#''she lost everything'' well she should lose more she should lose her dog

[crehador]

GET WRECKED AND EAT SHIT ANIMAL ABUSE GIRL extremely relieved miyu said this to her face and hopes he sticks by it forever

[secret-smut-sideblog]

(sooo thought I should probably masterlist these so here you go, have fuuun) nsfw in red, pg-13 in ourple

I'm also on ao3!

Dragon Age fics

It Happened Quiet - (a short slutty lucanis x f! rook drabble)

idk what to call this series yet (I update on ao3 first! ❤️)

Please Be Rude - short and indulgent introduction to my rook and lucanis' dynamic. written pre-release so forgive ooc or contradictions. part one. lol. lmao even

House of Self-Undoing - After they came to an agreement to be bound to one another, Lucanis invites his deadly charge out for coffee...

Leave the Bodies Where They Lay - After receiving the gift of her touch, Lucanis finds himself raw with regret. And with another mourn watcher joining their ranks, Rook must endure her rage at being turned away from her home...

Sleeping With the Lights On

The Wolf - Waking in a prison, Lavellan finds herself the captive, then leader, of a force trying to close a rift in the sky. Recruiting a gruff dark stranger in her journey...

Pushing it Down and Praying

The Bear and The Dove (lavellan x blackwall, ANGST, slowburn, smut, completed (?) series)

The Raven - After her estranged clan contacts her, Vella loses her composure when the Chancellor spews hate at her. But her guard dog is all too happy to bite...

The Lamb - The rift set to be closed once and for all, Vella hopes to spend one last night in his arms. The world set to crash down around them, she must finally sleep...

The Sparrow - In her purgatory of snow, Vella tries to reach somewhere shaped like home. Her love and her cause lost to her, a voice guides her forward...

The Hound - Finally reaching Skyhold, Vella reaches her breaking point after Blackwall pulls and pushes her away again. Anger flaring hot into him when he comes to darken her balcony...

The Swan - Following the anger Vella had burned into him, and her silent forgiveness, Blackwall seeks her out to ask for something shaped like atonement. And to maybe, selfishly, hope for something more...

The Spider - Fallen through a rift, then back into the world, Vella finds herself wracked with grief. Her love there to catch her, and unravel some long held grief of his own...

The Halla - Reunited with a Dalish clan, Vella hopes to help any way she can. And, returned to the soft of his bed, hopes her love will let her help him as well...

The Dove - Using the full force of her foresight and the strife within decisions made, Celene's Grand Ball proves to be bloodstained and venomous. Leaving Vella exhausted to old and new injuries, tenderly caught by his soft love...

The Mockingbird - Chasing after the trail of her runaway love, Vella is forced to see his crimes firsthand...

The Phoenix - The trial to judge her lost love upon her, she must make two heavy choices with new eyes that will change everything...

The Fox - Still on the tender outskirts of her love, Blackwall struggles with regaining her full favor as they must venture to a monumental decision in the Arbor Wilds...

The Rabbit - The battle for all of Thedas nearly drawn to their door, Vella and her bear share an urgent night of passion before it all falls around them...

Monster Fucker fics

Bones of Ribbon - Headlights had been a consistent bother in her new home. On a rainy night, she had enough. Assuming an inconsiderate neighbor, she discovered something far different on the street below...

Tongues and Teeth - When her monster comes to her again, Merricat learns more about them. And as they are comforted in her, are drawn ever closer...

You've Seen The Butcher - Fate conspires to put Merricat in the path of Blackwood's hunger. To feed their need and their desire, and the intertwining of both, she opens herself to them...

Oneshots

Devourer - (astarion x f! reader) Your beloved vampire has gotten very comfortable with you. But you wonder of he's been holding back some of his more supernatural tendencies...

Bloodlust - (astarion x f! tav) Tav invites her bloodthirsty friend out for some late night reconnaissance, both of their cravings being fed...

Lay on Hands - (astarion x f! tav) In the early hours of the morning someone cant keep their hands to themselves...

Pulling Strings - (astarion x f! tav) Tav has caught on that her favorite vampire doesn't enjoy touching or being touched by others. But she has a suggestion to possibly help that piques his interest...

Satiated - (astarion x f! dark urge) With Astarion starving in the Underdark his bloodthirsty friend sees his hunger, knows it quite well. And with a promised death in their future, seeks to help him sate himself...

Cold Comfort - (astarion x f! dark urge) Finally reaching Moonrise Towers, she finds her urge overtaking her, taking an innocent life. Astarion seeks to keep her company through the long night...

Heavy Metal Lover - (karlach x f! tav) With her touch newly returned, Karlach is hungry for contact. Seeking out Tav for a little hand to hand combat that quickly turns heated...

What Lies Between - (gale x f! tav) After a magical misfire, Tav and Gale are trapped tight between stone. Weeks of sexual tension between sorcerer and wizard come to a head...

Possession - (gale x f! tav) With natural challenge and charge between them and a misstep at connection, an unexpected competitor appears in camp. Things must come to a burning head between sorcerer and wizard...

Night Wandering - (gale x f! tav) After Tav's little magic lesson from her favorite wizard and the heat momentarily shared between them, she's feeling pent up. If only his tent wasn't directly next to hers...

Black Out Days - (gale x f! tav) Tav's pain rising to an unbearable level, she indulges in some found herbs to find relief. But her sanctuary is laced with some heated side effects...

Supine Bound - (gale x f! tav) With Tav believing she's crossed a boundary of intimacy twice with Gale, she invites the wizard to get some retribution...

Warm Company (halsin x f! tav) With her crush on the vampire tearing her heart, a large kind druid seeks to make her feel wanted...

You Know Me Too Well (gortash x f! dark urge) After the coronation, she can't get the familiarity he showed her out of her mind. She needs answers, and the Archduke is more than happy to indulge her...

Eyes on Fire (gortash x f! dark urge) The visage of the Archduke won't leave her, and itching for blood, his favorite assassin is about to pay the Lord a very welcome visit...

North Star (kar'niss x f! tav) Finding a drider in the darkness, Tav offers for him to join her party. The safety and clarity he receives in her presence and her surprising admiration spurn his many legs to move much nearer...

Miniseries

When The Night Is Over - (1/2) Tav was no stranger to vampiric hunger and found her new companion in the throes of it. He held tightly to his mask, but her offer to guide him could crumble it...

Even If It Bleeds - (2/2) When a hunter threatens one of her own, Tav urges Astarion to take matters into his own hands. Further encouraging him to seek out his own needs, his own desire...

-

Pillow Talk (1/2) Tav innocently offered to help Astarion with his morning routine. But things get very close, and Astarion is shocked how her sweet face belies the sinful mouth she has...

Lover, Please Stay (2/2) Tav keeping him at arms length, Astarion makes a plan to woo her back into his good graces. But his hunger, for her and her blood, proves distracting...

-

Warm Water (gale x f! tav) 1/3 With one of Tav's love languages being physical affection, Gale tries to keep his touch hungry skin from her. The sirens call of her arms could overwhelm him, but he's far from the only one heeding her soft song...

Warm Honey (gale / halsin x f! tav) 2/3 Both druid and wizard seeking out her warmth, Gale makes a plan to win her affections. Yet both scent and sound could conspire to be his undoing...

Warm Blood (gale / astarion x f! tav) 3/3 With a sanguine competitor now circling with the large druid, Gale can no longer put off his advances...

-

Girl Talk - (1/4) One late night Astarion turned their conversation to a more sensual topic and was delighted to discover Tav lacked experience with men. Naturally he was more than happy to lend a hand...

It Will Come Back - (2/4) Their shared night has been tormenting him, after staking his claim he found himself needing to be near her. And after a night of drinking, seeing her with someone else, he had to have her again...

Heat Signature - (karlach x tav, 3/4) After nearly freezing to death Tav needs Karlach near. Very near, it seems...

Unpunishable - (4/4) After Karlach spent the night with Tav, Astarion is feeling very normal about it. So normal that he needs her in his tent all night. Just to feed, he swears...

The Tav in question... (for reference)

Child Of Dawn series

(gale x f! tav, slow burn, completed)

Nightcall

Non Believer

Dream Girl Evil

Let Me Follow

To Build A Home

Bedroom Hymns

Listen Before I Go

Many Hands

Faith Consuming Hope

A Hole In the Earth

Keep the Rain

What The Water Gave Me

the girlypop... (aurum, my tav)

Gale and Aurum, Bad Ending (pain!)

Prayer Factory - (gale x f! tav, named) Aurum steels herself to face her old demons at the temple, with her love at her side. But the adrenaline of confrontation leaves her coiled, and a wizard very eager to take her wrath...

Gold Satin Dreamer - (gale x f! tav, named) Inviting his radiant wife to give a presentation at Blackstaff, Gale notices the longing gaze of his less than friendly colleague...

Hard Times - (gale x f! tav, named) After a venomous spat with Gale, Aurum finds herself in the prison of her dreams again. But with several pairs of hands cradling her, she doesn't have to weather it alone. And, perhaps, find her own vindication in the aftermath...

Nose to the Grindstone - (gale x f! tav, named) Aurum and Gale fucking in the dirt. They were left alone at camp, it's not their fault. Smh.

Exhale Inhale - (gale x f! tav, named) After Aurum took a hard hit in battle, Gale blames himself for a break in his concentration. Requesting they practice something a little rough for him to hone his skills...

House of the Rising Sun - (halsin x f! tav, named) After Gale received the Annuls of Karsus, and the subsequent break of Aurum's heart, she cannot shake the lingering betrayal. Driving her to the strong shoulder and warm arms of another...

AA Break Up Series

(ascended astarion x f! tav, drama and smut, completed)

We The Drowned

Take Me Back To Eden (shadowheart × f! tav)

Like Real People Do (halsin x f! tav)

I Should Hate You

Chokehold

What Kind Of Man (gale x f! tav)

Seven Devils

All I Wanted

The Moon Will Sing

Strawberry Wine (gale x f! tav)

As It Was

Astarion x Dark Urge

(astarion x f! durge, tenderness and smut, completed)

Dark Signs

Bite The Hand

Prey Drive

A Dangerous Thing

My Love Is A Dagger

Bloodcall

Little Miss Murder herself (my durge)

Distance

(astarion x f! plus fized tav, tenderness and smut, completed NOTE: these are old as hell lol)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

First Light (Prologue)

The Drow (indulgent prologue chapter)

My Portrait of Tav (I do be drawing..)

Tav Headcanons (being indulgent)

[feathered-mushrooms]

Scott Summers ahead Cannons

he is my favorite loser boy

Due to growing up on it, Scott tends to throw himself into the danger room whenever he feels an emotion more than fine. He does not know a limit, which his led to “Scott patrol”. Oh Scott hasn’t left the danger room for five hours? Rouge it’s your turn, I pulled him out last time. 

Scott can’t handle to much down time, or being bored. He constantly feels like there is something he should be doing, and therefore will constantly find something to do. 

Charles has done a number on him. He is the reason Scott is so high strung, why failure isn’t just a lesson to learn from but an entire judgement of his character, why he can’t just breathe. He needs to be the leader and the man everyone can count on, he needs to be everything Charles wants him to be. 

This is not a healthy way of thinking. 

Scott has a special interest in planes. It started when he was young and then had a pause after the plane crash that killed his parents. However he picked it up again and now can tell you the difference between a commercial flight and a jet. He also knows how to pilot seven different types of aircraft and even got official license for each.

He is Bi.

It took him frighteningly long to figure this out. 

Scott has issues with social skills(projecting). He can speak sarcasm just fine and makes many jokes in that medium. However he has a hard time figuring out people are being sarcastic, especially if the joke is around him. 

He would wear a dress. Not in public, but if Jean offered he would try one of her dresses on in the safety of a bed room. He would like it. 

Game nights were originally hidden from Scott who(due to the professors absurdly high expectations) does not handle losing well. He loves to point out the rules and technicality’s, and will not play Uno with any variations. He’s not a sore loser par say, it just gets depressing for everyone watching. 

When he was young he kept only one pair of ruby glasses and one visor. As he has aged(and been influenced by Emma) he know has a collection of ruby glasses in all types and styles. 

Star Wars is his comfort show/movie/universe

Pretty equal on cats and dogs but leans towards dogs. 

His chances of being a toddler dad had been pretty ruined but he thinks it would be nice to raise a kid alongside a dog. Maybe a golden retriever. 

He does not mind cats though. 

He often feels weird in his place as a parent. Nathan is his kid but some much time has been lost that Scott can’t help but yearn for the mile stones that were missed and lost to time. He misses everything he was promised as a father. The same is true for Rachel although it is a little weirder. Yes she is his, but from a future that will never happen. He often feels guilty because in the end he has two great kids, but he wishes he could raise a kid in a normal sense. 

He just wants to be a father. 

When he was their step father, Scott showed the Cuckoos Star Wars. He keeps checking in on them, even after he and Emma are no longer together. 

Scott’s type is a person who will be mean to him, and could probably kill him, but have a soft spot.

Even if that soft spot is very hidden. 

He can make a really good grilled cheese. There was a week in his teens were there was low x-men activities and not a lot to do in the mansion so he dedicated his days to perfecting the grilled cheese. He makes it anytime he thinks someone needs some comfort. 

He’s eyes are brown under the visor. 

Never played DnD but very interested in it. Researched it a whole lot and has watched a lot of play throughs. Has even mentioned it to the rest of the squad and most were down to try. However it was forgotten due to the next world ending event. Scott still thinks about it and the character he made. 

He is doing his best but often over exerts himself which leads to sick days. On these days he is forced to cuddle up in a blanket and watches either the Star Wars orignal movies or one of the shows. Most times someone will be designated to sit with him so he doesn’t try and get up and do work. 

On these days Logan often takes the job. 

That all for now!

[britany1997]

Howl at the Moon

Part three

Werewolf Steve x GN Reader

Part one, Part two

We all deserve some super sweet, stressed werewolf Steve fluff after my finals

Steve faced his own reflection in the employee bathroom. He gripped the sink as he breathed deeply, trying desperately to calm himself. It was the first night in a long time Steve had had to work an evening shift on the night of a full moon.

He rubbed his face with his hands, reminding himself that Family Video closed at 7:30, and the sun set at 8. That was more than enough time for Dustin to meet him at his house and make sure he was secured in the basement.

He sighed, but now he had you to worry about.

What if there wasn’t enough time? What if he got loose and found you? What if he hurt you? He grimaced at the thought. That wasn’t an option.

Steve splashed some water on his face. He could do this. Robin was staying late to close up, so he could leave a little earlier if he needed to, he’d be home in plenty of time.

Everything was going to be fine.

“What do you mean you lost him?” Robin whisper-screamed into the phone, her eyes darting around to Keith’s security cameras (which she was hoping were just for show.)

“He’s a giant, brown wolf! How do you lose one of those?” She hissed.

Dustin’s chattering on the other end of the line only made her groan and rub her temples.

“Well what should we do?” She asked, “do we track him down? Could we even get him home if we found him?”

God she wanted to slam the phone into the cradle repeatedly.

“Ok fine fine fine, you’re right. Just give me a second, I need to cancel on Vicky.”

Robin promptly hung up before Dustin could say anything else.

She sighed. Steve was going to be covering any shift she told him to till she graduated.

You hummed along softly as your Walkman blared The Cure. You were taking a walk through the woods by your house, picking flowers and stargazing.

As the tape switched between songs, you heard a soft whining coming from behind you.

You whirled around, only to be met with the sight of the biggest dog you’d ever seen.

You probably should have been intimidated by his imposing size, but he was so…friendly.

When you turned, his tail started to thump loudly on the dirt floor in excitement. His lips seemed to pull up slightly, almost as if he was smiling.

You were charmed, returning his smile with one of your own. You approached him hesitantly, hoping he’d let you pet him, but before you could reach out, he trotted over to nuzzle his head against your hand.

You laughed at his eagerness and scratched behind his ears.

The dog barked happily, obviously pleased with your attention. While you pet his head with one hand, he licked all over the other, forcing you to wipe off his slobber on your jeans several times.

After awhile, you began to wonder if this dog belonged to anyone. You checked around his neck, and smiled a bit when you didn’t find a collar.

“Do you want to come home with me?” You asked, scratching behind his ears once more.

The dog licked your cheek so enthusiastically, you almost toppled over. You’d take that as a yes.

You smiled as you lead him home.

Steve woke up to the familiar, post full moon pounding in his head. He groaned and rubbed his temples.

…

He rubbed his temples?

Steve froze. How could he not be chained to the wall right now.

His eyes darted around an unfamiliar, but cozy, living room as he realized he was most definitely not in his basement.

In fact, he wasn’t even in his house.

Steve panicked. He crept around, trying to find some semblance of an idea of where he’d ended up without waking the owners.

Whose house was this? Had he actually broken into someone’s home while in wolf form?

But everything seemed to be in perfect condition, even the front door! Wouldn’t he have torn everything up? He scratched his head in confusion.

Suddenly he froze.

Right there on the mantle was a picture of you.

He slowly, nervously, made his way over to the mantle. Scratch that, there were tons of pictures of you.

Steve wanted to scream. Somehow, he’d found his way into your home.

His head snapped in the direction of the stairs as he heard some rustling.

Steve knew he had to get out, and fast.

But there was the small problem of…not having any clothes.

In a panic, Steve grabbed a blanket from your sofa, wrapped it around his waist, and snuck out the front door as quickly and quietly as he possibly could.

He hoped a detour to his house wouldn’t make him too late to work. He was already envisioning the earful he’d get from Robin after, what he assumed, had been a pretty big escape last night.

He sighed, being a werewolf sucked.

“So you were just in their house?” Robin cringed, “how’d you even find their house? That’s super weird Steve.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I know,” he groaned, “I have no idea how it happened, I told you I can never remember what happens on full moon nights.”

“It’s gotta be a wolf thing,” Robin decided, “you probably sniffed them out or something.”

“Yeah I guess, maybe we should-”

Robin and Steve’s heads both snapped to the front door as the bell jingled, signaling your entrance.

Robin’s eyes widened at the sight of you. She turned to Steve, then turned back to you, then turned to Steve again. “I’ll just uh- take my break then.” She slunk to the back room, but left the door open to hear everything of course.

“Hi,” Steve shivered. Did you see him leaving your house somehow? Did he somehow let you know it was him last night? Did you know what he was?

“Hi,” you replied, a pained smile on your face.

Steve’s gaze softened, “what’s wrong?”

You sighed, pulling posters out of your bag.

“I lost my dog,” you told him.

Steve’s face went white as a bed sheet. “Y-your dog?”

You nodded. “I found him wandering the woods last night and brought him home,” you explained, “I guess I haven’t had him for that long, but he was sooo sweet.”

You showed Steve the picture you’d drawn on the posters of the big, brown dog from last night.

Steve cleared his throat awkwardly. “He looks pretty uh… tough and intimidating.”

You shook your head furiously, “not at all! When I took him home last night, I put a blanket on the sofa for him so he could sleep there because I didn’t want him to shed all over my white bedspread right?”

Steve nodded as you related the tale.

“Well, I guess he wanted to be with me instead, because he sat outside my bedroom door whining! It was sooo cute.”

Steve cringed internally.

“I finally just went downstairs to pet his head until he fell asleep, he’s gotta be the most cuddly dog ever.”

Your smile fell, “I just don’t know why he’d leave.”

Steve felt tremendously guilty.

“Did you want us to hang one of your posters?” He asked.

Your head perked up, “could you?”

Steve nodded, “yeah, yeah of course. I’m uh something of a dog person myself.”

Your bright smile returned, “thank you so much Steve!” You handed him a poster, “it means a lot.”

“It’s really no problem,” he blushed.

Once you were out the door to hang more posters, Steve let out a deep sigh and crumpled to the floor behind the desk.

He felt Robin patting his back, “look on the bright side.”

“What?”

Robin smiled weakly, “at least they think you’re cute.”

Steve groaned.

Taglist🐺

@6lostgirl6 @misslavenderlady @crustyboypix @gothamslostboy @bloodywickedvamp @ria-coolgirl @rynsfandomsfun @dwaynesluscioushair @arbesa-mind @lostboys1987girl @anna1306 @arenpath @solobagginses @teelas-library @kurt-nightcrawler @bitchyexpertprincess @warrior-616 @f4iryfxies @palomam18 @dwaynedelight @walmart-icarus

[dyns33]

Flufftober 2024- 13 Jack Russell

Secong long story of the Fufftober 2024 ! I really wanted to write about Jack Russell and it was the occassion. I hope we will see more of him soon in a Marvel project.

It had made Y/N smile when Jack had introduced himself.

First, because it wasn't common for someone to be named after a breed of dog. She hadn't dared to ask him if it was a coincidence or if his parents had done it on purpose.

Then, she had found it adorable that he looked a bit like a puppy, with his big eyes and his kind look. Really kind.

They had met while she was walking in a forest. The week had been long, the people were unbearable and Y/N had felt the need to be alone to breathe, far from everything.

Her wish had been granted, to the point that she had ended up getting lost, unable to find the path, in the middle of these immense trees that blocked the network.

Panicked, she had first called for help, before telling herself that it might not be a good idea. There could be wild animals or people with bad intentions.

With caution, but with a quick step to not be surprised by the night, she had tried to find her car.

Y/N was sure she was alone, and yet, in a second, a man appeared between two trees as she unknowingly went deeper into the forest, staring at her.

Her scream seemed to surprise him. Yet it seemed to be the appropriate reaction in this kind of situation.

In response, he raised his arms to try to show her that he was not going to hurt her, staying in his place, not wanting to scare her more.

"Sorry, I smelt…" he stammered with a slight accent. "I mean, I heard someone who seemed lost. Are you lost ?"

"… Yes, a little. But my friends know I'm here. They're waiting for me."

"I'm sure. Do you need directions ? I can accompany you, it will be safer, but I understand if you don't want to. Sorry."

"I… It's okay, you didn't do it on purpose. I would like a guide, that would be nice."

"Follow me !" he said cheerfully, showing a radiant smile.

He laughed when she asked him if he was a ranger, because he seemed to know perfectly well where they were going. His answer was only to say that he was used to coming here. They arrived on the trail very quickly.

Afraid of getting lost again, Y/N asked him if he would mind staying with her again until she was in her car.

Jack seemed a little uncomfortable, but as a gentleman, he couldn't refuse.

During the rest of the ride, they chatted, talking a bit about their lives, their passions, and Y/N quickly found him charming.

So charming that she asked him for his phone number as they arrived at the parking lot. It wasn't often that she met men like him, and even if it was just to be friends, she wanted to see him again.

Maybe because he was really too nice, Jack took out his phone, an old phone, snickering at the face she made.

"They're more reliable, harder to break." he explained with a slightly embarrassed look. "I… I break a lot of things, when I don't lose them."

"I understand. It's retro, I like it."

Everything about Jack Russell was quite retro. His clothes, his way of speaking, his mannerisms, his character. He seemed to come from another time. or a fairy tale.

Almost too good to be true. It had to be hiding something.

At first, Y/N wondered if he had someone else. She had subtly asked him during their second exchange to know right away if she should kill her hopes and with all his sweetness and tender smile, he had answered that he was alone.

"I'm not very good at relationships. I have a busy schedule, and there's a part of me that's a bit… annoying."

"Annoying ?" wondered Y/N, who had only found him funny and touching since they met.

"It's complicated to explain. Let's say that I can be unsociable, rude and grumpy at certain times of the month."

"Oh. I know that."

"Haha, I hope not."

It was because of this dark side that Jack had hesitated before accepting a date. When she asked him if it was because he wasn't interested, he stammered that he really liked her.

He was afraid of not being up to it, of hurting her, even if he didn't want to at all. He had often hurt those close to him in the past and he preferred to be alone rather than take the risk of doing it again.

Unable to believe that a man like him could represent the slightest danger, Y/N joked by asking if his mysterious wild side couldn't make an exception for her, or if he couldn't stand her.

"Actually, I have a feeling he likes you. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. You smell really good, it's hard sometimes."

"What a charmer."

"No, I mean… Well, I do mean it. Sorry, I don't know when to keep quiet."

No more words came out of his open mouth after she kissed him on the cheek, finding him really too cute to resist. With wide eyes, Jack looked at her as if she were unreal, before making a sound, like a hoarse purr.

He quickly excused himself, saying that he had an emergency, leaving her in front of her place. Sighing, Y/N went back inside, noting before closing the door that the moon was almost full.

With no news for three days, she wondered if she had scared him away. It wasn't fair, for once she found a good man, he had problems committing to a relationship. Or maybe he was indeed hiding something.

These problems became the least of her worries when she got out of the shower, wrapped in her dressing gown, to find a creature in her living room.

Huge, breathing hard, the thing looked like an animal, with its long hair and teeth, its yellow eyes fixed on her.

Her instinct screamed 'danger', but Y/N remained frozen in the hallway, totally scared. She was alone, she had no weapon, her phone was charging quietly in the room, and even if she screamed, it might be too late when someone came to help.

She prayed that it would be like with the dinosaurs, that it would only pick up movements, or that it would be like King Kong, not so mean to girls.

But when it let out a ferocious, bestial, infernal roar, Y/N thought that it would be too good if it wasn't there to hurt her.

Strangely, even though it was obvious that he could see her very well from the beginning, he only started running when she rushed towards the bathroom, the only room in the apartment that locked.

To try to shore it up, she pushed a piece of furniture in front of it, but the wood didn't really seem able to stop the beast, which was clawing and hitting, even making the walls shake. A piece shattered, allowing the thing to put it arm through to try to catch her.

In the shower, Y/N had curled up, her head between her legs, crying all the tears in her body. It was strange when she could only hear her sobs.

Slowly, she dared to look towards the door, which despite its deplorable state was still closed. Through the hole, she first saw the wall of the hallway, before a yellow eye appeared, making her tremble again.

The creature growled again, a growl that seemed frustrated, then it let out squeaks, like a wounded dog. It might have been trying to coax her into opening, but that was absurd. Unless it was sadistic, it could have perfectly finished destroying the door.

Y/N jumped when the beast disappeared, as if it were being violently pulled towards the entrance. There were sounds like a fight, and for a moment an octopus head with red eyes looked through the hole. Seeing her, it seemed to try to communicate with growls, then simply giving her a thumbs up before leaving.

No doubt she passed out after that.

The next day, when she woke up in her bed, Y/N thought at first that she had dreamed all ot it. A strange dream, a nightmare. But when she got up, she first noticed that she was still in her dressing gown. Then, as she left the room, she came across the bathroom door, almost completely destroyed.

And finally, something that made no sense with the rest, Jack Russell, looking sorry, waiting for her in the kitchen, with breakfast.

"… Excuse me. Let me explain, would you sit down, please ? Then you can scream, curse me, whatever you want."

"What's going on ?" she asked, keeping her distance.

"Hmm. You should really sit down."

So, to put it very simply, Jack was a werewolf.

That was his secret, his "dark side". A curse that had affected all the males in his family for generations. Impossible to cure, impossible to control too.

He hadn't lied when he said that the wolf liked her. Too much. That was how he had smelt Y/N the first time, lost in the woods, feeling an uncontrollable urge to go in her direction.

Understanding right away that the monster in him could become dangerous for her, that was why he had been hesitant to agree to hang out with her. He liked her a lot too, he didn't want anything bad to happen to her.

It would have been in vain anyway, because despite all his precautions, the wolf had broken his chains on the night of the full moon, determined to find his mate.

"Yeah… He thinks you're his mate… I can't explain to him that it's impossible since you're not a wolf, he won't listen. He senses that I want you too anyway. Sorry, really. Ted ran here as fast as he could, but he's not that fast. I'll pay for the door."

"… I have several questions."

"I understand, amor. Listen, I really didn't want this to happen. I can leave, if you want. Far, far away, he won't be able to come back, you won't risk anything. I really don't want anything bad to happen to you."

"Who is Ted ?"

"Oh. A friend. He caught my wolf yesterday to force him to leave."

"The octopus ?"

"Hmm, he's been called much worse, let's just say yes, it's him."

"You said mate ? I'm your mate ?"

"My animal side thinks you are. You smell divine, you have no idea what that does to me. And you are so sweet, so beautiful, so brave. Many people would have reacted less well than you yesterday, you were very cool-headed."

"He didn't want to hurt me."

Obviously, Jack was skeptical. The werewolves were out of control, attacking everyone without exception, except the members of the pack. Y/N was not from the pack, she was not a wolf, she did not have his scent on her.

But hearing her cry, smelling her fear, the wolf had stopped. She was sure of it, she had seen the regret in his eyes. His squeaks were to apologize. He was just very excited to see her, he had not thought.

"Yeah, well, it was still really rude to break in, stalk you, and destroy your door." Jack sighed, and she noticed for the first time that he looked exhausted. "I won't let him do it again."

"You didn't sleep all night."

"Technically, no. It's always hard the next day. Need sleep, coffee… But I had to come, to make sure you were okay, to apologize, to explain. I didn't dare put you in your pajamas. It was a matter of respect."

Y/N stared at him, remembering why she had loved him so much. He really was the nicest man in the world, too good to be true. But he was real, only with a few supernatural sides.

"I know we had a date tonight, but if you're tired, can we move it to tomorrow ?"

"… Huh ? Amor, did you hit your head yesterday ? Because I can take you to the hospital if you hurt your head, you…"

Y/N kissed him on the cheek, knowing that it was enough to shut him up, before taking the coffee and croissants he had brought to go and enjoy them in her bed.

She waited ten minutes, before getting up to go and get him, still petrified in the kitchen, taking him by the hand so that he would follow her to the bedroom, where she placed him next to her.

It took a little more time for Jack to relax, eventually falling asleep against her, purring.

[jackietaylorsghost]

the addition of joel’s attempted suicide and him telling ellie it wasn’t time that had healed his wounds makes part 2 all the more rotten btw. in the context of just part 1 it added to the theme that runs through the game that you have to find something to hold onto and make life better even when everything seems dire. it’s extremely topical (as joel said about the puns) for ellie. joel knows she’s going through the same thing and that’s partly why he told her. it was also his way of expressing to her he loved her and she expresses that back when she says ‘im glad it didn’t work out’. if we just think about part 1, it’s a scene that fits well with the source material and adds something. later when joel saves ellie and then lies, we can really easily track why he saved her and then lied. yes for him cus he loves her but mostly it was because he’s been there and he knows how it feels to struggle with the guilt you survived and how easy it is to slip into the feeling of everything being pointless and wanting to end it all cus what’s the point in carrying on. he sees it in ellie. that’s why he tells her the story and that’s why he saves her. because it got better for him. it may have taken 20 years but it got better. he found what he needed to make life worth living and he wants ellie to have that too. he knows it’s out there for her, especially if they can go somewhere like jackson and she can watch movies and learn guitar and just be a kid.

but when we think about part 2, this addition just feels mean. they’ve added to joel’s trauma, they’ve deepened it. he was so lost and broken when sarah died that he wanted to end it all. life felt so pointless to him. and despite how bad it was to lose a kid, despite how scary it was for him to open himself up to ellie, to open that door into parenthood again, despite how painful it was and the memories it dredged up, he did ultimately choose to open that door. and there’s such cruelty in adding that depth, knowing they are gonna cause him that pain again! that they are gonna take a kid away from him again. that he opened that door and he found something that made life worth living, and they are going to crush him again with it. it’s cruel to ellie too. first of all bcus she’s deeply depressed and suicidal because of all she’s been through and everyone she’s lost and the guilt that they died when she didn’t (she never says so explicitly, but contextually it’s there, especially in her later statement that she should have died in that hospital) and they never let her progress from that. despite the life she has in jackson, despite the people who love her, she’s stuck where she was at 14, thinking her life doesn’t matter and not understanding at all why joel saved her (because her life always mattered; because it’s one worth living). secondly it’s cruel because they take the one thing away from her she loves above all other things, leaving her ultimately scared and alone, with nothing and no one. that thing she needs to find to live for - she never gets that. it renders joel’s intervention to save her life pointless and that feels worse in the context of the ‘it was me who missed’ addition. ultimately, within the narrative of part 2, they both would have been better off if joel hadn’t opened that door again and ellie had died on that table (joel wouldn’t have experienced the pain of loving again and then been beaten to death like a dog in the street and ellie wouldn’t have lost everything her friends her family her dad her fingers her connection to joel her mother’s knife) instead of ending up broken and alone. and that’s not only really sad and bleak, it’s really cruel. it’s mean. it’s the antithesis of part 1 completely and utterly.

[bonny-kookoo]

Jungkook: Love-Bites (2)

In which the relationship between you and Jungkook is just something special.

Tags/Warnings: Dog Hybrid!Reader x Idol!Jungkook, DDLG themes, sub/little headspace, soft dom!Jungkook, fluff, minor angst, established relationship, puppy gets a lil lost, but dw

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You're alone.

You know Jungkook might be back any minute now, but for the moment, you're alone. Maybe he's gonna be gone for some more hours? You're not sure. You've never been able to tell time by feeling alone very well.

Your caretaker, a student working part time, had left you a few minutes prior. She's not supposed to, you know that from your simple routine- because you're not supposed to be alone. You can totally survive by yourself, you're not stupid- but there's a lot of things you just shouldn't do on your own, as any second of the day, you could slip into your headspace.

And right after she'd left you- you did.

It was probably the fact that she left you alone that you slipped- mind needing comfort and reassurance as you're not used to being all on your own with no one else around. The apartment seems bigger- has the ceiling always been this high up?

You're hungry.

But you're not allowed to cook by yourself. Jungkook doesn't like that because you could cut yourself, or burn your fingers, all things that have happened before. And you don't want to be bad.

But then again, aren't you already being bad by being alone?

Slipping into your boots, you grab your coat and leave the apartment. You can't stay alone, that's bad- so you'll go and find him instead, easy!

Or maybe not. Since when has Seoul been this busy?

You don't even realize how long you've been walking around until the sky turns dark, sun slowly setting. Nighttime is scary alone. Maybe you should go home instead-

Except, where is home?

When Jungkook comes home and isn't immediately greeted with the sight of you, he already knows something is wrong. No one's there- everything seemingly abandoned, TV still running, a letter on the table.

"Sorry, something important came up. She was alright with me leaving her, so I hope it was okay!"

No, it was absolutely not okay.

Your boots and coat are both missing, giving him all the clues he needs to realize what you might've done. This is bad - you're already bad at navigating your surroundings when you're fully conscious. Who knows how much time he has until you slip and lose that ability entirely.

He's trying to stay calm, but its not easy.

He's walking from spot to spot around Seoul he could think of where you might be, but you're not there. There's no trace of you anywhere, and your collar is still at home, so he can't track your tag with his phone either. How is he supposed to find you now?

You're lost, and he can't help.

When his phone rings, he can't help but be a little frustrated in answering it- before he hears what the voice on the other side has to say.

"Lost something?" Yoongi chuckles, a TV in the background as he talks into the phone. "I don't know why she was running around alone, but uhm.. you can pick her up at my place at any point, just so you know." He tells his bandmate.

"Where the hell was she?" Jungkook asks, sighing as be releases a breath he didn't even realize he was holding. "I searched everywhere! The fucking caretaker just left her alone..!" He groans, while making his way to his bandmate's apartment. "I'll pick her up right away." He simply says, before he hangs up, walking into the elevator leading up to the apartment where you wait for him.

And as soon as he rings the doorbell, and Yoongi opens- you spot him too eagerly running into him, excited that he's here to bring you home.

Completely oblivious for the moment, how dire the situation really was.

You'll realize it later, probably, once you're a bit more clear in your head, but for now, he simply brings you home, pampers you in the bathtub, before he wraps you in a blanket and keeps you on his lap.

You laugh, as you both sit in front of the TV. "What's so funny, puppy?" He chuckles too, as you look up at him, tail wagging.

"Clingy." You comment, and he smiles, nodding.

"I am. Very." He agrees. "Cause I want my puppy close all the time." He explains, and at that, you wiggle around to free your arms to hug him close.

He really does want you close all the time.

And from now on, the collar stays on.

[testingthewatersss]

I never lost him Trigger warnings for PTSD, mentions of war, torture,  etc. Just unapologetic cuddling and comfort ft. Steve Rodgers. Bucky Barnes x F Reader Chapter 8 2560 words fluff, angst, comfort. 18+ MDNI Post TWS Steve realises that he's not the only one looking for Sargent Barnes. Reader is Tony’s sister, a non-enhanced shield agent who recently resurfaced.

“That went great” Y/N says instantly, "Well done, Buck"

The praise washes over him like water, soothing the frayed edges of his soul like a balm.

He relishes in the soft swell of affection for a moment, nuzzling down into her embrace until he feels like he might be able to speak without his voice cracking;

“‘days not over yet, doll” he murmurs eventually, “’s only the afternoon— still plenty of time for me to ruin’ it”

“Don’t be ridiculous” she counters, “You’re here, with me— there’s no way you could ruin anything.”

He scoffs, holding onto her a little bit tighter.

Y/N can feel the way he’s clinging onto her waist with both of his hands, clutching onto her t-shirt like a child who’s afraid of being abandoned.

Her heart is aching, behind her ribs. He’s clearly trying to catch up with the reality of everything that’s just transpired, and she doesn’t really know if she can do anything to help.

Holding him seems to be doing something, at least.

So, she decides to just keep doing that, stroking circles across the back of his ribs.

“I can’t believe he went to the deli dressed like that” she murmurs, “I bet it makes the news.”

He smiles a little at that, small and hidden against her shoulder.

“He… he wasn’t wearin’ his dog tag”

That hurts.

It hurts more than she’d have expected it too.

“I asked him where it was” she tells him, “He says he lost it, y’know? In the ice”

That sounds reasonable, he’d been prepared for a similar answer, but, she doesn’t sound sure. There’s something about her tone, that makes him furrow his brow;

“You don’t think he did?”

“I might be wrong” she sighs, “but, I could’ve sworn I saw it in one of Peg’s old boxes”

It’s why I recognised yours so quickly, she thinks.

“If… If it was in Peggy’s stuff, maybe he did lose it, but she, she found it?”

“Maybe” Y/N agrees, “Or maybe I never saw it at all”

‘Excuse me, boss’ FRIDAY inserts politely, ‘But Bucky is right, I can confirm that when Captain Rodgers was first brought to SHEILD headquarters he was booked in, and his dog tag was noted along with his compass and original suit in the documentation regarding his personal belongings.’

That catches her attention, she tilts her head and hums,

“Was… was he awake when you brought him here?”

‘No’ FRIDAY replies, ‘He remained frozen until our medical officers felt confident in their ability to bring him round without complication’

“But he had it on him when he arrived?” Y/N cuts in, wanting to clarify, “Do you have any record about where it went?”

‘Yes, boss.’ the AI agrees, ‘And whilst there is no official mention of the article after that initial reference, I can use the archived security footage to speculate that Agent Carter may have retrieved it from him during one of her regular visits.’

Oh—

“Well there we go…” Y/N murmurs, stroking Bucky’s back again, “…mystery solved.”

“She…” Bucky says, clearing his throat, “… Y’think she took it?”

“Probably” she sighs, “she loved him, it’s not a stretch to think she’d want to try and keep a piece of him close, ‘specially… ‘specially when she realised that he probably wouldn’t be wakin’ up any time soon.”

Bucky thinks that’s awfully sad.

Sometimes he forgets how unfair fate was to Steve. He forgets that it wasn’t just him who lost everything in ice.

“I think we should get it back to him, don’t you?”

Y/N’s voice makes his head lift up, away from the crook of neck.

He’s starring at her, trying to read wether or not she’s being serious.

“You… you think we can?”

“Of course we can” she chuckles, stroking his cheek, “Baby, if Peggy kept it then it’s here— After she died a lot of her stuff was archived, y’know, for security— Tony and Sharon agreed that the tower was the best place for her personal belongings, since it’s real easy to protect, and, if I saw it before got scooped up, then I’d wager it’s still exactly where it was back then.”

“So” he murmurs, “We… We really could get it for him?”

“Sure” she says, “We can go grab it ourselves, or I can ask Tony or Nat to go and find it?”

His face shifts into something terribly conflicted. For a moment, she thinks that he might speak, but instead, he just ducks his head back down into her shoulder, burying his face against her like hiding might erase the burn of shame he’s experiencing because he just can’t volunteer himself to go and retrieve it himself.

It doesn’t.

Her arms wrapping back around across his body helps though.

So does the way she presses her lips against the top of his head, hushing him before she says,

“FRIDAY, can you message Natasha discretely for me? Do it in Russian so she knows it’s private— ask her to go down to the archives and use my override to get into the safe in room 12, tell her that I think the tag is somewhere between boxes 1-8 under one of Peg’s old dresses. When she’s got it, ask her to bring it up here, don’t let Rodgers see.”

‘Yes, boss’

“I- I’m sorry” she hears Bucky whisper, voice melting against her throat, “I just can’t-“

“It’s okay” she soothes, “Baby, it’s fine, Nat loves snoopin’ around down there, she’ll get it for us, and then you can double check, make sure it’s right before you give it to him.”

“Before-“ he gulps, “before I give it to him?”

“well, yeah” she says, smiling, “Sweetheart, unless you don’t want too?”

“I- I do” he blurts out urgently, “I-I just, thought maybe you-”

“No, baby” she murmurs, “I think it’ll mean more if it’s you.”

‘Ms Romanoff is on her way to the archives now, Boss— she asked me pass on a message to Bucky on her behalf’

“Oh?” Y/N scoffs, pressing another kiss against his head, “What message would that be?”

‘Dobro pozhalovat' domoy, serzhant’

Welcome Home, Sergeant.

That makes a smile bloom across her face.

The recorded greeting being laced with a genuine tone of kindness is enough to make her affection towards her old friend swell in her chest.

“She… Is, is that her voice?”

‘Yes, Bucky- I can relay messages to anybody you like.’

“Could you reply for me? could… could you tell her ‘Thank you, and I- I’m sorry, for— for fightin’ you, and for- for shootin’ you back… back in Japan.”

“Sure I will.”

“Sweetheart” Y/N says, “you know she’s not angry, don’t you?”

“It doesn’t matter” he counters weakly, “It doesn’t matter if she’s angry, doll, I— I’m still sorry.”

The silence that follows doesn’t last long, but it’s still long enough for his words to make Y/N’s chest ache again.

“C’mere” she purrs, settling herself back against the arm of the couch, guiding him up, so he’s back in position between her thighs, “Grab that blanket, baby, are you sure you’re not hungry?”

He lets one of his hands snake out so he can pull the covers out from underneath his legs, whispering out an “I- I can eat if… if you want me to?” as he passes it to her.

“It’s not up to me” Y/N says, arranging the quilt across his back, “what do you want?”

“…To stay here for awhile?…”

He means in her arms. He means against her chest, where he finally feels safe, and there isn’t a single thing in the world that could convince her to prise him away. Not with the way he’s looking at her, wide eyed and touch-starved.

“Then you can stay here awhile.” she tells him, one hand snaking up to cup his cheek, “You can stay right here for as long as you want”

“Excuse the interruption, but Miss Romanoff has sent a reply, Bucky, would you like to hear it now, or shall I store it for later playback?”

Bucky’s eyes widen for a moment, and he pushes back into Y/N’s hand as he gulps;

“Can I- Can I hear it now?”

‘Ofcourse—

Zabud' ob etom. Vy byli pervym chelovekom, kotoryy ustroil mne dostoynyy boy za desyat' let. My provedem match-revansh, kogda tebe stanet luchshe.’

Forget about it. You were the first person to give me a decent fight in a decade. We'll rematch when you're feeling better.

There’s a laugh in her tone that makes Y/N scoff, eyes rolling as her old friends voice floods the space.

“See?” she whispers, pressing a kiss against his lips, “Don’t worry about Nat”

His smile is tight and anxious, and she can tell he wants to hide again, so she reminds him that he doesn’t need to reply, and that is when he surrenders, nodding and retreating to her chest.

“We’ll eat later” she says, “You, you just get comfy, it’s been a hell of a mornin’…”

It has, it has been a hell of a morning.

“I love you” is the response he settles on, “I- I love you so much”

That makes her laugh, but it’s sweet, it’s happy and girlish, and he’s beaming into the skin of her throat.

“Baby boy” she coos, “I love you more.”

“’s not possible” he counters, because he can’t not, “doll, It… it’s like you hung the damn moon”

“We’ll argue it out another day” she whispers, feeling him sagging against her, “you’re exhausted.”

He is, he is exhausted, he’s emotionally drained and the heat from her body is drawing him in, making it easy for his breathing to synchronise with hers, deep, and slow.

His eyes are closed and her fingers are in his hair.

God, he feels like the luckiest man alive.

and then, he’s asleep again.

Y/N spends more time showering him in gentle touches, this time. She plays with the curls that are hanging loose across the back of his neck. She presses her lips against his brow and then finally drapes one arm across the back of waist so that she can pull up the STARK internship paperwork that she’d mentioned filling out earlier with the other.

In two hours, it’s early evening and she’s half way through the file.

In three, she’s still half way through, but now Natasha has let her know that she has the dog tag, and she can bring it up whenever.

Now might be the best time, she considers, whilst he’s sleeping— maybe we can avoid another introduction.

She relays her thoughts to FRIDAY who quietly, and politely agrees with her theory, and tells her that ‘Ms Romanoff will be with her in a few moments.’

It’s been just over five minutes when Natasha lets herself into Y/N’s suite.

Unlike Steve she’s used to dropping by, so, there isn’t any cause for her to stop to survey her surroundings.

That is, until she spots her best friend, curled up on her couch with the very same super-solider that had been deemed as ‘HYRDA’s most dangerous weapon’ passed out between her thighs.

That is definitely worth a double take.

Y/N’s eyes roll at the look on her face, and she uses her free hand to beckon her towards her,

“He’s sleeping—” she tells her helpfully, “— and thank you for finding it so quickly”

The dog tag is already in her outstretched palm. Natasha’s smile is curious more than anything else, so Y/N finds herself mirroring it, quirking a brow and murmuring out a “what?” that makes the other woman chuckle, quiet and tempered into the air between them;

“This isn’t just a hook-up is it?”

“No” she replies, “No, I don’t think it is.”

The red-head nods, and her face morphs into something only approving.

“You met him whilst you were away?” she checks, waiting for Y/N to nod before she continues, “So you’ve been, together, for awhile?”

“Yeah” Y/N agrees, “better part of 5 years.”

“Well” Nat sighs, “I hope he deserves you.”

“He does” she’s quick to tell her

“good” the other woman replies, “if you trust him, then that’s good enough for me, just let him know that if he breaks your heart then it won’t just be Tony he has to watch out for.”

That makes Y/N snort, childish and happy as she nods, curling her fingers through Bucky’s hair again.

“Speaking off” Natasha murmurs, “Is he okay? With this whole thing?”

“I think he’s more than okay” she says, “Honestly, I didn’t expect him to be so good about it, y’know? but he’s really gone out of his way to make this easy on us.”

“He can probably tell how happy you are” she replies, “and if somethin’ happens and you need me then-”

“I know you’ve got my back” Y/N swears, “You always have, Nat- ya tebya lyublyu”

I love you

A genuine smile blooms across the red-heads face. She’s beaming as she leans in to press a kiss on Y/N’s brow, and she’s still sporting the same grin when she starts towards the door.

“Do you think he’ll mind if I stop by tomorrow?”

“I don’t know” Y/N says honestly, “I doubt it? If he isn’t ready then I’ll slip out and catch you before training”

And then she’s gone, and Y/N finds herself tucking the dog tag into her pocket so that she can return her attention to the papers she’d been working on before.

Bucky doesn’t stir for another hour. By then she’s actually almost finished. She’s so focused on the task at hand that she only notices he’s awake when he moves, rolling onto his side so he can peer at the glowing hologram she’s typing on.

“Hey, love” she purrs, “Sorry, I thought I’d try and get this finished whilst you slept.”

“Don’t be sorry, doll” he replies, voice cracking with disuse, “Have I been out long?”

“3 hours, maybe 4?” Y/N answers, looking at the clock, “it’s about 8 now, Nat’s been and gone.”

That catches his attention, he paws at his eyes, and then at his chin, all whilst using his metal arm to support his weight so he can stare at her face.

“What?” she presses, typing the final sentence of her conclusion with impressive speed, “Did you want me to wake you?”

“No” he admits, “I- I just didn’t think she’d be able to find it so quick”

The papers are finished so Y/N hits submit, dismissing the screen with a flick of her wrist so that she can give him her full attention.

“It wasn’t hidden” she reminds him calmly, “Do you want to see it?”

His lip quirks as he nods.

She shifts her hips pulling the silver, age-stained trinket out of her pocket before letting the charm drop, so that its where he can reach out and grab it.

He does, turning it over in his flesh fingers as his eyes scan the engravings again and again.

“Is it the right thing?” she wonders, already suspecting from the look on his face that it is, “I’m pretty sure, but-”

“Yeah” he says, “Yeah, it- it’s right— can I give it to him now?”

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | x | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

[traveler-at-heart]

❤️‍🩹 with Natasha, please

Thank you for the prompt!

Together

A/N: Takes place during Endgame.

Content warning: some violence, Thanos getting beaten up (not sorry about this hehe)

It should have worked.

Clint got a call from Laura.

Just before everything blew up.

You didn’t have your phone with you while you were fighting and if it did work, (God, please, I’ve never asked for anything ever, so just this once), you’d have woken up in the middle of a Wakandan field.

And then Thanos showed up and everything became a mess again. 

Were they about to lose again? Was Rhodey’s sacrifice about to be for nothing?

But Natasha pushed through, and fought against every one of the soldiers from the alien army, vaguely aware that Sam, Barnes and others were finally arriving to provide backup.

But where were you?

A second too late, she realized a spear was thrown her way.

Will I see you again before I die?

“Don’t mess with my girl” you jumped right in front of her, sending the spear back to the alien. It went through him with a clean motion and you manipulated the metal to hurt as many of them as possible. Wanda jumped in front of you, fighting anyone approaching. 

You only had a minute to talk to the love of your life.

“Y/N” Natasha whispered behind you.

“Hi, baby” you finally sighed, happy to see her. The last time her hair was blonde and short. And now, it was long, back to red, save for the tips. Your eyes filled with tears. “How long has it been?”

“Five years” 

You sobbed against her and began to apologize.

“I’m sorry for not fighting harder, I’m sorry for leaving you. I’m sorry, Nat”

“I should have done more. I should have brought you back sooner. I lost hope and did nothing”

“No, stop it” you pressed your lips against hers. “I’m here now, ok? It’s gonna be over soon. And then, you’ll finally tell me your answer”

“You still remember?” she chuckled against your lips.

“I could never forget” you kissed her one last time, before walking to Wanda and standing beside her, your eyes glowing with power.

--

“Hey” you walked up to your girlfriend. She was holding her phone against her ear, ignoring Barnes, Sam and Steve as they planned their next move. Wanda was still taking care of Vision.

You hated the idea of going back to the US, to the government that had chased you and forced you to go into hiding for two years. 

But the situation was critical and you needed to alert everyone. 

“She’s not picking up” Natasha sighed.

“Yel?” 

“I just want to make sure she’s safe. We don’t know what we’re up against here”

“I’m sure she’ll be alright, Nat”

“If something happened to me…” 

“Don’t”

“Promise me you’ll take care of her” 

“Nothing’s gonna happen to you. You can’t leave me. There’s so much left to do”

Natasha rolled her eyes.

“Like what?”

“Well, I still have to teach you how to make a pinata. We have to go to a concert together. A night in Las Vegas where we lose all of our money”

“I hate losing” 

“We also have yet to… have sex on the console of the Quinjet” you whispered against her lips. Natasha laughed in spite of herself.

You took her hand and led her somewhere far away from the rest of the team.

“Sit here, darling” you asked, and knelt in front of her. “I’d also very much like to find a new house where we can live. Pick a date to get married… maybe adopt a dog? Those are all things we still need to do, Natasha”

You placed the ring in her open palm.

“I know this is like the worst timing, and you have a lot on your mind right now. But you should know that I want you for the rest of my life, however short or long it is”

“I…”

“It’s ok. Don’t say anything now. That way I’ll have something to look forward when we beat those nasty aliens”

--

“Nice of you to join us” Tony said, circling the battlefield.

“Shut it or I will throw you into outer space” 

“Been there, not a fan” 

You made a mental note to ask him about it later. Sounds like quite the story.

While Wanda was busy stripping Thanos' armor and throwing his giant sword, you raised your hands, aiming at the ship that was preparing to shoot everyone. 

“I’m moving the canyons but can’t keep it for long” you said through gritted teeth.

It was crushed an instant later by a blinding light. For the first time, Thanos looked worried. 

“Danvers?” Thor looked up, and you did the same.

“Who is that?”

“This is backup” she announced, flying straight to Thanos’ head. The kick sent him to the ground, dirt flying everywhere.

“Tony, Steve, Banner, help Peter protect the stones” you commanded, feeling ready to end this entire nightmare. “Wanda, Thor and I will deal with Thanos”

“Wanda, keep him down” you asked, using your power to control the pieces of armor left in his body. You managed to manipulate their shape and stab him with them. His screams of pain gave you a great deal of pleasure.

“Thor, you better go for the head this time” 

The god jumped up, ready to swing his ax. Thanos put an arm up, partially blocking the attack.

“Wanda, Space Girl, make sure he doesn’t get up. I’m pulling away”

“Where are you going?” 

Your power was stronger when you were closer to the object you wanted to control, and judging by the effort Thor was making, he was gonna need all the help he could get. 

“Come on” you stood next to the sword, lifting it up and ran next to it. With a swing of your hands, it flew across the battlefield. You pushed through Thanos’ neck, while Thor did the same at the back of his head.

Wanda stood next to you, pushing on your side while her other hand held him down. Carol flew next to Thor and pushed.

Steve came running, holding Mjolnir and giving the final push to separate the head from the rest of his body. 

“Banner” Tony warned a second later. Natasha, Peter and T’Challa were protecting him as he wore the infinity glove and snapped his fingers.

--

Dust. Everything was dust.

You were floating away, frantically looking for Natasha.

All you wanted was to make sure she was ok.

But before you could call for her, the wind took you away.

--

There was dust all around you, but this time your hands were steady. Your breath was uneven, but your heartbeat was the reminder that you were still alive.

“Y/N!” Natasha called as soon as she realized it was over. You kneeled, exhausted. “Are you hurt?”

“Just tired. It’s been a while since I’ve done this. God, I’ve missed you” 

You hugged her, hands going to her neck as she held you by the waist.

“Want some pizza?” she said, knowing how hungry you got after a good fight.

“I was thinking Chinese from that place we like” you suggested against her neck.

“Yeah, that doesn’t exist anymore”

“Fucking Thanos, fuck him a thousand times” you broke apart, wiping your tears. Natasha giggled, leaning forward. Your eyes immediately looked down at her cleavage. “Missed you too, girls”

“You had to ruin the moment” she complained, pulling you up.

“Wait, what is this?” you pointed at a necklace she was wearing, a ring hanging from it. “Is that…?”

“The ring you gave me. I’ve worn it every day for the past five years, wishing I had said yes the moment you asked”

“Well, in that case, and even if my knees are killing me right now, will you let me?”

The redhead nodded, handing you the ring back. Aware that the rest of the team was now watching you, you kneeled in front of the love of your life.

“Natalia Alianovna Romanova, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“Yes. A thousand times yes” she let a tear roll down her cheek as you secured the ring on her finger.

You stood up, kissing her passionately.

“Save it for the wedding night” Tony grumbled.

“I have five years to make up for, Stark” you smiled against Natasha’s lips. “And a lifetime ahead of us”

[the-wales-5]

"Rugby World Cup 🇫🇷 + 'the Intruders' " :)

15th October 2023.

The Princess of Wales was attending the quarter finals of Rugby World Cup between England and Fiji. Several fans of her showed up to the game, including one wearing a hilarious mask with Catherine's face on it. Two men brought themselves to the stadium with posters made of cartons with French sentences, which translated to < divorce and marry me > & < Not him, Kate. Me >.

The princess was unaware of their act until the very end of the match when her secretary told her about it and showed a picture that was already viral around all of the 'royal' social media accounts.

***

Upon home return, William was waiting for her. "England is in the semi-finals, unlike Wales" said Catherine after seeing him, showing him her competitive side once more. William narrowed his eyes a little. His wife was rather confused, so she asked: "Is everything okay? It was a simple joke, you know that, right?.." she smiled but that facial expression was quickly replaced by a different one as she added: "Just like those posters you probably had seen".

"Posters" William sighed and then looked at her face, asking "What was your reaction ?" He asked, awaiting her explanation of the Intruders as he called them earlier. Catherine tried not to smile and said "I laughed and.. By the way, where are our kids?".

William rolled his eyes again after he did not get a direct response "And what? What else happened?" He asked once more.

Catherine hid a sigh and replied "And I assumed that you will behave in this way. Losing in a competition is not always an easy thing. Excuse me, Mr Wales, but I would like to see our children right now".

William sensed that his wife was teasing him now and couldn't help but smile as he stared at her way.

*

"I am so happy that England won, mummy. Hope they will win next week and then in the finals as well" George said.

They were playing a board game together with Charlotte and Louis. Orla was 'watching' them, occasionally barking, especially when Louis was the winner.

"She is rooting for me" he said and giggled

"Lupo used to do something similar with me," George said as he remembered their old dog and his playfulness. His mother caressed his shoulder. Thinking about Lupo and other dogs in her family that already passed away was not simple for her either, especially when an anniversary of Lupo's death was approaching.

Charlotte noticed her sudden sadness and asked, "Mummy, is everything okay?" Catherine, without saying anything, hugged her children and Orla.

*

The princess was pretending to be watching the TV in the living room late in the evening. William approached her and put his arm around her. "You've got no plans to go to sleep tonight? You should feel sleepy after your flight and all the emotions you had"

Catherine looked at him suspiciously. "Emotions? I feel like you've had more of those than me and that includes jealousy again. Am I right?".

William took a strand of her hair away from her face as he replied "You're not wrong. Well, maybe not jealousy but a bit of anger when you teased me by saying that losing in a competition is not easy" he said.

Catherine smirked "Well.. Usually you love when I am teasing you and this time you don't? This is unusual for you" she said.

"This is because you told a lie" William replied while looking into her eyes, then kissed her neck. Catherine laughed "So you think that you won. England was the winner and you are supporting Wales so you lost. This is logical."

"Both you and me know that it doesn't only mean the match itself, Mrs Wales but the posters. Those men lost, not me" William said and before Catherine could laugh, he kissed her on the neck once again, more passionately.

"Be careful" she giggled "I won't accept love bites marks. Do you know how difficult it is to cover that later?".

William only smirked as he said "The weather's getting colder so you can begin wearing turtlenecks soon, can't you?".

Catherine giggled and pushed him back. "Sorry for you, Mr Wales but you were right: I am feeling tired and sleepy right now. Your proof of winning must wait until tomorrow" she laughed and went to take a shower.

As a 'revenge' and to prevent William from joining her there, she closed the bathroom room with a key. William knocked when he realised what she did a few minutes later.

"Are you serious?" He asked and then smiled after hearing his wife's soft laugh.

*

"Aren't you sleeping?" He asked about thirty minutes later when he came to their bedroom after putting their youngest child to sleep.

"I can't" Catherine replied

"So you missed me anyway" he smiled.

Catherine shook her head and replied: "Today when I was playing with the children, all of a sudden George mentioned Lupo and you know that--.. his death anniversary is coming and it is still not easy sometimes to think about it even when Orla's with us" she sighed.

"Kate.." her husband said and pulled her closer to himself "Of course it is not possible to forget about him and the way he left us"

Catherine blinked a few times and then she could feel William's forehead kiss and then another touch of his lips - on hers.

She looked at him and William caressed her cheek as he said: "You told me to wait until tomorrow for something more so I will but it does not mean I will not try to lift your mood up a little bit if you want, Mrs Wales"

His wife nodded as she said "Yes, you are allowed to do that I think.. But that doesn't mean that you're a winner in everything. Wales lost" Catherine smirked after making a decision to tease him for the last time that evening and that way she got her 'revenge': lots of kisses on her face and a few, <almost invisible> love bites on her neck.

*

"Thank you" Catherine said sarcastically the next morning when she stood in front of a mirror, trying to cover the marks William left on her neck the night before.

"You can still wear turtlenecks, and there is nothing in our calendars until November so it will heal, right?"

"Yes, unless you plan to prove something again" Catherine scoffed a little

"Next time I need to prevent some people with the cardboard posters from coming to the areas where you will be. Then, I will not have to prove anything" he said and laughed after Catherine threw a pillow at him.

~The end ♡~

[sorserah]

Chapter 9: Search and Destroy

Outsider No More | Goro Takemura & Female V/OC

And then he understands, clearly understands what she had been feeling, trying to tell him. And he now realizes too, he does not want to lose her either. 

An interpretation of how a romance between Takemura and Corpo Female V could have been. Changing between Vs and Takemuras POV. Mostly following the main story of the game, adding bits and pieces here and there for a little bit more depth. So spoilers ahead.

18+, Hurt/Comfort, Slow Romance, Panic Attacks, Death, Blood and Injury, Corpo V (Cyberpunk 2077, Takemuras POV, Vs pov, Alcohol, Sexual Tension, Flirting, Denial of Feelings, Internal Conflict, they are both idiots, Guilt, Overthinking, Smut, Sex, Romantic, Gestures

https://archiveofourown.org/works/28434627/chapters/70742016#workskin

„We have arrived at your desired location.“ Delamain announces as they drive onto an empty parking spot in front of the abandoned apartment block. I still can’t believe you are actually going to see him, after everything he pulled off. We can be happy we made it out alive just a few minutes ago. I know Johnny, V leans her head back into the seat. I wish I wouldn’t have to, you know. V swings open the back door, gets out and they make their way towards the apartment. You could, you are just too weak. Unfortunately, I can’t make you do anything - yet - but please keep him on a short leash this time. Because I still don’t fucking trust him.

He appears in front of her as she climbs up the last set of stairs. V, for our own sake, we check on him and then delta the fuck outta here before Arasaka finds us. It’s just a matter of time now. We find another way, I promise. You are right, fine, guess that would be best, but… No V! No buts, you lost your damn mind and we both know exactly why. She shoves him aside. Again he blocks her way, his voice furious. You know what, you really are pathetic. He pushes you away twice, fucks up our whole mission and you still want to risk your own life for him. Run to him like a well-trained dog, just like he is, except not for you but for Arasaka. Get this into your fucking head V.

V stops in front of number three-zero-three, Johnnys words hurt her, not because they are particularly meaner than normal, but because she could feel a little truth to them. She turns to Johnny again. Okay, we make a deal alright. Last chance for him. I talk to him about the mission, Hanako, what’s next, et cetera, and about whatever is between us. No straight answer and I will be gone. Guess that’s all I can hope for anyways and he vanishes. Facing the door she lifts up her fist, hesitating, suddenly shaking a bit of nervousness. She knocks four times.

Takemura opens the door pulls her close to him and closes the door again in one swift movement. He presses her into his chest, one hand on her back, the other occupied with his rifle. „Are you okay?“ He asks as he shoves her a few inches in front of her, still very close. His hand wandering from her back, over her hand and up her arm, softly stroking her shoulders and neck, stopping at her cheek, gently stroking his thumb over it while searching every spot of her face with his eyes. She hadn't expected this sudden tenderness at all, she utters confused „Yea.“

„I feared they had caught you.“ She grabs his hand, pulling it away from her face. Though grabbing it tightly the study metal resisting against her grip. „Goro, you know how feared I was, I am?!“ Her voice an angry whisper, sharpening with every word „Gonna tell me what the fuck you were thinking?! Hanako is the most wanted person in the world, every Arasaka soldier is on our trail.“ He is still looking at her intensely, his voice likewise muted „I am aware. That is why we should not waste any time.“

Takemura moves sideways and nods into the direction of a table, where someone is sitting already. Startled, she finally lets go of his hand. „I offered her some tea…“ V can’t help but laugh „You kidnap Hanako Arasaka and offer her a cup of fuckin’ tea?!“ She could see a slight grin on his face „It was your idea.“ „Oh no, this wasn’t my idea. I made a joke. I will not take any responsibility for your actions here Goro.“ He looks down, pawing the ground „I would never expect this from you. And she…respectfully declined.“ V sighs, „Okay, just let’s get this over with.“ Both serious again „Tell her the truth about Yorinobu, no embellishment. And state your terms clearly. Perhaps she will listen.“

„Hanako, I am sorry we have to speak under these circumstances.“ „This is the second time I have heard this today.“ V sits down at the table towards Hanako, Takemura remains next to Hanako and starts talking to her in Japanese „Hanako-sama. This is the woman I spoke of. Please, listen on what she has to say.“ V looks straight at her, she on the other hand avoids her eyes „Hanako. I was there when it happened. It was Yorinobu. He…he had an argument with your father, said he had enough and then strangled him. I saw it with my own eyes.“ Hanako looks at V, her face full of disgust and arrogance. „You must be mad to think I will listen to such nonsense. Who are you to think you can talk to me this way?!“

V rolls her eyes, she had seen enough of her kind in the Corpo world, people like her don’t change. They are the same type. Let them hear what they want to hear, offer them something they can use for themselves and they are yours - well and you're theirs - if you keep the bargain. V leans forward both elbows on the table. „Look. I know it’s a lot to take in, let alone believe. I also know you are an honorable person, worthy of trust. And that’s why I wanna make you an offer.“ Finally, Hanako looks at V „You? Make me an offer?“ „Exactly. The Relic your brother tried to hawk off to NetWatch is in my head. Right now. Took a bullet to the brain, but the tech on the biochip saved me. Now, it’s slowly killing me.“ V quickly glances over at Takemura, he was looking at his hands. „One of you personality constructs, engrams, is overwriting my psyche. Gotta stop the process before it’s too late. I know you got the means to help me. And this first case sure will be interesting for Arasaka as well.“

Right after V finishes her sentence Takemura makes a few steps towards Hanako, a touch of desperation in his voice „Hanako-sama!“, while he is talking he was unable to keep his eyes off V, „V is living proof of the terrible crime your brother committed. We can confirm every word she speaks if only you will help her with the Relic. It is a matter of life and death.“ As Hanako doesn’t answer he turns his eyes away from V and toward her. „Hanako-sama?“ She looks down again, still not answering.

A clanking sound could be heard from the hallway. Out of reflex, V and Takemura both grab their weapons. He faces her, whispering again „Did you hear that?“ She nods „Can you check?“ He asks her and she thinks she sees a deeply worried expression on his face again for a short time. Wordlessly she stands up, tightens her weapon holster, reloads her weapon, and silently walks over to the door, „I got a bad feeling about this.“ She places one ear at the door, nothing. Carefully she opens it a gap, nothing. The door creaks a bit as she opens it even wider and looks into the hallway.

„No, not now!“ Although she could not see anything in front of her, the next moment she is crouching on the floor. At Takemura's outcry and the accompanying machine-gun sounds, her body had reacted automatically. He is still at the table, shielding Hanako. The next moment, however, she is blinded by a grenade and could no longer see anything and shortly after the ground beneath her feet collapses and she falls into the darkness.

V, wake up! Johnnys face appears over hers. Last chance to get the fuck outta here! V needs a while to orient herself. „No, Goro. Can’t leave him back there!“ Forget him, guy’s toast! Less’ you wanna wind up like him! The sensation of a fist hitting her in the stomach at full tilt, no, it couldn't be. Stumbling slightly, she frees herself from the concrete remains of the former floor. He can’t be dead. Again she pulls out her gun and makes her way into the hallway, her heart racing, eyes watering from the dust in the air and the possibility of her next loss.

V sneaks past some Arasaka soldiers to the closest stairwell. The fuck you doin’? You lost it?! He’s beyond any sort of help! I wanna see this for myself! She climbs up the stairs, taking her shotgun and shoots her way recklessly to the following floor and the room, not listing to the voice in her head telling her to turn around. Around another corner and she could hear others regardless of her own gunshots. Encouraged by this, she jumps over the collapsed ceiling back into the room where they were sitting earlier and eliminates two more soldiers.

She glances around the room. Nothing, her breath became heavy, she feels a lump in her throat, more tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. Behind her, she hears the reloading of a gun. She quickly turns around and points hers at the suspect. Takemura had emerged from his cover aiming at her. „V! You are alive?!“ His voice full of pain, breathless. „You should not have returned! You will die here with me!“ V lowers her gun, still looking at him. She doesn’t care that her eyes were burning from the dust and concrete and that they watered to protect themselves and out of relief to see him standing here. „Then so be it.“

He walks a few steps towards her, his eyebrows raised, an expression on his face she hadn’t seen before. „V…I…“ „There is no time, thank me later. We need to find a way out now - fast!“ „There are empty rooms to the right. It’s our only chance!“ They creep through the dark rooms, lit only by flare cartridges until they reach the exit which is blocked by several soldiers. The soldiers discover them first, an exchange of fire inevitable. Takemura steps in front of V, shielding her and starts shooting first.

Ultimately, only V and Takemura are left standing. Breathlessly she asks „You hurt?“ Takemura is crouching on the ground „I do not think so, you?“ She shakes her head. Though when they walk out of the door she collapses, her sight glitching, head nearly exploding. No, not again. Around them they could hear drones and helicopters. „V, we have to keep going!“ She is shaking, twitching, unable to get control over her body. The world is spinning. „I…I can’t.“ Two strong hands lift her up, carrying her way.

„The cab!“ she mumbles and was grateful to have chosen it today. It would blend perfectly into the traffic. „Bring us out of the city!“ Takemura demanded as he lays V down softly onto the backseat, leaning over her once again. Her vision stabiles again. „Now approaching ‚Badlands‘, please provide a more informative location as soon as possible.“ The cab starts to drive forward slowly. She looks up at Takemura „Feels like a déjà vu. Can you help me up?“ Takemura nods and helps her to sit up straight, he places himself next to her.

As they start to maneuver through the traffic, V connects her personal link to the cab „I have an idea where we should be safer than…“ interrupted by gunshots she was just able to enter the coordinates. Takemura had already leaned out the window and started shooting down the drones. V mimics him shortly after.

Together, they manage to lose the drones just as they entered the Badlands. Panting, V gets rid of her jacket, checking first her arms, chest and then legs for wounds. Unbelievably, she is unharmed. She looks over at Takemura „You injured?“ He shakes his head without checking. „You?“ „No.“ As she was done reloading her weapons in her holster he is still staring at her. „Thank you V. You saved my life.“ She snorts „Guess we are even.“ But there wasn’t a sign of a grin on his face.

„The last twenty-four hours…I thought you died, twice.“ His voice hoarse „I understood at the parade what you had told me on the roof…when Oda attacked you. I still understand it now and I regret not understanding it earlier.“ He takes her hand tenderly. „V, I do not want to lose you either.“ Her heart skips a beat. Takemura pulls her towards him. She slips onto his lap and supports herself on his shoulders, looking him in the eyes. They were full of worry, yet full of relief. Both of his hands wander to her jaw, pulling her in for a kiss. Kissing her even hungrier, needier than back in the elevator, tongues more wildly caressing. She moves both hands to the cool metal of his neck while he lets his one slide into her hair, pulling her even closer into the kiss.

When V takes a small break she hears a husky moan slip away from him, she returns the kiss more demanding before pulling away. „So, this okay now?“ She whispers hoarsely. He answers in his mother tongue, her cybernetics providing translations. „はい、今まで以上にあなたが欲しいです Yes. I want you. Now.“ His eyes pitch black, just the small white ring around them indicating where his pupils are moving. His mouth slightly opened, they scan her face, her eyes, cheekbones, lingering on her lips. She grins daring, as her hands stroke over his shoulders to his neck and the collar of his shirt, hastily unbuttoning it. Takemura leans his head back, skims over her back to her hips and makes her slide down further into his crotch. She had to inhale sharply, could already feel his erection. She continues to unbutton his shirt now even faster, removing it and revealing a t-shirt underneath.

Just as she was about to rip the shirt off, Delamain interrupts them both. „We have arrived at the desired location.“ V opens the door to get out, almost falling to the ground while climbing off Takemuras lap. Panam was already running at her. „V, what the fuck are you doing here?!“ „Sorry, we need supplies, maybe firepower. We are on the way to the small house where we hid with Saul. Hopefully, Arasaka won’t find us there and we can lie low for a bit.“ „Arasaka? V what you have done now?“ V raises her eyebrows in confusion „Wait, what are you talking about then?“ „I am talking about this.“ And Panam points to Vs back. And when she turns around she understood what Panam meant. A mile-high wave of red sand was crawling straight their way, swallowing cacti and cars. Even bigger than the one a few days ago. „Oh fuck me, do you have any supplies you can spare at hand? We need to go, I will explain everything later!“

Wordlessly, V throws the bag of supplies onto the backseat, before quickly slamming the door, hopping on the driver's seat, and hitting the gas. On the soft ground, the tires spin, but soon they had picked up speed again. Takemura leans forward, through the seat. His hand clenched to his side. „V, I have never seen such an impressive sandstorm before. We need to find a shelter. “ „I know, we will be there soon. Can you open up the seat in the middle, grabbing the bag from the trunk?“ „What is in it?“ „A blanket, whisky and bandages, toothbrush, fresh underwear, a spare shirt, some water, additional ammo…Stuff I need when I am on the road for a while. Always take it with me, just in case.“

Suddenly V loses grip of the wheel for a second and the car drifts off a bit as the wall of sand hits them „Fuck.“. They couldn’t see anything now, neither inside nor outside. „Night-mode activated.“ Delamain announces as the side and ceiling LEDs start lighting up. „Shit, I will have to follow the small map and hope we don’t hit the cabin or maybe better if we do.“ V presses a button and a larger screen with a local map appears. She wields it to the back. „Goro, can you check for anything that looks like a building on here?“ „To our left is a small square, that it?“ „Maybe, I hope so. Don’t know how long Delamain’s gonna last in this storm.“ „Approximately 10 more minutes before a critical condition of the filters will be reached.“ „Thanks, Del.“

„A little more to the right than we should be there.“ Takemura alludes, „Good.“ V interrupts him quickly. They wouldn’t have much time. „‘Soon as we are there, you take the bags and go inside immediately, shut the door fast. I will check on the generator and make sure it’s running.“ „No V, let me do this.“ He answers, insisting. „No, Goro. I appreciate your well-meant suggestion, but only I know where the switch is…After I am done we have to barricade the door somehow, so neither Arasaka nor this storm can enter.“ „Understood, be careful V and hurry please.“

At least this plan is going smoothly. She leans against the door while Takemura pushes the nearby dresser against it. They also find a roll of duct tape which they used to tape up a few of the cracks. It would be a miracle if Arasaka would find them here in the next hours while the storm rages.

The heater was already running, immersing the entire room in orange-red light. "Not much, but better than nothing." V wipes her face with her arm, sits down on the dresser and takes a sip of water. In the meantime, Takemura insisted to search the few rooms again to make sure that everything is safe. „And? Everything still safe this time?“ Slightly angry she hears him in the bedroom answering „Do not mock me V, one can never be certain enough.“

Eventually, Takemura walks out of the bedroom, advancing with great strides towards her. He reaches her, slides his right hand over her cheek into her hair and pulls her into a fierce kiss. V moans at the suddenness, dropping her water bottle. His hands wander to her lower back, drawing her body closer. She could feel heat building up where they both meet. She reaches down to the end of his t-shirt and slides it over his head, tossing it aside. They hardly notice the fierce wind that strikes the hut.

Finally, she was able to slide her hands over his abs to his shoulders, could feel she makes his flesh crawl. V takes her time taking the view all in. He follows every movement she makes, pupils widened. Carefully she strokes over his augmentations and all the way back to his belt, sliding two fingers under it. As he leans in to kiss her again she grabs his jaw forcefully, stopping his motion. Then, guiding him backwards to the couch until his back of the knee hits it and makes him drop onto it.

Takemura grabs her again with more strength this time, pulling her in his lap, kissing her. She slides her hands over his back, but feels something wet on her hands. She pushes him away and looks at them - dark red blood. „Fuck Goro, this yours?“ he looks at her in confusion. She slips next to him and checks his back. There was a bullet hole near his shoulder blade. No exit wound. Shit. „I do not feel anything V, what is it?“ „You won’t like this. I...“ he reaches for his back and she guides his hand to the injury. „Ah I see. You need to get the bullet out for me. I should not be deep, the endoskeleton on my shoulder blades should have prevented a deeper intrusion.“

V quickly grabs the whisky, bandages and looks for something to grab the bullet. After searching the kitchen drawers she finds a tong. After disinfecting it and Takemura had emptied half the whisky bottle she sits behind him. „Ready?“ She had never done something like this before „Yes. We should get this done quickly. The adrenaline will soon start to vanish.“ Okay she can do this. The best way to start would be, uhm, maybe… „V?“ Takemura turns around. „One second.“ She grabs the whisky and slugs down a good amount before handing it back to him. „I have never done this before. How should I start?“

Takemura guides her through the whole process. Meanwhile, the wind was still howling against the door. Lastly the bullet was out of his body, the wound disinfected, well bandaged, the whisky empty. „We should wash the blood off.“ V was still a little paralyzed by the fact that she had just performed surgery on him. „Yea sure. Just gimme a sec.“ He was already under the shower when she managed to get up and search her bag. She grabs a towel, an oversized clean shirt, since hers was drenched in blood, too, and underwear. Now she was standing awkwardly in front of the bathroom, waiting for Takemura to finish showering. She hears him stepping out of the shower „I uh, I have a clean towel.“ She holds it up in front of the doorframe.

She didn't know exactly why she wasn't just going in - after all, she had been sitting on his lap minutes earlier and had quite different things planned to do with him. But she had lost all her courage in the surgery it seems. He accepted it gratefully and when V also steps out of the bathroom freshly showered, Takemura is already sitting on a mattress he had moved over, half-covered with a blanket in front of the stove. On the ground two beer bottles, a few bags of chips and protein bars. V sits down next to him, slips under the covers too, grabbing two bottles and hands one to him.

„Fuck Goro, these last weeks. I…Every week I think ‘nothing can top this day, for sure’ and somehow it gets topped. Every. Fucking. Day.“ They both look at each other and start laughing out loud. All the tension and adrenaline of the last few hours finally and slowly falls off of them. At last, V wipes her eyes from the tears of laughter before Takemura is the first to start talking again. „You should come to Japan. It is a lot quieter. I think it would do you good. A little rest and vacation is exactly what you deserve right now.“

She shoves away the thought about the biochip „That would actually be pretty nice.“ And simply smiles at him, but wasn’t able to make it look convincing. They finish the beers in silence. The wind had become even stronger in the last hour. They could almost hear how every single grain of sand scraped into the wood. A miracle that the hut held at all. When she leaned sideways she noticed how her vision lagged a little behind. „So how’s your back?“ „It hardly hurts. Even if I have to admit that this is probably largely due to the alcohol.“ „Let me check.“

Takemura slightly turns and V gently strokes over his back. „Looks good. Still clean, the bleeding must have stopped.“ She continues to travel with her fingers upward to his neck and cheek. He turns to her. They were so close again that she could see every detail of his eyes, in which she could lose herself so incredibly easily. Once again they end up kissing, but this time slower, calmer, taking their time. One of his hands resting on her back, the other on her thigh. She could taste the beer on his lips.

V lets her hands wander down his abs down to his crotch. He moans, lips parted, not once looking away from her, his eyelids heavy as V gets up. Standing in front of him she crosses her arms over her head, removing her shirt. Then stepping out of her panties. Standing In front of him, completely naked and he takes it all in.

Takemura reaches forward, pushing the blanket away, pulling her onto his lap. She could feel him growing harder. Like V before, he slides his fingers over her stomach, over her breasts and collarbone to her jaw. She takes his hand, placing his thumb between her teeth, closing her lips around it, driving deeper into his lap. „ファック…“ he hisses before pulling her in again, laying kisses onto her shoulder and neck. She could feel his beard scratching, sending tingles over her soft skin, before finding her mouth again. With each kiss, her chest tingles more intensely, her breathing faster, heart racing.

They pause, their lips barely touching, breathing in each other's air. Takemura tries to move her gently onto the mattress, but groans in pain. „Goro, we can stop.“ „No. I don’t know what will happen after tomorrow. If we both make it out of this.“ He brushes a few strands out of her face, cupping her cheek „I wish we would have more time.“ „Me too.“ She wraps both arms around him and kisses him deeply.

She lifts herself up so he was able to remove his pants. He places kisses on her chest and neck again. V searches Takemuras gaze and finds it, before letting herself slide onto his length, starting to move her hips slowly. They both groan at the sensation. At that moment, for the first time in weeks, V thought of nothing at all. She was completely immersed in this moment, she didn't care about her future any longer. Only him and her, that’s what matters. She takes a small break, keeping her hips completely still, leaning down to kiss him, before continuing with her movements, faster than before.

She uses to couch to support herself, thrusting down harder with every movement. She could feel his hand around her throat, pressing it softly as his breath quickens too. Every now and then their gazes meet before his eyes turn to her body that moves rhythmically up and down. V finds a steady rhythm, moving her hips quicker, digging her fingers into his shoulders. He grabs her hips, pulling her down harder. Moans are now escaping them with increasing frequency, high pitched mixed with low groans blend with the harsh wind of the storm.

Takemura slips his hand between her legs assisting her to reach climax. „Fuck“ she cries out, as she notices a tingling sensation moving from the place where he touches her upward through her entire body. He puts his knees up so she can lean back while he continues to massage her. „Goro, I…Fuck.“ she lets her head fall into her back as her vision fades to black, the tingling sensation dissolving into pleasure. After a few seconds, her breathing calmed down and her vision was clear again.

V pulls him close, kissing him hard. Takemura groans as he grabs her hair tightly and she starts to move her hips again. His groans become louder with each thrust. His eyelids heavy, glancing at her one last time before his eyes close and he inhales sharply. „ファック、V.“ He buries his face in her chest, inside her she feels a pulsing sensation, before he leans back slowly, his eyes still closed.

Freshly showered they are lying next to each other, snacking on some chips. The storm still raging outside. „How is your back?“ V asks. „The pain is back now. But I feel a lot better. Even the food doesn’t taste as bad as normal.“ He smiles at her. A few minutes pass, they finish up eating. She slips next to him under his covers, resting her head on his chest. He gently strokes her back. „I wish this storm would never end.“ She admits quietly, Takemura deeply sighs „A part of me wishes this too.“

[shebeafancyflapjack]

Separation Anxiety

(A short emotional hurt/comfort fic between Robin and my oc Elysabeth, with mentions of my other oc Markus. Big whumpee x smol caretaker)

Alone.

It doesn't surprise him, really. How many times has this happened now? Even with his brain being the melting pot of distorted memories that it currently is, he knows this is far from the first time. If anything, he's beginning to lose count, certain faces jumbling together. Not new.

But still hurts. Always hurts.

Darkness engulfs the hut he wakes in, with only a splintering of Moonah light entering through the tiny windows. He woke on the bed ("What the fuck are you doing on there?! Off! Now!"), then shuffled off, paws feeling around. For her. He tried to call her name but words are still a work in progress right now. Maybe forever. Old Master took his voice away. New Mistress says he can have it back but it's not that easy.

She said that he could speak her name, and so that's what he says. Her name is long and difficult to utter and she should beat him for how his neglected tongue butchers it. But she doesn't, she just coaxes him to try again. He'll do anything she says. Everything requires permission. Master taught him that well.

"Good boy. You thought you could survive without me, didn't you? Thought you could be a free beast? Look how well that worked out for you."

He covers his ears. It's been a while since his old Master's voice has been this loud. When he was with the Pack, he could forget. Forget Master. Forget he was ever a person. Losing Pack and having to come back to this hut, this former prison of his, brought all those memories back. Except he had New Mistress. So long as she was close, so long as she could stroke his mane and sing her songs, the voice would drift away. Dogs can only be loyal to one owner at a time.

And now she was gone. The ghost-ghost of Master is free to return at full volume.

"You didn't deserve her. Pretty, sweet little wench. She was too soft on you. Filthy savage like you deserves a firm hand. One to hold a whip. Isn't that right, bestia?"

Whimpering, he began to tremble, fingers tugging at clumps of his hair.

Please. Not again. Not again. He's been good, he's been good.

It was on this spot, on the floor beside bed, that Master would grind his heel into the creature's back and give him lash after lash. If he dared to bite into his hand to bear the pain then he'd double the punishment.

And what was the crime? Who could say? Being too smelly. Making eye contact. Just....existing. Being too smart. Not smart enough.

And sometimes, more often than not, Master was simply bored out of his mind.

Mistress doesn't beat him, except that one time with her shoe when he bit her. Bad. That was bad of him. Mistress is kind and gentle. Mistress says she wants to help him. Mistress...makes him feel less like an animal.

He looks around the silent hut, his chest tightening like a vice, crushing his lungs as reality sunk in.

Mistress is gone.

"Tell me, savage. If you claim to be so wise, why are you always left alone?"

Wise? When was he ever wise? He's just a dumb animal. Maybe, once upon a time, he might have been called clever, but-

Growling, he thumped his fist against his temple.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Master is right. Everyone leaves. He was a fool to let himself get close to the child, believing she would be some chance of salvation. He turned his back on humanity when he joined the Pack. That should have been it. But he'd seen her...small, broken, lost and alone...and of course he just had to get involved. Could never stand by and watch a child cry.

"Pathetic. Weak. Useless. Where are all those brats now? Even they didn't want you. None of them stayed. You have nothing."

No.

"You. Are. Nothing."

Sinking his teeth into his wrist, he released a scream. Need pain. Need something. Anything to block him out.

Not his. Not anymore. Never again.

Yet those calloused fingers still grab a chunk of his hair. Those lips press against his ear, even making the flea scurry in fear.

"Always mine, bestia. My pet. My toy."

He screams again. Nothing to muffle it this time. What leaves his mouth is something between an animalistic bleat and a man's cry.

Come back, Mistress. Don't leave him please. Come back. Come back. Come back-

-

She'd never thought there would be many perks to an afterlife where she didn't instantly ascend into Heaven. Granted, this was far from the paradise she'd been sold by the priest every Sunday, but it had its upsides.

The deer blinks as she strokes her fingers down its soft neck. So fragile. She remembers once accompanying Father to hunt one, holding his supplies as they crouched behind a tree and she watched, silent and starving, as he loosed an arrow into a doe's neck. She'd barely winced as it fell to the ground and convulsed, gurgling up bucketfulls of blood, before Father slit its throat. It had fed them for three days and its pelt had sold well at the market.

"'Wonder 'ow much the hunter who took you down made for your skin, sweetheart." She clicks her tongue, "Sorry. That be in poor taste. I 'ope he chokes on whatever piece he feasted off o' thee."

The deer doesn't seem to understand her, which might be a blessing.

This was the first creature she'd talked to other than her companion since the day she died. Or at least the first that could hear her.

People had come to look for her. Father had come, bow in hand, shouting her name. He hadn't heard her as she'd shouted back, jumping and hollering in front of his eyes, hadn't felt a thing as she'd reached for him only to fall through his torso, her stomach lurching in hideous discomfort.

He'd moved on, taking the others from their village. None had been keen to linger near the "devil's stones". She hadn't witnessed him find whatever remained of her body, the wolves having carried it far off, clearly. But she heard him discover it. The birds had fled the treetops at the sound of his scream.

It was the only time she'd been certain of how much he cared for her and she couldn't even cross the magical barrier to witness it.

She was trapped in this place, this patch of cursed land. Alone, except for...

Elysabeth took a deep breath, craning her neck to gaze up at the stars through the treetops. This was something she'd never been able to do in the living world; wander the woods at night, alone, without a smidgen of fear. What was there to fear now that Death had already claimed her? No thieves or bandits. No beasts or demons-

Well. She had met beasts in this strange world. Dead, like her, but still dangerous. They were gone now. She'd stayed away from the woods out of fear there were others who remained. But she was sick of fear. Sick of being trapped inside a house that wasn't even hers, whose walls she could easily walk through like smoke.

She'd awoken in the witching hour, hearing the owls call to each other nearby. No matter how hard she tried to will sleep to return, it remained at bay, a surge of energy renewed in her soul. What said she had to wait for dawn to rise? Whose rules did she have to follow now?

There were no adults to control her anymore, barring the one whose mind was more like a child's right now than her own. She was in charge. There were no rules to follow except her own.

Her companion, donned in his heavy furs and curled up beside her on the straw mattress, had been fast asleep. Usually, the poor thing twitched and muttered all the way through his slumbers. For once, he truly seemed at peace. Perhaps they were making progress. Surely he would be fine alone for a few hours.

It was painful to admit that she'd begun to feel rather claustrophobic around the strange man. It want his fault. He'd clearly been a victim of something she couldn't begin to comprehend, something that went beyond being dead and trapped in limbo for centuries. But since the day they'd met, the day she'd watched his wolf kin ascend without him, he stuck close to her side. Like a baby duck imprinting on the first thing it sees, mother or not. If Elysabeth wanted to walk, he'd follow. If she wanted to rest, he laid down. It was as if he had no will of his own. No soul? Like an animal? That's what she'd always been taught.

But the priests had been wrong. She could see that now, clear as day. The gentle doe before her clearly had a soul, as did those ghastly wolves, and so does her savage friend. He just...seems to need some help remembering that.

She's happy to be his teacher. It's hardly as if she has much else to occupy her time.

But, dear Saints, is it wrongful of her to wish for a break from time to time? For some space?

For the first time, she wonders if this was why her mother used to get so vexed with her and her brother as little'ens.

When she hears the scream, her heart lurches.

"Rohr?" She calls, turning her head in the direction of their hut, back across the field. "Rohr?!"

If something has hurt him....Curses, what was she thinking, just leaving him without an explanation? What must he be thinking, the simple thing?

"Rohr, I's here! Rohr!"

It had taken her half an hour to limp her way across to the woods on her rotten leg. She tries to push herself, needing to go faster than the casual pace she went to get here.

It's too much strain. After five strides, her bone becomes loose. She swears as she collapses into the leaves.

"Bloody demons!" Elysabeth grits her teeth as she tries to slot the blood soaked bone back into place, the habit now so common it's far from disturbing.

Choosing a more humiliating track, she inhales deeply.

Then she screams, loud as she can test her voice.

"ROHR!"

Even the living critters scatter at the sound. Would people have heard her at that rate?

It takes less than a minute until the silhouette of a man moving on all fours bounds through the treeline, heading straight for her.

Elysabeth sighs in relief. He's unharmed. She wasn't sure there was anything that could physically attack him....but she could never be sure.

Droplets of moisture on his cheeks glimmer in the moonlight as he comes closer to her, eyes wide with panic and a hint of confusion. She feels a sting of guilt for having deceived him, intentionally making her scream sound like one of real danger. But it got him here.

Rohr whimpers as he reaches for her, paws padding her over, as if checking she's all there. Really there, not just a figment.

"Hey, hey." She smiles, her hands finding his. "T'is all right. I heard thee howlin' on the wind. Just got worried about yous."

He didn't seem to be listening, his heavy brow creased up as he gently poked her.

"Rohr, I be well. Honest." She tried to assure; "Sorry if I made ye fret. T'were not my intent." She touched the tears lining his worn and hairy face; "Did thou think I'd left? Hmm? Gone up to the stars without thee?"

With a quiet mewl, Rohr nodded, more tears falling.

"Silly old fool. As if I'd ever leave thee alone, ey?" She tried to sooth, thumb stroking over his cheeks; "Made a vow to look after each other, di'n't we?"

The feral man nodded, looking almost ashamed for having doubted her.

He wrapped both hands around her wrist and pressed his forehead against her upper arm.

"No, no, no, no."

The only word he seemed to be able to say with any confidence. She stroked the top of his raggedy mane.

"No what, sweet thing? Tell me. With words now. Ye can do that for me."

She felt him cringe. Whether from having forgotten or being too afraid to try, he always hesitated to speak more than that one syllable.

"No....Lyth-beh...." He whispered, rough voice guttural and broken; "No Lyth-beh....go. No...go."

"Thou doth not wish for me to go? Be that thy meaning?"

He nods, sniffling; "No Lyth-beh go."

Another tug on her hand. Back towards the hut.

She sighed, stroking him again; "We'll go home soon. I just desired a bit of fresh air and time to meself. Just a short while. That okay?"

Almost immediately, he let go of her arm and backed off.

"Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry."

That was a new word. Almost as clear as his "no". Had they practiced that word?

"Thou not be at fault. I dids not mean to imply-." She tried to reach for him again.

Rohr flinched back, shaking his head roughly.

"Stultus bestia! Stultus bestia!"

"Wha'sat? What ye sayin'?" It sounded like the language the priest used when giving communion.

Rohr didn't answer. Instead he began thumping himself in the temple, speaking the words in the foreign tongue, clearer than any he could in English.

"Turpis, stultus bestia! Sileo! Sileo, bestia!"

"Enough!" Elysabeth threw herself forward to grab at his arms before could batter himself anymore; "Stop that now!"

He did so, not down to her feeble strength being able to match his, but out of obedience. He hung his head, locks of brown hair falling over his eyes.

"I dunno what words ye utter, but be they holy or not, I don'ts like them. You is not to speak them again, ye hear?" She says, mimicking her mother's authoritative voice.

Rohr shuddered, then nodded.

"Sor'y..."

Her chest ached. She shuffled closer and rubbed at his arm.

"I's not cross with thee. Just don't want ye to hurt thyself. Understand?" She tried to explain.

Rohr frowned. He took her hand and raised it to the side of his face, puppeting it to smack him. She tutted.

"No. I don't wish to beat thee either. Didn't do no good teachin' me to behave, I shan't waste the effort tryin' with thee." It was meant as a jape but it doesn't raise as much as a smiles from him.

He just stares at the mud, lost and confused. Is it so baffling for him to imagine a companion who doesn't wish to beat him like a disobedient dog?

"Did thou evens try to smell me? Track me down? Before assumin' I be flying up to them golden lights, hmm?" She asked, lightly.

He ducked his head at that. His nose could outmatch any bloodhounds. Just one venture outside and he'd have found her trail.

Elysabeth laughed, not unkindly.

"Silly old fool." She called him again, then moved forward to kiss the side of his head that must be aching from those blows. "Next time if thou wakes alone, just take a breath, then sniff, before thou starts to grieve for me. That sound fair?"

He nodded. Were it daylight, she's certain she would see a blush on those cheeks. She finished slotting her bone back into the sockets of her knee.

"Come. Look what I did." She says, taking his hand.

He follows, clutching at her, still leaning on his knuckles to start before she paused. At the clearing of her throat, he pushed himself to stand....sort of. Almost.

"Good man." She praised, seeing his crooked mouth twitch at the affirmation.

They had to walk a bit further inward until she found the deer again, the doe having left at the rising noise earlier.

It rested on its front by the stream, trying in vain to lap up some of the water.

"Hey, beautiful. Remember me? I brought a friend." She carefully approached. "Rohr, come see." She beckoned her friend.

The feral man shook his head and hunkered back.

"What's wrong? She won't hurt thee." Elysabeth tried to reassure.

Rohr opened his mouth, jaw stretching as he tried to form words.

"...No...Me h-hur'." He croaked.

"You woulds not do that. She's no good to us as food or clothin' now. She just be a wandering spirit, same as us."

Rohr tried to mime what his words couldn't explain. He held an invisible clump in his paws and pretended to bite ferociously into it. Not like a man would eat. Like a wolf.

"That not be you 'nymore, sweet thing. C'mon." She reached to tug at his hand.

He went willingly, walking slowly towards the deer. If there was any past grudges from when Rohr hunted with his old pack, she didn't seem to show it, staying still and calm, ears relaxed.

Elysabeth brought his hand up to her neck, guiding him to stroke her.

"Ain't that the softest thing? Beautiful creature, ain't she."

Rohr slowly glided his palm across the short fur.

"....Boo...Boo'ti...for...." He tried to repeat.

"That's it. Well done. See, not gonna get to do things like this hidin' away in that old hut, are we?" She smiled. "Though I still much prefer the bed over kippin' on grass."

Rohr grunted and nodded, clearly inclined to agree on that front.

The doe turned her head towards him and nuzzled at his hand.

The short burst of sound that left Rohr sounded close to a bark of laughter. Nearly.

"See? She can tell you be one of the good'uns." Elysabeth grins, nudging his side.

Rohr reached his hand up to stroke at his own shift.

"Lyth'beh....good. Good...M-Mast..."

"Oi. None of that." She scolded, carefully, "I ain't thy master. Okay?"

He nods, shuffling his feet; "S-sorry."

"No, just...don't apologise. Just want it clear." She tilted his head to look at her, his bent posture making it easy to reach him; "Elysabeth is Rohr's friend. Say it now."

He looked more than a little daunted. But he complied, as always.

"Lyth'bee....Rohr...f-friend?"

"Much better." She smiled, her hand on his cheek; "Come on. Your 'Moonah' be lookin' lovely this night, don't she? Let's stay with her, yes?"

He nodded, brightening up at the suggestion.

Moonah. Moonah was friend too. Once. For long time. Always there. Moonah. How could he have forgotten her?

He crouches down, only so the limping teenager can climb onto his back, securing her legs around his middle and her arms across his shoulders. He has to walk...like a man. Do it for her.

Now Elysabeth friend. Elysabeth stay. Elysabeth help.

The voice doesn't return again that night.

[unmeisenshi]

"There's something wrong with them..."

Morello sat along with Florence as the two watched Solaris roam about the town. The Umbreon looked over. "How do you figure?"

Morello sighed. "Solaris just doesn't... Feel the same. When we were on missions way back when, even after Zane had passed, they had a smile... A pep in their step. But now... I just don't see it anymore. Solaris is much more cold... More serious."

"Hmmm... You do have a point..." Florence looked down in thought for a moment. She then popped back up and snapped her fingers. "I have an idea... What if Sol is still in fight or flight?"

Morello blinked a few times, staring at her. "Uh... W-What?"

"What I mean is... What if Solaris still is under the belief that the universe will end if they lose? What if they believe the stakes are still dire? If we can show Sol that things are going to be okay regardless of what happens... I think we can break them out of this funk."

Morello looked down. "I think you're on to something... What did you have in mind...?"

-

Later that evening, Solaris flew around Flora, making sure everyone was safe and sound. Off in the distance, the Charizard saw a bright light. Thinking the worst of it, they flew towards the source of the light.

The Charizard landed in a field with large rolling grass hills. A strong breeze blew through, and the full moon illuminated everything around them. Solaris looked all around for the source of the light, unable to locate its source.

"Hey... Over here, big guy..."

A voice from behind them spoke, and Solaris turned around, only to see,

"... Zane...?"

"In the flesh." The Marowak said, giving Solaris a wave, and clearly hiding something behind them in the dark.

"Wh-What are you doing here...? Is everything okay...?"

"Things are fine back home." Zane said, holding a hand up. "It's you I'm worried about."

"M-Me...? What do you-"

"I was told that you seem to have lost joy in doing rescue work... That you are colder and more distant. That you feel like, should you lose a fight, the world will end... Am I wrong...?"

Solaris turned their head away from Zane. "Who told you that...?"

"Florence and Morello. Seems like they nailed it on the head." The Marowak paused briefly. "They're worried about you, Sol. I'm worried about you. Worried that your senses are still dialed up to 11, and that you've lost the part of yourself that enjoyed rescue work. And I want to help fix that."

Solaris held onto one arm nervously. "What did you have in mind...?"

Zane chuckled. "A friendly spar. You game?"

Solaris seemed to pause, rocking steadily back and forth on their feet. "B-But... What about-"

"Don't worry about the world. You've made things beautiful here. And the worst of your dangers here are petty criminals... Not almighty beings hellbent on the destruction of everything." Zane drew their blade, holding it out. "Win or lose, things are going to be alright."

"I... I don't know. The people need a strong leader. A strong protector. Wouldn't this only hurt my image...?"

Zane nodded. "I know that feeling well. But what I learned... From rebuilding my own world? The people would rather see someone who cares... And who shows genuine concern. Being stone faced all the time might give the wrong idea."

Solaris looked down. "Hmm... Okay... I don't know if it'll work, but... I'll entertain your idea."

Zane smiled, and lightly swung their sword back and forth. "Good. But before we start, there's something over there. I want you to take it. Had it made for you."

Solaris raised an eyebrow, and went into the dark. There waiting for them was a dull blade. One that was large, and meant to be held upside down. The blade had a gradient paint scheme, going from red to blue. Solaris hefted the blade with ease, and stared at it with wonder. "The Junkyard Dog..."

"It's better than that. It has parts of the Thunderseal, the Fireseal, and a weapon known as Zessen. Now that you have access to all Pokemon types, it should serve you well." Zane said, then holding their own blade above their head. "Now... Come at me with everything you have!"

Solaris appeared to hesitate, then charged at Zane. The Charizard wound their blade back, and swung it hard. The attack was blocked by Zane, who quickly pushed the Charizard off.

They would then go on the offensive, firing a Stun Edge directly at Solaris. They would respond in kind, their blade dragging across the ground. A wave of fire slowly traveled along the ground, making contact with the Stun Edge. "Gunflame!"

The two attacks clashed, and seemed to cancel each other out. Solaris then ran towards Zane again, but this time decided to try something new. They would begin to spin slightly, and a small wave of wind formed in front of them. Solaris then used their shoulder and checked Zane. "Fūjin!"

The Marowak recoiled back slightly, and gave the Charizard a grin. "Good, good!" They shouted, then used their blade and hit Solaris with a lightning charged uppercut. "Vapor Thrust!"

Solaris was sent sailing backwards, flipping multiple times in the air. They landed on their feet, only to see Zane flying in, intending to swing down with their sword. Solaris blocked it, and pushed Zane back, then created a large fireball and punched it. "Tyrant... Rave!" The attack sent an even bigger wave of fire at Zane. But they simply swung their sword down, which cut the wave in half.

The two then charged at the same time, their swords clashing with each other. After the exchange, both Solaris and Zane stopped to breathe, then began to laugh with each other. The laughing continued for a few moments, before dying down.

"There's the Sol I remember!" Zane said. "You enjoying yourself?"

Solaris nodded. "I am... And I thank you for this. It's really helped to clear my mind... To appreciate fighting for something."

"Good..." Zane said, their eye turning red and blue wings forming behind them. "But I'm not going to go down so easily!"

"I'm not, either!" The Charizard gripped onto their blade. "I have a feeling... This is the last round!"

"I agree." Zane then positioned themselves, and smiled at Solaris. "I heard you used my technique... Show it to me..." Zane said, placing their blade in front of them as blue lightning crackled around them.

Solaris then positioned themselves in much the same way that Zane was, but when they began to charge electricity it was silver instead. In front of both, a shield-like energy formed, and the two charged at each other, shouting the same phrase.

"RIDE THE LIGHTNING!"

-

Several hours later, Solaris would be flying back home, sailing through the sky with the biggest smile on their face. They looked off to the east, seeing the sun beginning to rise. "Zane... Thank you. You've helped me heal... To appreciate this world... To appreciate this life I've made... There is no way to go but forward. I'll always remember you, forever... But it's time to stop living in the past, and look forward to the future."

[character-fan19]

MLB Season 5 Character Analysis: "Multiplication"

Introduction

I'm back with next season 5 character analysis. If you haven't seen my last post, you can find my last post here and if you want to see my season 4 character analyses, you can find that here. In this series, I basically analyze the journeys of all the relevant characters in every individual episode of season 5.

Today, we're gonna be doing "Multiplication". The episode where Marinette decides to give up on Adrien and Adrien begins to see Marinette in a more romantic light. So let's just get into it.

Character POVs

1. Marinette

"There'll be no more holders, no more Rena Rouge, no more Carapace because of me. Monarch is stronger than ever before"

So freshly after Monarch gained all the Miraculous, and Ladybug and Cat Noir returned back home, Marinette called Alya for emotional support. Even though she lost the Miraculous due to circumstances that were totally out of her control, she still blames herself for losing the Miraculous as she believes it was her love for Adrien that caused her to lose all the Miraculous because she believes that she should be able to tell for herself that the person she gave the Dog Miraculous to wasn't really Adrien if she really does love him.

Because of Marinette's belief that she should know everything about a person, to the point that she can call out the best of actors, she decides that she should push away her feelings for Adrien in favour of focusing on being Ladybug. Little does she know that feelings don't just simply disappear.

2. Adrien

"I've been meaning to tell you. Ever since I started school, so many new things have happened to me. There's still a lot that I full don't get but there's one thing I know: my life would be very different without you in it. You've always been there for me. You're in every rough patch, giving me good advice. You're special. Thank you, Marinette"

While Marinette was dealing with pushing her feelings away from Adrien, Adrien was dealing with finding new feelings for Marinette. Regretting having let Felix manipulate him, he took Marinette's advice and stood up to his father, telling him that he doesn't want to be a model anymore and he surprisingly freed him of his modelling career. This was the final moment that allowed Adrien's feelings for Marinette to come out into the open from the metaphorical jungle Luka mentions later, although he doesn't realize it yet.

In order to express his gratitude for everything Marinette has done for him, he calls her to let her know how special she is to her. No longer is she "just a friend", she's "special".

Conclusion

Well, that's it for "Multiplication". Not a lot of analysis to do besides Marinette and Adrien switching up their feelings. Let me know if I missed anything and feel free to give your thoughts on my analysis. Until next time!

[tcfkag]

2024 and the Return of the To-Done List

So, after a year during which (a) our daughter ran full-speed (literally) into the trying two's, (b) I had multi-focal pneumonia that resulted in a week or two in the hospital (including a brief sojourn in the ICU), (c) I had bizarre, seemingly inexplicable seizures for the first time ever [which meant I couldn't drive for six months...right after we moved to a semi-"rural" town...for the northeast that is], (d) had an acute kidney injury, (e) had several bouts of unexplained pitting edema in my legs, (f) started a new job that I actually really like, even if there is a steep learning curve, and (g) lost my Mom after a long battle with mild to moderate dementia/Alzheimer's that then dropped off a cliff into end-stage dementia in less than six months (depending on how you count it), and (h) just generally felt like I was never managing my physical or mental health as well as I could or should be, I'm going to try to make some changes. These aren't resolutions because I truly think that New Year's resolutions just set you up to fail. Instead, I'd call them goals. Or, at least, hope that I want to support with action as much as I can. While still giving myself grace knowing that I can and probably will mess up along the way. But, the first step is that I'm going to try to bring back a kind of journaling-like activity (since I suck at journaling) that my old therapist recommended when I was feeling like this before. Each day I make a list, generally on Tumblr for at least a tiny modicum of peer pressure, and I just make a list of everything I've done that day. No matter how big or how small. As she put it "make it your base assumption that each day, you will do absolutely nothing, so you get credit for everything, even things as simple as showering. I frequently restart these lists when my depression and anxiety have gotten bad enough that I know I'm not taking care of myself, mentally and physically, so a big part of my goals are (a) to move more [in whatever form that takes], (b) eating healthier, and (c) to take care of several medical/dental appointments that I've been putting off for way too long. The beauty of the list is that, a lot of the time, I ended up doing stuff BECAUSE of the list. So that I won't be staring at an empty page as I try to make my list each year.

Things I'm proud of today...so far:

when we took Peanut to the trampoline park to burn off some of her "no daycare today suckers" energy and this time, I bought a jump pass for myself. I only made it ~30 minutes but it was a great work-out. 10/10 would recommend.

I took the dogs for the "long" trail walk out to the back of our property,

I did a core and flexibility routine this morning,

I decided to take one for the team and point out to my Uncle that the nostalgia he feels about Aunt Jemimah as a syrup mascot isn't as important as the company making money off the likeness of a woman who died 100 years ago who was used as a stand in for the generic idea of what an enslaved (or recently freed) Black woman did or should do, and (finally)

this one is a few days late, but not only did we drive 12+ hours to visit my in-laws for Christmas, but we also stopped in NJ in both directions to pick up Monotasker's Aunt who is 80-years-old, hard of hearing, and in the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer's and I didn't even lose my shit at a single person...even the ones who deserved it.

Happy New Years everyone!

"May the best of your todays be the worst of your tomorrows." (Jason Mraz) And even if the worst of your todays are the best of your tomorrows, I hope you can still find your way out and through by the light of the moon to guide you.

[krikeymate]

if i ever lost you i would lose myself - chapter 7/10

Chapter 7.

She feels like she’s losing Tara.

Ever since they came to New York, things have been different.

It was a creeping kind of change, the type to sneak a few more steps in – away – every time her back is turned. It’s the kind of change that makes Sam feel like she’s looking in a mirror when she watches her sister. And oh how she watches. Watches as she steps into Sam’s old beat-up shoes, watches as she walks away from her, watches as her sister burns away parts of herself in a vain hope she can erase the past.

Sam doesn’t know how to protect Tara from herself.

She can protect her from Sam – from the violence in her veins, the raging storm inside her quelled only by keeping her sister crushed against her chest and in her arms – by running and staying far, far away. She can protect her from assholes who want to hurt her just because Sam loves her by keeping her so, so close. She can protect her from the dark, and dogs, and her mother, and the monsters under the bed… but she can’t protect her from the ones in her head.

She can’t protect her from the memories of the past, or the sleepless nights, or the days she can’t even get out of bed, body wracked with a pain that may never go away.

All she can do is stand by her side and hold her hand and be there to wipe the tears away. To hold her close and remind her how strong she is and how loved she is and how she’s going to be ok.

And only if Tara lets her.

She doesn’t let her anymore.

~

It’s a long night, sitting in that interrogation room.

Tara’s resting her head on her arms with her eyes closed. She’s not asleep, though Sam wishes she was. Her sister doesn’t sleep well anymore. Every now and then a foot will knock against hers, a test, making sure she’s still there, and Sam will reciprocate, a hand brushing against the back of her sister’s head, a featherlight touch to her shoulder, a loud shifting. Anything to remind Tara that she’s not alone.

She’s got a lot of time to think, to stare at the wall and pointedly ignore the crime scene photos spread out across the table. If she had her way, Tara wouldn’t have seen them at all. Then again, if she had her way, Tara would still be safe and sound in their apartment, behind a door with half a dozen locks and her friends. She would never have been crouching behind a corner shop shelf with the threat of a shotgun just out of sight. (She would never have been drunk and vulnerable in a room full of boys who would love nothing more than to take a piece of her). Sam wishes she could keep her safe and locked away from all the evils of the world.

But her sister has always been stubborn. Sam should hate that part of her for getting in the way of her plans, but how can she? It’s the reason her sister is still alive, despite all life has thrown at her so far. Sam hopes she never loses that part of her. Even if it’s being used against her.

Tara always seems to be against her these days.

The door opens before she can fall down that rabbit hole again.

~

Sam sighs, head smacking back against the headrest as the taxi pulls away.

She finds can’t take the tense silence or the constant barrage of no wonder Tara doesn’t want to be around you anymore, all you do is bring problems into her life circling around her brain, and turns to look at her sister.

Tara sits, tense, knuckles clenched in her lap and glowering at the seat in front. The reporter’s Tara, do you feel safe around your sister? echoes in Sam’s head.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers, the words escaping out of her mouth before she can think better of it. Tara turns, blinking up at her. “For what?” she asks, and Tara sounds so genuinely confused, with a slight frown on her features and a tilt of her head, that Sam finds herself pushing back the urge to laugh.

“For everything, for… for last night.”

“Sam,” Tara sighs. “Look…” She pauses, biting her lip for a moment. Taking a deep breath, Tara continues. “I was drunk, ok, and- and you were right, and I was just… being a brat, I didn’t want to admit you were right, so I lashed out. And that was wrong of me. I’m the one who’ssorry.”

Tara’s words floor her. That wasn’t- I wasn’t-

Before Sam can correct her, Tara goes “can you forgive me?” Sam’s reply is instant, “of course. Always.” She holds out her hand, her heart rejoicing at the way Tara takes it. They never hold hands anymore. The distance has been killing her, wanting nothing more than to take her sister in her arms but knowing that she would only be pushed away if she tried.

Sam pulls their hands up to press a kiss to the back of Tara’s, before dropping them down to her lap. She can’t bring herself to point out that she had been talking about Ghostface.

~

Sam wonders if it makes her a terrible person, that she spends more time thinking of her sister’s words than the body behind her and the one in their apartment. Two people are dead, Mindy was hurt, and she still can’t stop thinking about her sister.

It replays over and over in her head, ‘I know you're not a fan of the way that I've been handling things, and that I've been giving you a really hard time.’ There had been a moment, the previous night, where Sam had questioned herself, wondering if maybe she really was taking things too far, if she wasn’t so caught up in her own problems and fears that she was projecting onto Tara. If maybe she was just obsessed with her, like her mother had accused her of all those years ago. For this thing between them to finally be acknowledged, it felt like she could finally breathe again.

Things had felt ok, for that small flash of time, where despite the news, the public, everything, it had felt like things were going to be ok. Sitting there with her sister and the twins- her family, laughing and being teased, it felt so normal, like that was what life was supposed to be like. Then Ghostface had turned up to rip apart her family all over again.

So here she stands, the evening looping in her mind as she feeds a habit she’s been trying to kick, unable to bring herself to sit with the people she loves, to comfort those she put in danger, but incapable of leaving their sight. She needs to see them, to see Tara, to know they’re ok, they’re still here. She hasn’t lost them yet. She can’t lose them.

~

Mindy’s missing – dead, her head helpfully corrects, she had to watch Chad get butchered, and now her sister is asking her to let her go. How can she ask her that? She can’t do that, she can’t. Don’t ask me to do this, she wants to beg. But Quinn is getting closer and she can’t reach the gun and Tara is slipping.

She asks her to trust her, trust her to look after herself, but all she can think about is how Tara’s done anything but recently. “You have to let me go.” She can’t look after her for the rest of her life, she can’t shield her from the world, she has to trust her.

Sam hands her the knife and lets her go.

~

One moment she’s grappling with Bailey on the balcony, the next she’s returning to consciousness with a dull ache pulsing through her body and a soft brush against her cheek. She hears a voice crying out her name and something smacks into her shoulder. Fuck, that hurts.

When she opens her eyes, it’s to Tara above her, sobbing and clutching onto her with one hand. Sam reaches up absent-mindedly, dazed from the fall, to wipe at the blood on her sister’s face. It shouldn’t- it shouldn’t be there; it doesn’t belong there. Not on her baby sister.

She pushes herself up, wincing as glass digs into her palm. Tara leans back to give her space, and Sam gets her first horrifying look at the new wound her sister is hiding. Blood is pooling between her shaking fingers, unable to stem the tide. For a moment, her mind flashes back to Anika, how quickly her wound became debilitating, how it held her back, how it led to her death. It’s not over yet, they’re not safe yet, she has to stop the bleeding.

Sam lurches forward, her own pain forgotten in the face of her sister’s wounds. Her hand traps Tara’s, pushing frantically against it with as much pressure as she can muster. Her other arm wraps around her sister’s waist, and she pushes herself to her knees and pulls the both of them up off the floor. “Ok, it’s ok, you’re gonna be ok,” she blurts out, trying to reassure herself as much as Tara. This is your fault, the thought slips into her brain through the panic, you let her go.

She surveys the room, eyes lingering on Bailey’s still form. He’s still breathing, but seemingly unconscious. His gun is nowhere to be found. Sam backs them away from him, legs hitting the stage behind them. She shuffles them to the steps, perching herself at the top and pulling Tara to sit down between her legs. “I need you to stay calm and just breathe, ok?” Sam speaks directly into her sister’s ear with a tone much more confident than she feels, eyeing, feeling, the way her chest jumps with every breath. She’s going to be fine, she thinks loudly, yelling in the confines of her own mind.

“Nice and slow, that’s it.” Sam takes deep breaths with her, both hands now covering the wound. Tara’s free hand rises to clutch at Sam’s arm, fingers digging in painfully. “There we go, you’re gonna be just fine,” she murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of Tara’s head. She can already feel the blood flow slowing, the wound clotting beneath their hands. She eyes Bailey’s still body anxiously, all too aware he could wake up at any moment. Her gaze drifts further down the room, lingering on the boots sticking out from behind a display and the bloody knife abandoned on the floor. “I’m so proud of you,” she murmurs, “you were so brave.”

“Learnt from the best,” Tara chokes out, leaning her forehead against Sam’s cheek. Tara takes a deep breath, and when she speaks next, her voice is quiet and steady. “He wanted you to put on the mask.” Sam hums in response, confused. Where is she going with this?

“He wanted you to put on the mask… maybe you should.”

~

“I want to be in your life, but only as much as you want me to be.”

The words were hard to think, and even harder to say. She doesn’t want to lose her sister, but she has been losing her. She loses a little bit more of her every time she pulls, with every suffocating demand that she stay within her sight. She almost lost her tonight, and the day before, and the day before that, just because Sam felt this need to keep her near. Tara wants her to let her go, and she has, she will… she would do anything for this girl. If it keeps her safe, if it keeps her happy, Sam will give up every part of herself, she would give up her.

“I want you to be!”

The response is instantaneous. Sam doesn’t know how to react, this isn’t- this wasn’t- “I promise you, I’m going to get so much therapy after this,” Tara blurts out. Despite her laughter, her words are sincere, her eyes are genuine. Sam finds herself laughing along, unable to find the words she wants to say. Thank you, I love you, I don’t want to lose you.

“I’m serious,” Tara adds. I know, I trust you, her heart responds.

“We’re gonna get through this, together.”

This was all she ever wanted.