#( so damn long overdue but I finally got this out!! :D )

[javiscigarette]

Ease

Javier Peña x f!reader

Requested:

requesting�� daddy!javi comforting u after a stressful work day 👀 pls n thank

warnings: no use of y/n, established relationship, fingering, squirting, spitting, spanking, a bit ass play (I cant resist), dirty talk, daddy!javi obviously, d/s dynamics obviously, extreme overuse of pet names and I'm not sorry, fluffy Javi deserves its own warning

w/c: 5.3k

a/n: the long overdue Javi fic is finally here lmao I wrote this very quickly and I haven't written for him in a long time so it may not be my best but I'm honestly just proud that I finally got something out :)) pls let me know if you like it!! ALSO! I reached 1.5k followers awhile ago which is just mind blowing so I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who has joined me and continues to support me. This blog and all the friends I've made here have helped me through some pretty rough times and I'm forever grateful AHHH I just you all soo much!!

my masterlist

You’re not there to greet him when he opens the door. Usually you’d have a glass of whiskey in your hand for him, already a little tipsy from the glass you had for yourself earlier.

There’s a unpleasant shiver that runs down his spine as the thought of you being in some sort of danger immediately crosses his mind. But the sound of you puttering around in the kitchen gives you away. That and the haze of smoke and smell of burnt food wafting through the entire apartment. 

He kicks his shoes off and loosens his tie as he rounds the corner to the kitchen to find you standing in front of the stove, tending to what he assumes is some chicken in a pan. The exhaust fan on the range hood and the ceiling fan are working overtime, pushing the smoke out of the kitchen and through the open window. 

“Hi, bebita” Javi says as he enters the smokey kitchen. You don’t say anything in response, just give him a quick sideways glance before turning back to the stove. 

He crosses the room and moves to stand behind you. Maybe if he had seen the frown on your face, or the way your eyebrows are deeply creased in frustration, he would’ve said something very different. 

But he didn’t see. 

“Dinner smells delicious” he teases, squeezing your hips. He’s expecting a little chuckle from you, or at least an annoyed eye roll with a hidden smile. 

So he’s caught very off guard when you slam the spatula down on the counter with a loud, frustrated sigh.

“Well I’m sorry that I tried to make a nice meal. Guess I’m fuckin’ useless at that too.” 

You try to push yourself out of his grasp, but his grip only tightens. 

“Hey okay okay, easy.” Javi soothes, turning you around so you’re facing him. “What’s wrong, bebita?” he asks, his tone immediately switching from teasing to soft and tener.You puff out a heavy sigh, refusing to look up at him and staring at his white shirt stretched across his chest instead. 

All the thoughts about your horrid day at work that you’ve been trying to block out break the damn and come flooding back into your head; your boss telling you that you fucked up two different major tasks and refusing to tell you how to do them correctly, catching your coworkers gossiping about you in the breakroom, your computer dying right before you could save any of the work you had done for the day, and how you tried to come home and cook as a distraction but you clearly forgot about the chicken sitting on the stove and almost caught the house on fire. 

You hadn’t even noticed the tears welling up in your eyes until Javi is wiping away the ones that have brimmed over and slid down your cheeks. 

“Cariño…” Javi whispers, his tone drenched with concern. That’s all it takes. You instantly break down, falling forward into Javi’s chest as your whole body shakes as you sob, your tears wetting the crisp fabric of his shirt. 

You tell him everything in between wet gasps and uneven breaths, unloading everything at once. He just holds you through it, nodding along and giving you an occasional understanding hum while running his palms up and down your back until you finish talking. 

“Your boss is an asshole” is the first thing Javi says. “Your coworkers too” 

You respond with a pathetic sniffle. “I really fucked up though. And now everyone thinks I can’t do my job” 

"Bebita,” Javi starts, continuing to rub soothing circles on your back. “Everyone has tough days at work. It doesn't define your abilities or your worth. You're so much more than a single bad day."

You sniffle again, still leaning heavily against him for support. 

"It's just... I'm tired of feeling like I'm constantly failing."

Javi clicks his tongue and moves one hand to use two fingers to gently tilt your chin up, making you meet his easy gaze. 

"You're not failing, mi amor. Sometimes things don’t go as planned and that’s okay. You're learning and growing."

You wish he wasn’t so right all the time. Sometimes talking back to the false narrative that runs rampant in your head 24/7 is too much work. 

"I know”  you sigh, wiping away tears with the back of your hand. “It’s just hard not to let it get to me."

Javi's thumb brushes against your cheek, his touch gentle and comforting. 

"I understand. Just remember you're not alone in this. I’ll always be here for you, my sweet girl” 

You manage a weak smile, feeling a bit of warmth starting to seep back into your heavy heart. 

“Thank you” you whisper.

Javi smiles warmly, his eyes full of admiration and unwavering support. 

“Of course, baby. I’m here for you always. No matter what.” 

You let your head fall back to his chest and you take a deep breath. He keeps rubbing your back, physically feeling the tension leaving your body as you melt against him. Without your brain in overdrive, you finally register the smell of his faded cologne and his cigarettes sticking to his shirt, the scent immediately washing away more of the tension in your muscles. The warm feeling in your chest starts to spread all the way down to your toes, your whole body feeling 10 times lighter than it did 5 minutes ago as his embrace brings you a sense of solace you hadn’t experienced all day. 

After another silent minute or two, he places a kiss to your hairline before leaning in close, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. 

“You know, there’s another way to forget about it for a little while.”

His low voice alone already has the base of your spine tingling. You pick your head up to meet his gaze, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes. 

“Yeah?” you ask, a weak smile slowly spreading across your face.

“Mhmm” he hums, his hands sliding down to your waist and slipping under the hem of your shirt, his warm fingers splaying over your skin. 

"You've had a tough day," Javi continues, his voice a sensual murmur. "And I think you deserve something to take your mind off all that stress."

His words, laden with suggestion, push all the worries out of your body, replacing it with a thrill that courses through your veins. He leans in until his face is inches from yours, his breath warm against your skin. "Let me take care of you, bebita."

All you can do is nod dumbly. Javi grins as he pulls you in closer. His lips capture yours in a slow, tantalizing kiss, his lips soft and warm against yours, the taste of him flooding your senses. His hands slide up from your waist to your rib cage, rucking up your shirt in the process. Every touch sends a jolt of electricity through you, drawing you impossibly closer to him. He pulls away just long enough to pull it over your head before his lips capture yours again. 

He wraps one arm around you, keeping you close as his other hand cups your jaw, his fingers curling around the back of your neck as his thumb mindlessly brushes your cheek. Your hands find their way to his back, fingers tracing the lines of his muscles beneath the fabric of his shirt. 

He swipes his tongue across your bottom lip and you part your lips with a soft sigh, his tongue immediately sliding against yours. It’s a dance of desire and vulnerability, an unspoken promise that he’s here to take away all of your worries. The rest of the world quickly fades into a distant blur, leaving just the two of you in this electric connection.

 His lips eventually leave your mouth, his breathless chuckle fanning across your jaw at the sound of your quiet whimper. He trails wet kisses along your jaw, down to the side of your neck, each one accompanied by a soft exhale that causes goosebumps to erupt over every inch of your skin. The sensation is exquisite and maddeningly arousing, and you find yourself tilting your head back, giving him better access. 

His teeth gently graze over your pulse point, sending shiver coursing through your entire body. Your heart races as he finds a spot just below your collarbone, nipping and sucking before soothing the dark spot with his tongue. His hands roam your torso, big, warm palms exploring every inch of exposed skin. You can feel the bulge in his jeans rapidly grow against your hip and your core throbs with a dull ache in response. Everything that happened earlier is miles away as you feel yourself relaxing deeper into his embrace, losing yourself in him. 

He pulls away when you whine quietly and looks down at you, his pupils already blown with lust and desire. He tucks a loose strand of hair behind your ear then ducks down to place a chaste kiss to your lips before whispering “Bedroom. Now.” 

You nod and turn to head out of the kitchen, letting out a small giggle when he lands a quick slap to your ass. His eyes are glued to your backside as he follows you to the bedroom, his fingers deftly unbuttoning his shirt along the way

You flop down on the edge of the bed with Javi just a few steps behind you. He tosses his shirt to the corner of the room and starts working on his belt as he stalks towards you. You smirk and reach behind you, undoing the clasp of your bra and letting it slide off your arms. Javi licks his lips at the sight of you sitting there in only your soft cotton shorts, looking like he’s about to pounce on his prey. 

He crosses the room until he’s standing inches in front of you, then slips his belt out of the loops and tosses it aside. You reach out, intent on undoing the button and zipper of his jeans but he stops you by wrapping a large hand around your wrist before you can touch him. 

“Nuh uh, baby. I’m takin’ care of you tonight”  

His words send a strong pulse of excitement down your spine and your heart pounds in your chest. He lets go of your wrist and you let it fall limply back to your side as you stare at him through your lashes. 

“Take off your shorts.” 

You immediately follow his command, quickly standing and moving to slide your shorts and panties down your legs so fast that you stumble a bit when they get caught around your feet. Javi reaches out and grabs your arm to steady you as you step out of your shorts and kick them to the side. 

“Good girl” he chuckles, dropping his hand from your arm. You watch with wide eyes, saliva gathering in your mouth as he shuffles out his jeans, his hardened cock gently slapping against his lower abdomen. He catches your gaze and gives you a knowing wink before making his way onto the bed. You stand in place, patiently waiting for your next set of instructions as he props himself up against the headboard. 

“C’mere” he says softly, patting his thigh. You positively beam as you climb on the bed towards him. You face him and you’re about to straddle his lap, but he stops you with a hand on your hip. 

“Turn around, cariño.”

You listen and immediately turn around and sit down between his spread legs, pressing your back into his chest. His cock presses firmly into the small of your back, a warm and welcome presence. With a contented sigh, you lean back and rest your head on his shoulder. 

“You listen so well, baby” Javi rasps, his voice rough with arousal. You only hum in response, your lips curving into a grin as you glow under his praise. He presses a kiss to your temple and his hands find your torso once again, slowly sliding up and down your sides. But he can only resist temptation for so long. 

He uses both hands to cup your breasts and you both let out soft sighs in unison. 

“Tan bonita, princesa” he whispers, his fingers finding both of your nipples. A small noise escapes from your parted lips as he feathers the pads of his fingers over the sensitive buds, teasing you until they’re stiffened peaks. He then pinches both, gently rolling them between his thumb and fingers. 

“That feel good?” he asks softly, his lips moving against your temple. 

You nod, letting out an uneven breath as you involuntarily push your chest forward into his touch. He pinches a little harder, pulling a delicate gasp from you. His cock twitches against you in response. 

“Want you to use your words, bebita.” 

You take a deep breath, trying to steady yourself before responding. 

“F-feels good, Javi.” 

He clicks his tongue and squeezes a little harder again. 

“And what do you call me when I’m makin’ you feel good, princesa?” he asks, his voice dangerously low in your ear. 

Your mouth goes dry and your heart skips a beat in your chest. 

Fuck. 

The stress of your day was already far in the back of your mind, but Javi was intent on erasing it completely. And he knows exactly how to do so. 

“Daddy” you correct yourself, the simple word placing you on precipice of submission “Feels really good, daddy” 

“That’s right, bebita” Javi groans softly, his cock twitching in approval. “Such a good girl for me.” 

He then hooks his chin over your shoulder while you exhale a long, shaky breath as one of his hands leaves your breast and slides down your stomach. You clit pulses in anticipation, but he avoids where you want him most and instead smooths his hand over the top of your thigh. Your chest heaves with every breath as he teases you with gentle touches, getting you all worked up just the way you both like it. 

“You want me to touch you, princessa?” Javi asks, his fingertips dancing delicately on the inside of your thigh. It tickles and you reflexively try to close your legs, but he brings his foot to the inside of your calf and pushes it to the side before placing his foot flat on the bed, keeping your leg firmly in place. “Answer me.” 

“Yes, daddy, please” you whine, your voice coming out a lot more desperate than you intended. 

“Where, baby? Tell me where you want daddy’s fingers.” 

He’s teasing you, but it serves as an excellent distraction –  the events from earlier today are the least of your concerns right now. 

“You want them here?” he asks, his fingers now just barely tracing your dripping seam. “Want me to touch your pretty little pussy? Rub that pretty little clit?” 

You nod fervently and buck your hips up without thinking, your body betraying your patience and chasing after his touch. Javi chuckles darkly and harshly pinches your nipple with his other hand, making you jump in surprise. 

“Tell me, baby. Be a good girl and tell me.” 

You whimper, a hot flush spreading across your chest and creeping up your neck. You’ve been here a thousand times with him, been in far more desperate situations too. But the butterflies still tickle your tummy and the tips of your ears burn with embarrassment. 

“Want…want you to touch my pretty little pussy, daddy.” you murmur, the last of your sentence barely audible. 

He immediately rewards you by dipping two fingers into your slippery folds, groaning softly in your ear when he feels how wet you are for him. “Mmm that’s my good girl. Always fuckin’ soaked for me, huh?” he asks, dipping the tips of his fingers into your hole, gathering your slick and dragging it up to your clit. You nod lazily, your eyes fixed on his hand between your legs. 

He starts with slow, languid circles, his cock pulsing against your back with every small noise that bubbles up out of your throat. His other hand is still occupied with pinching and rolling your nipple. Hot arousal flows through your veins, every nerve ending on fire just from his easy touches. You want it faster, you need more. But you know he won’t give it to you unless you ask. 

“Pl-please, daddy. Faster please” you huff, squirming in his lap as you try to suppress the urge to buck your hips up again. 

“Look at you, princesa. Being such a good girl asking’ nicely like that” Javi whispers, instantly picking up the pace of his fingers and adding more pressure. You let out a long, low moan, the sound of it filling the bedroom. “Sound so pretty too” he adds, pressing his lips to your temple. 

His other hand leaves your nipple and he shushes you softly when you whine at the loss. He doesn’t tease you this time, his hand immediately joining the other between your legs. He keeps his two fingers on your clit, rubbing firm circles just like you asked while his other hand finds your leaking entrance. 

He doesn’t make you ask again before he slides his middle finger inside of you, probably more out of his own desperation to feel you clenching around him. You’re absolutely soaked, you juices freely flowing out of you, down his finger and into his palm like warm honey. He wants to draw it out, slowly work you up until you’re about to snap, but he’s not feeling very patient anymore. 

He slides his finger in and out of you a few more times before adding a second, curling his fingertips. He finds the spot inside of you instantly and you reward him with a loud gasp, your whole body trembling as you relax against his chest. 

“That’s it, baby. Just relax for me” Javi coos, his voice tight and strained as he tries to contain his own excitement. He pumps his fingers inside you, his fingertips nudging against the spot that has your whole body jolting with every pass. Every inch of your skin feels on fire as he works you, lewd sounds filling the room as he plays with your slick pussy. You feel wetness on your back and quickly realize that it’s his precum leaking from his warm tip, smearing against your skin as you squirm around. 

“Mierda, princesa” Javi groans as you clench tightly around his two fingers. “You close, baby?” he asks, already knowing the answer. You answer with a high-pitched whine, throwing your head back on his shoulder. 

“Cum for me, baby” Javi grunts, moving his fingers faster, bringing you to the edge. “Cum all over my fingers and then I’ll fuck you, nice and deep just how you like it” 

His fingers are relentless, rubbing dizzying circles on your clit and punching up into your g-spot. You can’t hold back anymore, rocking your hips and grinding down on his fingers. Your chest burns with every breath you manage to suck in, the hot coil in your tummy wound tightly, threatening to burst at any moment. You open your mouth and try to tell him that you’re about to cum, but every time you try to speak, the only sounds that come out are loud gasps in-between broken moans. 

And then you finally snap. Javi groans as you clamp down around his fingers, so tight that he can hardly keep moving them. He then quickly pulls them out, his eyes wide with amazement as your juices gush out of you, drops of it landing on his leg, most of it soaking the blankets underneath you. 

 “There’s my good girl” he hisses between clenched teeth. He watches intently as you thrash around, the sight of you squirting and the sweet sounds of your moans going straight to his cock as he works you through your orgasm. He doesn’t let up until you come down, whimpering and jolting at his touch. 

You collapse backwards against his chest, your head on his shoulder as you pant and try to catch your breath. He goes back to tracing your seam, his touch featherlight once again. You let out a sigh, your limbs heavy and head fuzzy with pure ecstasy.

He eventually moves his hands away, placing them on your thighs and letting out a low whistle. 

“Did so well, princesa. Look how much you came for me” Javi rasps, nosing at the column of your neck.

You pick your head up, looking down at the aftermath of your orgasm. You laugh breathlessly at the dark spot underneath you and the liquid on Javi’s calf shining in the dim glow of the lamp on the bedside table. Javi’s chest rumbles with his own chuckle as he presses sweet kisses to the sensitive skin of your neck. 

He doesn’t give you much time to recover before he taps your thighs and gives you your next command. “Hands and knees, princesa.” 

You’ve barely had time to catch your breath, but your pussy still aches in anticipation of his earlier promise. You take a deep breath and find enough strength to sit up straight. Your limbs are weak and noodly as you crawl over to a dry spot on the bed and get into position, your ass in the air with your face pressed against the soft blankets. 

You crane your neck to watch Javi who flashes you a devilish grin as he assumes his position on his knees behind you. You give him a sweet smile back and wiggle your ass. And he takes the bait, groping your cheeks with both hands before he spreads you open, putting everything on display just for him. 

“Fuckin’ gorgeous, baby.” he growls before leaning over to spit. You gasp and moan softly at the feeling of the warm liquid landing on your asshole and sliding down to pool at your swollen clit. He then brings his thumb up, using the pad to gently rub his saliva against your puckered hole. “So fuckin’ gorgeous” 

“Daddyyyy” you whine pitifully, pushing your hips back into his touch. He chuckles breathlessly and wraps a hand around the base of his cock and lining himself up. 

“You’re so good, baby.” Javi starts as he slides his cock in the mess between your cheeks. “My strong, beautiful, intelligent, good girl.”

Your face heats up at the praise, the words stirring up the butterflies in your stomach yet again. 

“Thank you, daddy” you murmur, the sound muffled by the blankets. Javi just hums and continues to glide his cock through the wetness, addicted to the way whimper every time his cockhead brushes against your swollen clit and your aching entrance. You whimper and wiggle your hips again, trying to get what you want. 

“Repeat it.” Javi commands simply. “Wanna hear you say it” 

You squeeze your eyes shut and whimper again. He’s completely taken over your headspace now, forcing you into a place of submission where there’s no room to think about anything other than him and what he asks of you. This is how he takes care of you, how he can turn every bad day on its head and take away every single one of your worries until you’re a blissed out mess underneath him. And he’s really fucking good at it. 

“I’m your strong, beautiful, intelligent, girl” you choke out, a fresh wave of slick gushing out of you and onto his rock hard cock at the forced admission.

“Forgot one” he breathes, his thumb still rubbing at your tight little hole. You wrack your brain, thoughts moving slower than syrup in your head as you try to remember what he said not even 10 seconds ago. 

“Good.” you say, as soon as you remember. I’m you’re good girl, daddy.” 

“Yes you are, baby” Javi says, notching his tip at your entrance. “So fucking good for your daddy.” 

He pushes all the way in, burying himself to balls deep in your aching cunt in one smooth movement. The sounds you make are obscene as you twist your fists in the blanket underneath him. He’s so deep, you swear you can feel him somewhere near your lungs. Just like he promised. He moans roughly behind you, the feeling on your warm walls squeezing rhythmically around his neglected cock overwhelming all of his senses.

But you don’t let him catch a break. You barely give yourself time to adjust before you take matters into your own hands and start rocking your hips, fucking yourself on his cock. Javi inhales sharply, both hands finding your hips and trying to hold you in place, but you’re not having it. 

“Daddy please–oh shit– please fuck me, need it so bad” you whine as you continue to rock your hips despite Javi’s best efforts to stop you. 

Javi just growls in response, his fingertips digging into your hips as he slides out until just his tip rests inside before slamming back into you. The loud moan that he pulls from you travels as a shiver down his spine and fuels his fire. He quickly finds a steady pace, brutally slamming into you like he’s fucking the stress out right out of your body. You let all the moans and whines and whimpers float freely out of your mouth as you take what he gives you, as he fills you up and stuffs you full over and over and over again. 

“You're so good for me” Javi grunts, gripping your hips and moving them backwards to meet his every thrust. “Feel so fucking good squeezing me like that, this tight little pussy was fucking made for me” 

Your eyes roll back into your head, his words once again turning your brain into mush as he fucks you into another plane of existence. You’re already teetering on the edge of another release, your lower abdomen burning with it, your swollen, neglected clit pulsing and desperate for attention.

And Javi feels it too.

“Already gonna cum again?” Javi asks breathlessly before landing a smack to your ass. You yelp in shock and there’s another wave of your juices leaking out onto his cock. 

“Ohh you like that, don’t you baby?” Javi coos before spanking you again, this time a bit harsher. Your face scrunches in pleasure and words have completely eluded you so you just cry out against the mattress, hoping that and your clenching pussy gets the point across. 

Thankfully Javi doesn’t ask you to answer him. Instead he keeps fucking into you, delivering firmm hits to your ass, completely mesmerized with the way it jiggles as he spanks and fucks into you. He’s just as close as you are, never lasts very long if he’s inside without cumming at least once beforehand. 

He moves one hand from your hip to between your legs, his fingers tracing where you’re stretched out so nicely around his thick cock before they land on your clit once again. You sob as he starts immediately rubbing fast, harsh circles that send you speeding towards the finish line. 

“Oh fuck, daddy! Gonna cum m’gonna cum pleasssee let me cum” 

Javi sucks in a harsh breath, his eyebrows furrowing together as his cock lurches inside of you. 

“Yeah, fuck yeah, baby. Cum on this cock like a good girl” Javi grits out, the muscles in his jaw twitching as he clenches his teeth together, trying to hold himself together. Your hands scramble against the blankets as he slams into you with newfound vigor, pushing you up the bed with each thrust and making you scream in ecstasy.

“Cum and then I’ll fill you up” he grunts. “I’ll fill you up and fuck it so deep that it’ll be leaking out of you for days, just reminding you of how good you are for me. Always so fucking good baby jesus christ” 

His filthy promises send you flying over the edge. You bury your face in the blankets and scream, your legs giving out from the force of it, your hips dropping to the bed and leaving you in a prone position. And Javi doesn’t miss a beat. He presses his chest against your back, using his freehand to support the bulk of his weight as he keeps working his fingers on your clit the best he can, not letting his pace falter even once. 

The new position shoves his cock even deeper inside of you, punching against your cervix with each thrust as he rearranges your guts. Your only option is to lie there let him drag out your release for as long as possible. 

“That’s it” Javi rasps, his voice sounding absolutely wrecked now. “Sweet little pussy is fuckin’ milking my cock, cariño. You want my cum? Want me to stuff you fuckin’ full?” 

You’re too far gone to respond, reduced to nothing but putty in his hands, your trembling body limp and pliant just for him to use. He can only hold it together for a few more thrusts before he buries himself all the way inside of you, spilling his hot seed deep inside of you.

Staying true to his promise, he fucks you through it, shallowly moving his hips and pushing his cum as deep as possible. You can feel his cock throbbing inside of you, the sensation of it all pushing you over the edge once again, though you’re not sure if you ever came back from the last one. Javi watches in amazement as you cum again, your voice breaking on desperate sobs while you squeeze around him, truly milking him for all he’s worth.

He moves his hand from your clit once your moans start to die down and then collapses on top of you, carefully though as not to completely crush you. You welcome the weight, a comforting pressure that makes you feel so warm and safe and secure. 

He stays buried inside of you as you both come down. You can feel his heart pounding from where his chest is pressed against you, his warm breath fanning across your neck as you both try to catch your breath. The two of you stay there for a while, basking in the post coitus glow. His cock softens inside of you and he only moves when his cum starts to dribble out of you. 

You whine softly as he moves to sit up, his now soft cock slipping out of you and leaving you feeling empty. But the feeling doesn’t last too long. 

He scoots back so he’s kneeling between your legs, both hands on your cheeks and spreading you open again. You feel his eyes burning holes into your skin as he watches his cum slowly leaking out of you. He doesn’t let it fall too far though, using a finger to scoop up all that’s dribbled out and pushing it back inside. You moan softly at the sensation and it takes everything in him not to fuck you with his fingers once again. 

“Think we need to get you in a nice hot shower” he says, his tone sweet and soft once again as he removes his fingers. 

You turn your head to look at him through hooded eyes, a dopey smile plastered to your face, looking completely fucked out.

“And we’re ordering take out too” he announces, leaning over to place a sweet kiss on your cheek. Images of the burnt chicken sitting on the stove float through your head, along with fuzzy memories of the events from earlier today. But you don’t give a single fuck anymore. Javi thoroughly wiped every ounce of stress from your brain. And now anything that isn’t directly related to you and Javi at this moment, on your shared bed in the dim light of the evening sun filtering through the curtain is far, far away. 

“We’re not getting fucking chicken” is all you say and the sound of yours and Javi’s laughter rings pleasantly through the room and in your ears as content seeps deep into your bones.

I LOVE THIS MAN okay thank u for reading <333

[420thewritersroom]

Wilted Cherry Blossoms, Dark Thunderstorms, Burning Hopes: Rekindled Embers

Howdy! Funny to see me back here, eh? After long overdue breaks and writers block, I finally feel motivated enough to continue this "Oops, Kung Lao is dead again" AU! Finally! Chapter 5! We continue our journey with our heroes as we inch closer to a inevitable conflict with the returned Kung Lao!

"But 420Writer, I barely even know or remember what happened before we got here!"

Well too bad! :D

Naw, but I anticipated that there will be returning and new readers who will be confused and wondering how all of this started. That's why I REMADE AND SLIGHTLY POLISHED THE PRIOR LAST 4 CHAPTERS! You can find the newly remastered chapters below. But let's say you want to read the old, unpolished, barely seasoned chapters of old? Well don't worry! I made sure to link the older versions of the prior 4 chapters for those nostalgic of the retro.

It should be said that I haven't been in the MK1 fandom for a while. I don't physically (or digitally) own the games, missed all the prior seasonal villains, and I've yet to watch the Khaos Reigns DLC. So the prior chapters and chapters going forward is most likely going to be deviating from what "canoncially" happens in the MK1 game, especially with Khaos Reigns. And who knows if I'll care enough to be canon compliant with what happens in the DLC lol.

Regardless, I hope you enjoy this new chapter! For those new and experience, the AO3 version will be updated soon as I FINALLY discovered how to change text colors in AO3, but it's going to take some time to not only upload the new chapter but update the older chapters with my new knowledge. So keep an eye out for those who are eager to read it on AO3!

Wilted Cherry Blossoms, Dark Thunderstorms, Burning Hopes: Remastered

Johnny takes a step, then another, then another, taking his sweet ol time to climb the stone stairs that led to the Wu Shi Academy on the exceptionally steep incline of the mountain. Every step made Johnny come to the annoying reality that he was definitely getting up there in age, practically pushing 40! You know, if being exactly 30 is deemed "pushing 40." His legs ached, the sun beamed harshly on his sweaty back, and Johnny wheezed by the second. The moment Johnny reaches this damn Academy, he's going to put it into Liu Kang's thick skull to finally build a damn elevator for this place. It's fucking ridiculous that if anyone is even remotely interested in training with the Shaolin Monks, they have to climb these long ass stairs just to reach it! If they make it to the Academy, that is! They'll most likely walk back down, not finding the trek worthwhile.

And this is where Kenshi would butt in, saying, "That's the whole point of it, to test those who would be worthy to learn the secrets of the Shaolin." In which Johnny will call bullshit. The fact that they want to train here should be a good enough reason instead of building a million steps to reach their front door! Before long, Johnny finally made it past the last step, collapsing on the stone ground the moment he could fully see the front entrance to the Academy. The actor takes this moment to lie on the cold floor of the Academy, taking long breaths as he regains his strength. Above Johnny, he felt a shadow, a presence, loom over him, grabbing his attention as he's met with a fellow Monk of the joint.

"Mr. Johnny Cage, an unexpected visit," The Monk greeted Johnny with a calm and composed demeanor, his voice a soothing contrast to Johnny's frustration.

"Would've called beforehand," Johnny lets out a winded breath before continuing, "but your monastic 'creed' doesn't believe in cellphone service."

The Monk giggles, "It pleases us to see you return after so long, nonetheless. I hope the trip here did not cause you further trouble."

"Nah, other than your ten billion flights of stairs, getting here was a piece of cake," Johnny grunts as he picks himself up from the floor, dusting himself off and flicking an ant off the back of his hand. "I came here to speak with Liu Kang. It's urgent, and he's gonna wanna hear this."

The Monk doesn't act a hint surprised by this request, instead nodding slowly, "I will see if Master Geras will meet you, Mr. Cage."

"Woah, woah. Geras?" Johnny momentarily walks closer to the Monk as he expresses his confusion.

"My apologies; I forget myself. You haven't been here for some time. Master Geras has been overseeing most matters concerning Earthrealm since Lord Liu Kang retired to the Fire Temple. He will be happy to hear that you have come to speak with him," the Monk briefly explained.

Johnny lets the Monk lead him into the Academy and place him in one of the many unoccupied rooms of the Academy. In this momentary state of isolation, Johnny takes a moment to contemplate what the Monk said earlier. Johnny knows that Raiden meant everything to them. He was the heart and soul of their friend group. And while Johnny does believe that disbanding Earthrealms defenders was a...Decision...That Liu Kang made, Johnny saw it as the Fire God taking a vacation. Because looking back to how everything fell apart, none of them had a moment to grieve for themselves.

While they did bury Kung Lao, their new lives as Earthrealms defenders didn't grant them the luxury to properly accept Lao's death. They were in the middle of stopping Shang Tsung and General Shao from their usual villainous schemes. Johnny doesn't even remember what their deal was back then. If he had to guess, the typical "world domination" or "finding some powerful artifact to make themselves into a Super Saiyan" or some shit like that. So, the moment they finished the funeral, they had to get back into gear. Using Kung Lao as motivation to get back at the bad guys tore them at the seams more than they thought. No one suffered more from that than Raiden.

Johnny couldn't shake off the guilt he felt about Raiden's situation. He wished he had done more for him, been a better friend. Even before the official dissolution, he and Kenshi were only sometimes around due to their personal agendas. It was a shock to Johnny & Kenshi when they found out about Raiden and Kung Lao's relationship, even though they had been dating for over 2 months before they were informed. This revelation only added to Johnny's guilt when Kung Lao was taken from them. He realized that he didn't know the Fengjian bros as well as he thought. So, Johnny hoped that being a closer friend for Raiden would help lessen the pain for him. He would get to know the man better, visit his joint more often, and he could fill that void that Kung Lao left behind. Not say that he would want to date Raiden, goodness no, he's already taken. Well, in hindsight, he wasn't taken then, but still. He just, Johnny wanted to be there for Raiden.

But it didn't end up like that. Raiden drowned himself in his work, training, and sadness, which eventually turned into anger. And it took some time for Johnny to stop blaming himself for what happened to Raiden. But Liu Kang? The Fire God? Inactive for nearly two years? Now, Johnny didn't have proof that Liu Kang had been slacking for that long. But, typically, Geras wasn't really in the picture. For a long time, Geras was only known by him, the other Earthrealm warriors, and Liu Kang, and that was it. Very few knew who Geras was or even saw him around the Wu Shi Academy. And considering his massive responsibility with that Hourglass thing, Geras was rarely around for any other activities. Homeboy's entire personality is maintaining the Hourglass and the timeline.

But to hear that one Monk mention him by name AND that he's overseeing matters involving Earthrealm specifically? Either this guy is finally getting out of his time-warp bubble, or the situation with Liu Kang is worse than he could imagine. Before long, Johnny hears the unmistakable sound of mystical sand conquering together as Geras manifests in front of the actor.

"Johnathan Carlton, you seek an audience?" said Geras.

Geras looked different this time around. Well, not that different. All that Johnny noticed was that there was a bit more hair on his head, no longer the smooth Mr. Clean shave anymore.

"Well, look at ya. Getting out of the house, huh?" Johnny smirked as he extended a hand for Geras to shake.

It takes Geras a moment before it clicks in his head that Johnny intends to shake his hand. He hesitantly reaches for the actor's hand before wearily shaking it. Guess Geras is still getting used to human interactions.

"Due to changed circumstances, I had to step in for the sake of Earthrealm in case unforeseen dangers were to emerge." Geras plainly explains.

"Yeah, about that. How's rocket thunder?" Johnny makes mock punches in the air, insinuating that he's talking about Liu Kang. "I thought you were supposed to be looking after that Hourglass, not replacing Liu Kang as Earthrealm's protector."

"I am not 'replacing' Liu Kang," Geras sternly corrects. "Lord Liu Kang needed…Some time away from his duties. What happened to Raiden truly took a toll on his mental state. So, I agreed to perform his obligations until he was finally fit to serve as the realm's protector."

Johnny can tell that there was a bit more Geras wanted to say. Not that there was anything that Geras did that betrayed his usual stoic tone and face. But hang around the guy long enough, and you start to notice subtleties that are tell-tale hints of anger, sadness, confusion, stuff like that.

"Damn…That bad, huh? Um, how's Liu now?" Johnny rubs the back of his head as concern presents itself in his tone.

"He has progressed recently."

"Ok, gonna leave it at that?" Johnny stares at Geras, hoping that he would give more context to the whole "progressed recently" thing. But Johnny knew he would have to settle with Geras being his usual cryptic self.

"I was informed that you wished to speak upon an urgent matter?" Geras plainly and thankfully asked, breaking the silence between them.

"Well, I was hoping I would speak with Liu Kang in person about this."

"He's currently not in a state to handle critical matters at this time-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I figured. But, I guess you're the best next thing." Johnny clasps his hands together and breathes in heavily. "We're dealing with a possible zombie apocalypse."

Geras's silence was either perfect comedic timing or him processing what Johnny said (definitely the latter). But he eventually replies with, "A zombie apocalypse?"

"What, Dragon Fists never let you watch horror flicks?"

"I'm not versed with mortal entertainment."

Johnny sighs and nods his head, "Ok. Essentially, dead people are coming back from the grave and doing some shit that might spell the end of the world or something like that."

Geras finally seems to perk up by this. "What proof do you have of this."

Oh...Shit...Johnny didn't really think that far ahead. The only person who had evidence was Kenshi. Well, he only had Kenshi's word, but what reason would his boyfriend have to lie to him about a possible zombie invasion after all they went through.

"Well, if it makes ya feel better, Kenshi was the one who told me. Would've came to tell you in person, but he's working at the moment. So I came in his place." Johnny wasn't sure if stating Kenshi's line of work would further benefit Kenshi's word, but he did promise that he wouldn't talk about his position in the FBI. "Also, we might be in more trouble than we think. Kenshi said that Kung Lao had returned. From the dead, that is."

As Johnny expected, Geras's stoic face subtly changes into a look of alarm. "Kung Lao is back from the dead?"

"Yeah...You make it sound as though he's done this before. Wait, did this happen before?"

"Come with me. Liu Kang will need to hear this." Geras wastes no time teleporting them to a new change of scenery; sand particles coalesce around them before dispersing, revealing the Fire Temple where Liu Kang resided. "Quickly."

Johnny didn't need to be told twice as he tailed behind Geras.

-

Within the Fire Temple, Liu Kang meditated in peace. The past couple of years and some months have been troubling. Raiden's near downfall and descent into a darker mindset shook Liu Kang to his core. Every other occurrence in his timeline that reverted to Kronika's vision, Liu Kang was able to power through them. But Raiden, Liu Kang had a visceral reaction to the threat of him becoming what Lord Raiden would succumb to. The threatening thoughts of starting over, undoing the damage Titan Shang Tsung had done to his timeline. It was like a succubus whisper that tickled his ears night after night, day after day.

Not a day goes by that he doesn't thank Geras for what he has done for him. He was picking up the pieces falling around Liu, trying to keep him from committing the same actions that Kronika made. Liu's unsure if he would live with himself if he really did turn back the clock and try to restart everything. Even more terrifying, if he would even regret doing so in the first place. He's even more thankful that he took Geras up on his offer to allow him to take the reigns as Earthrealm's temporary protector.

Even with his eyes closed, Liu could still see himself standing before the Hourglass, contemplating if he should take that first step. To make that one "minor adjustment."

None of this was his fault. If Titan Shang Tsung hadn't discovered his realm, if he had caught onto the tell-tale signs sooner, then he could've prevented Tarkat from happening, from Kitana losing her mother and nearly losing her sister, from the Lin Kuei brothers becoming divided...From Raiden becoming a dark visage of himself...From his best friend...From Kung Lao dying...

But he can fix this. He can command the Hourglass to reverse the clock. He knows the future that will befall his friends, and he can make it all disappear. Liu Kang can still see himself performing the ritual, wearing Kronika's crown and carrying out the ritualistic dance as he attempted to reverse the clock.

"Lord Liu Kang, what are you doing?"

Liu Kang still remembers hearing Geras's voice before he materialized before him, trying to convince him to stop what he was doing. Liu Kang still remembers seeing his reflection. He wasn't trying to look at himself in the mirror of the Hourglass, but as an item created with a reflective surface, he couldn't help but notice something terrifying. The bags under his eyes, the subtle scowl on his face, a look of discontentful purpose that blazed in his eyes. He looked like a shadow of his former self, a warped version that was getting eerily close to the Liu Kang that was twisted in Shang Tsungs' image.

Liu Kang remembers the conflict in his heart and mind—a battle between reason and feeling. Every fiber of his being argued for dominance in being the final arbiter in what his ultimate decision should be. An inner struggle so tough, Liu Kang couldn't bring himself to settle on this side or that. He barely heard Geras trying to whisk him away from trying to reset the clock.

"Lord Liu Kang, I don't want to have to tear you away by force from the Hourglass. But I will if you give me reason to."

"...Then, I suppose you will have to deliver on that promise..."

Liu Kang still remembers their fight, fire and sand clashing together as they tried to overpower each other. Geras was holding back, and his intentions were heavily clear: he only wanted to incapacitate the Fire God. Liu Kang shamefully cannot say he was attempting to do the same. There was a conflicted desperation to win the kombat. Deep inside, Liu Kang needed to win. He needed to fix the damage Titan Shang Tsung left in his wake. Yet, Liu also needed to lose. He had to be stopped from committing the same actions Kronika did because Liu Kang knew that it wouldn't stop from there. A taste of the absolute power he truly had with the Hourglass would send him down a spiral he tried to avoid. Liu silently begged that Geras would stop him.

Yet, the opposite happened.

All Liu Kang remembered was Geras screaming horrifically, then just as soon as he heard it, it stopped. Liu Kang stood before a dead Geras. His body was torn in two; viscera and blood littered the area around him; the head was nowhere to be found. What remained of Geras burned to a crisp as two fiery dragons, one red and the other blue, chewed on the remains of the time observer.

Liu Kang won the fight.

Within minutes, an hour if he's lucky, Liu Kang could've used that time to prepare the Hourglass and gather the necessary energies to reverse the clock. Yet, the Fire God was frozen, staring at his disfigured, woefully unrecognizable friend, who now ruined the zen garden surrounding the Hourglass. Suddenly, his mind was blank, the struggle between what he wanted and what was right vanishing as quickly as Geras.

"What have I done?" Liu Kang remembered thinking.

Liu doesn't remember the passage of time between when he was alone in the presence of the Hourglass and when Geras slowly reconstructed himself back together. Geras broke the spell holding Liu Kang in place, placing his hand on the Fire Gods' shoulder and giving a concerned squeeze.

Liu Kang couldn't bring himself to explain himself, couldn't even utter an apology. Where before there was a whirlwind of emotions that brought him to the conclusion of tampering with the Hourglass, now all that remained was a guilt-ridden void and emptiness. There was no scramble to form the right words, be it to convince Geras of what he was doing or to ask for forgiveness.

There, Geras suggested that he take over matters involving the realms and the Hourglass, urging Liu Kang to step away from his responsibilities and mourn. And Liu did not argue. Had Geras not stopped him, he could've become like Kronika, constantly restarting time until he "got it right." Or worse, he could've transformed to be like Titan Shang Tsung, ruling his timeline with an iron fist to exert his vision of how events should play out.

In his time of isolation, Liu Kang used this "vacation" away from his duties to recenter himself. To come to terms with what had happened, not only since Kung Lao died but also since the events that resulted in their fight with Titan Shang Tsung. But his journey of self-healing wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for Shujinko. Such an unlikely confidante he became to be. Ever since he wiped Shujinko's memory, the Fire God has mostly kept his distance, for he hasn't forgotten the events that led to Shujinko being neutralized. Liu Kang figured that the young student would further this distance upon re-discovering the incident that led to him being magically amnesic.

Yet, as the saying goes, Liu Kang would not look a gifted horse in the mouth. When one is in mourning, the most dangerous situation to be in such a state is isolation. It breeds thoughts and ideas that impede the healing process and could reverse the steps needed to reach acceptance. Shujinko sometimes reminded Liu Kang of when he was young and mortal. With this, albeit renewed, fresh start for Shujinko and the new training direction, he was far from the man he once was or even became. Humility was definitely a significant factor in shaping Shujinko. Still, after the revelation of what he was before when he became a threat to the realms, Shujinko became timid. Shujinko, based on what Liu had heard from his new teachers, had become reserved, his heart not being in the fight, perhaps stemming from the fear and shame of what he had done before. And Liu could see it in his actions. Everything Shujinko handled, he handled with great care, terrified care. As though picking up a cup would cause him to copy the abilities of said cup, should it possess any.

Shujinko was careful with how he fought with his teachers and fellow students. He was innately frightened of becoming that prideful and reckless man who could've overtaken the world. But with his fear came stagnation and faultful self-crippling. He had great power that required greater responsibility, and knowing he abused this power before, Shujinko couldn't bring himself to use even 2% of his own capabilities. Liu Kang recalls when he first merged with Raiden and his Revenant self. His body felt familiar, yet new at the same time. His power, his knowledge, his strength, his everything was exemplified to seemingly untold bounds. It was him, yet it wasn't at the same time. And on top of being the Keeper of Time, the creator of this new universe, and the protector of Earthrealm, there was much responsibility Liu Kang practically had to re-learn himself, even still learning to this day.

Liu Kang can empathize with Shujinko's weariness and reservations to fully commit to a fight. In hindsight, Liu almost feels silly that he didn't step in sooner to help with his insecurities. But he's going to rectify this error now. Now that he and Shujinko have been having these small lunch dates together. Liu Kang focuses his breathing, allowing himself to tune into the blazing dragon hearth in the middle of the room, the wind blissfully blowing, rustling his clothes, and swaying his hair. Shujinko might be arriving later than usual; he's typically here by now with a tray full of food.

Liu Kang lets out a relaxed sigh, the cracking of fire kindle gracing his ears. In this silence, this solitude, Liu Kang contemplates the knowledge he had obtained since his ascension. The role of Earthrealms Defender, as a Fire God, is not one that can be taken lightly. Only when he walked in Raiden's shoes and then some did he realize why Lord Raiden was...Like that. Some knowledge is not meant for mortal ears, and some worries are not meant for mortal hearts. Like a much-loved child, Liu Kang only realized now why Raiden did what he did, said what he said. To share his memories, his time as a god, the hard decisions he had to make, and the even harder improvisation he had to live with. It's almost frustrating knowing the truth but knowing how it felt and how it would feel to be on the other side of that truth. The wish that there was a way for him and Lord Raiden to find a middle ground, that there was some way that Raiden could digest what he was experiencing and communicate it with him, and for himself to have the patience to understand. Then again, they were damned from the start. Kronika was always going to ensure, one way or another, that they would fight to the death, whether they wanted that outcome or not.

And Liu Kang reflects on his role today. Is he falling into that same pitfall? Withholding truth because it is not a mortal's place to make sense of his reality. Or trying to explain his truth, only for it to be misunderstood because mortal comprehension cannot begin to imagine or sympathize with the path he must take. This balancing act of honesty and veiled truths. At least Liu Kang is fortunate to have Geras by his side, a confidant to express his worries and feelings. Did Lord Raiden not have that for himself? He can assume Fujin and Raiden did not always see eye to eye, and that disconnect between them may have left his brother out of the equation. And based on Lord Raiden's memories, he didn't interact much with the other gods outside of Earthrealm, lest it was business.

A memory surfaces as Liu Kang focuses on these trailing thoughts.

A middle-aged man sitting alone in his temple, much like he was. Contemplating, meditating, but there was a disturbance, a peace he could not reach. Concerns of prior un-reconciled events, fears of incidents yet to come, the insistence on planning for and around those possible occurrences, and how best to maintain an already waning peace.

Liu Kang pities the Raiden that was before. How he must've suffered alone with the weight of his responsibilities with no one to share that burden. Even with those whom he would've considered close friends, how unfair it would've seemed to ask for sympathy from a mortal who can do little to calm his weary nerves. There was more to protecting Earthrealm than simply swinging fists at a life-or-death tournament. The politics involving it would be much for a mortal to comprehend. And Raiden clearly felt that strain.

That mortal affinity swells in Liu Kang's heart; how he wishes he could've done more for Raiden than he already has. That loving anger, that longing feeling that Raiden at least tried to let him into his world, to attempt to understand him more. But Lord Liu Kang knew that was a foolhardy wish in hindsight.

"You have many admirable qualities. You're handsome, patient, caring, determined, and good-willed. These are aspects that anyone would fall for and would be lucky to have you as their significant other. And…Perhaps, in another life, I could return your feelings. But I cannot provide you the happiness you think I can give. The amount of responsibilities and burdens…I'm sorry, but I just wouldn't be able to emotionally and physically give back to you."

Even in hindsight, Liu hates how right Raiden really was.

He hears the wind pick up slightly, his nerves prickling as a powerful presence suddenly appears nearby. Liu Kang opens his eyes, eyeing the many openings of the Fire Temple. Particles of microscopic granular materials, sand, conjure and coalesce on the far end of the room. From the miniature duststorm emerged Geras, proud and mighty. Liu Kang's heart skips a beat; it's been a while since he and Geras met face to face after that prior incident. To see him here was surprising nonetheless.

"Geras...Johnnny?" The sudden accompaniment of the Hollywood Star takes Liu Kang further aback. He hasn't seen Johnny Cage since he verbally disbanded his champions. To see him here...

"Nice place you got here," Johnny whistles, admiring the temple.

"Lord Liu Kang, an urgent matter requires your..." Geras spoke hastily, only to pause for a moment. "Wisdom."

Liu Kang can see it in Geras's focused eyes, a hidden glint that Liu knows far too well. He didn't want to disturb the Fire God, but something had happened, something terrible.

Liu Kang raises his chin, filling his body with the godly confidence that he wore so well. And, in a small way, thought he lost. "Speak freely, Geras."

Geras slightly bowed, stepping aside so that Johnny was more visible. "Johnathan Carlton has urgent news to relay regarding Kung Lao; he has returned from the dead."

With alarm and intensity, Liu Kang straightens his posture more than ever before, "What?"

"Oh, so we're just jumping right to it?" Johnny looks between Geras and Liu Kang, "I figured we'd ease him into it, you know? Try to reel him in before just dropping that bomb on him."

"What do you mean, 'Kung Lao has returned from the dead?' Who informed you of this?" Liu Kang stands up, stepping closer as he stares at Johnny.

"Um, well, Kenshi told me," Johnny says flustered. Suddenly, he feels like he's 10 years old again, sitting next to his mom & dad in the principal's office, trying to explain why he kicked a kid trying to replicate his dad's kung-fu moves in the movies. "He was in Japan, looking for some, um," Johnny snaps his fingers, trying to remember the name. "Jade-O Tai-Gah Ban-Doh, something like that," Johnny's "shining" Japanese doesn't impress either Geras or Liu Kang. "But they're in cahoots with some people named the Black Dragon, and they were doing some shady stuff, then, boom, Kung Lao was alive."

"Did this Jade Tiger Band organization recently revive Kung Lao? Are you sure it was him?" Liu Kang continues to press.

"I dunno. Kenshi was the one who saw the whole ordeal, not me."

"And where is Kenshi now?" Geras's blue eyes glanced occasionally at Johnny, but his attention primarily remained on the Fire God, analyzing him.

Johnny debates if he should come forward now about Kenshi's occupation. I mean, Kenshi was not only doing FBI work, he was actively on the look out for any suspicious activity from Outworld and other similar realms. He's literally the Men in Black! He can't imagine that his line of work did not eventually cross, at least, Geras's ears. Then again, he did promise...

"He's working right now. Something urgent came up, business stuff." As if Johnny could sound any more convincing as he rubbed the back of his head.

There's a nerve-wracking silence before Liu Kang takes the first initiative, "Geras, the Hourglass."

That's all Liu Kang had to say to have the construct nod along with him, the pair leaving the room without Johnny in flames and sand. "W-wait, what about the Hourglass?" Johnny is too late to ask as the pair disappear without him.

Just as they vacate the Fire Temple, Shujinko rushes with a tray full of food, huffing as he reaches the inner sanctum. "My apologies, Lord Liu Kang, but I was held...Back..." Shujinko looks around the empty space, wondering where the Fire God had gone. His brown eyes meet the actor, eyes widening. "Johnny Cage?"

"Oh. Uh, hey," Johnny flashes his quick signature Hollywood smile. The moment he notices the food tray, his stomach begins to rumble. "Say, um, you don't intend to eat all that, right?"

Geras and Liu Kang materialize in front of the Hourglass, the massive relic standing at attention.

"We need to find him, quickly. Goes as far back as you can!" Liu Kang expresses his urgency as he watches Geras approach the Hourglass.

"It is not something that can be easily accomplished. My duties away from the Hourglass means I have missed significant passages of time. I will not know where to look nor how far back to go. And depending on where in time Kung Lao may have been, he could be anywhere."

"Try Fengjian." Liu Kang says with no hesitation.

Geras looks back at Liu Kang, an unspoken question that's only apparent in his eyes. A silent conversation occurs between the pair, communicating solely with their eyes. Liu Kang can't say it's 100% what Kung Lao would do. Based on personal, future experience, he only became an undead, a Revenant to be exact, because of Quan Chi's manipulation. But the moment he was allowed his own autonomy, to put it bluntly, the dead crave the living and all that once brought them meaning.

As though Geras found something that Liu Kang unspokenly said that was agreeable, Geras waves his arms about, conducting the ritual dance as the sand within the Hourglass coalesces and swarms within the glass. "Where should we start?"

"Any time within a year and a half. All we need is evidence that he's out there."

The pair watched the Hourglass, sand synthesizing as Geras sought through prior hours, days, and months. In the construct's eyes, he's wandering a desert, a sandstorm dangerously blowing in his face. Under normal circumstances, the fast-flowing particles would be enough to skin him, suffocate him, blow Geras off his feet. But Geras is master of this inner, hidden realm as he walks through the storm undisturbed. Through the rushing sand, outlines of buildings and people walk in reverse from him, passing him by as they perform actions as though they must do so backward, their speech incomprehensible. Nothing is evident in this tempest of sand; everything is blurry and obscured.

Geras stops in his stride, raising his hand and snapping his fingers. The sandstorm immediately settles upon his command. The surrounding area was built upon nothing by the microscopic particles; every building, plant, material, and person was walking pillars of sand. No longer were these figures moving in reverse as time in this realm resumed as it should. Geras looks into the sandy crowd, seeking out Kung Lao's body. He should be fortunate that Fengjian is relatively small, but size isn't so much the problem; it's time.

Liu Kang watches Geras closely as he scours through the Hourglass, waiting for the inevitable reveal.

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

Boy does it feel good to be back. Let's look forward to more chapters in the future!

[axewchao]

A Difficult Topic To Broach

Broach (v): To raise a sensitive or difficult subject for discussion.

In which the Rito and the Hylian have a long overdue talk.

Story's under the readmore! And it's a long one, longest I've probably ever written! Enjoy the wall of text, y'all :'D

~~~

Revali could count on one wing all the times he'd been this nervous.

His first archery competition. His first flight race. The first time another Rito showed romantic interest in him. That time he challenged his endurance by flying nonstop for several hours, followed by him crash-landing on Satori Mountain and meeting the mountain's Lord face-to-face, ending with him shrieking in pure terror as he ran away.

But this… this was something else entirely. It wasn't his pride nor his life on the line, merely his heart.

It had been several weeks since he retrieved that accursed mask from the aforementioned mountain. Several weeks of replaying everything in his head, searching for any signs of deceit or truth, and giving himself a headache from his indecisiveness. Several weeks of lying awake at night with the mask in his arms, refusing to admit that he wished the mask's owner was there with him, to have those long-winded talks he'd grown so fond of.

Several weeks of avoiding the Hylian that caused all this, either hiding out of reach on Medoh or staying out of sight as much as possible when grounded by the other Champions as a group. Daruk and Mipha ended up having Revali as both backup and a sparring partner more often, not that either of them showed any complaints. If anything, Daruk in particular was overjoyed, assuming that their normally standoffish Rito ally was finally coming out of his shell. Rather than deny it, Revali for once held his tongue, letting the loud Goron think whatever he pleased.

The proud back "pats" he could do without, though.

And Urbosa? Revali never liked it when she tried lecturing him, or gave him that look that said 'I can read you like a book.' But it seemed as though this time she was just as in dark as everyone else, only commenting on Revali's shift in behavior a few times before moving on to more important matters, like the Princess' wellbeing, along with her knight's.

Speaking of that little knight…

Revali's rage over "the incident" had mostly died down, enough for him to stomach seeing the Hylian or hearing the other man's name without sneering. The knight in question didn't seem to make any effort to seek Revali out as far as he could tell, though whether it was because of guilt or indifference remained unclear. Revali's first instinct was to assume the latter; that the other boy was back to being his unemotive, uncaring, placid-faced self after his little stunt.

But those dark circles under his eyes, the signs of neglect in his hair, his ears somehow drooping even more than they already do, the overall faded complexion he'd displayed since that fateful night…

No one would take an act that far… would they?

If he truly wished to “toy” with you as you say, would he have bothered to reveal his true self at all?

That was the question Medoh probed Revali with, one he couldn't answer. Because truthfully, he was afraid.

Afraid that everything he assumed was right. That the perfect Rito, the perfect person he was able to form a meaningful connection with, was nothing more than a wicked, heartless lie.

Just this once, he wanted to be wrong.

~~~

Asking the Hylian to meet him alone was not easy.

Something always got in the way. A new monster to fight, a Yiga ambush, the knight just not being left alone for even one damn minute. For all of Zelda's efforts to get away from her appointed knight, he always found a way to keep her in his line of sight. And when she wasn't around, someone else was. From Mipha healing his wounds, to Urbosa dragging him off for sparring or lectures or Medli knows what else, to Daruk challenging his "brother" to random tests of strength. All in an effort to "get the little guy out of his funk!" in the big lug's own words.

Regardless of his "funk" being real or not, Revali had to give the Hylian credit where it was due; enduring such a complete lack of personal space for weeks on end wasn't something just anyone could do. Not without snapping, anyway. Revali would've undoubtedly started pecking at someone or plucking his own feathers by now if he were in the Hylian's talons. Er, shoes.

Was this the reason why he only appeared as a Rito at night, then? Because that was the only free time he actually had? And he chose to spend it with—

Revali forced the faint traces of hope in his heart back down. It was too soon for things like that. That was another thing Medoh told him: to not take his first guess and run with it. The ancient bird really was trying to act like a mentor of sorts, turning this into one giant "lesson" for Revali to learn.

The timing could've been better on her end. Maybe when Revali's ability to trust others wasn't in danger, perhaps? Just throwing it out there.

Now, with all these obstacles in place, simply waiting until nightfall was obviously the correct option, right? Oh, how he wished.

Even on the nights where he wasn't too tired to think clearly, all it would take is one glance at the Hylian and Revali's nerves would fly right out the window. He gave himself excuse after excuse; it's too soon, I don't know what to say, the others will hear us, he'll humiliate me. But the topic needed to be broached, whether Revali liked it or not.

It was either that or suffer in silence forever.

So with a heavy wing and pounding heart, he reached out and grabbed the Hylian's shoulder, stopping both of them from following everyone to the Highland Stable. He ignored the way the other man nearly flinched as he leaned in from behind, his beak barely brushing against a silver-pierced ear.

"We need to talk." He whispered urgently, "Meet me in Faron Woods. Tonight."

The burgundy-haired boy hesitated before nodding, not even turning to meet Revali's eyes. In a way, Revali was grateful; he felt like he would've cracked under the stress if he had to look at those darkened purple irises again. He pulled his wing away as though he'd been burned and continued onward, leaving the knight behind.

He kept walking, even passing the princess and other Champions, eyes firmly locked on his own talons.

He didn't look back, not even when several voices called his name in concern.

~~~

Night had come much sooner than Revali would've wanted.

The sky was clear, both the stars and rising moon were in perfect view, so Revali had no need to worry about getting lost in the dark due to his damned lack of night vision. Under any other circumstance, the moonlight streaking through the trees would've been a lovely sight, but it currently failed to ease his racing mind.

As he walked (he didn't run, shut up) across Fural Plain towards the woods, Revali made the choice to wait by the entrance instead of going inside. This way, he could keep an eye out for when the man in question showed up. The last thing he wanted was to be left sitting in the woods alone like some fool.

He already made a fool of me once, no reason to let him dig the knife in.

Enough of that, Revali.

Revali nearly set off his gale in a panic. Medoh?! Gods, I told you to stop scaring me like that!!

My apologies. But my point still stands, you must stop that nonsense.

What are you talking about?

Clinging to your assumptions. You are doing it again. Medoh paused, as if sighing. And you were doing so well earlier…

Revali scoffed. I don't recall asking for your approval.

Perhaps you did not, but I will express it anyway. Medoh wasn't capable of chuckling, but Revali could practically hear it regardless. You were indeed doing well before. And it is clear that you are trying to do well now. I am glad to see that you took my words to heart.

Revali growled under his breath as he smoothed down his feathers. …Thanks.

Hm? I detect a note of… what was it again… sarcasm? Are you being sarcastic with me?

Don't give me that, you know what sarcasm is, Medoh.

Yes, yes, I am well aware. I was simply trying to calm you down with our usual banter. Medoh's tone suddenly turned to faint concern. Your mind is filled with troubled thoughts…

Revali didn't reply, his crest drooping as he looked down. He leaned against a tree and hugged himself, despite there being no chill in the air.

Are you alright?

Alright? Revali's eyes burned, How could I possibly be alright? My heart could be shattered to pieces by sunrise. How do you expect me to feel?

So you decided to confront him after all?

Aren't you literally in my head all the time?

Medoh paused again before answering, her tone switching back to that of a consultant. Revali… I understand that you are fearing the worst. But I believe that you are… how to put it… overprepared.

Revali raised a brow. What?

You have made yourself aware of the worst possible outcome. Which is, again, understandable. But in the process, you are convincing yourself that the worst result is the only one you will get. Have you forgotten what I said before?

Revali sighed. No… I haven't. But what if…

…Yes?

What if… Revali gulped, his heart picking up speed once more. What if he really is sorry? What then?

Medoh made a confused trill. I do not understand your question.

If he really was just using me, at least then I know what I'll do; hate him for all eternity, never forgive him, and never give him the time of day again. But… If he wasn't, then… Revali trailed off, reluctant to finish the thought.

I do not have the answer to that. What happens next between the two of you is for you both to decide.

Yeah… Revali sighed, I figured you wouldn't. He looked up, gazing toward the distant stable. I know he agreed to come, but…

I am not nearby, so I cannot see him. Nor can I currently see him through your eyes. But the night is young, and you left rather early.

That much was true. Revali had opted to leave for the forest as soon as he'd finished eating that evening. Everyone (minus Mipha and Daruk, who ate their own fill of fish and rocks respectively) had carrot soup this time, but sadly they weren't the godly Kakariko carrots, so he couldn't distract himself with a delicious meal. All he could do was eat quietly while the others talked, and steal glances at the Hylian when no one else was watching.

He has a name, you know.

Oh, shut it.

Yet another preparation, perhaps? Teaching yourself to stop addressing him by name in case the worst comes to pass?

Revali felt himself flush under his feathers, mostly out of anger than embarrassment over the beast's correct guess. Shut up!

You are better off waiting until after your suspicions are confirmed or denied before you try something like this. You have been refusing to call him by name for weeks now.

If he really is as cruel as any other Hylian, then I don't even want to think about his name, let alone utter it. Is that a crime now?

It is if you are doing it before you talk to him. Must you be so dramatic?

It's not dramatic! If he saw no reason to treat me with respect then I don't—

Honestly, Revali… Medoh cut him off, It would not kill you to hold off on your judgement a moment longer. Now be still and hold your tongue. Revali's vision suddenly gained a faint blue hue. The Divine Beast was using his eyes.

The stable. Look again.

Revali did as he was told, but wasn't sure what he was looking for. The blue of Medoh's presence made everything blend together. …What? What is it?

…He is coming. It would seem that much like you, he has no intentions of wasting time.

Wait, what-?! Revali's feathers puffed in alarm. He shook his head and blinked several times, willing Medoh's vision away. Sure enough, there he was, walking down the path towards the now-panicking Rito. His head was down, so Revali couldn't see his face, just locks of burgundy that were much duller than they should've been, even under moonlight.

His time was running out.

No no no no no, not now! Revali hid behind a tree, hoping his feathers would blend in with the foliage. How long has he-? I don't even know what I'll-! He grabbed at his frazzled crest, Medoh, help me out here!! What do I do-?!

As I said before, what happens next depends on you. Both of you, and no one else. I refuse to interfere.

You couldn't give me a better warning, at least-?! Revali mentally yelled as he frantically smoothed down his feathers.

Calm yourself. Be patient and listen to his defense. Once all has been said, then you may pass your judgement. And not a moment sooner. Do you understand?

I… I…

Do you understand, Revali?

Revali's eyes started to burn, and he shut them tight. After a moment's hesitation, he finally relented. …Yes. I understand.

Good. I will leave you to settle this mess. Do not do anything rash, and do not act as though woe is all that betides you.

Was Medoh really about to just leave him to fend for himself here?? Sure, he never asked for Medoh's assistance in this matter, or any matter at all before, but him not asking never stopped her from meddling anyway!

I wish you the best of luck, my Champion. And with that, Medoh's presence was gone.

Of all the times to leave him alone… why now? It felt like Medoh had just thrown him to the wolves. Damned beast!!

All Revali could do was curl his hands into fists as he tried to force himself to calm down. Keep a straight face. Don't let the Hylian know that his will was unsteady. He had to be firm and direct, like always. He could do this. He had to do this. He—

…was cut off by the sound of someone gasping under their breath.

Oh dear Zephos and Cyclos, he couldn't do this.

Revali looked over his shoulder, and there he was, just a couple feet away.

He felt a brief chill as he stared into those pupilless purple eyes. Eyes that once shone with a light pink glow, eyes that once made him feel a number of different things. They were still rimmed with dark circles, implying that the Hylian either became a night owl from doing gods know what after dark, or he simply wasn't sleeping well.

Revali was afraid to find out the answer. But he already knew that through the conversation they were about to have, he'd get that answer anyway.

At Revali's lack of a reply, the Hylian ducked his head again, looking down at the ground. He raised it back up when Revali cleared his throat.

"Well, it's… good to know that you're punctual." Gods, even that was hard to say. He turned his back, waving the other over with a wing. "Follow me."

He heard footsteps following behind him, and that was enough for now.

~~~

Faron Woods was bigger than it looked on a map.

And in a way, that was a good thing. It meant that when Revali found a decent spot to sit, the view was lovely without looking too cramped or foreboding. The trees overhead provided cover, but still let streaks of blue light through, making even the leaves resemble sapphires. It was a scene worth painting, or taking a picture with the Sheikah Slate.

If things went well, Revali could look back on this clearing fondly. But if they didn't…

His feathers ruffled at the idea. Ignoring the urge to smooth them back down again, he glanced over at the Hy-

You are better off waiting until after your suspicions are confirmed or denied before you try something like this.

…at Dalex, who quickly turned away from him. Even under the shade of the trees, Revali could still see how disheveled he was. He was almost tempted to call this little meeting off and send Dalex back to the stable to rest. But it was too late to turn back; they were already here, and if Revali forced himself to delay this once more, he doubted he'd ever be able to fully shake off the shame.

Revali is many things, but a coward is not, nor shall it ever be, one of them.

He crossed his arms and braced himself. "You… you know exactly why I asked you to come here. Don't you." It was a statement, not a question.

Dalex's ears twitched as he nodded. His silence didn't sit well with Revali.

"You can't nod your way out of this. You and I both know that you can talk." If he looked away as soon as Dalex flinched, then it didn't happen, right?

Be patient. Do not do anything rash.

Revali sighed, "For the last few weeks, I've… been thinking about what I'd say to you. About… that." He couldn't hide the anger in his voice, only lower it. "I thought I'd have everything worked out, like I always do. But… I don't."

Dalex said nothing, the only indication that he was still listening being the twitching of his ears.

"You…" He crossed his arms, "We both know what you did. I don't see any need to waste time pointing it all out." And if he did so, he'd either crack or succumb to rage, and he wasn't about to do either.

Yet again, Dalex said nothing, but his ears drooped impossibly lower.

"There… ever since you… 'revealed' yourself to me, there've been nothing but questions running through my head. So many questions. And every time I thought about asking you, I just…" He squeezed his arms, willing his feathers not to ruffle. Now was not the time for that.

At the third lack of a reply, Revali felt his patience wane. They'll be sitting here til dawn at this rate.

"I'd like you to look me in the eye when I'm speaking to you, Sta-… Dalex." His crest lowered at the near slip-up.

He felt a wave of regret when Dalex finally did look at him. A light breeze had tousled the bangs that normally covered half of Dalex's face, revealing the right side that was hidden from everyone despite looking just as normal as the left.

He looks so exhausted…

If Revali was wrong in the end, that sight wouldn't be leaving his memories any time soon.

"I suppose I will just say it, then…" His beak hung open, piles of questions forming in his throat as though they were at war over which one could come out first. In the end, he settled on the one that was there the longest:

"Why did you pretend to be the Sta-… him?"

Dalex blinked, clearly expecting something else. For Revali to yell again, perhaps? Like he did that night? Part of him wanted to. But just asking that one question took all the anger out of him, leaving nothing but hollow longing.

You were at your happiest when you were with him. If the way he acted as the Starling had any hint of truth, then I want you to be able to see that.

Revali didn't need night vision to see the hints of reluctance in Dalex's eyes. "I won't yell, or scream, or cut you off, none of that. I want to hear what you have to say."

Listen to his defense. Once all has been said, then you may pass your judgement. And not a moment sooner.

He saw Dalex's mouth twitch, and he bowed his head. "…Please."

He heard Dalex take a deep breath, and then…

"I… I just wanted a break."

Revali raised his head, confused. A… break? "From what?"

"Everything." Dalex's shoulders fell, and his breath hitched. "I've been training to be the Legendary Hero for so long… I couldn't do anything but train, no one would allow me to do anything else. Not when Ganon could show up at any time and destroy everything. I had to follow Her Highness everywhere she went, even if she hated my guts and wanted nothing to do with me. I have to listen to other knights acting like jealous little pricks because I got the Master Sword and they didn't."

Revali winced at that last statement, but thankfully Dalex had already covered his face with his hand.

"Everyone looks at me like I'm either a god amongst men that will save them all or the bane of their existence, and I just-" He stopped, his whole body shuddering. "…Do you remember what I said at Warbler's Nest?"

He most certainly did. How could he forget?

"My life had barely gotten started and I already had to give it up. I couldn't say no; my-… what I had to do, what I still have to do is too important. Is… is it wrong if I'm upset about it…?"

Revali told him otherwise that night… He held the Sta- Dalex's wing in his own and told him that it wasn't fair.

"If I were in your wings, I’d be completely furious.”

"All this time, I never got the chance to do anything unless I had a reason, a damn good one at that. If it wasn't necessary for my role as the Hero, then I couldn't do it. I wasn't… I'm not supposed to be anything but the Hero."

Were… were Revali's ears tricking him or did he just hear a sniffle?

"I… have to be the Hero. I can't be anything else. Not until Ganon's gone. But I…" He pushed his bangs away, eyes now shining with unshed tears. "I was just so tired."

You look like you're still tired. Revali thought to himself. "That's why you used the mask?"

Dalex rubbed his eyes, nodding. "I didn't- I wasn't trying to… to quit, or anything, I'd never do that. I just, I just wanted to get away from it, for a little while."

"But… surely you've heard about those things before. Many have claimed that they'll curse those foolish enough to wear them." Revali personally didn't believe in such things, but he heard it through the grapevine plenty of times, especially near the end of autumn.

"Yeah… I know. That's what I said to the guy that gave me the mask in the first place." A tear fell before he could stop it, and Revali felt a chill run down his spine at the hero's admission. "But… but that first night, I just kept thinking about everything. About my duty, about Her Highness, about Ganon, about y-…"

About… me? Revali's heart fluttered, and he couldn't fathom why.

"I couldn't… I couldn't handle it anymore. I put it on, turned into- into him, and…"

"…Bumped into me." Revali finished. He remembered that night clearly as well. He never thought a Rito could be so clumsy, crashing into him just as he reached his favorite landing. That could've been the only time they ever interacted, but… "…Why spend your 'break' with me, then?"

Dalex made a choked noise, like he was holding back a sob.

"We both know that I've made my… opinions on your status as the Hero very clear. By all means, you should've wanted to avoid me as much as the princess avoids you. Yet you sought out my company above anyone else's."

"I-I wasn't- I mean, I didn't-" Dalex stammered, rubbing his eyes. "I just thought… I thought that things would be different. If I didn't have that damn sword."

Revali tilted his head. "Different?"

Dalex suddenly glared, the tear streaks somehow making his expression even more intense. "Everything I said to you as… as him. Think about what those things were."

Revali was struck silent as memories rushed to the front of his mind, one after another.

"Revali, that was incredible! How're you able to hit so many bullseyes from so far away?!"

"I never thought your bow would have so much weight to it… you're stronger than you look!"

"You're really lucky you get to see your mom all the time… I can't wait to see mine again."

"You know, I was wondering… You've picked up a lot of blacksmithing know-how from your mom. More than I've ever heard, at least. What made you turn to archery, anyway?"

"Ugh, how can you stand carrots? They're awful! Wha- EWWW! Keep them away from me, you- you featherbrain!"

"I never thought there'd be so many uses for your feathers… You guys are like, masters at repurposing."

"Fly across the Gerudo Desert, huh… I never thought about what lay beyond all that sand… but if your dad came from somewhere out there, then yeah, there's gotta be something! It's not like Hyrule is the only place with life in it, after all!"

"Maybe the other Champions were blessed. That's all well and good, but… I have to agree with you, nothing can beat hard work to get where you need to be. And your Gale is… It's more than just a skill. It's literally the start of a whole new legacy for all the Rito."

And one memory in particular stood out amongst all the others:

"To be honest, Revali… I can't remember the last time I talked to someone about anything other than my-… my journey. How important it is, how 'honorable' and 'noble' it is… I'm sick of hearing that. I just want to talk about literally anything else, and… I can, with you. It… It's nice, is what I'm saying."

Dalex, the Legendary Hero, the Hylian Champion, the mightiest knight in all of Hyrule… had said those words right to Revali's face.

"Would you have believed me if I said them the way I am now?" At Revali's silence, Dalex chuckled. "Thought so… You know, hearing you actually have a problem with me being the Hero… it was refreshing, in a way."

"Wh-Refreshing?" Revali was taken aback, "I fail to see how-"

"You didn't like that I had the sword, yeah. But… you weren't a complete ass about it. You at least offered to let me prove myself to you a few times instead of moaning and groaning nonstop." Like that time he suggested they battle on Medoh's back, followed by him bailing from Dalex's lack of a response. Not one of Revali's better moments…

"And… I've seen the way you act when, uh, 'off duty,' I guess. 'Specially around kids. It's sweet."

Revali's feathers ruffled at the compliment. It was true, he'd been known to dote on the children back in Rito Village; offering archery lessons, cooking large meals to feed them in groups, telling stories of his battles against the more powerful monsters, and so on. He'd caught Dalex listening in only once, but that was apparently enough.

"But… whenever you spoke to me, it always came back to my title. That stupid sword. And I just…" Dalex sighed, rubbing his arm. "I thought that… maybe if I didn't have it, then I'd actually get to talk to you. I'd been wanting to, anyway…"

"Have you now…?" Something about that statement made Revali's heart beat just a little faster.

"And I did. And it was… probably some of, if not the best nights I've ever had in my life. I could finally be… me. I actually remembered how to do that, even after a decade of being the Hero." Dalex's smile fell as soon as it came. "But as time went by, and I got to know you more, I…"

"…You what?"

"I started to realize it- it still wasn't-" Dalex pinched his brow, struggling to find his words. "It still wasn't me. Not in your eyes. Could I really count as your friend when you didn't even know who I really was?" He stopped to sniffle before continuing, "That's… that's why I…"

"…You took off the mask in front of me." Revali finished for him.

Dalex nodded, crossing his arms. "You… you deserve a real friend. Someone that can actually speak to you without needing to hide behind a mask the whole time. When I realized what I was doing, I… I had to stop it. I was being selfish and I was hurting you and…" He stopped to take a breath, then raised his eyes to meet Revali's. "And I'm so sorry."

Had… Had Dalex ever apologized for this before? Revali couldn't remember; most of that night became a blur due to his heartbreak and rage. He wouldn't be surprised if his outburst prevented Dalex from doing just that.

Hearing it now, though… it felt real. Revali wanted it to be real, so badly.

"You… you don't have to worry about me using it anymore. The mask, I mean. I threw it away." Dalex briefly looked away to growl under his breath, "Whoever finds it can have it, for all I care…"

Now the former, Revali remembered hearing Dalex say, before Revali silenced him with a gale as he fled. And thanks to a little (er, big) birdy, Revali had undeniable proof that Dalex had completely abandoned the mask. It took a fair bit of strength to not admit that he knew already, and that said mask was now hidden away in his own home.

As for what Revali could say… was there anything? Dalex had said his piece, so…

Listen to his defense. Once all has been said, then you may pass your judgement.

"…I would say that I knew what to think about all of this… but frankly, I don't." He ran a wing through his crest, "If I hadn't blown up at you when I did, then maybe you would've said all this already. Maybe we'd already know where to go from here. Or have an idea, at least…"

Dalex fell silent once more, ears twitching at his words.

I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but… Medoh was right. I was too prepared. Now I don't know what to do.

"I… don't know if I forgive you yet. Or even at all." He didn't see Dalex wince. He didn't. "But… It doesn't seem like you're lying, at least."

He did see the stunned look cross Dalex's face. Once again, it looked as though he was expecting Revali to say something else. An accusation, perhaps? A blatant disregard of his reasons behind everything that's happened between them?

When Revali thought about it, Dalex hadn't so much as tried to beg or fish for forgiveness in the entire conversation… Was he preparing for the worst too? If he was, then that would mean he…

The possibility is there. You know this. That he truly felt remorse for hurting you so.

Revali rubbed his temples as he felt a headache come on. The constant mental back-and-forths haven't been doing him any favors these past few weeks. He was so tired…

"Are… are you alright?" Revali heard the concern in Dalex's voice, and waved it off with a wing.

"I'm fine." Without giving Dalex a chance to reply, he started to stand. "…We should head back."

It was an abrupt end, Revali knew this. And he was pretty sure that they'd have to talk about this a bit more before Revali could make a decision. But again, he was tired. This whole conversation was probably the most exhausting thing he'd experienced in weeks, and all he'd mostly done was sit and listen. At this point, he just wanted to curl up in a cheap stable bed and sleep.

He was so tired, in fact, that he didn't even think twice about offering his wing to Dalex, who took it without uttering another word. Nothing was said when he gave that smaller hand a mild squeeze, and nothing was said when he held onto it, only letting go once they exited Faron Woods.

It wasn't the wing Revali held at Warbler's Nest all those nights ago. Not even close.

But… it still felt the same.

[demetriandelibinaryboyfriends]

Not me realizing that in my epic frenzy of posting YasMoon moodboards on main I have, in fact, not made any moodboards for my Main Boys in a long time D: Not since the Halloween ones, I don't think???

WELL ANYWAYS. I made the lads a Spotify playlist!!! It was very long overdue tbh, but I finally stopped caring if my irls on Spotify would judge me for having a gay karate ship playlist XD Sorry it took me 2 years into having this blog to make the boys an official playlist ^^;

Now, now, I know what you're thinking. "WHERE is the TSwift??? WHERE is the TSwift that goes so perfectly with my Elimetri???" A valid concern! There are in fact so many TSwift songs that go with Elimetri that they're getting their own playlist. I've got a moodboard for that one coming soon, too!!!

They sadly didn't have neat little lyrics edits for my fave songs from the playlist, so I had to make them myself lol. If you're curious, they are: 1. Can't Let It Go - The Goo Goo Dolls 2. Time Bomb - All Time Low 3. Want You Like That - Charlotte Sands 4. Queen of the Night - Hey Violet (this one actually has a ficlet that goes with it <3)

I hope y'all appreciate my extra-ass moodboard, because I busted my ass making it XD Those text overlays were HARD, dude. I had to do like 50 font changes and adjust the outlines and shadows over and over before any of it showed up D: But I like how it came out in the end, so all worth it <3 <3 <3 Made it blue and purple-toned because they look damn good in blue and purple. RIP the purple hawk, lost but never forgotten </3 Wild that I found a DnD dice with a bird on it. Kind of a dramatic, raptor-looking bird, furthermore. Talk about the fates aligning to perfectly blend Eli's nerdy and avian-coded personality XD

Again, apologies that it took so long for the Elimetri Hyperfixation Account to...make an Elimetri playlist XD If anyone has song suggestions, lemme know in the comments or the reblogs and I'll give them a listen! Also down to do a full-blown lyrical analysis for any of these songs if y'all want it. I am. SO ready to talk about this <3 <3 <3

Moodboard pic credits available upon request, as always!

[ultraericthered]

This post feels so old now, but I realize that I didn't really go that in-depth regarding the source material manga, which went on to tell more stories than the anime was able to adapt before ending its run and concluding that shitty overarching narrative. So what can I say?

I feel like the anime, aside from "Change" in OVA 2, is an overall superior product to the manga purely because it got cut shorter and never got around to reaching the point of feeling it had far overstayed its welcome. The sole big drawbacks would be how the second season wasn't arranged and paced as well as it should've been and that we missed out on the last really great arc done in the manga, the "Chitoge is moving away to America" arc. When that arc hits and eventually concludes (early into Volume 19 at Chapter 163), that is the Nisekoi manga at its peak - it is the highest point for almost every character, Raku esspecially. In this post I said how I'd wanted Raku to acknowledge in words his and Chitoge's "best friends" status near the end of Season 1? He actually does it at this point in Chapter 162! And it's followed by Raku and Chitoge moving in together, Marika finally placing first in a popularity poll, and the long overdue open reveal about Kosaki being the Promise Girl (the anime's Season 2 was about to air at this time too!). Great endgame set-up, right?

Literally everything following that point? A slogging, painful descent down the drain. Think the crappy teen romance drama of Star VS The Forces of Evil in its second half, then magnify and multiply it - that is what the last third of the Nisekoi manga feels like and it's pretty damn trying, especially with Raku whittling away at nearly all the goodwill he'd earned from everything up to that one arc (he got booted from the Top 10 in the final popularity poll for a reason!) There are still entertaining beats and character moments, but they're not something that needed to be worked into a serialized main storyline!

The very last few chapters actually do sort of work on their own, with Raku narrowly saving himself from Scrappy Heap Hell by accepting that he and Onodera are not going to work as a couple despite the childhood promise and that Chitoge is the only option since she's who he actually feel truly in love with, and the main couple being the endgame we all knew they'd be with the "Raku lets Chitoge cite all of her flaws and says he loves her anyway" part I mentioned, which is legit beautiful and I wish had a steadier journey to that destination. But then there are still questionable decisions like how Onodera gets treated and how Raku decides to take over his father's yakuza and work in alliances with the Mafia and Big Government (which actually works if we're to take it as confirmation that Raku isn't a very good person, which pays off his moral degeneracy, callous behavior and inconsiderate treatment of others, but I don't think it was the intent.)

Bottom line is, you can A: watch the anime without reading the manga, B: watch it and then read the manga chapters but stop at 163, C: do that same thing and then skip to seeing how it all ends, or D: just read the whole manga chapter by chapter and arc by arc at a slow and steady pace so that it doesn't drive you as up the wall. When engaging with Nisekoi in general, you just need to be prepared for what you're in for, hoping for the best while expecting the worst.

So, I finished my watching of Nisekoi (Fake Love) a while back. Gonna post some of my scattered thoughts about the series, it’s execution, and all of it’s core components here.

Keep reading

[wearevillaneve]

Sandra Oh is a LOSER and I have receipts.

Sandra Oh has been nominated 13 times for an Emmy Award and she has not won 13 times. Damn, gurl. What seems to be the problem here? You mean to tell me you weren't good enough not once, not twice, not thrice, not a dozen times, but THIRTEEN times?

Sorry, baby. It's all true. How do you spell "loser?" You spell it S-A-N-D-R-A-O-H. Okay, here's the thing. I'm only a few more weeks/days/hours/minutes/seconds from pulling the plug on WeAreVillaneve across every social media platform and since the show is dead, over, and buried, how much longer am I supposed to carry on? Gurl, please!

I'm all done with this "Yes, someone else was better than Sandra Oh for the 13th time, but oh well the writing wasn't that good and Zendaya was really good in Euphoria" bullshit.

Hey! Wasn't I supposed to be the star? WTF? Why are you smirking, Jodie, huh?

Sandra Oh has been nominated for an Emmy award 13 times and she has lost 13 times. Eleven times to a White woman and two times to a Black biracial woman and that is all well and good, but it is not. It really is not.

Sandra can style n' profile on the carpet and blow up social media by showing up rocking that Prince-inspired PURPLE in all her fierceness and ferocity, but when she actually steps inside, takes her seat, and sits quietly for the next three to four hours of jokes falling flat, commercial breaks, and categories she doesn't give a single shit about until they FINALLY get to Best Actress in A Drama and the actual award we tuned in to see, and once again loses because Someone Not Named Sandra Oh just oh-so happened to give a better performance than her it doesn't matter if their name is Claire Foy, Blythe Danner (x2), Katherine Heigel, Dianne Wiest, Jane Lynch, Zendaya (x2), Jodie Comer or Cherry "Who?" Jones.

All that matters is their name isn't Sandra Miju Oh. So yes, I AM blaming Sandra's 13th loss upon the fact that even White Liberal AF Hollywood is STILL located in Racist AF Amerikka and the fact is Sandra Oh is still too much of a badass, too unapologetic, too 50+, and too damn It's An Honor Just To Be Asian woman, and the Emmys ain't wit' it. Don't want to piss off those conservative corporations that buy up ad space on television and own movie studios or China by giving the Korean American Canadian her long-goddamn-overdue Emmy.

She can wait, right? Asian don't raisin, amirite?

Sandra Oh stood in the middle of the street in Pittsburgh after Asians had been targeted in Atlanta and across the U.S. and said I AM PROUD TO BE ASIAN AND I BELONG HERE and the Queen said it with her whole entire chest and damn whether or not White Liberal Hollywood was on board yet or not. Sandra spoke out when it would have been easier to not speak up.

Maybe that came back to bite her. Maybe it didn't. Maybe something else entirely, but I'm not going to treat Sandra being stubbed for the 13th and for all four seasons of Killing Eve as business-as-usual/somebody was better and ermigawd Zendaya is incredible!!!

Which she is. But is Zendaya and all the many other not-Sandras so much better than Sandra Oh? Sorry, but not sorry baby. Sandra Got Snubbed I give not one shit if Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Nikki Swift, the entire Killing Eve fandom in general, or you specifically agree with me or not.

Sandra Oh is Too Proud/Too Asian for Hollywood and that is fact and that is the truth. That's the truth and this 13th loss is the proof of it. I'm right and you're wrong and that's it. NOBODY loses thirteen damn times and it's just an unhappy coincidence. Don't be stupid or play me and Sandra like we are. We know what the Emmy wants and what it does not want to do is give Sandra Oh her Emmy.

So, roll up your excuses and do it any way you wanna but at the end of the day Sandra Oh was snubbed and I give not a single shit if Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Nikki Swift, and the entire Killing Eve fandom agree with me or not. Facts are facts, fam, and the facts are Sandra got screwed.

AGAIN.

Disagree all you want. I'm okay because reasonable people can disagree reasonably But then it's on you to show me where I'm wrong.

[shugojima]

𝗠𝗲𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝘂̄𝗴𝗼 🍋♀️

⚠️MANGA SPOILERS⚠️

𝖳𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 much 𝗇𝖾𝖼𝖾𝗌𝗌𝖺𝗋𝗒 𝖻𝖾𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝖨 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗌𝗂𝗆𝗉𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖽 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 6'5 𝗆𝗈𝗇𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝖿 𝖺 𝗆𝖺𝗇.

𝖥𝗎𝖼𝗄 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖬𝖾𝗂𝖺𝗇.

𝖥𝗎𝖼𝗄 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗌𝖾𝗑𝗒 𝖺𝗌𝗌.

𝖫𝗈𝗋𝖽 𝖨 𝗁𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗋𝗂𝗉 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁e𝗌𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗌𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝖼𝖼 𝖺𝗌𝗌 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝖼𝗋𝗎𝗌𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖼𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗅𝖾𝗀𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖽𝗂𝖼𝗄 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗌 𝗂𝗇𝗌𝗂𝖽𝖾 𝗆𝖾.

𝖨 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝖽𝗈 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗂𝗍.

𝖠𝖭𝖸𝖶𝖠𝖠𝖠𝖸𝖲

ENJOY♡︎ Omg I'm im love with this lol

𝖣𝖺𝖽𝖽𝗒✔︎

𝖳𝖾𝖺𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀✔︎

𝖣𝗂𝗋𝗍𝗒 𝗍𝖺𝗅𝗄✔︎

𝖯𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀✔︎

A lil 𝖢𝗁𝗈𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀✔︎

---

You were waiting for Meian to come home after a long trip with the msby's. They were practicing so hard and you were about to cook him his favourite meal cause he sure as hell would be hungry when he comes home.

Standing at the kitchen counter doing your stuff you started daydreaming about finally getting to lay in his arms again after the long, lonely weeks he were gone. You were so lost in thoughts and you didn't even notize him coming through the door.

Peacefully slicing some ingredients you shrieked as he hugged you from behind, throwing the knife away you turned around to face him.

"I'm sorry, princess. Didn't mean to scare you." he said smiling down at you, hugging you tight.

"Shougo!!!" You screamed when you realized it was your husband. You let go in his arms and fuck did you miss him. His touch, his scent, all of him...

"Missed me much.. hm?"

Nodding against his chest you sniffled a little when he started carressing your hair.

"Don't you dare leave me again!! I've been starving on cuddles and dick!" You snapped at him jokingly.

"On what?" he chuckled pulling away to look into your wet eyes.

"Cuddles and.... this." You repeaded, shamelessly starring at him while your hand found his half hard cock, grabbing it firmly through his pants.

"Fuck, princess... Let me at least take a shower." he said but you didn't give a damn. You needed him so bad. Not in half an hour, not in a minute, RIGHT FUCKING NOW.

Holy shit was your pussy drooling already.

"No time for that." You said as you hopped on the kitchen counter and lifted your skirt up a little.

His eyes widened from how desperate you were for his cock, displaying yourself so nicely in front of him.

"Daddy~.. Look... I think I made a mess." You looked at him with guilty, puppy eyes, sliding two of your fingers in between your soaked lips, knowing excatly how to get him going.

He swallowed hard at the sight of you being so fucking wet already.

Grabbing your wrist he stopped you from what you were doing and brought your slick fingers to his mouth before licking off your sweet juice.

"So that's how we play, yea? Fine."

He unbuckled his belt and got rid of his jacket before leaning in on you. But you quickly hold your hand to his chest stopping him right there.

"Your shirt."

Smirking he slowly took it off as you basically drooled all over the sight before you.

"Damn, Captain. Look at you." you said blushing hard.

The hard training was showing on his little more toned abs and his more dominant v line.

This level of hotness was illegal.

"My baby likes what she sees?"

"Fuck yes I do." You said as you grabbed him by his wrists, pulling him between your wide opened legs.

"So greedy..." he said pressing  his lips on yours, kissing you intensely, his tongue swishing around in your warm mouth when he pulled out his thick, hard cock and pressed it against your wet mess.

You moaned into the kiss sending shivers down his spine when you felt his tip at your entrance, pushing in slowly.

"FUCK! NGHHH..." Throwing your head back you held onto his broad shoulders as he fucked his whole length into your tight little hole.

"So that's what you missed, hm? Daddy's fat cock inside you? Is that right?"

"Ye- god!!- Yes!"

Laughing to himself about you going totally crazy on his cock his pace got faster and thrusts getting much deeper.

Your eyes rolling in the back of your head, he grabbed your throat and pushed you down on the counter.

"You're so fucking hot when you're horny like that, princess." He said, shortly before he pulled up your shirt and slapped your bare breast with his free hand, playing with your hard buds. The sound of your loud moans, mixed with his heavy balls slapping against your ass, filled the kitchen.

The firm grip around your throat getting tighter as he ordered

"Touch yourself, baby. I want you to be a good little girl and cream all over Daddy's cock, you hear me?"

"Y-Yes."

"What was that?" he raised a brow and stopped moving.

"Yes, Daddy!"

"That's a good girl..."

Thrusting hard again, stretching you out to the maximum you started to play with your sensitive clit, his lust filled, dark orbs glued to your fingers.

"D-Daddy I'm- I'm close.." you moaned feeling your high coming closer wanting to devour you whole.

"Let go, baby."

And you did.

Squeezing your eyes shut you felt your really damn overdue high approach and you literally exploded all over his cock.

"GOD.... FUCKING- NGHH HELL! SH-SHOUGO!!"

As soon as he heard his name coming out of your pretty mouth you felt his cock twitching inside you when he pulled out and came all over your body. Hot ropes of his cum spilling everywhere while he moaned and growled deeply, throwing his head back.

"I'm so happy you're home."

"I wouldn't have noticed at all." he chuckled.

[popculturebuffet]

Static Shock: Shock to the System and Aftershock Review

“You know what? 13 years ago, me and some friends sat in a restaurant all night and daydreamed about the kinds of stories we would tell if we had the chance. We wanted to expand the concept of superhero to include characters that kind of looked like us, who had some of the same background, experiences and dreams as we did. We wanted to create something fun that a new generation would respond to the same way we responded to our childhood heroes -and damn if we didn't succeed beyond my wildest dreams. Today, Static Shock is a household name with millions of fans of all ages (Is there stuff I'd do differently? Yeah, almost all of season four but why nitpick?) Static is the most successful thing I've ever helped create and I'm both proud and gratified that people have taken it into their hearts. “ 

Dwayne McDuffie, Co-Creator of Static and Writer for Static Shock

This review is dedicated to Dwayne McDuffie and Robert L. Washington III.                                                        Rest In Power Static Shock is awesome. I grew up with the show watching it both first run on the WB and second run on Cartoon Network and loved it as much as I did other large parts of my childhood courtsey of DC like Batman the Animated Series, Teen Titans and both Justice League Shows. What makes this unique among the DC Properties is that Static wasn’t really a big name when he got a show. He wasn’t even part of the DC Universe. 

See as I had no idea for probably a good decade, Static actually came from Milestone Comics, a company ran by and focused on african americans. The goal was understandable: While black heroes existed at the time, and there were some fantastic ones like Storm, Jim Rhodes and Steel... these guys weren’t the center of their universes. The big faces of the big  companies, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk, Iron Man, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash.. were white. So milestone was a shakeup of that with the main teams and heroes all being black, from Icon, an alien who’d lived among man but rather than end up in kansas like say superman ended up imprinting on a slave woman centuries ago and has been with us since, who was encouraged by an energetic teenager named Rocket to put on a costume and do something with his powers and his community, Hardware, a tech genius who had his work stolen by a white asshole and wanted to fight back and BLood Syndicate, a group of gang members all caught in the “The Big Bang”, a huge fight between all of Dakota, the midwest city where the comics take place, that ended when the police released a bunch of experimental gas that gave them all super powers. 

As most of you who have watched the show already know, this is where Static comes from. Static was the company making their own Spider-Man, i.e. a nerdy teenager who suddenly gets super powers, in this case Virgil Hawkins who at the prodding of a friend took a gun to The Big Bang to get revenge on a bully. .but ultimately couldn’t go through with it, decided it wasn’t him and got rid of the gun and ran.. and still ended up in it, becoming Static, a young hero dedicated to using his powers to fight other “Bang Babies”.. a term that dosen’t really sound that great and they really should’ve thought through. But Phrasing aside the character was great and I look forward to reading more and only haven’t because I have to buy the issues gradually, but DC is currently re-releasing the individual issues of Static, Icon, and Hardware weekly in anticipation of a reboot of Milestone Coming in May digitally on Comixology at only 2 bucks a pop, and rereleased the original print collections that were long out of print for 10 bucks each, though i’m getting static on it’s own since i’ts really not that much less expensive as it only collects four issues while Icon and Hardware both collect 8, so I can wait a bit there on Hardware and already own Icon: A Hero’s Welcome.. and really need to review it at some point. 

While Milestone’s output was good, at least from the two books i’ve read, with Robert Washinton III, who sadly not only ahs also passed but was fucking homeless for a while  in the 2000′s.. what the actual hell, writing Static alongside Dwayne McDuffie, whose later moved onto animation writing tons of Static episodes all of them classics including the school shooting episode, the first three rubberbandman episodes and both Anasazi episodes. Point is it had good writers and artists and even had a distrbution deal with DC, so they had a leg up on the glut of other comic book companies.. but happened to start at the start of the comic book crash, a huge downturn in sales in the 90′s as the speculator boom, i.e. a bunch of people assuming every number one would be worth golden and silver age money, forgetting a character has to BUILD INTREST and this stuff takes time, and whose attempts to sell fast flooded the market with comics no one wanted,, caused the roof to cave in and with a bunch of assholes pegging milestone as a “Company for black people” rather than you know, a company trying to add fucking diversity and represntation to the comics industry, and that simply wanted a unvierse that was centered around people of color instead of white guys. The company eventually had to shut down, and was left to lisencing.  This is where the show comes in. Producers HAD been trying to make shows based on Milestone for a while, as far back as the mid-90s and the company was was all for it but the closest it got was an x-men style team series using various characters whose first draft was terrible and whose second draft by Alan Burnett, a producer on various DC Animated shows who’d go on to produce Static Shock, that McDuffie and others really liked but sadly did not get picked up. eventually though with presistance Static ended up getting a series and as I said McDuffie went on to write for it though he did not develop it. Some changes went into place naturally to make it work for an early 2000′s kids show and while i’ll probably miss so since again, only read one issue as we go. But due to Milestone coming back my intrest was peaking, hence finally reading the copy of Icon I had to buy from the library years ago due to keeping it overdue but am now EXTREMLEY glad I own as i’ts incredibly rare and really damn good, and wanting to read static, doing so lately since it’s finally on digtiial and again not too expensive. So join me as I give you a shock to the system and revisit this hell of a series to see if it holds up.. which just to cut that short it does and i’m only holding off binging MORE because I want the first two eps to be fresh enough in my head to review properly.. and also go over the various voice actors because that’s a thing with me now and charcter co-creator dwayne mcduffie because he’s awesome. 

As I like to do when covering a series first episodes, let’s run down the voice cast. 

First up is an UTTER LEGEND, and I use the term voice acting legend a lot, and mean it every time and have good reason to use it when I say it, and Phil LaMarr is a GOD in the buisness, having done a metric ton of voice acting roles, and being easily the most proflific black voice actor in animation. He’s also done some acting work, mostly in pulp fiction which I have not seen, but his true staying power and talent is in animation so here’s just the roles I feel are most notable or may not be very notable but i’m bringing up anyway because it’s my list. 

His roles besides Virgil include Lester Payton the Texas Ranger who showed up for one very good episode of king of the hill to be badass and show up the hickish, stupid and very punchable local Sheriff, Gearld’s obnoxious older brother Jamie O on Hey Arnold, Hermes Conrad from futurama, Carver from the Weekenders (PUT IT ON PLUS DISNEY), Axel Foley for exactly one bit in Clerks the Animated Series, but anyone whose seen it will know exactly which one, Micheal on the Proud Family, Black Vulcan on Harvey Birdman (In His Pants), Hector Con Carne and Dracula on Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy and Evil Con Carne, Jack on Samurai Jack something I didn’t know for decades (and I didn’t know about the carver thing till today though i’ts obvious in hindsight), John Motherfucking Stewart on Justice League and later Steel and Adult Static in the Unlimited seasons, Osmosis Jones on Ozzy and Drix, Bolbi Strogofski on Jimmy Neutron (And yes i’m just as shocked as you are.), Wilt on Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Marcus on Life and Times of Juniper Lee, Bull Sharkowski on My Gym Partner is A Monkey and Also a Sociopath Please Help God My Life is a waking nightmare..... okay the rest of that title is implied but we all watched the same show, we all know in our hearts that was the title

Moving on, he was also, and yes there’s MORE: Maxie Zeus on The Batman, Philly Phil on Class of 3000, Both Robertsons AND Fancy Dan on the Spectacular Spider-Man, Jazz on Transformers Animated, Kit Fisto and Bail Organa on Star Wars the Clone Wars, Gambit and Bolivar Trask on Wolverine and the X-Men, Aquaman I, L-Ron and Green Beetle on Young Justice, J.A.R.V.I.S. and Wonder Man (Simon Williams) In Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Gabe and Carny on Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters (Really miss that game and have been snapping up what cards I can get lately), Baxter Stockman in the 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (And there’s also an awesome photo of him with 2003 Baxter... the two best together in one place. I got chills), Dormammu (I’ve come to bargin) in various Marvel Shows, Noville in Mighty Magiswords, Zach’s dad Marcus in Milo Muprhy’s Law, Craig’s Douchey Brother Benard on Craig of the Creek, showing he’s clearly come full circle, And Mr. Scully on the Casagrndes. And given It took about two paragraphs to cover all of this, yeah, I MEANT legend. 

Next we have Kevin Micheal Richardson as Virgil’s Dad Robert, and it’s the first time since I started introducing Voice Actors on a show that i’ve overlapped. I already covered him during the second episode of legend of the three caballeros, but for the short version he’s also very acomplished, very damn good and I somehow missed he played the old blind guy in hey arnold> Needless to say the dude is awesome. 

Virgil’s Sister Sharon is played by Michele Morgan who was in the rap group BWP and did some smaller roles outside of this the one exception being Juicy on the PJ’s, which I have not watched much of but REALLY do not like, though i’ll at least give it credit for being a decently long lasted black claymation sitcom at at time when there were, and hoenstly still aren’t, many black animated shows. 

Back to long casting sheets, next up is Jason Marsden, who is one of my faviorites as i’ve realized recently as Ritchie. As I also found out only recently he started on the Sitcom Step By Step and while that show is .. ehhhhhhhhh, he is great in it because he’s great in everything. He also apparently has his own internet variety show which I have to watch now. His roles include Max Goof, ironically given I was just talking about that role a few days ago, Haku in the english dub of Spirted Away, Micheal, the kid being yelled at by a bunch of 80′s cartoons characters not to take drugs in Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue!, Nermal in the DTV Garfield movies and The Garfield Show, Tino on the Weekenders (SERIOUSLY DISNEY), Snapper Carr on Justice League, Rikochet on Mucha Lucha! for the last season (Why I do not knkow and while I love the guy he was not the right choice), Felix on Kim Possible, Chase Young on Xiaolin Showdown (WHich I did not realize was him and now I do easily his best role and I REALLY should’ve), Red Star and Billy Numerous on Teen Titans, Speedy on Batman Brave and the Bold, Impulse/Kid Flash II on Young Justice, and Fingers on Kaijudo. He hasn’t done as much lately which is a shame but hopefully i’tll pick up again. 

Next up is Hotstreak, Virgil’s brutal bully turned unhinted pyromancer played by DANIEL COOKSY, another actor i’m happy to talk about and another faviorite I haven’t seen much of lately. Daniel was an actor from childhood, playing Budnick on Salute Your Shorts, but he quickly gained a long and storied catalogue of VA Work: His first big roll was as Montana Max on Tiny Toon Adventures and if there is a god he’ll be back for the reboot, Stoop Kid on Hey Arnold, the incomprable Jack Spicer on Xiaolin Showdown, far and away his best role and part of why Chronicles sucked so bad was he was he didn’t get to reprise the role, The titular Dave the Barbarian, Django of the Dead on El Tigre (Had no idea), Kicks utterly insufferable big Brother Brad on Kick Buttowski and apparently he’s back at it again after laying low for a bit as he’s voicing Snag in Long Gone Gultch.. which I already really needed to watch but hot damn, I missed him. Sign me up. 

Frieda, Virgil’s crush and close friend who in the comics was his main confidante and love intrest but here is eventually pushed aside, is voiced by Danica Mckeller whose work didn’t seem all that familiar.. until I found out she was Ms. Martian on Young Justice. Hello, Megan. Very talented and she did get a major role in a dc show eventually so good for her. Can’t wait for season 4. 

So with our major players out of the way,  let’s talk about Dwayne. McDuffie is an AWESOME man and my respect has grown for him more and more with time. A writer and editor at Marvel, McDuffie has a decent resume doing smaller but awesome books, which I got most of for free last year when Marvel was giving out free digital collections due to the lock down, like Damage Control, a sitcom set in the marvel universe about the company that picks up after superhero battles and the logistics and antics that insue and Dethlok, about a pacfist trapped inside a cyborg zombie. He was as mentioned one of Milestone’s founders, and wrote Icon, Hardware and co-wrote the first few issues of Static. He’d go on to a pretty stacked career in animation, writing on this show and Justice League before becoming  story editor and show runner for Unlimited , even making a return to comics as a result writing the Marvel miniseries beyond and an arc of Fantastic Four in which Black Panther and Storm filled in for Reed and Sue while the two of them worked on their marriage after Reed did.. pretty much everything he did in Civil War. He also became head writer and show runner for Ben 10: Alien Force and Ultimate Alien, revamping the franchise a bit, and Alien Force, at least the first two seasons are awesome and I feel people overreacted on the changes. Ultimate Alien is okay, but has it’s problems but the finale was awesome and left the man’s legacy on a high note.. as he sadly passed in 2011 due to heart complications. He is truly missed and produced some utterly amazing stuff whlie he was alive. So on that melacholy note let’s see what happens when his creation hits the tv screen shall we?

Shock to the System:

This episode is written by Christopher Simmons, who is apparently a huge art designer guy.. but i’m not sure that’s the same chirsptoher simmons. Much more notable is the writer of the episode after this Stan Berkowitz, who was showrunner for season 1 and has done a LOT of DCAU work and is suprising talent, having written a lot of awesome Justice League episodes including Secret Society and The Royal Flush One. Point is we’re in first class hands.  Before the episode itself I want to talk about the intro and how it’s unique among DCAU shows. Like most Western Animation the intros for DCAU shows didn’t change much over the seasons with the most I can see is JLU changing up the footage to preview the current episode and later adding Hawkgirl to the intro after her return to the team. I THINK superman the animated series changed some of it’s footage too, but I can’t confrim it and may of just been imagining it. As i’ve talked about on my blog it’s normally a pet peeve of mine, mostly because shows you know, change after season 1, characters get added some one shot characters used for the intro never return, and after a while it can feel dated especially in more recent shows where the status quo is not at all set in stone and things change quite a bit. But sometimes it can be good enough that either the dated elements don’t matter or general enough that you don’t need to change it and i’ts just that good.. and given Batman the Animated Series has both in spades, you can see why i’ts probably my golden standard for intros and after superman the animated series DC mostly followed suit. But being part of the teen superhero boom of the 2000′s Static is unique in that it splits the diffrence: It’s intro gets the character across perfectly like a good intro should starting with Virgil getting out of bed and running a comb across his head before showing off to his sister to bug her and literally running into his dad who hand shim his bag and smiles, silently showing off his family. He then runs to school and runs into some trouble.. and said trouble changes for each intro, with Rubberband Man for season 1, Kanga (Whose name I only know because I happened to run across it) for season 2 and your guess is as good as mine for seasons 3 and 4, though Hotstreak is a constant. They still save some money for seasons 1 and 2 by recycling some animation.. but that’s alright with mea s it was good animation, and the improtant thing is cycling out old villians for new ones, while Season 3 is the only out and out redo to show off Richie taking on the Gear identity, adding about 10 seconds of intro to let him show off.  Seriously it’s an utterly great intro and like the other DCAU intros outside of superman, stuck in my brain. 

The other change that’s ENTIRELY diffrent from the rest of htem is that the music changes each time. The first two have the same formula just with a difrent vocalist and backing track: a superhero theme but with some hip hop beat boxing over it. The first intro is fine enough, not specattcular but stilll god. The second song.. is eh. Not really great and feels like a marked downgrade from season 1 and just dosen’t blend an ocrehstiral superhero theme with the beatbox elements NEARLY as well. The third song though is my faviorite.. even if I HATED Little Romeo as a  kid because I really did not like his nick show, it’s more a straight up rap song, but it has a faster beat that fits the intro better, and Romeo’s bragging fits Virgil’s character and penchant for Spidey quips perfectly. I also find it ironic that the theme that blends in with the dcau the most, the first season’s, is the one from BEFORE they decided to put it in the same universe. Still this season’s intro slaps, I just like the LIttle Romeo one a bit more.  The opening scene is picture perfect. Some masked crooks looting a warehouse are loading some stolen TV’s into a van when suddenly the lights come on one by one above one of the crooks before his tv switches to various channels before going haywire. Cue our heroes’ entrance. Let’s tak ea good look at him

Static’s Costume is awesome. While I prefer the season 3 redesign, and clearly DC agrees as the redeisgn was used for both pre and post new-52 when they used him, and while he’s getting a fresh design for the reboot, said design takes a lot of cures from said outfit. As for how the outfit differs from the comics itself  this is the design he had in the comics

It didn’t change much from the first issue, with the exception of his now iconic big puffy jacket which was added pretty early into the character’s history but I was unaware of that and just assumed he had the bodysuit the whole time. The more you know. But as you can see outside of the cool puffy jacket over a costume the two couldn’t be more diffrent. While the Dakotaverse outfit is more a standard superhero outfit, with some regular clothes touches on top the first cartoon outfit comes off more realistic, looking fantastic, but still coming off as something two teenagers could realistically have thrown together with what clothes they could buy, while still looking awesomely superheroy. IN short it’s perfect and only topped by the season 3 onward look...

But the slicker look, with an even cooler jakcet and the new colors all fitting the lighting ascetic better, but fits: not only has Virgil come along farther since he started, but with Richie now having a genius brain as Gear, he can provide a far slicker, far more professional superhero outfit on the budget the two have.  This show is just great  at costume design. 

So getting back to the episode at hand, Static puts up a huge sign in elecrticy saying “Bad guys here”, PFFFT, and then hides away and narrates that a few days ago he’d be the last person anyone would’ve expected to be a hero. Cue Flashback. 

We meet Virgil Hawkins on an average day: rapping into his razor, getting into a petty argument with his older sister Sharon, as a younger brother myself I relate to this, and talking to his dad who tries to get them to cut that out. We find out his mom has passed via his sister making really terrible eggs and saying that’s how mom made them. Exposition! Though we do get a great bit through this as when his sister gets distracted by her boyfriend calling, he uses the opportunity of her leaving the room to dump the eggs.. after having earlier jokingly prayed to his mom for a way out of breakfast. “Thanks for looking out for me mom” That’s both very sweet and very hilarious. 

This is a change from the comics it turns out as I was utterly flored to find Virgil’s mom alive and well when reading the first issue of Static. Turns out this was a change made during development and one Dwane McDuffie admitted in the interview I got the tribute quote from to not liking as he had a good reason for having Virgil have a nuclear family, as most black families in media at the time were just one single parent and a kid or two with the other having either left or died. He wasn’t too bothered by it as while he preferred what he came up with in the first place, the show DID get some really good stories out of her being gone and didn’t just have her be absent because shut up. Virgil is still working over her death and the way HOW she died ends up playing an important role in this episode and gives Virgil a dislike of guns, as she died to gang violence. So the change wasn’t for stupid or racist reasons, but likely both to keep the character count down while giving them something to work with for storylines. Or it could’ve been for stupid reasons and the writers simpily made lemonade out of that very dumb lemon, either way it ended up working.  Virgil also plans to ask his friend Frieda out. Frieda was a bigger deal in the comics, being Virgil’s friend and confidante as well as his ocasional love intrest, but here while she was inteded to at least be his love intrest here, that sorta fizzled out. As for the best friend role we meet her replacement in Richie, which McDuffie conceded was the kind of change a studio would make swapping out a female character for a male one. That being said the crew made the best of it and Richie is awesome, a bit of an overcompensating dipstick at times, but a good sounding board and pal for virgil and funny as hell too. He was also gay, something only revealed post series by McDuffie.. but unlike say Dumbledore, it’s a bit easier to swallow here: The early 2000′s were an even worse time for gay characters in tv let alone cartoons, and if they couldn’t kiss or have sex scenes on regular tv, there was no way we were getting any representation in a children’s show. So it was largely just hinted at by Richie overcompensating in how “into girls” he was and i’m once again fine with this being word of god as it was literally the best they could do and his counterpart in the comics was also gay, if not as relevant.  Ritch encourages Virgil to work on his opening to ask her out as it’s awkward as heck, hits a bit close to home.. but I do appricate the show just .. having him try and ask her out from the first episode. They likely would’ve drug thigns out a bit granted had they used Frieda more, i’m not blind to the convetions of the time. .but as someone who got the very wrong idea from tv that just waiting around meant a girl would like you eventually, when no you need to actually try even if rejection happens, I honestly wish we had more of this in media than the other garbage morals at the time. 

So he prepares to , not helped by her mentioning guy after guy is asking her out.... but before he can F-Stop, the future hotstreak, shows up.  F-STOP

That being said...... it’s not as bad as the original gangster name for the comic’s version, Biz Money B. Yes BIZ MONEY B

So yeah while F-Stop is no more intimidating, it at least means I can stop laughing. Francis, because I can’t type F-Stop without laughing and this review is already behind, shoves Virgil out of the way and agressively hits on Frieda, even saying “you smell good”, the international sign your a douchebag and also to call the police. Virgil steps up to the guy and gets PAINFULLY slammed into the lockers, something I give the animation team a lot of credit for, as you can FEEL how fucking painful that was. Virgil is saved by Wade, another local gangbanger who in the comics was a close friend of Virgils but here saves him seemingly just because.. seemingly. 

On the way home though Virg’s problems don’t end as naturally, the giant sized asshole with nothing better to do has his goons corner virgil before VIOLENTLY beating him.. off screen but the noises, and the clear brusies including a black eye, on virgil afterwords.. just holy damn i’m suprsied they got away with this but it shows just how horrifing it was and that this is a step above regular bullying, which make no mistake is absoluttley terrible and the series would later do an episode on it and school shootings, into straight up gang violence. Wade shows up again and gets the bastards to flee.. but also makes it clear he can’t keep doing this.. and forces Virgil to meet him at his base under the bridge. And it’s a tense sequence, with Virgil KNOWING this is a bad idea but having no real choice and Wade making it abundantly clear that he wants Virgil to join his crew, and makes a chilling point: while Virgils dad RIGHTFULLY dosen’t want his son to join a gang as Virgil points out.. he can’t be there for him all the time and eventually one of those times, Francis will be around. And he may not surivive that. Virgil nods noncomittaly.  At home it gets even more grim as he dosen’t open up to his family, understandably as his dad would jsut say to call the police and well.. we’ve seen how the police treat black people. At best they’d just try and use Virgil as an informant and that likely wouldn’t end fucking well for Virgil. Ritchie points out he can’t join a gang, virgil’s mom died that way.. see told you it’d be important to the plot.. but I like how the story dosen’t offer an easy answer.. well okay he gets electric powers soon enough but without the fantastic element this is just an innocent kid caught between either joining the very thing his mom hated or hoping a system not built to protect him will keep him alive. It’s utterly saddening and chilling and holy shit is it amazing a cartoon in the early 2000′s was able to get away with.. ANY OF THIS, and they handle it great, paired down a bit from the comics but even then it’s still incredibly balsy they got THIS much in. 

Naturally Wade calls in his favor and our hero is forced to come running.. and soon finds out Wade’s brought him in for a massive gang war. Welcome to the big bang, baby. He hands Virgil a gun as things get started and Virgil.. drops the thing and tries to escape, in a harrowing sequence.. and runs into Francis because god apparently REALLY hates this kid today. As if to prove that the police show up and while that prevents a beating, they demand they disassemble. then release untested gas on them because of course they do. 

As a result the big bang truly begins, with the various gang members getting mutated.. and naturally so does virgil. Though he wakes up the next day seemingly fine. How’d he get home? Does his dad know where he was?

I don’t know and we’re not getting any answers, but Virgil soon finds weird stuff happening like his clock shorting out, change being attracted to him and his razor going wild. It’s only once he get sback to his room he gets an inkling of what’s going on and calls Ritchie to meet him at the Junk yard.. though it is a bit of a dick move as he dosen’t you know, tell him anything about Wade or Francis right away. He does at the yard though.. and that he has powers, having finally figured out how to use them to a point. And the series does provide a decent justification later as to why he’d get this so quickly: Virgil is a smart kid, gets great grades at school and apparnetly there’s even an episode later where he gets a scholarship to a fancy genius school. So him getting how elctromagntisim works or being a quick study on it makes perfect sense. 

Richie suggest the obvious.. to become a superhero. And the thought.. hadn’t occured to Virgil. It’s honestly a nice twist on the old trope. That he hadn’t thought of it, not because he’s selfish or any of that or needs to learn a hard lesson, those have been done.. simply because the rush of getting his powers, and implicitly of having a way out of his current predciament, a way to keep Francis off his back and keep Wade from pulling him in further. His own path. But once i’ts brought up.. he jumps on it. Part of it is being a nerd like you or I, of course he wants to.. and being a good intetioned one, he knows this is the right thing to do. It’s waht makes a superhero a hero: Anyone can get powers in a universe like this, esepcailly the dcau, but it takes true courage and heart to use them selflessly and knowing you’ll be in danger. It’s why I love surperheroes: they often didn’t ask for this but they do it anyway because somebody’s gotta. We also get an intresting wrinkle is superman is, at least I think in this episode I could’ve missed it or misremembered things, mentioned as a fictional character. That’s because originally like the comics this wasn’t part of the DCAU.. but eventually the crew decided it shared staff from it, shared a network, both first run and on reruns, why not just make it part of the DCAU proper. I fully support this decisionf: While i’m midly annoyed unlimited never really used anything from static shock outside of Static himself in the time travel episode, despite you know Static and Gear having BEEN to the tower and not being much younger than Kara and defintely older than Courtney, I chalk it up to weird rights issues or something like that. But having Batman, Batman Beyond, Superman, Green Lantern and the Justice League itself all guest star was a good idea, and expanded both static’s universe and gave the DCAU something differnt as most heroes in it were older and more experinced in contrast to the up and coming virgil. Again really would’ve been nice if he and gear could’ve been a part of the expanded league but production might of just been too far ahead or, given he had his own series, they might just have wanted to stick to toher characters. Also begs the question why Icon or Hardware wasn’t adapted for the expanded League but hey, questions for later and the tricky logisitics of the milestone rights might’ve been the issue. I don’t know I wasn’t in the room. 

So we get a costume montage, including Black Vulcan from Superfriends, who again ironically would be voiced by Lamarr not too long after this, though weirdly they DON’T use his outfit from the comics for this montage. I mean why not? It fits the gag and would’ve been a good second to last choice.But what could’ve been aside we get our winner and cut back to present day...

Thanks boys. Static finds out one of the things in the warehouse is a shipment of computers for the school and can’t help but show off, showing up to the school, where Frieda and Richie are setting up for the dance, and dropping off the computers, and even saying his catchphrase for the first time “I’ll put a shock to your system” (Which Richie chimes in with awesome line and I agree, great catcphrase), before helping set up and flirting with frieda. 

Though as Richtie says he’s a natural. He’s not wrong as he can work a crowd. .but back it up too as his first run out had him easily taking out the crooks, and as many teen superheros and fans of heroes of hte type, myself included will tell you, getting it right in one is not easy. Not even Miles MOrales was immune. All Static needs now is a villian. 

And the end of the episode provides one as we see, in horrifc and once again damn suprising detail most of hte new metas aren’t doing so good and are melting and other stuff and we catch up with Francis whose burning up.. and naturally given that hair, though given he named himself F-Stop it’s the least of his problems, he’s got fire powers and escapes to “Have me some fun”

So with that we end episode 1. And it’s excellent, a great way to introduce the hero and while the warehouse opening is a bit superflous, it is a decent addition, showing our heroes first outing in costume and giving us a bit of an action scene to get us through the very heavy rest of the episode. But the rest of the episode is no less grippping, telling the tale of a teen caught in an unwinnable scenario who suddenly finds a way out. And speaking of which waht of Wade? Will we see him again? Is he perhaps Ebon, the series big bad as I thought when I was a kid? What comes of the man who directly caused static’s origin?

Yeahhh that’s the one mistep I think the pilot makes. Frieda is understandable as that was likely a simple change in creative direction. This though? Why build this guy up if your not going to bring him back. I mean where he went was probably the grave, as he probably did due to his mutation, but it’s still VERY weird to spend a whole episode focusing on this guy, building him up as a big personal threat to our hero.. and NOT have him become the series big bad. And maybe he WAS supposed to be ebon and they just changed their mind. I don’t know but it bothers me it bothers me a lot. Otherwise though flawless. ONe more to go. 

Aftershock: We open outside an electronics store, as our heroes watch the news reacap what happened in the first episode, with the media dubbing it the Big Bang and revealing their could be hundreds of “Metahumans”, as Virgil dubs after deciding the media’s term “Mutant” dosen’t fit, a nice wink to the fact that that’s the term used in dc comics and I believe milestone but could be wrong there. Me I like the term, has a nice ring to it. 

At the store while Richie mulls over waht this means Static finds out he’s a human CD player.... this was before mp3 players and streaming on your phone made them horribly obsolete mind you and if you don’t know what one is congradualtions you live in some sort of bubble and you made me feel really old junior. 

Frieda happens to be there and Virgil quips “What’s the matter they run out of britney cds”. Dude she’s not bad. Also be careful what you wish for man. Nickeback returned the year after this. You have not truly suffered through bad music yet my young friend. They spot a kid looking feverish, and he soon turns into a purple werewolf, as you do. It’s a bang baby.. those are richie’s exact word and you may not want to start a panic there bud. Just saying your best friend is one. THeir not all like this. Our heroes book it only to run into Francis who naturally refuses to let them leave and only doesn’t try to beat up Virgil because Virgil points otu the werewolf and nonplussed, he goes to fight it, scarring it off by revealing his own powers. He’s now dubbed himself Hotstreak which points for getting an actually good name kid. No points for what happens next as unsuprisingly getting powers did NOT mak ehim a better person and he attacks Virgil who blocks with a garbage can lid and thankfully is blasted into an ally. Richie tries to guard frieda for damn obvious reasons but gets hsi shirt burnt up because shut up Thankfully Static shows up, and we get our firsdt full on superhuman fight as both fight each other with aplomb, and it’s a damn good fight.. and one that goes pear shaped for Virg as he’s caught off guard when he finds out Hotstreak can use his powers to fly, and tackles him and his previous trauma causes him to freeze up. Thankfully , as Frieda put in a call earlier, the fire department arrive and HOt streak has to retreat, though Virgil is bummed that he “Choked”. And I love this as it not only shows Virgil’s inepxerince, as this is his first time fighting a bad guy but that just because he HAS power now dosen’t mean trauma and his previous fear of Hotstreak goes away or you won’t freeze up from time to time. It dosen’t make him weak or anything like some assholes would call it .. it makes him human. Humans make mistakes, and it makes him all the more relatable that he’s not pefect and that he did freeze up as I know I certainly would at last once in the circumstances. 

Things don’t get better at dinner as Sharon and Pops argue over the bang babies with Pops calling them a meance and Sharon pointing out Static exists so they can’t all be bad. See assuming a group of superhumans are bad because a handful of them ar edick sis why the x-men had to get their own island nation. You can only save an ungreatful populous so many times before you say “fuck it i’m getting my own island, pay me for life saving drugs, save your damn selves and stop doing genocides on us. Kay thanks”. But he does bring up a valid point that rattles his son: We don’t know anything about the Bang Babies or their biological structures and it’s likely they might further mutate into monsters, Static included. 

Virgil, understandably, wants to check this and thus he and richie compare blood samples in science, to no real conclusion. She he checks out with his doctor who assumes he’s sexually active in a great getting crap past the radar bit and a bit of realisim, but he agrees to the test though if something came up he would have to tell Virgil’s dsad and is up front about this. Nice dose of realisim.

That night City Council has a meeting and the Mayor TRIES to deflect Papa Hawkins questions about the bang babies which again, while being a judgmental ass as not every person hit was a gang member (Virgil, and as we discover later some others), and not every gang member is there by choice, some by circumstnace some, like virgil almost was, because they HAD no other option. Again years of reading x-men may of just made me a bit touchy on assholes admitely assuming superpower people bad. But it’s clear the public is upset and while she says an investigation is underway... Virgil and Richie are not only not convinced, but figure she’s actively covering it up. And unlike everyone else there who probably suspects the same, they can do something about it and tail her.  It’s during this, and cleverly as I didn’t realie till writing this using similar skills to his human cd player act, Virgil listens in and discovers whose behind it: Edwin Alva, whose apparently richer than bill gates and a beloved phinarophist Alva, as it turns out, was actually the arch enemy of Hardware in the comics, taking advantage of the guy in his civiliian idtentiy and thus casuing him to launch a war on the asshole. He does transition into this series well though, being the one behind the gas that caused it and with the mayor agreeing to back off, planning to simply dump the info about the big bang on a disc then destroy everything for now till the heat dies down. Yup sounds like a corprate douchebag. 

Static tails him, finds the lab and infiltrates it, stealing the disc.. but getting caught by Alva’s goon, and trapped in a glass prison, forced to use ALL his power to escape and barely getting out alive, but not before bouncing off alva’s car. Still he now has the proof.. and meanwhile Hotstreak, who I was wrong did get captured, is forced to take pill sbut spits them out once the orderly is gone. Dude.. WHY DIDN’T YOU WATCH HIM. Make sure he swallows that shit especially since, as he has no powers right now and can’t harm you. 

Hotstreak escapes off screen and our heroes discuss the disc before he shows up, and we get a REALLY fucking amazing scene: Virgil ducks into an Alleway and ritchie is worried.. and Virgil disarms him with just one word responses Ritchie: Virg you can’t take him.  Virgil: Gotta. Ritchie: Well at least wait for the fire department Virgil: Can’t.  It’s simpile but it gets the point across: This is his fight, he can’t wait for help, and people need him. And this is what makes a true hero: It’s easy to be a hero when everythings going well.. but it’s the true ones who stick it out against the odds and fight anyway. And he’s going to.  So we get one hell of a fight, though naturally Hotstreak burns up the disc. And I do like this as it dosen’t feel contrived.. yes Static could’ve left it with ritchie.. but he wasn’t thinking in the moment and dind’t really have time to think abotu the disc, only that people were being hurt and he was all they had between them and Hotstreak. It was no choice at all. Still that pisses Virgil off that the last night’s work is now worthless, and he fully charges up and curbstomps francis who retreats into a clearing. Hostreak brags when static follows, as even he’s figured out Static needs to be around metal, as he’s usually on his disc or the street, and in the park there suppodsidly isn’t any. But he’s not THAT smart as Virgil points out two things: one, he hoped to do this on PURPOSE so they wouldn’t be around people and no on e would get hurt and 2).. this is a city, there’s metal everywhere.. and he awesomely and cleverly proves it by unlodging a sewage pipe with his powers and dousing his foe, winning and proving his stuff. I love this solution, it’s a clever spider-man type way to disarm him, using smarts and the einvroment instead of just brute forcing it. Though the sewage part wasn’t intetional our hero still won and gets praise from the people dumb enough to follow the fight. 

However at home Virgil points out it was  Pyrrhic Victory and shows off his smarts by telling the tale behind it, which I didn’t know,because tv tropes didn’t exist yet: king pyrhus fought the romans and WON.. but had so little armies left that he still lost overall. That’s what this feels like to Virgil: he beat hotstreak but any chance at a cure for Bang Babies and Alva going to jail for causing them is gone. His mood does get a boost though as the doctor calls and reveals he’s fine, he just has a bit too much elctrolytes and just needs to lay off teh salt. He celebrates, we get a quick gag and the episode ends

Aftershock is another stellar episoe, giving us Virgil’s first super foe and a personal one at that, while showing some growth. As richie tells him he’s not virgil anymore he’s static and he can’t let his past get to him.. and he does’nt going from cowering in fear to easily beating his foe with simple logic. It’s a good followup that answers questions you may have from the first ep, like what does this do to virgil’s body, who supplied the gas, and why has no one done anything about this, and sets up another villian for Static in Alva. Great stuff. I highly recommend these episodes and the show as a whole: it’s fast paced, grounded and enjoyable, having just enough levity to not be too dour but just enough tension and stakes to be intresting. A throughly fantastic superhero show and one that i’d certainly love to revisit on this blog If you have an episode of static or the dcau in general you’d want me to cover, my comissions are open and details are on a tab on my blog or can be gotten simply by asking me via ask or dm. Tommorow we’re going deeper underground, there’s too much damage in this town as the Lena Retrospective continues. So expect gay ducks, straight ducks and some terrfirmains. See you next rainbow. 

[subarublue]

Nice Guys Finish Last

One Shot

Fandom: Devil May Cry

Timeline: Not specified

Rating: Teen

Pairing: Dante x Female Reader

Word Count: 2027

Read on Ao3

Summary: After a hard week at work, a weekend at Dante’s is just what the doctor ordered, especially when a snow storm blows into town. Unfortunately for you, Dante is...well, Dante.

Notes: Just a cute little one shot. Slight bit of a dirty joke at the end.

You hurried down the street, your destination in sight. The bright neon sign of Devil May Cry should have been visible since the snow that was falling around you was light and gentle, but it wasn’t. In fact, the closer you got it seemed that no lights were on in the building. Was Dante even home? He’d said he would be when he stopped by your work earlier to see you, but for all you knew he could have gotten a call and gone out on a job. Though normally, he was pretty good at notifying you if that was the case when you were planning on spending the night.

Knowing the door would be unlocked regardless, and that you could just wait for him inside where it was nice and warm, you trudged through the snow as quickly as you could. You tried to pull your jacket tighter around you to ward off the frigid air, but to no avail. You’d not been prepared for the quick turn the weather had taken and your apparel, jacket included, was not up to par to deal with it in the slightest.

The weatherman had said it was going to be cold. Like dude, really? Cold did not cover this. It was freezing outside. Cows were giving ice cream instead of milk. People with heartburn everywhere were cured. Fucking snowmen were gaining sentience so they could migrate south.

You groaned in annoyance. This past week at your work had been hell; so much so that you didn’t even want to think about work for the rest of the weekend. Which is why you were currently planning on spending said weekend wrapped up in the warm arms of your boyfriend. But to top it all off, this sudden snow storm had decided to blow into town a little earlier than anticipated, leaving you to practically freeze to death on the long walk to his shop.

Gotta keep moving.

As you hurried on, you caught glimpses of the puffs of your breaths, clearly visible, reminding you of just how damn cold it was. You tried to forget about it by thinking of the warm things that awaited you just a block away; the heat of the shop itself, a cup of hot chocolate, the hot shower Dante would let you take, his warm bed, Dante himself...

You let out a frustrated whine when you realized it wasn’t working because your teeth were now chattering. God, you were so cold. Thankfully though, you’d finally reached the steps of the shop. You heaved a great sigh of relief and grabbed the door handle, anticipation of the warm temperature just on the other side making you giddy.

You threw the door open (probably a bit more enthusiastically than necessary, if you were honest) and stepped across the threshold of Dante’s beloved home into the comforting and welcoming feeling of...

MORE COLD!?

Immediately upon feeling the frigid temperature of the front office area, you tried to hug your coat around you even tighter. It’s colder in here than it is outside! That thought was probably not quite true, but your brain was too frozen to be concerned about little details like that.

A quick glance around the front office area would normally have shown you whether or not Dante was around, but it was well past dark outside and no lights were on so you could barely see anything, much less your boyfriend. You turned to flick the overhead light on...only to stare dumbly at the little switch when it did nothing. Your face quickly morphed into an expression of annoyance, the reason for the lack of heat in the building now obvious: Dante hadn’t paid his utility bill like he’d said he was going to.

You knew it had been overdue...again, but you really didn’t have the energy to be pedantic about the number of times it had happened previously. He’d already been getting final warning notices from the utility office stating to pay his bill by a certain date or else. He’d said he would be able to pay it after some job he was taking earlier in the week. Obviously, that had fallen through.

You tried to look on the bright side of things (the bright, warm side where you really wished you were right now). At least this meant that he likely wasn’t gone like you’d originally thought might be the case.

“D-D-Dante?” Your teeth were chattering so much you could barely speak as you stepped further into the office in search of the resident devil hunter.

His reply was immediate; a quick, “Just a sec!” from the kitchen in the back. You could still see your breath puffing out from your mouth (even though you were now inside) and you couldn’t help the despondent groan that let out the biggest puff of all, as if to mock you.

Dante chose that moment to appear in the doorway of his kitchen, holding something you couldn’t really see well with the lack of light. You could at least see him somewhat, and he suddenly looked like he was trying not to laugh at the sight you must have made, wrapped up in a coat not meant for snowy weather and shivering like a leaf. You simply glared at him as best you could, given your current state. You were in no mood to put up with his antics at the moment, especially since it seemed he was completely unaffected by the biting temperature. He was only in his usual getup of boots, pants, shirt, and his signature red jacket and yet he looked as if the temperature was a moderate seventy two degrees. Being half-devil certainly had its perks. This only served to worsen your mood, of course.

He’d barely managed to stifle his laughter before speaking up, “You alright there, babe? You look like you’re about to give me the...cold shoulder.” He was grinning as he said this. You of course, were not, as you resisted the urge to roll your eyes at him. Instead, you opted for yelling at him.

“Dante! What the hell!? You said you were gonna pay your bill!” The frozen feeling in your body was temporarily forgotten in your anger. You watched as a sheepish look crossed his face as he brought his free hand up to scratch the back of his neck.

“Yeah, well, about that...”

“What. About. It.” you spoke through clenched teeth. Partly because of your anger, but also because you were having to clench them together in order to keep the chattering at bay because unfortunately, your anger wasn’t enough to keep you numb to the cold for long. The feeling was already back, full force.

“Remember that job I told you about?” When you nodded stiffly he continued, “Well, the client didn’t end up being able to pay me, so...yeah.” At least now he had the decency to look a bit guilty at your discomfort.

You eyed him suspiciously. You knew he was notorious for not charging for his services at all if clients had trouble paying him. You figured that was most likely the case in this instance as well and you decided to call him on it.

“Couldn’t pay? Or you didn’t make them?” You gave him a look that conveyed you were not in the mood for any bullshit. You were a little surprised though, when he gave a rather dejected sigh, suddenly turning serious.

“I wasn’t gonna charge a single mom trying to raise three kids on her own ‘cause their dad’s a deadbeat,” he said simply.

You felt frozen solid by this point, but that melted your heart a little bit. Okay, well maybe a lot. Dante really was an all-around nice guy. You knew he had a soft spot especially for mothers in situations like that, considering what had happened to his own mother when he was young. Now you could no longer find it in you to be mad at him for his utility problem.

Instead, you gave a wry laugh and shook your head at him. “You’re way too nice, Dante.” He simply shrugged at that, but you were smiling now, despite the constant shivering.

“What can I say? I’m just a nice guy.” He was approaching you, holding his hand out, and you finally took notice of what he held in it. It was one of the mugs from his kitchen (your favorite one to be exact) and there was some steam wafting from the contents inside. You immediately perked up as he offered it to you.

It turned out to be that cup of hot chocolate you’d been thinking about on your way over. You decided not to wonder about how he’d made it without electricity as you took the mug gratefully. The heat from the sweet liquid warmed your hands through the ceramic as you held it.

“Luckily, that’s one of the reasons I love you.” You took a sip, sighing as you felt the hot liquid flowing through you, starting to warm you up. Then, you gave him a coy smile. “But that’s not enough to make me stay in this freezer you call a shop tonight.”

“Aww, come on, babe! It’s not that bad! Besides, I’m here to warm you up.” He was giving you that sly grin of his, and you had to resist the urge to roll your eyes again. That wasn’t about to change your mind, regardless of how tempting it was.

“You can still warm me up. It’ll just have to be back at my place, where there’s heat...and working lights...and a working stove, and-“

“Alright, alright! I get it!” He held up his hands in mock surrender. Now it was your turn to grin slyly at him, having won. “You’re place is cleaner, anyway,” he added, as if it was something that mattered to him. Which you knew it didn’t.

“Well come on, then. If we stand around here any longer, you’ll have an ice statue to decorate your office with instead of a girlfriend,” you joked as you turned to head back out the door. You grimaced a little at the thought of the long, cold walk back to your place. At least you had a hot drink for the trip.

“You know, that wouldn’t be bad,” you gave him an incredulous look at that and for the third time, almost rolled your eyes at him. But Dante hadn’t missed the grimace on your face before he’d made his teasing comment. You suddenly found yourself enveloped in another layer of warmth as his jacket (which you almost never saw him without) came around your shoulders. “But I think I much prefer having a girlfriend that lets me eat pizza whenever I want without lecturing me on how unhealthy it is.” He was smiling warmly at you and it was almost enough to chase all the cold away.

“Guess I’m the lucky one, then. You know, since you’re so nice,” you said it playfully, but you meant every word as you gestured to his coat that he’d lent you. It dwarfed you a bit, since he was so much taller than you, and you had to gather it up a bit in your free hand to make sure it didn’t drag as you started the trek to your place.

“That you are, sweetheart.”

You swore his ego would be the death of you. Thinking to bring him down a couple notches, you goaded him a bit, “You know what they say, right? Nice guys finish last.” You grinned cheekily at him.

He turned to face you as you walked along. It was still snowing, and you wondered briefly if you could convince him to trigger and fly you all the way home so you wouldn’t have to walk in the cold anymore. The smirk on his face had you momentarily distracted, though.

“Babe, nice guys only finish last-” he was shooting finger guns at you now, “-because we make sure our women finish first.” He punctuated his statement with wink.

You did roll your eyes at that.

[simplyshelbs16xoxo]

‘wreck my plans’ chapter 6: your heart was glass...

FFN | Ao3 | Buy Me a Coffee?

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               They took the night train into Sheffield. Tom sat across from her, a science fiction novel open in his hands. It was only a two hour ride, but Molly wished she had brought something to distract her from everything. Instead she sat there, her heart hurting, wishing she had the courage to bring up what she needed to speak to him about. There had been a lack of that lately, courage. The first weekend of the new year, she had a symposium to attend where she’d be giving a talk about her most recent published article.

               Curious, she decided to at least say something. “Did you ever read my paper? The one that was published a few weeks back?”

               Without looking up from his book, Tom furrowed his brows. “What paper?”

               “It was the one about the unusual cases of tandem bullets and how to spot the findings of such an injury,” Molly reminded him.  

               “Uh, no, sorry, Molls, can’t say I have,” he replied, still not looking at her. “You know it’s not my cup of tea.”

               Not his cup of tea, indeed. She rolled her eyes. Of course he hadn’t. But Sherlock had. And without prompting. A small smile bloomed on her face at the memory. He had told her it was brilliant. “My clever Molly,” he called her.

               Molly turned her head toward the window, watching as more stars dotted the sky the further from London they got. She blinked her eyes slowly, fighting the exhaustion she felt. It wasn’t long before everything went black, dreams of Sherlock in her head. This time, she didn’t fight them. They were lovely dreams of Sherlock kissing her, holding her, touching her, making her his. It was more than she could bear. Then they were dancing, the song playing in the background tugging at her heart.

                                     Goodbye, my almost lover

                                   Goodbye, my hopeless dream

               Tears stained her face as she slept. She’d cry an ocean for him, the water’s colour matching his eyes. He was calling out to her, her name like a prayer on his lips. What followed were the words she had longed to hear him say: I love you. And damn it, she could no longer deny that she loved him too.

.

.

               Arrived in Sheffield safe and sound. It probably won’t be long until I’m dead to the world. Happy Christmas to you too, Sherlock. And thanks for thinking of me.

                -Mx

                Sherlock read over her words several times before finally setting his phone down to look over the sheet music in front of him, adding the final notes to his composition for her. Reaching for his violin, he put the bow to the strings, allowing the first sorrowful notes to overcome him. The music coursed through his veins as it poured out from his heart. The tone shifted into something tender, romantic. He thought of her eyes, her laugh, her smile; the way she lingered long enough to drive him crazy when she kissed his cheek.

                Downstairs, Mrs. Hudson listened to the music—she loved it when he played—with tears in her eyes. “You poor dear…” she blubbered, using a tissue to blow her nose. She so wished he would just tell Molly how he felt. There was no doubt in her mind that the girl loved him back. They were both so damn stubborn.

                 As Sherlock brought the music to a close, he let out a ragged breath. Setting the violin back in its case, he thought of how much he wished he could have her here for Christmas. He wasn’t overly fond of the holiday, but it sparked joy in her. They could spend it together—just the two of them by the fire, he in his chair and her, legs curled up on his lap. It was a nice little dream. Sherlock so desperately wanted her to know he loved her. He wasn’t giving up without a fight this time.

.

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                  Molly looked around at all the once-familiar faces. The house was crowded with Tom’s family—people she met only a small handful of times—but she never felt so alone in her life. When she thought of family, images of John and Mary showed up, Greg, Mycroft, Mrs. Hudson, and, of course, Sherlock. They were the ones she should be spending Christmas with. It wasn’t that Tom’s family was awful—quite the opposite. It had been so long since she had a parent-like figure in her life.

                   “Have you two set a date yet?” his mother asked. She threw a stealthy wink at her son.

                   Tom shook his head, amused by the question. “We discussed April in the beginning, didn’t we, Molls?”

                   “Hmm?” she said sleepily. “Oh, uh, yeah.” They only discussed it, never officially choosing anything yet. Or, at least, she never did. “Sorry, just a bit tired from the ride over. Thomas, do you know if my phone is done charging yet?”

                   He headed over to the small charging table across the room and retrieved it for her. “All charged up,” he smiled, leaning down to kiss her cheek.

                   “Thanks,” she replied, a sad smile on her face. Tom did love her, she had no doubt about that, but it wasn’t the way she had always imagined. Then again, life wasn’t a fairytale. But it could be, Mary’s voice rang clear in her head. Molly unlocked her phone finding another text from Sherlock.

                   Glad you made it safely. Have a good night, Molly. Sleep well and have pleasant dreams.

                   -SHx

.

.

                   She had no idea how long she sat there staring at the little ‘x’ he added beside his initials just for her. Needing to be alone with her thoughts, Molly headed upstairs. A few people—his mum, aunt, and grandmother—bid her goodnight. She acknowledged them briefly, happy when she was able to turn the corner at the top of the steps. It was another hour or so before Tom joined her. He slipped in beneath the duvet, oblivious to the fact she had been crying. Not that she knew what for. She wanted to start a fight with him if only just to feel something other than the pain that had been eating her up for weeks.

                   “I don’t think I’m who you think I am,” she muttered to him.

                   Tom turned toward her. “Where’s this coming from?”

                   Molly sighed. “From a long overdue conversation, and please don’t just shut me down like you always do. It’s getting old. I think when you met me, I was a shell of the person I am. You fell in love with the wrong girl.”

                   “Come, now, Molls, I know who you are,” Tom tried to assure her. “This is just wed—well, engagement jitters. Is that why we haven’t done much of anything to plan? I know it can be overwhelming.”

                   She shook her head. He really didn’t know her at all. “What’s my favourite colour?”

                   “I—what’s that got to do with anything?” he asked. “It’s green.”

                   Molly smiled sadly. “No, it’s not. It’s yellow.”

                   “It’s just a colour, Molls,” he told her, yawning.

                   “It’s your favourite colour,” she told him.

                   “What is?”

                   “Green,” she replied. “That’s the colour you like.”

                   “Actually…it’s not,” he admitted.

                   Molly scrunched her face in confusion. “Then why do you wear green so much?”

                   Tom ran a hand through his hair. “You said you really liked green on me when we were first dating.”

                    She tried so hard, but couldn’t control the laughter that came out. Tom joined in, knowing how ridiculous they’d been. Sharing a laugh helped lessen the tension, but he couldn’t deny she had a point. Like most things though, he let it roll off his shoulders, chalking it up to nerves or pressure. Maybe if he could make things easier on her. Wedding planning was a bit contrived. Perhaps she’d prefer spontaneity? The cogs were turning in his head, though it wasn’t long before they both drifted to sleep, facing away from one another.

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A Little Over a Year Ago

                “Molly! You made it!” Meena shrieked in excitement. The pub was crowded, music from the house band thumping through the speakers around her. She dragged Molly over to the bar. “I’d like you to meet Tom! He’s a friend of my brother’s!”

                “Hi,” Tom greeted her somewhat awkwardly. He held out his hand to her and Molly shook it.

                “Hello,” she replied, forcing a smile, unable to ignore how he dressed similarly to a certain consulting detective. Some days were still difficult since Sherlock had gone. It had been nearly a year since he left. Molly knew he was alive, but she grieved him just the same. She felt his absence in everything she did, searching for him in the lab or expecting him to come sweeping in the morgue like he did before. Mike had caught her once in the lab, heaving sobs wracking her body.

                “It’ll be alright, Molly,” he had told her, silently asking permission to hug her. She nodded and let him comfort her. He knew how much Sherlock meant to her. “We all miss him.”

                Needless to say, it wasn’t difficult for her to convince everyone of her own grief. She prayed for his safety every single night. And, Meena, bless her soul, was trying to help Molly move on.

                “Would you mind if I bought you a drink?” Tom asked.

               Determined to enjoy herself, Molly replied, “Not at all. Thank you.”

               Meena’s brother joined them moments later, and the four of them traded stories from Uni, laughing at all the shit they got into. It was the first time Sherlock hadn’t lingered in her mind since his departure, and Molly felt lighter than she had in months. Tom was lovely, treated her kindly. They bonded over their love of BBC’s Miranda and Doctor Who. She learned that he liked to go to the pub on weekends to watch football with his mates.

               Molly was hesitant to share anything about her. She certainly didn’t want to tell him she was still grieving the loss of her closest friend, though it would eventually come out later thanks to Meena. She listened to him talk about his family, growing up in Sheffield. When he asked about hers, all she could muster was, “There’s no one left. Just me.” The emptiness left inside her made itself known once more at the reminder that she really had next to no one left in her life. She had Meena, and of course that should be enough, but somehow it wasn’t.

               “Hey…you okay?” Tom asked, breaking her free from the depressing thoughts in her head.

                “Hmm? Sorry.” She laughed nervously. “I tend to get lost in my head sometimes—it’s been happening a lot more often lately.”

                “Nice to see you joining the land of the living,” Meena joked.    

                Molly rolled her eyes playfully. The rest of the night eased her troubled mind. They had gone and played darts, girls against guys. Only by two points, the girls had lost, but it was because of Tom’s insanely accurate throws. She felt flirty with the alcohol in her system, and decided to present a proposition to Tom. “Take one more shot, and if you hit the bullseye—“

                “And what?” he asked, teasing her, his eyes practically undressing her. “Do I get a snog out of this?”

                Meena’s brother whistled loudly.

               Feeling bold, she nodded. “You better not miss.” Surprising her, Tom took a moment to line up the shot and hit it right in the center. Meena and her brother cheered and started shouting in excitement when Molly pulled Tom in for a searing kiss. From that alone, she could feel the void that had been left in her life from Sherlock’s absence start to close up bit by bit. And it left her wanting more.

 Nine Months Ago

               It had been a bit of whirlwind. Molly had dated Tom for a month before they made it official. Now, two months in an actual relationship, she felt content. His gentle demeanor was exactly what she needed in her life at the moment, and she was thankful for it. They were to have dinner tonight over at his place. She was excited mostly to see his dog, Milo, who always looked put out every time he took a whiff of her, smelling her cat’s scent on her clothes.

               “Molly,” he smiled brightly when he opened his door to his flat. “Come on in. Milo’s missed you.” He shut the door behind her after she stepped inside, and kissed her lips firmly. “I’ve missed you too.”

               She laughed, feeling her face flush. “You know I’m only with you for your dog, right?” she joked, bending down to scratch beneath Milo’s chin. He sniffed her, letting out a disapproving growl. “You’ll have to just get used to it, Milo.”

               “I knew you were too good to be true,” Tom joked back from the kitchen. “Milo gets all the love.”

               They eventually sat down to eat the delicious dinner Tom had cooked up for them. There wasn’t a lot he was good at making, but Molly didn’t care much, for she wasn’t one for cooking, herself. “There was this tumor I found during my autopsy today; it was so small, but intricately woven throughout the tissue. So sad for the poor man, of course, but it was fascinating!”

               Tom blanched, fighting the urge to vomit. “Is that so?”

               “Oh! Sorry, I forget I can’t just talk about that stuff with anyone.” Molly wanted to slink beneath the table, embarrassed of her enthusiasm.

               He smiled weakly. “No worries, just maybe no autopsy talk tonight?”

               “Right, of course, sorry.” It was the fifth or sixth time she felt she had to apologise for her more…odd interests.

               They finished up dinner and settled on the sofa for a movie that, about halfway in, was ignored in favor of a little snogging. Molly tried to get herself to relax, matching his enthusiasm in an effort to clear her head.

               “I think I love you,” Tom had spoken against her lips.

               Molly paused, unsure at first, and then spoke slowly, “I think I do too.”

[vanchlo]

The Assistant / Chapter Forty-Eight, “I’m Home”

*Not my gifs*

Clickable Links:

- Masterlist feat. all chapters and Character Surveys

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Word Count: 7.6k words

Warnings: None

Music Inspo: Forever Like That by Ben Rector (click to listen)

                                     SNEAKYYYYYY PEEK

His eyes find mine first and I can’t tell if the sage green is blurring because my eyes deceive me, or that his betray him. Within seconds, it seems that both of our eyes have made a mess of themselves with tears, his shed onto my hand when he brings it to his lips with a kiss. I’m certain that he could taste mine when I steal a kiss from his lips, and those that water his neck with them, sure to not smudge the sentiment that waits to become permanent above his heart.

“Harry Styles,” I giggle nervously with hot cheeks, shaking my head as I stare at the floor, our intertwined hands blocking my view ever so wonderfully.

“My Rebecca Ann.”

Lifting them, my eyes find him like they always so easily do, and so do the divots that fall into his cheeks. The three words that I feel like repeating over and over to him fall again from his lips in a hushed whisper.

I love him more than I did just a second ago. Again.

"When I’m with her, I feel happy to be alive. Like I can do anything, even talk to you like this. So, that’s what I think love is. When I’m better because she’s here.” - Boy Meets World

+

“Reckon ‘ve neva seen a sight mo’ beautiful in me entire life.” 

“Sounds like you haven’t lived long enough then.” 

“‘m serious, Becks, yer absolutely gorgeous,” I exhale all in one breath, and with so many others wanting to spill out and join. “Yer everythin’, bug.” 

“Oh, hush.” 

“Or else, what, Becks? You’ll make me be quiet? Hmm, ‘d like t’ see you try that one, babe,” I tease, letting my nose drag along her cheek and my laugh float over to her ears. “Reckon yer takin’ too long. ‘m an impatient bloke, y’know.” 

It’s a tragedy to silence her lips budding with a bubbly laugh, but my, do they taste magnificent. Her smile does as well, and so does the song that ignites from my fingers as they run down her arms free of wires and tubes, albeit an annoying cast. 

“Meant it, y’know, that yer so beautiful,” I whisper against her mouth, lifting my head to punctuate my words with a kiss on top of her head. “You look good and seems like you feel that way, too.” 

“Mmmhmm,” she murmurs from below me, the corners of her rose colored lips curling into her cheeks. 

The pink has begun to return to them and so has her dimple indefinitely. It doesn’t compare to the fluttering inside of my chest at the sight of her ocean eyes peering up at me, the flecks of gold glimmering in the light. Admiring her seems to grow better as if climbing a mountain, because next, I get to enjoy the familiarity replaced with her wavy hair pooled over her shoulders. 

“I’m ready,” she exhales nervously, and the baby freckles dotting her cheeks blur in front of me. “Harry, don’t cry, or else you know that I will too.” 

“‘m sorry, ‘m jus’ so bloody happy,” I laugh, finding it hard to stop my lips from quivering as I look at her - the familiarity of the jeans and hoodie hugging her body, the new purple Vans bright on her feet, and the flicks of mascara she insisted on wearing even though she doesn’t need it. “‘m so unbelievably happy that I get t’ bring ya home, bug. Finally.” 

“Me too,” she croaks, a glistening tear falling into the divot of her dimple before collecting at her chin. They disappear from my view, both luckily and not, when she pulls me into her arms. I can’t complain about it, though. “Thank you. I could never say it enough for everything, Harry, you-.” 

“Yer welcome, Becks, forever and ever. No need t’ thank me, I know ya woulda done tha same fer me.” 

“I would have,” she whispers against my neck. I nod into her hair that my nose is smothered by in the best possible way, and it makes me wonder if you can overdose on the smell of orange blossoms and vanilla. It seems a happy drunkenness may come from smelling it, afterall. 

It’s a feat in and of itself to leave her arms, but it shrinks in comparison to the relief I feel at wiping her tears away, unsure of the last time I felt happy to do this, or this happy at all. 

“Shall we get goin’ then, love?” I ask her, thumbing at the imperfection in her cheek that could never be anything short of perfection to me. 

“Yeah, let’s go,” Becks nods. “But, one thing first.” 

“What’s that? I didn’t think ya wanted t’ spend anotha second in this place.” 

“I don’t, but one last kiss is okay,” she smirks and quickly, I’m tasting the absence of melancholy and pain in her kisses. I know that they still sit there, somewhere near, but I choose to ignore them at this moment and to pretend that I can kiss her sadness away. “Okay, now, we can leave.”

“I know ‘ve been waitin’ too long t’ do so . . look at you being a superhero and e’rythin’, bustin’ outta here within a week . . Let’s bring you home already, bug.”

+

It’s rather hard to get used to - not one, but two things. I didn’t think I’d ever get used to how beautiful she is and I thought she was a sight when we left the hospital, but damn, was I wrong. She keeps doing that, proving me wrong, always has. I like it more now than I did in the beginning. Now, wrapped up in a cocoon of blankets in her bed, it really is by far the best sight. 

My glowing smile sputters and almost goes out completely when I sigh with a hand in my hair. I just had gotten used to the idea of her being in a hospital and trusting the nurses, and now here I am, her nurse. I liked the thought at first, but now that it’s happened and I’m here, it scares the daylights out of me. 

What if I do something wrong?

What if I, of all people, hurt her - elbow her in the stomach in the middle of the night, mess up her bandaging when I rewrap it, or worst of all, mess up her meds?

It all frightens me when I know fully well that I should be the happiest person on earth right now to have her home. But after she got over her bout of sickness, I kept waiting for something else to happen, and I’m still sitting on the edge of that seat, waiting. I never saw the accident coming, but I want to expect the next one, as if I could ever stop something like that from happening. Pffft, I’m no superhero. I don’t know who I think I am, but I know that I want to be everything she needs, and yet, deep down I never could be. 

“Harry?”

“Ya, bug? You alright?” I murmur, my hand falling to my side. “Ya need anythin’?”

“Eh, just for you to watch some FRIENDS with me,” she mumbles, cocking her body to look at me over her shoulder. The eagerness taut in her features melts away, and I straighten up, hoping that I didn’t blow my own cover.

“Alright, Harry?”

“Yeah, ‘m fine, Becks. Jus’ thinkin’ ‘m gonna hafta readjus’ me rules fer fallin’ asleep in the middle o’ watchin’ sumthin’ as we might both break that rule,” I quip, leaving my watch in the doorway to join her under the covers.

Worrying away at my bottom lip, I fail to ignore how that lie went over about as well as if she would’ve told it to me. I could be a good liar, but never to her, and the thought itself cements my insides with guilt.

Her laugh fills the dark with some light inside of me, and her famous toasty body nuzzles against mine.

“You’re sure?” Becks wonders aloud, and meeting her questioning gaze is overdue as I stare off into space.

“‘Bout what?” I reply, a V belatedly forming between my brows in wonder.

“If you’re alright. I’m sorry, but I don’t think that I believe you.”

“Oh, that,” I exhale with an ironic laugh that couldn’t be anything but sad. “Ya, I dunno if I believe meself eitha,” I answer at last, feeling much too sour to keep secrets from her that sprout into lies.

No, if I’ve learnt anything recently, it’s that life can flip you on your ass in a moment. I could lose her in a blink, and I very well almost did. The very last night that I want to be thinking is, ‘why did I tell her that silly little lie when I could’ve just grown a pair and told her the truth?’

“Harry, what’s the matter?” she speaks up, lulling the monsters away with her fingers scratching my beard. “I think you need a nap, you’ll feel better after some sleep, and in a bed.”

“No- I mean, ya. Yer right, but that’s not it.”

“What is it then? You can talk to me, love,” she says, and the sentiment weeds into my thoughts and greets my heart. 

“I jus’ . . I wanna be enough fer you, Becks, and I dunno if I can,” I confess gently, avoiding her intimidating gaze and instead, entranced by her twirling that braided ring.

“Harry, where’s this coming from? Why do you feel that way?” Becks sighs sadly, and within moments, I wish that I’d never said a thing.

“Nevamind, ‘s jus’ tha sleep deprivation talkin.’ Ignore, silly ol’ me.”

“No, I won’t ignore what you said, because it’s not true,” she replies firmly. The prickly wrapping of her arm cast rubs at my jaw when she turns my head to look at her. “I can’t force you to talk, and I don’t want to make you do anything, but . . I’m here, Harry. You’ve said that loads when I’m afraid or losing my shit . . and I dunno, it grounds me.”

“Thanks,” I smile slowly, feeling the words warm up on my tongue. “I want mo’ than anythin’ t’ take care o’ you and ‘m over tha moon happy yer home, but . . ‘m afraid I won’t do a well enough job, or that ‘ll mess it up.”

“You won’t, Harry,” she assures me, leaving circles drawn onto my cheek that may be invisible to everybody else, but me. 

“How d’ya know?”

“Because you’ve shown me how good you can take care of me, especially this week, and the whole two and a half years I’ve known you, Harry Styles,” she insists, leading my eyes back to hers. “I know you’ve told me it a hundred times, but I think it’s time you heard it too - everything is going to be okay. I’m okay, and you’re going to be okay.” 

I nod quickly, swallowing against a dry throat and feeling the slick swiping of her finger catch the tears. They don’t just stop there and proceed to drown her fingers, and then the fabric of her shirt when she drags me over to her and against her front. 

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” she hums softly, zings of electricity left at the sight of her fingertips beside my spine. “This is the real scary part, huh? To come home and to act like everything is okay, and to return to real life . . I feel it too, it’s kind of suffocating . . but I know that we’ll get through this, taking care of each other. I’m not going anywhere, love.” 

“Thank you . . fer stayin . . fer bein’ here.’” 

“Always, Harry.”

++

“Always,” I murmur, gently breaking through the tangles found in his hair, falling like ribbons between my fingers. Licks of the vanilla and something musky waft from his hair when I press a kiss to the crown of his head. 

I let my heavy sigh fall into his curls as my cheek molds to his skull, a hummed song escaping my lips. It sings itself while I drag my fingers through his hair until there are no more snarls or tangles to be found, and my fingers ache from drawing circles into his back. The sniffling and sobs have ended finally, replaced by gentle snoring. His chest rising and falling against mine brings a quiet peace to me, and only now can I let my eyes fall shut, unsure if I feel heavier or lighter now. All that time where I was trying to heal, and even now, I was numb to the fact that he was breaking at my side, further and further. 

I hope that you’ll let me fix you, too, Harry.

+

Sunlight creeps in through the hastily drawn shades, leaving my eyes scoured with white patches in front of them. Blinking them away slowly, my gaze wanders to the covers I lay beneath and that take me a few moments to place. It all comes together, like puzzle pieces, as I watch my bedroom sharpen around me. I feel the smile tug at my lips when I find the tousled head of dark curls lying opposite of me. He’s more real than he was a second ago when his thickening beard rubs at the back of my finger, and his locks fall through my fingers. Creases form on his forehead and a light moan sounds from behind his lips. 

“Shh, go back to sleep, it’s okay,” I coo against his hair with a kiss, feeling my smile widen when his arms come around my middle. 

“So, this is real,” I whisper, tracing shapes through his Queen shirt, relishing the sleepy warmth he spreads across me. With a huff, my hands find new homes on his body and I let myself fall back to sleep, thinking of all of the other dreams I’d like to come true next.

+

Shoots and zings of pain awaken me the next time, followed by the creaking of the door and a different voice. 

“Ree, you awake?” somebody whispers from behind the door, but when I see the shock of green hair, I wonder how I could forget that face for a second. “Hey, morning- well, for one of you. It’s time for your meds, and I made some brekky. You should have your pills with it, I can bring some in for you.” 

“Morning . . No, it’s okay, I want to let him sleep. I think he needs it more than me, do you think you could help me up and out?”

“Sure thing,” she whispers, her pink bunny slippers making soft pat-pat noises on the hardwood floor. 

“Sweet dreams,” I wish ever so softly into his hair smelling of Sundays baking with my gran. Regrettably, my arms jelly like from sleep slide away from him, and I inch towards the other side of the bed. 

“That had to have been the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.” 

“Yeah, it’s like living in a dream,” I remark with a happy laugh, exhaling when my bum finds the cushions of the sofa. “If you would’ve told twenty-four year old that I’d be waking up to Harry in my bed at twenty six, I wouldn’t have believed you.” 

“Oh, you don’t have to tell me, I wouldn’t have believed you, either,” Skye giggles, setting down a plate in front of me with a soft clatter, accompanied by the tap of a glass of orange juice. 

“Okay, Chef Robbins, how much do you think I can eat? I’m not bloody pregnant, now am I? I’m just injured, not eating for two here,” I quip, nevertheless picking up the fork and stabbing at a curd of scrambled eggs. 

“Don’t you even, you need to be getting your appetite back. I don’t expect anything less out of you - eating all of this. You have every damn food group on this plate, thank you very much - Harry would be proud.” 

“He would. What, did you blooming write up a food menu with him, or something?” I ask through a few bites of fluffy eggs. 

“No, but we did come up with a list of groceries together, so I reckon that’s fairly the same.” 

“You, go grocery shopping, since when?” I say, crumbs littering my fingers when I pick up the half slice of buttered toast, shoveling cheesy eggs onto them. 

“Since your bloody boyfriend bullied me into doing it.” 

“Hmm, I should’ve had him do that a long time ago,” I laugh, and it’s welcomed by the sound of her obnoxious one. “My bloody God, you’re going to wake him up with that honker of yours, you know that!” 

“Whoops, I better shut up. I need you all to myself for a change.” 

“Oh, hush up, you had me all to yourself for twenty years or so, reckon you can give me up for a little bit,” I jest, watching her wild bed head shake back and forth with her disagreement. “Also, when’d you become a cook? This is good.” 

“It’s eggs and cheese, no duh it’s good and it’s easy. Is he going to have any? There’s plenty more.” 

“I dunno, I want him to get some more sleep. The poor guy’s been sleeping on a sofa for the last week, for Christ’s sake.” 

“Fuck,” she sighs, biting into her toast with a crunch, leaving grape jam on her lips quite adorably. “Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.” 

“What?” I say, staring at the blobs of jam on her lips until I hear my name rasped from the other side of the room. “Harry. H-hi, good morning. There’s uh, breakfast if you want some.” 

“Oh, thanks. ‘ll use tha loo first.” 

“And maybe put a shirt on, or, maybe not after all,” Skye jokes under her breath, but loud enough for me to hear as I watch Harry disappear down the hallway enclosed by the kitchen’s back wall. Every inch of his sleepy body regrettably leaves my eyes, including the mess of bedhead on him, the lack of a shirt, and amongst other things, those green eyes that only relaxed when they found me. 

“Shut up, you creep!” I retort, failing to keep my chuckle to a low hush when her contagious laugh does its magic. 

“All I’m saying is that I’m not complaining about the new house guest,” she explains with a shrug of her measly shoulders, standing to her feet. “I guess I’ll give the happy couple some privacy and eat my brekky with Buffy in my room.” 

“Yeah, you go and pout, and leave my boyfriend alone in the hallway.” 

“I can’t promise anything!” Skye squeals, her slippered feet slowly becoming harder to hear. 

“Mmm, when’d ya wake up, bug?” somebody else asks, but I was ready and noticed him the moment his tall body walked back into frame. 

“Only a few minutes ago.” 

“Oh, how’re you feelin’? Did you take yer meds yet?” Harry questions, rubbing at his eyes on his way into the kitchen, too far away for my liking. 

“I’m fine, but sore. Skye woke me up in the middle of the night to take my meds then, and I’m just about to take some more. How fun.” 

“Oh, ‘m sorry I missed ‘em last night, Becks. I thought I set an alarm on my phone,” he yawns, his drowned out voice accompanied by the scraping of the pan. 

“Yeah, I turned it off after she had done it, because I wanted you to sleep. That’s why I didn’t wake you just now, you need to sleep more.” 

“I know, but ‘m okay. I woke up and saw you weren’t there, and I couldn’t fall back asleep.” 

“You’re cute when you’re all worried,” I joke, chewing the last bite of scrambled eggs as the sofa cushions dip underneath me. “And shirtless.” 

“Oh ya . . sorry ‘bout that. I mean it when I say yer a li’l heater, Becks, and with all o’ those blankets, I must’ve gotten too hot and taken me shirt off sumtime,” he explains with a shake of his head, the bright flesh of the strawberry contrasting to his bubblegum pink lips that surround it. Okay, Becky, it is too early and my brain is too foggy to be having these kinds of thoughts already today. “Alright, babe?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. The strawberries just look so good,” I lie, picking up one and biting into the juicy fruit. I’m unsure of how to feel about the fib going over his head, but it’s whisked away when his cold toes playing footsie with mine instead nudge mine repeatedly. 

“Pills,” he insists from across me, nodding to the foreign looking organizer sat on the coffee table before me. 

“Yes, yes, Nurse Styles,” I exhale, leaning forward to grab them, but I stop when a tight pain radiates through my abdomen. 

“What’d I tell ya ‘bout bein’ careful, love? Ya can’t push yerself too hard now. Are you okay?” Harry coos, dropping his fork onto the plate sat on his lap, making quick work of grabbing the case for me. 

“I know, Dad.” 

“Now, what’d ‘d say ‘bout all that bein’ stubborn shit . . huh?” he rasps, voice framed by the clicking and clacking of the case opening and pills shaking about. 

“I know, I know, you’re just fun to tease.” 

“We know that too,” he answers, setting the case aside and clearing his throat a few times until I look at him. 

“What, do you not know how to use your words?” he only dips his head a little lower and sighs. 

“Watch tha mouth,” he huffs jokingly, dropping the slew of pills into my palm with a nod to my orange juice. 

“You never said anything about toning down the sass.” 

“Didn’t gather that I needed t’, Rebecca Ann, ‘ssa given,” he replies with his seesaw like shoulders helping him talk, finishing off the last few bites of his toast. 

With a groan, I pick up the heavy bottomed glass and between a few glugs of juice, swallow down the multitude of pills. I chase them down with a few more bites of strawberries and hash browns. 

“That betta not be all yer eatin’, Becks,” Harry tuts from my side, scraping his fork along the plate to gather the last scraps of eggs. 

“I’m done.” 

“No, yer not. Ya can be afta ya have two mo’ bites o’ p’tatoes, a strawb’rry, and finish yer juice,” he instructs, pointing his fork at the various food items. 

“Fine, Dad,” I grunt, returning the fork to my hands and doing as he says. “You know, I’d make some joke about how you’d be a good lawyer, or better yet, a good father being all bossy, if you weren’t getting on my nerves.” 

“That means ‘m doin’ me job then,” he chuckles softly from his perch on the sofa. “Hey, where d’ya think yer goin’?”

“What, I can’t go pee without you having to know that too?”

“Sorry,” he barely squeaks, looking away sheepishly from behind me. 

“It’s okay, just chill on the ‘hovering dad thing’ when you’re well, not a dad.” 

“I wouldn’t hafta act like yers if ya did what yer told with a li’l less attitude,” he bites back sarcastically, and I wish that he could see my eyes rolling from this far away. 

“I learned from only the best!” 

“Hey!” his protest meets my ears just as I close the bathroom door with a giggle, sighing when I get off my dodgy ankle to relieve myself.

+

“How upset are ya with me?” Harry coos, a creak heard behind him as he shuts my bedroom door. 

“I’m not upset. I’d just like a little more ‘friendly nurse’ and a little less ‘drill sergeant’ from you, is all.” 

“‘m sorry, bug, but we know both yer ‘bout tha most stubborn person we both know,” he explains, daring a few fingers to stroke my cheek. “C’mon, open ‘em up, Ocean Eyes.” 

“No.” 

“Becks,” he drawls with a feisty giggle, dragging his nose down the expanse of my cheek. “Y’know ya can’t stay mad at me fo’ too long, ya’ve never been able t’.” 

“Oh, wanna bet?” 

“Rebecca Ann,” he whines, bringing forth a giggle from my lips at his beard tickling my neck. 

“What, Harry Edward? I swear, we’ve known how to push each other’s buttons since the beginning.” 

“I don’t disagree,” he says in that breathy laugh. “C’mon, let’s have a cuddle, babe. You can’t deny me.” 

“Oh, wanna bet?” I chuckle, moving away from him, finding that this stupid arm cast of mine gets stuck everywhere and on everything. 

“Becks!” he scoffs with the most offended look on his face when he leaves my neck. “Be nice t’ me, ‘m jus’ tryna love on you, bug.” 

“I don’t disagree,” I quip, relishing in the eye roll I receive and fully deserve, and enjoying the happiness that trickles from my lips next. 

“C’mere, li’l one, yer bein’ a li’l shit again, I think I may have even missed it,” Harry says, the bed dipping under his weight as he returns me to his arms, draping the covers over us. “My bug,” he coos, following the nickname with a slew of kisses to my cheeks. 

I think I’ve almost made it, almost.

+

“Harry, would you stop it already?!” I groan, exasperated by the sound of shuffling items and the pew-pew of the spray bottle. 

“‘m almost done, Becks.” 

“That’s what you said half an hour ago, Harry! Ugh, stop cleaning already and come and watch FRIENDS with me. We both know you’re not really watching it when you’re cleaning, no matter what you say,” I sigh, flipping open the covers in invitation. He stands back up and his eyes cast over to me with a raised eyebrow. Both of mine inch towards my forehead in response, challenging him. “Harry Edward, I swear to-,” I wheeze, losing my control. 

“You swear what, huh, Rebecca Ann?” he responds, at last setting down the rag and cleaning spray on my desk that has never sparkled or looked so tidy as it does now, along with the rest of my bedroom. “Huh? Talkin’ a lotta shit, aren’t we? I swear t’ God, yer all bark and no bite,” he continues with a smile, the overhead light glinting on his gold cross necklace laid over his Beatles shirt that, much to my dismay, he slipped on after a shower this morning. 

“You wanna bet?”

“Ya, I do,” he says, his hands falling splayed onto the mattress in front of me. My God, is he a tease with those long muscular arms, and licking those rose colored lips.

Fuck. 

I can’t hold back anymore and press on the back of his neck, losing my fingers in the tight ringlets of hair sitting there, smiling into the kiss. 

“Hey, watch it!” he exclaims, pulling away quickly and sucking on his bottom lip that my teeth had just sunk into. “Bloody hell, remind me not t’ doubt you anymo’, you li’l shit.” 

“Your little shit,” I correct him with a smirk, pulling him closer by the neck and trying not to laugh at the shocked look on his face. 

“My, you are sumthin’, aren’t you, Becks? I betta watch out. I gotta strong one here . . atta girl,” his smile is the last thing I see before his lips return to mine. “Wait a second.” 

“What? I wanted to kiss you some more.” 

“Oh, stop whinin’, my li’l baby,” he titters, walking away much to my dismay and opening the door to my closet. “What have I found here, hmm? ‘s this a photo album o’ baby Becks?”

“Oh, you found that?” I giggle, yanking up the covers to my shoulders and enjoying my view of him crossing the room. There is just something else about a man in joggers, sigh. 

“Ya, when I was cleanin’. Looks like me hard work paid off afta’ all,” Harry says, sliding under the blankets with me. “What’re you starin’ at me like that fer?” 

“Nothing,” I sigh shyly, scooting over until my head finds his tummy and his arm finds the curve of my shoulders. 

“What’re you blushin’ ‘bout, li’l one?” he giggles from above me, laying his arm over the closed photo album. I only find that he’s forgotten it when I dare to peer up at him, and his eyes are waiting on me. 

“I just- I dunno,” I huff with my cheeks aching from shy smiles. “This is kind of all I ever wanted, give or take a few parts. Including the waking up to you shirtless in my bed, and looking all cute in comfy clothes.”

That breathy laugh sparks his lips into a smile again, followed by his bottom lip escaping to between his teeth nervously. 

“I don’t disagree,” he quips, and this time, I actually groan at how cheesy he can be. “Really tho’, Becks, I wanted all o’ this too. I dunno what t’ do with meself now that I have it all - get t’ wake up t’ you in tha mornin’, take care o’ you, spend me day watchin’ FRIENDS with you, and now, lookin’ at yer baby pictures with you. I can’t wait t’ see what our kids are gonna look like.” 

“Stop it, or I’ll cry again,” I croak, swatting at his chest, but it’s nothing more than a tap. 

“I hope those are happy ones,” he whispers into my hair, and a small laugh joins the tears running over my lips. “Bloody hell, think I might spill a few as well. Look at these, were you tha cutest baby or what?” Harry sighs happily after opening the book to a random page, lifting it to get a better look at a photo of four-month old Robbie and me in matching Winnie the Pooh Halloween costumes. Looking up at him, something twinkles in his eye and in his cheeks where the dimples sit lower than ever. 

I hope oh so badly that our babies have those dimples of his. Someday.

Until then, I’ll soak up these days of waking up to him, hopefully shirtless, and falling asleep together watching our favorite show, and wondering how it could get any better.

+

Every day seemed to run into the next, and in the best way possible, don’t get me wrong. I got to wake up to Harry beside me, toasty in my bed, and due to that, absent of a shirt and I was not complaining. No, siree. Some body parts still hurt quite a bit, but slowly they hurt less and less, and through that time we got our routine down. Pills three times a day and then twice, Skye helped me with showers, physical therapy three times a week, my ankle became more steady, I could stay awake for longer periods at a time without needing a nap like a growing puppy, and quickly, I was fighting Harry for the last sausage or cookie. 

He was enjoying it too, I could just tell. I would bet a lot of money that he couldn’t be enjoying it as much as me, though. 

To say that I didn’t get sick of him would be a lie, because oh, were there moments. First, there was his incessant cleaning to keep him busy, which luckily was remedied by his Zoom meetings for work that he’d take in the living room once a day while I napped. Secondly, I swear he watched me and closely as I ate, and it got annoying very fast. The naps and Zooms helped loads though, as did the few times he went home to grab different clothes, do laundry and the like, and go grocery shopping, but even then I missed him a little bit. As soon as he left because I got sick of him, I wished he would come back, and that’s how it went again and again.

+

The cold bites at my cheeks, sure to have left them rosy and wind chapped. Not quickly enough, the car begins to warm up and so do I. 

“Alright?” he says with a warmth to his voice that curls around my icy bones. Turning in my seat, I find his lips pinker than ever as he rubs the feeling back into my arm, my free one. Nodding at him, he returns it before pulling the seat belt over him and checking his mirrors. 

“Are you?” I ask, a few moments after he had begun to drive. 

“Mmmhmm,” he responds, kneading at his lips once we arrive at a red light, briefly meeting my eyes but not holding them. 

“You’re . . acting weird, Harry,” I say slowly, unsure of my words and how he’ll receive them. “I’m the one still getting nervous about being in a car, so what’s your excuse?” 

“Nuthin’ . . ,” he insists, grabbing hold of my hand when the light turns green, twirling the bracelet around my wrist absentmindedly. “‘Kay . . I was wonderin’ if we could stop somewhere befo’ we go home. Y’know, if yer not too tired afta P.T. jus’ now.”

“No, I’m good- I mean, yeah, we can. Preferably, if I can sit down at this place you’re going after that workout I just had.” 

“I think that can be arranged,” Harry grins, avoiding my prying eyes that search for a hidden meaning in his words. Narrowing my eyes, I squint at him, hoping that will help me to decode his answer, but I come up empty. Sighing, I look away, unsure of why he isn’t letting me read him this one time, but forgetting it after I remember how unbelievably handsome he’s looking with the beard and ochre colored beanie pulled over his curls. “Stop starin’ at me, woman,” he titters, and I only reply with a confused shake of my head.

+

Sighing, I pull my phone from my pocket and find the absence of new texts, still. A smile tries at my lips when I revisit my screensaver that I gloss over at times, a giggly selfie from bed with Harry. I trace the dimples in his cheeks and the smile pinching them before letting it fall back into my pocket. 

The shelves of items and hangers of clothes don’t do anything for me, nothing jumping out at me to buy it, and so I wander on to the next little shop, a bakery. Soon, a gooey cinnamon roll occupies my time as I wait, wait, and wait. 

“What’s taking you so long, Harry?” I grumble under my breath, finding a seat in the corner of my favorite little coffeeshop down the street. It feels good to get off my ankle that still bothers me at times. Setting down my hot chocolate, the cinnamon roll stills in my hand when I look up and find my familiar view. 

If I look hard enough, the sun is streaming in through the windows and that Bon Iver song is trickling from the speakers again. The mystery novel is sitting in front of me, beside a half empty mug of coffee, and there he is. He’s making jokes with the barista at the front, arms folded over the tall flat surface where outgoing drinks are placed for pick up. My heart could do it again, race incessantly like a horse out of its gate, and I’d likely remain glued to this seat, unwavering but not unwanting. 

Dinggggg! 

Blinking, I’m jolted from the memory by a sound, and suddenly, the sun isn’t leaking into the coffee shop and he isn’t standing there, belonging to somebody else anymore like I had dreamt about last night. My nightmares sure are getting creative these days, drudging up old memories from last summer, the summer from Hell. They must be drying up if they have to resort to the time I saw him in this coffee shop after he’d starting dating somebody else, the day I felt shocked in my seat dying to say hi to him, but more afraid than ever. It feels like another person then, to be afraid to go up to Harry and to say hi, but that’s how it all was. It’s how it all felt, and how I was feeling. He felt like another person entirely and so did I, as if strangers.

Shaking my head and then grimacing at the slight ache that it still holds, I glance down at my phone to find the text that I’ve been waiting for. 

sorry it took me so long bug. i hope ya found something u liked at one of the shops, or coffee, knowing u ;) i’m guessing ur at the coffee shop still from ur snapchat, so if u turn the left corner, and go down to the end of that block, you’ll find me there ;) see u soon baby

I can’t hide the smile that sticks to my lips as I leave with the cinnamon roll tucked safely into my hands, but it wavers when I come across the shop he speaks of. I double check and I triple check before finding his Range Rover parked a few yards away, telling me that this is the place. How odd, I think, as the bell tinkles overhead and the classic rock music greets me. 

It only takes me a few moments to find him, waiting on a brown leather sofa in a waiting room of sorts, wringing his hands in his lap. Uh yeah, I can only think of one reason why, and no more than that. I can’t tell if the anxiousness painting his body worsens or remains the same when he spots me in the doorway, standing to his feet and taking my hand. 

“Hey, that’s mine!” I exclaim, grabbing for the last bite of the cinnamon roll that he steals from me. “Harry!” I sigh, watching him feed it between his lips, but he leaves one last bite pinched between his fingers. 

“Oh, ya want this?” he smirks, holding it out for me. I inch forward and am surprised with a messy kiss that tastes of cinnamon and sugar, sparking a song behind my lips. “Here, baby Becks,” he coos, feeding it to me at last before he tugs on my hand to follow him. 

“Harry, what’s going on? Why are we here? Why are you here, or do I even need to ask?” 

“I thought ya graduated top o’ yer class, so ya should know why we’re here, Ms. Lawyer. Use yer deductive reasonin’ skills, Becks - why do ya deduce we’re at a tattoo shop?”

“Harry,” is all I say, voice absent of anything and everything as I follow him down a short hallway, and into a room that resembles a doctor’s office. It’s not much bigger, but is a spitting image with the massage parlor looking black bed-table-thingy. 

“Matt, this ‘s Becks, and Becks, this ‘s Matt,” Harry says, and a tall man turns around and shines his pearly whites at me. “He’s been doin’ me tattoos fer awhile now, best artist I know.”

“H-Hi, nice to meet you.” 

“You as well, I’ve heard a lot about you over the years,” Matt responds warmly, waving over to a comfy looking black office chair against the wall. Harry has already helped himself to the massage parlor looking thing, and his North Face and jumper have found their way off of him, too. “I hear you’re the reason we’re here today.” 

“Wait, I am? What?” I answer, eyes flitting over to Harry’s. I’m sure of the alarm that blazes in them, and the flames only grow higher when he lets go of my hand. I can’t say that they die down when he slides off his long sleeved shirt dotted with nineties Nickelodeon tv shows, showing the entire room his sculpted torso and inked arms. The sage in his eyes warms and he scoops my hand up again, squeezing it and rubbing hearts into the back of my hand. 

“Ya ready t’ see what ‘m gettin’, Becks?” Harry grins ever so proudly, I don’t think that his grin could be any more shit eating than it is right now.

The moments follow and they pass as Matt takes out a piece of what looks like tissue paper on it with purple ink, the design obscured from my eyes. The last thing he does before leaving is to press it to the blank slate above Harry’s heart, and slowly peels it away, revealing the image to me at last. 

His eyes find mine first and I can’t tell if the sage green is blurring because my eyes deceive me, or that his betray him. Within seconds, it seems that both of our eyes have made a mess of themselves with tears, his shed onto my hand when he brings it to his lips with a kiss. I’m certain that he could taste mine when I steal a kiss from his lips, and there are those that water his neck with them, sure to not smudge the sentiment that waits to become permanent above his heart. 

“Harry, is that-,” I begin at last after pulling away from him, my hand falling from his cheek slick with tears. 

“Mmmhhm, ‘s yers,” he answers with a definitive nod, several meanings encapsulated in his words, but I take with me only a few. My fingers trace above his skin the four numbers, ever so familiar to me. “Yer handwritin’, Becks.” 

“Why 2024?” I wheeze, wiping away the lingering tears, knowing that they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. As I speak them, the answer rings behind my eyes, but I wait for his answer.

“‘Cuz,” he answers, like it’s ever so obvious, willing my eyes back to his waiting pair. “I know this year’s only started, and ‘s been a bit o’ a shit show t’ say tha least, but ‘s tha year that brought you back t’ me, and let me keep you. ‘ll be grateful t’ it forever, and t’ you, Becks.” 

“I love you,” I whisper, not having decided to say the words and yet, there they are, spilling themselves to his ears. 

“I love you, baby, mo’ than anythin’,” he giggles happily, a tear breaking free from his eye to course down his cheek. His beard is ticklish against my temple where his lips litter kisses and love, the reason those very numbers are about to become permanent right where his heart lives under his chest. “I found a grocery list you had written tha other day, and I dunno- I jus’ loved tha way you wrote tha year and how those numbas meant so much . . and mo’ importantly, I couldn’t stop thinkin’ ‘bout how I wanted t’ forget all o’ this . . yer accident. So, instead o’ forgettin’, I wanna remember this bumpy start we’ve had, by this, havin’ yer writin’ on me fer me life.”

“Harry Styles,” I giggle nervously with hot cheeks, shaking my head in disbelief as I stare at the floor, our intertwined hands blocking my view ever so wonderfully. 

“My Rebecca Ann.” 

Lifting them, my eyes find him like they always so easily do, and so do the divots that fall into his cheeks. The three words that I feel like repeating over and over to him fall again from his lips in a hushed whisper at Matt’s return. 

“Are we ready to get this show on the road?”

Harry nods at me with a questioning look, and I nod at him, squeezing his hand. 

“Alrighty then, let’s do it,” Matt announces with enthusiasm in his voice, something that wanes inside of me at the prospect of seeing Harry in pain. 

If he can do it, going through about as much hell as I did after that car hit me, then I can at least do this. The insane amount of flattery and the overwhelming love that radiates off of him as the tattoo gun begins to buzz, helps to soften the blow. 

I love him more than I did just a second ago. Again.

+

It smells the same, and sounds like before. I welcome the familiarity, but a shy nervousness sits in the corner of my mind, and deep down, inside of my gut. An excitement tries to overtake it up there, and I wait on the sidelines to see what will happen. 

The thought is whisked away when there’s a whisper of a touch against my temple, and my body bumps habitually into his, seeking safety. Blinking hard and looking upwards to my left, I find a smile waiting in those molten sage eyes. 

“Alright, bug?” Harry coos, leaning down to press his lips to mine briefly. I nod in reply, waving my thumb over his jawline hidden in thick facial hair, a sight I never thought I’d see inside of these four walls. “Are ya ready t’ get back into tha thick o’ it, Becks?”

“Are you kidding me? It’s about time that you let me come back, I’ve been going mad sitting at home having nothing to do for the last few weeks, and especially since you’ve been back part time since last week,” I answer, the song he sings joining that of my own when his fingers brush against my ribs that don’t ache from his touch anymore, and his nose nudges at my temple that doesn’t hurt when I laugh too hard. 

“Hey, I know that, but I wanted t’ make sure ya wouldn’t over exert yerself and yer arm ‘s still gettin’ all caught up bein’ in that cast fer awhile. Also, I rememba a certain sumbody practically forcin’ me t’ come back, I didn’t have much say over tha matter. Hmmm, I can only wonder who that’d be,” he jests, and all hints of my poker face run away from me as he raises his eyebrows at me. The very pair he let me have my way with the other day, which lasted about five seconds before he started whining, even though the woosey has fresh ink on him.

“I know, you’re still being Daddy Harry,” I sigh dramatically, its ending found in a deep chuckle that he elicits from my lips with a surprise bear hug. His laugh drips with molasses too, and I feel like this couldn’t taste any sweeter, my arms hidden under his blazer and nudging at his belt. 

“I’ll manage.” 

“I know ya will, ya always do . . my Becks. ‘ll be there t’ help too,” Harry smiles, pressing a kiss to the top of my head as the electronic number reaches to twelve above our heads. My head falls to the crook of his neck where it’s longed to be . . for such a long time. Years. His solid arms filled with safety lift from me and return once they wrap his violet blazer around me, and only do I close my eyes when his lips find a temporary home on the top of my head. “Y’know, I dunno what t’ call you now - mentee, colleague, girlfriend.” 

“You can just call me either or, boss boyfriend,” I suggest, meeting his glowing green eyes while an electronic ding sounds overhead, signaling another floor passed. 

“Sounds good t’ me, Rebecca Holte,” he hums, a corner of his mouth curled into his cheek and sharing that happy dimple with me. The chipped black nail polish teases at my sight when his thumb runs over the brand new scars dotting my cheeks that he’s healed with his kisses. “Ya betta make this one last fer a while now, we have a meetin’ right off tha bat,” he says firmly with raised eyebrows, but a smile teases at its corners. 

Standing on my tiptoes, I lean forward and close my eyes, seeing the glinting flecks of gold in his eyes as I taste the honey on his lips. It’s hidden in the words that pass unspoken between our lips, cut short by the declarative beeps and the number sixteen waiting atop, seventeen just around the corner. With a giggle, I steal one last peck from his lips, and watch as he shakes his head after my wandering hand squeezed his bum. 

“C’mon, you li’l shit,” he mutters with a roll of his eyes, adjusting the strap of his shiny, new messenger bag strewn across his chest. “Or would ya ratha I say, ‘shall we, Becks?” Harry asks, holding out a hand in front of us, and I nod. 

“Let’s go, boyfriend,” I say with a large smile, catching the wink he gives me as our shoes click and clack on the marbled black tiling of the firm’s floors. 

Now, I have.

I’ve really made it now.

I thought I had once or twice before, but this is it. I have it all, and more is on the way, and no longer are the dreams out of arm’s reach. No, they’re right there where I can touch them, and so is a very special one that won’t stop smiling at me, and I wouldn’t ever want to stop smiling at him.

Another thing I’m sure of is that I’d never want to stop listening to the song that flows from his lips, I could listen to it for the rest of my life.

                             THE END . . FOR NOW

Don’t miss Harry and Becks’ future adventures in the sequel to The Assistant, The Partner, coming soon! Until then, you can catch up with Hecky when The Firsts, an Assistant Blurb Series, begins September 14th at 12pm CST! Keep an eye out for the masterlist post for The Firsts, to be published soon! I could never thank all of you enough for reading and for sticking around this long with me. I am so excited to continue this series and for you to see what’s coming ;) See you in two weeks!

[raendown]

My part of a trade with @rookie-d and boy was this fun to write! 

Pairing: MadaraTobirama Word count: 3477 Rated: T+ Summary: Madara hated the morning shift. It was always boring and getting up early sucked. Thankfully the one time he had to work it something interesting happened, at least.

Follow the link or read it under the cut!

KO-FI and commission info in the header!

Zombies Before Noon

Their first meeting was one that Madara would remember for all the reasons Tobirama probably wished he would forget. Several hours in to a criminally early morning shift he was bored out of his skull and wondering why the hell a comic book shop needed to be open before any of the local nerds around here were even awake. He’d already tidied the shelves four times and dusted the entire premises twice when the cheery jingle of the bell over their door made him lift his head hopefully. That look quickly morphed in to horror as he took in the sight of what was clearly a zombie entering the store. 

Skin so pale it looked almost paper white, circles under his eyes so dark they looked drawn on with marker, and clothes rumpled like they hadn’t seen an ironing board in years, the man who stumbled in had his eyes completely closed and his arms hanging loose at both sides. Only three steps in he stopped dead and just stood there. Motionless. Possibly not breathing. Madara looked around for a hidden camera, wondering if his younger brother had set him up for some kind of weird prank. That was the sort of thing Izuna would do. Nothing new or suspicious stuck out to him, though, so he turned back to the stranger who was now slowly blinking his eyes open. Well, partially open. They remained squinted so tightly he probably couldn’t see any better still. 

“Coffee?” he rumbled in a deep slur. Madara looked around for cameras again. 

“Uh, we don’t serve that here.” 

“...black.” 

Furrowing his brows, Madara repeated himself. “We don’t serve coffee.”

The pale man blinked slowly with a gaze that didn’t seem to really be focused on anything. 

“Extra espresso…” his words trailed off like he meant to continue with something off and yet nothing came. After almost a full minute he managed to close his jaw again with a muted click. Then he merely stood and let his narrowed eyes bore directly in to Madara’s. 

It was the single creepiest thing this shop had ever seen. And considering the varying clientele that was saying something.

For a good hot second Madara contemplated reaching in to his pocket and calling the police. Or maybe the Disease Center. Either one of them would no doubt be very interested in this spontaneous zombie apocalypse. Then the moment passed and he realized this was probably the most interesting thing that was likely to happen to him until the early afternoon crowd began to show up near the very end of his shift. He might as well see how it played out. 

“Would an energy drink do you? We’ve got all sorts of those. Pretty cheap too.” 

“....mn.”

Since he wasn’t very sure what that meant Madara opted for believing he’d just made a sale. Trying to ask questions about flavor and the like would most likely get about as coherent an answer as the ones he’d already gotten so after a moment of going through their inventory in his mind he stepped over to the fridge behind the counter to pick out the highest concentration of caffeine they carried. It also happened to be one of their cheaper brands as well, which was great in case he ended up having to pay for this himself. Did zombies remember how to pick out money from their wallets?

Did zombies even carry their wallets?

“Here. These don’t really taste all that great but it’s got enough of a kick to revive you or whatever.” 

A few seconds after he handed it over he realized his mistake. The oddly still man blinked slowly when Madara cracked the can open for him but finally seemed to understand that there was a liquid in his hand he was meant to drink. His head tilted back to reveal a surprisingly shapely throat that bobbed up and down in a steady rhythm until the entire can was emptied, hung there unmoving for a few seconds more, then his head tilted back down with an honest to god pout on his face. Apparently he’d thought the can was bottomless.

“Right. Feel free to browse or whatever before you come settle up. Register’s over there.” Madara jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. “If you pass out try to fall away from the merchandise.” 

“Nnmm.”

“Oookay.” 

Scurrying back to the register was more for the sake of anyone looking in through the windows on their way by than for his own sense of safety. He really didn’t need anyone to call his boss and say they spotted him stalking a customer in his own store. At least he had a comfortable perch from which he could survey the entire floor, set out in a semi circle as it was, giving him a perfect view down each of their short aisles. No matter where this one man circus drifted he would be within eyesight. Madara watched with undisguised fascination while the guy drifted down aisle three, staring hard at a display entirely covered with merchandise for a popular children’s show about brightly colored ponies. The empty drink can remained clutched tightly in one fist.

With drunken steps he wound his way out of that section and in to aisle five. Despite staring directly at their selection of comics for a particular super hero universe Madara got the impression he wasn’t actually seeing any of them. Either he was hopelessly lost inside his own head or he had astrally projected so hard he wouldn’t find himself for another week. Just as the man lifted his hand, perhaps at last to interact with the world around him, the door of the shop jingled violently open to admit a harried looking woman. 

“There you are!” she screeched. Without even sparing a look around the rest of the open space she marched around a display of new releases and clapped a hand down on the zombie man’s shoulder. “I have been looking for you for over an hour, you absolute dick! Do you know how worried we’ve been? Your brother would have taken my damn head off if anything happened to you on my watch!” 

“...nm?”

“Oh for fuck’s sake!”

Pinching the bridge of her nose, the woman shook her head and finally looked around. The fact that there weren’t any other customers seemed to console her a little bit, probably relieved there weren’t more witnesses to her bad skills at keeping track of one man. When her eyes looked on to Madara he refused to quail under the force of her glare. A part of him sort of wanted to. He spent as much time in the gym as the next self-conscious guy but the look she was giving him promised that she, in fact, was the one with an ability to rip heads. To his absolute shame, he looked away first. But only for long enough for the weight of her gaze to leave him so he could go back to watching this drama unfold in front of him. 

“Come on,” she growled, tugging at the man’s sleeve. “Next time this happens I am tying you to the bed until you fucking learn! Did you even pay for that drink? You are so paying me back for this, I don’t care if it’s only a couple bucks!”

It wasn’t all that surprising how little resistance the man offered to being pulled across the floor and back out on to the street, though Madara did give some thought to whether or not he should be calling the police. Should he be reporting assault over this? It was too bad the owners were too cheap to install any real security other than the one camera pointing straight at the door and the one directly over the till. Some proper footage of what happened probably would have made great evidence if someone came back to question him.  

For several minutes after he was left suddenly alone Madara stared towards the door and wondered if it was possible that he might have hallucinated everything that just happened. Maybe he’d been reading too many of the comics in here. His mother used to warn him when he was little that using his imagination too much would rot out his common sense - but, then again, she was a cantankerous old bitch who kicked him out as soon as he turned eighteen. He’d never put much stock in anything she had to say. And then there were the coins that crazy lady had tossed over the counter on their way by, that was pretty solid evidence that he wasn’t hallucinating. 

Without a live zombie show for entertainment the rest of his shift at the comic shop mostly passed in boredom. Usually he worked the afternoon shifts just for this very reason. The mornings were always dead but he’d had to reschedule an appointment with his doctor three times already and trading shifts today had been the only way he was getting in there without having to wait several more weeks for another open spot. Medical care in their city seriously needed a bigger budget. Desperate to pass the time without resorting to the merchandise he wasn’t supposed to fiddle with on shift, Madara ended up slumped over the front counter doodling on the back of some old receipt paper he found stuffed in to a random drawer. Nearly half the page disappeared under swirls of red ink before he realized that he was drawing a dead, moaning zombie. With a sheepish look around he set the red pen aside and reached for a black one instead. Hopefully that would inspire some less creepy doodles. 

As expected, a couple hours before the end of his shift he finally started seeing some customers, his fellow nerds flocking in to check for new issues of the latest detective comic or merchandise for their favorite anime characters. Madara kept a sharp eye on the ones he didn’t recognize and gave no more thought to the entertaining if odd start to his day. After work he scurried off to the bus stop and barely made it to his long overdue doctor’s appointment before stumbling back on to the bus an hour after that with a bandaid on his arm and several vials of blood less in his body. 

“M’ home,” he called weakly as he shuffled inside the apartment. Something clattered around the corner, followed quickly by the sound of Izuna swearing.

“Did the appointment go well?” His brother’s voice shouted after him on his way down the hall. 

Tossing his jacket through the door of his bedroom, he called back. “Went fine. Had to get some blood pulled. Dumb ass doctor doesn’t think I know my own body enough to tell when I’m having seasonal allergies. He wants to test me for heart disease!” 

“But...those aren’t...anki, that makes no sense!” 

“I know!” Madara rolled his eyes even though the other couldn’t see him. “Apparently being short of breath because of the all the ragweed means I must be on the verge of a heart attack.” 

“Probably got his medical degree out of a cereal box.” 

Tired, a little loopy from having too much blood drawn without eating anything, Madara’s thoughts for the rest of his evening were filled mostly with grumbles about incompetant medical staff and listening to Izuna go on about the latest drama from his apprenticeship. Work was so far from his mind he entirely forgot to mention the strange occurrence from that morning. He went to bed that night thinking only that he was grateful his shifts were back to their usual afternoon schedule tomorrow because he certainly didn’t want to wake up early again, his dreams filled with needles that laughed at him while he sneezed uncontrollably. 

Several days went by with the usual humdrum of the life Madara and his brother had fallen in to. As much as he despised the morning shift, he loved the afternoons with equal fervor. His job at the comic shop didn’t pay much more than a basic living wage but he loved the environment, loved his regular customers, and he especially loved the hefty discount it gave him on all the nerdy merchandise he couldn’t help filling their home with. Things went about as normally as they usually did in his life until the fourth day when Madara looked up from checking out a regular customer to find the next person in line was an actual walking snack. 

Wild hair artfully arranged to somehow look purposefully messy, skin so pale he could be mistaken for an albino, red eyes that Madara would swear could see right down in to his soul, he was already a dreamboat even without taking in the deliciously toned rest of his body. Something about him looked familiar but it was hard to concentrate past the broad shoulders standing straight and tall. 

“Can I - ahem - how can I help you?” Madara fought with his cheeks not to flush bright red and prayed that no one would comment on the massive crack his voice had just done. 

“You wouldn’t happen to be Madara, would you?” the man asked in a deep rumble. “Your coworkers described you to me when I came in here yesterday.”

“I am, yes. Uh...is there something wrong?” 

Shaking his head, the man coughed a little as though feeling uncomfortable. “No, no. I only wanted to come in and thank you for not kicking me out of your store the other day. I was, ah, fairly ill at the time and my behavior was not the best. Several shops had already sent me on my way but you allowed me to stay in one place long enough for my cousin to catch up so I wanted to say thank you for letting me stay somewhere safe. Anything could have happened to me in that state.” 

For a second Madara tried to subtly look the man up and down, trying to determine if he was lying or not. Surely this couldn’t be the same guy? It was only after he mentally added some black streaks under the eyes, hunched the shoulders, and squinted the eyes that he realized it was. This was his zombie customer. 

“You don’t look the same at all!” was the first thing his stupid mouth chose to blurt out. 

“Ah. Thank you, I think.” The man coughed awkwardly again. “I’m told I look fairly awful whenever I work myself in to sleep deprivation.” 

“Oh is that why you were acting so much like a zombie? Wait no! Shit! Sorry, that was rude! Um, shit- gah, I’m not supposed to swear, fuck. Damn it!” Exasperated with his own lack of self control, Madara smacked a hand over his face. Nearby one of his regulars could be heard snickering but glaring them in to silence would have meant removing his hand and facing the hot stranger who’d made him splutter. 

To his eternal relief, no comments were made about his verbal idiocy, although he could definitely hear traces of amusement in the man’s tone when he continued speaking. 

“Yes, unfortunately I have a habit of getting a little too involved in my studies. Exams are coming up so I’ve only been sleeping about two or three hours a night and it, ah, finally caught up to me apparently. I don’t remember much but my cousin tells me I wandered out of her house sometime around six in the morning and she didn’t find me until, er, whenever it was she found me in here.” After scratching at the back of his neck he seemed to jolt himself and then held out the same hand. “I’m Tobirama, by the way.” 

“Madara. But um, you apparently already knew that.” 

They shook hands, at which point Madara realized the other man’s incredible height also came with massive hands that practically engulfed his own. He really hoped he wasn’t blushing as brightly as it felt like he was. 

“So you live around here then?” he asked. Then he wanted to slap himself again because that was probably way too personal of a question. 

“Not really. Well, not yet. I’m staying with my cousin so I can take some courses at the university but my brother is thinking of moving back to town so I’ll probably move back in with him if he does.” 

“Back to town?” Madara perked up. “So you’re from around here originally?” 

Tobirama nodded. “We grew up in the west end.”

“No kidding? Me too.” Squinting, Madara tried to determine whether they might have crossed paths when they were younger. The man did sort of look familiar but age could change a lot about a person and it wasn’t like he’d kept contact with anyone from that end of town. Not after he’d been summarily tossed to the curb. 

His closer interest did not go unnoticed. For a moment he flushed even deeper than he already was, thinking Tobirama might have been offended by his scrutiny. Then his ears were flaming for another reason entirely and he couldn’t even bring himself to be upset about the misunderstanding when the other leaned in just a bit closer with a slow smile. 

“I don’t suppose you’d like to go for coffee sometime?” he asked. “As a thank you, of course.” 

“On one condition,” Madara told him, feeling suddenly bold.

“Do tell.” Tobirama looked even more amused by his request. He leaned farther down to rest his weight on both elbows to patiently await the condition he would supposedly need to meet. 

“If you can describe the premise behind any of the comics in this store then you’ve got yourself a date. I’ve had too many people try and steer me away from ‘childish interests’ and think they can ‘help me grow up’.” 

After breaking up with the fourth person in a row who mocked him for his interests Madara had made a pact with himself to never again date anyone who didn’t accept him for who he was and what he loved. He might be a massive nerd but he’d learned the lesson of self value a long time ago and he wasn’t about to let himself be blinded by a pretty face again. 

To his utter delight, he needn't have worried this time. With a competitive sort of light in his eye Tobirama pointed out half a dozen different comics within eyesight and not only named the main characters but also the basis of the main plot for each of them. What made it all the more impressive was that he mostly chose rather obscure franchises that couldn’t be considered mainstream. Madara was half in love before he was finished describing the third one. Handsome, intelligent enough for university, and apparently in to the same geeky stuff as him? Sign him up. Immediately. 

“Okay, okay, point made!” Throwing up his hands in surrender made Tobirama smile. “You mentioned your exams are coming up so I’m guessing you’ll be busy for the next little while. Why don’t I give you my number and we can go out for coffee to celebrate after you don’t need to study so much?” 

“I would appreciate that a lot,” Tobirama murmured earnestly. 

“School’s obviously important to you if you’ll work yourself in to a zombie state over it,” Madara pointed out. 

He got a grateful look that made his stomach flip flop. Rather than make a fool of himself again he printed off a bit of blank receipt paper and wrote his number down, sliding it across the counter. He expected Tobirama to slip the paper in to his pocket but instead he pulled out a beaten up cell phone and entered the number right there, smiling to himself like he'd won an unexpected treat. 

“I’m sure Hashirama will be thrilled to know I’m finally being more social.”

Madara nearly stopped breathing. All the triumph of having secured a very promising date suddenly drained right out of him as he stared at the man across the counter in horror, several little clues falling in to place at once. Finally he’d figured out why Tobirama looked familiar and it wasn’t because he’d seen him in zombie form. Images of his childhood best friend danced across his memories.

“You’re...you’re Hashirama’s little brother,” he whimpered. “Oh god. Oh god! He’s going to kill me! He’s going to come back to Konoha just to cut all my hair off in a bowl cut to match his!” 

While Tobirama stared at him with a mixture of horror and amusement Madara decided that as long as he got that date first he didn’t much care how he died. One conversation - and one look at those well defined biceps - was all he’d needed to know that Tobirama would be well worth it.

[featheredomen]

I’ve decided this is going to be the week I actually get my shit together (never mind that it’s already Tuesday, leave me alone), so I’m just gonna leave this post here and update it whenever I do something that I needed to do/was overdue/is just good for my general well-being, and I’ll see where it’s at on Friday. You know, might use this blog as an actual blog :P - 7:10am, 30/03

30/03 - Tuesday

- Went to my first lecture of the week, Sex, Death and Ritual (the only lecture that takes attendance, and it’s only 50 minutes long, and it’s the only thing I have to leave the house for, and it’s at 9am, so you can imagine how difficult it is for me to convince myself to do it lmao)

(A lovely nursing student said she loved my hair when we were getting on the loop bus <3)

- Tidied up my room a little, but more importantly I put away all my washing that’s just been hanging out in piles for the last couple of weeks

- Watched this week’s Philosophy lecture. I don’t think my Philosophy Professor is okay (”and that’s why our world is basically so screwed” - smiling with absolutely no feeling)

- Did one of my readings for SDaR: Revitalization movements: Some theoretical considerations for their comparative study. American Anthropologist 58(2): 264–281 (and was personally attacked by one paragraph in particular but no biggie)

- Actually called the uni counsellor and got an appointment for two weeks time <-- I’m actually real proud of this one, I’ve been putting it off for three weeks, and I hate phone calls almost as much as I hate genuinely admitting that i need help

- Finally finished the second reading for SDaR: Roth, C. F. 2002. goods, names, and selves: rethinking the Tsimshian potlatch. American Ethnologist 29(1): 123–150. (this one fucking killed me, none of the words properly registered and I don’t think I took away what I was meant to but god damn I’’ve been awake since 5am and it’s nearly 8 now, my brain is mush :P)

- Checked my uni email two days in a row (this is terrifying don’t judge)

- Wrote 419 words for TDA (one of three novels I’m cycling through atm)

I think I might call this a day.

31/03 - Wednesday

Me, trying to talk myself out of going to uni: I can’t go to uni *cough* I’m sick Me, to me: Boo, you whore

- Went to my 9am Discovering Archaeology lecture

- Went to my 10am Philosophy tutorial

- Watched my SDaR lecture from week 3 because apparently I missed it lolwhoops

- Went to my 12pm Sex, Death, and Ritual tutorial for two hours. It was fun. India, Dallas and I ~bonded~, mostly over Buffy

- Actually talked to my SDaR Professor and organised to get an extension on the assignment that’s one and a half weeks overdue and she’s not even gonna take points away for being late omg she’s so nice I feel guilty ;-;

There is no internet in this house what the fuck

01/04 - Thursday

Had a lovely sleep-in until 9:30 :3

- Put on a load of washing

- Paid rent (I am so very very broke omg)

- Went on a long and near-pointless journey for Easter eggs, wasting my entire afternoon, while trying to coordinate with my brother and father who are so uninterested in the entire thing. Barely successful. Working with those two is like pulling teeth. Have acquired a couple of eggs from the Good Chocolate place. Will have to go on a quest to get the last two I need probably Saturday.

- Can you tell I have lost momentum lmao

02/04 - Friday

Well and truly lost momentum at this point. Dicked around doing basically nothing all day. Did boot up the Evil Within in the arvo and played for a bit because I felt like giving myself a Laura-induced heart attack. It was fun :3

- Made a new gifset for The Evil Within which I haven’t done in a few weeks, so I’m considering it a win

- Made a couple of gifs for the continuation of my Evil Within chapter series, will complete that at a later date

Ordered KFC with the housemates because it’s free delivery all Easter weekend - why is this significant? Because for once, I was the devil on Ryan’s shoulder whispering at him to make bad Friday-night food choices >:3

03/04 - Saturday (it’s still part of this week, pipe down)

- Got all my washing in off the line

- Went on an early morning last-minute Easter egg run to the local shops. Way too painless. I therefore assume that I have done something horribly wrong. But for now, Easter shopping is complete, and it’s a beautiful sunny day out there, 28 degrees and it’s not even 10:30 :D

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

Hate of the past, Love for the future.

Guard: In the time that you were gone, us guards kept your vacant room clean...on instinct honestly...I suppose deep down, we were all hoping that you’d return to us one day.

Yeah, thanks...Again, sorry that I had to trick you all...

Guard: It’s fine...it was all worth it in the end.

*The guard smiles and turns to leave.

Guard: Welcome back, Lady Tsumiki.

Thank you very much...

Guard: Ah! L-Lady Saionji?

Huh?

...

*Mikan quickly turns around and is surprised to see Hiyoko waiting in the doorway.

Guard: Excuse me...

*The guard shuffles past her and leaves, as Hiyoko comes in.

...

Hiyoko...look, I said it earlier but...

I’m sorry.

H-Huh?

Don’t apologize to me...it wasn’t your fault...You were doing good things...

M-More than I could ever hope to do...

Don’t say that...

...

Do you know why I never really liked you Mikan?

The way you always trip over your words, stumble around, appear to be week...I always thought it was an act just to garner people’s attention, and that pissed me off honestly...!

But...I don’t know what to think anymore...The way you’ve been acting all cool these past few days...I don’t know...

Hehe...You think I’m...cool?

D-Don’t let it get to your head!

I’m only joking...

To be honest Hiyoko...I’m in no position to deny that accusation...It’s not like I trip everywhere on purpose but...

My biggest fear...my worst fear...is fading into obscurity. I don’t want people to hate me, but if hating me will cause people to pay attention to me I...

So...you can’t tell the difference between bullying and friendship, can you? Explains why you’re such a masochist.

But, I’m not like that anymore...From now on, I promise, I’ll try and be more...poised I guess.

I was only able to pull everything off thanks to Kaito and Tenko’s encouragement.

Yeah...so...

You must...really hate me, huh?

Huh!?

Shuichi told me that the plan from the beginning was to get a violent reaction from me...

I-I don’t understand...how does that mean I...hate you?

Don’t feign ignorance...You were using me as a puppet...

Who’s to say you were wrong to...?

Hiyoko, I don’t understand...what are you saying?

I’m sorry...

What for!?

For EVERYTHING!

I’ve...*hic* been nothing but...mean and horrible to you...! For the past 8 years...! I know you must have bad feelings...about me...but I want you to know I am SO sorry Mikan...*hic* *sniff* I am so sorry...and ashamed of wh-what I’ve said to you...! I don’t know if can ever make i-it up to you...! I...*sniff* I...!

WAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!

...Hiyoko are you...faking?

No, stupid! I...agha...*sniff*

Ugh!

*Hiyoko is almost knocked off balance as Mikan suddenly glomps her into a tight hug.

...Please...don’t cry...I could never...hate you...!

H-How? How can you forgive me!? After all th-that I’ve done!?

I was never mad at you...so...don’t say you’re sorry...You’ve got nothing to be sorry for...

*hic* *sniff*

*Mikan pats Hiyoko on the back as she lets it all out. After a few minutes, she wipes her eyes and calms down.

...O-Okay...I feel...better now...

Good. Let’s just put the past behind us. What happened happened...

Though I do have one more thing to apologize for...It’s...an apology long overdue...

What’s that?

...I’m...sorry I killed you...back on the island...

...

It’s ok...I probably deserved it...

Thank you...

So...are we friends now? I-Is that ok?

Hm...well, provided you keep your word and become more poised...I’m sure we can come to an arrangement.

Hehehe...

Oh! Shoot! I almost forgot!

What?

Sorry, but...I’m not the only one who wants to see you...

*Hiyoko goes to the door and opens it. Standing in the doorway is...

Oh...is it my turn?

Ibuki...

Ibuki’s got a...different kind of confession for you Mikan, so...

Thanks for all this...I’ll give you two some “privacy”...

*Hiyoko snickers as she slides past Ibuki.

Damn brat...she thinks she’s so funny, doesn’t she?

Well, there’s nothing wrong with that...that’s just how Hiyoko is...

Yeah...look, I’m gonna be honest here...I came here without planning what I was gonna say...

That’s fine...when we next got a moment alone, I was-

Wait a second...

What?

*Mikan suddenly notices Ibuki’s eyes are directed firmly at her shoulder where Mikihiko shot her.

I’ve only just now remembered...when you came back yesterday, you looked like you were wincing in pain...particularly when anyone touched your shoulder...And your sleeve was ripped...

What...happened back at the castle?

Huh? O-Oh, it isn’t anything major. I’ll be fine in a few days.

It doesn’t sound like nothing major...What...

What did they do to you?

I-Ibuki, listen, I promise, it’s nothing I couldn’t handle...

...Take off your shirt.

Huh? Y-You mean you want me to take my clothes off...!?

Um...I-I suppose I can do that if you want to-

Get your mind out of the gutter! If you can’t tell me, then at least show me!

...Please...

...

Alright, I’ll show you. But you have to promise not to freak out, okay? It’s all over and done with...

*Mikan carefully pulls down her shirt enough to show Ibuki the wound from the crossbow arrow.

...

*Ibuki looks at the wound and suddenly starts breathing heavily.

Th-The day I got back...I patched it up myself...

L-Look, I know that you’re mad but-

...

I-Ibuki!?

I’m sorry...I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help...

Ibuki you...Y-You’re really crying...?

I know there’s literally no way I could have been there with how the plan worked and all, but still...I had no idea they would’ve done something like that to you. That they COULD’VE done something like that to you...I-

*Ibuki cuts himself off for fear of his voice wavering. He took a deep breath and continues.

I swear...I’m gonna go get those bastards back...As soon as we crown Sonia, I’m gonna thrust them all into hell...!

Ibuki...if anything I’m the one who should be apologizing...I never meant to make you cry...

And I don’t plan on dying on you...Like I said, I can patch up my own wounds...And, I’m not afraid of any of them...

*Mikan slowly removes the bandage on her arm.

Besides...there’s nothing they could do to me that hasn’t happened to me already...

...

*Ibuki reaches down and takes Mikan’s hand, closely looking at the scars on her arm.

I...I did all this to myself...Since I was a kid, I always treated my own wounds and scars and...

What are you doing!?

YAAH!!?

*Mikan and Ibuki jump back from each other, both shocked as upon instinct, Ibuki began kissing Mikan’s cuts.

W-Wait, this is-!? I-I didn’t! Sorry, I didn’t mean-I-I-I-!! I-It’s just-! You- a-and I! And-

Aw forget it! Stupid Ibuki! STUPID!

Hehehehehe...

Wh-What’s funny!?

Oh...nothing...

*Mikan draws closer to her...

It’s just funny...We...we haven’t exactly been totally honest about our feelings towards each other...have we?

...Maybe you’re right...

I guess I was just afraid of hurting you...

You’d never hurt me...In fact...I guess I’m the one who has to take the initiative...

Initiative? What do you mean?

Oh, come on now...You already know.

*Mikan takes Ibuki’s hand.

...I love you Ibuki...

...

*sigh*...Finally...

*With this reply, Ibuki and Mikan draw even closer, and their lips meet.

[theoriginalladya]

D subtle kindness for Vega /Cortez! (I just read your last comment and hope it serves your taste ;))

on AO3 here

Sorry this took so long!  I’ve had the majority of this one down ever since you gave me the prompt, but finding their voices can be a challenge for me, especially James!  He snuck up on me last night, though, and I managed to finish it!  Hope it’s what you were looking for!!!  Thanks again!

~~~

Life on a ship is always in motion, even outside of the CIC, even outside of wartime.  It’s easy to forget that it’s 04h12 when someone’s cooking in the galley or the lounge has someone catching a nap on the couch.  For James Vega, it’s frustrating.  All he wants is a quiet space to sit and think.  He’s got stuff on his mind.  Heavy stuff.  The kind of stuff that makes the head hurt, and the old memories come back to haunt. He heard about a place, though. Beneath Engineering, but not in the Shuttle Bay.  He overheard Shepard make some crack to that crazy biotic, Jack, about it when she was aboard.  But, if it means peace and quiet, it’s worth checking out.

He descends the stairs quickly, the draw of dim lights as enticing as a pretty lady on the dance floor.  There’s cargo stored here now, but he can move around it, so it’ll do. A cot is shoved into the back corner. That’ll do too.

He sits, takes a deep breath, then pulls a datapad from his pocket.  He thumbs it on and stares at it, rereading the message contained within for the thousandth time.

… You are hereby officially recommended to Interplanetary Combatives Training …

He mutters a curse in Spanish beneath his breath and slams the pad face down onto the cot before covering his face with his hands … Madre de Dios, how did this happen?

“You lead a merry chase, Mr. Vega.”

The voice – Cortez’ voice – comes at him out of nowhere; completely unexpected, and James jumps … nearly falling onto the floor in the process. Another curse in his native tongue escapes as he stares daggers at his friend.  “Pendejo!  You tryin’ to scare me out of ten years of my life, man?”

Steve chuckles softly as he ventures closer.  “You, Mr. Vega?” he counters, putting as much astonishment as he can into the words.  He is within five feet when he feels the tension rolling off James’ shoulders in waves. Something isn’t right, and it isn’t because Steve surprised him.  He spies the datapad nearby, face down.  He’s seen it before lying on James’ workstation in the armory, but he’s never asked about it.  He understands the need for space, privacy.  So, for now he holds his tongue and walks over to lean his hips against a stack of storage crates.  Shifting his arms to fold over his chest, he eyes his long-time friend with just a hint of concern.  Whatever it is, it hasn’t affected his work or his ability out in the field.  He knows James has family back on Earth, figures if it was about them, it would be more obvious.  

Truth is, Steve isn’t concerned about that side of things. All he knows is something is troubling his friend … and he now has an opportunity to return a favor long overdue. He reaches into the pouch pockets on both pantlegs of his fatigues and withdraws a bottle and two glasses.

James keeps wary eyes on him.  “What’s that, Esteban?”

Steve chuckles as he pours.  He’s going to regret this tomorrow, most likely, but for now it’s worth it.  “Why, Mr. Vega, don’t tell me you don’t recognize the galaxy’s best Mescal?”

James freezes, eyes widening in surprise.  “How did you …?”

Handing one glass over, he waits for James to take it before replying, “I’m procurement officer, remember?  I don’t take my duties lightly.”

James mutters beneath his breath, but a moment later he tosses back the liquid and swallows … and starts coughing immediately.  When he can finally speak again, he hands his glass back over.  Cortez is already waiting with the bottle.  “Thanks.”

“If you can wait just a moment, we can do this properly,” Cortez chides gently as he sets the bottle aside then raises his glass.  “To what are we drinking?”

James falls silent for a long minute and simply stares at the liquid in his glass.  He debates silently, then takes the datapad and tosses it at his friend.  “See for yourself.”

It takes Cortez a moment to read the message … and for full understanding to hit.  “I see,” he says softly.  It doesn’t take much of an effort to think back to their meet up after the events of Fehl Prime when they’d gone on a drinking binge together at the cheapest bar they could find on Arcturus and didn’t stop until one of them passed out. It seems like forever ago … and at other times, just yesterday.  “Let me guess, you think they made the wrong call.”

Vega’s broad shoulders roll as he shrugs.  “You know what happened.  You can’t tell me you honestly think they made the right call with that.”  He gestures at the pad in Cortez’ hand.  “I damn near lost everyone on my team!”

“But you got the job done,” Steve reminds him.  “Look, you’ve seen the commander, been around when he’s made some of the tough calls.”

James snorts softly, but nods.  “Sure.”

“Then you know what it takes to be N7.  You did the same thing on that mission; someone thinks you should be recognized for that.  That’s all.”

Vega downs the liquid in his glass, the observation hitting far too close to home.  “Still doesn’t mean I’m N-material,” he mutters, reaching his glass out again.

Cortez pours.  “I think you’re wrong,” he insists.  “And you know what, James?  You know I’m right.”

James runs a hand over his face and is silent for a minute. Finally sitting back, he leans against the bulkhead and stares Cortez in the eyes.  Kind, compassionate eyes.  He’s been through some shit, too, but of late he’s been … better.  Sounding more positive.  Hopeful.  James tilts his head.  “What’s gotten into you, man?  You’re as chipper as Sparks these days.”

Cortez chuckles.  “A … new outlook on things, shall we say?” he offers.  “Look, if you really have doubts, talk to the commander about it. I bet you another bottle of Mescal that he agrees with me.”

James rolls his eyes.  “Yeah, maybe I’ll do that.”

Cortez walks over to stand in front of Vega.  “In the meantime,” he says, lowering his glass so they can clink them together, “here’s to friendship.”

James sighs.  “Ah, man, that’s the same one you used last time!”

“Well, you did come to my aid, as I recall.”

“Pfft.  Only ‘cause I was …  Oh, what’s the point of arguing with you?”  He clinks his glass against Cortez’ and lifts it.  “To friendship.”

[generalpandathefourth]

Wife and Child PT.8

An extremely overdue update. I am so thankful for all of you being so patient with me while I was dealing with shit and unable to write. Please enjoy :D             Previous, Ao3, Master Post

Gail waded through the thick fog of sleep, roused by a familiar poke to her side. It happened almost every night, at about four o'clock in the morning the baby would fuss and kick, punch or hit Gail until she woke. Then Gail would spend the next ten minutes either talking to the baby or gently rubbing Holly's belly, and both would slip back to sleep. She rubbed at her eyes with her knuckles, her limbs heavy with exhaustion from the nights activity.

"Hey baby." She greeted quietly, beginning her usual pattern on Holly's belly. "I didn't think we would wake up this morning. Last night was... eventful to say the least."

Holly shifted, moving closer into her. Gail paused. She didn't want to wake the brunette.

"It's only a few days now till we're doing this in person, and I don't know about you but I'm pretty excited. And terrified. I don't want to freak you out or anything but I have no idea what I'm doing, I don't know how to parent."

Her own parents flashed into her head. The speeches, the drills, all the dread and hatred she felt growing up, the loneliness and abandonment, if all she could take from it was what not to do for this kid than it was all worth it in her eyes. She would work every damn day to be as far away from her parents example as possible.

She thought of the life ahead of herself and smiled. Soon there would be another person in that room with them. A person who would need her like no one ever had before. She watched as Holly's belly moved again.

"We are lucky though, you and me, because we have your mommy on our sides. She's going to be so good to you," she whispered idly tracing her fingers where the baby had appeared. She tried to imagine what they would look like. If they would have dark or light hair, if any at birth. She herself was bald at birth. Who's features they would have. She didn't know who's egg they had used, hers or Holly's, she hadn't even thought to ask. None of that matter though, happy and healthy were the only hopes she could send out. And maybe Holly's smile. Her stomach fluttered at the thought of a tiny baby with her wife's lopsided grin.

There was a soft bump to her hand and her heart grew two sizes.

"Its time to sleep now baby," she said leaning in and giving them a kiss. "I'll keep rubbing but I'm closing my eyes. Sweet dreams."

She drifted off into a peaceful sleep with images of a smiling baby in her wife's arms. She couldn't wait for it to come true.

"Honey wake up," Holly's voice woke her.

She rolled over onto her back and rubbed at her eyes, they were heavy to open so she peaked through one. She groaned in place of words. Holly was naked still, and beautifully lit by the morning light. It was the first time she truly got to soak in all the dips and curves of her wife. She remembered the night before, how soft and addicting her soft skin was. How she tasted. How she arched and quivered beneath her touch, her lips. A burning fire began deep in her stomach at the memory. Desire grew. She wanted to do that again and again. She was hooked on the doctor like an addict to drugs.

"My water broke," Holly interrupted her thoughts.

Her eyes sprang open and she sat up faster than she had known possible, "what?"

Holly smiled and pointed to the floor. There laid a puddle of water and what could only be described as guck.

She glanced between the hardwood and the brunette. Holly looked just as stunned as she felt. It was happening. The baby was coming, early, and it was happening right then and there whether or not they were ready. She wasn't ready. The due date wasn't for a few more days, she was supposed to have days! She didn't even know if she could hold a baby let alone care for one. She didn't know what she was thinking, she shouldn't have committed, shouldn't have kid herself into thinking she could be a mother.

She could feel a panic attack rising, "now," she half shouted. Her chest constricted, breathing fast enough to feel faint.

Holly immediately softened when she met her gaze. She took a deep breath and stepped toward the blonde, making sure to not step in the puddle. "Gail, you're not alone. I'm right here with you," Holly took her hand and soothingly rubbed her thumb back and forth. "Do you remember the plan?"

Her face lit up in recognition. The plan! They'd made several to be ready for all situations they could've found themselves in, including if they had been snorkelling in Hawaii and a giant squid was attacking them when Holly started going into labour.

She nodded. "You clean up all that," she gestured to all of her wife, "and I'll get the car ready. Don’t worry about the floor, I'll get that too."

Gail spun on her heel, focused on her check list. She'd need Holly's bag, the baby's bag, one for herself, lots of snacks (she'd have to see if they could swing by a store on their way because she ate the bag of cheese puffs already) and their laptops- She was interrupted by a shirt to the face.

"You might want to get dressed first," Holly smirked.

--

She caressed Holly's face with as much tenderness she could muster. She was blown away with what she was doing, bringing life into the world. It was mind boggling to think about, to watch before her very eyes. With all the crap her mother had put her through she had to give one prop to her for going through this hell twice.

She brushed stray hairs from Holly's forehead. "You are so strong," she told her with utter admiration.

Holly looked up at her, eyes baring all of her exhaustion, and smiled. "Don't feel like it right now," she replied.

Gail smiled back at her and gave her hand a squeeze, "it'll be done soon and we will celebrate with ice cream."

"I thought the celebration was a baby," Holly laughed.

"Sure the squish is great, like super awesome, but that's not something to celebrate with. Like your parents never congratulated you on good grades with a baby," she explained.

Her smile grew with amusement, "you got me there. What kind do you propose we get for this occasion."

Gail sat back in her seat as if in deep thought. "Well we could go with a classic like chocolate, or venture out and get moose tracks," she thought out loud.

"I could go for some-" Holly was cut off with a catch of her breath. Another contraction Gail recognised quickly. She got out of her seat to stand and put a reassuring arm around her wife. Every pain gutted her. She went through the breathing techniques Holly taught her, after a few reps her wife caught on and mimicked her until the contraction had passed. "I could go for some moose tracks," she finished her earlier sentence.

Gail chuckled, "I'll make a note so I don't forget."

Holly met her gaze and her eyes began to water, a tremble quivered her bottom lip as if she were an animation. She reached out and caressed Gail's cheek, "what would I do if you didn't came back to me?"

"Well," she began and grabbed to hold the hand from her cheek, "for starters you wouldn't have cheese dust all over your blanket right now."

Her wife burst out laughing, making her heart soar. They both glanced at what used to be a white blanket. "I hope they can get it out," Holly tried to rub a cheese finger print out with her hand.

Gail shrugged, "it's been blessed."

A nurse walked in with a cheery grin, "Mrs. Stewart there are a lot of officers here looking for you," she addressed Gail.

She looked to Holly surprised. Honestly she hadn't expected people to show up until later, like when the baby was out and ready for viewings. The brunette flashed her a heart warming smile and pushed her away, "go and say hi."

"I don't want to leave you, those dorks can wait."

"Just go say hi and if you can muster it, thank them for being here," she replied.

"Fine," she dragged out the word in reluctance.

She didn't take her time walking down the few halls to the waiting room, she was going to do as told and then go right back to where she belonged, beside her Nerd. When she round the corner she was stunned for a moment, there was a lot more in blue than she had anticipated. Almost everyone was there. Some lounged in seats chatting, some pacing the small space while scrolling their phone. Her gaze fell on a certain man in street clothes and rolled her eyes, of course Chris was setting up a refreshments table at a hospital.

"Is that really necessary," she asked pointing to a box of coffee on a corner table.

Chris smiled picking it up, "of course! We all know how crap the coffee is here and we are in for a long day. Tim's is needed," he stated pouring some into a fresh cup. She nodded in agreement. For once he's not wrong.

"That better be for me," she stated with teasing and warning laced together. She was dead, ten hours of labour would do that to you even if you weren't the one going through it. She could only imagine how Holly must have felt, and she couldn't have sludge to help her. Gail made a mental note to also get coffee when she got the ice cream.

Chris dutifully made her a cup and handed it over. "How's she holding up?"

"About as well as one can while preparing to push a cantaloupe through their vagina," she answered drily. That clammed him up enough to end that conversation so she moved on to sit with Traci.

She let out a long breath, sinking into the chair. Traci gave her a reassuring pat to the knee. Gail kept her eyes closed for a few beats, allowing herself to feel the reassurance her best friend offered. When she opened her eyes she looked around at all the officers in the waiting room, and for the first time in her life she felt whole. This was family, her family, a room full of care and love for her, Holly and their child. She smiled despite herself. It was finally happening.

"Thank you for being here Traci," she whispered so only they could hear. Traci nodded without a word or a glance, they didn't need any more than that.

--

Holly's pain, screams and grunts, filled the room. Gail didn't know what to do with herself. The breathing techniques stopped working forever ago and the brunette had felt crowded when she got too close to her face. She decided to go with a hand to hold and help to support Holly's leg with every push. "You've got this Nerd," she would say every now and again. "You're doing amazing. They're almost here."

After what felt like a lifetime, cries filled the room and everything paused. Everything in Gail paused at least. The wails of fresh lungs rang in her ears, filled every cell in her body with life. They were here. This was it, she was a mom. Nothing else mattered in whole world. She couldn't conceptualise the love and protectiveness she felt already for the tiny being. She would do anything, kill anyone. God, she would even hug McNally with the amount of joy she felt in that moment.

"Congratulations moms, it's a boy," the doctor announced as he handed the baby off to a nurse. The nurse was quick to wipe off some of the fluids and lay him onto Holly's chest.

Holly immediately went to cradle him, "hi baby," she cooed.