie blinked. “You ride horses?”

“Well aren’t you a regular old fashioned knight.” She eyed me in my thick armor. She may be reading into my look and figuring some other things. They were all wrong but she was figuring some things.

"I had to learn on the way. It's not like that."

"Did Qrow Branwen teach you?"

"You two know Qrow?"

"We know about Qrow." Miltia corrected.

"Some hunters are famous like that."

"Him and his sister are both well known but there are others too."

"Winter Schnee, Glynda Goodwitch, General Ironwood." Melanie counted.

"Well Qrow didn't teach me that but I suppose he is mentoring me in other things."

"Like what?" Miltia asked.

"Like being a better fighter, I guess. He knows a lot about how to kill things, and not much else to be on the level with you." I reached the bottom of my drink and debated with myself before ordering another one. I was on the heavy side anyways, so it should be fine? "I really try not to take his advice on other things."

“You’re a heavy drinker.” Melanie watched me order more whiskey.

"Yeah. That's one of those things I really don't want to pick up from Qrow but it might be too late. I might have the sort of addictive personality that leans that way."

"You're not sure?"

"I'm really not the kind of guy that goes to bars much."

"You seem like a regular to bar or club life."

"Yeah. With the right haircut you could be a plain old ladykiller."

I blushed. "I don't think so..."

"Come on."

“I know, let us give you a makeover.”

"Nobody likes a good-looking guy with no confidence."

"Nobody likes a guy with the wrong kind of confidence either. Trust me on that one." I thought of Weiss. She really hadn’t been all that into me. Like at all. But hot girls not liking me was nothing new to my life. It was the rule and there were two redheaded exceptions. Weiss was… probably a friend? Now? I wasn’t really sure. I learned to dislike her a little as a self defense mechanism. And to be fair, while that was probably an unhealthy coping mechanism, it kept me slitting my wrists the short ways rather than the long ways. I sucked on my third drink. My vision was getting a little shaky and my lips and face a little looser. "Where did you girls train?"

"Train?"

"Get your huntswomen training, I mean."

"Huntswomen," Miltia giggled.

"I know he's so careful." Melanie laughed back.

"Listen, I have gotten my ass beat by so many women that it pays to jump through that kind of hoop. It just does."

"We don't have any formal training." Miltia returned to the previous question.

"We're from the mean streets of Vale."

"We're with the gang so…" Miltia finished.

"I see." I nodded along.

"You think it doesn't count?" Melanie prompted.

"It's probably more real than any training someone gets at like, Signal." I disagreed with her implication. "My real training came from after Beacon fell, in the wild. Hunting criminals and real Grimm instead of practice dummies or training partners."

"Plus whatever Branwen is teaching you."

"Eh." I managed. "The chair happened around the same time that I met him. Most of the training he has given me has been verbal rather than hands on. All-l, really-y." I slurred slightly.

"You seem perfectly capable anyways."

"Maybe gang life would suit you."

I watched Miltia trade drinks with Melanie. They took a pull from the others' drink in perfect synchronization. At my look she leaned over. "We don't mind sharing things." She winked.

"Uh huh." I managed stupidly. “So what kind of haircut should I get? Asking for a friend.”

“I don’t know.... What do you think Melanie?”

“Well he looks alright now but he could tame it even more. Slick it back and nice and short. Nothing to grab onto but it would be smooth.”

“Yeah, he’s sort of in between right now. Like go scruffy or comb it over. Pick one and commit.”

“Pick one and commit…?” I trailed.

‘Yeah. You’re scruffy-”

“But not full on scruffy. And you have the comb over-”

“But you didn’t commit to it. If you’d pick one and go with that one who knows what could follow.”

“No one likes a guy who’s indecisive.”

“Seems to me like you girls don’t like a lot of guys,” I cut in. “Indecisive, no confidence, wrong confidence. Boy, is there anything about me girls actually like. I’m honestly asking.”

“What should your angle be? You mean?” Miltia asked.

“Yeah? What cards do I play? I’m too nice for edgy and too honest for mysterious.”

“Well you’re tall and broad so you’ve got that going for you,” Melannie pointed out. “Everyone likes a huntsman. Who doesn’t like a huntsman?”

“Nobody.”

“Okay, I hear that. Let me ask you something. I met the most beautiful girl in the world when I was at Beacon. A smart, gorgeous huntress. Let’s say I was really trying to impress this girl and I tried everything I could think of. I tried singing. I tried asking her to the dance. I tried asking her alone and in groups and in and out of classes. I tried it all. Okay? I tried literally everything and the kitchen sink.”

“And nothing worked?” Melannie asked.

“Nothin’,” I said. “Nothin’ worked. Not a damn thing. I think she hated me.”

“Well it sounds like you were trying too hard. Nobody likes that.”

“And if you’re going to go honest you have to commit.”

“C-o-m-m-i-t,” Melanie hit the back of her hand into her palm with each letter. She spelled it out for me which was good because I’m fuckin’ stupid. “Honest is fine.”

“Honest is good, even. But if you’re dishonest in any way a smart girl will smell that from a mile away. You said she was smart right?”

“The smartest.”

“So what did you really do?”

“We can’t tell you unless you’re completely honest with us,” Melannie ordered.

“Real talk?” I asked. “I… I tried to fake my confidence… and most of my personality...”

“Yeah that’s not gonna work.”

“That’s not gonna work at all,” Miltia agreed. “You can't play the nice guy card and then try and fake it like that. A girl just knows.”

“A girl totally just knows. We would notice if you were faking it right now. It’s like a guy faking their orgasm. It’s not a thing.”

“It’s not like girls can really fake it either…” I pointed out. “It’s pretty obvious and world shaking when a girl finishes for real. And when you do it right she isn’t sure if she wants more or less. Can’t fake that. Come on.”

“He knows…” Melannie trailed.

“He’s onto our entire gender.”

“Who would have thought?”

“Scraggly, tall, and blonde has moves in the bedroom.”

“Please,” I waved off. “It’s so stupid easy to make girls come. It’s literally brain dead. If I can do it anybody can. The clitoris and G-spot are not hard to find. You can make a girl finish even when she is begging you not to.”

“Can you not with guys?” Miltia asked.

“Not a chance. It’s easy to get a guy into it but if he’s not completely into it you cannot get him off. Bet.”

“Is that a challenge?” Melannie wondered. “Are you challenging us?”

“Bet,” I repeated. I finished my drink.

"Are you done flirting." Qrow had rolled up on me without me noticing. No mean feat from the chair.

"I really wouldn't know flirting if it walked up and stabbed me in the front," I leveled against him.

"Well stop it. Come on. I worked out our favors from Lil' Miss Malachite." I said my valedictions, grabbed my tools, and wheeled him back over to the woman in charge.

"So what's the first favor?" I wondered.

"I need someone killed." She splayed her hands across the table. "Is that going to be a problem?"

"Well it depends on who it is, doesn't it."

"Does it?" She pressed me.

"Of course. It matters who it is to you too."

"Smart boy. It's a dust witch in a rival gang named Eminence Kramer. She’s been a thorn in my side for far too long and she has made it clear that she has to go."

"And the second favor?" I continued.

"I need information out of one Don Corneo." She took a long drag. "You decide the order. I don't particularly care. After that we'll get Qrow here a new set of legs and the surgery to boot."

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-WG

[tentoriwrites]

Voltage Otome Trope Bingo #1

Eons ago @hifftn​ came up with this idea to do Trope Bingo for the various Voltage fandoms. I finally finished my first piece! Circled in blue below you will see the tropes featured in this fanfic!  2,600+ words of pure indulgence with only a vague touch of plot to keep it from being too cluttered! XD Also, sorry about Atlas being a bit OOC, I haven’t really read his route in like a year now... ^_^;

“You’re the only person I know that sprains their ankle running in a straight line on level ground!” Atlas shouted as he looked over the park planter to eye our assailants. A hail of bullets ricocheted off the planter throwing up sparks and chips of concrete. He immediately ducked back down.

“To my credit, I was being shot at!” I quipped back fearfully as I clutched my throbbing ankle.

“Which makes the running in a straight line bit EVEN better.” He grumbled as he checked his ammunition.

“Well... some of us aren’t used to being shot at every day!”

“Only every other day…”

“HEY!” It’s not like I wanted to be a criminal… I pouted for a brief moment until I felt the ground rumbling. I looked around in horror as I saw everyone rushing to clear the streets. Even our assailants were booking it out of Dodge.

“What’s going on?” Atlas looked around in disbelief.

“Oh stars…” It occurred to me then what planet we were on. “Atlas… We need to get inside!”

“Yeah, like I’m just going to sit on my hands and wait for them to come back!” He was already on his feet offering me a hand.

“You don’t understand you should just leave me here!” I took his hand and gave him a quick shove towards a nearby laundry once I was upright.

Atlas let out a long suffering sigh before hefting me into his arms bridal style. “Would you make yourself useful and shut up!” He took off at a pace much faster than I imagined he could while carrying so much physical and emotional baggage around. The closer we got to the door, the more the rumbling intensified. A good Samaritan threw the door open and yanked us in. Without explanation, they slammed it shut and hit a switch on the wall. Heavy sounding metal plates slid down and locked firmly into place.

“You just made it!” An old woman standing near a basin of sudsy water chimed over the intensifying rumble. She pulled the plug to drain the water. “Another moment or two longer and you would have been cooked!” The nonchalant way she said that last line was deeply unsettling…

“Is anyone going to tell me what’s going on here or do you just expect me to hack into the Union database and figure out?” Atlas huffed as he finally put me back on my feet.

The old woman eyed me a moment when I winced.

“This whole planet is covered in huge underground springs.” I pulled out my tablet and showed him a geologic map of the area. “This town is right next to one of the largest. It’s famous throughout the Union for going off once a month and spews millions of gallons of super-heated water into the air.”

“Darn right, Missy!” The old woman interjected as everyone started looking up to the ceiling. The rumbling had stopped. Suddenly, it felt like the whole world was splitting in two just before the deluge. A deafening roar of water filled the air and vibrated the building in a wholly different way than before.  The old woman met my anxiety driven expression with a serene smile. “I built this place specially to harness the mineral water and turn it into a luxury hot spring!”

Atlas and I both looked around dubious of that comment. The laundry was small, cramped, and extremely dirty. The old woman seemed to pick up on this immediately, donning a huge grin. “Follow me…”

Atlas and I both looked at each other.

“That wasn’t a request…” Her sweet old woman demeanor dropped in an instant as she shot us a death glare from the doorway.

“Listen lady.” Atlas started to give her a piece of his mind.

“I assure you, criminal, I’m no lady.” A devious smile crept across her lips as everyone in the laundry pulled out guns and aimed them at us.

My heart hammered in my chest as I eyed the still locked doors and windows. My mind was trying desperately to figure out if I could hack into the system with my tablet.

“We’re all criminals like you!” The old man chimed very pleased with herself. “Hate those Union bastards! So any enemy of theirs is a friend of mine. Come on now and have a nice soak. It’ll fix that ankle right up!”

“It’s not like we can really leave right now…” Atlas vaguely motioned to the windows on one side of the building.

“Even if I lifted the metal plates you still couldn’t waltz out there right now anyways.” The old woman started tottering down a hall.

“The water has to drain and the surface has to cool down.” I explained as I glanced at Atlas.

“Guess we really have no choice then…” Atlas holstered his gun and started for the door. He offered me a hand when he noticed me hopping along awkwardly.

The old woman was standing in the middle of a lavish, wide hall. It looked like we had stepped into a whole other world. “Nice, no?” She grinned wide as she pulled out a key ring. Pulling a key out immediately, she unlocked the door in front of her. “Have a nice rest, on the house. Once everything settles down, you can give those Unions idiots the slip.” She seemed pretty genuine in the offer, but Atlas still gripped my hand tightly.

“Give me one good reason why we should trust you.”

The old woman laughed long and hard. “We clean a lot of things here for a lot of people, Sonny. Including items for people very much opposed to the Union. You’re in good hands.” She donned a cheesy smile and stuck out her pinkie. “I promise.”

“A pinkie promise is pretty serious.”

“You have got to be kidding me…” Atlas smacked his forehead.

“Well say what you want but I take them very seriously!” I hobbled over to the old woman and linked my pinkie with hers.

“Atta girl!” She shook her hand up and down while our pinkies were still locked. Then she shoved the door open revealing the most lavish room I had ever seen. “I’ll have some food brought by soon, enjoy the bath in the meantime!” With that she tottered away leaving me to ogle the room.

Atlas finally joined me at the door, but he seemed just as dumbfounded as me. After a long moment of stunned silence, he muttered under his breath. “Smugglers…” A faint smile he took a tentative step into the room. “Well they definitely aren’t going to bring the Union here…”

“Well that’s a relief…” I wandered in behind him and closed the door. The whole room was full of rich and plush fabrics from the blankets on the bed to the upholstery on the furniture. I sank into an over-sized chair and sighed in satisfaction. “This is nice…”

“Yeah but where is this bath?” Atlas very cautiously opened the only other door in the room. “That’s not a bath…”

“What is it?” I sat up and craned my neck to look into the room.

“A damn swimming pool…”

I knew I looked completely confused as I got up and walked up behind him. Swimming pool was an exaggeration but it was definitely not a bath tub. 5 or 6 people could comfortably sit in the steaming water.

“That looks wonderful…”

“Then get in.” Atlas started to move to leave. He must have seen the pout on my face because he stopped and faced me. He was so close I could feel his breath on my face. “You look like you have something to say…” Even though his voice had a gruff edge there was a fire in his eyes.

“Well…” My eyes darted to the pooltub as I scrambled for an excuse to get him to join me. “I was just thinking I might need some help getting in and out. What if I slip and get hurt even worse?” Yes play to your strengths! Even if those strengths include being a total klutz…

Atlas rolled his eyes as if he were completely put off by the whole thing. “Fine, fine…” He offered me his hand again. “It’d be a pain in the pass if I had to carry you all the way back to the ship.”

SCORE!

I sat down on a chair near the “bath” and started taking my jacket off. I looked over and Atlas was on the complete opposite side of the room taking his jacket off. Well he did agree to take a bath with me so I guess I can’t be too mad. Except he stopped after taking off his jacket…

“I thought you were going to take a bath too…”

He gave me a smug look. “I said I would help you in and out. I never said I was taking one with you.”

Not… technically… wrong… I sighed inwardly before taking off the rest of my clothes. Gentleman that he was, Atlas didn’t look the whole time. Which filled me with one part relief, one part odd disappointment. With a towel wrapped around me, told him I was ready.

I took the hand he offered me and a ginger stepped to the edge of the bath. Just as I was about to step in, a sharp pain in my ankle made me jump. Small though it may have been, it was enough to make me slip and start falling. I watched as the water seemed to come ever closer, in slow motion, that is until something completely different filled my vision. After the water cleared, I realized that Atlas had broke my fall and was now blowing bubbles at me from under the water. As if in a horror movie with one jump scare after another, the towel lazily floated between us…

“Sorry!” I hurriedly grasped the towel and moved to get off the very unamused looking Atlas. I barely covered myself and scurried to a corner of the spacious bath to cower in mortified shame and embarrassment. Atlas looked at me completely exasperated as half his face remained below the surface, then quickly looked away.

“You gonna do something with that towel or you gonna pretend to be a bathhouse lady?” His head now fully above the water, I could see his cheeks turning a bit red. I stared at him agape for a minute while my brain argued with itself as to whether the water caused his red cheeks or he was blushing. Atlas Molniya absolutely doesn’t blush. Can we make Atlas Molniya blush? I’m certainly willing to try!

“Since you’re already all wet…”I smiled awkwardly at Atlas hoping the heat of the water would explain away my red cheeks too.

“Do you know where we are…?” There was a dangerous lilt to his voice that completely threw me off.

“In… a… bathtub…?” I was pretty sure that wasn’t the answer he was looking for but the look he was giving me made it REALLY hard to think straight. The only thing louder than my racing heart was the slow slosh of the water every time he moved closer.

“We’re in an underworld bathhouse… You do know what kinds of things happen in underworld bathhouses, right?”

“I’m… guessing more than just nice, relaxing baths?” It was more a squeak than anything.

“So much more…”

He was so close now I would have been able to feel his breath if it weren’t for the steam rising from the water. “TOO CLOSE!” I thrust out my hand and connected with his forehead

“Finally starting to understand the completely ridiculous situation we’ve managed to get ourselves in?” Atlas was back, but he still looked off.

“Well yes… But… Are you feeling all right?” I tried to sound more concerned than nervous but the shark in the water routine had been a bit much. In fact, I was feeling a little dizzy between my racing heart and the hot water.

“Never better. Why?” He stood up as he said this and immediately started wobbling. “Ok, maybe not…” He managed to get half way down again before he passed out… right on top of me…

“Oh, stars…”

Somehow I managed to get us both out of the bath and on to the floor. I had to get him out of these soaking wet clothes. And well… that was… certainly… something…

“Please don’t wake up right now… Please don’t wake up right now.” Red-faced I fumbled with the fastener on Atlas’s pants, with my eyes closed. The same quiet prayer escaping my lips on repeat.

“Ya know, consent goes both ways.” An irritated voice muttered as a clammy hand grasped mine.

“Oh stars! It wasn’t like that!” I feel as though my face got even redder at that moment. “I just thought if I couldn’t get you into the bed I could at least get most of your wet clothes off!” I huffed and turned away pouting.

“Uh huh…” I couldn’t tell if he was teasing me or truly skeptical of my motives.

“Are you feeling any better than that you’re out of the hot water?”

“Yeah.” Without saying much else he got to his feet, soggy shirt in hand.

“Uh…”

“I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for this day to be over.”

“Oh…” I tried to hide my disappointment. It had been a really long day after all, what with the being chased and shot at, harbored by some crazy old lady in the criminal underworld, bathtub shenanigans… I came to an immediate stop next to Atlas, coming to the same realization at about the same time.

“I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“Oh no! You just passed out! Take the bed and I’ll take the couch!”

“What kind of man would I be if I made a woman sleep on a couch when there’s a perfectly good bed?” He gave me a glare, but it was half-hearted at best.

“We could…” Oh stars… should I really say it?

“What? We could what?” Atlas flopped down on the couch and looked up at me.

“We could… just sleep together… in the bed… since there’s only one…”

His eyebrow quirked up ever so slightly. A blush started creeping up his neck. “I was trying to be a gentleman… But you’re making it real damn hard, I hope you’re aware of that.”

“I just don’t want you to sleep on the couch if you aren’t well.”

“It’s hard to think you have anything but bad intentions when I wake up to you in nothing but a towel trying to take my pants off…”

Oh… that is not a good look for my heart… I watched as he push the button on the wall to turn off the lights.

“AH!”

“What? Do you really want to have sex with the lights on?” I could hear shuffling as he moved closer. “I lived with Jaxson long enough that I refuse to have sex with the lights on.”

That’s fair. Jaxson does seem like the type to just… burst in at random times…

“Well no... it’s just I didn’t think you’d actually take me up on it?” There was just enough light in the room for me to see him get close. “What about you passing out?”

“I had to carry you halfway across town while being shot at. I was just overheated from that is all.”

“Ugh… I really should go on a diet…”

“Why? You’re fine just as you are…” His cool fingers worked their way under the towel until they found the flesh of my sides and gave it a firm squeeze.

“Oh stars…” Before I knew what was happening I was in the bed.

“Tonight, let’s get some rest. Tomorrow, we can take our time…” Much like the name of his ship, there was so much promise in his voice.

“Uh… are you at least going to let me put some clothes on first?”

“Nope.”

“Oh… all right…” Unable to get up through the tangle of his body of mine, I opted to snuggle up next to him and fall asleep instead.

[adriellej]

Hidden In The Stables - part 2

Pairings: No pairing

Characters: Jo Harvelle, Jensen Ackles,

Summary:  Working in a big stable with expensive horses and brilliant riders is a great job. The wish to ride for such a stable is big, and maybe that day is closer than you thought.

Warnings: Don’t think there is any, maybe a little condescending way of being from one of the characters, but that’s it. 

Word count: +1.7

A/N: Sorry it has taken so long with the second part! But it’s here now!! I promise I will try and do a little better, but with my studies it can be difficult, but I try! As always the beautiful and awesome @hiddenwritingsintheworld​ was my beta on this! 

Mucking out stalls were a big part of your job. Doing it in the heat of the summer, was definitely not your favourite part. In fact your favourite part of the job was turning the horses in and out, and the rare times you had, watching the riders train the horses. Not one horse was alike, no stallions or mares resembled one another. 

Making your way down the line you thought about how amazing it would be to be one of the riders, and not the stablehand. Riding in the big arenas, at the big competition on a big beautiful horse, who was trained to be a part of the elite; more specifically Ahearn. The dark liver chestnut stallion was beautiful and powerful. His gait was big and rounded, and he had temper just how you liked it. Back home you had worked with a lot of different horses, but they were for the cowboys and the drive of cattles. Here it was show jumping and dressage, the dance of the horse sport. 

“Hey Y/N, when you’re done cleaning this stall, could you finally take the time to turn out my horse?” Isabella, one of the most winning riders, asked as she gestured with her hand and a grimace when saying the word cleaning. 

“Yes, of course ma’am. I am sorry I haven’t gotten around to it,” you excused yourself even though you wanted to tell her to stick it up her ass and do it herself. It was your job, even for the most prestigious and stuck up people, who treated you like you were a nobody. You put the fork in the wheelbarrow. “I’ll get to it right away,” you said walking out of the stall and towards a horse named Buckshot Brandy. 

“Well thank you,” Isabella said putting her nose in the air as she turned and walked away. Brandy was a mesmerizing mare, her golden colour had a shine that none of the other horses had. She was kind, always seeking out attention, treats and kisses. 

“Hey there Brans,” you said smiling as she whinnied happily and stuck her muzzle up to your cheek. “I know, I know, I’ve missed you too,” you laughed gently stroking her head before putting her halter on her and a leadrope. “C’mon girl, let’s get you out, what ya say?” You looked questioningly at her as she sighed as answer. 

Walking towards one of the pastures with Brandy you saw Jo Harvelle riding one of the jumpers. Jo had chosen to take in a dark dapple grey gelding who was a bit of a project. He was supposed to be a showjumper, except he didn’t exactly feel like jumping, and the owner wasn’t too happy about it. Which was what led Jo to take him in and train him.

“Here we go Brandy,” you said as you pulled off her halter, and Brandy ran off to enjoy getting her legs stretched and graze. “Might as well take a break from the stables,” you spoke to yourself as you walked towards the jumping arena. The gelding had a big gait, fiery and fast that made it difficult for Jo to keep him in a good stride. The distances fitted poorly no matter how much Jo tried to keep him back. After several failed jumps Jo took him down to a walk to let him breathe. 

“Still not getting anywhere with him?” You asked from the sideline, and Jo turned her head towards you and let out a small laugh. 

“Damn Y/N, you scared the crap out of me,” she laughed as she gave the gelding a stroke. You and Jo had been good friends since the day you started your job here. “But no, unfortunately I can’t get him to work with me, and I am about to be at a loss of what to do,” she let her head hang a little in disappointment. “I am not sure I can help him, Y/N,” Jo’s voice was laced with sadness. She hated not being able to help the horses she trained, especially on this level kind of horses. If they didn’t live up to their expectations, their owners would be more than likely to sell them, often to places who pushed them too hard. 

“I know it’s not my place, but maybe he just wants a break, and a run?” You questioned. “From looking at him, he looks like he wants to just run for it, and seems to get sorta pissed at you for holding him back,” you laughed as you remembered how he had lifted his head, taken the bit and ran more when Jo pulled a little on the reins. 

“Hmm… could you saddle up Blue?” She asked you with a smirk on her face. Seemingly having a big plan. 

“Uh yeah, sure I can do that,” you smiled and nodded as you walked towards the part of the stables where Blue Jeans stood. Blue Jeans was Jo’s own horse, a small jumper, but despite his size, he won most of the competitions they entered in. He easily jumped 1.50 meters, and he was fast.  “Hey Blue,” you said as you got close to his stall, and he popped out his head to look at you. Your hand gently stroked his muzzle before you went to the tackroom to get his saddle and bridle. 

“Okay, here ya go Jo,” you said walking Blue Jeans out of the doors to the stable. 

“He isn’t for me, I can’t ride two horses at the same time,” she laughed and you looked confused. “He is for you, silly,” Jo broke out laughing. 

“What? Me? But you don’t even know how I ride…” you mumbled. Not that you didn’t want to ride him, more that you were afraid of missing it too much once you got back and you couldn’t ride anymore. 

“I know for a fact that you trained and broke in several horses back at your home. So get your ass in the saddle,” she smiled. You stretched out your arm with the reins, indicating you wanted Jo to take the reins. She did with a confused look and was about to speak, when you ran off, shortly after coming back with your dusty helmet. 

“I took this with me, hoping I could get to a point where I could get to ride,” you smiled taking back the reins, pulling them over Blue’s head, before putting your foot in the stirrup and getting in the saddle. “Now shall we go?” You smiled widely, feeling how much you had missed sitting on the back of a horse. Jo laughed and nudged Atlas, the gelding, in the sides, indicating for him to walk forward. 

After walking the horses a good 15 minutes you turned onto a big field. Hearing the grass bend under the horses’ hooves and weight was a sound you had soon missed. The feeling of being rocked back and forth from the movements of the back. You loved every part of it, taking in every moment and sense of it. 

“Wanna give him a little trot before we try something?” Jo asked, and you looked at her with christmas lights in your eyes. You gave a big nod as response and nudged Blue forward, changing his gait into a trot quickly adjusting to the rhythm of his movements under you. Though he was a small horse, his gait fitted perfectly to him, but his steps were long, a lot longer than you had expected them to be. He was easy to ride, stayed with you all the way, working on the bit not at all going above the bit like Atlas. After a good five minutes of trotting, you turned to Jo. 

“God, I have missed sitting on a horse,” you said smiling from ear to ear, as you stroked Blue Jeans’ neck and letting him walk. 

“I want to try something, if you put Blue into a gallop, and Atlas and I will follow you. Okay?” Jo questioned you, and you were more excited than ever. Even though it had been a long time since you had ridden, it was like riding a bike, you hadn’t forgotten anything. 

“Sure, first one to get to the end wins!” you said as you nudged Blue Jeans’ sides, he replied to your signal with silence. Just as you were about to get confused, Blue Jeans leapt forward into a full gallop, catching you off guard. You quickly regained a proper balance, and laughed as Blue Jeans’ legs moved in a high speed beneath you. He was fast for his small size, though not as fast as Atlas. You thought you had left Jo and Atlas behind, just as Atlas came running full speed past you, ears forward and stretching out his long legs. Jo turned her head back towards you.

“Guess I am winning!” She yelled from in front of you. 

“Not on my watch,” you said to yourself. “C’mon Blue!” You encouraged the little black horse, and he sped up even more. You gained slightly on Atlas, but as Atlas saw Blue Jeans getting closer he gave even more of himself, loving the racing, and staying in the lead. 

--- Jensen’s P.O.V. ---

Jensen walked out from the rider’s lounge and towards Ahearn’s stall, taking a bite of the apple in his hand. As he walked his attention got taken away from loud laughter further down the stable’s land, and onto a field. Two riders were racing each other in one of the big fields belonging to the stables. One Jensen recognised as Jo on the project horse she had taken in, and if Jensen wasn’t wrong the other horse was Blue Jeans. 

“Who is riding Blue?” Jensen asked himself as he watched in awe at the control the rider had of the high speed the two were riding. As they were galloping back towards the stables, he got impressed by the posture and balance on the supposedly unknown rider. “She is good,” he said impressed. “Though a tad bit crazy,” he chuckled to himself as he took another bite of the apple, and continued his walk towards Ahearn. 

------

Tags: @thing-you-do-with-that-thing, @winchesterswoonathon, @for-the-love-of-dean, @ellen-reincarnated1967​, @teamfreewill-imagine​, @deascheck​, @hiddenwritingsintheworld​, @impalapossible​, @sis-tafics​, @deanwinchester-af, @talesoftheimpala​, @ilostmyshoe-79​, @unadulteratedstorycollector​, @loveitsallineed, @faith-in-dean​, @mrswhozeewhatsis​, @curliesallovertheplace​, @random-fandom-fangirl2112​, @sandlee44​ (sorry it took so long)

[lightsaroundyourvanity]

the sparks between us, pg-13 [1/8]

RWBY. yang x blake. [ao3]

“Ah, finally. Time to kick up our heels and relax.”

Even Yang knows how out of place she must look when she flops backwards onto the powdered blue satin chaise, shamelessly props up one dusty boot. She doesn’t care. It’s comfortable (well, it’s horizontal) and Yang is bone tired. She folds her hands behind her head and leans back.

It’s been twelve hours since they’d arrived in Atlas. Twelve hours of security checks, protocol checks, weapons checks… and Yang had been ready to check out since before they’d even landed. Between sky piracy, losing her motorcycle, mortal combat, and battling skyscraper sized Grimm from the depths of the ocean, she had had a day.

Yang briefly lets her eyes shut in sweet, sleep-adjacent relief, and then blinks them open. She’s not the only one who looks tired. Ruby sags on her feet, and instinctively Yang wants to jump up again, put her to bed. Weiss looks even more high strung than usual, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. And Blake…

Blake has been wearing that same odd expression since they’d disembarked the airship. It’s complicated by shades of sadness, relief, exhaustion… and peace. Yang can’t imagine what Blake is thinking. They’d killed Adam together, but Yang had seen only the man who had tried to take her apart, piece by piece. She wonders what Blake had seen. All the directions he could have gone, all the moments he might have. He chose wrong every time. Yang won’t miss him.

Yang watches Blake for long enough that Blake notices, and their eyes meet. Yang tilts her chin towards Blake, and Blake bites her lip, smiles, and crosses over to join Yang on the chaise. She drapes Yang’s legs over her lap, and Yang sits up on her elbows.

This dynamic between them, this charged-and-not charged, is a new level for them both. Yang doesn’t know what to make of it, but she feels like a kid with a crush at a sleepover. All of the nerves on the backs of her legs feel more alive right now, and when Blake rests her hand on Yang’s kneecap, she thinks that she might explode.

They’ve always been affectionate. They’ve always been close. But there’s something more to it now. A promise. And if Yang thinks that she knows what it all means, she still doesn’t know how to say it aloud, not yet.

Yang’s reverie is shattered when Weiss lets out a disgusted noise. “You’re getting mud on everything.”

Yang looks at her boots (they’re filthy), and then up at Weiss. She raises an eyebrow. Like: After all this, you’re really going to play the princess card?

Weiss looks at the ground. “Well, you are,” she mutters.

Yang’s heart softens. Sometimes, being a brat is the only way that Weiss knows how to be vulnerable and scared. Yang lashes out with her fists instead of her tongue, but she gets that. And she thinks about how very vulnerable, and very scared Weiss must be feeling right now, back in the place she’d clawed her way out of.  

So Yang swings her legs down and sits up straight, and feels a mournful pull away from Blake when she does – except there Blake is again, resting her head against Yang’s shoulder, and Yang’s blood starts to sing. Weiss rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling.

Yang looks to Ruby again, uncharacteristically quiet. She frowns. “Doing okay, sis?”

Ruby smiles, but even that reveals how tired she must be. It’s like every ounce of chipper has been drained out of her, which Yang didn’t know was possible.

“I’m fine,” says Ruby. “Just…”

“Tired,” Weiss finishes. “I think we all are. What was General Ironwood thinking, making us go through all that bureaucracy? After everything we’ve been through?”

“Atlas is on high alert,” Blake says thoughtfully. “Makes you wonder what for.”

A hush falls over the four of them. Yang knows that they’re all remembering the armada that flanked the continent when they flew in, and maybe, distant and behind that, the last time they’d seen an Atlesien fleet surrounding a kingdom. Vale. Yang feels a phantom tug of pain from her arm.

“Whatever it is, we’ll get to the bottom of it,” Ruby says. A touch of her old strength returns to her voice. “We’ve faced worse. We have the relic. We have our mission. And if anyone in Atlas thinks they can stop us, well—”

Ruby’s speech is cut off mid-sentence when she breaks into an enormous yawn. Everyone giggles. Yang jumps to her feet and puts her arm around her sister.

“Okay, hero, time for bed.”

Ruby sleepily protests, but Yang ignores her and steers her towards a bedroom.

The apartment General Ironwood had given then was a little dainty and pastel for Yang’s tastes, but it was easy to navigate. The first door she opens is a bedroom, and she ushers Ruby into the overstuffed four poster.

“Yang?” Ruby asks, as Yang tucks her in.

“Yeah, Ruby?”

There’s no response. Ruby is fast asleep. Yang smiles and brushes a piece of hair from Ruby’s face. Her baby sister, saving the world. Like this, she still looks eight years old to Yang, but Yang has seen her lead battles with confident efficiency, seen her turn Grimm into stone with her eyes. And Yang is so, so proud of Ruby. She’s growing up into one of the heroes she’d always admired.

When Yang returns to the living room, Weiss is sorting through luggage, picking out her own. Blake is still on the chaise, and Yang reclaims the seat next to her.

“I’m going to bed too,” Weiss announces. “That was—”

“A day,” says Yang.

Weiss smiles. “It really was, wasn’t it? Night, you two.”

Weiss trips out, carrying her suitcase, and Yang glances at Blake. It’s just the two of them now. She wonders if they should talk. Or if she should put her hand on Blake’s knee and see where the wind sways from there.

“Are you tired?” Blake asks suddenly.

“What? No!” Yang is beyond tired, and she proves it a moment later by badly smothering a yawn. “Okay, maybe a little bit,” she admits sheepishly. “But not if you want to hang out.”

“I do want to,” says Blake. And then it’s like she’s read Yang’s mind, because she puts her hand. Right on Yang’s knee.

Yang turns to Blake, and a thousand words could bubble to her lips, but none of them seem to want to come out. She’s better with her hands. She lifts one now, rests it on the curve of Blake’s cheek. “Blake…”

Blake leans into her touch, and Yang is amazed all over again that they’ve eased into this point. At the intersection of new and familiar it all holds. She wonders what it would be like to kiss Blake. She bets her lips are soft.

“Tomorrow…” Blake murmurs.

“Huh?” Yang is still thinking about Blake’s lips.

“We’ll hang out tomorrow. We need to, um. Talk.”

Yang doesn’t know what they could possibly have to talk about that they can’t show each other.  And Yang knows that they have everything to talk about.

“Qrow said we could be here days before anyone will see us,” says Yang. “We’ll have plenty of time to…”

“Talk.”

“Yeah. That.” Yang’s thumb skates over Blake’s cheekbone, and she sees Blake’s lips part. I should kiss her now, Yang thinks. She wills herself to lean forward, to bring their mouths together. Except that…

Except that Blake has been through so much, and that it’s three in the morning, and that even if Blake does want to kiss her too (Yang thinks she wants to kiss her too), she might not appreciate it under the circumstances. She did just say they’d talk tomorrow.

So Yang takes her hand from Blake’s cheek, and her eyes from Blake’s lips, and pulls her into a hug, because that’s safer. Blake seems surprised for a beat, but then she buries her face in Yang’s shoulder and holds her back. Yang feels longing well up inside her.

“Good night,” she says into Blake’s hair.

Yang is exhausted when she goes to bed, but she lies awake for twenty minutes anyway, thinking about dumb, sappy things, like what it feels like to hold Blake’s hand.

--

Sharp knocking at the door wakes Yang the next morning, and she rolls over and puts a pillow over her head. She can still hear the knocking. Yang wonders if this is her responsibility somehow until she hears quick, precise footsteps in the other room and thinks, Oh good. Weiss.

Yang hears the sound of the door opening and muffled (but enthusiastic) greetings. She realizes that she is awake now anyway, so she throws the pillow aside, gets out of bed, and goes to investigate.

Weiss stands in the foyer talking to a taller, more remote version of herself. That must be her sister, Yang realizes. Winter.

“I’m so happy you were able to come over,” Weiss is saying. “It’s so good to see you! I was worried you might be busy—”

“Weiss. Are you going to let me in?”

“Oh! Of course!” Weiss steps aside, and gestures for Winter to come in, shuts the door, takes Winter’s coat. “Have a seat! Would you like coffee?”

“I’m fine.” Despite her clipped tone, there’s warmth in the way Winter treats Weiss. She crosses through and takes a seat on the blue chaise.

Yang clears her throat. “Hey.”

Weiss (fully dressed, nervously fluttering Weiss) takes one glance at Yang and looks mortified. “Yang,” she hisses. “Did you just roll out of bed?"

“Um. Kind of.” Yang tries to smooth out her hair, but it’s a tangled mass. “I’ll go get dressed.”

“No, stay,” says Winter. She looks at Weiss. “I’ve actually come to talk to your whole team.”

“I’ll get the others,” Weiss says. She’s gone in an eager flash.

Yang sprawls in an armchair, and soon the whole team is gathered, looking sleep rumpled and curious. Weiss returns with a tray of coffees, and Yang takes hers with both hands and is grateful for the first scalding, life-affirming swallow.

Blake sits on the floor next to Yang and sips a cup of tea. Yang can’t believe how good Blake looks after waking up. She can’t believe she never noticed it before – they’d shared a room for over a year, hadn’t they? But again, there’s that crackling new awareness. Yang wants to throw Blake over her shoulder and take her back to bed and stay there, warm and curled up against each other, until at least early afternoon.

Instead, she cocks her head attentively when Weiss speaks.

“What did you want to talk to us about, Winter?”

Winter sighs and puts down her cup. “It’s a little bit awkward.”

“Is it General Ironwood?” asks Ruby. “Is he ready to see us already?”

“Well, that’s just it. He’s not going to be able to see you. Not for a few weeks.”

Yang nearly chokes on her coffee. “Weeks? We don’t have weeks!”

Winter is nonplussed. “Unfortunately, all you have are weeks. There’s… a lot going on in Atlas that I can’t share right now.”

“So what are we supposed to do? Just sit around here until Ironwood deigns to talk to us or we get attacked?”

Yang feels her temper rise. It’s all frustration, fizzy and insubstantial, but she wants to throw it at somebody anyway.

Winter makes a terrible target. She remains cool; frank and apologetic. “That’s the other reason I came. If you’re interested, I have a job for you.”

“We’re interested,” says Ruby. She doesn’t look around the room first. She doesn’t have to. If the choice is between sitting on their hands or doing something useful? It’s no question at all.

Winter sizes up Ruby thoughtfully. After a beat, she nods. “Good. I was hoping you’d say that.” She takes a breath. “As I was saying, there’s a lot going on in Atlas right now. We’ve had to recall everyone on active duty because of—well, actually, that’s—”

“Classified,” Yang interrupts. “Yeah. We get it.”

“Of course.” Winter looks very much like she is trying not to roll her eyes. “Well, because of that, petitions from outside the kingdom have been going unheard. Villages who are facing threats from the Grimm. Most of the huntsmen in Atlas have obligations to the military, but I was thinking, well, if I could send a team who weren’t from Atlas…”

“Winter,” Weiss gasps, “Are you asking us to break the rules?”

“It’s more of a loophole than anything…”

“I love it!” Weiss starts to throw her arms around Winter, thinks better of it, and then pins them to her side. “Intrigue is an excellent source of sisterly bonding.”

“You know I can’t go with you. I’m needed here.”

Weiss’s face falls. “Of course.”

“Where do you want us to go?” asks Ruby.

“A village in the north called Neiden. There have been reports of increased Grimm activity.”

“Not for long!” If Ruby had her scythe on her, Yang thinks that she might have whipped it out, just for the dramatic effect.

“Why?”

Everyone turns to look at Blake, who is looking at Winter, confused. Suspicious, even.

“You care about the army. You care about these rules. There must be dozens of these unanswered distress calls. Why bend the rules for this one?”

It’s so like Blake, to cut right to the heart of the thing, to want to know the heart of the thing. Admiration socks Yang in the chest.

Winter fidgets. “You’re right, of course.” Winter pauses, sighs, and then continues stiffly. “It’s like you said. We have dozens of these distress calls. All unanswered. The Atlesien army is the mightiest in all of Remnant, and they can’t even protect Atlas. Desperate times. I wish I could say more, but—"

“Classified.” Yang hears Blake and Ruby join in the chorus with her and grins.

Colour rises in Winter’s pale cheeks. “I believe in Atlas, but I worry that Atlas is spread too thin. And it’s forgetting the world outside the kingdom. If we could help even one town… I had a friend at the academy from Neiden. I picked the case at random, but maybe that’s why it stood out.”

Yang’s eyes slide towards Blake again. Blake’s features have softened. Yang tries to guess at what thoughts are turning behind them. A stand against a rising tide is something that all of them can understand, but for Blake, that understanding is more personal.

“We help where we can,” Blake says softly. She and Winter share a look. Winter nods.

“When do we start?” Ruby asks.

“Tomorrow,” Winter says briskly. “I can get you there, and keep you supplied, but that’s all the help I can offer. This isn’t a sanctioned mission.”

Yang pumps her fist. “Black ops! Respect.”

Blake still looks concerned. “We’re still only students,” she says. “What makes you think we can do this?”

Winter smiles. “Because Weiss thinks you can. And I believe in her.”

--

Weiss walks Winter out, and Ruby goes to take a shower. Yang reaches her hand down just as Blake lifts hers. Their fingers tangle together, and Yang squeezes Blake’s hand.

“No rest for the wicked, huh?” says Yang.

“This feels like something to keep us from causing trouble while we wait for all of the adults to stop talking.”

Yang shrugs. “Maybe it is. That doesn’t mean we won’t be able to help people."

“True.” Blake looks thoughtful for a moment. “I liked her. Winter. Even if this is just busy work, it seems like she really… cares.”

“She reminded me of Weiss that way.”

“Me, too.”

Yang tugs Blake’s hand towards her, and Blake follows automatically. She gets off the ground and curls up with Yang on her chair, legs dangling over one arm. Yang still holds her hand, and she runs her thumb over the lines of Blake’s palm.

This is more than friendship. Sitting in each other’s laps, feeling each other’s skin – Yang is pretty sure that this all goes beyond friendship. This grey area they’ve found themselves in intoxicating. And fragile. And Yang’s still not sure that she should be the one to ask for more. She’s happy to have this, even if her thoughts are straying towards Blake’s mouth again.

Maybe this mission will be a good thing. It’ll give Yang the chance to blow off a little steam. Yang thinks she could even look forward to it: A straightforward hunt without the world hanging in the balance. No gods, no monsters, no ghosts.

“Hey, if we’re going further north, you know what we need to do?”

“Hm?” Blake sounds half tuned out, but her ears prick forward.

“Buy you a new coat.” Yang pauses thoughtfully. “And maybe a sword.”

Yang’s day starts planning itself in her head, as easily as falling dominoes. Shopping with Blake. Trying on clothes with Blake. Running her hands over weapons components and talking about designs with Blake…

Yeah. A straightforward hunt was just what Yang needed.

[mdelpin]

The Red Dragon - Chapter 18

AO3 | FF.Net | Tumblr: Ch1 | Ch17

Chapter 18

Igneel had been prepared for a great many things as he flew toward the meeting. But he’d never once considered Deliora would betray them all just for the sake of revenge.

What did he possibly think he would gain from this treachery? Any truce he might have negotiated with Acnologia was obviously doomed to fail. The renegade dragon slayer had lost his mind a long time ago, but the one thing he’d always been clear on was his hatred of all dragons.

Acnologia wouldn’t be satisfied until there were no more dragons left on Earthland, he’d said so on many occasions. If he managed to kill them, Igneel had no doubt Acnologia would turn on Deliora, there was no other possible outcome.

Then again, Deliora had always been incredibly short-sighted. Like most hellfire dragons, he’d always let his emotions control him. They fed his flames and his magic but kept him from being able to devise elaborate plans.

Atlas had been the exception. His interest in magic from an early age had forced him to gain control of his emotions, allowing him to cast ever more complicated spells.

Atlas’ eyes widened in what Igneel easily recognized as horror before propelling himself towards Acnologia with almost deranged determination. And suddenly, it was as if everything were moving in slow motion.

Atlas’ hellfire blazed with his fury, his snout distorted with a hatred that seemed wholly out of character for him. He roared at the renegade dragon slayer that had been responsible for so many dragon deaths, and for once, those feelings resounded deeply inside of Igneel.

Ever since Porlyusica had died, Igneel had felt detached from the world. He went through the motions as best he could, trying to fulfill his duties. But outside of the longing for someone that was just outside of his reach, Igneel could only seem to muster feelings for Atlas and Natsu.

Even though he’d managed to defeat Deliora all those years ago, his efforts had been halfhearted at best. He should have killed Deliora then, as Dragon Law demanded, but he’d decided to be merciful instead, hoping that Deliora would come to see the error of his ways.

He hadn’t stopped to consider the consequences of that action, and that one choice had led them here. Now, as he watched Deliora let their greatest enemy attack his brother, the dragon he’d once considered his best friend, it was more than Igneel could stand.

He thought back to the reports they’d received of the large numbers of dragons killed by the renegades of late, and he knew without a doubt that had been Deliora’s doing. He’d willfully sacrificed his own brethren to further his lust for power, and that was something Igneel could never forgive.

The Fire Dragon King was suddenly filled with an intense rage. It brought him back as nothing else before had managed to do. He hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d told Natsu he’d been a great fighter a few hundred years ago. And now, as he began to feel that familiar battle lust claim him, he could once again see clearly.

Everything around him seemed sharper, brighter, full of vibrant colors that had been absent for far too long, and he welcomed them. The sights, the smells, the clarity. Igneel knew what he had to do.

He covered himself in his flames and prepared to join his brother, ignoring Deliora for the moment. It had been a while since he and Atlas had fought together, but the rhythm was not something easily forgotten. One way or another, this would end today.

Acnologia must be destroyed at all costs.

Igneel crouched, his wings flaring slightly, his tail whipping in agitation as he watched Atlas leap back and up, out of the reach of Acnologia’s maw. As the slayer rose to his hind legs, unfurling his wings to take to the air after Atlas, Igneel suddenly launched forward. His massive form was a blur as he closed the 100 meters in the blink of an eye.

He wasted no effort on magic or fire, knowing Acnologia would be unfazed by either. Instead, Igneel rammed his shoulder into Acnologia’s chest, launching the startled beast backward and attempting to snake his head around and bite at one of Acnologia’s wings.

The two tumbled, gouging furrows in the ground as they snapped and clawed at each other in a frenzy. Igneel ended up on his back, and Acnologia attempted to clamp his jaws on Igneel’s exposed throat while pinning the red dragon’s forelegs to the ground. His eyes gleamed with malevolent glee as he saw the opportunity for a quick end to the battle.

Unfortunately for Acnologia, in his narrow focus, he forgot to account for the other participant in this brawl. Igneel suddenly thrust his hindlegs upward, momentarily lifting Acnologia’s haunches into the air, well above the black dragon’s head. Acnologia’s tail flailed high in the air to prevent him from tipping over.

The timing of this maneuver was perfect for Atlas, who leveled out from the steep dive he’d been in, clamping his jaws onto the middle of the black dragon’s tail. He tucked into a roll and, with a twist of his body, hit the ground just past Igneel’s head, facing the opposite direction.

He took the significant speed and momentum of his dive and transferred it onto Acnologia. Hauling the tail around and flipping the slayer completely about, ripping him off his perch atop Igneel, and sending the black dragon careening wildly into an outcropping of rocks, reducing them to rubble and a cloud of dust.

Atlas turned to watch his foe right and extricate himself rather gracelessly from the rubble. Igneel rolled to his feet and stood beside his brother. Both of them shared a fierce grin at the thrill of battling together. They launched themselves at the black dragon, this time with Igneel going high, and Atlas charging along the ground.

Acnologia crouched and tracked Igneel’s path through the air, but as Atlas leaped in what was intended to be an interception of Acnologia’s launch into the air, the black dragon dove to the ground instead. He twisted at the same time and thrust his claws up to rake deeply across the bared underbelly of Atlas as he sailed overhead.

Atlas roared in anguish as he took his own spill into the pile of rocks Acnologia had just left. Crimson blood splashed across the boulders from the furrows in Atlas’ chest, but he quickly rose and prepared to re-engage.

0-0

The smell of blood filled the air pushing Natsu and Belserion to reach the meeting spot at full speed, each desperate to reach Igneel and Atlas. They hadn’t been sure what to expect, but they both stopped, admiring the rare sight of Igneel and Atlas fighting together. Natsu, in particular, was in awe, having never seen his father fight before.

He was so transfixed that he didn’t notice Acnologia studying him even as he fought.

“Who’s this?” Acnologia asked, not even sounding winded as he continued to battle against the two fire dragons.

Natsu remained silent, knowing there was no point in answering. If Acnologia could smell him, he would figure out his identity soon enough. He heard Belserion roar out a warning next to him and noticed Deliora trying to slink away while the attention of the red dragons was on Acnologia.

As much as Natsu wanted to deal with Acnologia, the second he saw Deliora, his dragon instincts took over. It happened so quickly he almost didn’t notice it. Images of Gray played through his mind as he was consumed by a bloodlust stronger than any he’d ever experienced before.

His fault!

It was Deliora’s fault that Gray had lost his parents at such a young age. That Gray hated dragons, and Natsu couldn’t tell his mate the truth about himself. His fault the war continued long after everyone wanted to go home.

And now, he had committed the worst sin of all, the one for which Natsu could never forgive him. Deliora had betrayed all dragons by allying himself with Acnologia.

Deliora had to die, that was all there was to it.

Natsu tried to fight through the haze. To take control back from the instincts that were screaming at him to kill Deliora. He was terrified of what it could mean if he let them consume him, but they were too strong for him to overpower. Natsu surrendered, reminding himself he’d long ago decided to go after Deliora if he ever got the chance.

I will avenge Gray’s family, and I will correct my father’s mistake. Deliora will never hurt anyone ever again.

His body and soul vibrated in anticipation, and Natsu could feel all reluctance fading away until there was nothing but a flicker of apprehension left inside him. Soon, even that was gone.

“I will destroy you!” Natsu roared, leaving Belserion to waver between aiding his father and uncle in their battle or going after Natsu.

Natsu coated himself in his hottest flames as he veered towards Deliora, who seemed honestly surprised to see the hatred on his face.

“Igneel, you’ve been holding out on me,” Acnologia leered at the King of the Fire Dragons as he sniffed the air. His eyes narrowed in interest as he peered at Natsu.

“There was another one,” Acnologia’s muzzle widened into a sickly grin, “I wonder, will he be a challenge?”

Those words decided Belserion, and he joined Igneel and Atlas in their fight.

Natsu chased after Deliora knowing the dragon would be immune to his breath attacks. That didn’t mean his fire was completely useless against him, he could still use it to power up his other attacks. He roared as loudly as he could, giving voice to the rage and loathing he felt.

Acnologia’s vile laugh rang out as he watched Natsu close in on Deliora while the traitor darted back and forth, looking for a way to evade Natsu’s approach.

“You shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss us, Acnologia,” Igneel advised, taking advantage of his distraction to slash Acnologia across the chest with his claws, barely earning a grunt from the Black Dragon in response.

Deliora determined there was no way to evade Natsu, and he braced himself for the young dragon’s attack. However, Natsu hit the ground just in front of Deliora and dug his front claws into the ground, wheeling about.

His hindquarters and tail lashed out, the narrower end of his tail moving faster than could be seen. It struck Deliora across the jaw, and the force of the blow spun the overbalanced dragon around, sending him reeling and seeing stars.

Natsu immediately leaped into the air again, looping and diving down from directly above Deliora, who had just started to clear his head and was looking from side to side to try to spot his foe. A moment later, Natsu crashed into the huge dragon’s back with enough force to make the ground shudder as Deliora’s legs gave out and he collapsed to the ground, frantically squirming to try to shake Natsu off as the young dragon raked his claws at Deliora’s wings and bit at his neck.

Acnologia laughed once again, this time with a mirth that sickened everyone present, “That’s a fine son you have there, Igneel. Deliora is clearly outmatched,” he paused for a moment, thinking as he continued to fight with the three dragons.

“While I wouldn’t mind seeing him kill Deliora, I think I’d rather challenge him at full strength.”

Acnologia made a disconcerting noise, and three additional renegade dragon slayers exited a nearby cave, instantly transforming into their dragon forms and taking to the air. The Black Dragon laughed at the dismay on the faces of the red dragons.

“Come now, you didn’t actually think you were the only ones clever enough to think of bringing backup, did you?”

As soon as his dragons were close enough, he disengaged, leaving them to fight in his stead as he took off in the direction of Deliora and Natsu. All three dragons converged on Igneel, attacking him from all sides as Atlas and Belserion tried to figure out the best way to help him.

Igneel whirled and leaped frantically, avoiding leaving his back turned to any of the three enemies for more than the briefest of moments. The slayers darted in and out constantly, trying to bite or claw exposed flesh as it was presented to them and keeping a healthy distance from Igneel’s deadly teeth and flames. Even with his considerable skill and ferocity, Igneel was quickly accumulating more and more small wounds, slowly soaking the ground below him with blood.

The maneuvering dance broke up as Atlas and Belserion entered the fray. Dragons and slayers took to the sky as they squared off in pairs. The dragons seemed to have a slight advantage in flight, but the slayers were still formidable, and it took several minutes before there was any noticeable shift in the battle.

Atlas peeled away from the slayer he’d been engaged with and suddenly dropped just above one that had been trying to bite Igneel’s wing. Atlas exploded in a nova of hellfire, scorching and stunning his target who fell limply out of the sky, trailing smoke from all over his body. Atlas wheeled and re-engaged with his previous foe, who looked much warier at getting as close to the fire dragon.

In unspoken accord, Atlas and Belserion took advantage of the momentary reprieve as a chance to get Igneel away to safety.

The King of the Fire Dragons was leaking blood from several wounds, but Atlas knew there was no time to cast any healing spells. They had to get back to the cave so Grandine and Wendy could work on him.

Atlas heard the uncertainty in Natsu’s battle roar as he was suddenly faced with Acnologia. He forced himself to drown him out, even as he felt terrible about it. He had faith in Natsu’s abilities as a fighter and his determination to protect his father at all costs. He had no doubt Natsu would be able to hold his own long enough for them to get Igneel out.

Any other course of action at this point would only lead to their destruction, and that would be disastrous to all the dragons who were counting on them to restore the peace.

He could see Igneel begin to respond to it as well, instinctively trying to move towards his son.

“Not this time,” Atlas murmured sadly, casting a spell on his brother that made him nearly weightless.

He grabbed on to him, using his magic again to speed himself up. Atlas needed to get Igneel to safety no matter what. He couldn’t let him die, not before that blasted abomination.

“Belserion,” Atlas yelled, but the dragon was already trying to keep the renegades from following them. Two of them managed to get away from him, promptly giving chase.

Their dragon forms were smaller than both Atlas and Igneel, but they moved swiftly in the air. Both dragon slayers kept up a constant barrage of attacks that Atlas needed to evade as he dragged Igneel along with him.

Just a little longer...

Atlas knew there were other dragons ready for just this eventuality, he just had to get to them, and everything would be fine. He looked down at Igneel worriedly, focusing more magic into his speed spell even as he pushed his wings as hard as he could.

He tried not to think about how he had left Natsu behind, knowing his nephew would have wanted him to save Igneel. He couldn’t help but worry, even though Belserion, who was a considerable fighter, had stayed behind to help. Part of him couldn’t help but hope that the two of them could take out Acnologia once and for all.

Atlas winced as he was pelted with yet another energy blast. His grip on Igneel loosened in response, but he was able to grab him quickly and keep going.

He didn’t have to look back to know the third renegade had joined his pursuers. The additional set of attacks alerting him to their presence. He fretted about what that could mean to the other fight that he hoped was still ongoing, but there was nothing he could do to help. Not until he got Igneel to safety.

Natsu, don’t give him any openings...

He caught a whiff of blood in the air and wailed upon recognizing it, his instincts screaming at him to turn back and join the fight. But he couldn’t, no matter how much he wanted to. If Igneel died as he was now… no, he couldn’t think about the consequences. He just had to hurry.

“Leave me,” Igneel struggled against him, pleading in a broken voice, “You have to go help him.”

“Stop it,” Atlas snapped, even as he fought every instinct he possessed not to do precisely what Igneel was demanding, “Natsu will be fine.”

He has to be.

0-0

“What the hell is going on?” Gajeel muttered, although everyone around him could hear him, “Someone should have returned by now.”

Metalicana grunted his agreement, extending his senses as far as he could. “Something’s wrong.”

“Skiadrum?” Metalicana glanced over at the dragon that was standing next to him, his dragon slayer on his back.

Without a word, the dragon took off and instantly disappeared from their view as Weisslogia and Sting gazed worriedly at the spot where they had been.

A large group of dragons and dragon slayers were converged at the edge of their territory, waiting for the red dragons to return. There was hope that a truce had been accomplished, but they were ready for a fight nonetheless. Most of them had been fighting for years now.

They were a ragtag collection of all different races of dragons. The only real gain they had managed during this war was that the previously solitary dragons had learned to coexist somewhat peacefully. They had come to rely on each other in combat and had even managed to forge friendships. There were some exceptions, of course, but for the moment, they were all willing to stand together. They had seen enough death.

The minutes dragged on in tense silence as they waited for Skiadrum to return with a report.

“Atlas is coming in fast with Igneel, but they’re being pursued by three renegades. There’s no sign of Natsu or Belserion. We must hurry, they need our help!” Skiadrum suddenly reappeared, shouting urgently even as Rogue somehow managed to remain impassive, his expression giving nothing away as to what he had seen.

Metalicana and Weisslogia had already taken off before Skiadrum had finished speaking, and Irene began belting out orders to the dragon slayers who climbed on their assigned dragons and took off.

“Stay back!” Skiadrum yelled at Weisslogia, “This is no place for you, I told you before.”

“And I told you, these are my friends. I will not sit back and do nothing,” Weisslogia glared at his mate before flying past him.

He could feel Skiadrum’s anger at his defiance flooding him through their bond. It mixed in with the worry and ever-present guilt that were such a large part of their relationship now. He ignored it. He was tired of feeling helpless, and he was tired of being needlessly treated as an invalid by his mate.

Ssstubborn fool

Weisslogia shook his head at the intrusion and flew on, refusing to answer even as he extended his senses to try to locate his friends. Soon he could make out a red blur in the distance, and he readied a spell.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Sting asked, keeping his voice steady as he petted his father, knowing how hard it was for him to go against Skiadrum’s wishes.

Weisslogia snorted, “You’re one to talk.”

When he felt his son tense, he relented, “We must do what we feel is right, they will understand eventually.”

“Are you up to a fight?”

“We’ll find out, won’t we?”

With that, there was no more talk as they both readied their magic and focused on finding a way to help Atlas and Igneel.

Irene had deployed an assortment of dragons and dragon slayers. They would charge the renegade dragon slayers, freeing the Talos dragons to go after Belserion and Natsu once Igneel was safe.

“That bastard!” Metalicana roared in unbridled anger.

“Listen up!” Metalicana broadcast in his loudest roar, “Igneel says Deliora made some sort of deal with Acnologia. They tried to kill off Atlas and Igneel. Natsu and Belserion are fighting them now. Igneel wants us to take him, so Atlas can lead us back to help them.”

“Atlas isn’t going to like that,” Skiadrum muttered, knowing how protective Atlas was about his brother.

Several dragons cursed in disbelief, but Weisslogia wasn’t really surprised at Deliora’s treachery, it was what they had anticipated after all. Although to ally himself with Acnologia against his own kind was certainly unexpected and unforgivable.

Deliora had just signed his own death sentence. No matter what their particular stance on humans might be, no dragon would ever join him again.

“We can discuss this later. For now, we must focus on the fight that’s ahead of us,” Irene’s yell interrupted Weisslogia’s thoughts, and he silently agreed with the dragon slayer.

Weisslogia could hear grunts of agreement and battle cries rise behind him at her words, and he turned his attention back to his mate.

“It’s Natsu we’re talking about, he’s probably torn up as it is. He won’t put up a fight. I’ll take Igneel and get him back to Grandine, the rest of you follow Atlas back to Natsu and Belserion.”

“Weiss, you know—” Skiadrum began, but Weisslogia cut him off immediately.

“I can do this, Skia.”

Please believe in me...

Weisslogia could feel the battle raging in Skiadrum’s mind, but he could also feel the pride his mate felt, and he vowed not to let him down.

“Be careful.”

Weisslogia nodded and waited for Metalicana to use his telepathy to tell Igneel of their plan. A group of dragons zoomed past him, launching an attack on the renegades, and Weisslogia didn’t hesitate to head over to Atlas.

As he’d predicted, Atlas didn’t look happy, but he also didn’t put up a fight, handing Igneel over before whispering in a pleading tone.

“Weiss —.”

Weisslogia was already flying back when he shouted, “I will protect him with my life, go bring Natsu home.”

He tried to ignore the deep gashes he’d seen on his friend, or the tiredness in his eyes, knowing Atlas would do everything in his power to protect the nephew he loved as a son.

Weisslogia flew back to the cave as fast as he could, knowing every second could mean the difference between life and death. He held on to the bigger dragon tightly, grumbling whenever he heard Igneel grunt in discomfort.

“Is he going to be alright?” Sting asked quietly, his voice sounding tremulous, and Weisslogia could hear his own doubts reflected. He knew his son’s question was not limited to the dragon they were carrying.

Sting was worried about a great many things at the moment. Weisslogia wished he could give him some comfort, but he’d never been one for empty words. The fact was, they had no idea what their loved ones would be up against.

“They are all very strong. They will do their best, just as we are doing now,” Weisslogia looked down at Igneel, wanting to reassure himself that the red dragon was still with them. He wished he hadn’t, he’d never seen Igneel look so despondent before.

“We’re almost there, I can smell Grandine,” Weisslogia announced, pushing himself as much as he dared. The strain on his body was tremendous, but he knew he couldn’t rest until he got Igneel to the healer. As the cave entrance loomed tantalizingly closer, he called upon the last of his energy to bring Igneel home.

0-0

“Natsu, watch out!”

Natsu stopped mid-attack, heeding the tone of Belserion’s shout more than the words themselves. He forced himself to study what was happening around him. His eyes narrowed when he saw Atlas rushing away with Igneel, noticing straight away that Igneel was not flying on his own power.

His dismay intensified when he saw two renegade dragon slayers chase after them, barraging them with attacks. Belserion had his hands full with a third while Acnologia was flying straight towards him.

Natsu made a split-second decision. He let go of Deliora, determined to help protect his father as he had come here to do. Deliora immediately took off away from Natsu, not even bothering to look back.

“You were lucky today,” Natsu fumed as he called out to the fleeing dragon, “But I promise you this, I will be the last thing you ever see.”

Natsu steeled himself to face off against Acnologia, hoping in doing so, Belserion would have a chance to defeat the remaining renegade and follow after Atlas and Igneel.

Natsu’s initial reaction to being one on one with the dragon from his nightmare was terror. The malice Acnologia had exuded in his dream was nothing compared to what it felt like to be in his presence. The fear tried to inject doubts and insecurities into Natsu, urging him to flee, but he fought it off. He couldn’t afford to have Acnologia go after his father as well.

He had to fight, even though he knew this renegade dragon slayer was not only incredibly powerful but also completely insane. The madness reflected in his cold blue eyes brought this point home as nothing else could. Acnologia was lethal, and Natsu could not afford to underestimate him, not when he had managed to best all the dragons that had taught Natsu how to fight.

Natsu’s terror was soon replaced by rage as he thought of all the dragons that had fallen to Acnologia. Some of which Natsu was sure had not only trusted him but might have even considered him a friend. His rage boiled through him, heating his blood and bonding with his magic, magnifying it until Natsu felt drunk with it.

He was well aware that dying by this creature’s hand was a possibility, one he must avoid at all costs. It would destroy Gray to learn he’d been killed by a dragon, and he would do anything to keep that from happening.

Acnologia, however, wasn’t interested in fighting him yet, seeming content to size Natsu up as the sounds of Belserion and the renegade’s fighting continued behind them.

“There is something different about you,” Acnologia finally spoke, “You smell of Igneel but…also something else,” He shook his head in confusion, seemingly trying to figure out the puzzle.

For a brief moment, there was a lucidity to his eyes that hadn’t been there before. It disconcerted Natsu, who didn’t know what to make of the creature in front of him.

He stared at Acnologia open-mouthed, his breath catching at the Black Dragon’s words. How had he been able to tell when no dragon had yet been able to?

The moment was short-lived. Acnologia’s eyes quickly lost their lucidity as his maw stretched into a sickening grin. “Kind of small, aren’t you?” Acnologia taunted, and the similarity to Gajeel’s words snapped Natsu out of his temporary daze.

“I don’t need size to kick your ass,” Natsu replied with feigned bravado.

Thanks to Atlas’ constant experimentation, Natsu had been surrounded by magic his entire life. It didn’t take him long to recognize that Acnologia possessed many different kinds of magic, including his beloved fire.

Natsu banished all extraneous thoughts and feelings from his mind, he couldn’t afford any distractions. His survival would depend on being able to stay a step ahead of Acnologia.

Natsu feinted, but Acnologia didn’t flinch in the slightest. He charged, stopping a short distance in front of the slayer, digging his foreclaws into the earth and spinning his hindquarters around as he whipped his tail out at the slayer’s head.

Natsu’s tail moved faster than the eye could follow, but it was as if Acnologia knew precisely what to expect with the move. His jaws lunged forward, biting down right where he predicted the tail would be.

Natsu heard the familiar whip-crack of the tail attack, but instead of a strike against the slayer’s head, he felt a jolt like a shock of lightning as half a meter of his tail was bitten off by the black dragon.

He stifled a short howl of pain as he completed his spin, facing the slayer again. The young dragon struggled to control the pain and keep his composure. He watched Acnologia tilt his head upward and gulp down the piece of tail in his mouth with exaggerated delight and smacking.

Natsu channeled the shock and pain into fury and charged again. He veered to the right, tucking his left wing tight against his side to make it less of a target as he leaped and attempted to rake both of his foreclaws down Acnologia’s side and back, aiming for the root of his right wing.

The slayer crouched low, dodging the claws, and his jaws snapped at Natsu’s hindleg. Natsu sensed the attack, however, and used his tail to smack the top of Acnologia’s head, knocking it off target and temporarily blinding the slayer with the blood that continued to well out of the ruined tip of his tail.

Natsu spread his wings and took to the air. He wheeled about and immediately dove, trying to take advantage of the superior position before Acnologia could also get airborne.

He breathed a tremendous gout of billowing flames. He knew they couldn’t harm the slayer directly, but they did momentarily obscure his sight. Using this to his advantage, Natsu tucked his head, barreling through the flames and straight into his foe.

He pushed the slayer back, immediately slashing out with tooth and claw, trying to draw blood from the less armored underbelly. One claw struck home, but Natsu stayed in motion, attempting to get behind the slayer, biting at his tail and slashing at his wings with claws.

Acnologia leaped away from Natsu, spreading his own wings and gaining altitude. He turned and launched a series of breath attacks at the young dragon, but Natsu evaded them with dexterity, trying to close the distance to the slayer.

As Natsu neared his foe, he suddenly spiraled above the black dragon. Planting all four feet on the slayer’s back, he flexed his talons to dig in momentarily, then shoved down hard, launching himself higher and forcing Acnologia to pump his wings to regain control of his flight.

The two dragons flew away from each other for a moment, then wheeled and began speeding toward one another for another clash. This time, the slayer simply overpowered the smaller fire dragon. He pushed Natsu past vertical until he was upside down, slashing Natsu’s neck with a claw. The young dragon cried out in pain and fury, losing considerable altitude while he struggled to regain control of his flight.

0-0

Belserion did his best to keep the renegade pinned down, but after hearing yet another howl of pain from Natsu, he knew he had to do something. He had no doubt Atlas would be returning soon, and for this, he was glad. Natsu would need healing, but right now, more than anything, he needed help.

Even though the young dragon was holding his own, Belserion knew that Acnologia was still only feeling him out. Acnologia enjoyed a challenge, and Natsu was a dragon he hadn’t come across before, and that was becoming increasingly rare for the renegade.

When Belserion heard Acnologia begin to cast the spell he’d used against all his friends, the one that had the power to reap souls, he panicked.

Oh, no, you don’t!

Belserion flew as fast as he could towards Acnologia and Natsu, lunging to place himself in the way of the spell.

Acnologia’s frustration resounded around them as Belserion thwarted his attack. Belserion felt pride surge in his chest at the thought that he’d managed to protect the dragon he’d come to think of as their future. He was hundreds of years old, strong enough to survive the spell, but he wasn’t sure Natsu would have.

There was no denying Natsu’s strength or determination, but he was still young and a hybrid. Taking a direct hit from that spell had almost killed Weisslogia, who was much older. Probably would have killed him if he hadn’t been mated to Skiadrum.

Belserion was mildly amused at the shock registered on Natsu’s face as the hit he’d expected never came. Although it was quickly marred by the sorrow he recognized in Natsu’s eyes. Belserion tried to smile for him, even as the pain ripped through his body.

“You need to go, Natsu, this isn’t a fight you can win at the moment,” Belserion advised, keeping his voice even so as not to cause him any further worry, “I will buy you some time.”

“I won’t leave you,” Natsu protested, “How can you ask that of me?”

“You must.”

Belserion had hoped Natsu would have grasped the logic in his plan, but he hadn’t really expected him to agree to a retreat. Not when there was so much at stake.

He took stock of his condition as the air around him heated up to increasingly uncomfortable temperatures until it was almost like having Atlas nearby. For a brief moment, Belserion hoped the heat signaled the arrival of the other dragons, but it was only Natsu, looking angrier than Belserion had ever seen him before.

Belserion struggled to get up quickly, deciding that if today were his last battle, he would go down, giving it his all. He had sworn his allegiance to the Dragneels a long time ago, and he had never regretted it once. He would use whatever power he had left to fight alongside Natsu. He spared a thought to his dragon slayer, a woman both brave and wise, and he was filled with sadness.

Goodbye, Irene, please forgive me…

0-0

Watching Belserion stand beside him, even though it was obvious how much it pained him fueled Natsu’s determination even further. He wasn’t sure what that spell had been, but he had the nagging suspicion it was the one that had reaped the souls of his family to varying degrees.

That thought angered him beyond anything he’d ever felt before. Belserion had likely given up his soul to protect him, and Natsu would do his best to see that sacrifice not be wasted.

Acnologia roared in fury at being deprived of his magic’s intended target. He raced forward, aiming at Belserion, but was forced to dodge as Natsu closed on his flank, and the young dragon attempted to bite the slayer’s tail.

Natsu struggled to keep Acnologia’s full attention. It was evident that Belserion was significantly weakened by the reaping. Despite this, he fought on, looking for any opportunity to lunge in and attack while Acnologia was distracted. Unfortunately, it was only a matter of time before the weakness and exhaustion slowed Belserion enough for Acnologia to take advantage of it.

Belserion lunged to attack the slayer’s flank as Acnologia wheeled to chase Natsu after their latest clash. The fire dragon failed to notice that Acnologia’s head was curled back, carefully watching Belserion’s charge. When he was close enough, Acnologia raised his tail and smashed it down on Belserion’s head, stunning the dragon who went limp and plummeted to the ground with a crash.

Natsu wheeled and roared in anguish as he saw Belserion’s form crumpled on the ground below. The young dragon channeled his magic into his four legs, each blazing like a comet as the fire pushed him to an incredible speed.

The gap between Natsu and Acnologia closed in moments, and Natsu spiraled, briefly rising above the black dragon as if going for his back again. At the last moment, while Natsu’s legs were above him, he fed another pulse of fire magic through them. He pushed himself suddenly lower to pass below the slayer, where he had an open shot at his vulnerable chest.

Natsu stretched his jaws and clamped firmly onto Acnologia’s left arm. He used all his momentum and magical thrust to wrench violently at the arm. Natsu felt a jarring shift in their struggle, and he righted himself moments before hitting the ground, flaring his wings to manage a landing instead of a crash.

Natsu’s teeth were still clamped onto the arm he’d managed to rip from Acnologia. Euphoria coursed through him at Acnologia’s muffled roar of pain, but it was replaced by curiosity as he felt a surge of weakness.

Natsu looked down to see a gaping hole in his side, leaking what seemed to be a river of blood. He looked up with confusion, and his vision wavered, his focus stretching out as if he were looking down a tunnel that was rapidly growing longer and darker.

At the far end of the tunnel, he saw Acnologia, definitely missing an arm, but with a huge mouthful of flesh in his jaws, dripping hot blood that steamed in the cooling air. Natsu’s legs lost their strength, and he stumbled but managed to keep his front legs locked upright, sinking into a sitting crouch.

Still, there was fear in Acnologia’s eyes, and Natsu reveled in it even as the Black Dragon spit out the chunk of his flesh before glaring down at him. Natsu could hear Belserion yell out his name urgently, but he couldn’t seem to focus on anything but how cold he felt.

Natsu laughed. The idea of a fire dragon feeling cold amused him. He called on his magic to warm himself up, and though he still felt plenty of it, it refused to respond to his beckon.

Belserion continued to call out to him, and Natsu closed his eyes for just a moment, trying to think of what to do. He felt himself begin to drift away, but an image of Gray assaulted him almost immediately, refusing to let him give up, his voice pleading with him.

I need you

Natsu’s heart ached, and he reached out with his arm trying to touch the vision of Gray that had appeared before him. Gray looked sad as he begged him….

I can’t lose you to them too!

And Natsu found himself repeating the words he’d said before leaving Gray in their field.

You’ll never lose me... I’ll see you soon, Princess.

Come back to me, Natsu...

Natsu opened his eyes once again. Even as everything continued to fade to utter darkness, he stubbornly called out again, not sure if the call was to his mate or his magic. And as his awareness dimmed, he felt that warm spot he was calling to turn its attention toward him, responding to his call.

A/N: I am terrible at writing fight scenes so I enlisted the help of my husband once again, since he actually enjoys writing them. He was given the skeleton of the chapter along with “stage directions” of what I wanted to overall have happen. I think he did a great job, even if he surprised even me with how far he was willing to go! Thank you very much, love. :)

I have enjoyed fleshing out the dragons more than I thought I would (I really liked Belserion in this chapter) and while I would love to go more into some of the things that will happen, I know it’s getting to be time to move on. The next chapter should wrap up the war portion (and setup other things) and move us back to Talos.

[rubberduckyrye]

This is probably a weird ask but why do you like Kaito? I absolutely hate him tbh but I want to try or at least understand why people like him.

I had a whole lot of stuff written for you and tumblr decided to refresh and I lost it all. Ack! I’ll try to recreate my answer as thoroughly as possible.

Firstly, I want to commend you for trying to understand someone else’s perspective about a character you don’t like. It can be difficult to even try, let alone succeed, so even if I can’t help you understand my perspective, I hope you retain a level of respect for our differing opinions. So, without further adieu, let’s get the show on the road.

I think that Kaito, like Kokichi, is one of those characters that you have to decide for yourself if you like him or not. What that means is, hes a bit pliable and mold-able, able to be what you want him to be. I don’t know how you see Kaito, but I see him as someone who has a heart of gold, someone who has everyone’s best interests at heart, and someone who has his heart in the right place.

A lot of people dislike Kaito due to mistranslations from fan translators, them making Kaito way more homophobic than he actually is. Kaito has a line in Salmon mode that, in the english translation, was him expressing upset and concern for the fact Shuichi apparently “swung that way” but never told Kaito until in that moment, and it read as if it was an afterthought confession, not as Shuichi sitting Kaito down to tell him and talk to him about it. Kaito is all about communication, so he wants those close to him to trust him enough to tell him such things, and this is supported in his Free Time Events, where he says communication is the most important tool to an astronaut. He very clearly takes this to heart and applies the need for communication in real life. (This can also explain why he is thoroughly frustrated with Kokichi, who is a big ball of miscommunication waiting to happen.)

In the fan translations, however, the fan translators spun Kaito’s words to have him upset over the fact Shuichi was into other men, which reads as incredibly homophobic. However, this is still a mistranslation.

Another reason why I’m convinced it was a mistranslation is the fact that Kaito’s LSE event was, within itself, about Kaito having strong, passionate, romantic feelings for a very clearly male rival pilot that he wanted to confess his love to. He didn’t seen in the closet or unaware of himself, and reads as someone who really knows what they want to say when they confess but is a bit nervous about. Kaito uses the race, winning the race, as an excuse to confess if he wins. Because he’ll win the right to confess. So when people say Kaito is homophobic, I can’t help but to roll my eyes and gesture to his LSE. Because they are very, very clearly mistaken.

Kaito has a serious case of “foot-in-mouth” syndrome, but he really does have the best intentions for others. He’s very aware of what people need in order to build them up, and he acts accordingly in order to make that happen. For example, Shuichi as a detective isn’t trained properly for murder cases. He was more trained for run away cases, infidelity cases, and lost pet cases. It’s important that I stress how under-qualified for murder cases Shuichi was, because him being under-qualified is what made him such a nervous wreck in the beginning. Kaito saw this nervousness and crippling fear and anxiety, and took it upon himself to lessen the burden for Shuichi so he could continue forward. By telling Shuichi that he would be the one responsible for Shuichi’s mistakes, he was able to basically put training wheels on the bike in a situation where Shuichi had no choice but to ride a bike. This help Shuichi grow as a detective. Kaito also makes a work-out routine for Shuichi to help train his body to be healthier and to tire him out at night so he would sleep better. 

The same thing for Maki, except with a different issue–Kaito saw that Maki was a girl who hated herself, who wanted to isolate herself from everyone because of her “talent,” and to him, that was unacceptable. Kaito knew that if Maki isolated herself from everyone, that she would never heal from whatever traumas she was facing–and I bet you Kaito figured out that if she was an assassin who hated herself to the point of self-isolation, he figured she was an assassin not of her own free will. that’s why he says he cant believe that she’s an assassin, because she’s not the “evil, cold hearted murderer” sort. She’s just a girl, a girl who was forced into this profession for some reason and feels as if she is undeserving of friends and love and support to get her out of such a situation. In a way, I believe Kaito putting so much faith in Maki was his way of trying to make her stop her assassin work, and help her be just a normal girl. Helping her gain some self love, respect, and feel worth it will make her more willing to look for a way out of her horrible situation. That’s why he drags her to training with him and Shuichi–not because she needs the training, but she needs the social connections to keep her from slipping.

Kaito sees the good in people, and he wholeheartedly wants to believe in every inch of it. That’s why when he sees the good in Maki, he doubles down on his faith in her and recklessly and blindly trusts her. However he’s not perfect, as Kokichi slips under his radar here. Though, to be quite honest, I personally believe Kokichi is the exception to the rule only because Kodaka thoroughly hates him, and Kokichi as a character is a very chaotic, out of control, hyper intelligent character that Kodaka needed to keep isolated, neglected, abused, and ignored in order for his plot to not completely fall apart at the seams. I’ve said it before, but Kokichi is a character can and will ruin plots and narratives when not kept in check, simply because of his hyper intelligence and good nature/instinct to save/help everyone.

Anyway, Kaito can sense when there is good in someone, and he really clings onto those good qualities and wants to help someone become the best person they can be. 

Kaito himself wants to help and is a good person too. He always tries to do the right thing, and his heart is always in the right place when doing as such. I imagine that Kaito is the kind of person who, when he makes a mistake and is called out on it, will low-key panic and do his best to not make that mistake again. My immediate thought is his sexism, which seems entirely unintentional and probably the result of traditional values put on him by his grandparents since he was apparently raised by them. If someone had pulled him aside and told him he was being sexist, he would absolutely double down in trying to be more aware of himself and his words and not be as such.

Kaito is a warm, passionate, affectionate and supportive person who is loyal to those he loves and honestly? As a struggling person myself, I’d really love and appreciate having a “Kaito” in my life. Someone who could support me in such a way that I actually am built up to be the best version I could be? Someone who would be cautious and aware of what I needed without pushing me too hard? Sign me the fuck up man, and also I bet Kaito hugs are the best, warm and strong and supporting…….. I’m 100% Aroace and not interested in romance but just the idea is kinda making me swoon a little! 

(What can I say? I’m weak for love and support, sue me)

I also like how these traits Kaito has plays into his flaws as well. A great visual example of what I’m talking about is here, where Kaito in a Persona 4 AU has a shadow represented by Atlas. I think this 100% represents Kaito’s need to lift others up and help them, but at his own expense. He doesn’t let people know when he’s vulnerable or suffering, because he thinks that will make them fall down to his level and suffer with him. He wants to build them up, not break them down, and that means hiding the fact that he’s falling apart himself. He’s their support structure, and if they see him breaking, then they’ll lose that support.

Anyway, that’s really all I can think of right now, sorry! I hope that all made sense! And, even if you don’t agree, I hope you can understand and respect my interpretations of Kaito. Either way, I hope you have a great day!

[bosstoaster]

oh my gOD, I'm in love with 9. maybe for sheith or shallura?

Sheith w/ number 9 for that prompt thing, if you’re so inclined? :)

We’re hiding from the authorities and it’s very close quarters in here, I can feel your body against mine.

This wasn’t supposed to happen this way.

For one, Shiro and Keith hadn’t even planned on investigating these pirates today.  They were a vague future problem, the purview of the remaining rebellion forces more than Voltron and the IGF.  As annoying and opportunistic as they were, they hadn’t rose above the level of being merely vultures.  One day, when Haggar was handled and the remaining Galra forces were cleaned up, then the Defenders of the Universe would bother.  Until then, it hadn’t been on their agenda.

That was, until the Widow’s Breath, the flagship of the pirate fleet, had landed in literally the same market place that Shiro and Keith had chosen for their... private discussion.  They’d come down in a nondescript cruiser rather than Atlas or the Black Lion, so they didn’t have the firepower to match the well-outfitted ship.

But they were landing in a marketplace.  Surely they were planning on sticking around, right?  And there were so many weird pirates coming and going that surely no one would question two new faces in their signature blue cloaks.

At least, that’s what they had both been thinking.

Shiro admitted that part of his enthusiasm had been nostalgia.  Captaincy meant less tilting off after windmills, and he wasn’t above admitting he missed it.

The other part was that Shiro was putting off their talk.

Keith probably was too.

So they snuck on, with all the giddy subtlety of teenagers sneaking into a bar.  The goal had been to have a look around, steal some files or anything that looked portable, listen to some chatter, then get out quickly.

Except almost as soon as they’d gotten aboard, the ship started to lift.

Their disguises were never meant to last longer than a passing glance.  Which meant anyone actually stopping and talking to them would give up the game, and the pirates would realize they had the ultimate hostages - after all, it wasn’t like no one knew Keith and Shiro’s face.

Which meant they needed to hide.

Which meant they’d hid in a tiny closet for lack of better options.

Which meant that Shiro and Keith were pressed together in the dark, humid confines of the room, chest to chest, face to face, silent as they listened to the footsteps outside and hoped no one needed a broom soon.

“This was a bad idea,” Shiro finally breathed, closing his eyes.  

The little room was musty and had the acrid scent of cleaning supplies the universe over.  But mixed into that was the undeniable scent of Keith - metal, sand, and just a hint of sweat.  That last one was mostly because of the heat of the little room.

Keith snorted.  “No kidding.”  He tried to lean back away from Shiro, giving them both space, but there was nowhere to go.  Both their back were already pressed to either wall, but they were still smushed together.  It was made all the worse by Shiro’s arm, which took up far more space than it had any right too.

They both stand there, awkwardly silent.

“I don’t suppose you’re still close enough to Atlas to get a distress call out,” Keith said, once the silence stretched out too long to bear.  

Shiro shook his head.  “No.  They probably went to hyperspace.  Our best bet is to wait till a night cycle or third ship, then try and break into the control room while they have a minimal crew.”

Keith nodded wisely, more than an edge of sarcasm to the movement.  “Which we’ll definitely be able to tell from our very well connected closet.”

Scowling, Shiro shrugged.  “Unless you have a better plan, Black Paladin.”

He didn’t mean for it to come out bitter.  It was just snark, a response to Keith’s sarcasm.  But he could already tell once the words left his mouth that they were going to sound bad.

Keith’s expression closed off.  His jaw physically worked, like he was grinding his teeth.  “Of course not, Captain.”

Shiro opened his mouth, then closed it when footsteps came closer.  He waited for the shadow to pass by the door and the noises to fade again before he responded.  “I’m not trying to criticize the job you do.  I’m sorry.  We’re both just tense.”

There was a pause, then Keith let out his breath through his nose.  “I wouldn’t be surprised if you were mad.  I did kind of steal your job.”

“You offered it back.”

“We both knew you couldn’t take it.  Not that you didn’t want it back.”

Keith wasn’t wrong.  He’d offered, and more than once, Shiro would have given anything to be the Head of Voltron again.  But even months later, the bond with Black was a sore wound that buzzed with energy and anxiety if Shiro got too close.

But that was before everything else.  “I wouldn’t now.  This is good.  How it all came together is good.”  Shiro reached out and put a hand on Keith’s arm.  “You were always the man I wanted for the job.”

Keith nodded, gaze still on his feet.

The silence draped over them again until Shiro’s stomach flipped.

This conversation wasn’t what they came here to talk about.  They both knew that, but neither of them wanted to bring it up.

Shiro’s hand was still on Keith’s arm.

They’re still pressed together, so close that Shiro could feel every exhale on his neck.

He tried not to think about that.

I love you.

Keith had said that during their fight (the fight with the clone, but Shiro was both).  In the same breath he’d used the word ‘brother’ again.  But then Keith also put his hand on Shiro’s thigh, hovered by his side all the time, stared at him like he was something precious.

It was about time they had a talk about them.  Where they stood.  What they wanted.

Shiro wanted a clear signal.  Wanted to know where the boundaries were and where his heart was allowed to lead him.  But that required getting some time to talk in privacy.  No where on Atlas was really private, so Shiro had asked Keith to accompany him into the planet while he established long-term trade for Atlas.

Then this had all happened.

Well, if nothing else, they were in private.

Kind of.

Shiro was still trying to figure out where to even begin when Keith sighed and looked up.  “We might as well get this over with.”

His expression was so miserable that Shiro nearly pretended not to understand what he meant.  But he swallowed and nodded.  “This doesn’t have to be bad,” he said softly.  “It can be affirming instead.  I just want both of us on the same page.”

Keith shrugged one shoulder.  “You don’t need to make a big deal of it either.  You could have just told me to back off on the side.  I would get it.”

Shiro blinked slowly, trying to follow how Keith had jumped to this topic.  “Is this a big deal?  I didn’t mean to end up on a pirate ship.”

“Going off ship, I mean,” Keith said, looking at Shiro’s chin rather than his eyes.  “I appreciate you making it private, but it doesn’t have to be a big production.  You can just tell me to step back.  I don’t need you to spare my feelings like that.”

...Yeah, Shiro still didn’t get it.

“The privacy was for me too,” Shiro finally said, slow as he continued to process what Keith was getting at.  “I figured if the conversation went badly, I would have a chance to get it out of my system before I would have to be in front of the crew or the team.”

If anything, that made Keith look more upset.  “Oh.”  He visibly steeled himself, then nodded. “Okay, then do it.”

“Do what?”

“Yell at me.”

“What?”

They both froze at Shiro’s exclamation, waiting in case anyone had heard.  Then Keith made a frustrated noise.  “You just said you were going to get it out of your system!”

Shiro shook his head, baffled. “How does that translate to yelling at you?  I can count the number of times I’ve yelled at you on one hand, Keith.  I meant get over the disappointment.  What are you talking about?”

For the first time, Keith looked off balance too.  “Disappointed about what?  How I feel?”

Wincing, Shiro nodded.  “There were a few mixed messages,” he admitted.  “So I thought I’d let you make yourself clear.  I imagine it’s exactly what you’ve said before, and I’ll have a chance to collect myself and adjust my behavior before anyone else has to know.  That’s all.”

Keith stared.  “I thought that’s what I said.  Except- what do you have to adjust?”

“At least I won’t have hope,” Shiro said, then clenched his jaw.  “Nothing will really change.  It’ll be a mental adjustment.  I won’t interpret you based on wild notions.”

Finally, Keith nodded slowly.  “Okay.  You want... You want me to stop giving mixed signals too, right?”

“You’re under no obligation to change anything,” Shiro said, shaking his head.  “I don’t want you to change a thing.  I just want to know how I should take it.  You’ve made yourself clear before, but when you touch certain places, I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be intentional or absentminded.  Or if you just don’t know the connotations of certain actions.”

Keith went pink and groaned.  He tried to lean back against the wall, but he had nowhere else to go.  “You mean the thigh touch?”

“Among others, yes.”  Shiro cleared his throat and absently ran a hand along the column.  His pulse thudded under the pads of his fingers, so powerful he could hear his blood rushing.  “For the sake of my nerves, can we just be blunt?  You see me just as a brother, nothing more, as you’ve said more than once.  I’ve let my imagination get the better of me, and I need to reel myself back.”

Keith opened his mouth like he was about to apologize, then frowned.  He looked Shiro up and down, considering him anew.  “You’re disappointed?”

“Nothing I can’t handle,” Shiro replied, clipped and brisk. “Nothing you ever need to worry about.  It’s handled.  You don’t have to change anything, and I hope the passing thought doesn’t make you uncomfortable.”

“You’re disappointed.”

Shiro winced and leaned sideways, as if he could merge with the shelving units and become a container of soap instead of the man in this closet.  “Just forget it, Keith.”

“Hell no.”

Before Shiro could try and explain, Keith surged forward and kissed him.

Their lips touching.  Keith’s breath in Shiro’s mouth.  His hands on Shiro’s hips.  Their chests flushed.  Keith’s heart pounding like a rabbit.

Kissing.

They were-

Shiro licked his lips as Keith pulled away.  His fingers came up to touch over his mouth, as if making sure he hadn’t just hallucinated the touch.  “Oh.”

“That was okay?” Keith asked, faltering.  “You meant- please tell me I didn’t just make this worse.”

“You never could.”  Shiro used his left hand to cup Keith’s jaw and pull him in for another, desperate kiss.  “Please, please tell me this isn’t a brother thing?  You’re not just really confused about brothers?”

“Don’t be stupid,” Keith shot back, nipping at Shiro’s bottom lip.  “If we weren’t surrounded by murderous pirates, I’d want to do way more than just kiss you.  How’s that for an answer?”

“Good.”  Shiro’s voice came out more like a squeak.  “Guess I kinda... presumed.  In my defense, you said it.”

Keith huffed, then started to nibble along Shiro’s jaw.  “Because I thought you saw me as a little brother.  Easier to play into your expectations.”

“I never said that.”

“Guess I presumed too.”

“Guess we’re a pair of idiots, then.”

Keith smiled against Shiro’s neck.  “We’re locked in a closet in a pirate ship.  We’re definitely idiots.”

That was fair.  Shiro slid his hand down Keith’s back, taking in the soothing heat of him.  “Well, I think we know how to pass the time until the night shift.”

“Great idea, Captain.”

Laughing, Shiro dipped his head down and stopped Keith’s snark with another kiss.

[mikotyzini]

Boundless - Introduction

Hey everyone!  Another White Rose story coming in.

After this one is done in a week, I’m going to take a break from writing so much.  I’ll still do WDU and some oneshots, but no more 50k word stories every other month.  lol  I think that’s reasonable, right?

The weather in Vacuo was nice this time of the year - pleasantly warm, but not yet blisteringly hot.  The mild sun made walking outside an enjoyable experience rather than a chore, especially when a chance breeze rustled through the streets.

Weiss was just one of many people on the sidewalks in a strange little neighborhood known to be more ‘artsy’ than the others. It was for this reason that tourists gathered here, taking pictures of the colorful murals covering large, sandy walls and the unique architecture born more out of necessity than a desire to impress outsiders.

It was quaint, she must admit.  The murals were wonderfully done and worthy of the small crowds they garnered.  The buildings were...different...but she’d seen more exceptional designs before.

Not that she was here to judge.  She might be a stranger to this place, but she was far from being a tourist.  A tourist was a visitor - a temporary traveler who came for the sights and experiences before heading back to the place they called home.  Weiss had a far more important reason for being here and, if all went well, she had no plans of returning to Atlas - at least, not alone.

Fortunately, she’d left the bulk of the crowds behind several blocks ago and was now walking through less populated areas of Vacuo. She was grateful for the space, as it allowed her to clear her mind of distractions and focus on her destination, which was just up ahead.

Nestled in the middle of the block was a small restaurant with equal parts outdoor and indoor seating.  It was moderately busy at the moment, but not overly crowded. The lunch rush must’ve ended hours ago, and now the restaurant was in that peculiar state somewhere between lunch and dinner.

There were plenty of empty tables outside - a sign that she could be seated right away.  The patio was covered by a generous number of large, white-and-red striped umbrellas that provided respite from the sun.  The shade was less necessary on a pleasant day such as this, but wouldn’t be unwelcome over the course of a long meal.  

A hostess was standing behind a thin podium positioned at the entrance to the restaurant - the young girl looking quite bored by her current duties as she examined her fingernails.  Paying the girl no mind, Weiss’ eyes swept the rest of the people visible within the confines of the patio and through the glass windows to the interior of the café.  

From the limited information she’d gathered, this was the right time of day to pay a visit - towards the end of the lunch shift when the dinner servers were close to arriving to handle the evening rush.

Weiss checked every table, marking them off one-by-one in search of -

Her feet abruptly stopped moving, opting instead to freeze to the sidewalk while her mouth went suddenly dry.  Her heart pounded as the unquenchable longing she’d held at bay for so long was unlocked and set free in her chest.  All this time, she’d been under the impression that she knew what to expect, but the emotions burgeoning inside of her were unexpectedly powerful in a wonderful, incredible way she could never get enough of.

The waiting - and the searching - were finally over.

Flying out of the restaurant with a plate of food in each hand, a young brunette zipped over to a table and set each meal in front of its respective owner.  After exchanging a few words and more than enough smiles, the girl dashed to another set of diners to check on how they were doing.  

She wasn’t stingy with those smiles, which were bright enough to lift Weiss’ spirit from a distance.  Her movements never stopped, and there was a skip that found its way into every step - as if there was something truly enjoyable about rushing around a café in the mid-afternoon.

She was different - it was painfully obvious to anyone who bothered looking that this girl was different from the rest. She had an aura that shone far more brilliantly than anyone around her.  She was, in a single word, incomparable.

After taking a deep breath did nothing to quell the excitement tingling through her veins, Weiss spurred her feet to carry her over to the hostess anyway.  The young girl finally looked away from her fingernails and even managed a smile when she noticed Weiss’ approach.

“Hey!  Welcome to Stella’s - just one today?”  Making an assumption on the answer, the hostess pulled one menu from the stack on her podium.

“Yes, just one,” Weiss answered with a polite smile. “If possible, I’d like to sit in that waitress’ section.”

Surprised by the special request, the hostess followed the direction of Weiss’ point and located the waitress being referred to.

“You want to sit in Ruby’s section?” the girl clarified, to which Weiss nodded her head and failed to suppress a full smile at the name.

“Yes,” she repeated, her eyes getting caught on Ruby as she buzzed past.  “I’d like to sit in Ruby’s section.”

Saying the name out loud was always incredible, but speaking it here - where a louder voice might be overheard by the name’s very owner - was indescribable.

“Uh, ok,” the hostess responded before waving to the patio.  “Is outside ok?”

Weiss merely nodded before being led to a small, two-person table bordering the sidewalk.  After laying the menu in front of one of the chairs, the hostess left with a quick, routine, “Your server will be right with you!” and nothing else. There was no inquiry made into why Weiss made the specific request of server, but there rarely was.  If her motives had been questioned, she’d prepared a foolproof explanation - that they were old friends, and she was there as a surprise.  

Both were true, in a sense.

Taking her seat, Weiss pushed the menu away as her anticipation built.  She wasn’t nervous, per se, and why would she be when she had a plan?  Not just one plan, but innumerable plans she could call upon if needed.

She wasn’t nervous - she was expectant and excited. But, as impatient as she was to move past this introduction, she reminded herself that this wasn’t all for her - that there was a reason to proceed slowly and carefully.  At one point she hadn’t been as patient, but today she was able to call upon the calm of experience to hold her eagerness at a reasonable level.

That being said, even though her eagerness was held at a reasonable level, that didn’t mean her knee stopped bouncing up and down underneath the table while waiting.

After delivering another set of plates, Ruby glanced around the patio and caught Weiss’ eyes.  The casual gaze was still enough for Weiss’ heart to race - the rhythm growing faster as Ruby cut through the tables, managing to trip over an empty chair before righting herself and arriving by Weiss’ side.

The moment had arrived - and Weiss could hardly breathe.

“Hey!  How’s it going?”  Still blushing from her near tumble, Ruby’s signature smile still appeared while she pulled a small pad of paper and a pen out of her black apron.  “Is it just you today?”

“For now,” Weiss answered, smiling up at Ruby and wishing beyond wishes that it was socially acceptable to kiss someone you’d just met.

But patience was a virtue - one that Weiss had learned over time.  It allowed her to put off her own desires in favor of accepting Ruby’s smile, which - on its own - was enough to restore Weiss’ heart and soul in a single instant.

“Cool!”  For an instant, Ruby’s smile grew a little brighter before settling back to its base state.  “Well, I’m Ruby, and I’ll be your server today!”

“Nice to meet you, Ruby,” Weiss replied, dipping her head in greeting.  “I’m Weiss.”

It was unorthodox to provide a name back to a waitress, but Weiss did it anyway.  As patient as she was, she wanted Ruby to have her name as soon as possible.

“Weiss,” Ruby repeated, mulling over the name before nodding her head.  “That’s a really pretty name!”

The first response that popped into Weiss’ head was ‘It’s even prettier when you say it.’  Fortunately, she held her tongue and silently cursed a certain playful blonde for being such a bad influence.

“Thank you,” she replied instead.  “Ruby is a very pretty name, too.”

“Eh, I guess.”  Shrugging off the compliment with a modest blush, Ruby grinned again and tapped Weiss’ menu.  “Do you know what you want?”

Hearing another inappropriate response flicker through her head, Weiss did her best to turn off that spigot of unfortunate pickup lines for the rest of the day.  None of those were useful to her right now.  They might be later, but she needed a better feel for Ruby’s personality first.

“I’m actually not sure,” Weiss said, glancing at the menu she hadn’t even opened before returning Ruby’s gaze once more. “Do you have any suggestions?”

“Oh, totally!  The meatball sub is amazing - I’d recommend that if you’re into sandwiches.”  Weiss very nearly laughed at the suggestion, which was absolutely something Ruby would enjoy.  Thankfully, Ruby suddenly realized she was speaking to someone who wasn’t exactly a meatball sub type of girl and stammered on.  “O-or, I mean, if that’s not your thing, I’ve heard the tuna salad is really good.”

Ruby’s nerves were encouraging, and hopefully suggested what Weiss thought they did.  She had put extra time and effort into selecting the perfect outfit for today - a nice white blouse with striking black buttons that paired perfectly with a white skirt and boots.

She didn’t want to make Ruby nervous, but she wanted to ensure Ruby noticed her.  When she crossed her legs and Ruby glanced down before immediately averting her gaze and blushing, it looked like that mission had been successful.

“Do you mean a tuna salad sandwich?” Weiss asked, greatly enjoying the blush on Ruby’s cheeks.  “Or tuna on a salad?”

“Oh!  Uh, right.” Re-finding her smile, Ruby met Weiss’ eyes again.  “I mean tuna salad.  I mean, tuna on a salad.”

This time Weiss couldn’t help but laugh at the adorable fumbles, while planning on bringing up this conversation again at a much later date.  ‘Do you remember repeatedly offering me tuna salad?’  

Not at all ashamed to laugh at herself, Ruby chuckled along too, running a hand through her short brown hair and resuming that smile.

“That sounds good,” Weiss answered.  “I’ll have the tuna salad.”

“Great!”  Ruby was about to write the words down on her pad of paper before freezing and giving Weiss a second glance.  “Wait. Do you want a salad, or do you want it as a sandwich?”

None of Weiss’ numerous plans had anything to do with tuna salad sandwiches, but that’s what made this so incredible - Ruby always came up with something that lay outside of Weiss’ realms of planning.  After so much time that should be impossible, yet...it continued to happen.

“That’s up to you,” Weiss replied, turning this amusing situation into a little test of what Ruby would do.

At first, Ruby looked like she wanted to ask another question, but instead she smiled, jotted a note down on her paper, and stuck it back in her apron.

“You got it!  Oh!  And what do you want to drink?”

“Water’s fine.”  

“Ok, then I’ll be right back.”  Backing away from the table, Ruby nearly collided into another server whisking behind her.  “Oh - my bad!” she apologized before shooting Weiss one last smile and hurrying off.  Weiss watched Ruby leave and smiled all the while.  

It was so refreshing to be back together again, like it always was.  Ruby was this incredible breath of fresh air that swept away all the bad in Weiss’ life. Now that Weiss was here, it didn’t matter what was happening in Atlas or anywhere else in the world.  All that mattered was Ruby - figuring out what she was like and what she was willing to accept.

Weiss had been pleasantly surprised when she learned that Ruby was working as a waitress in Vacuo.  Being in the service industry, it was Ruby’s job to speak to people - this made it much easier for Weiss to strike up a conversation without seeming out of place.

If she needed to, she’d come back to this restaurant every single day - starting trivial conversations and ordering tuna salads - for as long as it was necessary.  But, from their initial greeting, she was beginning to think that that plan wouldn’t be necessary.  What she’d learned so far was that Ruby was just as adorable as ever, just as prone to smiling, just as prone to laughing, and just as prone to making a slight fool of herself.

There were a million reasons to wait, but there were a million reasons to see if Ruby was willing to accept the unexpected.

When Ruby reappeared from inside the restaurant carrying a glass of water, Weiss straightened in her seat and watched intently. Ruby tripped over her feet once while navigating through the maze of tables, but managed to catch her balance without spilling anything and made it the rest of the way unscathed.

“Here you go, Weiss!” she said, setting down the glass and grinning as she hurried towards another table motioning for her attention.  “I’ll bring your tuna salad out as soon as it’s ready!”

Hearing Ruby say her name out loud put Weiss in a temporary state of blissful paralysis, her mouth permanently frozen in a smile while her mind replayed the moment over and over again.  It may seem silly that such a simple action made her so happy, but she’d accepted long ago that Ruby affected her in ways no one else could.

It was in this blissful state that Weiss took a sip of water and watched what was going on around her.  There were several other people - mostly couples - sitting on the patio, and a good flow of foot traffic on the sidewalk just outside, but she found everything else horribly mundane compared to the bubbly brunette zipping around.

It was always a mystery how other people missed it.  How did they miss the radiance shining from within Ruby, brighter than anyone else around her?  She glowed with compassion and kindness, and selflessness fueled her every step.

Weiss might go blind one day from staring too often at such brilliance, but it would be worth it if Ruby was the last thing she ever saw.

The restaurant was only modestly busy, yet Ruby buzzed from place-to-place with never-ending energy and motion.  She had a smile for anyone and everyone, as well as easy laughter that lifted the entire atmosphere of the patio.  Besides doing her own job, she helped the other servers every few minutes - carrying trays of food, delivering requested compliments, and clearing off dishes when customers left.

Weiss was staring rather openly at the moment, but she didn’t think she could stop.  But there wasn’t a reason to stop when Ruby glanced over every few minutes, blushing every time their gazes met.

Just when Weiss started feeling antsy - wanting them to speak again - she saw Ruby walk out of the restaurant with a single plate in her hands.  As Ruby navigated towards Weiss’ table, Weiss smiled out of pure relief and excitement for whatever the impending interaction would bring.

“Hey Weiss!” Ruby said, using Weiss’ name again and sending butterflies fluttering through her chest.  “Here ya go -”

After Ruby set down the plate, Weiss looked at her lunch and nearly laughed at what she found.

“I had the chef make the sandwich for you!” Ruby explained.  “Cuz it’s not actually on the menu.”

Sitting next to the tuna salad sandwich - made as a special order - was a bowl containing the ahi tuna salad Ruby had originally suggested.

“You’re something else,” Weiss replied, grinning up at Ruby and shaking her head in amusement.  “This is lovely.  Thank you.”

“Oh, sure - no problem!”  Waving one hand, Ruby blew out a breath of air - managing to look nonchalant even though her cheeks were turning red.  “It’s no big deal, really.  Just doin’ my job!”

“And doing it well.”

The compliment succeeded in deeping Ruby’s blush.

“Ah, uh, I’m glad you think so,” she managed to get out, slowly backing away from the table and gesturing over her shoulder. “I should probably see if anyone else needs help, but...let me know if you need anything?”

At Ruby’s hopeful gaze, Weiss nodded as she picked up her fork.

“I definitely will.”

Satisfied with that answer, Ruby grinned before hurrying off - looking slightly lost for a second before finally picking a direction and going to check on another table.  Weiss chuckled at the flustered behavior while eating at her salad and watching Ruby get back to work.

Now that they were in each other’s space, Weiss felt content in a way she never had before.  It was amazing and freeing at the same time.  It was a peaceful acceptance that happiness was nearby - that Ruby was nearby.

Cutting the sandwich in half, Weiss took a bite and found that it was surprisingly good - at least, it was something she would order again if she had a craving for a tuna salad sandwich.

The thought of someone craving a tuna sandwich immediately brought Weiss’ mind to Blake - who this lunch would be absolutely perfect for.  Thinking about Blake gnawed at Weiss’ heart, causing a restlessness with the current situation to grow.  She was patient, but she would love to be having lunch with Blake at the moment - the two of them talking about their lives and commiserating over the crazy partners they had.  

But patience was a virtue, and Weiss had learned to be patient.  She was more than happy to move at whatever pace Ruby needed.  But when Ruby was exhibiting signs that she might be open to hearing what Weiss had to say sooner rather than later...

If there was an opportunity to skip this introductory phase and move right to getting to know each other in a more intimate fashion, Weiss was going to make full use of it.  It wasn’t impatience.  It was judicious judgment of Ruby’s acceptance to peculiar happenings.

Nibbling at her lunch, Weiss considered her options. From the flustered behavior, it seemed that she already had Ruby’s attention.  From here, it shouldn’t take much work to embark upon a traditional relationship - beginning with small talk and working their way up to unconditional love. The process would take time, but they had plenty of time.

Or...Weiss could take a calculated leap of faith and tell Ruby now.  They could skip the beginning parts of a relationship and start somewhere in the middle, that much closer to the unconditional love side of things.  

What was the worst that could happen?  Ruby might think she was crazy, but honestly, she’d worked her way back from worse than that.  So when she said she was willing to be patient...she really meant that she would give Ruby as much time as needed...after explaining the truth about their connection.

Spotting the object of her affections heading to a nearby table, Weiss pushed her plate an inch away to symbolize she was finished. Almost on cue, Ruby finished speaking with the other pair of diners before walking over.

“Are you done?” she asked, gesturing towards the partially-eaten sandwich and salad.

“Yes.  It was marvelous, but quite a lot for me.”

“Do you want me to box it up?”

“No, thank you.  But feel free -”  Weiss waved towards the half of sandwich, which she specifically cut cleanly with the knife so that she could offer it to the perpetually hungry girl.  This was the final test, albeit a small one. Would Ruby accept the offer of food from a relative stranger?  If she was willing to do that…

“I'll totally take you up on that,” Ruby replied with a laugh.  “l have like no food at home right now.”

That sounded like the perfect opening for a dinner invitation, but Weiss held her tongue.  Instead, she smiled while Ruby reached for the plate and embraced the excitement rushing through her veins.  Admittedly, she loved this part - when she could finally put the truth out in the open and then help guide Ruby through the process of believing it was true.

“How's your sister?” Weiss asked, elaborating when Ruby gave her a curious glance.  “How's Yang doing?”

“Oh, she's doing great!”

Regardless of their past difficulties, Weiss was happy to hear that Yang was doing well.  While an eternity with Ruby was a blessing, the ever-present addition of Yang might be a curse - or so Weiss liked to claim.  In actuality, Yang was like a sister to her...as annoying and frustrating as that may sometimes be.

“Has she found Blake yet?” Weiss asked, her heart lifting when Ruby chuckled at the question.

“They've been together since like...the beginning of high school.  Yang's actually gonna propose soon!”

As soon as the words slipped out, Ruby cringed and looked around to see if anyone overheard.

“Shoot.  l was supposed to keep that a secret...”

Weiss smiled at the answer, happy that the two had found each other so early.  Personally, she found it much easier to deal with Yang when Blake was already in the picture.  There was something about Blake's influence that...calmed Yang, in a way.  She could still be a handful at times, but she had far more restraint when Blake was nearby.

“Don't worry,” Weiss replied, giving Ruby a reassuring wink.  “Your secret’s safe with me.”

Ruby beamed at the reply, but then her brow furrowed as she caught on to something important.

“Wait - how do you know Yang?”

If time could slow down, it would after that question.  

This was it.  The moment of truth.

“l know her through you,” Weiss answered, using honesty now so it was easier to remember the story later.  “Because she's your sister, I inevitably end up spending lots of time with her.”

For an instant, it looked like Ruby was going to nod - as if the explanation made sense to her, seeing as how she and Yang were practically attached at the hip.  But she froze in the midst of that nod while her confusion doubled.

“But...we've never met before.”

“Are you sure about that?”  The question came out teasing and coy, which was a bit of a mistake on Weiss' part.  In the midst of confusion, Ruby took it seriously and searched for an answer.

“l mean, yeah!  I'm positive I'd remember someone as prett - uh, I mean, nice as you.”

The slip-up unleashed another set of butterflies in Weiss’ chest while she silently congratulated herself on a successful outfit. This was precisely why she always took extra time to pick out something perfect.  She loved catching Ruby’s eye and imagination.

“You’re right, in a way,” Weiss replied, watching intently as she prepared to deliver the truth.  “I haven't met you in this life - that doesn't mean I haven't met you in others.”

With the words out in the open, Ruby stared in jaw-dropped surprise.  Weiss smiled in an attempt to alleviate some of the disbelief, but it was only after several moments of silence passed that Ruby shook her head and tried to respond.

“Uh, what?  Are you're saying...that we've met in past lives…?”

The tone suggested that Ruby was on the verge of thinking Weiss was crazy, but she was fully prepared to deal with that label if she needed to.

“Yes,” she answered.  “Exactly.  We’ve met in past lives - many, many past lives.  I know you don’t remember them, but I do.  I remember all of them - and I remember that we’re together in each one.”

For the longest time, Ruby just stared - but that was a good sign, and only proved Weiss’ decision more correct.  If Ruby wasn’t willing to believe, she would’ve already scoffed and written off the idea as crazy.  If she didn’t want to believe, she would’ve played it off as a joke.

Instead, she stared, and Weiss smiled.  She really did love this part.  Actually, she loved everything after the searching was over. As long as they were near each other in some capacity - even if it was only as friends - she felt whole again.

“Ruby?”  

The voice tore Ruby’s attention away, towards another server walking over - the same waitress Ruby had helped multiple times this afternoon.  

“Can you help me with a new table?”

“Uh, yeah, sure,” Ruby mumbled, glancing back at Weiss with surprise still swimming in her eyes.  “So, uh…”

“I’m willing to explain it further, if you’d like,” Weiss offered before Ruby could walk away.  

Ruby thought about the offer for only a second before nodding.

“l get off in fifteen minutes,” she said, and almost walked away before stopping and picking up Weiss’ plate of food. “I’ll, uh...I’ll be back.”

With that said, Ruby hurried into the restaurant and flew out a few seconds later with the plate no longer in her hands. With a big smile, she accompanied the other server - who, based on her general uncertainty around people, must be relatively new - to a group of diners.  Ruby led the conversation for a few seconds, got the entire table to laugh about something, and then handed the duties over to the other waitress.  

As soon as that was done, Ruby shot a glance towards Weiss, blushed, and went about finishing up with tables she had left. Another waitress joined the rotation of servers buzzing in and out of the restaurant, and this new server went over to Ruby’s tables as Ruby disappeared inside.

Only when Ruby was out of sight did Weiss lean back in her seat and tap her fingers against the table, lost in thought.  In her experience, that went really well. There was no freak out, no rapid questions, no instant disbelief - there was nothing, really.  And nothing was a great sign.  Nothing meant that Ruby was willing to listen.

Weiss was willing to talk, that was for sure. She was more than willing to explain as much of their story as Ruby was willing to hear.

It was only a few minutes before Ruby excited the restaurant - this time without her work apron and with a casual red zip-up. Upon seeing her, Weiss’ heart beat faster in anticipation.  

For a split second, she worried that Ruby might decide to leave - to categorize Weiss as crazy and leave both her and the restaurant behind - but then Ruby altered her course, walked over to the table, and sat down in the seat across from Weiss.

Looking at Ruby, Weiss was drawn to other memories just like this - sitting outside at a café together - but focused on this particular one, wishing to save as much of it as possible.

“So...were you just messing with me earlier?” Ruby asked, pulling at her sleeve before meeting Weiss’ eyes.

“No,” Weiss answered, shaking her head but finding it impossible not to smile at the conversation they were having.  “I’m completely serious - we’re destined to be together, in every universe.”

Ruby nodded and opened her mouth - leaving it open for quite a long time while rapid thoughts flitted through expressive silver eyes that Weiss had spent years dreaming about.  Eventually, the emotions Ruby settled upon were...miffed and confused, but not upset.

“I mean, isn’t that something you tell someone after you’ve known each other for a while?” she finally asked, her voice rising with a bit of a whine.  

The response only made Weiss chuckle.  This was turning out even better than she could have hoped for - and she couldn’t wait to tell Ruby even more.

“I don’t always tell you right away,” Weiss replied, resisting the urge to reach across the table and hold Ruby’s hand. “Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes you believe me, sometimes you don’t.  That doesn’t change our relationship, in the end.”

Savoring the furrowed brow and perplexed gaze, she waited patiently for Ruby to digest those words.

“How do you decide then?” Ruby asked.  “Why tell me now?  Was it, like, because of the tuna salad thing?”

“No, although that was super adorable.” Smiling when Ruby’s cheeks turned a satisfying shade of pink, Weiss carried on.  “I normally decide based on the clues you give me -”

“So what kind of clues did I give you?” Ruby quickly asked.

“You’re open, honest, and receptive.  I think you’ll believe me - or at least, not run away.”

Ruby nodded at the response, as if it was what she’d expected.

“Yang says I’m too trusting.”  

“You usually are,” Weiss agreed, not minding that fact one bit.  Ruby’s faith in the world was one of the traits that set her apart from everyone else. Sometimes it got her into trouble, but often it was part of what made her incredible.

“So...you remember every time we’ve met,” Ruby said. “Theoretically.”

“I do.”

“How many times are we talkin’ about?  Like ten?  A hundred?  A thousand?”

With every subsequent number, Weiss’ smile grew.

“More than you can imagine,” she replied, her smile growing even larger when Ruby’s mouth dropped and formed a nearly perfect ‘o’ of surprise.

“A lot then?”

Sometimes, Weiss wished she was better at hiding her emotions when Ruby was around.  But it was impossible, and at this moment she didn’t care.  Instead, she beamed and nodded her head while thinking about how many lives ‘a lot’ added up to.

“Yes.  A lot.”

Blowing a breath through her lips, Ruby looked like she was going to collapse back into her seat, but scooted even closer instead.

“Ok, sorry, but like...how is that even possible??”

“That’s something I don’t have the answer to,” Weiss answered honestly.  As much as she searched for the cause of all of this, most of the time she was perfectly fine not knowing.  If she’d been granted a magnificent gift, why would she question it?  Why not accept that she was blessed and spend her time enjoying Ruby’s company?

“I can only tell you what I know,” she added, “So feel free to ask me anything.”

“Uh…ok…” Ruby replied, looking around the patio of the restaurant as if there might be clues written around them.  “I guess, like, how did this start?”

“What do you mean?” Weiss asked in return.

“When’s the first time we met?  There's gotta be a beginning to this, right?  I mean, assuming it’s true.”

Weiss grinned at the question - which was brilliantly on point.  Every story was best told from the beginning, and this story was no different.

“Are you asking me to tell you about the first time we fell in love?” she asked, watching Ruby’s cheeks flush and her eyes lower to the table.

“I mean, I guess…”

“I’ll tell you,” Weiss said, her excitement building at the prospect of revisiting this memory together.  “But it was in a world far different from our own…”

[luckyfirerabbit]

Savage Season: Berserker pt 2

Weiss feels the low buzz of static in the air, feels it lifting strands of her hair and making the smaller ones on her arms stand on end. She knows where the electric current is coming from, knows that particular room is a distance away, but knows the power behind it could level this entire complex along with half of Atlas so inching through a few yards of solid concrete an insulation is really nothing.

For the moment she's alone in the surveillance room, the technician having stepped out for coffee or something -she hadn't paid attention when he had dismissed himself several minutes ago. Standing near the center of the room she watches the half dozen screens, her blackened arm cradled in the other, the blackness in it itching as she looks upon the hybrid reflected in the video feed.

They hadn't stopped Berserker, but they had managed to contain it and bring it back to Atlas. For the passed week everyone in the complex was convinced Berserker would break out, they were all waiting for it, yet it has yet to happen. Mind you, above ground the worst blizzard Atlas had seen in a century raged, but somehow the hybrid remained in its cell, confined. And over the last week, Weiss had watched with growing worry as Berserker become too much like the Grimm and less like the human girl it inhabited.

Nora is still in there, still fighting. Weiss reminds herself.

Little by little, like pushing out a splinter, Nora Valkyrie resisted the Grimm inside her with wild bursts of magic that manifest as riots of light a sound that shake the entirety of the lab and likely much of the city as well. It lasts for several minutes, then stops, and Berserker dissolves into a noticeably less human creature that groans and thrashes in pain. It must be agonizing, being slowly ripped apart by your own body. Weiss wonders how it will happen -if it will- wonders if Nora will just triumphantly rip her way out  of the monster's chest, unchanged and free at last.

Weiss' gaze slides away from the screen when the door opens, a jarring bar of light from the hallway cutting across the floor, making her blink. She expected the technician but found herself incorrect; Glynda wheels herself into the room, maneuvering her chair around to close it behind her. The Winter Maiden has to consciously remind herself of Glynda's current handicap. "Professor." she greets habitually.

"Miss Schnee." she returns automatically, having long since given up in convincing the youngsters to call her by her first name. "How is she? That surge earlier was rather serious."

Weiss waits until the Witch has situated the wheel chair nearer to her before answering. "It's...I really don't know. I want to say it's better, but she looks worse."

"Which, in a way, is better," Glynda finishes. "I understand."

Weiss nods, an unconscious gesture. "We still haven't learned anything new, nothing that could help us help her, anyway."

"As is the way of things sometimes, I'm afraid. Admittedly," Glynda smirks, mostly to herself, "I do wish Ren would have stayed with us. I feel like his presence might have made some sort of difference."

"He shouldn't see her like this."

"Shouldn't he?"

In reality, she realizes, that wasn't up to either of them. "But we've got Tag, at least." "We do, and I appreciate you convincing her to stay."

Weiss doesn't know how to take that because part of her feels guilty; she had taken advantage of the Spring Maiden's maternal worry for her to make her stay, make her split from her Guardian who went in search of Cinder with Pyrrha and Rhea.

"Could I confess something to you, Miss Schnee? In confidence?"

At first the younger huntress is wary, uncertain. "...I suppose?"

"I'm terrified." then she snickers, an exhale of a chuckle. "It's been far too long since something went wrong."

"I...I don't understand."

"I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak, and I hate it. The longer it hangs over my, the heavier it gets."

"Ah, I see." Because a shoe could become a house -or so some stories go- and houses and Witches don't mix. "Gods, now that you say it, so am I."

"Misery loves company." another little laugh. "My apologies."

"It was bound to happen on its own, I'm sure." Weiss waves her hand in dismissal, a small smile of her own quirking the corner of her mouth. "Any news from your sister?"

Glynda takes a deep breath, adjusting in her chair slightly. As much as she can. "I haven't heard from Gypsy or my nieces in almost five days." and that has become more frightening than she ever thought possible. Now that she was aware of her extensive extended family, knowing they were in exceptional danger tugged her steadily towards a breakdown. Gypsy, Jessica, Alice, and the twins were summoned by the King -that's right, the one and only- for a special operation that even she wasn't privy to the specifics of. But Glynda thought herself to be a rather intelligent woman, and she knew there could only be so many things that demanded her sister's particular talents. Again, she feels terrified.

"Let's hope she's all right, and she just can't reach you yet."

"Yes, here's hoping."

Weiss jolts slightly when she feels the buzz of her scroll. Reaching for it she expects a call, but only finds a waiting text.

"Something happen?" Goodwitch dares to ask, expecting this to be the other shoe, which is surely a house by now.

"I have to go." the heiress shoves the device back into its place. "They might have found Blake."

"Be safe." Glynda calls after her, hoping she hears and that the wish means something to the powers that be should they still be listening.

[slumberlog]

Thrift Shop of Horrors

Dad and I are at what seems to be a normal thrift store, right up until we find a doorway into a massive room. The cavernous space is a chaotic mess of customers pulling around flat metal carts like you see at a hardware store except they’re the size of semi-trucks. And of course, they’re all in a hurry and a bad mood. We’re careful to avoid getting run over.

Eventually we find an unremarkable stairway descending into the basement. While the giant room had an air of cartoonish absurdity, the basement hints at something more sinister. The ceiling is low, the lighting dim. Narrow paths stretch into the distance through sprawling shelves of items. The few customers we see speak in hushed tones, if at all. We pick our way through the maze of stuff. I find some kind of tool, new in the box, and show it to my Dad. He’s pleased, saying the tool itself is worthless but contains a small bit of gold in the electronics which he can sell for three times the price. With that we make our retreat and the dream skips ahead.

The next morning my friend invites me to spend the day together. I oblige and what do you know, she takes us back to the thrift store. She seems familiar with the place, heading straight to the basement level – happy as a clam. It’s deserted at this hour; I don’t even think the store is open yet. She reassures me they will be in a few minutes and we’re okay to be here. She points out a few fake scares the staff have installed. In one area when you step on a certain spot, a nearby piano plays a few notes. Another area has a round cabinet with doors that close themselves when you pass by. We laugh but I can’t shake the distant feeling something else lurks, something real.

For awhile, I dutifully trail after my friend in the silence of the basement. Eventually a door bursts open and several people come streaming out – the staff I presume. It’s a welcome disturbance of noise and humanity. One man catches my attention who seems to be the one in charge. Tall with dark hair and eyes, he makes me uneasy.

My friend seems to know the staff, chatting with them as they pass us by. My gaze wanders, settling onto a small box. It looks like a dollhouse if it were only a single room. One of the women sees me looking at it and quickly tucks it away on a bottom shelf away from my view. Odd. The staff members eventually go about their duties and we are left alone. My friend meanders away looking through the shelves. I of course go straight to the strange box.

Like a dollhouse there are mini versions of furniture inside; an armoire, a folding mirror, and a chair. I pick up the armoire and open it. A small decorative piece inside slips from my fingers to the floor. In my effort to catch it I drop the whole thing, the plastic door popping off the armoire. I look around nervously but no one is nearby. Placing it gingerly back in the box, I inspect the mirror next. It opens like a book, two mirrors instead of pages within. The mirror surface is wobbly and distorted - it’s a toy after all. As I close the mirror, I catch a glimpse of myself.

I’m a man now. This part doesn’t surprise me. What I do notice is my eyes seem to sort of smear in the tiny mirror. Perplexed I pull it closer, tipping it back and forth. At a certain angle the mirror overlays a different appearance. The whites of my eyes take on an orange hue and the pupils stretch vertically. What a neat trick! I angle the mirror over my mouth, pulling back my lips to expose my teeth. As my reflection wobbles along, my teeth elongate and sharpen. Just then my friend appears with the man who caught my attention earlier.

I drop my hands to hide the mirror but they don’t even notice me. As they chat, I lift the mirror again, angling it over my shoulder discreetly so I can see them. My friend appears as normal but the man looks very different. The sides of his mouth stretch back like a snake’s, filled with too many sharp teeth. Bright yellow eyes glow in the dim light, his pupils black slits. And peeking from the skin of his forehead are two small horn nubs. The mirror is crystal clear for the man, not hazy and distorted like it was for me. I put down the mirror for a moment then check again to be sure I’m really seeing this. He still looks like a demon.

Carefully I return the mirror. Their conversation continues normally. Unsure what to do I decide to just wait, the man after all does not know what I’ve seen. He shouldn’t suspect a thing. Eventually he leaves and I rush to tell my friend about the man. She seems more disappointed than anything, wishing I hadn’t found out. She knew all along! I gather this is his domain, but as long as you’re careful there’s nothing to worry about.

Another staff member comes by, this time a woman. They chat as I ponder the whole situation, hardly paying attention to them. A sudden crash cuts the talking short. We all look towards the sound. Silence.

Then something small and dark shoots across the floor in the gap between the shelves. I’m holding my breath. My friend exhales sharply and snaps into action, shouting commands to the staff member. My brain seems slow to catch up and I race after them, catching snippets of their frenzied chatter. The word “puppet” sticks in my head. But it’s not that kind of puppet. That’s a whole different genre of a horror. This must be some kind of subservient creature the demon man has created.

My friend now has a large metal tin. She and the woman are working to corral whatever the thing is towards a closed door. I grab whatever is handy and try to help. I come face to face with it. It’s like a spider mixed with a demon baby. Its face is humanoid with long sharp fangs and reptilian eyes, and its body has too many arms and legs. It hisses at me. I flick a large paper book (like an Atlas) towards it, trying to herd it towards my friend. It skitters to and fro, then rushes off. We play this game several times. My friend always waits with her tin next to a door with bright white light shining from beneath. Each time we get it a bit closer.

But I’m getting tired and make a mistake. The spider demon baby leaps towards me and sinks its fangs into my hand. I shake vigorously to no avail. Running over to the door, I shove the thing towards the floor, not really knowing what will happen. My friend is yelling. Something about me being bitten, imminent transformation. But I don’t have time to think about that.

Reality shifts. The creature elongates, smearing towards the gap beneath the door. With horror I see my hand doing the same, stretching away from me. Pain erupts and I distantly hear myself screaming. My awareness, body - my whole being - is ripping apart, pulled towards the light with the weight of immeasurable gravity. Inky black clouds writhe around churn around me. Even my screaming shreds apart. There is sudden silence, then the world goes blindingly white.

I blink several times. Silhouettes slowly coalesce into people. There’s a throbbing pain in my hand where the creature latched on. The people murmur and the pain subsides. I sit up to find myself in what may be Heaven. Everything is white, including the clothing they wear. Maybe they are angels. I cling to this idea, begging them to help us - to fight the demon man in the basement. One of them responds snidely, “They always want to call in the cavalry. Well things must be approved, done in a certain way. We will help, but it must go through the proper channels first.”

That’s bullshit and I’m furious. My friend and the employee are in real danger. Who knows how many of those creatures there are, and what about the demon man? I jump up and sprint back the direction I came from, the “angels” chuckling behind me. A towering wall of dark curtains shields the way. I turn back to give the angels one last withering glare before diving through the black fabric.

Unfortunately, the way back is just as bad. I’m pulled apart, screams and all, my being sucked through the wriggling clouds of darkness. My limp body appears suddenly, shooting out from the door and sliding across the cool concrete of the basement. I lay gasping in the darkness as a figure rushes towards me, my friend screaming off to the side. In an instant the demon man is crouched beside me, hand firmly planted on my chest.

As my eyes adjust, I realize I can see his true form. Whatever powers the angels used must have lingering effects. But he’s not focused on me. He stares at the others with fangs bared, eyes blazing. He must think I’m still infected or whatever, going to transform into one of his creatures. He’s actually protecting me. I can use this.

“They’re …. coming…” I manage to gasp out. He glances down, features transformed with fury at my words. “Soon...” I rasp with urgency, mock concern on my face. He jumps up, grasping my hand and pulling me with him. “They turned me away,” I say more confidently, really playing up the sense of betrayal. “Saw what I am. They were disgusted.” I can see his mind at work, calculating his next move to fight the angels.

I turn to my friend and whine some more, accusing her of all kinds of things. I wave my hand subtly to my side where only she can see. She understands I’m on their side. I never told her about the mirror. My plan is to somehow bump the box with the mirror to signal its importance.

Then I woke up.

[orbemnews]

NASA Cuts Brief Take a look at of Its Large Rocket to the Moon Right here’s what it is advisable to know: In a fiery demonstration of energy, the 4 engines of NASA’s subsequent mighty moon rocket fired in synchrony for the primary time on Saturday and, by design, went nowhere. The take a look at began easily, with white billowing clouds capturing out of the take a look at stand at NASA’s Stennis House Middle in Mississippi. However then the engines shut down about 1 minute, 15 seconds later — far shorter than the deliberate eight-minute firing that was to simulate what the engines will do throughout an precise launch of the House Launch System. In the course of the NASA TV broadcast, the company’s commentators didn’t clarify what went fallacious, however N. Wayne Hale Jr., a former supervisor of NASA’s house shuttle program, prompt on Twitter that it was a major downside. Effectively MCF was not a name this ascent flight director ever wished to listen to: Main Part Failure is detected by the SSME controller. — Wayne Hale (@waynehale) January 16, 2021 This was a floor take a look at to confirm that all the pieces is working because it ought to. The booster stage stayed securely held down at a take a look at stand. The identical booster is scheduled to go off to house in November in an uncrewed take a look at flight that’s to go to the moon and past. However the issue encountered throughout Saturday’s take a look at might add to the delays within the growth of this rocket, referred to as the House Launch System. NASA has spent years and billions of {dollars} growing this rocket, which is continuously abbreviated as S.L.S.. Ultimately, it’s to take astronauts to moon and maybe farther out into the photo voltaic system sometime. The take a look at hearth occurred on Saturday round 5:27 p.m. Japanese time. Earlier within the afternoon the company shifted the schedule ahead by one hour, to 4 p.m., saying after it had loaded the rocket with propellant that preparation was forward of schedule. At the moment operating as much as an hour forward of schedule for @NASA_SLS scorching hearth take a look at. NASA TV broadcast will now start at 3:20pm ET. — Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) January 16, 2021 Nonetheless, the up to date timeframe was then delayed, and Alex Cagnola, a NASA engineer, mentioned that the take a look at conductors have been “working by means of just a few points on the stand,” with out describing the reason for the delay or how lengthy it could final. Finally, the take a look at occurred nearly 30 minutesafter the initially scheduled time of 5 p.m. Japanese. A information convention is scheduled to observe about two hours after the take a look at. A stable rocket booster contained in the Kennedy House Middle’s Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility at Cape Canaveral, Fla., this summer season.Credit score…Ben Smegelsky/NASA The House Launch System is the Twenty first-century equal of the Saturn V that took NASA astronauts to the moon within the Nineteen Sixties and Nineteen Seventies. Though there are various different rockets obtainable as we speak, they’re too small to launch spacecraft that may carry folks to the moon. (A doable exception is SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, however a human lunar mission would require two separate launches carrying items that might then dock collectively in house or head individually to the moon.) The Falcon Heavy can raise as much as 64 metric tons to low-Earth orbit. The preliminary model of the S.L.S. is a little more highly effective, able to lifting 70 metric tons, and future variations of the rocket will be capable of loft as much as 130 metric tons, greater than the rockets that carried the Apollo astronauts to the moon. Though the House Launch System shall be costly — as much as $2 billion a launch for a rocket that can be utilized solely as soon as — Congress has supplied steadfast monetary assist for it up to now. Supporters keep that it will be significant for the federal government to personal and function its personal highly effective deep-space rocket, and items of the system are constructed by firms throughout the nation, spreading the financial advantages to many states and congressional districts. The House Launch System is a key element for Artemis, this system to take NASA astronauts again to the moon within the coming years. Though President Trump pledged to make the journey by the top of 2024, few anticipated that NASA would really meet that timeline, even earlier than President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. was elected. When NASA introduced its plans for the House Launch System in 2011, the primary launch was scheduled for 2017. As is typical for brand new rocket designs, the event bumped into technical difficulties, comparable to the necessity to develop procedures for welding collectively items of steel as giant as these within the rocket. NASA additionally paused work on the rocket for a time final yr in the course of the early levels of coronavirus outbreak. Because the date of the primary launch slipped a number of occasions, the value tag rose. NASA has up to now spent greater than $10 billion on the rocket and greater than $16 billion on the Orion capsule the place the astronauts will sit. In an audit in 2018, NASA’s inspector common blamed poor efficiency by Boeing, the primary contractor constructing the booster stage, for a lot of the delay. One other report by the inspector common in 2020 mentioned NASA “continues to battle managing SLS program prices and schedule.” The House Launch System’s liquid hydrogen tank was loaded onto a take a look at stand on the Marshall House Flight Middle in Huntsville, Ala., in January 2019.Credit score…Tyler Martin/NASA The take a look at hearth is a part of what NASA calls the inexperienced run, a collection of exams of the absolutely assembled booster stage. The identical booster that simply was simply ignited shall be used for the primary flight to house, so engineers wished to make sure that it really works as designed earlier than launching it. A number of different rockets are beneath growth, and a few could also be near their first journeys to house. The United Launch Alliance, a three way partnership between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, might launch its Vulcan Centaur within the fourth quarter of the yr. The Vulcan Centaur is the successor to Atlas V, a longtime workhorse for launching navy and NASA satellites. Nonetheless, that rocket makes use of the Russian-built RD-180 engines, and Congress has grown more and more leery of counting on expertise from a rustic that’s usually thought-about an adversary. Blue Origin, the rocket firm began by Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founding father of Amazon, has additionally been growing a reusable rocket referred to as New Glenn that might compete with each Vulcan Centaur and SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets. (Blue Origin may even earn cash from every Vulcan Centaur launch; that booster makes use of BE-4 engines made by Blue Origin.) Most intriguing is the big Starship rocket beneath growth by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. When mounted on high of an enormous booster stage, it could dwarf the House Launch System, but could be fully reusable like a passenger jet. It’s designed to take folks to Mars, and SpaceX has additionally received a contract to adapt it for taking NASA astronauts to the floor of the moon. Video Throughout Wednesday’s take a look at flight of the SpaceX Starship prototype, a rocket Elon Musk envisions ferrying people to Mars, it launched into the sky however glided again to Earth earlier than it exploded whereas trying to land.Credit scoreCredit score…By Reuters Mr. Musk’s engineers have been conducting atmospheric take a look at flights of Starship prototypes at a web site in South Texas alongside the Gulf Coast. Throughout the latest take a look at, which was livestreamed on the web, the prototype rocket achieved plenty of technical targets earlier than coming down too quick throughout its touchdown and exploding in a spectacular blast. The corporate seems to be making ready for its subsequent take a look at flight within the days or even weeks to return. A profitable hot-fire take a look at would enable the booster stage to be taken to the Kennedy House Middle in Florida. That may set the stage for the House Launch System’s first journey to orbit and past, maybe later this yr. That shall be a mission with no astronauts aboard referred to as Artemis 1. The launch will carry the Orion module, in addition to a wide range of small CubeSats, on a course to the moon. The capsule will orbit the moon a number of occasions, a lot as in NASA’s Apollo 8 mission, earlier than returning to Earth and splashing down in a water touchdown. Success of that mission might set the stage for the primary astronaut flight in Orion and ultimately end in a moon touchdown. Supply hyperlink #cuts #giant #Moon #NASA #rocket #Short #Test