#(been dealing with a death in the family so yeah I'm behind)

[imxthexhandler]

What do you think of Johnny Storm being with Lukas?

"It doesn't matter what I think. What matters is what Lukas feels, if he is treated well, if he is loved, if he is happy."

I know where to find Storm if he hurts him.

[daveth-isnt-dead]

Tentatively

Summary:

You don’t want to tell him the truth, that most of your friends have grown up and don’t talk to you anymore, that while you love your family it’s too difficult to find time to travel and see them, that you are incredibly lonely.

Contains: Fem Reader, Death Mention (but only as much as you would expect given the source material) Word Count: 2,235 Read on AO3

You still feel strange a few hours after leaving the chatroom. Grim, who despite all evidence to the contrary, is actually the Grim Reaper, left pretty abruptly after telling you there is something incredibly wrong with your soul and you are unsure if you should be concerned or offended about the whole thing. 

After a disappointing meal of microwaved leftovers and an attempt at enjoying a relaxing bath despite your apartment’s abysmal water temperature, you find yourself laying back on your bed and staring up at the all too uninteresting ceiling as you wait for your hair to dry. The window above your desk is open and the cool breeze is pleasant, but you’re already getting the sense that you will have trouble getting to sleep tonight, despite Grim’s uncharacteristic insistence that you get some rest after today. 

There’s something so lonely about these summer nights, lonely enough that you find yourself scrolling through your contacts list, looking for someone ( anyone ) to talk to. Calling your parents this late will only make them worry, and all of your friends from uni have much better sleep schedules than you do and will already be out cold. You toss your phone onto the vacant pillow beside you and let out a sigh, that really only leaves one option. 

Hoisting yourself from the bed, you walk over to the desk and grab your laptop. Quickly tapping open the chatroom app and turning off your camera before hitting the call button. You push your lamp and pot-plant out of the way to leave room for the laptop on your bedside table and lay back down as you wait for an answer. 

You spend the first seven rings worrying that he won't pick up, by the eighth you are proven wrong.

“I thought I already told you to go to sleep.” He says in lieu of a greeting. 

All the lethargic energy in the room suddenly dissipates, and your mouth tugs up in a smile, “Hello to you too”

“I was being serious.”

“Yeah, but you aren’t my boss.” He huffs, “I am your reaper.” “Oh?” You reply, smirking to yourself, “ My reaper, are you? Just mine?” “No! I- I’m just assigned to you. That does not mean-”

You laugh, “Sorry, sorry. I’m just teasing, thank you for picking up, I mean it.” It’s quiet, but you swear that you hear a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the call, “I- well, I just wanted to be certain that you were not suffering any side effects from the soul connection.” He clears his throat, “You…aren’t…are you?”

“I’m having trouble sleeping, but I don’t think I can blame that on you. I suppose I feel a little jittery? But that makes sense given my emotional state right now.” “What is it?” “What’s what?” “Your uh- your emotional state.”

“Oh.” You say, feeling your heart beating a rapid tattoo behind your ribs, “Well, I dunno. I’m a little overwhelmed, I suppose. I really just thought you were an edgy cosplayer, and I mean, you still are but you are also literally the Grim Reaper, so I’m still just dealing with that I guess.”

“That is perfectly normal, then. Though you should have been feeling frightened the moment I contacted you, your reaction was quite delayed.” “Hey! I never said ‘frightened’ I said overwhelmed! That’s a completely different emotion.”

He chuckles, “Unable to stop thinking about me, then?” “That also isn't what I said.” Though, he isn’t entirely wrong, “I’m just worried about how I'm going to focus at work tomorrow when I’ll be spending the whole day looking over my shoulder to make sure some white-haired twink isn't about to commit murder upon me.” 

“White-haired what? ” “Twinnnnk~” You reply, “Look it up, I’m sure that will keep you busy for a few hours.” “I hardly need to be kept busy , I have important work to do.” “Like stealing my soul.” “Yours and others, I do not just follow you around all day.” He says dryly, “You are not that important. Also, I will not be murdering you. I am pushing you in the correct direction, one you have stubbornly been avoiding for far too long.” You hum quietly to yourself, reaching out to pat your cat where he sits next to you on the bed, “How was I meant to die anyway? Just out of curiosity, since you seem to know everything about it.” He doesn't answer for some time, and the deafening silence makes you regret even posing the question. 

“Do you really want to know?” He finally asks, “Most people never find out, because unlike you they die when they are supposed to.” “Hit me with it, Grimmy.” He groans, “Do not call me that.” then you hear him sigh, deeply, contemplatively, “You were supposed to die of food poisoning.” “Oh.” You reply, feeling your heart sink a little, “Damn, that sucks. That’s so…boring”

“Death often is.” “I guess, well, I guess I was hoping that the way I die might be interesting at least. What food would have poisoned me anyway?” “Ham sandwich.” “Yikes. Was the ham poisoned or something?” “No, just expired. On a related note, you do need to clean out your fridge more often.” He’s right. Your fridge is pretty nasty, and it kind of always has been. It’s a very low priority on your list of tasks.

“Grim?”

“Yes?”

You swallow, unsure how to phrase the real question hiding in the recesses of your mind, “could you…I dunno, kill me gently, if it comes to it? I mean, I just-“ you roll over onto your side, making eye contact with the black screen of your laptop, “If I have to die, I don’t want it to hurt.”

There’s silence for a moment, and then he replies, “I don’t want it to hurt you either.”

“That’s…sweet, Thank you.” “Lacking desire to see you suffer does not make me sweet , it makes me considerate .” He sighs irritably, “More importantly, does this mean you’re finally willing to hand over your soul?” You laugh, “ No! I just- I dunno, I had a weird day and I'm feeling kinda existential now.” You look through your window, staring up at the night sky, “Do you feel that way sometimes, or is it just a human thing?”

“I do not see how that’s any of your business.” “C’mon, Grim. Just play along for once, get silly with it.” You hear him huff on the other end of the line, you can picture the exact pouty face he must be making right now, “I have been a reaper as long as I can remember, and will continue to be one for the rest of my life, there is little for me to be existential about.”

“Hm.” 

“What?” He says brusquely, “What are you ‘hm-ing’ about?”

“The thought of having one job for the rest of my life is exactly the sort of thing that makes me existential, that’s all.” “Well you don’t have to work at the same job for the rest of your life, so what exactly are you complaining about?” “I mean, the rest of my life might only be a few more days.” You say, “Provided you win our bet of course, which you will not be doing.” “Do not doubt me, Sunshine. You may come to regret it.” You giggle, “Doubtful.” There’s a rustling sound on the other end of the call, you can only assume that he is also lying in bed right now, “I am quite literally death, and I even gave you concrete proof of this fact this evening.” his voice turns quiet, dare you think it, wistful, “Why aren’t you afraid of me?” You shrug, even though he can’t see you, “You aren’t very scary.”

“I am going to take your soul .” “You are going to try and take my soul.” a smile tugs at the corners of your mouth, “And even if you do, you’ve already promised to do it gently .” “I promised not to hurt you, I never said anything about being gentle .” 

“I’m sorry, I just don’t see the difference between those two statements.” He groans, and when he speaks again his voice is muffled. You suspect he has his face buried in a pillow, “You are infuriating. When I leave the chatroom for the evening I assume that I am done with you, I was not prepared for you to insist on continuing our conversation well into the night.”

“What, are you tired?” All goes quiet for a moment, and then, “No. Are you?” “Nope.” “Hmph, you should be at this hour, especially after a day of work.”

“I- well, I dunno…”

You don’t want to tell him the truth, that most of your friends have grown up and don’t talk to you anymore, that while you love your family it’s too difficult to find time to travel and see them, that you are incredibly lonely. You are tired, you have to be up at 5:00 to get ready for work tomorrow morning, but the idea of saying goodbye, of hanging up, makes something ache deep inside you. Something inside the very soul he wants to steal. 

“You don’t know, what?”

“Huh?” Grim huffs again, “You said, ‘i dunno’ and then stopped talking, which is very out of character for you, by the way.” “Oh? Did you miss me? Were even those brief seconds of silence enough to make you realize how much you love hearing my voice?” “I will hang up.” 

“Don’t.” You say before you have time to think better of it, “Please.”

“I-“ he clears his throat, “Only if you can act normally for the rest of our conversation.”

“I’m plenty normal, you’re the weird one.”

“What’s weird, how am I weird?”

You roll onto your back, staring up at the celing, “Oh i dunno, just the whole ‘I am death incarnate! I have come for your soul! I will connect my soul to yours! ’ schtik” 

“You know fully well that it is not a…what did you call it? A schtik?” He pronounces the word completely wrong, “Whatever that is, it is not one of those. I am death incarnate, I am here for you soul, and you were literally an active part in the soul connection.”

“Oh, about that soul connection thing, by the way.” He scoffs, “Your ability to change the subject at a whim is still strong as ever i see.” 

“I know, I’m very talented- anyway! I wanted to ask if you can do anything cool now that we have a soul link or whatever.” “I have already told you, I cannot control your body. As entertaining as it would be to embarrass you publicly, even my exceptional abilities could not do that” 

“Oh kay , how about something easier, then?” You feel the warmth of your cat as he snuggles up against your side and instinctively reach out to pat him, “Read my mind, go on!” “I cannot do that.” “C’mon, Grimmy, give it a go!” You squeeze your eyes shut, “I’m thinking about something real hard right now.” He sighs, “Are you thinking about your cat?” “ Whaaaat? How did you know?!”

“I didn’t know , i guessed. I can’t read your mind, but i am still attuned with your soul.” His voice has turned uncharacteristically soft, he’s almost whispering, “It… flutters …when you are happy, and your cat makes you happy. So I guessed…”

“So you’re a soul reader, then?” You ask, trying to ignore the fact that your stomach also feels oddly fluttery right now.

“That is not a thing. You’re just making things up now.”

“Try again.” You say, your mind unwittingly flooded with thoughts of soft white hair and judgemental red eyes. Of hands you wish were bare, of sharp toothed smiles. Your heart slows to a languid rhythm, and something you aren’t ready to put a name to curls warmly in your belly. You close your eyes, softly this time, and breathe, “What am i thinking about now?”

He goes silent for a long time, you can hear the slow, even draw of his breath. You can picture him laying back on his bed, hair splayed over the pillow, brow creased in concentration and you wonder if he is thinking about you too. After what feels like an age, he finally answers, “your…plant?”

You burst into laughter and any tension in the air shatters, “My plant?! What about my soul was screaming plant just then?”

“Well, I don’t know! It was just happy again, happier, even and I assumed that you were smart enough not to just think about your cat again.” 

“Yeah, you got me.” You lie, “it was my cat again.”

“Hells, every single day you find a new way to get under my skin.” He sighs, and despite his earlier statement, his next words come out almost fondly , “You need sleep, mortal.”

“Yeah.” You reply, feeling that ache tug at you again, “I probably do.”

“I will talk to you tomorrow, that is, if you survive until then.”

That gets a laugh out of you, and you can’t tell if that was his intention or if he was being completely serious, “I look forward to it. Remember to murder me nicely, Grim.”

“As nicely as I can, I swear.” You can hear his smile, “Goodnight, Sunshine.”

[sunraies]

This will contain spoilers for OBX4 Part 1. Ep4 used the most. Other plot lines missed out.

She's so gone

Pogue Reader. Hints of Rafe Cameron.

Warnings- Violence, animal cruelty, blood, mentions of drugs.

JJ Maybank's sister isn't the quite, sweet girl she was 18 months ago.

Just a little background as hard to explain/cover in a one-shot :

Y/N Maybank nicknamed May, MayB or MB

JJ Maybank's sister. (Obx 4 spoiler, you can chose if biological, Luke's or someone else's)

Naturally shy, kind and caring. Loves to read and enjoys nature and the beach. Quietest out of the Pogues.

Changed during the 18 months JJ and the Pogues were away, treasure hunting and fighting for their lives.

I may chose to do more with this nicknamed Y/N character if people enjoy her. Sorry if I'm rusty and seems rushed had this idea after finishing part 1.

*×*×*×*×*×*×*×*×*×*×*×*×*×*×*×*×*×*×*×*×*

The last 18 months had been hell on earth to put it lightly. While your brother and his friends were off finding treasure and as you found out from all the details later, fighting to survive, you were left behind. Left with no father, brother and friends to try and keep the only home you knew. You literally worked until your fingers and feet bled. Taking cleaning jobs around the Cut and Figure Eight, working as many hours as possible at the Country Club taking any shift they had going from lifeguarding and golf carting to bartending and waiting. Anything to keep your roof over your head, hoping the people you loved would be home soon.

Things turned darker when you got so desperate you used some of Luke's contacts to make money. It started small selling a few stolen pills to dealing using many cleaning jobs as a cover. You were almost caught by Shoupe a few times but he seemed to go easy on you, thinking you were still the grade A student, polar opposite sister of JJ Maybank. Before things got too serious the person to help pull you out was the last person anyone would expect, Rafe Cameron. Why he helped you was unclear but after many months of denying his help, you finally accepted having received a busted lip on a deal gone wrong. The money he loaned you save your home for a little while.

An odd friendship formed between the pair of you but never went any further as before it could the Pogues returned home, with life changing treasure and the news of Ward Cameron and Big John Routledge's death.

Rafe closed himself off to you and you had to go on like nothing happened.

Life got easier and so good with your family's return. They brought your home and land. Poguelandia was re-created and you got a taste of the paradise they had created on the island they told you all about.

After building the paradise. You helped run the shop, organised JJ's charters, helped Kie in the garden and kept the bills and books in check with Pope. You got to be your old self again, spending days relaxing, reading in the sun and enjoying the company of your loved ones.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

It had happened a few times over that summer, a storm over the Atlantic hundreds of miles away sent ripples right over the pond. Having grown up on the Outerbanks you told tell, you could hear it the moment you woke up. The flags on the roof and in the yard sung a perfect sympathy with the gulls flying over head.

"We're going to the beach!" You heard JJ yelled through your open window, the tell tell sounds of John B slapping him out of happiness confirmed the feeling in your bones. "Wakey-wakey everybody!"

It didn't matter what you had planned that day, it changed to hitting the brake. No matter what, everyone would stop. It was one time the whole island came together. That perfect summer swell.

"Yeah, baby, now that's the perfect swell. It's probably the best of the year" JJ howled as he checked his phone, tracking the swell making sure the broads were ready and prepared in time to hit the best waves.

Everyone woke with the tingle in their bodies and happy buzz of that beach day. You happily lounged in the hammock while the others prepped their boards. Planning to read on the beach as the others surfed.

Pope had decided not to join causing outrage. Sarah sat up quickly in the swinging chair and you almost toppled out of the hammock. "There'll be other swells. Someone's gotta keep the shop open"

"Pope. That's like saying there's other pizza to eat all right?" JJ exclaimed "like come on, now. You serious?"

"Wow" Kie sighed "Listen to your earth mother, Pope. She's like begging you to surf."

"I think my earth mother is telling me to maximise our intel" Pope wasn't having any of it. "The shop needs running as someone bet our tax fund" He glared at JJ who ignored him.

"Mines tell me to maximise the swell" Kie argued, looking for support.

"Wanna maximise this beach day?" John B looked at Sarah who agreed.

"I wanna maximise this tan" Sarah smiled before turning to you "May? Maximise beach day?"

"I'm gonna maximise this book" you waved your book bag having stood closer to Kie who hummed. They knew you wouldn't get in the surf but never missed beach day.

"Okay, everyone have fun maximising" Pope shrugged. "Cleo texted to say she's collecting bait, someone's gotta sale it"

"Lame. Tell her we're closed" Kie frowned

"Pope, hey, hey, rule number one, Pope, is no working on a swell day." JJ said, desperately trying to stop him as John B wrapped an arm over his shoulder.

"Rule number one" You echoed as Pope looked your way. Having worked the books with him, you knew the shop was sinking but didn't have the heart to tell the others yet. Pope still deserved a day off through but you understood why he was so adamant.

"Someone's gotta do this. If we want to keep business going" Pope shrugged "catch a nasty one for me" He smiled at a broken hearted looking JJ.

"I can stay, I can read while on the till" You offered but Pope shock his head.

"Go enjoy the sand, MayB" He smiled wrapping an arm over your shoulders before kissing your temple.

They all knew how much you worked while they were away but not the dealing side of things. You deserve a beach day, they'd seen a slight change in you but didn't talk to you about it. Taking whatever details of your time alone you'd give them.

Being in the Twinkie, cruising along the coastal road with the music blaring felt like home. Kie smiling happily while an excitable JJ disturbed John B and Sarah in the front.

"Look, John B" JJ grinned pointing over him "Look out there"

You laughed with Kie and Sarah as John B covered his eyes and pushed him backwards, causing JJ to flop over you and Kie.

"May, did you see!? The waves were huge" He grinned boyishly up at you as he held his arms wide, the size of the waves.

"Yeah J, I saw" you smiled softly down at him.

As soon as the Twinkle hit the sand, JJ slide the door open and happily ran his hands in sand while John B let her roll to a stop. Everyone laughed as they soaked up the sun. You laughed as John B almost hit JJ over the head with the umbrella.

"Half-baked Poguelandia" John B sighed as Sarah chuckled "its gonna be great"

Once everything was set, you happily flopped into a chair identical to JJ's, a matching set you had since he was 3.

Kie adjusted the umbrella for you before wrapping you in a back hug "all set, MayB. We'll miss you out there"

"Hey, beach bag guard has always been my duty" You leaned back into her, laughing as the chair wobbled you both "you guys catch the waves while I stay on dry land"

"Let's get those boards off!" JJ hurried over to the van while the roars of jeeps took over the peaceful sounds of the beach.

"Oh boy" John B sighed

"What?" JJ asked distracted by the boards.

The mood suddenly dropped as Kook jeeps rolled closer in a convoy.

"You're joking" Sarah muttered clearly annoyed

"Don't stop" JJ sighed while Kie shook her head "anywhere but here"

You all watched as Topper cruised by at the front. They clearly spotted your group as a random Kook called out look. Stopping a small distance away.

"Oh, you're joking. Of course, they stop here" Kie sighed, her thoughts out loud."Why wouldn't they? When there's a whole beach"

"We were here first," Sarah pouted. "So lame" she walked back towards Twinkie, unable to look at them as John B stared at Topper, unloading his fancy board.

"Let's go, Baby," you heard Rafe yell as he jumped out the back of Top's truck. You hadn't seen him in months. Your heart jumped a little before plummeting as Sofia cuddled into his side. You'd hear rumors but hadn't seen them together yet.

"Oh, great, my brothers here" Sarah sighed as Rafes eyes scanned the beach and your group before they locked in on you.

"Kie, don't worry, he's not getting near you" JJ confirmed her as you all knew about the boat incident. "I can guarantee that"

You wished the promise of protection was to you too but they didn't know, you hadn't told them of your betrayal. The life line you took from Rafe. The reason the house and land was still there to buy in the first place.

"Hey, ya'll. John B" JJ called from the top of the Twinkie "Sunshines coming"

You broke eye contact with Rafe, adjusting your shades, placing the book in your lap to watch Topper approach. You watched as Sarah whispered warnings to John B, most likely telling him not to bite if Topper provoked him.

They seemed tense but ended civilly as John B walked back to your group. You rolled your eyes as some dumb Kook yelled, "Go home Pogues" like they owned the beach.

Things seemed to go smoothly after that. The Pogues happily caught the waves. You jumped up cheering as Sarah successfully rode a big swell in. "YEAH GIRL!" You cheered, picking up her towel while she was briefly stop by Kelce and Topper.

As she walked over you noticed Sofia saying something to Rafe, but he swigged his beer and shook his head.

"You ok?" You asked Sarah as she thanked you for her towel and flopped next to you.

"I'm good" She breathed before looking away from the Kooks "I just wished he'd stop staring over here"

You nodded as you noticed Rafe watching you two. Was he looking at you or Sarah?

"Hey, forget it" You hummed handing her a can out the cooler "he probably doesn't know....." You stopped as Sarah raised an eyebrow. 'How to talk to you after everything' you wanted to finish but instead said "he's probably plotting. You know crazy Kook shit"

Sarah let out breathy laugh "you sound like JJ. Kook conspiracy!"

Sarah dozed next to you as you read but you found it hard to focus, re reading the same line as Rafe kept looking over. You were reading a sentence for the 5th time when you heard yelling from the water. Sarah sat up just in time for you both to witness JJ poach Topper, sending him toppling into the waves as JJ rode to the swallows.

The Kooks yelled at him, including Rafe, before he flipped him the bird, and JJ shrugged, making you and Sarah, even though it clearly broke whatever peace had been created. "Well, that didn't last long" you sighed

The peace seemed to stay for the rest of the afternoon. A few pity poaching and pushing out of the waves happened but it didn't amount to anything. You helped Sarah and John B load the Twinkie as JJ and Kie got the last of the boards on the top.

"Guys! There's a turtle hatch!" Kie gasped, rushing over to the moving sand. You all hurried after her.

"Holy shit! Look at these little nuggets!" John B smiled as baby turtles emerged.

"They're so little!" Sarah made little movements with her hands

"Adorable!" You smiled

"Wait, guys, give them some space. Don't touch them" Kie warned after her excitement.

"Wait, we gotta make a path, right?" John B asked

"Yeah, clear the way" JJ exclaimed before starting to make a part towards the shoreline.

"We gotta clear these footprints" Kie instructed. "Sarah, MayB, keep the gulls off"

"I don't see any!" Sarah spread her arms wide, looking up before wobbling. You caught her laughing before helping shield the baby turtles.

"A turtle highway!" JJ exclaimed.

"Follow the turtle highway. Come kids" Sarah happily called out to them, and John B joked he was their human daddy leading them to the ocean-ocean

"Go on, babies." you smiled before looking at Kie, who was smiling widely, over the moon to see a hatch and that you were all helping her. The turtles and saving the ocean was her dream, and this was a part of it. If this hatch made it, all of them with your help they had a 50% better chance.

Just as you looked back down at them, something fast moving along the beach caught your eye "guys" you muttered before the revving got louder "guys!"

"Hey!" Kie jumped up quickly waving her arms as she saw the jeep too. You both desperately waved your arms to stop whoever it was. All of you started waving and yelling

"Hey stop!"

"Stop!"

"There's a hatch!"

"Yo Stop"

"Go around!"

They didn't stop. If anything, whoever was behind the wheel accelerated more. You and Kie stood your ground till the last second, diving and tumbling out of the way before you could be hit. JJ desperately looked around, seeing Sarah had Kie, he helped you up, checking you over for any injuries. "Shit, you good?"

You hummed and nodded before he ran over to Kie checking on her.

"Fucking Assholes" Kie frowned, looking at the babies. The revving started again "Oh hell no!"

She stood in the path of the jeep again this time, all five of you stood together, yelling from them to stop. Again, they didn't, making you all jump out of the way. Kie got hit with a drink as the Kook you recognised as Ruthie drove by.

As the others checked on Kie, you looked over that the Kooks hollering and cheering. Noticing Rafe and Sofia not joining in. If anything, Sofia looked disgusted. Did they feel bad for watching you almost get run over? You hadn't spoken to Sofia much, but she always seemed kind. She clearly didn't belong in a good way.

Kie's gasp and cry of "no no no no" broke you out of your thoughts. Looking down at her kneeling in the sand, you noticed a murdered baby turtle in her hands. The tiny broken shell. Kie whimpered and remained for a moment before suddenly standing up and heading for the overly happy group.

"Stay here" she said before walking away. JJ ran after her as John B held Sarah back before calling out to you, but you didn't listen.

"Kie, I know I'm the last to say this. But not today" JJ tried to stop her.

"I don't care" Kie bluntly responded

"Kie, we need to be smart about this" you said softly.

"I don't care" she repeated

"No. All right" JJ sighed "Just we are little outnumber in this situation. Let's jus-"

"I don't care!" She snapped at him, looked at the both of you.

"Here she comes!" Topper called out "on a warpath. Get ready!" Ruthie smugly stood beside him as everyone watched Kie with you and JJ behind her to see what would happen.

"Look what you did" Kie held out the baby turtle. "Is this OK?" Ruthie smug ass look dropped suddenly glancing at the baby before looking away.

"No, look at it!" Kie urged."You drove right over it! there was a turtle hatch, you idiots!" Everyone looked uncomfortable.

"I understand your upset, Kiara." Topper tried some conflict resolution bullshit.

"No, I'm more than upset, Topper" Kie snapped at him.

"All right but it was only one" Ruthie sighed pointing back towards John B and Sarah "I mean look there's so many more of them" she shrugged like it was nothing "what a hatch is like 100 turtles? Most of them don't make it anyway"

"Yeah, it's like 1 in 1000" Topper added, like stating the facts Kie knew would help.

"Hey, you know what? You should so throw that to the seagulls. " Ruthie taunted "cycle of life, right?"

"Cycle of life!" Kie pushed her back, causing her to cry out in shock, and Topper jumped in to protect her "getting flatten by a truck is not the cycle of life!"

JJ got between Topper and Kie holding him away from her as some Kook held up her phone. Ruthie got close to Kie, "Your move, Kie." She clearly felt protected by her friend recording. "What you gonna do?"

"I would just walk away. We are not going this today" Topper warned JJ and Kie. No one was really paying attention to you. You were JJ's quite, sweet sister.

"There is something seriously wrong with you people!" Kie yelled at them before turning around and pushing a speaker over.

"Come on, Kie" You said softly, putting an arm around her, which she shrugged off.

"Yeah, that's right! Get back to your side, Kie!" Ruthie yelled. You glared back at them, pausing between Kie walking away and JJ staying.

"If you touch her, or any of us ever again. I'll come back and kill every single one of you" JJ threatened.

"Was that a threat?" Ruthie gasped as someone called out they had JJ on video.

"Come on" He said softly to you as you continued to watch Ruthie, blood bubbling away under the surface.

"Always knew he'd end up like his daddy" Ruthie muttered, clinging to Topper like some poor victim. You caught what she said and saw red.

Before anyone knew what was happening, your fist connected with Ruthies' nose. A horrific crack broke the stunned silence. Blood poured from her nose as she cried out. You shook your hand out, not sure if the crack was your knuckles, her nose, or both.

"You dare speak of my family again" You seethed "and it will be more than just your nose. TURTLE MURDERING BITCH"

Chaos broke out as Topper went for you, JJ pushed him away as he broke out of his shock. John B sprinted over as Kelce took as swing for JJ. Shockingly, Rafe got between the four of them.

"Get the fuck out of here!" He yelled at JJ and John B "get her and go!"

JJ scribbled over to you, grabbing you arm and pulling you away "Holy shit, holy shit" He muttered "what the fuck? How the-" He was stunned just as much as everyone else.

"We have that on video?! Right?!" Ruthie cried, holding a towel to her nose, but her friend shook her head, having stopped when JJ and you started to walk away. She'd only caught the aftermath.

Back the Twinkle, Sarah held your hand, checking the bruising and broken knuckles. "You got a serious swing there, May"

"Well, J taught me" you shrugged.

"I taught you for emergency situations!" He ran a hand through his hair."That was not an emergency!"

"She looked too smug" You said sighing softly.

"Yeah, now we gotta deal with Shoupe" JJ sighed, knowing he'd probably already been called. The death threat was bad enough.

"May, hasn't got a record. She'll be fine" Kie said "but girl, you did what I wanted to do!"

"Plus Shoupe hasn't had to deal with MayB before. She's normally covering your messes. " John B pointed out calming JJ a bit.

"Um, yeah. Kinda not the first time" you muttered.

"WHAT?!" JJ and John B yelled, John B slammed the breaks in shock, bringing the Twinkie to a sudden stop just outside Poguelandia where blue lights flushed.

[imaginedanvrs]

encrypted relations

part 1 l masterlist

summary: yelena belova x reader. when natasha takes you under her wing, she becomes like family, and the last thing you want is to lose that. but when you meet her younger sister who you know is off limits, you have to decide between what you really want and hope for minimal damage

word count: 3.6k

warnings: alcohol, mentions of past toxic relationship and manipulation, sexual themes, implied death

“I cannot believe you met Nat's sister before me!” You exclaimed as you threw yourself down on your sofa and glared up at the ceiling, furious at the universe's mockery. 

  “Dude, I know! I wanted to call you but every time I was about to, someone started shooting at us again,” Kate said with a huff. “But I got her number and told her to text me next time she's in town…she hasn't been responding yet so it might be a fake number,” you could hear the pout.

  “Kate!” You whined, earning a curious glance from Marty who jumped up onto the sofa to settle down on top of you.

  “I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you,” she tried.

  “I'll hold you to that,” you huffed until a smile crept onto the corner of your lips. “So tell me everything,” you grinned as you held the phone closer to your ear. You always loved hearing about Kate's missions. Having known the young archer since before you managed to introduce her to her favourite hero, you had witnessed Kate's adventures transgress from more delinquent than crime fighter, to taking on the KingPin single handedly. You were confident her first fight with aliens was right around the corner. 

  At that, Kate lit up, springing into an animated recollection of everything that had happened in the past few days. Her account was no doubt exaggerated and a little out of order with how often she got side tracked with minute details, but you were able to gain at least an overview of the events that led their paths to cross. In short: widows. 

  Yelena had been able to trace down the small group of assassins who had slipped under her radar, due to their inbuilt paranoia now that the red room’s foundation had crumbled, and led her to New York. The widows, acting on their manmade instincts, had made some trouble in town that Kate had stepped in to deal with without knowing the full scale of what she faced. Fortunately, Yelena had jumped in just in time to stop Kate getting killed but in the chaos of it all, the widows got away. 

  After a great deal of persistence from Kate, Yelena eventually gave the archer the rundown and in doing so got herself a companion for the rest of her time in the city until they were swiftly able to find the widows once more and release them from their chemically induced trance. 

  “So what was she like?” You asked once you had processed Kate’s story. 

  “Total badass,” Kate summarised. 

  “Knew it,” you muttered as you scratched behind Marty’s ears.

  “Anway, I gotta take Lucky for his routine checkup so I’ll talk to you later,” Kate said before you could ask any more questions. 

  “Good luck, Lucky,” you called down the phone, hearing a distant woof in return before the call ended. You immediately opened your messages. 

  Me: yelena was back in town??? You typed out furiously. It took less than a minute to get a response, that meant that Nat was probably doing paperwork.

  Nat: haha yeah, you guys meet up?

  Me: no she was too busy hanging out with kate!! 

  Nat: i didn’t get to see her either :( you frowned as you read over the message, surprised that Yelena hadn’t gone to see her sister when she had the chance. 

  Me: what?? :( you paused, tapping your thumbs against the sides of your phone.

  Me: you free for lunch? 

  Nat: come by the tower? She was definitely doing paperwork. There had been so many times in the past where Natasha had been too swamped with paperwork to go out with you for lunch that you had developed somewhat of a routine for you to go and have lunch with the Russian as she worked. Much to her credit, her ability to hold a conversation while recollecting her missions was admirable. 

  Me: omw

  “Come on, Marty. We’re going to the tower,” you said as you patted his back. Your dog was quick to scramble off of you and make his way to the door, grabbing his collar and leash off of the hook while you grabbed your jacket. You took it from his mouth gently and fastened it on before making your way out. 

  It didn’t take you long to get through the security at the Avenger’s tower. In earlier years you had some issues, especially with the addition of Marty, because you had to sign in as a visitor even though you were accessing floors visitors couldn’t. Eventually, Tony had gotten you a pass that let you whizz through the gates and checks. 

  “Hey, Steve, how’s it going?” You greeted the soldier as you entered the common room. 

  “Hey kid, not so bad. I haven’t seen you in a while though, how’ve you been?” He asked as he crouched down to give Marty all the attention he had been anticipating. 

  “Same old,” you shrugged, settling into an easy catch up with the blond as he recollected his latest pop culture enrichments and visits to see Peggy. The pair of you didn’t get to talk for too long though, because Nat appeared at the other side of the room with her arms crossed across her chest. 

  “Mind if I steal this one away, Rogers?” Natasha asked with a slight grin. 

  “Course not, see you around, y/n,” Steve chuckled as he picked up his lunch and took it away. As soon as he did, Marty dashed across the room to the Russian with his tail wagging madly. It was obvious who his favourite was in the tower, same as you. 

  “Hi, Mutt,” Natasha cooed as she pampered the dog.

  “I told you not to call him that,” you said with a roll of your eyes even though it was hard not to smile every time. 

  “Why not? That’s what he is,” Natasha pointed out as she stood up and gave you a fond hug. You went through to the corner of the conference room with the sofas where Natasha had her laptop and two plates of pb&j sandwiches. 

  “So how come you didn’t get to see Yelena while she was in the city?” You asked right away. You and the Russian had never had a small talk type of relationship. 

  “She hadn’t been planning to come to the city in the first place, that was just where she was led to, but once she had handled everything she needed to, she was being called to chase another lead,” Natasha explained with an air of disappointment. 

  “I guess between Kate and the widows she was more than preoccupied while she was here,” you said as you reached for your sandwich and pondered Yelena’s general mission that took up so much of her time. In fact, it seemed to be an almost constant thing. 

  “Yelena’s been at this for what? A year now? Is she anywhere close to being done with it all?” You asked, knowing that the scale of what the young Russian had taken on was great but that the work she put in was greater. 

  “She reckons so,” Natasha said with a spark of hope in her eyes that was impossible not to catch. “I want her to come home, wherever that may be to her,” the spy admitted, knowing that her sister wouldn’t want to stay by her side forever. 

  “Even if you’re not home, you’re a pretty great timeshare.” You thought that was a nice thing to say, but the pb&j sandwich Nat threw at your face said otherwise. You grinned back at the redhead, knowing she didn’t have to worry about Yelena growing distant with her again and hoping the same would always apply to you. 

*

“So if Steve could lift mjolnir and they ruled Asgard together, would that make them some kind of power couple?” Kate asked as she leant against the wall next to your door. 

  “Like work husbands?” You rummaged around in your pockets for your keys while the archer continued. 

  “Royal work husbands,” she corrected. 

  “You’ll definitely have to ask them at the next party,” you chuckled as you eventually found your keys and started opening your apartment door. 

  “I wanted to ask at the last one but I thought as it was my first time meeting them that I should-”

  “Kate Bishop.” You and Kate spun in the direction of the voice as you fumbled for the light switch. “Y/n l/n,” the Russian continued once you had a light on her. 

  “Yelena!” Kate exclaimed with a broad smile as Lucky immediately dashed over to the blonde. Marty stayed close to your side as you stared at Yelena in awe while she greeted the labrador. “You know you don’t have to break into everyone’s apartments the first time you go to them, right?” The archer asked, placing her jacket on your coat rack while you continued to stand glued to the spot. 

  “I did not break anything and you were taking forever!” Yelena argued defensively as she stood up and set her eyes on you. “Y/n l/n,” she greeted. You could feel her assessing you, just like her sister had the first time she stood where the blonde was. 

  “Yelena Belova,” you said, taking in the Russian in front of you. Her blonde locks were loose over her designer jacket that had various broches scattered across it and had been matched perfectly with black trousers that fit comfortably enough to highlight her figure. She was clearly someone who took pride in how she looked and you understood why, she was beautiful. 

  You watched a smile inch at the corner of her lips and wondered what kind of assessment she had made of you. Had she noticed that your eyes had lingered a little too long on the curve of her hips or trace of a smile? You swiftly looked away, reminding yourself that maybe you shouldn’t be looking so intently at Natasha’s sister. 

  “It’s about time you guys met, huh?” Kate said as she glanced excitedly, though oblivious, between you both. Yelena was still looking at you, a fact you were aware of because her gaze was as intense as her sisters. 

  “Of course, my sister’s told me a lot about you,” Yelena informed as she observed you take Marty’s lead and collar off. 

  “Likewise,” you said with a brief glance in the Russian’s direction in hopes of avoiding picking up on any more of her perfections. “What brings you over here?” You asked to at least distract yourself. 

  “A lead,” Yelena tore her eyes away from you and moved to where Kate was sitting comfortably on your sofa. 

  “Already? It’s only been a few months since you were here last.” You listened to the pair converse as you strolled to the sliding glass panel that separated your bed from the rest of the studio apartment and threw your satchel down. 

  “This is bigger than last time,” Yelena explained, her voice dropping to that of a serious one. “I called Natasha but she didn’t pick up,” the Russian huffed. 

  “She’s in the Philippines,” you added as you reemerged, meeting Yelena’s emerald eyes. “They all are.”

  “So you want us?” Kate jumped in, clearly unbothered that she was the Russian’s second choice. 

  “I heard you’re good with tech, think you can access this?” Yelena held out a small device in your direction. You took it without letting your fingers brush and recognised the device right away. It was a sort of USB stick, though slightly modified so that it couldn’t fit into any ordinary USB port. You hadn’t seen one in a while but fortunately you had an adapter you could use to get started on it. 

  When you didn’t confirm if you could in fact access the device’s information, Kate didn’t hesitate to do it for you and started asking the blonde what her plan was and how she could help and how come she didn’t respond to the memes she sent her. Instead of listening, you brought out your adapter and set to work on analysing the task ahead of you. It didn’t take long to realise the coding it required was advanced. Not too advanced for you, but enough of a challenge that you wouldn’t be able to hand the device back over that night. 

  “It’s gonna take me a while,” you admitted openly to the Russian. “I’m sorry, I know it’s probably time sensitive but it’s just a little-”

  “It’s okay, y/n l/n,” Yelena was quick to assure. In your line of work, you weren’t used to patience so you looked at the blonde sceptically, wondering if she actually understood how long ‘a while’ could be. “Just text me when it is ready and I will come back.” Oh. So she did know. 

  “You can stay if you want,” you offered as Yelena stood up. She gave you a smile, one that you knew you would be thinking about for the rest of that evening because it felt like it was just for you. 

  “Yeah, it’s friday night and we have jello shots in the fridge,” Kate added, already setting off in the direction of the kitchen. 

  “Some other time,” Yelena said as she went to leave. 

  “So you do know how to use a door,” you couldn’t help but quip as Yelena stood in the doorway. 

  “See you soon, y/n l/n,” Yelena smiled with a glint of something promising in her eyes. The moment she shut the door you spun around in your chair to face Kate. 

  “She’s kinda intense.” Kate shrugged as she carried a tray over with a few snacks and shots on. Anyone else would have thought she lived with you. 

  “You get used to it.” 

  “I didn’t say it was a bad thing,” you muttered as you joined the archer on your sofa. She didn’t miss your comment. 

  “She’s also kinda cute though, don’t you think?" Kate commented as she flicked through your tv. You didn’t answer until you finished your first cup of jello. 

  “I guess,” you said nonchalantly. Kate hummed, about to pry further to confirm her suspicions when her phone chimed. 

  Yelena: meet tomorrow at central park? Bring the bow and arrow

  “Be careful, Kate,” you vocalised your concern. 

  “Always,” she assured with a nudge to your shoulder. “Guess that means these are all for you though,” the archer said, pushing the shots your way. Just as you downed the second one and Kate picked a film, your own phone chimed. 

  Unknown number: you need better locks on your window

  “Did you give her my number?” Kate looked over at your screen and chuckled to herself. 

  “Nope,” she said simply, amused that the blonde had managed to get it on her own. 

  Me: i dont usually have to worry about spies breaking in you typed out, choosing not to mention that you lived in a S.H.I.E.L.D apartment as that clearly wasn’t adequate enough.

  Yelena: really? How have you made it this long?

  Me: im kind of friends with the best spy in the world

  Yelena: we’re friends already?? You rolled your eyes at that and bit back a smile. 

  Me: we’ll see ;) 

  You turned your phone off and took another shot just as your phone chimed again. Kate gave you a questioning look as you ignored the device and tried to give all your attention to the tv. “I knew you guys would get on great,” she said smugly. 

  “She’s pretty cool,” you admitted nonchalantly before sneaking a glance at your phone once more. 

  Yelena: see you soon ;)

>>>

Slam.

  You jumped, spinning around to face her as she stepped into the living room. You never hear the keys jingle on the other side of the door. You never even hear the door open or the two steps into the apartment before she slammed the door shut, eyes already set on you. The control she had over deciding when you’re aware of her presence had always been something your girlfriend found entertainment from and took full advantage of. She never hid that, she didn’t have to. It wasn’t like you were actually going to voice your discomfort. 

  “Hi,” you greeted, cautiously searching Rae’s eyes for any indicator of what the mood of the evening was going to be. She doesn’t respond and that’s what you were hoping she wouldn’t do. Instead, she looked at the screen behind you as she ventured forwards. You glanced back at the monitor and can’t see how it’s anything of much interest. To anyone else it might be, but your girlfriend had seen it all before. 

  “Find anything good?” She asked as she stood so close to your side that her arms were brushing your own. 

  You were on NASA’s website, the secure part, the part you had to do some amateur hacking to get into. You had done it before. In fact, you frequented the site from time to time though not nearly as much as you used to. It had lost its appeal since the first time aliens invaded and had put an end to the question of life on other planets. S.H.I.E.L.D held the information that was of real interest to you, but NASA uploaded prettier pictures in their reports. 

  “They think they’ve found a black hole that’s going to collapse in on itself in a few thousand years. Last month S.H.I.E.L.D said Carol Danvers confirmed it collapsed years ago,” you shrugged. Your girlfriend hummed. “How was your day?” You asked after a long moment. 

  “Shit. I need you to look up a report for me, something under the name Dmitriev,” she continued. You didn’t push it, no matter how much you wished you could talk normally about your days like other couples did. Instead, you made your way into S.H.I.EL.D’s system as your girlfriend disappeared to grab a drink, knowing it could take you a while to get in in a way that ensured you wouldn’t be detected. Dozens of challenging (though not impenetrable) firewalls later, you were browsing the system as Rae spelt out the name to you. Nothing appeared. You heard a frustrated huff behind you and tried again in an encrypted corner of the system. Nothing. You could feel the fuse shortening, closing in on something eruptive. 

  You swallowed the small lump in your throat and tried to take a moment to think. You had never searched anything specific in S.H.I.E.L.D before, only ever browsing through the categories that caught your interest, making you question more what your girlfriend wanted with such specific information from the division. She had never asked for anything like that before, only ever sharing your curiosity in what was going on beyond your atmosphere. Hacking wasn’t your job, just a hobby. 

  You heard the barstool scrape across the wooden floor a couple feet behind you and a dull clink as Rae set her drink down on the worktop and sat down, eyes boring into the screen the same way they did to you when she wanted something you were reluctant to give. Then an idea came to mind and you hurriedly ran your homemade scanner extension over the screen, revealing a single report file titled ‘Dmitriev’. Rae was at your side in an instant. 

  She didn’t stop you from opening the file yourself, nor did she say anything as you realised you were reading a forty page document about a Hydra operative that was currently in a S.H.I.E.L.D safehouse. You frowned as you read on, willing yourself to stop because you knew information like that was harmful to possess and that you had put yourself in danger the moment you opened the document. Yet you continued and sat there in silence for a full half an hour. You only stopped reading once you felt light kisses being peppered along the side of your neck. 

  “Good job,” Rae muttered against you as you craned your neck and she moved to straddle your legs. Her lips moved to the side of yours as she held your face in her hands, helping you forget all of the questions that were building. She always had a way of making you disregard right and wrong. “Good girl,” she continued and finally kissed you properly. Your head was spinning, it wasn’t often she got like that. 

  Her hand ventured into the waistband of your sweatpants in a silent promise of a long, tender night. She was gentle, insatiable and rewarding at every moment’s peak until you had nothing left to give. You were entirely consumed in one another both in motions and mind, as though there was nothing outside of your proximity and an illusion that nothing would ever compare that connection of sensations. She was your universe and it was devastatingly easy to forget that you were far, far less than that to her. 

  Rae’s strikingly good mood lasted for several more days that you were glad to have cherished. Your willful illusion of peace was shattered when she threw a vase at you, one that you had bought a few weeks prior. As the emptiness crept up on you, so did the questions about your S.H.I.E.L.D search that you would never ask aloud, until one night, when Rae was out with people you had never been introduced to, you returned to your computer and went through the motions to find the file. This time, when you opened the document, blood red letters covered the entirety of the first page. 

  ‘Deceased’. 

  There were several new paragraphs in the document. You didn’t read them. You logged off the sight, turned your computer off and went to bed. What you didn’t know couldn’t haunt you. 

[krysmcscience]

Oh, hey, remember these cute lil kiddos who totally aren't evil or anything?

Yeah, they're in color now. And still very much actually evil.

pay no mind to the lazy background behind the orphans

Some more headcanon rambles under the cut:

Prior deets are here.

I've thought a little bit more about each Bishop's backstory kinda? But not too much - mostly just deciding how they met, and having fun assigning deaths to their families to allow for a continued cycle of abuse (in a sense). Each of the Bishops' families died in a way that relates to their eventual domains as gods, enabling them to lash out at others with the very things that left them as orphans. Because I'm nice to characters like that. And by nice I mean horrible. :D

Shamura:

Shamura's parents were already part of a cult, and had learned too much about a group of enemy heretics they'd been spying on, and thus their rather large family was slaughtered alongside the rest of the family's cult in the midst of the ongoing war. Shamura had been away to run an errand before the attack, and thus was unable to do anything about it (in parallel to how they did very little to protect their siblings from both Narinder and the Lamb). They were very close to their family, and the loss drove them to start finding new family in the form of other orphans they came across. It wasn't just the four who became their adopted siblings, but the others either did not survive, or simply couldn't keep up with Shamura's ambitions - to end the gods whose followers took up arms and cut down everyone Shamura knew.

Throughout their journeys, they intensely studied the ways of war, weaponry, and spellcasting, particularly curses; because, after all, gods could hardly be killed with mere mortal weapons. They also researched a great deal into the gods' crowns, as well as certain immortal entities who weren't quite gods, as the three birds seemed strangely neutral, and amenable to helping anyone who crossed their paths, all without asking for anything in return. Shamura's studies and research grew much easier once they met Kallamar, due to the circumstances of his upbringing.

Kallamar:

Kallamar's well-off but isolated family was wiped out by disease, spread intentionally by those who wanted to quickly wipe out proclaimed heretics, and Kallamar himself nearly died from the sickness, as well. He was found by Shamura, who had only been intending to rob the manor he lived in, but offered to nurse him back to health if he would grant them use of the place as a base of operations. He agreed, so Shamura did as they offered, with some assistance from their entourage, which by that time already included Heket.

Once Kallamar was on the mend, he was informed of precisely who was responsible for the obliteration of his family. He chose to join Shamura's group in seeking vengeance, and began to learn how to utilize various weapons from them. Due to his cowardly tendencies, though, on his own time, he focused more on subtler methods that he could use up until being backed into a corner - poisons, mainly, before expanding to contagions created from a mix of curses and natural elements. Kallamar's manor remained a base of operations for the siblings up until the beginnings of the Old Faith were established, and their respective temples constructed.

Heket:

Heket was an only child, and her parents both starved to death; they were farmers whose livestock died out across several consecutive crop failures. Those failures were made worse by intentional sabotage from several feuding cults situated nearby, as none of them wanted to risk letting their enemies barter for critical food supplies. Heket managed to survive by consuming her own parents' bodies, as well as those of dead cultists she came across while trying to go on living as close to normally as she could, though when it was realized that she was alone, her home was invaded while she was out looking for more food. Furious at the audacity, she torched the place with the interlopers still inside, and set out in search of a new home - and more food, which she was not picky about.

She would steal anything she could to eat from campsites and cult grounds, and for good measure, she would set anything she couldn't carry with her ablaze before moving on - equal parts distraction and a means to starve out potential enemies. She crossed paths with Shamura by chance - alone - and attempted to rob them of their food. They were more clever than she expected, though, and by now already used to desperately hungry orphans trying to nick a meal. To her surprise, Shamura invited her to eat with their small group, and between the food and the talk of bringing down the many warring cults one by own, Heket decided to continue traveling with Shamura - whether they wanted her to or not. Fortunately, they did, as she was already quickly learning the tricks to thievery, and had a knack for utilizing explosives. (I will die on this hill. She blew me up so many times, Kallamar had nothing on her.)

Leshy:

Leshy's nomadic family was killed in a freak accident - a lightning strike right in the middle of a random ambush by traveling cultists. Being little more than a toddler, Leshy initially survived by burrowing out of sight, and then by disarming the attackers with how deceptively cute he looked. On a whim, one of the cultists decided to try to indoctrinate him, and he was carried along with the group until nightfall - after which, in a fit of pure unhinged toddler fury, he wrecked their campsite AND their faces before fleeing underground. He survived just short of feral for a while, catching his food (animals and people) in the pit traps he'd learned to make from his family. After that, he wound up wandering close enough to Kallamar's manor to spot a group of kids heading inside, and decided to be the little menace he is.

He started off digging traps around the manor - and definitely ate at least one of the orphan kids - before graduating to breaking and entering. He nicked food, toys, and/or weapons each time, mostly just for the fun of it, before Shamura eventually managed to catch Leshy in a trap he couldn't burrow or bite his way out of (and his cute puppy eyes were not going to work on them anymore - not after the first two dozen times). Kallamar attempted to make Leshy fix all that he'd broken in the manor, as well as return everything he'd stolen, with very minimal success. Heket wound up being the one to bring Leshy more or less to heel, mostly by feeding him and showing off all the cool ways she could blow things up, which he found entertaining enough to become slightly more bearable around other people. For a long time, however, having him around was more or less like living with a half-feral and all-manic hyperactive animal without any concept of or care for social niceties. Kallamar did not appreciate all the property damage, but conceded to Shamura's certainty that Leshy's...unique skillset would be useful going forward. (Naturally, they were not wrong.)

Narinder:

In keeping with parallels - more than one this time, even - Narinder attacked and killed his own family. Eventually, at least, and as retribution, because his parents saw him as the runt of the litter, too needy and not worth the effort it would take to keep him alive. He was not merely abandoned, but sold off for a pittance to cultists, who wanted to sacrifice him to the then-god of death. Being as small as he was at the time, however, he was able to squeeze out of his shackles and wriggle from his chains on the way to the cult's ritual grounds, sneaking away while his captors were distracted. He did not go far, however - he was too furious with them for that. He trailed after them, instead, waiting until nightfall, and strangled the leader in their sleep with the very chains they'd put on him, before cutting the throats of the rest of the sleeping cultists. He then attempted to track down his traitorous family by following scent trails, but was soon thwarted by a downpour. Still, he vowed to find them one day, and sacrifice them the same way he would have been had he not escaped.

The deets for his meeting his siblings are in the prior post, so that really just leaves his family's deaths. After Shamura began their rise to power, their growing influence - along with help from the other siblings - made it easy for Narinder to discover where his parents and littermates had taken refuge. With his own influence in Shamura's budding cult, he faced no issues with ordering his "family" to be brought to him for sacrifice, though he did briefly fly off the handle and cut down his father for being the one to suggest selling the runt. Speaking of which - Narinder was quite delighted to let his so-called family see how much bigger he was than all of them by that point. He was equally delighted to behead every last family member himself, and to desecrate their remains by putting various pieces of them on display around the cult grounds. I'd say his adoptive siblings were disturbed by this, but. Obviously, every last one is fucked up enough to where we all know they weren't. <:]

At some point I'll share the toxic obsessive Narilamb AU that draws from this backstory, lmao, but for now I need to sleep. X_X;

[blueberrypancakesworld]

Day.23 ~ Let's make a fire ~ Hallowtober

Pyro x girlfriend!reader

warning : kiss, fluff, no use of Y/n

Summary : Even if it wasn't quite Halloween yet you could still play a few pranks and you'd do anything for sweets, especially if you'd been in one for decades and hadn't even tasted the sweetness of a chocolate bar. Something she would change while her beloved Pyro would light her way through the night.

info : Yeah I'm sure Pyro missed Halloween and the dark October so let's give him something sweet ;)

masterlist

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

Heat, heat was something he seemed to feel only on himself, not that he minded, his whole life had to do with heat, heat that came from fire and had been with him ever since he thought about this unjust world.

But the sun, it was not andbient the fire he enjoyed, especially not when he feared at any moment his bowels might leave his body with a thought of his boss who only needed him for his strength-she had only needed everyone for their strength.

Even though he had a deal, even though Logan had suddenly appeared, not the one he knew, and even though he saw himself lying crushed to death on the floor, he could finally feel coolness again.

A coolness one night when he was finally out of the Void, finally out of the nightmare thanks to her, his love, his life…the hope he had clung to and which had paid off when he saw her in the portal that showed a city and she had pulled him out. ,,It's still strange to be back," he murmured again, having said it many times over the last few weeks as he had to get used to not only the changed world but also the situation for mutants and opponents, it seemed as if the words of his former professor would become realities.

But he didn't care too much, he spent every minute with his love outside or in the flat, he never wanted to go back to this emptiness and was happy when he did everyday things like shopping or watching the news, making phone calls and going to the cinema, ,,We have all the time in the world…and John you are safe promise" she had answered again and again and taking his hand he felt his warmth as he made the flame of a candle dance and little birds flew around.

As much as she thought it was cute how he was happy about the smallest thing and just glad to be back, she knew that he had not only missed birthdays but that he had missed all the festivities and no one had been waiting for him except for her and a few old friends.

Old friends they had met before school, hugs and tears had happened but despite everything she realised how John had changed, he had found his place, had a family with her, someone to be with and that was the only thing he wanted.

Magneto and everything that had happened two decades ago was behind him and her heart beat faster with joy not only when she saw his own changes but also when she heard the tapping of keys on her laptop and watched him more and more often as his writing career returned with the onset of autumn.

,,You are the blossoming rose in the snow at night, you saved me from the cold that froze me in infinite eternity," he said as she saw him tighten his grip on the paper in his hands. It was part of a poem he wanted to submit to the local newspaper with the onset of october to maybe get a job.

Giving him a gentle look, she took his hands and kissed him on the tip of his nose, ,,This is beautiful John, it fills my heart and soul just because of you," she admitted seeing the warmth in his eyes turn to love and devotion as he engaged her in a kiss and her warmth matched his.

A warmth that only grew into a joy as she noticed how John had been writing more and more since he was accepted, looking forward to the fabled Halloween, his favourite day of the year, the day when he could live out all that he was someone in a mask, someone scary, evil but also romantically dark like his stories and poems...but most of all he liked the sweets.

One thing she'd seen him do many times was buy a little more candy than he needed, not only because he was afraid someone would take it away from him but also because he loved the candy, ,,It's Halloween on the thirty-first and I thought we could do some sweet or sour touring," she suggested, hearing the delighted sound as he pulled her into a huddle and John immediately set about making costumes and finding new ways to use his fire.

She had to smile when she saw a phoenix-like costume on him with feathers and wings that he had made himself and she herself as a Frankenstein's bride was simply classic and they both went out into the street on the cool October evening, ,,This is so beautiful," said John, who saw the street and the many pumpkin lanterns, ghosts and gravestones was so much more than just inspiration for him.

The couple walking the streets and houses chatted a little and especially the children loved his fire trix from the phoenix falcon magic to the dancing ghosts and pumpkins it was a spectacle for everyone but most of all it was the sweets as a reward they got too with a few talks and performances their pockets were full.

Even though he thought they were going home, she had another idea and decided to go to the hill of the city where there was a bench and the two of them sat down there, his hand on hers and her head on his shoulder, looking at the illuminated city and the full moon that hovered over them while flames lit up the surroundings.

,,Thank you my heart this is the best thing I've ever had in my life" she heard his voice and looked into a face covered in make-up and smiles, a smile she returned and he pulled her into a kiss between sweetness and happiness it was love that they both tasted as the flames became hearts and they knew that not only were they finally together again but John could finally feel the joy of Halloween again.

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

[scoobydoodean]

Something fun for you to ponder. When Sam was soulless, Bobby thought there was a chance that, "This is just Sam." I think it's because Sam tends to perform empathy somewhat selectively, at times more cognitively than emotionally. Do I personally think it's a neurodivergent trait? Yes, I do. BUT. It's hilarious to me that Bobby looked at soulless Sam and thought, "Hmm. There's a good chance that's just Sam." No?

Ho ho! Very interesting.

From 6.06 "You Can't Handle the Truth":

DEAN I don't know how much longer I can do this, Bobby. You got to figure out what the hell he is and fast. BOBBY I'm trying. But, Dean, there's a worst-case scenario. DEAN What, Satan's my co-pilot? Yeah, I know. BOBBY Well, that'd be the other worst case. DEAN Well, then what? BOBBY Maybe it's just Sam

Notably: This happens before anyone knows Sam is soulless and before Sam has admitted that he doesn't feel anything, but after Sam has let Dean get attacked and turned by a vampire.

I don't think that Bobby disagrees with Dean that Sam is acting different from before (I think that's why he calls it a worst case scenario). Sam has been putting everybody on edge, not just Dean (Samuel says that Sam scares him in 6.07). I think what Bobby is considering is that Sam simply isn't the same person after The Cage—that Sam compartmentalized his emotions to deal with the trauma—turned himself into a stone cold killing machine as a coping tool—and now Sam doesn't know how to warm back up to feeling anymore or caring about anyone or anything (or maybe can't because it's still too raw). Bobby's considering the idea that Sam may have simply cracked open and spilled his emotions out on the floor somewhere and left them behind... which ironically, is pretty much what happened?

Bobby is aware of similar (though less extreme) behavior from Sam in the past in coping with trauma. In fact, he arguably knows this side of Sam better than Dean does. Sam ghosted Bobby while Dean was in hell (and for months in 3.11 "Mystery Spot", though Bobby doesn't remember that). It wasn't that Sam stopped feeling (he was full of anguish and rage), but he did push Bobby away and focus obsessively on revenge, hunting like a machine. Sam pushed away the potential to talk through Dean's death with someone else who loved Dean and understood a lot of the grief Sam was feeling because it opened him up to a dangerous amount of vulnerability.

This is very John-coded behavior from Sam and it doesn't represent a lack of emotion as much as it represents "I feel so much that I cannot stand the idea of touching that emotion or I will break". It's a refusal to engage with and feel certain emotions, because if he did, he wouldn't be able to get up. Anger is fuel that burns hot and keeps you moving, but grief and fear can rip the life from you.

Consider even John's way of dealing with the worry he perpetually felt about Sam. Yelling and telling Sam never to come back when Sam wanted to go to school, making the fight all about betrayal and responsibility when deep down the entire time, John was just scared that Sam would get hurt (1.08, 1.20). Griping at Sam as a kid for wanting to play soccer (1.08), but without Sam's knowledge, quietly placing Sam's soccer trophy in a storage unit because John couldn't bear to throw it away even though there was no room for it on the road (3.03). John buried certain representations of affection and love because they were fraught with so much terror. Being open about how much he cared exposed him to feeling so much fear he couldn't cope with it, and John feels emotions incredibly deeply like Dean does. When the crying starts he cannot stop. It isn't macho bullshit—it isn't "I'm a man so this is unacceptable"—it's "If I feel this emotion right now at this exact moment then I will shatter into a million pieces".

Sam does the same thing when Dean is dead. Bobby represents vulnerability, family, and love—talking about how much Dean meant to both of them. The rage is easier. Being a hunting machine in 3.11 is easier. Focusing on murdering demon and training to kill Lilith is easier.

When the people Dean loves are in pain, Dean talks to them—he tells them how much he cares about them. He lets himself be vulnerable with it. Sam wants something to do and he needs to take charge. We see this is in 5.07 after Bobby reveals that he's having suicidal thoughts. Dean is distraught, and Sam is too (we see how much Bobby's opinion of him matters to Sam in 5.01)—but Sam just tells Bobby he isn't going to let him sacrifice himself, then jumps into action and focuses on the mission, while Dean lingers at Bobby's side. Then at the end of the episode, Dean sits down with Bobby alone and tells him how much he loves him and needs him. I don't think Sam could have that conversation at that point in his life. I genuinely don't think he could—and not because he doesn't love Bobby, but because he can't touch the distress that would surface from a discussion like that. One could argue Sam really does the same thing in 3.10, stepping outside of Bobby's house and seeking out Jeremy inside Bobby's dream while Dean goes up the stairs and finds Bobby and again—opens himself up to vulnerable emotions and expresses how much Bobby means to him—that he sees him as a father and he can't lose him. Sam focuses on finding the guy doing all of this and skirts the emotional vulnerability.

I think this is something Bobby, then, is very familiar with from Sam, so when he takes it to an extreme, where Sam is now dealing with a traumatic experience from being in The Cage, he can easily see how Sam would suppress his emotions and focus on hunting like a machine yet again, and how that could possibly reach such an extreme that Sam would stop feeling altogether and maybe not know how to or not be able to come back from that. And you know... I've never thought of this before in this exact way, but how did Sam's soul and body get separated in The Cage? Is there anything that disproves the idea that Sam himself ripped his soul from his body to cope with Lucifer's torture?

[askinkiskarma]

Illicit Affairs | Chapter II: Right Where You Left Me

Pairing: Neteyam x Human!Reader (later Avatar!Reader)

Chapter I Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X

Synopsis: You were one of two kids stuck on Pandora after the war took all the Sky People back to Earth. After a series of events left deep scars behind, you are now forced to deal with your trauma - and your lingering resentment towards Neteyam - head-on.

Warnings: angst, mentions of death, blood, injury

Word Count: 4,7k words

A/N: So I didn't expect the last chapter to do so well, but I am happy so many people enjoyed it. I have really enjoyed writing this and I am happy to say I am almost done with Chapter III, as well. I am feeling all the feels doing this, and I hope you do, too.

“I cause no harm, mind my business If our love died young, I can't bear witness And it's been so long But if you ever think you got it wrong … I'm right where you left me”

The next couple of weeks were uneventful. You haven’t seen Lo’ak since that afternoon, although Kiri’s dropped by a couple of times to keep you company while you worked. Getting her to put on a lab coat and goggles was an adventure in itself, but she eventually relents and does as she’s told. 

She’s shooting you a sly smirk as you are busy pipetting a reagent on your samples under an aseptic hood. “Your birthday’s coming up soon, do you have any plans?” You could hear the smile in her voice, which you found odd. You pushed the feeling aside. Kiri’s odd, and the things that bring her amusement sometimes elude you, and you love her for it. 

“Oh yeah, big party planned, I was thinking pres in the gym, then main party in the dining area and a wild after party in the lab.” You roll your eyes. Birthdays seem fun in movies and TV shows, but it really isn’t the same stuck in a tiny confined space with nothing to do. You were turning 18. Not of much significance to you, although this birthday does seem to hold some relevance back on Earth. 18 is the age you become an “adult”, where you become legally allowed to do all sorts of human things, like drink, smoke, vote, be held liable for your actions (this one still confuses you), get married, drive and so much more. It seemed strange to you that so much weight was placed on this day, and you wondered if when the clock struck midnight a few days from now, you will feel different, like something in your brain will click and you will have answers to all the questions you have been silently asking yourself at night. 

“Thought so. Well, we do have a surprise for you.” She says, still smiling from ear to ear.

Has everyone you loved collectively decided to forget that you hate surprises? With a groan, you got up from your chair, removed the samples that you quickly placed back in an incubator, shut the hood and motioned for Kiri to follow you out of the lab. 

It was later than you expected when you finished, and you knew Kiri would have to leave soon so she can make it back home in time for curfew. 

“Anywayyy…” she says, refusing to let your sour mood damper her own, “I was thinking you could join us at the home tree for your birthday party. The family prepared something for you and you haven’t visited in so long, everyone misses you, especially Tuk.” 

“Kiri…” You wanted to go, and were touched that it seems that the family actually wanted you around, but you were scared. You knew it was stupid, but deep down the guilt of what your species did, what your own dad might have done, eats at you every night. You knew that whilst the Sullys and maybe other Na’vi as well were more than welcoming, others regarded you as a curse, an alien with demon blood that should have been sent to her dying world long ago. You couldn’t deal with knowing your very existence was a reminder of their lost family, their destroyed home, their battle scars. 

“Come onnn, girl, you can’t spend every damn day of your short human life in this place. I mean, I like this place, don’t get me wrong, but if I had to spend every minute of the day here, I’d kill myself. I mean the foooood, the artificial lightinnggg, the stuffy aiiiiir…” she dramatically dragged every word to make her point, and despite everything, you couldn’t really argue with her. 

“I’m not leaving ’til you agree.” 

“I mean I just have to wait long enough that curfew begins, and I’m pretty sure I’m gonna see you run out of this place leaving a Kiri-shaped hole in the wall of the lab.” you said, laughing at the frown that settled on her face at your stubborness. “Fine, Kiri, my God, I will be there.” 

“Yay! Thank you, you won’t regret it, I promise!” You couldn’t help crack a smile at her enthusiasm, and you hugged your friend that was sitting on a chair, short enough this way to enable you to do so. 

“Do you want to see Grace before you go?” 

You forget sometimes Kiri isn’t Jake and Neytiri’s biological daughter. I wonder if they forget, too. Kiri is a miracle child, of sorts. Born out of Grace’s avatar, she was like a gift from Eywa herself. She always visits her Ma when she comes to see you.

Kiri shifts uncomfortably in the chair, prompting you to raise an eyebrow. Strange, you think to yourself. 

“No, I should really go, I don’t want to be late getting home and I want to pick some herbs I saw on the path on the way here. I think they’ll be good for the illness going around.” 

You wanted to push, but decided to let it go. You couldn’t blame the girl for maybe not wanting to be reminded that as well as Spider and yourself, she, too, was an outsider. 

You said your goodbyes, and deciding against dinner with everyone in the lab, you made your way back to your room. You picked a book from the shelf of your mum’s old book collection; another thing that apparently became obsolete on Earth with time, your mum revelled in collecting them. She said the only way to properly experience a story is with a physical copy of it in your hands. You agreed. There were a lot of electronic copies of books in the directory, and while you spent so much of your life dedicating yourself to them, nothing compared to the feeling of holding a book, that you know has been held and experienced by another human. You found notes and dried up tears on the pages of these books even to this day, and every time, it brings you closer to your mum, to your grandparents, to a home you’ll never know for yourself. You fell asleep with one of the poems you read that night still fresh in your mind. 

“I felt a Funeral, in my Brain,

And Mourners to and fro

Kept treading - treading - till it seemed

That Sense was breaking through -“

You woke up in the forest. You recognised the place immediately. Secluded from the village and near enough to the lab that even a child could find their way back, it was the perfect hiding spot for little Y/N. You didn’t go there anymore, you’ve barely allowed yourself to even think about it these days, but your dreams spoke to something deep inside you, a yearning you couldn’t drown out no matter how hard you tried. You looked towards the clearing, where the riverbank was almost unrecognisable past the foliage and rocks and allowed yourself a moment of respite. You were startled by a high pitched laugh, and turned your head towards its origin. A little girl, no older than 10, was running towards the bank holding on to an oxygen mask pack, giggling as she looked behind her to an emerging second figure. She was so happy, so…alive. 

Her eyes were glossy from unshed tears, happiness so loud it expressed itself physically. A second child emerged from the shadows, just behind where you stood. A boy, tall and blue, with the same innocence behind his eyes, quickly caught up to where the girl now lay on a rock by the river. 

“I won, Neteyam! I beat you!” The girl says, panting, laughing and crying all at once. The boy’s expression softened, and as he took his place next to the girl on the rock, gave her a small smile.

“You did! I didn’t try that hard, though. I want a rematch.” 

“You’re on!” 

The two kids sat in silence for awhile, enjoying the peace and quiet, the hushed whisper of the water and the bustling chirping of insects and birds hidden from view. 

“I have something for you.” The boy suddenly said with a gummy smile. 

From behind his back, he retrieves a bracelet. It was green, made up of numerous beads and tiny rocks that complemented each other so well, it seemed they were put on this planet for the very purpose of adorning a Na’vi’s body. 

You recognised the bracelet and the sight of it tugged at your heart. You felt your eyes tear up and cursed your mind for putting you through this again. 

“This is like your bracelet!” The tiny girl says, with a wide smile. 

“Yes, I told ma I lost mine and asked her very nicely to make me another and she did! I want you to have it. This way I have one and you have one. Just you and me.” 

Just you and me. Just you and me. Just you and me. 

You woke up in tears, eyes locked on the bracelet in question that was still residing on your nightstand. You didn’t wear it anymore, but couldn’t find it in your heart to part with it fully. It now lay next to your head, a bitter reminder of yet another road not taken. You cursed Neteyam for coming back into your life, if only briefly, just to resurface hurt you are yet to deal with or even acknowledge fully. You curse him for the bracelet, and the memories and yet another pain you have to deal with on your own. Always on your own.

The next few days went by in a blur. You spent the days buried in work, and the nights exercising and field stripping weapons. You refused to think, or sleep, or read or play music or really anything to would give your heart the opportunity to take over again. You passed out last night in the gym, but it was a dreamless slumber, which you were grateful for. This night was your last night at 17. You were waiting patiently for the clock to strike midnight as you were finishing up your last experiment for the day. You glanced at the clock, once, then twice, then three times. Eventually, it happened. And then nothing. No answers, no epiphanies, no nothing. Disappointed, but not entirely shocked, you chuckled at yourself for thinking life would give you an easy way out. After all, it never did. A little after 1AM, you made your way to your bed. You took one last look at your empty nightstand, then passed out. 

“HAPPY BIRTHDAAAAAAY!!!” 

Your entire body snapped in an upright position at the sudden auditory onslaught. Your face settled in a deep frown as you were trying to make sense of the scene in front of you. At the edge of your bed on all sides were people. Kiri, Lo’ak, Norm, Max and Spider. They all had big smiles on their faces, a big contrast to your own. You actively tried to remove the frown from your features, and found it easy enough when you realised these people, these people you loved were here, for you. 

“Thanks guys. Anyway, could I get some privacy so I can put some clothes and thank you properly??” 

With a grunt that definitely came from Lo’ak, they all left you to get ready for the day. When you appeared in the dining room, you found a big basket filled with incredible Pandoran food, and you were happy to see your favourites as the most prominent. 

“Oh my GOD, Banana fruitsss!! How did you guys find these??” 

“Lo’ak may or may not have spent an inordinate amount of hours waiting for a couple to drop out of the push fruit tree that grows a few clicks from the village.” Kiri said, laughing and poking Lo’ak sides with her fingers.

You felt a lump in your throat form at the admission. God, you were so grateful for this boy. You could live a thousand lives and still not deserve him. Feeling you getting emotional, he dropped to his knees and opened his arms. You made your way to him and hugged him, as tightly as you could. You were not great with words, but you put all of your unspoken thoughts in that hug. Your size difference made both of you snicker, and with one last tug, you let go.

“Thank you, guys. You are great, really, I couldn’t ask for better people to be around today.”

“Come on, let’s eat. We have big plans awaiting.” 

“Sing!!” 

You spent the morning eating and talking, Lo’ak complaining about the training and the ass kicking he got from his dad after your last meeting. You were laughing at his exaggerated manner of speaking, excited to finally have him around to get you out of your funk. 

“You guys always want me to sing, you need to pay me if you’re gonna treat me like a jukebox, you know?” 

You picked up the guitar that Norm brought for you out of the recreation room. You took it in your arms and strummed the chords, making sure they were tuned correctly. You thought long and hard about a song, and you found it eventually, buried in your brain, along with the memory of your mum singing it to you as a child with tears streaming down her face. 

“… Did you ever hear about the girl who got frozen?

Time went on for everybody else, she won't know it

She's still 23 inside her fantasy

How it was supposed to be"

You felt the tears coming, but you willed them away. Your heart was strong, but it couldn’t contend with your mind. You continued, pouring all of your frustrations with Neteyam, with yourself, with this life in the song.

Time went on for everybody else, she won't know it

She's still 23 inside her fantasy

Did you hear about the girl who lives in delusion?

Break-ups happen every day, you don't have to lose it

She's still 23 inside her fantasy and you're sitting in front of me"

You looked across the room and felt weird, sick ecstasy at the faces of the people around you, all of which looked sad and glossy-eyed. You didn’t want to make anyone sad, but you loved the power that music held. You loved that it brought people together, no matter the species, the language, the tone, the mood, you could always rely on music to provide unison.

If our love died young, I can't bear witness, and it's been so long

But if you ever think you got it wrong, I'm right where you left me

As you played the last chord of the song, you looked up and froze at the sight of Neteyam sitting by the door of the room, an unreadable expression marking his features. You registered people talking in your direction, but couldn’t decipher the words as you lay there, on the ground, guitar in hand, staring at the beautiful boy who did not allow your eyes to leave his own. You swear you saw a flicker of sadness in his big, yellow eyes you used to know so well, but as you were trying to decipher them, Spider’s oh-so-human face flooded your line of sight. 

“Hello!! Earth to Y/N”

“It’s concerning how many times this happens”, Lo’ak intercepts.

You finally focus on the people who have come here for you, and put the guitar down with a small laugh.

“Sorry, guess I got way too into the song.”

“Yeah, what the hell’s up with that? It’s your birthday, it’s supposed to be a celebration and you’re making us depressed, instead.” Spider says, frowning. 

“Sorry!” You whine, hoping the childish tone would earn a quicker forgiveness. 

They all somehow roll their eyes simultaneously, which you find amusing.

“Mum and dad say it’s time.” It takes a second for your brain to register the Na’vi sentence. The deep voice breaks through the chatter and everyone turns their heads towards the oldest Sully sibling. 

“Right!” Lo’ak says, patting his knees and getting up suddenly. “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!’

You knew it was dumb, but you were nervous, too nervous, to make your way to the Home Tree after so much time. It’s been years since you have been there, maybe since you’ve been anywhere, and it scared you more than you wanted to admit to yourself, or to anyone around you. Nevertheless, you put on your mask and secured your oxygen cartridge behind your back. 

You bid a swift goodbye to Norm and Max, who said they will try to make it to the celebration later in the evening. You then stepped outside, eyes finding it hard to adjust to the natural brightness of Pandora. You found the mask uncomfortable, having been so long since you needed it last, and took a deep breath in your attempt to calm down and take it one step at a time. 

Lo’ak was, as always, Neteyam thought, leading the pack. Spider followed suit and you and Kiri maintained a steady pace behind the two boys. Neteyam was quietly walking behind you. He was deep in thought, not being able to shake the image of you playing guitar and singing that song he had never heard before. He hasn’t heard you sing in so long and hearing it again opened a hole in his chest that he thought was long closed. His eyes followed you closely, taking in all the details about you he hoped he wouldn’t notice. Your hair was lighter than he remembered, not by much, but enough that it was there, present for him to see. You were tall, taller than you used to be, and taller than most human women he’s seen. You were wearing a skirt, he thinks it’s called, that flows every time the wind touches it. It’s black and it looks soft, and Neteyam can’t help but want to feel it for himself. Your top is braided and beaded, and it seems like a mix between human clothes and Na’vi wear. You back is completely bare short of a string that ties the top together and the man feels his heart picking up pace at the sight. Cursing under his breath, he moves his gaze on a piece of jewellery adorning your arm. A intricate bracelet, green and red, definitely Na’vi make. He remembers briefly Kiri making it for one of your previous birthdays and smiles sadly at the thought. Finally, his eyes settle on a deep scar on the back on your left leg. Before he can help himself, the memories flood his being…

Neteyam found himself once again, waiting outside the big metal building for you to come out. He was excited for today, too excited to put into words. It always took convincing for you to come out, especially recently, but he loved that you said yes to him, and not to Lo’ak or Kiri, for once. He knew you have been sad for a while, and was happy to do anything in his power to help. He jumped out of his skin when the door opened, and you laughed at him for being what you called a “scaredy cat”. 

“I’m happy to see you, Neteyam”, you said, in Na’vi. He smiled to himself at your accent, but loved how hard you tried to speak to him in his own tongue. “Not happy you’re dragging me out, but if it means spending some time with you, I guess I will let it slide” You continued in English.

“I think you will be happy to be out for this”, Neteyam interjected. You walked together in comfortable silence, only speaking when you found a plant or animal you didn’t know the name of. 

“Oh my God, this is so pretty, what’s it called?” You ask, enthusiastically.

“A’o” Neteyam answers you, smiling softly, never getting bored of your incessant line of questioning. Like with the language, he was just happy you cared. 

“What are you wearing?” Neteyam asks, unable to stop himself. 

“Oh, this?” You say, looking down at your choice of attire. “It’s just an old T-shirt I found in one of the drawers of the living quarters. I’m not sure whose it is, but I assume a big old man’s, cause it’s more a dress than a t-shirt at this point.” 

“A T-shirt…” Neteyam said, contemplatively. He looked at it closer and saw an image he couldn’t quite understand on it and the word “Metallica” written on it. He didn’t know what it meant, so he dropped it. At least he learnt a new word today. 

You walked like this for over an hour, but eventually reached the end of a cliff, that overlooked a beautiful waterfall. Neteyam thought this sight alone will make you feel better, but he had bigger plans in mind. 

“Wow, this is beautiful! This was almost worth the fresh hell I felt when that bug went in my nose like 20 minutes ago.” 

Neteyam laughed, and he revelled in the way only you seemed to be able to make him feel like this. Free and alive. 

Standing on the edge of the cliff, Neteyam let out a high pitched yell, then turned around to look at you with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. He smiled as he heard the trees on the other side of the cliff ruffle, and watched with pride as a big bundle of green, yellow, red and blue emerged from the foliage and landed in front of him. He turned to you and let out a big laugh when he saw your face, jaw dropped in horror and amazement, eyes wide with the glint of curiosity he’s come to love so much. 

“You did it!! I’m so so so proud of you, Neteyam!” You screamed, running at him and launching yourself as high as you could, knowing he would catch you in his arms. “And at 13, too! This has to be some sort of record, right?” 

“I doubt it, but it still felt good doing it. I was shocked Mum and Dad even let me try it. Anyway, I wanted you to meet her.” 

He swung you in his arms with ease, not weighing a lot more than his baby sister, who was just around 3 years old. He finally placed you back on the ground with care, right in front of the Ikran. He made tsaheylu and waited patiently as you were building it up the courage to approach the mighty being that was lowly cooing and nudging its head against Neteyam’s. He felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of your beautiful face, and said a silent prayer, thanking Eywa for still being able to bring that expression to your otherwise crestfallen figure. 

Once it seemed you became comfortable enough around her to pet, he clicked his tongue and motioned for you to get on. You let out an incredulous laugh and shook you head.

“No way in Hell, are you insane??” 

“Come on, Y/N. I never pegged you for a coward.”

After this many years, he knew how to push you buttons. He saw your smile drop and your eyes take on that expression that almost frightened him. Thank the Great Mother you were human, cause you would be a force to behold as a Na’vi. 

“Damn you, Neteyam.” You said, slowly getting up on the banshee and making yourself comfortable in front of the boy. He felt your back flushed against his bare chest, and suppressed a shudder that threatened his body. 

“It will be fun, you will see. Here, hold on here, and don’t let go. I will have my arms around you at all times, and I promise to make her go slowly.” You refused to acknowledge him, and he found himself laughing, again. 

Without any other words, he willed the ikran to take off. You let out an involuntary yelp, but otherwise you were brave and strong, just like he knew you to be. Once you were above the forest, he found you staring in awe beneath you, his gaze locked on the side of your face and on the smile that made him happy to be alive at the same time as you, just so he can experience it over and over. You flew like this for a long time, just taking in the beauty of this world that you both called home. A beauty that he knew you never got to experience, not the way you should have, not the way you deserved. He saw a tear escape your eyes and make its way down your cheeks and settle in between your lips, and cursed himself for not being able to take it away, the pain he knew clawed at you every waking moment since your mum died. You have never been the same since. 

“Thank you for this, Neteyam.” You said, softly. “I wish there was a way to show this to her, a way to share this experience. I know she would have loved it as much as I do, maybe more.” You settled comfortably on his chest and sighed. 

He didn’t get a chance to formulate a response, though, as a loud shriek came from his Ikran and he felt the panic overtake him as the tsaheylu made the feeling echo in between them. Looking up, he saw what no man wants to see: Toruk, his dad’s former pet, launching itself at the two teenagers and their ikran. Clearing his mind, Neteyam removed a hand from the reigns for balance and banked left abrubtly, diving straight for the trees, that were fortunately not too far below them. As if life suddenly stopped to a halt, he was able to experience the next harrowing moments in slow-motion - the diving, the terror of watching your frame slowly disappear from his line of sight, your voice screaming his name as you dropped towards the ground, his own voice getting caught in his throat trying to call for you, willing his Ikran to go faster than he thought was possible in an attempt to catch you, the pool of red liquid spilling from your frame as you impaled your leg on a broken Pxiut hitting the ground. He quickly removed himself from the Ikran and ran to you, picking you up in his arms, trying to ignore the way the blood was spilling down his torso and dripping on the ground. He looked at your unconscious body in his arms and felt the first crack in his heart form, a crack yet to be healed to this day. He pushed back the tears that were starting to pool and got back on the Ikran, flying as fast as he could through the foliage. As soon as he could see the outline of the metal building, he stopped the animal and got off, running with you in his arms. It’s all a blur afterwards. He remembers going home, your now-dried blood still marking his skin like a tattoo, he remembers crying in his mum’s arms, he remembers the guilt that poisoned his mind and heart and he remembers sitting on a cold floor next to what humans called an operating room, waiting to hear if the damage he has caused you will plague you for the rest of your life.

His eyes never left the scar on your leg, and, as he forced himself out of the torturous memory, couldn’t help noticing the slight limp with which you walked towards the village.

Crack. 

Tag list :-): @mashiromochi

[rafa-jaja]

Asking for your help...

Bruce Wayne x Gn reader

It was a normal day in Gotham, you were in the corner of your house when you felt a presence behind you, it was Superman.

- Can I help you with something?

- It's Batman...he needs your help.

Batman...the bastard who abandoned me years ago wants my help...what a joke, you thought.

- And what does he need my help for?

- He wants you to get inside Talia's mind to see what he's up to.

- Talia? The bitch he slept with, cheated on me and now has a kid of his own?

- Uh... yeah, her.

The rage you had built up was coming to the surface, how dare Batman ask you this, and he didn't even come to ask you, he sent the great and powerful Superman to ask you.

- No, tell him I'm not going to help him...I'm not going to risk the new lifestyle I have for him.

Superman seemed surprised by your answer, but he understood why you refused.

- I understand, but keep in mind that we are dealing with a greater danger, Talia has thugs who managed to take down an entire building with just their fists. We don't know what she's capable of.

- I am no longer in the League, I retired to avoid having this kind of situation.

With nothing more to say you asked him nicely to leave, all this ruined your day. You thought this would be the only time you would be bothered, but the opposite happened, a couple of days later someone knocked on your door, it was Dick.

You let him in, you knew he wasn't here to check on you, but you were intrigued to see what he wanted.

- So...how have you been?

- Dick, I've known you since you were a rovin, I know you're not here to check on me.

- Ok... Bruce sent me to ask you to help him, please.

- Dick, I'm going to give you the same answer I gave Superman, I'm not going to help Bruce.

- But Talia could...

- I know what she's capable of, believe me...I know, after being her prisoner for a year you get to know her pretty well.

- What do you mean, prisoner?

- You don't know? It seems Bruce is still keeping secrets from you.

- When did this happen? How come this never showed up in the reports?

- It was when Bruce released his biological son, I got so frustrated by Bruce's infidelity, I made up my mind to confront Talia. I went to her hideout to confront her, but I couldn't even get through the door when her goons caught me, locked me in a cell and sent a video to Bruce to come to my rescue...but he never came. Talia tortured me every day, until one day she overexed herself and I was on the verge of death. She took pity on my soul and threw me into the Lazarus pit, after that she freed me.

Dick couldn't process everything you were telling him, all this time he thought you just abandoned them. He felt so guilty that he didn't seek you out, you were his family.

- I...no, I can't believe this.

You just hugged him, he had a right to know the truth.

- Calm down, it's all in the past...- you said as the two of you got deeper into the embrace.

Dick stayed by your side for a long time, but he had to go on patrol.

The next morning you woke up with a knock on the window, you went to see what it was and saw Constantin, he just smiled at you and disappeared, he had left you a note, it said "Go to Wayne mansion". You thought it was a bad joke on his part, but something told you to go.

...part two?

[galvanizedfriend]

I'm curious on your opinions about the TO pregnancy storyline; tbh I was never a fan of the Wattpad ultra powerful baby trope and just couldn't enjoy Hope's character. While I understand it was so Klaus could have unconditional love, I feel like his "redemption" could've taken other avenues. What do you think it would've been like had Hope, and likely Hayley, not been included?

Thanks! I hope you're well <3

WATTPAD ULTRA POWERFUL BABY TROPE! 🗣️🗣️🗣️ That is the best definition I have ever seen!! I've been asked this a few times, nonnie, and despite the fact I have written over 1M words of baby fic based on the TO pregnancy plot, I hdo hate that storyline 😂 If I had been the one behind the show, I would've never gone down that road. I still remember my disappointment when I was watching the backdoor pilot in TVD S4! I was so excited about the spin off and could not fucking believe they'd made a baby the whole premise for the show. I was literally cursing at my TV. I cannot deal with pregnant vampires.

And I agree, I think there was a plethora of better options for them to explore. It was great that they decided to introduce more werewolf lore into the story, but I don't get why they did that through Hayley when Klaus was *right there*. Klaus spent a thousand years trying to break his curse only to never speak about being a werewolf ever again. We never see his wolf form, we never see how he relates to that side of him. Being a half-werewolf is the thing that defined Klaus' entire existence from when he was a child, and it never gets explored. The connections to the bayou packs should've always been his. If they wanted to go down the fatherhood avenue, on the other hand, then they should've looked no further than Marcel! It was such a better story all along, because Marcel was found family. He was someone Klaus rescued and raised and loved like a son despite the fact he wasn't his blood, he taught Marcel everything, and there's so much in that to unpack when it comes to the Mikaelsons and Klaus in particular. He mourned Marcel's death, losing him left a mark in Klaus that guided his actions for a hundred years, and then he goes back to Nola to find out he'd not only survived but had taken over the city. Hayley's pregnancy ends up totally overshadowing what should've been the big point of the season and Marcel is relegated to a glorified extra after. And then there were the Mikaelson sibligns themselves - the whole point of having the show to begin with! I thought it was great they brought Kol and Finn back, but they should've actually used them, made them the heart of the season, rather than a side plot. Finn had so much potential to be an antagonist better than aunt Dahlia or the Guerreras or the Hollow, lasting multiple seasons just like the Mikaelsons themselves did in TVD. Kol had so much beef with Elijah and it never got addressed. Why???? And lastly, the missed crossover opportunities. I honestly don't get the point of doing a spin off if you're just going to pretend you're not connected to the parent show anymore. The only decent crossover they ever made were the combined episodes in TVD S7/TO S3 when Stefan goes to Nola and they made it a two-show event. They should've done so much more of that. Things that happened in Mystic Falls could've affected Nola and vice versa. More characters could've crossed over for longer arcs, and I don't just mean Caroline, although I would've obviously loved that. Bonnie in Nola would've been amazing! Kol could've been back in TVD for a little while. There was so much they could've done by involving the characters in both shows that would've enriched the storytelling, but they decided not to because they were too scared people would get attached and then they wouldn't know how to break things apart again. lol Cowards.

So yeah, I think the baby plot was lazy, unimaginative, sappy and borderline stupid in a show about vampires who *already* have all the family they could ever need in order to generate enough dramatic storylines to feed the plot. Klaus deciding in all but five minutes that he wanted to be a daddy, and with Hayley of all people, who had been the one to turn all his hybrids on him to force him to kill them so she could deliver a sacrifice in exchange for a useless piece of information (congrats, your parents are dead!), was so OOC for him I can't even. At the very least it should've taken him a while to contend with the idea. And the worst part is that after all of that, he never becomes a good father lol He basically abandons his daughter and then commits a totally unncessary suicide at the end because I guess he'd rather die than be a single parent 🤷‍♀️ What kind of redemption is that?

I don't think Klaus needed redemption, btw. I don't think there was redemption for him. That was never the point of Klaus for me. Yes, there is more to him than a psychotic bloodthirsty murderer with anger issues and by giving him his own show we get to explore all this other facets and his past and his relationships and where some of his behavior stems from (or we should have been able to explore that, at least), but I don't think he needed to become *good* or to *prove himself worthy* in order for his character arc to be complete. This is a man who has been commiting terrible crimes against humanity for a thousand years with little to no remorse. The fact he loves his own daughter does not redeem him. It wasn't a redemption, and it shouldn't have been seen as such.

Plus, not every character needs (or wants!) redemption!!!

Anyway, thanks for your question, nonnie, and sorry about the TED talk 😂 Now let me go back to writing my baby fic 🥲

[angelsanarchy]

Like A Pretty Boy: Gabe x Y/N Midi Series- PRT 1

Tagging: @icarus-star @kappasbbgirl @starry-eyed-wild-child @luzclarita57 @bonesgirl11 @444rockstargf blondiezluvbrowniez pretty-girl-blogg fallin444niya liquidsmoothdomme @rootin-tootin-pootin ethical-cain-vinnel l3viathan-sin666 crowfullofwoe @8klil avathewitc @spoilingthemilk @romanroyapoligist anakinskywalkerssgf zoloftsh4wty womenloverlmao berrymeringueposts elvira-aarseth agornotsworld

Y/n watches Gabe stretch as he comes out of the closet, clothes now changed, exhaustion clear on his face as he heads into the bathroom to brush his teeth. He had been working really hard on his documentary but Police Brutality isn't a very cheery topic. The reality of the injustices against people of color was growing worse every day and just looking over the statics would blow your mind.

He struggled with the heinous imagery that came with these cases and stories of innocent people being targeted in their own communities just to be suffocated, beaten or shot to death for merely existing.

"You look like you slept 10 minutes." Y/n walked into the bathroom and put his hands on Gabe's shoulders, feeling the tension from leaning over a laptop all night.

"Yeah...kind of hard to sleep peacefully when you're staring at murdered kids until 4AM." Gabe said with a mouthful of toothpaste. He spit into the sink and wiped at his mouth before letting out a groan from the feeling of the knot in his shoulder.

"I foresee many sleepless nights in your future babe." Y/n continued to massage his shoulders and he leaned his head back. The vibration of his cellphone on the counter made him sigh.

"Are we still avoiding your sister? You know she's bound to hunt you down eventually, right?" Y/n chuckled but Gabe let out a heavy sigh.

"She's going to ask me something stupid and I'm going to have to take the train all the way there just to sit with her and her half-wit husband listening to the lack of white people in her book club or some shit. I just...I can't deal with all that right now." Gabe pulled Y/n's hands from his shoulders and brought them around his body. Y/n hugged him from behind and kissed his shoulder.

"I know, I just hate that you're dreading your phone ringing." Y/n explained.

"Must be nice being an only child." Gabe joked turning around to hold Y/n against his chest.

"Oh yeah my parents were thrilled that the only child they birthed turned out to be a trans guy. Super pumped." Gabe frowned not thinking about what he was saying.

"I'm sorry. I think both our families kinda blow." Gabe tried to cover but Y/n smiled at him.

"Hey I don't mind our found family. I think we're not doing so bad there." Y/n countered leaning forward to kiss him. Gabe kissed him back and sighed.

"You know I'm not like avoiding her calls because of us right?" Gabe looked down at Y/n. The topic of Gabe's closeted status was a touchy subject for the both of them but Y/n knew he was under alot of stress with this new documentary and he didn't want to make things worse.

"I know that babe. I think your sister just wants to bitch about her life for a bit. That's what siblings are for, or so I've heard." Y/n joked. Gabe rested his forehead against Y/n's.

"I don't deserve you, you know that right?" Gabe said holding Y/n a little tighter.

"Shut up, answer the phone if it's going to put you in a mood where I have stroke your ego. You know I only enjoy that when you're naked." Y/n playfully slapped his chest and Gabe chuckled.

"Where you going?" He asked as Y/n grabbed his coat from behind the bedroom door.

"I'm getting breakfast because you're going to need coffee if you plan on staying conscious today." Y/n ran back over and gave Gabe a kiss on the cheek as he leaned against the sink once more.

"Be careful." He said earning a nod as Y/n walked out of the apartment. Gabe sat down and looked at his phone at all the texts his sister had sent but before he could open them, Y/n's name popped up on the screen.

"Hey what did you forget?" Gabe asked.

"Nothing, I just wanted to tell you how cute you look this morning." Gabe could hear Y/n's smile over the phone.

"You called just to tell me that? I'll see you in like 20 minutes." Gabe chuckled.

"Yeah but somethings just can't wait. Love you." Y/n said and Gabe felt that familiar panic in his chest.

"You too." Gabe hadn't told Y/n that he loved him directly yet. He expressed his love and he always said you too but he was still working on saying it. He had never been in a relationship this long and he was terrified he was going to wreck it one day, whether on his own or because of his family. He didn't want to lose Y/n.

[allwormdiet]

Interlude 1

Time to meet the parent.

Scion is so fucking weird. Like even being spoiled on what his deal is, what a fucking wild introduction to the world's first superhero. Absolutely buckwild. Naked golden man just floating above the ocean looking depressed. What a way for the world to be changed forever.

Cancer and suicide are both hard things to grapple with, and they're both things that have rocked my family and loved ones. This, I dunno, incidental fucking gesture just feels so. I don't know what to call it, it just feels. Makes me feel. Whatever.

Again, just, that's gotta be so fucking weird for a superhero to just suddenly exist. No way people jumped to superhero first obviously, might as well have been the Second Coming for all anyone would know, but still. I want to know what it is that makes Scion act like a hero when his ultimate desires for Earth are. Pretty unheroic? Maybe there'll be an answer for that, and presumably it's more subtle in the long-term than just immediately going apeshit, but it's still a mystery to me, so I'm left with the speculation.

Feel like I've heard the name Vikare before but fuck me if I can remember the context. Setting that aside, there's something, I dunno, telling? In that the first capes were superheroes, that the villains came after. Even in a world that's as shit as this one, the first instinct people had when they realized they had actual for-real superpowers was to do good. That's honestly a bit less cynical than I was expecting.

It is interesting that the honeymoon period for heroes lasted not even half a decade, that's longer than I'd have expected. And I think this is the first time we hear the word parahuman, which is fun. "Para-" meaning alongside or distinct, they're not superhuman, they're not inherently better, they're just. Different kinds of human. That's a clever pick.

Whatever else can be said about Danny Hebert (and we are getting to whatever else can be said about Danny Hebert, gimme a minute), this is a really really really good way to immediately get us in his head and on his side. When someone isn't where you expect them to be, when it's the middle of the night and they're not in the house like they ought to, that's fucking terrifying. For a parent to realize their child has disappeared, I cannot even imagine.

And yeah, not far behind Danny being terrified for his daughter is this complicated tangle of longing-anger-guilt for his wife. His wife whose death has absolutely nothing to do with the lack of a cellphone I'm sure.

And I'll be the first to admit I was a lot like Taylor back in high school, although I had a friend group and the bullying was a fraction of a fraction of what she's dealing with. My wildest nights were spent in a too-hot garage drinking novelty sodas and playing RPGs with the world's crappiest Dungeon Master. But I'm distracting myself.

"I hope that my daughter's only source of catharsis hasn't gotten her kidnapped or raped or murdered in this godawful city in the middle of the night" is such a horrifying thought to have to grapple with. God.

Speaking of horror.

I know about the thing with the locker, and God what a nightmare. Like, obviously, number one victim here is Taylor, and it is a testament of immense moral character that she didn't kill anybody for that torture, but Danny takes silver in the aftermath. His daughter has been tortured, and nobody will punish wrongdoers, nobody will even say who it was. Taylor won't even say who it was.

Anger and futility juxtaposed again. Danny rages for his daughter but it's fruitless except for a settlement to cover the hospital stay, so all he can do is wait and hope that something changes for the better.

This is actually something I've always wondered about. Taylor goes to such extreme lengths to not tell Danny about her life, and I've never fully understood why. Like the cape stuff I get, or at least mostly get, but Taylor doesn't open up to him about the bullying in anything I've ever seen or heard, and I don't know what's stopping her. It hurts both of them in the end.

And here's Danny's failure, right? He doesn't commit. He's letting Taylor lie to him, he's letting Taylor think she's getting away with lying. That's... kinda useless.

Honestly the fucked up thing is that Taylor's already got that anger in her, Danny worries about hurting her and he's not WRONG to worry about that, but to some extent she's already got that same kind of smoldering emotion as he does.

And the fact that he's tried so goddamn hard to protect her from his anger, the fact that she's caught the edges of it anyway even if it's never been targeted at her, that's just so goddamn sad. The Hebert family makes me sad.

Current Thoughts

The thought I can't get out of my head is that Danny doesn't want to confront Taylor because he doesn't want to chase her away, doesn't want her to feel unsafe with him, but like. One day she's going to leave anyway, drifting apart from him as their lives grow so much more different from each other, and what she's going to remember is that he never tried to keep her by his side, that he gave up on trying to fight for her. And that's worse. That's so much worse.

[la-pheacienne]

Ned gets so much praise (and hate ??) for warning Cersei before wanting to sell her out to her rapist but I disagree with that praise. No one looks at the patriarchal violence lurking beneath. You know exactly the nature of the man you’re dealing with, you saw him slapped Cersei so hard she fell to the floor and threatening to slap her again (and did nothing to stop your best friend), and you think giving one flimsy warning will be enough ?? Ned is absolutely a misogynistic fool. When Robert comes back from his hunt he’ll tell Robert the truth and he thinks Cersei will have enough time to flee with her guard and children and retinue ??

“Wherever you go, Robert’s wrath will follow you”, Ned knows that sooner or later (in a few weeks, a few months), Cersei and her children will be slaughtered, he just postponed their deaths. Ned would have received a letter informing him that Robert eventually murdered Cersei and her children and think “how could this have happened ? At least, I wasn’t the one holding the knife so I don’t have their blood on my hands.”

I mean I'm a Ned apologist on this one, sorry.

He was already at open war with the Lannisters, Lysa had already told the Starks that the Lannister's were behind Jon Arryn's death, he was already suspecting that they tried to kill his child because of that goddamn knife, Catelyn had kidnapped Tyrion, Jaime had attacked Ned himself, his men had killed Ned's men, Cersei was asking Robert in front of Ned to defend her brothers against the Starks. If I remember correctly, all of these happened before that incident of Robert hitting Cersei in front of Ned (the last one happened right before he hit her). Let's just say that Ned was not feeling all fuzzy about Cersei at the time, and his misogyny, while undisputed, is definitely not among the top 10 reasons for that. In that context, giving Cersei, one of the people who were openly attacking his family and his house, a way out, as flimsy as it may have been, was actually an act of kindness and mercy and yeah, honor. And I 100% believe he was honest in his conversation with Cersei and that it was not just a way for him to affirm his moral superiority while ensuring their execution. That's not the vibe imo! It's also not coherent to Ned's overall characterization: "the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man’s life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die", that's not the guy who lets others do the dirty work for him, sorry. Ned did want her to survive and he did want her children to survive, that's why he warned her. However, he also wanted to protect his family, that's why he wanted to tell Robert.

Did Ned already know that Robert abused Cersei and that he was generally violent and a pedophile? I don't remember exactly how much he knew or when he found out but I think he definitely knew about a very, very young girl that Robert had sex with and he was definitely disturbed by it. He also knew that Robert sucked ass generally speaking, he knew Lyanna disapproved of him fucking left and right, he knew he wouldn't be a good match for her unlike Rhaegar. The problem is that he realized all of that much later in life, obviously, when he took his distance from the war and from the death of his father and brother, when he was able to openly face his demons and the fact that, while having good intentions, he was an enabler of a rotten regime. He had betrothed his sister to a man who was miles beneath her, he had supported a man who hits his wife, is having sex with children, cheers on the murder of children (Aegon and Rhaenys) or actively orders the murder of children (pregnant Dany who was a child herself).

Ned had good intentions, his support for the new regime had an honest motivation and he was actually an honorable man, this particular word has actual value in the text, in my opinion. However, the whole point is that his honor, while unquestionable, did not prevent him from enabling a rotten regime, it did not prevent him from making tragic mistakes that cost him his life and the life of his family. "Ruling is hard", "Aragorn's tax policy" and all that. Having good intentions and honorable motives does not necessarily lead to good decision making.

I think this is a much more interesting perspective than "oh he warned Cersei because he actually wanted Cersei and her children dead while avoiding personal responsibility for it".

[rants-about-opm]

Jealous

-Trade Fic for the splendid @the-little-guru . The prompt was Badd's cat getting jealous of him spending more time with Garou.-

“Just pet her, you'll be fine."

Garou narrows his glinting eyes at the grumpy ball of fur occupying Badd's lap. Tama returns the disinterested glare, almost daring him to try. He barely lifts his hand before her whole body puffs up like a marshmallow, and she growls low in her throat. Almost on instinct Garou growls back.

"If your little rat bites me, I'm tossing her to the moon."

Badd frowns, adding a second pair of eyes staring Garou down. Privately he wonders if that trademark glare runs in the family.

"You realize that if you two don't get along I'm choosing her over you?"

Garou blinks lazily and shrugs, but he's actually quite miffed about it. This whole 'getting to know people' and 'making connections' thing was hard enough without being cucked by a damn cat. She's already purring as Badd rubs just behind her ears, her half lidded eyes watching Garou, like she's trying to mock him.

"Why couldn't you own a mantis or something?" Garou mutters. "So much easier to deal with."

Badd is only half paying attention, cooing nonsense to Tama.

"Tama's just jealous. Once she gets used to you being here, it'll get easier."

"This is the first time you've invited me to your house, and I've been here six minutes. How is she gonna get used to me?"

Badd glances up at him with a smirk.

"Cuz you're gonna keep coming over, smartass."

Oh.

Garou huffs and turns away, picking at a loose thread on his pants.

Suddenly an 8 pound ball of anger is dropped in his lap.

He tenses up as claws dig into his legs and Tama yowls, eyes wide and locked with his.

"Badd." Garou hisses.

He doesn't break eye contact to look at Badd, but he hears snickering.

"Badd, call off your damn bloodhound."

Tama leaps away, scuttling across the couch to go sit behind Badd.

"Worth a shot." He grins, ignoring Garou's death stare. "You want a coke?"

Garou stops glaring. He suddenly isn't mad anymore.

Rolling his eyes, Badd gets up and starts walking to the kitchen. Garou stands up to follow, only for Tama to dart off the couch and trail behind Badd possessively, sitting at the entrance to the kitchen to keep anyone else from coming in.

"Forget being the ultimate evil." Garou grumbles to himself. "I think she has me beat."

Unable to do something as boring as sit on the couch waiting for Badd to come back, Garou starts pacing. His fingers are already tapping against his leg impatiently, and he’s considering just leaving. Badd already said he would choose Tama over him, so why bother? There’s other people he’s kicked the shit out of before. Although, they might not be as willing to forgive him. Plus Badd was way more worth his time.

“I guess I’m stuck with him.” Garou sighs.

Shoving his hands in his pocket, he scanned the apartment for something interesting to occupy himself with.

He didn’t have to search long.

"You know, you can be really mean sometimes." Badd murmurs to Tama.

Taking two sodas out of the fridge, he sets them on the counter and reaches down to scratch beneath the little cat's chin. She purrs immediately, turning her head to allow better access.

“He’s a lot like you, you know. A stubborn, clingy bastard. No offense of course.”

Suddenly, Tama’s eyes seem to narrow, and she makes a weird noise, scurrying away.

"Tama?" 

Taking the sodas, Badd follows her, planning to hand off the drinks to Garou before going to see what she's up to, but Garou isn't on the couch. Badd stops, blinking in confusion. He cranes back to look down the hallway to the front door, but Garou isn't there either, and he would have heard the door shut if he had already left. 

Tama meows again from the opposite corner of the living room

Badd looks to where she's sitting in front of the cat tree, and follows her line of sight up to see...

"Garou, the fuck are you doing on my god damn cat tree?"

Yeah, the idiot is perched on the top of the tree, smirking down at Tama as she meows loudly at him.

"Cry about it, furball." He chuckles.

Badd sighs deeply, closing his eyes and counting backwards from ten like Zenko always tells him to do. His hand twitches, aching for his bat.

"If you break my two-hundred dollar furniture, I'm going to kick your ass."

Garou shrugs.

"I don't know why you paid that much when you could have just gotten a box or something, cats love that crap. Besides, if she's gonna hoard something I want, two can play at that game."

"Oh, you want me?" Badd replies, grinning smugly.

Garou's wide eyes snap up to look at him, his expression blank. Badd can practically see the gears screeching to a halt in his head.

"I have no idea what you're on about." Garou says flatly.

Badd crosses his arms.

"You're trying to make my cat jealous." He smirks. "Because you want me."

A moment of silence passes between them.

Garou hops off the cat tree, taking a soda from Badd and walking past him.

"I'm leaving."

"You want me."

"I'm never coming back."

"You're jealous that I pet her head and not yours!"

"Go jump off a cliff!"

Badd hears the front door slam, and laughs, turning to Tama.

"I'm so sorry, little miss prissy pants, but I can't *not* fuck him."

He turns to go upstairs, and freezes.

Zenko is standing on the bottom step in her pajamas, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. 

She looks back and forth between him and the door. She tilts her head judgmentally.

"Was that the weird goblin that tried to kill you?"

[aylacavebear]

She Thought She was Normal

So, this isn't my first fanfic, but it's one I've been working on for over four months now. It is the first one I'm sharing with more than just my family though, something I've never done before. It does have 28 chapters so far, and it isn't finished yet. I'm always up for suggestions and constructive feedback, either in comments or DMs.

Please don't take my work. I'll post warnings for each chapter. Will eventually be 18+!

Story Summary: Maria really thought she was normal, for most of her life. It was normal for people to have natural talent, she would tell herself the older she got. Many things came easy for her, and that was probably how their rivalry began when she was five and he was seven and she met the Winchesters. Little did either of them know that it wouldn't stay like that forever, both having a far larger destiny than they could imagine.

Word Count: 4054

Warnings: Trauma - Family Death, First meetings, childhood rivalry

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Chapter 1 - In The Beginning

She woke up screaming in the passenger seat of her dad's truck, it was dark, and her father was driving them to her Uncle's. The nightmare was still clinging to her vision. 

“You okay, munchkin?” her father asked.

“Yeah, Daddy, just a nightmare,” she answered, trying to catch her breath. 

Her mother had just been killed by a yellow-eyed demon in their home and now, they were just trying to get somewhere safe to deal with the grief. 

Maria was five, her parents were hunters, and her mother was dead due to the demon that had been after Maria. She had deep, dark blue eyes and jet-black hair that went down to the middle of her back, the birth signifiers of the Winter lineage. Her father was a Men of Letters, she was a Legacy, even if she didn't fully understand what that meant yet. She was also something else. She'd heard her father on the phone once, talking to Bobby, and the word Nephilim had been said, although she was too young to know what that meant.

There was silence for a while on the drive, as she didn't want to have nightmares again, “Do you think mamma went to heaven?” she asked her father quietly, curiously. 

He sighed, “I hope so munchkin.”

His words didn't help her feel better, but even with being five, she understood that there was no guarantee where her mother had ended up. She stayed awake for another hour before sleep retook her; this time, there were no nightmares.

Bobby had been up for hours, setting up the guest room the best he could for her after William had called him explaining what happened. He was on his fifth drink when he heard Williams's truck pull up in front, it now being three in the morning. William carried her inside as Bobby held the door open.

“Guest room is all set up,” Bobby sighed as he closed the door.

William nodded as he carried her there, tucking her in under the covers, and then kissed her on the forehead. He then closed the door behind him and joined Bobby in the living room, sitting on the couch. 

Bobby handed him a drink, “You're going after it, aren't you?”

William sighed, “Wouldn't you?”

“You should talk to John, he's after the same demon, might have some information that could help,” Bobby offered.

William sighed before downing his drink, “I haven't talked to him in a couple years now.”

“You're hunting the same thing, Will,” he replied, glancing towards the hallway to where Maria was sleeping, “How's she doing?”

“About how you'd expect,” William replied, “Can you keep up her training and education for while I'm gone? It'll be at least a couple weeks.”

“Yeah,” Bobby sighed.

William only stayed for another ten minutes before he headed out. Bobby felt bad for both of them and he hid his grief for the loss of Alarra, Maria's mother, and William's wife. Hell, Bobby had introduced Will to his sister, Alarra, so many years ago. He didn't go back to sleep that morning after Will had left. Instead, he read over the journal that Will had left for him. It contained Maria's training and education, as well as an outline of what Will and Alarra had wanted to teach her and when. Bobby sighed as he read through it, especially when he noticed the entry from a week before where her powers had begun to manifest. There were only a select few who knew what Maria was, Bobby, John, and Ellen being the main three since Ellen and Alarra had been like sisters. 

Maria woke up a few hours later, still in her clothes from the night before, finding Bobby sitting at his desk reading a book.

“Hi…” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

“Mornin kid, how you doing?” he asked, looking up from his book.

She sat down on the couch, staring at the floor, and shrugged her shoulders, “Mom's gone…. It's weird, knowing that…” she replied, feeling disconnected from everything at the moment. 

“You want some breakfast?” he asked, not wanting to push her if she didn't want to talk about it.

“Did Dad leave my bag?” she asked, ignoring his question. 

Bobby sighed, even at five she seemed stubborn, but also needing routine, “Yeah. It's on the kitchen table.”

“Thank you,” she replied before getting up.

Her parents had gotten her into a routine and she was well-behaved for being five. She grabbed the bag off the table and went back to her room, closing the door behind her. She did her few morning stretches and exercises, as her parents had taught her, and even went over the movements with the silver knife her parents had given her. Maria pulled out a fresh pair of clothes and changed, putting her dirty clothes in a bag before stuffing that bag into her duffle. Then she proceeded to brush her hair, fighting with the memories of her mother teaching her how a year ago. She then slipped on the headband before cleaning her brush and putting it away. After a deep breath, she slipped her shoes back on before heading into the kitchen. Bobby was already there, making her some eggs and toast, with some bacon on the side. She sat down at the table and waited patiently, just watching him cook. She'd met her Uncle before and both her parents had spoken highly of him. She wished that this meeting was under better circumstances. 

“Thank you, Uncle Bobby,” she told him kindly.

“You're welcome, kid,” he replied, then sighed.

He wasn't sure if it was the fact that she was a girl, a Nephilim, or how Will and Alarra had raised her as to how well-behaved she was. He'd figured she'd be emotionally broken after losing her mother the day before, but for now, she seemed numb to everything, at least to him. He finished her breakfast and set it in front of her before heading back to his desk, needing to do some research for a friend who'd called him two days prior. She ate her breakfast in silence. The eggs were plain, as Bobby hadn't seasoned them with anything, and the toast was close to being burnt, but she didn't say a word about it, being grateful for a home-cooked meal and not something from a gas station. She thought about how she could talk to him about it since she had a feeling her father hadn't said anything. When she was done eating she scooted the chair over to the sink and washed her dishes, then cleaned up. Maria went and brushed her teeth before joining Bobby in the living room.

“Thank you for breakfast, Uncle Bobby. What was the lesson on Dad's list for today?” she asked him, not ready to give in to the grief she was still pushing away.

He sighed before he sat back in his chair, “Demonology and then practicing cursive.” 

“Will you be quizzing me after?” she asked.

“Well, I agreed to this, so yeah, I'll quiz you after,” he replied.

“Thank you again, Uncle Bobby,” she replied, getting up to retrieve the book from her bag, along with her cursive journal, which she had just begun a few days prior.

She seated herself at the kitchen table, setting her journal to her right with the Demonology book opened in front of her on the table. She read for two hours before she worked for thirty minutes on her cursive. Afterward, handing the book and journal to Bobby, and then sat down on the couch. He nodded his head while he looked over her cursive and almost couldn't believe she was only five, then had to remind himself that she was also a Nephilim or something close to that. He looked over what she had read and quizzed her on it. Even when he deliberately tried to trip her up, she was respectful when she corrected him and then gave him the right answer, which he couldn't help but smile proudly at her.

She took her books back to her room, putting them away before she practiced the moves her father had taught her, helping to increase her muscle memory. She also added to it a bit with the moves her father had recently shown her. Maria still didn't want to stop though, not wanting that pause to where her memories might begin to replay in her mind. She didn't want to see it, to hear the screams, feel the pain of her loss. She slipped out of her room and grabbed the closest book she could without her Uncle seeing her as he was focused on his own research. She sat on her bed and read, for what felt like hours before there was a knock on her door. She slipped the book under her pillow before he opened the door.

“Lunchtime kid,” Bobby told her as he opened her door, “There's a sandwich on the table. After lunch, we're gonna take a trip for some food for while you're here.”

“Okay Uncle Bobby, and thank you,” she replied, following him out of her room. 

Maria ate the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, not happy that it was strawberry, but ate it anyway. She cleaned her dishes before grabbing her jacket and following her Uncle out to his car. Halfway through the ride, she finally broke the silence. 

“So, do you have a list?” she asked, looking over at him.

“It's in my head,” he told her.

She wasn't quite sure what to say or how to ask about what he was getting without sounding rude or intrusive so she just looked out the windshield. Bobby wasn't entirely sure how to interact with her as he never had kids of his own. He parked near the front of the store and the two of them got out of the car. She walked over to him as he came around the tail end of the car, reaching out to hold his hand. It startled him, but he just smiled down at her. She let go of his hand when they reached the front of the store as he grabbed a cart. As they walked through the store, she watched him put things in the cart, making a mental note of the items. 

“Uncle Bobby, would it be okay to get some grape jam?” she asked, curiously. 

He thought for a moment and glanced at the items he'd already had, “Sure. Is there anything else specific you'd like?” he asked her.

He figured asking might help her be able to be more comfortable while she was staying with him. She smiled up at him and made sure to only ask for things she knew she was allowed to have, knowing her father would ask her about everything when he returned. When they made it to the checkout and loaded everything on the counter he glanced at the candy bars.

“Would you like something sweet? You did really good today,” he told her with a soft smile.

For a moment, his words surprised her, as she didn't realize there was another way to behave when in public, but looked over at the candy, “This one, I guess,” she replied, handing him a Reese's package that contained two of the chocolate and peanut butter cups.

Bobby smiled down at her as he put the candy with the other items but asked the cashier to leave it out, as he wanted her to be able to eat it in the car.

“Bobby? Bobby Singer? Is that you?” a female voice behind them asked, causing them both to turn around and look at her.

“Sheriff Mills. Good to see you, this is my niece, Maria,” he told her as the two shook hands.

Maria looked between the two of them for a moment before feeling comfortable enough to say anything, “Nice to meet you, ma'am.”

Her manners and respect surprised Jody, “Hi there. It's nice to meet you as well. How old are you?” she asked in a soft, kind tone.

“I'm five,” she replied.

“Well, you're a very sweet little girl for only being five,” she replied kindly to Maria.

Maria smiled a little but tuned out the rest of their conversation, not wanting to hear what might get brought up. She instead went over and helped put the groceries in the cart again once they were bagged, again, impressing Jody.

“Everything okay with Will and Alarra?” Jody asked Bobby.

He sighed, glanced at Maria, and then back at Jody, “Alarra was killed last night, in a bad accident. Will had to leave to deal with the legalities of everything,” he explained.

“That poor girl,” Jody whispered, watching her put another bag in the cart, “How long is she staying with you?”

“Should only be a couple weeks but you never know how long these things take,” Bobby answered. He had to keep the demon part out of the conversation. Jody didn’t know about any of that stuff, and he wanted to keep it that way.

“Well, I’m here, if you need any advice on anything,” she told him with a soft smile.

“Thanks, Sherrif. I might take you up on that,” he chuckled.

Bobby bid her goodbye, and the two went back to his house, eating the candy bar her Uncle had gotten her on the drive. When they got back, Maria helped bring in the groceries and put away what she could reach. He double-checked the schedule her father had left but she was already grabbing her books from her bag so she could work on the afternoon work.

The next two weeks were like this. She kept to her schedule, sneaking books from her Uncle's collection and making sure they got put back where she'd found them, her Uncle never the wiser. It was a Wednesday of the third week while she was sitting at the table, working on her cursive when she heard her father's truck pull up in the driveway, but she also heard another vehicle. She was supposed to sit there for another ten minutes but her curiosity and happiness got the better of her. She set down her pencil and headed outside, running over to her father who was halfway to the door, wrapping her arms around him.

“Daddy!” she exclaimed.

“Hey munchkin,” he said, smiling as he picked her up, spinning her around, making her laugh. 

He set her down, and she had to catch herself due to being a bit dizzy, but she was still laughing as an adult man, and two boys, one who looked older and one who looked younger than her, walked up. William took her hand and led her inside as she looked over her shoulder at the three of them for a moment, then turned around to watch where she was going. 

“Finish your cursive and we'll do introductions,” William told her before he went into the living room with Bobby, the three others following him. 

She did notice the two boys looking over at her as she sat back down at the table, picking up her pencil to do as her father had said. That ten minutes felt like forever to her. She hadn't felt like she didn't want to do her schooling before, not like she was now. When she did finish, she took a deep breath before grabbing her books and taking them to her Uncle, as he had been the one who'd been doing her schooling. He quizzed her on her reading as the others stayed silent, listening. He even tried tripping her up, to which she respectfully corrected him and gave him the right answers. He looked over her cursive and smiled at how she was progressing. She smiled happily and put her books away before returning to the living room.

“Maria, this is John Winchester and his boys, Dean and Sam,” William told her.

“It's nice to meet you, Sir,” she said to John, utterly respectful, “And you as well, Dean and Sam.”

John, as well as the boys, were impressed with her respect, “It's nice to meet you as well, Maria,” John told her with a proud smile, “Why don't the three of you go be kids outside for a bit, and keep an eye on Sam.”

She knew the adults wanted to talk about something that probably had to do with her mother, so she just nodded and headed outside, Dean and Sam following. Maria took note of how Dean took his younger brother's hand and walked at his pace, so she slowed down to walk at his pace. There was some awkward silence between Dean and Maria for a bit when she finally said something once they were further out in the scrap yard. 

“Are you learning how to hunt too?” she asked, nonchalantly. 

The question surprised Dean a bit, but he decided to act cool, “Yeah, what of it?”

“Just curious,” she replied, tilting her head slightly. 

Dean wasn't sure what to think for this girl. She wasn't like any other girl he'd met before, as she was the first hunter's daughter he'd met. Maria went over to Sam, who was three, and began playing with him, getting him to laugh, a lot, an infectious, playful laughter. All Dean could do was watch her and how she interacted with his younger brother, in a way he couldn't. He may have been seven, but something about this girl intrigued him. It was clear she was being trained to be a hunter; she was respectful, but she hadn't stopped finding ways to bring laughter to people, at least to his brother, even with what had happened to her mother only two and a half weeks prior. 

After a bit, Dean got an idea, “Hey, bet I could throw a rock further than you,” he said, a slightly competitive tone in his words. 

She looked over at him, raising an eyebrow from where she crouched in front of Sam, “Bet you I could not only throw further but also hit my target.”

Dean kept the confident expression, but he began second-guessing himself, seeing her confidence, “You're on.”

Dean picked a car that was around a hundred feet away and put an X on the side of the door. She smirked, “Your challenge, you go first,” she told him, turned to the side, gesturing to the car, still keeping her eye on Sam.

He swallowed, hard as he picked up a rock from the ground, testing its weight as he tossed it in the air a couple of times before he took aim and threw it at the car, hitting the far side of the X he'd drawn, which made him smirk. She just chuckled, then went and picked up the same rock he had used. When she got back to where he was standing, she noticed his puzzled look.

“Well, this way you can't blame it on the rock,” she told him with quite the sass and a smirk to match before she turned and chucked the rock, hitting the X dead center. She knew there were things she could say, but he father had taught her better than to gloat, “Maybe next time we see each other, we can do this again,” she smiled kindly.

Dean was practically speechless. There were too many things about this girl that surprised him, and being seven, all he could do was punch her in the shoulder, which only made her laugh a little before she went back to playing with Sam, leaving Dean to his thoughts. 

About an hour later, John came out and told them to come inside. Maria took Sam's hand and led him back into the house, Dean following behind them. John smiled seeing the sight, silently calling William and Bobby over to see it as well. The three men just smiled, watching the kids as they came back toward the house. Dean went over and held Sam's other hand and made Sam smile and giggle, causing both kids to smile down at him.

“Well, if anything happens to us, hopefully, they'll have each other,” William said.

“Those three are welcome here anytime,” Bobby said, having quite a soft spot for them after the time he'd gotten to spend with his niece.

John and his boys stayed for dinner, which Maria helped Bobby with. 

“At least they get along,” William told John, glancing at Dean who was sitting in a chair watching Bobby and Maria as they cooked.

“That’ll be a bonus,” John replied.

“Bobby suggested we team up since we’re both after the same thing,” William stated, sipping his beer.

“It’s not a bad idea,” he replied, “It would make things easier. Two heads are better than one.”

William chuckled, leaving out the monster joke, “Yeah. Plus it might give the kids some time to be kids,” he sighed.

“Did you have another lead, to head toward after here?” John asked, looking over at him.

“Yeah, two states over. We’ll get that demon, John. One way or another, we’ll track it down, for the kids’ sake at least,” William told him, sounding more confident than he felt.

“Dean,” John said, causing him to look over at him, “Will and I are gonna work together, so they’ll be coming with us. Behave yourself.”

Dean rolled his eyes and John gave him a look, which made him straighten up, “Yes sir,” he replied, quietly but quickly losing the attitude.

He wasn’t pleased about now having to share a motel room with a girl, especially her. Yeah, she was somewhat interesting but at the same time, she was still a girl and girls were annoying. Dean wanted to ask why she couldn’t just stay with Bobby. He wanted to complain but he knew better than to argue with his father once he’d decided something.

Bobby made burgers with Maria standing on a chair, learning, Dean watching her from the living room, which was not being done discreetly. Bobby let her flip the burgers when it was time, as well as put the cheese on them when they were ready. In another pan he had bacon going, explaining the different levels of crispness. She was completely fascinated and paying attention. 

“Dean, how do you like your bacon?” she asked, knowing he was watching her.

Dean got embarrassed, “Cooked?” 

The adults laughed at the interaction but Maria just shook her head a bit as she helped set the table when the food was done. William was proud of his daughter with her constant thirst for knowledge. The schedule he'd made out for her was more for her than for him, as he still wanted her to be a kid sometimes too, not just focus on learning everything she could and grow up too fast. He loved seeing how she interacted with Sam earlier that day.

“So, John and I are gonna team up for a while, since we're after the same thing. This will make things easier,” William explained to Maria.

“Okay Pappa,” she replied, looking up at him.

It didn't bother her. She had enjoyed spending time with Sam, although she found Dean slightly annoying. She wouldn't say that part to her father though, knowing that would be rude. It was clear to Maria that her father and John had spoken to Dean in the living room while she'd been helping her Uncle with dinner since he hadn't been addressed during dinner.

“Will my lessons continue like you had scheduled?” she asked her father after she finished her burger.

“Yes. And I'll check it when I am at the motel, so it will be a little different than it is now,” he told her.

“Okay, Pappa,” she replied.

Part of her was going to miss the quizzes after her reading, but she knew it happened sometimes, depending on whatever case her parents worked. Although now, her mother was gone. Something she still hadn't grieved for. She'd even managed to keep her nightmares at bay, reading one of Bobby's books before bed, which he still didn't know about and she was going to miss that. Once dinner was done, Maria helped with clean up, and John had Dean help as well, to which he didn't argue. 

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Chapter 2

Link to the master list for this story.

[rocksibblingsau]

Honestly, I'm this close to snapping and writing a fic where Branch dies during Trollscide/the escape and Brozone having to deal with the giant grief that would have caused

Like I get it, they were kid that needed indepedence bla bla bla but are we forgetting that they (most likely, the timeline is kinda just whatever the writers/fans want) left a toddler and an elder in a TROLL-EATING TOWN AND 3/4 NEVER TRIED TO CHECK IF EITHER WERE DOING OKAY (Clay will depends of your headcanon, but I still include him for the vibes)

What they did was shitty if we are talking only real-life perspective, in the trolls world what they did was genuine heartless like Branch is extremely right to be mad bcs for all they knew he could been dead the same year that they walked-out and they shouldnt have know for like 20-something YEARS. We dont know how the three/four of them got out and if they could have taken Branch and Rosie with them or not, but like yk send a letter or some shit FIGURE IT OUT YOUR BROTHER WHO IS A TODDLER COULD BE DEAD or without a proper gardian (which is what happened by the fucking way, next-of-kin WHO)

Sorry for the rant, but like I feel that many people when writing Brozone focus too much on the 'teenagers that left home' aspect and not 'their home is the troll equivelent of a murder cult and they didnt border checking if their family, that never wronged them, was even alive or needed to be taken care of' part

Yeah the fact they left them in the troll tree is pretty messed up. I do think however there would have been no way to take them. I imagine the only reason the four of them escaped is due to the fact they ran on their own. Rosie would have been about the age she would have slowed them down, and the fact of the matter is that while all four were leaving with dreams of finding a place...

They were all leaving on what was likely a suicide mission. I imagine attempts to leave the tree had a 99% mortality rate. It's why they tunneled instead of, yknow, walking through the bars. To take a baby who Probably had a decent life spin ahead of him on a tribe that would Definitely kill him would be a tough choice to make.

Something interesting to consider is that maybe that's what their parents did. Their parents ran and left them all behind. They might think it's normal to do so in that case.

Some people take the third movie to be evidence that the Bergens were a recent development and there were only a few years of Trollstice. (BroZone left, Bergens came in, 3-5 years later grandma dies, the escape happens) Which would explain why BroZone was both able to leave and comfortable leaving Branch behind, because there was no threat of death. It would also explain why John Dory didn't react to the Bergens, he had no clue who or what the hell they were. Me personally I don't believe that, and I find them leaving under the threat of Trollstice more narratively interesting but canon doesn't tell us jack so it's within the realm of possibility.

Can I be honest about something? I'm actually not sure if Branch dying would be more traumatic to them. I think all of them were operating under the assumption Branch would one day be eaten by Bergens. JD already did think he was dead. They might have been having a 'he's in a better place and its okay' mentality.

How much worse is it to find out that no, he's very much alive, though for the longest time he wished he wasn't? Every time you told yourself he's resting, he's with loved ones, he feels no pain now; it was all a lie. He was suffering. You could have stopped it. You could have found him.

Death is tragic, but sometimes living can be so much worse.