#*crouching on the floor* yay i finally drew it

[eepy-bells]

I PUT HIM IN RA'S OUTFIT!!!! RAAAHHHHH!!!!!🧎‍♂️🧎‍♂️🧎‍♂️🧎‍♂️🧎‍♂️

[shiraishi-mai]

[2:00am]

You sat at the end of the table, swaying slightly in your seat. A department event was tonight and your friends finally convinced you to leave the house for once, claiming it would cheer you up.

"And I hate to admit it, but when he's nice, he's amazing," you sniffled. "And handsome."

You grabbed your friend's hands. "Like realllly pretty." You frowned.

"I hate him."

Your classmate looked at your friend amused.

"Is she going on about him again?" He sighed nodding.

"Damn she's been going at it for a while. Three weeks of just ranting about how horrible he was and how in love she was and crying."

"Why'd he have to say all that terrible stuff," you mumbled as you propped your face on your elbow. "Everything was so perfect." Your head nodded downward.

"Did you know she even had a boyfriend?"

"She blurted it out one day when Koko made fun of her for being single. But she studies all the time like she's in the library early in the morning, goes to classes, then studio, and I don't know when she even sleeps let alone have time to get a boyfriend."

"Or even hang out with him?" She spends her weekends either working or at the studio." Your friend frowned. "I kept trying to get her out of the apartment but-" they glanced at your half asleep figure. "Maybe it wasn't such a good idea."

Their eyes widened as you laid your head on the table, cheek squished against the wood and facing away from them.

"y/n, y/n do you want to go home?" your friend tentatively asked.

"Nope, all good!" you threw a thumbs up high enough for him to see behind you without moving your head. "I'm just going to try to get the room to stop rocking." He nodded hesitantly and slowly your friends started conversing about school and other things while you tried to focus on your breathing. You closed your eyes in an attempt to reduce the strong pounding in your temple.

The door to the bar opened and a tall figure walked in scanning the bar. When his eyes landed on you, he drew in a sharp breath as he took in your slumped figure. Even half-passed out drunk, hair mussed, and head plopped on the table, you were so damn pretty.

"Is she sleeping," a familiar voice came from beside you and your eyes tightened in response. You were too out of it to register it and frankly to exhausted to care about whatever was happening around you.

"I don't think so," your other friend said, "But she was drinking a lot."

"y/n, let's go home." The voice was closer to your face now and you could almost feel the warmth radiating from the figure lowered in front of you.

"My head hurts," you whined.

"I know baby, let's get you some painkillers and then you can lie down."

Baby? He's real? Your friend mouthed at your other friend. He was shocked as he observed the very large man crouching in front of you with a soft expression. His yellow hair was a bit damp and his baby face had faint dark circles under his eyes. And you were right, he was handsome. They didn't expect your ex-boyfriend to look like that.

"Let's go pretty girl," he repeated and you slowly opened your eyes.

"'Tsumu I'm tired."

He swallowed as he felt the ache in his chest grow worse. You sounded so tired. A stark contrast to your usual lively self. Were you sleeping properly? Eating? You had a tendency to forget to eat...

You gazed at him and he resisted the urge to stroke your cheek.

"I know. I'm sorry." He frowned. "There's food at home though. Maybe that will make you feel better?"

You gave him a dreamy smile, "Yay food. Okay."

"Okay," he repeated, standing up while you attempted to.

"I don't think she would want you taking her if she was sober," your friend frowned. "y/n didn't you say this morning you didn't want to see him? What if he does something weird?" Atsumu opened his mouth with an offended expression when you said, "It's fine. He's an asshole but he wouldn't pull anything."

"Besides," you breathed, "I'm going to pretend tonight didn't happen anyway."

Ouch. Atsumu thought as you grabbed onto his wrist for support as you made your way out of the bar. When the cool air finally hit you, you sighed in relief as the throbbing in your head finally decreased. There was a small walk to the main road where the cabs were and you debated kicking off your shoes.

A squeal came from your mouth as you realised you were being picke dup.

"This'll be faster," Atsumu said as he carried you bridal style. He wasn't wrong and you didn't want to walk anyway so you just wrapped your arms around his neck and leaned into his warmth.

Having you in his arms and watching you automatically nuzzling into his chest made Atsumu clench his teeth, upset at the whole situation. If he hadn't messed everything up, maybe they would have been at home, snuggling or watching a movie. Or he could have gone with her and met her friends and they would have gone home happily, safely with each other.

***

When you reached the apartment, you fumbled with your keys before stumbling in and turned to stare at Atsumu as he stepped in after you.

"I'm just going to make sure you get to bed and don't hurt yourself." He said with his hands raised. Your face was expressionless as you just turned and walked into your room, flopping on the bed.

"y/n you need to change," he said following you in. "And you said you hate waking up with makeup."

"I don't care," you said quietly and Atsumu closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath as he walked over.

"Princess, sit up for me? Please?"

You sat up sleepily rubbing your eyes.

"Leg," he ordered and you stuck it out in front of you so he could take your boot off. After doing the same with the other, you watched him disappear into the bathroom.

Is he actually here? You thought hazily. He shouldn't be right? I should kick him out.

But you felt the fatigue in your bones and couldn't find the energy to yell or tell him to leave. After the breakup, balancing everything in your hectic life and doing it all with a smile when all you wanted to do was curl up in bed and do nothing was apparently unsustainable.

Seeing Atsumu made you want to wrap yourself around him and never let go. He was your support and had always helped you through bad days. It was ironic that the person you wanted to comfort you and talk about everything with was the cause of the problem.

You were staring at the floor when you felt something damp on your face. Atsumu was slowly dabbing at your cheeks with a wipe, gently taking off your makeup. He wouldn't meet your eyes as you stared at him. His eyes were tired too and something in them didn't look right. HIs entire face seemed less...bright?

"Close your eyes for me." He shook his head, resisting the urge to kiss you and continued.

When you opened them back up he was finishing taking off the last bit of lipstick, mouth slightly open and then smiling softly when he said, "Okay done."

I'm still in love with you. You felt the words bubbling on your tongue.

I love you so much. He felt selfish at the thought.

You sighed and began unbuttoning your shirt and Atsumu's eyes widened.

"H-hey," pink tinged his ears, "Um I'll go get you some water."

It's not like you haven't seen me naked before. You slipped on a shirt thrown on the floor and pulled shorts on.

"You're wearing my shirt," he commented when he came back in. You glanced down and remembered how you had worn it for the past few weeks, trying to find any form of comfort from the hurt you felt.

"It doesn't smell like you anymore," you mumbled, crawling under the blankets. The instant relief you felt as you laid down almost made you moan. Atsumu didn't reply as he gently set the glass of water by your bed stand.

"I guess I'll go now," he said, standing a bit awkwardly and picking up his jacket from the chair. He froze when he reached the door as he heard a quiet sniffle. The desire to be in his arms was driving you crazy and you felt your willpower crumbling.

"Could you stay," you bit your lip and kept your eyes closed. "At least until I fall asleep?"

There was a silence and you cursed yourself for asking, feeling another pang in your chest at the rejection.

You felt the mattress dip and your eyes opened in shock as Atsumu laid down carefully beside you on top of the blanket. He stuck an arm under your neck while the other wrapped around your back and moved you closer to his chest. He smelled like home.

Your tears had finally stopped and both of you sighed in relief as the tightness in your chests lightened considerably and your bodies relaxing for the first time in a while.

"Does your head still hurt?" he asked quietly.

"A bit."

You felt a hand begin to stroke your hair, smoothing out any tangles before resting on your cheek.

"I miss you," he said to the darkness.

"Me too."

"I'm sorry," his thumb stroked your cheek.

"Okay." you moved up to place your head in the crook of his neck and he rested his chin on top of your hair, tightening his arms.

***

You woke up confused. How did I get home?

Out of the corner of your eye, you spotted a box of meds and a note stuck on top.

"I got you some hangover meds and coffee should be made in the pot. I know you hate waking up alone but I thought it'd be better if I wasn't here. I know it doesn't mean much but, I still love you."

Your lip trembled and you looked up at the ceiling to keep your tears from falling.

"You're such an ass," you whispered. He still loved you but you had already forced Atsumu Miya out of your heart and there was no going back now.

[bangteamhyuk]

Moving On

Genre: Established Relationship, Fluff, Angst, Producer! Min Yoongi

Warning: mentions of sex, angst, contains heavy argument (One Shot)

Word count: 3,850k

Synopsis: You went back with Yoongi to your old apartment before moving on to the next. While cleaning, fixing, and rummaging all of the things inside, you two began to reminisce your life when you were still building your dreams together. Until he saw his old broken piano, then reality hits the two of you.

“I’m sorry I’m late!” you tried to catch your breath after rushing on to the stairs. Three floors were pretty tough for someone bringing cleaning tools, while hoping not to disappoint the person who was waiting for you for half an hour on the other end.

Yoongi turned around and crouched down a bit to see if you are fine “It’s okay. I’m sure you have reasons” He took the broomstick from your hand and put it together with the big vacuum cleaner he was holding. He paused for a moment and smiled at the sight of a white but clear oval diamond ring you were wearing. Your engagement rings.

You quickly blushed and turned away, flustered at the sight of Yoongi smiling at you. “Bunch of Min residents. Still cracks me up” you chuckled at the stick figure faces of you and Yoongi looking mean as the welcome door mat.

“Yeah, you thought of that” he pulled out the keys from his pocket and unlocked the door.

“But you were the one who drew those faces, Yoongi Matisse” you remarked as you fixed your hair. He scoffed as he put on his hairband.

“Ready to clean our stuff?” he asked. You nodded.

Yoongi went inside first and opened the curtain from the window on the front, giving light inside the studio apartment that were filled with dusts and memories. You followed. You turned around to see cobwebs around the table occupied with pictures, knick-knacks from all the travel you two had been, and even crumpled grocery receipts hidden on the side.

“5 good years huh?” you spoke, brushing your finger on the table to see how much dirt occurred over the years.

“Uhuh, 5 good years, and now we’re ready to move out Y/N” he replied.

“Look if we put the couch on the center, our visitor might think we’re bunch of couch potatoes. First impression last babe” you reasoned, as you sat beside Yoongi on the bare wooden floor of the room.

He shook his head “Y/N, I’m just saying that we needed to be reminded that it’s okay to rest once we get home, that’s why I was thinking that the couch should be there. Besides are we really going to admit and entertain guess here?” he gave you one tough argument that was hard not to consider.

“Ok fine, but what if I’m feeling a little frisky and want to do it while we watch TV? And then a burglar came from the door, right?” you turn to look at him with conviction in your eyes then continued “All I’m trying to say is that, putting it on the center have its disadvantage. Would you want your dick to be seen by a stranger, worse to a voyeur burglar?” you raised your arms and pointed it with your open palms at a non-existent couch against the other side of the empty room.

Yoongi narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth in disgust “I can’t believe hearing this poor argument just to convince me in putting…” he paused then sighed “Fine, let’s put the TV and couch on the right side and the dinner table at the center” he conceded.

“Happy girlfriend equals happy life” you smiled at your victory. Yoongi turned to you and smiled dryly. You chuckled.

“We’re going to build our dreams here…” he spoke softly while staring at the open window in the midst of vacant space between the two of you. You stared at him and lingered for a moment.

“Yes, we will” you smiled, as you turned to stare at the open window as well, filling the bareness of the room with all your hopes and dreams together, as you closed your eyes.

“Achoo!” you sneezed as you open your eyes again, while patting the dusted couch and pulling the cushion seats out. Yoongi was mopping the hardwood floor, while you on the other hand was preparing to vacuum the old couch. Suddenly you saw something, you didn’t expect.

“Ugh Yoongi!” you burst into laughter. “What?” Yoongi quickly went towards you on the old couch as you pulled out something hidden underneath the seat.

“Your dried out condom! Ugh, gross!” you exclaimed as he grinned showing you his gummy smile that you love so dearly “I told you to put them to the trash, every time! Ugh! Good thing I found it before we sell these…” your face turned sour as you held on its tip and quickly tossed it on to the trash bin. “You know what, I think we should hand them over to the cleaners first before selling them. It’s been unused for 2 years…”

“You know for 5 years since we planned to put furniture on our place, I just realized we had a really great time with that couch” he stressed the world ‘really’ which made you blushed immediately, and well a bit annoyed at the same time. “Not once did we had any visitor, not even that voyeur burglar you were talking about” he raised one of his eye brow and smirked.

You quickly pulled out the dusted pillow and threw at him. “What? I’m just saying it wouldn’t matter if we put it on the center or not.” he laughed.

“Okay, Nostradamus. Let’s get back to business. I have book signing to attend to later” you turned your back to continue cleaning the couch while you heard him chuckle once more and resumed to mop the floor.

“What’s this surprise?” you tried to reach out for something, while Yoongi was making sure you can’t see anything through the blindfold.

“Take another two steps to the front. Here. Great. Now! The big reveal!” he slowly opened the blindfold as he showed you his D-I-Y wooden desk situated beside the apartment’s lone window.

“Happy birthday Y/N!” You gasped. “You made these? Even the succulents on the desk?” you hurriedly went to your new work desk and examined everything over and underneath it. You opened one of the drawers and saw a 20-dollar cat design fountain pen you’ve been eyeing for weeks in the department store “Yoongi, thank you!” you held it to your chest.

“Well, I did the wood work but not the succulents. I just..” he scratched the back of his neck. “add that for a little touch, you know, something to ease your stress when writing stories”

You quickly ran up to him for a kiss. “Yoongi, thank you! I love it! I love you!” he grinned.

“Can you kiss me again? Maybe deepen it?” you obliged, but parted for a second. “But if my work space is on the window then… where is yours?” you asked.

He shrugs. “I can stay at our bed. I mean, I’m sure you don’t make much sound when your busy so it’s okay. I just needed a laptop and my guitar to make music” you smiled weakly. “It’s really okay babe, it’s a win-win situation. Look at this way, if you put my workspace near the window, I might include unnecessary noise from the outside. This is great!” he hugged you tight, assuring you that all is well.

“We’ll make our dreams happen in this apartment, you and I” he kissed your forehead, reminding you that you are not alone in this city trying to make it big one day. “I’m here for you always Y/N”

“I’ll always be here for you too Yoongi. We will definitely make it happen” you closed your eyes, and rest your head on his chest. You two stayed like that for a while.

“How much do you think this desk would cost?” you tap the pen on your cheek.

“I deserve a $200 for this!” he pointed at the desk. “It took me a day to figure out how to assemble everything, and I had to scratch each side with a small sandpaper for an hour Y/N! An hour! Just so you wouldn’t get hurt over its sharp edges. So yes, I demand a $200 refund for this!” he raised his eyebrow to show you how much he protests at the thought of not being able to find a just compensation for his hard work.

“But Yoongi, it’s been used for over 3 years and unused for over 2, so expect it has some scratches around and the faint smell of old wood, so $100?” you examined the whole piece, while waiting for Yoongi to agree

He closed his eyes and shook his head “175!”

“150? Last price” you faced him.

“Fine. 150” he sighed, finally agreeing to the unjust price. You then wrote the price on the note pad.

Yoongi crouched down and rummaged through the piles of things on the floor, left untouched for 2 years and saw something familiar.

“Yoongi, what if we include the chair and then we can ask for $200 deal—” you stopped midway as you saw Yoongi pulled out his electric piano, all broken.

“Open the box babe!” you watched him open the huge ribbon and tore out the wrapper on the floor. You went to the table and refilled two glasses with cheap wine.

“Oh babe, you don’t have to” he gently pulled the brand new portable electric piano from the box.

“Happy 3rd anniversary!” you handed over his share of wine. As he pulled you down to where he sat, and you fell on his lap. “Oops, careful the wine might---”  He didn’t even let you finish when he kissed you hard just to show you how grateful he was for the gift.

“Mmm…” you chuckled as you parted from the kiss and turn to the piano. You brushed your fingertips at the piano keys and smile “The greatest song of all time will be made here, in this piano. I’m claiming it!”

He hugged you tight as he rests his chin on your shoulder. “I definitely will. I love you so much!”

“You know, we can still have that fixed and sell it for…”

“No!” he exclaimed sternly. “I’ll keep it” he looked down; a bit embarrassed at his quick reaction.

You looked away, unsure what to say. You thought it was useless to keep something old and broken, but you guess it’s better that way. To let him keep a piece of you, the old you that he once knew.

“Congratulation’s Min Yoongi!” you popped the party pooper from the front door surprising Yoongi.

“Didn’t you see the live steam? The song I produced didn’t won” he closed the door and tossed the key to table.

“Doesn’t matter, the real winner is at home now! Yay!” you blew the party horn from his side, playfully tickling his ears. He brushed it down and pulled himself away, clearly annoyed.

You followed him still “It was great! The KMA failed to recognize it this year, who knows the next song you produ--- ”

“I don’t care about next year, or the next, and the next after that! It’s been 3 years, Y/N. 3 years since we’ve moved here and where has it gotten us? Nowhere!” he snapped.

You opened your mouth but quickly withdrew as you knew that saying anything further might make him more upset. “Baby, I…” you pulled him for a hug and gently stroke his back. “I understand how frustrated you are…” he shook his head and gently stepped away.

“No, you don’t. It’s easy for you to say, having a stable office job while you write as a hobby. But I only know how to produce music, it’s the only job I know! You don’t get to know, because you don’t have to rely for an award to know how good or shitty your stories are!” he snapped in anger.

You bit your lips and tried to process the situation, hoping you’ll say something to make him feel okay “Yoongi, I’m sorry that I don’t get to know that, but you know that I didn’t have much choice, but if I could I wanted to write full-time and you know that… We needed something on our table and---”

“So, it’s my fault now? That doing pizza delivery as part-time is not enough?” he didn’t even let you finished.

“I’m not saying that!” you finally cried, as you wiped your eyes with the back of your hands in frustration.

“Well then, tell me what? Because I find it hard to convince myself that it is not what you meant” he gave a sarcastic chuckle.

“Yoongi, why are we doing this? I’m just trying to help. Didn’t you say we’re going to make our dreams come true in this city, in this place, together!?”

“Well, you’re not helping, and clearly it isn’t happening.” He looked away as he took the opened bottle of wine you left on the table and chugged on it.

You looked to the ceiling and let out a long sigh “You know, I tried. For 3 years…” you nodded to yourself as you stared at the ceiling for a moment then at Yoongi. “I’ve seen you struggled. I’ve seen you succeed. I’ve seen you at your best and your worst. I saw you strive hard than anyone can in making songs, several of it! It was great, and I’m not just saying it because you’re my boyfriend but because I believe in you Yoongi. I believe in you, because I love you. I trust you no matter what, I trust that you’ll make it happen… Make US happen!” you paused.

“…But the way that’s been going lately? The way you pushed me aside, not wanting to talk things over. Having more arguments with you each day. Aren’t you tired? Instead of growing together, we’re just…growing apart!” you continued, shutting your eyes to the cold reality. You took a deep breath and pulled a glass from the kitchen sink and filled it water. You drank a glass full of it, hoping it’ll drown down the pain. He fell silent.

“You know what? Let’s…” you sighed at the thought “Break-up” you took your spare key and your bag hanging from the wall.

“Fine, leave!” he hit something aimlessly and heard a shriek of mismatched melody from the electric piano. You turned your back to see it, the electric piano you bought for him, broken and damaged. Like the way you and Yoongi are…

Silence.

You cleared your throat and began writing notes on your pad.

“When’s the wedding?” he turned to you while you sat a far from him.

“Next year, June 1st” you replied softly, resisting to look his way.

“Park Jimin’s a good guy…” he smiled weakly.

“He is.” You nodded. Then silence.

The only thing that broke the monotony of stillness between you and Yoongi within those four walls, was the sudden sound of a person knocking on the door from the other side. Yoongi slowly stood up, and went to the door to open and see who it was.

“Well, speak of the devil” he bit his lip and smiled at him. He wasn’t bitter or anything, in fact his smile was sincere after seeing what was in front of him, a genuine smile from you upon seeing the person you love, even if it was not him any longer.

He thought how bittersweet it was, to be someone looking through a window from the outside looking in, because he once knew what it feels like to be the source of your happiness. That smile he vividly recalls, even when he closed his eyes. Every outline, every mole, everything about you, he commits to memory even now that you’re gone.

“Are you ready for your book signing love?” Jimin chuckled.

“Did you get me food on the way?” you narrowed your prying eyes towards Jimin

He nodded “Cheeseburger with double patties, no onions but with extra pickles” he tilts his head to have you scoot over to his side.

You grinned, as you took your purse and ran towards Jimin. “See you tomorrow then? For the contract signing with Mrs. Song?” you turned your back to remind Yoongi.

Yoongi nods. “This apartment is already sold, so we just need our signatures to seal all deals”

“Mm, well, thanks. Congratulations by the way for winning KMA and MAMA for 2 consecutive years” you smiled.

“Well, the performer has a big participation to it too” he turned towards Jimin, as he shyly smiled and shook his head. “Hyung, really it’s the best music of all time!”

He raised his shoulder and looked at the dusted piano left on the floor “Not nearly, no…”

“Guess we’ll see each other around?” Jimin smiled as he wrapped his arms around your waist.

“Yeah, see you” Yoongi smiled and watched you two leave.

Jimin helped you with your seatbelt as he pulled out something from the backseat.

“Iced Café Latte with grainy sugar for my beloved fiancé” he handed out

“How come you always knew the perfect time I want my coffee?” he shrugs.

“I’ve gotten some information” he winks at you and started the engine.

“Hyung, there you are. I’ve been looking for you” Jimin sat beside Yoongi under a cherry blossom outside their music studio office.

“It’s break time and it’s spring, when can I have my peace?” he turned away, looking annoyed.

“Well, I’ve been thinking if we can add more lyrics to this verse? And…” Yoongi’s phone suddenly rang to notify a text, as Jimin’s eyes widened when he saw his phone glow, displaying a photo of you that Yoongi took when you two were still together. “You know Y/N?”

“Yeah, why?” Yoongi tilt his head, clearly confused as to why Jimin knew who you are.

“But he’s my girlfriend, hyung!” he stood up, almost as if ready to fight.

“Well, um, this awkward” he squint his eyes, unbothered at Jimin’s reaction “I didn’t know really that you are…” he opened his mouth then withdrew, finding words how to explain the situation “I don’t know how to say this to you but, he’s my ex”

The two of them, chatted for a while, agreeing on things that annoys Jimin and the things you used to annoy Yoongi.

“Do you still love her?” Jimin turned to Yoongi, his face sullen, hoping that he would like to hear Yoongi’s answer from his query.

He breathed hard “You know kid, you’ll never stop loving a person even if they’re gone. Even if you were left by time, leaving you to oblivion, making you a faint memory from that person. You just don’t” he took his coffee from the vending machine that was sitting on his side and drank before he continued.

“But that doesn’t mean you want that person to be there for you forever. Knowing that she’s happy, well even more happy without me by his side, that’s more than enough. Isn’t that what love is supposed to be? Even when it doesn’t feel like romance, it changes into something, something that transcends beyond it. I can’t explain kid, but you’ll understand it someday” he turned to Jimin, hoping he didn’t touch a nerve that would make him angry.

“I really love her, hyung. My manager’s pretty upset about this whole relationship situation but I couldn’t care anymore. If they find out about us or not, I don’t care!  I’d rather admit the truth than deny and hurt her, she doesn’t deserve that. I just, I feel like she’s the one even when she’s moody and all” Jimin shyly confessed.

Yoongi nods “Jimin, you should know several things so you could avoid argument with Y/N. First, of all never underestimate her love for coffee. Never.” He straightened his palm to emphasize his statement.

“She loves coffee first thing in the morning, do not talk to her without her having a coffee yet, under any circumstance. Well, unless you don’t want a great day ahead of you, you could, but I do not recommend it all. Speaking of coffee, she would want one after having a stressful day or any stressful situation she was in. But this is important, take note, she likes sweet coffee and bitter ones on the morning.”

Jimin listened to him attentively as Yoongi continued “If she writes story, she’ll want you to read it from start to end. Do it and be honest, she hates mediocre comments so you have to be tedious about reading it. She loves it when you ask, so that’s a tip. If you fail to read everything, you can ask her. Oh, but be careful about your questions, because she’ll know when you didn’t read it all and she’ll be really upset”

Yoongi chuckled upon remembering how you love to eat unlimited BBQs “She also loves meat, like seriously a lot! So treat her to BBQs every often or else she’ll get moody for a month. She’s a heavy drinker too, so ready your liver and try to keep up with her. And lastly, never end the day without telling her how you truly feel, she’ll appreciate it, whatever it is that’s on your mind tell her. I can see the way she looks at you in that picture” he peered through Jimin’s phone on the side which was glowing due to several notifications “because that was how she used to look at me too. I bet she’ll understand you. She now loves you Jimin.”

It was already night time when Yoongi finished cleaning the room and putting everything that you two wanted to sell inside a big box. Yoongi looks at the broken piano and stared at it for a moment “I guess the greatest song of all time were never made” he stood up, picked it up and took it with him, as walked towards the door way.

He looked at the empty room, one last time “This place still smells like us, let’s not forget this scent wherever we are” he spoke softly to himself and turned the lights off.

He closed the door and saw the doormat again.

“Bunch of Min residents” you drew on the doormat. He chuckled “That’s pretty witty, wait let me add a little touch” he took the marker from you and drew your faces which made you two laughed even harder.

“This is a masterpiece! We need everyone to see this!” you quickly went to the door and put it on the entryway.

Yoongi smiled as he watched you from the couch and sighed at the thought of wanting to be with you forever. He just knew from that moment on you were the one.

He rolled the mat from the floor and tossed it to the nearest trash bin.

He knew it was too late for regrets, but at the same time he knew it was for the better. Whatever happened in the past brought you two to where you are all supposed to be now: Happy, contented but apart.

All the memories, your hopes and dreams that you two shared together, are now gone. Cleaned to make room for another one.

He looked at the door and smiled weakly “Ijen, Annyeong (Goodbye now)” and left.

Let’s move Goodbye to this place, that we grew attached to Let’s move Now to a higher place While taking the last box out of the empty room I looked back for a moment Times we cried and laughed Goodbye now

Moving On- BTS

A/N: Hi! Thank you so much for getting here. Hope you’ll also like the spin-off series for this: Seesaw (Teaser)

[peteywillproceed]

Photobooths

Author’s Note: Hi guys! Thank you so so much for all the support on Kiss Me! That was my first post on here and I was so nervous :) I’ve had this idea stuck in my head since Youth by Troye Sivan came out, but I never actually finished it (yay for drafts!) Still don’t really know what it is, but anyway, as always, I hope you enjoy it x

Summary:  “When the lights start flashing like a photobooth, and the stars exploding, we’ll be fireproof” - You and Tom have been friends for years, even if you have been keeping your feelings a secret. Sometimes all it takes is being drunk off your ass to finally get the answers you didn’t know you needed...

Word Count: 3,150

The camera clicked and you were blinded, the silly moustache Tom had stuck on your upper lip falling half-way across your mouth as the heat from the lights made you sweat. It was cramped in there, the faded black seat cracked and peeling and the touch screen photo selector taking ages to register your choice. You hadn’t been in a photobooth in years, too smelly, too dirty, too boring. But the alcohol coursing through your body had made short work of any reservations you may have had, too intoxicated by the boy tugging you towards it to care.

“I want the beer goggles too, Y/n,” Tom whined beside you, reaching up to tug them from your eyes. You glanced sideways, swaying in your seat and steadying yourself against his shoulder.

“Take ‘em them,” you mumbled, smiling as he practically snatched them from your head and shoved them over his eyes.

“Best. Birthday. Ever.”

You giggled, too drunk on alcohol and his presence to care. “It’s your party, dipshit.”

You’d known Tom since year 10, and you’d lived with him whilst you were at Uni, grateful for the rent-free place whilst you were broke. You didn’t know when your feelings for Tom had changed, all you knew was you’d woken up one day and wandered into the kitchen, following the smell of pancakes and bacon. And bam, there he was, shirtless over the oven, towel flipped over his shoulder and sending you a slow grin like he’d planned it all. You were pretty sure that was the day everything had changed, but honestly it could’ve been years ago.

You giggled as the screen slowly counted backwards from three, feeling like you were floating far up in the sky. Tom might have asked you to pull a stupid face, but you were so concentrated on the way his lips were moving that you barely registered it. His hands slid into your hair, threading through the strands and made a peace sign behind the back of your head. You scrunched your nose up and dragged the bright pink feather boa over your mouth, pouting in a drunken attempt to look sexy.

“What are you doing?” Tom laughed as the camera clicked and you were dazzled by the lights again.

“Lookin’ sexayyyyyy,” you threw your hands in the air, frowning at the screen “We only have one more picture left!”

Tom licked his lips, trying to meet your eyes. “Guess we’d better make it special one, then.”

If you’d been sober enough to catch the double meaning, maybe you would have been prepared for what came next. But as the camera started counting down for its final shot, Tom grabbed your chin and turned you towards him, pressing his lips gently against yours just as the click rang in your ears.

For a second, you thought about nothing but the way his lips were moving on yours, the sheer fire that snapped you out of your drunkenness and spread over your skin. You shivered as he cupped your cheek, sure the photo had been taken, but the noise of the party outside had faded and it was just the two of you, your lips moving in time to whatever music was blaring through the speakers.

A strange sensation came over you, the photobooth and Tom’s face beginning to spin, and you jerked backwards at the feeling.

“I’m…I’m sorry, I um…I don’t know where that came from,” Tom stammered, wiping his palms against his jeans.

You wanted to tell him it wasn’t him, but blackness was appearing at the corner of your eyes, begging you to fall into the void that awaited. You could see Tom’s mouth moving, desperation crawling into his face, and you tried so hard to make your own form the words you wanted to say. But the tiredness was overwhelming, and soon you were falling into nothing, barely noticing when your head hit the floor of the booth, and Tom crouched over you in panic.

***

The next morning, your eyes opened to a dim room and the scent of caffeine wafting up your nose. Groaning, you tried to sit up, grabbing your head as it began to throb. Dribble ran down one side of your cheek and your hair stood on ends, but as you rubbed your eyes and allowed them to focus, the steaming mug of coffee and two advil tablets placed carefully on the side table drew a smile from you.

You leaned over and choked back the tablets, taking a gulp of the black liquid and savouring it on your tongue. You tried to think back through the mist and fog of last night, remembering basically everything up until you’d gone in that stupid photobooth with Tom. God, you didn’t know why you’d done that, but he’d seemed so excited and it was a chance for you two to be alone, something you hadn’t had in months. You’d have been lying if you’d said you didn’t enjoy the proximity.

“Morning sleepy head,” a familiar, velvety voice whispered.

Looking up, your eyes found Tom’s, and you groaned at the noise. “What time is it?”

“One in the afternoon,” he looked over his shoulder and laughed as he strode towards the curtains and threw them open. “Time to get up.”

“Ugh, Satan,” you mumbled, crashing back into the soft duvet.

“Y’know, I took the day off to keep an eye on you, the least you could do is not compare me to the King of Hell.”

“Sorry, your majesty.”

“Better.”

“Wait you took the day off today?” You frowned, running your fingers through your hair.

“Yeah? Why wouldn’t I? You were drunk off your arse and I didn’t want you to choke on your own vomit.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“Anytime,” he grinned, scratching the back of his head. Bizarrely, he kept shifting from foot to foot, like he was trying to decide whether or not to sit down.

“The bed’s not made of lava, y’know,” you blinked, patting the space next to you “you can sit down.”

He nodded, still not moving, rubbing the side of his face as your confusion grew. “Y/n, I think we should talk about last night.”

“Last night? I don’t remember most of it,” you brought the coffee cup to your lips and took another gulp, eyes never leaving Tom’s. “Why? Did something happen?”

Tom’s eyes widened as he moved to sit next to you, a frown appearing on his face. “You really don’t remember anything?”

“Nope, sorry,” you shook your head and shrugged your shoulders as you ran a fingertip around the rim of the mug. “Is there something I should remember?”

You started racking your brain, wondering if he’d told you something you should have remembered or pointed someone out to you. If you were being honest, the most you remembered of the night was drowning in his eyes and paying no attention to any of the songs the rather terrible DJ was playing. You tried not to think about how he’d looked in that suit, the top few buttons of his shirt undone, and the burgundy jacket that showed off his arms. Right now, he was in his pyjamas, slung loosely at the hips and barely concealing what you knew was there – you couldn’t decide which look you preferred.

Tom looked at you for a long moment, something that looked like pain dancing behind his eyes. You bit your lip and cocked your head, wondering whether someone had said something to him and you’d forgotten. “Shit, Tom, was something said?”

“No, no, nothing like that,” he blurted, sighing audibly. “It doesn’t matter, just forget it.”

“Are you sure?” You raised an eyebrow, convinced you were missing something. “Something’s not right.”

“Nah, I’m cool, don’t worry about it,” Tom shrugged, and started to walk towards the door.

“Do you wanna get dressed and go catch a movie? You never have a day off, you shouldn’t have to spend it looking after me.” Maybe you were trying too hard, but the little pinch at the top of his brow made your heart hurt, and all you wanted to do was reach out and smooth it over. And preferably punch whoever had been there in the first place.

He shook his head. “No, I think I’m just gonna go to work.”

“But you took the day off!”

“There’s always something to do,” he laughed, the sound hollow and sad.

“Okay…” you nodded, the coffee cup shaking in your hand. “If you’re…if you’re sure.”

With a final nod, he turned and disappeared from your room, leaving you staring after his retreating back. Whatever had happened there, you wished you could have made it better. Maybe if you could remember what he meant, you’d be able to put the pieces back together and stitch up his clearly broken heart. Seeing Tom upset was like losing a piece of yourself, and until he was fixed you’d be constantly searching for a way to cheer him up.

Half an hour later, you heard the front door slam and the distant sound of his feet ringing on the steps as he left. For some reason, you felt empty, like when he left he took a piece of you with him. All you wanted to do was curl back up in the bed and fall asleep, but it was no use staying cooped up here if there was nothing to do. Sighing, you got to your feet and grabbed your hairbrush, shrieking when you saw the state it was in.

No wonder Tom had practically run away, you had a bird’s nest on your head.

***

Three Months Later

“Tom?” you called out, kicking the front door shut with your foot. “Can you help me?” Grocery bags were piled high in your hands, oranges spilling on the floor as you struggled into the kitchen.

“Here love, let me,” he swept in and gathered the three heaviest ones into his arms. “Harry’s here by the way.”

“Hi Harry,” you yelled “are you the one eating all my chocolate digestives?”

“nrgrnej,” Harry mumbled, stepping into the kitchen with half a biscuit hanging out of his mouth.

“Typical!”

“Can’t help it they’re so delicious,” he shrugged, looking at you with his hands raised.

Laughing, you shook your head and waved your hand in the direction of the bags. “As payment, you can pack those away.”

“Yes, sir!”

You walked into the living room, expecting the bomb that followed Harry everywhere to have crash landed in there too. Sure enough, pillows and blankets were strewn everywhere, the telly was blaring and biscuit crumbs were scattered everywhere, crunching beneath your feet as you stepped into the room.

You couldn’t help the eyeroll that followed, starting the clean up job that would otherwise have taken hours later on. Every so often, you’d come across one of Tom’s socks or a pen he had chewed on whilst making notes on a script, and you smiled at how tidy he was. As you started to finish up and the boys packed away the final can of peas, you noticed Tom’s script thrown on the floor, the bookmark he’d been using turned face up against the grey carpet.

Gingerly, you picked the script up and tucked your finger in the page he’d been reading, then flipped the bookmark over. You smiled as you realised these were the pictures you’d taken in that photobooth all those months ago, probably too drunk to remember to pick them up. But Tom had remembered, like he always did, and a slow grin crept across your face as your eyes trailed across the photos, tracing memories you didn’t know you had.

Until the last one.

The last one you couldn’t remember, but it was clearly there, in black and white, staring you in the face. Your lips on Tom’s. Tom’s lips on yours. And suddenly everything he’d said the morning after, how he’d wanted to talk to you and the hurt look on his face when you said you couldn’t remember anything, came shooting back all at once. You took in a deep breath, hearing noises at the door, and looked up with tears in your eyes.

“Y/n?” Tom said, panic lacing his voice “What’s wrong?”

He ran his eyes over you, freezing as he finally saw what you were holding. You held it out in a trembling hand, lips shaking as you asked him what it was.

“I think I better go,” Harry mumbled, turning for the door. “I’ll call you later mate.”

Tom didn’t reply, still not breaking your gaze and for the first time in the entire time you’d known him, you didn’t have a fucking clue what was going through his mind.

“I didn’t mean for you to see that,” he stammered.

“Why not?” Your voice was barely a whisper, the image of what you had wanted so desperately for years still seared into your mind. How could you have forgotten something like that? Something so cataclysmic and beautiful? You’d kissed Tom – and you had forgotten.

“You said you couldn’t remember…I figured you didn’t like it.”

“I was drunk, you idiot!” You hissed, waving the piece of paper in his face “I definitely wanted to know this happened.”

“But why?” he asked, and you stared at him like he was insane until he clarified. “You didn’t remember it, and you passed out before we could talk about what it meant. And in the morning, when you couldn’t remember, I figured maybe you’d just supressed it, and you didn’t want to think about it.”

Your mouth dropped open, thinking about how all this time the man you were in love with had thought you didn’t want to remember your kiss. “You’re insane.”

“Maybe.”

“You really thought I wanted to forget that?”

“Didn’t you?”

“NO! Oh my God, you are blind!” you groaned, dropping the strip of photos. It fluttered to the floor between you, the chasm of space feeling miles across yet only centimetres deep. “I’m freaking in love with you Tom, I’ve been in love with you for years, I didn’t want to forget that!”

His eyes were wide with shock, and his mouth kept moving like he wanted to say something. But you were done with wondering whether he felt the same; you’d kissed and now you felt like you could finally let it all out, what you’d bottled up since that day with the pancakes. What only his mum had heard when she’d found you crying on the kitchen floor the day Tom announced he was seeing someone new. What you’d scribbled about ferociously in diary upon diary, convinced you were stupid and he would never see you the same way.

You were done with the pretending, had been for years, and now was your chance to finally say what you’d only thought about in your dreams.

“I fall asleep at night and I think about you, I wake up and you’re the first person I want to see. When you go away filming I sneak into your room and fall asleep there because it’s the only place that smells like you. I’ve spent hours crying over you, sounding pathetic because I was too scared to tell you how I felt. And then this happens, and you don’t tell me about the one thing that could have changed everything! I had to find out through some stupid photo that you didn’t even mean for me to see!”

By the time you were finished, tears were streaming down your cheeks and you were panting with exhaustion, relief washing over you as you finally let go of the deepest secret you’d ever had. Tom said nothing, his mouth parted in shock, and you closed your eyes and tilted your head back, wishing you could just fall through the floor and never come back.

Suddenly, his arms wrapped around you, gently pulling you into a hug so tight you could hardly breathe. His breathing stuttered against you, and you pulled away so that you were looking him in the eye, your faces only inches from touching. Exactly like that night in the photobooth, only now you could remember every part of this. And you would for years to come.

“I didn’t know that,” Tom’s voice cracked, and your heart broke at the desperation slipping through his lips. “I didn’t know you felt like I did.”

“Like you did?” Your breathing stopped, and you didn’t dare believe you’d heard him right.

Taking a deep breath, Tom gripped your shoulders and looked you dead in the eye, all the bravado stripped back until he was just Tom. Your Tom. “Y/n L/n, I have loved you since the day I met you. Since the day you walked into that classroom, and I haven’t looked back. I never thought you felt the same, and I kept it bottled up for years. For a while, I thought I was over you, but my mum reminded me that love isn’t something that can fade just because you have a replacement.”

“If I could have anyone, I’d still choose you. I’d still choose your stinky morning breath and bed head, the way you can’t cook and the way you can’t stand tomatoes on your sandwich but you love ketchup. I’d choose your body and your mind, you heart and your soul, because you have meant everything to me since the day you first sat next to me in class, and I haven’t seen anything as beautiful since.”

You blinked, barely able to absorb the words let alone process them. You’d dreamed of him saying these words for years, and yet now that you were finally hearing them, it felt less romantic than it was sad.

“You’ve loved me too? All this time?” you choked, letting the realisation wash over you.

“All this time, and more too,” Tom replied, his voice low and thick with emotion.

“And that night in the photobooth?”

You held your breath, not sure if you wanted to hear the answer. For once, your future was out of your hands, and it lay in the balance of a boy you had loved in private for years. You were quite literally on a knife’s edge, and whichever way you fell you had to hope there was someone to catch you.

“That night in the photobooth was the greatest decision I ever made,” Tom replied. “You’re the greatest decision I ever made.”

Maybe you would’ve heard what he was going to say next, but you no longer cared as you flung yourself towards him and let your lips collide. As electricity sparked against your skin, you found yourself slipping once more into the dark abyss, but this time you were ready. This time the only thing you were drunk on was the scent of Tom – and this time, you were never letting go.

[whumpqin]

Day 9: Nightmares

Just realized today that I’ve officially gone past the number of days I went in the past challenge! Yay milestones!

Taglist: @faewhump @imagination1reality0 @galaxywhump @castielamigos-whump-side-blog @insanitywishes @whump-story-prompts @burtlederp @whumpasaurus101

CW: Knives, glass, nightmare, noncon kiss, torture, blood, panic attack, touch aversion, whumpee becoming the whumper, immobilization, monster whumper intimate/creepy/sadistic, vaguely referenced consensual sex (blink and you’ll miss it), ~symbolism~, pet whump, dehumanization, inhuman whumpee, and perhaps others! Please let me know if something should be tagged.

Word Count: 1,381

“I love you,” he said, drawing another clean cut across his chest. Not deep enough to mortally wound, but enough to sting.

It’s clear he didn’t want to kill him. It’s clear that he wanted to hurt him.

“Please, Caleb,” Omri begged. Tears fell from his eyes as he drew in heavy gasps, trying to scream, only to have his voice fade and echo into nothing. “Please, don’t let them do this, please, help me…”

Caleb smiled, unmoved by the blood splatters across his face, or the knife-shaped glass in his hands. The cool expression read as nothing beyond completely empty. Drained of anything that could make him a person.

He fiddled with the collar around his neck, plucking at the metal tag that hung from it. Like he was a dog.

“It’s Elisha. Didn’t you hear?” He almost… giggles. Purposefully childish. Like they were playing a game. Caleb-Elisha leaned forward, half-lidding his one present eye while he hovered over Omri. “Maybe you weren’t listening. Guess I should start over again, huh?”

Elisha pressed a slow, painfully passionate kiss to Omri’s lips, before pulling away to look him in the eye.

“I love you. And there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Another cut was drawn across his stomach, deeper this time, and Omri could feel the welling blood dripping off of his torso. He screamed through his nose, the only sound he could that he could actually hear, as his head pressed back into the pillow. Omri heard Elisha laugh again, delighted in feeling him struggle.

He couldn’t move. Like a weight pressed on his limbs as they were outstretched, allowing him to move his head back and forth in agony but always preventing his escape. It didn’t help that Elisha was straddling him, pressing him further into the suffocating bed that Omri so desperately wanted away from.

“Caleb! Caleb please, stop, you’re-you’re hurting me, please! Don’t let them get away with this, please don’t, please…” Omri sobbed into the crook of his elbow, all of the painful cuts and stings singing to his song, rippling outwards in pain every time he gasped for air.

“Aw, diamond… I think you’ve done a bit much, don’t you? Look at the poor thing…” Another voice crooned, honey sweet and sinister at the same time. Then, there was a whistle. “Hey, up here boy! Look at me.”

Omri forced his eyes open, and they drifted over to a solid red figure with too wide of a smile staring back at him, glittering like the garnet he had held in his hands just today. The smile somehow grew wider at the command being obeyed.

“You look like you could use a drink. Want some tea? Come on Elisha, get up off of him.” The figure only needed to crook their fingers back for Elisha to move. For a moment Omri lamented him going away, but then realized it was for the better. “Go on then. Get up.”

Omri tried to move his limbs, whining as they still were completely useless.

“I said get up, Omri. What, is this some sort of fun game to you? I’m offering tea out of the kindness of my heart, and you’re just rejecting me? How impolite.” The finger reached forward, grabbing one of Omri’s pointed ears with a clawed hand and tugging. “Maybe you’re not really a fairy at all?”

“I am, I am!” he cried. “Please, help me, I can’t move. Don’t leave me like this, please!”

“What a damn shame. I think he’s broken,” the red figure said, as if Omri wasn’t begging for his life. “I’m sorry Elisha, but I don’t think we can take this one with us. We’ll find you another chewtoy to play with, okay?”

“Oh… oka-”

A knock at the door made all of their heads turn. Omri’s breath caught in his throat.

Salvation.

“HE- mmmphmph!” Omri’s mouth was covered quickly by the red figure.

“Oh no you don’t. Listen to me, Omri. Hey, listen!” the figure hissed, shaking him lightly to get his attention. Omri whined through his nose, pleading desperately with them to let him go. “I think it’s time you got up, don’t you think?”

He whimpered. He couldn’t get up, that’s what he’s been trying to do. Why couldn’t they understand that?

They sighed, tilted their head as the knocking grew more intense. Like a pounding in Omri’s head, it started to ache.

“Come on, love. Do I have to do all the work around here? Here, let me show you…” They reached over, pulling a sharp, knife-like glass piece from the nightstand. They positioned it straight over Omri’s heart. Tears wept from his widened eyes with an increased fervor as the fear and anticipation in his heart built up. “You line up where you want to go, right?”

They smiled, sharp-toothed.

“Then you push.”

--

Omri awoke with a sharp gasp. Two hands were grabbing onto his shoulders, shaking him awake. He didn’t even check to see who it was before he pushed them to the side, leaping up off of wherever he was laying to stand straight up. His foot caught on an errant blanket, and he fell backwards into the floor with a loud thud.

In the darkness, a red figure scrambled off of the bed too, kneeling down beside Omri. Their hand reached out to press against his chest, and Omri screamed.

“No, get away from me! Don’t touch me! Please, please, it hurts, no more, please…” His screams readily devolved into sobs, as he curled inwards on himself to protect the cuts across his chest.

“Om, hey, Ommy! Look at me, hon, you’re okay, it’s alright,” the figure soothed, holding up defensive hands. Fiery eyes glinted in the darkness, horns stuck out in the figure’s silhouette and branched out into antlers, and a large tail swept across the floor. “That’s it, who am I? Tell me.”

“Qui…” Omri wiped his eyes quickly to get rid of the blurriness in his vision. “Quinn? Please… please tell me it’s you…”

“Yeah, yeah it is, hon. Look, I’m gonna just move on over here and turn the lights on, okay?”

When Omri nodded, the figure shifted over to his left, reaching to the nightstand. His breath hitched, for just a moment, until the lights flashed on, blinding him for a moment.

When he was able to finally blink his eyes open, he saw the full figure of Quinn staring down at him. Deep reddish skin marked with several scars and all the normal features of a Cambion- 

And totally naked. He forgot about that part.

“See? Just me. It’s just us here, Ommy. No one else,” Quinn said, smiling faintly at the recognition he must have seen in Omri’s eyes.

“No one else,” Omri repeated in a breathy tone. Relieved.

His eyes drifted downwards to his bare chest, where he had been clutching his supposed wounds, to see… nothing. Nothing beyond the faint, white scars where a knife had been so long ago. Omri breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing against the ground he had fallen onto.

“I saw him. In my dream.” Omri’s voice was raw, like he’d been screaming for a lot longer than it felt. He wondered, briefly, if those echoed screams found their way to real life. Maybe that’s why Quinn woke him up. He turned his gaze over to his, well, his friend for now, who stared at him in worry. “I saw him.”

It sounded like a confession. Maybe it was.

Quinn’s mouth parted in shock, in horror, then finally closed as his brow furrowed. He crouched low to meet eyes with Omri, fiery gaze darting over every feature on his bare form to ensure that he really was alright. “Omri…” he started, weariness making his accent thicker, drawing out the last vowel in Omri’s name.

Omri looked away. “I saw him, Quinn,” he repeated. Tears welled in his eyes and his lip quivered. Like his mind could barely understand what it had just seen. “I saw him, and… and I couldn’t… I-I...

The tears began to run rivers down his face as Omri grimaced and covered his face in shame. Grief again swelled in his heart at remembering the last words he heard from Caleb’s mouth.

I’m sorry.

I love you.

[noona-clock]

Expectations - Part 3

Genre: College/Roommates!AU – Pure Fluff

Pairing: Hanbin x You (Female!Reader)

Warnings: None

Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 | Words: 1,957

With Phase One of Operation Best Friend Roomie complete (and Phase Two now scrapped, obviously), you were working on Phase Three: Getting closer.

You knew the basics about Hanbin, and he knew the basics about you, but now it was time to spend as much time together as you could and really get to know each other.

The two of you had spent the rest of that evening playing some rounds of Uno -- because what brings two people together better than a competitive card game, right?

And, boy, was Hanbin competitive.

He didn’t even seem like he was that competitive at first; he was a bit more on the serious side, but you figured he just took the game seriously and wanted to play to the best of his ability.

But when you won the first round? He was quick to suggest another one, that’s for sure.

“Best two out of three,” he said immediately, picking up the deck of cards and shuffling them intently. The look in his eyes was... just a little bit scary.

So, you accepted his offer without hesitation.

You didn’t let him win, per se, but... you definitely didn’t try your hardest to beat him. And when you lost not just the second but the third round, you sure as heck didn’t complain too loudly.

“How about a movie?” you asked as Hanbin reshuffled the Uno cards before sliding them back into the box. “Unless you have stuff to do. I don’t want to --”

“Yeah, a movie sounds great,” he murmured, one corner of his lips lifting into a very cute smile.

“Oh, yay!” you exclaimed. You put a hand on the coffee table and pushed yourself up from your seated position on the floor, letting out a soft groan of effort. “Do you want popcorn?”

“What’s a movie without popcorn?” Hanbin replied with a slightly furrowed brow.

“Exactly.”

Within ten minutes, the two of you were lazing on the couch with a huge bowl of popcorn in-between you. The opening to a popular romantic comedy was playing, and quite to your surprise, the title had been Hanbin’s choice.

“You want to watch this?” you had asked just to be sure, holding up the DVD case.

“Yeah,” Hanbin had replied with pinkened cheeks and a bashful smile. “Don’t tell anyone, but I’m a sucker for love stories.”

Of course, you had been secretly thrilled that he’d told you something he didn’t want anyone else to know. It obviously meant you guys were well on your way to becoming best friend roommates!

Within the first five minutes of the movie, Hanbin was reciting some of the lines along with the characters. You almost choked on a popcorn kernel, and you whipped your head around to stare at him in amused disbelief.

“What?” he chuckled, and you could see his cheeks getting pinker by the second. “I told you, I like this movie!”

It turned out to be quite the experience, watching this romantic comedy with Hanbin. You realized you had never actually watched a movie like this with a guy friend before, and... it was really nice. There was no tension or pressure to cuddle or makeout or anything like that. You could simply enjoy your popcorn and enjoy the cheesy fluff in the film. And enjoy spending time with your roommate.

As the movie was ending, as the two main characters were finally getting together once and for all -- it dawned on you.

Before you’d known Hanbin was your roommate, back when you’d expected he would be a she, you’d imagined the both of you eating dinner together and watching romantic comedies together and sharing secrets together.

When Hanbin had walked through your door, those expectations had immediately laughed in your face and then peaced out.

But... all of your imaginings had just come true. All of that had just happened.

You and Hanbin had eaten dinner together. You were watching a romantic comedy together. Hanbin had even shared a secret (even if it wasn’t anything truly exciting).

“Why are you smiling?” Hanbin asked with a soft chuckle as he pushed himself off the couch to go and eject the DVD.

“Hmm?” you hummed, snapping out of your little trance. “Oh, I -- nothing, I just love the ending of that movie.”

Fortunately, he didn’t catch the pretty obvious tone of falsehood in your voice, and he simply crouched down to press the button to open the DVD player.

You grabbed the case, holding out your hand and gingerly taking the disc when Hanbin handed it to you.

“Thank you,” you murmured.

“No, thank you,” Hanbin replied, making you pause for a brief moment.

“Thank me?”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “Thank you for dinner and for letting me know you wanted to be friends. Honestly, I was thinking you weren’t that happy about having a guy for a roommate. My mind wasn’t even on the friendship wavelength. But I’m glad yours was. I really do want to be friends, too.”

Your heart had, apparently, grown wings and was now fluttering around inside your chest. You’d never been so happy to hear a guy tell you he really wanted to be friends with you.

For once, you were well and truly content -- excited, even -- to be friend-zoned.

You spent the next day, Sunday, preparing for the first week of classes. You drew out a map of all the buildings you’d be in and which routes you needed to take to get from one class to another. You visited your professors’ webpages to see if they’d posted a syllabus yet, and when you found one, you got straight to work reading the first chapter of your textbook.

You made lists upon lists, wanting to make sure you had all of your books, school supplies, food, and outfits prepared for the first week.

...And this was why you’d been the editor-in-chief of your high school newspaper and class president. You knew how to organize.

By the time Hanbin woke up, you hadn’t even realized it was that late in the day.

“Morning!” you called out to him from in your bedroom, your eyes still focused on your ‘First Week of School Outfits’ list.

“Hey, morn --” Hanbin began, but he froze when he passed by your door. You heard him shuffle towards you, and he poked his head in your doorway. “What happened in here?”

“Hmm?” You lifted your head to look at him and saw he was staring, wide-eyed, at the papers and books strewn about your room. “Oh! Preparing for this week.”

“...Preparing? What?” he chuckled.

“Preparing... for class,” you replied with a little smirk.

“...You don’t just, like, show up?” 

“No!” you laughed. “I prepare within an inch of my life. It makes me feel better if I’m going into a situation I’ve never experienced before.”

Hanbin nodded slowly, looking increasingly bemused. “Got it.”

You shot him a beaming smile before he turned and headed back to the kitchen to make his usual sandwich.

“How did you sleep?” you called out as you heard him open the fridge.

“Fine, I guess,” he answered. “You?”

“Not bad! What did you do after I went to bed?”

“Just worked on a song,” he told you.

“You wouldn’t classify that as preparing for your classes?” you asked with a cheeky grin. Hanbin was a music major, so you were fairly certain he would have to write and compose some songs for school.

“No,” he chuckled.

“All right, if you say so,” you smirked to yourself before focusing your attention back on your list.

Hanbin took his time eating his sandwich, and you took your time going through your closet and seeing which shirts, skirts, and pants needed to be ironed. You’d figured out it was more time-efficient to pick out your outfits for the whole week so you wouldn’t waste time standing in front of your closet every morning.

You’d gotten a lot of ironing done this past week, but there was still one plaid button-up you thought looked a bit rumpled. You wanted to wear it on Wednesday, so you grabbed your mini-ironing board, your iron, and the shirt before heading out into the kitchen to iron on the table.

Just as you finished pressing the collar of your shirt, Hanbin re-emerged from his room. You glanced up, noticing he was carrying his laptop.

“Come over here when you’re done with that,” he said as he perched on the couch and slid his computer onto the coffee table.

“Yeah, sure,” you murmured. You deftly ironed the cuffs and edges of your shirt before unplugging the iron and carrying everything back into your room.

A soft groan escaped your lips when you plopped down next to Hanbin. You raised your eyebrows expectantly and said, “What’s up?”

Within seconds, Hanbin’s cheeks turned pink.

“I, uh...” he murmured, barely looking at you. “I wanted to play you my song. The one I’ve been working on.”

Your eyes widened, and you had to bite your lip to suppress a giddy smile. “Really?” you asked somewhat breathlessly.

Hanbin nodded. “If you want to.”

“Of course!”

You watched eagerly as he leaned over and opened up a music editing software. A file was already up, and Hanbin hesitated just slightly before clicking the Play button.

When music started playing through the speaker, you instantly noticed it was very upbeat. The melody was quick and light, and you couldn’t stop yourself from tapping your foot and nodding your head along to it.

But when the lyrics started, when Hanbin’s voice began to sing...

Your eyes widened. 

Holy moly. These lyrics were... intense.

You listened intently, your brow furrowing as Hanbin sang about a relationship which had ended -- a ‘love scenario’ as he called it.

To be honest, the lyrics were so sad that you almost wanted to cry. And you wanted to hug Hanbin so tightly that any negative emotions would just squeeze right out of him.

When the final notes echoed through your living room, you let out a soft exhale before turning to your roommate.

“Wow,” you breathed. “That was really good.”

“Yeah?” Hanbin blushed, barely meeting your eye.

“Yeah! Is that the kind of song you typically make?” you asked curiously.

Hanbin lifted one shoulder into a bashful shrug and closed the lid of his laptop. “It depends, I guess. I feel like I’ve written all types of songs. This is just what I was feeling lately.”

“I loved it,” you assured him with a wide grin. “You’re really talented.”

“Thank you,” he murmured shyly, and you honestly wanted to reach over and pinch his cheeks because he just looked so adorable right now. “So, we’re officially friends now.”

“I think so,” you chuckled.

“You’ve cooked me dinner, and I’ve played you one of my songs.”

“Perfect,” you nodded. “And now we just have to get through the first week of classes alive.”

Hanbin let out a sigh and leaned back against the couch, lifting his legs and crossing his ankles over each other on top of the coffee table. “How about another movie night? Celebrate the end of summer?”

“Ooh, yeah,” you enthused, clapping your hands together softly.

“How about that movie you’ve been watching? The one my sister likes?”

You paused, furrowing your brow and looking at him with slight suspicion. “...Really? You want to watch it?”

“Yeah, sure, why not?”

...I mean. You weren’t going to ask twice.

You hopped off the couch, retrieved the DVD, put it in the player, and practically leaped back over to the couch to get comfortable.

So. Phase Three: Getting Closer seemed to be officially completed. And, you were willing to say, quite successful.

Part 4

[ashiversary]

Our Golden Days (Chapter 3)

It was hot in the cave, almost unbearably so. But Sol was used to it.

He sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed, ignoring his own light-headedness and the trails of sweat dripping slowly down his back and chest. It seemed silly to him that he had to do this - undergo training exercises and meditation in this hot cave. Lucifel was the one who would bond to the legendary bird Moltres, not him. Still, family rules were family rules, so he sat on the rough cave floor with his older brothers and younger sister and tried not to let his mind wander.

The next thing he knew, he was blinking at the ceiling while his brother Lucifel dabbed at his face with a cool cloth, looking amused.

His face flushed. “I did not faint!” he declared to head off any teasing. He rolled away from Lucifel’s ministrations and took stock. He didn’t feel dizzy or sick, which indicated that he was probably right. To his relief, he hadn’t fainted in front of his brothers. He would never live it down if he had, ever.

Lucifel sat back on his heels, an amused grin on his face. “No, I think you just fell asleep,” he said. “Again.”

“It’s just ‘cause it’s warm in here, and I have to hold still. I’ll feel better once I move around a bit.” His face still flaming, Sol marched toward the punching bags. To his embarrassment, Lucifel stood and followed him, holding out a water bottle.

“Remember to keep hydrated. Since you need to move around, maybe you could teach Candela how to roll like you promised last week,” he said.

Sol jerked a shoulder as if he were annoyed, but actually he didn’t mind helping Candela with her training. He was only a few years older than her, but teaching her how to do stuff made him feel important. “Fine. C’mere, Kittykat!”

Candela was sitting close to where Sol had been, absently scratching her ear. At Sol’s call, her eyes opened and blinked once, slowly. “What is it?” she asked, getting up and padding over on legs that had finally started to lose their baby stubbyness and get some real length.

Sol slung a sweaty arm over her shoulders and led her over to the mats. “I promised to teach you how to roll, didn’t I? Let’s do it.”

Her face brightened in a smile. “Really? Yay!”

Satisfied, Lucifel moved off to supervise Pele and Epifanio while Sol and Candela worked together to pull mats off the stack and set them up in an open area away from where their older brothers were training. Now that his body was in motion, Sol found it easier to put the stifling heat out of his mind as he showed Candela the steps. She mimicked him, somewhat clumsily, but he thought with pride that it was a good start.

But within ten minutes, Candela’s full lips settled into full-on pout-mode, leaving Sol thinking ‘Uh oh.’

“What’s the matter Kittykat?” he asked, unwittingly mirroring Lucifel’s posture as he crouched in front of her when she sat on the mat in a sulky pile.

“I’m not doing it right,” she grumbled, pout still firmly in place. Her arms were crossed over her chest in childish temper, and she refused to look at him.

“You’re doing fine, Kittykat.”

“But I’m not doing it like you.”

“I’ve had more practice. You’ll get it. Just keep trying. Okay? Come on!” He took her hands and gave them a gentle tug, but she refused to budge.

“Don’t wanna.”

Sol leaned back, at a loss. Candela was very shy when out in public, but at home among family she was very stubborn and spoiled. And she was frustrated.

Sol opted for a different tactic. He poked her in the side, making her twitch. Then he poked her again, and again, until she had to uncross her arms to swat at his hands. “Awww, is widdle baby Candela frustrated?” he drawled. “Maybe she’s not ready to train with the big boys, huh? Maybe she needs to wait with Mommy?”

As expected, her small face screwed up with outrage, and she attempted to hit him with a fist. Even at six years old, Candela was a strong child, so Sol made sure the blow didn’t land. Laughing, he shifted away. “C’mon, Kittykat, show me you can do it.”

“No.” She glared at him, then scooted around on her butt until her back was to him.

Huh. Usually mocking her worked. Her pride would kick in, and then she’d just have to prove that she could do whatever Sol said she couldn’t.

Before Sol could think of something else to get her motivated, Epifanio swooped in.

“What’s going on here?” Epifanio asked, scooping an arm around Candela’s stomach and scooping her up as she squealed so that she hung upside-down with her back against his chest. Her arms dangled limply for a moment before she reached up to grab his forearm for added security. “You guys loafing around? Huh? Don’t you know it’s time to traaaaaain?” he drew the last word out as he spun in three rapid circles.

Candela squealed again, then burst into involuntary laughter. “Nooooo, Epifanio! Put me down!”

“Nuh-uh. Slackers gotta face their big bro.” Keeping his head well away from Candela’s kicking feet, Epifanio began to do squats while keeping his grip on his sister. “See? The rest of us are working hard!”

Still laughing, Candela held out her hands to where Lucifel and Pele were boxing. “Lucifel!” she cried. “Lucifel, help! Epifanio’s being mean!”

Lucifel and Pele dropped their fists and stepped away from each other. Lucifel came over to see what the matter was as Pele looked on.

He grabbed Candela under the arms and swung her upright as Epifanio’s hands fell away. “Hey, sweetheart. What’s going on?”

“Candela’s sulking,” Epifanio said. “So I made her laugh.”

“Oh? That doesn’t sound like being mean to me. Hm?” With a few bounding steps Lucifel reached the stack of training mats and dumped Candela onto it. She bounced on impact, giggling uncontrollably. She rolled off the mats and landed on her hands and knees on the floor before raising to a kneeling position, a huge grin on her face.

“You guys are the worst,” she declared. “The worst!”

She yelped and ran as Epifanio dove for her. “No! Lucifel, stop him!” she laughed as he chased her around the cave.

“Come on, you two, time to settle down,” Lucifel said, clapping his hands sharply to get their attention. The big grin on his face took away from his teacher voice. “Now that you’ve got your blood moving, you can go back to meditation.”

Sol and Candela both groaned. Epifanio took advantage of Candela’s distraction to scoop her up and cart her to the meditation circle, where he dumped her on the floor. “You heard the man. Get to it, pipsqueak.” Leaving her there, he jogged over to take Lucifel’s place as Pele’s sparring partner.

Lucifel clapped a hand on Sol’s shoulder, the corners of his eyes still creased from laughter. “You too, Sol. You especially need your meditation. Temper your hotheadedness a bit,” he said.

Sol rolled his eyes but dropped down next to Candela, who had closed her eyes and was scrunching up her face in concentration. That was so not the way meditation worked that Sol couldn’t resist poking her. Her eyes flew open and she poked him back, viciously, in the side. She had pointy little fingers, and Sol had to bite back a laugh to keep from drawing his older brothers’ attention back to them and getting the whole thing started again.

“I hate meditating,” Candela confided in him once they’d settled down again and were pretending to try to meditate. Instead they were watching Lucifel referee the match between Pele and Epifanio. “It’s boring. I have too many thoughts.”

“Me too, Kittykat.”

“I wanna play.”

“I know, but we have to do our work first.” Part of being the older sibling, Sol had learned, was being the responsible one and enforcing the rules. It sucked.

Abandoning pretense, Candela leaned forward to brace her elbows on her knees as they watched Pele be defeated and Lucifel take his place. As he took his first swing at Epifanio, Sol couldn’t help but admire his form.

“Lucifel’s so cool,” Candela said.

“Yeah, yeah he is. But don’t tell him I said so.” Sol punctuated this warning with another poke, which Candela returned. A brief poke war ensued, which subsided when Pele sent them a warning look over his shoulder.

“But he is the coolest,” Candela said once they were both pretending to meditate again. “And Mom says he’s next in line to bond with Moltres. That means he’ll be someone really important, right?”

“Yep. He’ll take over as head of Team Valor in Opal City. It’s a very important position. That’s why he trains as hard as he does.”

“I’m glad. Lucifel deserves to be somebody cool and important. Then everyone will see how awesome he is.”

“Yep. He’s looking this way! Quick, pretend to meditate!”

They both scrambled into the proper form and closed their eyes, so they missed Lucifel grinning at them and shaking his head as if his younger siblings’ antics never ceased to amuse him.

[idontknowwhatsarcasmis]

The Lost Moments - Endgame

I’ll admit that the film reaaaaaaaaally got me upset and I was very much discouraged to write the next chapter…. Sorry about that! BUT my life has also gotten ridiculously crazy with post graduation, work and shit soo it wasn’t juuust cause I was angry at the franchise… But recently I watched the trailer for “Away From Home” and Maria *talks in the trailer*, guys! She has LINES!! =D

Soooo I sat my ass and tried to write more haha! Hope you enjoy it =D

Also, hooray for me for posting this BEFORE the new Spider Man comes out… it was hard XD I’m sleepy, but almost yay!

P.S.: Sorry for the possible tears… but pleaaase comment! :D

P.P.S.: Pleaaaaase don’t hate me! If you guys ask nicely I miiight continue!

Ao3

Ff.net

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The ship had barely landed and Natasha was already tripping her way down, arms wide and ready as her daughter threw herself at her. Tears broke out as soon as she felt the slim arms around her body. Pain shot through her side because of her injuries, but she barely felt it.

She didn’t care.

As soon as she felt she sweet smell of her daughter's perfume as she cradled Nicky's head closer to her, the shaking started. Natasha could not tell if it came from her or Nicky, but soon the sobs that came out had a very clear point of origin. Natasha had to fight hard not to wallow in despair alongside her daughter.

"Momma, Ka-kaelan, momma…"

Natasha pulled her tighter, tapping into whatever pool of strength she had left to keep control over her emotions.

She could feel the others back on the ramp, giving them time.

“I know, little one.” She said, voice trembling. For the first time in decades, Natasha wished she hadn’t tried so hard to overcome her Black Widow’s training. She wanted to be able to talk to her daughter without falling apart.

“He’s just gone, momma. G-Gone.” Her daughter kept saying, voice becoming an incomprehensible sound as the sobs become worse.

Natasha closed her eyes tighter, biting her lip so hard it drew blood. She couldn’t say anything. There was nothing she could think of… Maria would have known what to say. Oh, she knew her wife would have been heartbroken as well, but she knew Maria would know just the right words.

God, not even 24 hours and she was already a mess without her.

She opened her eyes and looked up to the sky, trying to blink away the tears, taking deep breaths.

Making shushing noises, Natasha crouched to pick up her daughter – not a feat as easy as it once was, especially with her whole body aching from the fight and grief, but the weight still brought her comfort. To have her daughter so close to her, a piece of her and Maria.

She walked up to the front porch, opening the door and picking up a blanket before sitting down on the couch with Nicky on her lap. She felt more than saw the others approaching and closing the door behind her.

“It’s gonna be alright, little one.”

She let her daughter cry on her shoulder, just repeating the words like a mantra. Her eyes glanced around the room, watching her friends who were still there, standing in her living room with tears in their eyes. They were all silent, staring at nothing, minds far from this place, where they’d met so many times to celebrate or joke around. Natasha’s eyes closed once more as she caressed Nicky’s hair.

“W-where is Clint?” Steve said after what was probably half an hour. Natasha froze, looking around her, and it clicked. Something really didn’t add up. Clint. Where was he? Why was he not here, with her daughter, his goddaughter?

“He left.” A broken voice whispered.

Silence.

“What?” Thor asked, taking one step closer, voice barely above a murmur.

“H-he came to see me after…after…” She trailed off, but now she wasn’t the only one shaking.

"He did WHAT?!" Natasha asked, using her hands to push Nicky away a bit so she could look her in the eyes.

"He left... aunt Laura and… and Nataniel and Cooper and Lila... they vanished… l-like Kaelan…"

Natasha just kept looking at her, her mind blank.

"Uncle Clint, he looked at me.... hugged me... said he was sorry... and left."

Steve was quick to pick up Nicky from her lap one second before she got up, phone on her ear as she stormed through the house towards the backyard.

Voicemail.

Redial

Voicemail.

Redial.

Voicemail.

“YOU SON OF A BITCH!” Natasha screamed as soon as she was far enough. “How DARE you Clint?! My kid just lost her brother and her mother, and you left her?! ALONE?!” She was fuming, walking around blindly, hoping that Nicky couldn’t hear her. “You fucking bastard! How could you?! You are her godfather!! COME BACK! She needs you! We need you! Clint, for fuck’s sake! I need you!” She dropped on her knees, tears back on her eyes as she punched the ground.

“Please Clint…what do I do? I can’t do this by myself…”

Strong arms wrapped around her, tightly.

“You’re not alone, Nat.” Steve’s voice sounded soothing in her ears. Broken, but sincere. “You’ll never be alone, okay?”

Natasha just nodded, letting her phone drop as she let herself beheld for a second. Steve pulled away to look at her. He hesitated on saying something, and Natasha almost scoffed.

“What is it, Steve?” What else could happen to hurt her, after all.

Steve looked pained. Even more than before.

“Nicky… Nicky’s asking where’s M-maria...” He finally said, and Natalia wished that she hadn’t asked anything.

Her daughter needed her. Needed her to answer that her mother was not coming home. That Natasha had failed. That Maria was never coming home, cause Natasha had been too incompetent to stop that fucking bastard.

Taking a deep breath, Natasha got up and walked back to her house, head held high, hands shaking with the effort of trying to look calm. Trying to look comforting. Trying to look exactly the opposite of what she was feeling. She felt more than heard Steve right behind her, whispering her name, but she couldn’t stop. She needed to do this now.

She could do this. She could look her daughter in the eyes and comfort her as she said it. As she told her Maria would not come back.

She walked through the back door and the kitchen. They were still in the living room. Nicky was sitting on the sofa, wrapped around a blanket Maria had gotten especially for her.

She could do this.

Silence.

She could d-

"Momma... where... where's mama?

Natasha closed her eyes, fists tightening. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. She tried a second time. Nothing.

Nicky got up, shaky hands touching Natasha’s.

“Momma?”

Silence.

She didn't need to say anything anymore. She felt her daughter jerk one step away. Knew she was looking at the others for confirmation.

She knew the second she found it.

The tears fell down once more and the shaking doubled.

Shame.

She'd failed the Universe and her team.

She'd failed her daughter.

She'd failed her son.

She'd failed Maria.

She was no good. To anyone.

It should have been her.

Xxxx

Natasha hugged Nicky tightly as the others got ready to get on the ship.

“You’ll bring them back?” Her daughter asked. “Both of them?”

Natasha didn’t dare answer. What if they couldn’t?

They had to…

But what if…?

“Momma?” Her daughter’s voice was desperate with hope.

She felt all of her companions hold themselves back at that. Knew they all wanted to come and hug Nicky with her. All of them, no exception. They’d grown as a family. Despite all the pain and anger that may have happened through the years between them, Maria and her two kids were a point of reference for every Avenger. The superheroes were all rather tied around Nicky and Kaelan’s fingers.

“Ma?” Nick asked again, voice once more worried and Natasha broke.

“Yeah…” she whispered, hearing everyone sucking in their breaths. “W-we’ll…” she swallowed “We’ll do our best, okay? We’ll bring them back.”

“Promise?”

Natasha closed her eyes, tears forming up.

“Baby, please…”

“Promise, momma!”

Her daughter was crying and Natasha caved.

“I promise.”

They had to bring them back. They had to.

Cause Natasha just didn’t know what she’d if they didn’t.

It should have been her.

Xxxx

Hope.

Hope was a funny thing, wasn't it?

So easy to build. Equally easy to destroy. Very hard to forget.

All very much represented in one phrase. In the swoop of Thor's axe.

In one head rolling on a dirty floor.

Gone.

Poof.

Swish.

Just like Kaelan and just like Maria.

Now she'd have to go back home and take the hope away from Nicky again. She closed her yes.

She wouldn't blame Natasha. She had too much of Maria in her. Of her Masha. She wouldn't blame her. No one would. They didn't have to. Natasha blamed herself enough for it.

She felt Danvers’ hand on one shoulder and Steve’s on the other. She wanted to shrug them off, but couldn’t muster the strength.

It should have been her.

Xxxx

Five years.

Five years go by really fast.

And, at the same time, it went by so painfully slow

Nicky grew up, of course, into an amazing teenager. At the age of 13, she was already so very much like Maria in personality that it was actually quite scary to look at. If she didn’t know better, Natasha would have said the two were actually blood related. Even after five years, Natasha wasn’t sure if it hurt more or less to see her wife in the movements, the words, and the looks her daughter would throw around. In the pose of a hand. In a raised eyebrow. In a glare…

All of the Avengers had kept in touch in a way. Always showing up for her birthday and special occasions. Tony, Pepper and their little girl in particular made sure to always come by and let the two girls get to know each other. Steve was always around. The most frequent visitor. It seemed he’d taken upon himself to be there for every little thing Natasha and Nicky needed. Natasha appreciated it more than she had words for, and she knew that Maria would have as well.

As for Natasha herself, well... She had no idea how she’d survived those past five years. She didn’t really remember how she’d gotten day by day. She just knew that she’d tried her best. She’d been right; Nicky hadn’t blamed her. There had been no need, though, as the broken sobs her daughter cried in her arms when the group returned from their failed mission had stayed with her since that day. Every time she kissed her girl to sleep (cause she still did it every night, even with her being a teenager now), she’d hear it as she closed the door. And she’d fall asleep with that sound. With the sound of a ringing phone and no answer.

It should have been her.

Xxxx

Natasha just kept looking at Steve on the other side of the table.

Hope.

As she heard Scott talking and talking about time travel, and all that crazy stuff, the only thing on her mind was ‘hope’.

Maria.

Kaelan.

Hope.

It was selfish, but she didn’t care. Hope of fixing this sad excuse for a life. Hope of having the love of her life in her arms again. Of having her little boy running around their backyard.

Her whole family together.

“So, who do we talk to about this?” Scott asked.

Natasha was halfway through the room by the time he’d finished asking. She didn’t bother to turn back; she knew Steve was gonna take Scott to the ship and tell him to keep his mouth shut.

She had a daughter to wake up and a billionaire to visit.

Xxxx

As soon as Morgan saw Nicky, she ran from Tony’s to her daughter’s arm.

“Nicky!”

“Morgan, hi!”

“You came to see me!”

Natasha had to laugh at the statement, not a question. that came from the little Stark. That was all Tony.

“I have! Let’s continue that game we started last time you came over?” Her daughter asked, voice excited, and Natasha knew it wasn’t fake at all, even though she’d asked Nicky to distract Morgan when they arrived.  She hadn’t questioned anything, and Natasha thanked her lucky stars (if there were any) for that; she did not want to give Nicky hope again if it had no foundation.

The group watched as the two girls excitedly entered the house, hearing Pepper greet them warmly inside.

“That was below the belt. Using your kid. Not fair, ‘Tasha.” Tony said in lieu of greeting. Eyes never leaving Scott. “You’re alive.”

��Natasha stepped between them.

“We need to talk, Stark. Now.”

“Stark? This is serious.”

“You’ve no idea.

…

Every rebuttal from Tony’s lips made Natasha’s fist tighten with anger.

“That’s right, Scott, I won’t. Even. Got a kid.”

Natasha snapped.

“And weren’t you lucky she wasn’t born yet five years ago.”

Everyone went silence. She knew why. She knew how her voice sounded. Dead silent. Devoid of any apparent emotion, just a deadly fury hiding underneath.

She was done being nice. She didn’t care about the slim chances. Didn’t care if it was based on a fucking film. She wanted her family back, and he was denying her that chance.

“Yeah. I was. Very lucky, and I don’t intend to mess with that.”

“So all those that weren’t that lucky? Screw them, right? You’re still the same damn selfish son of a –“

“Oh, don’t act like you’re all so different, Natasha!” Tony raised his voice to match hers, both ignoring the warning tone from Steve. “If it was the other way round you’d-“

“I’d what Stark? We’ll never know what I’d do, cause I don’t have them! I don’t! I didn’t even get to say goodbye, Tony! All I’m asking is for you to give us a fucking chance to get the people we love back!” She knew she was crying, could feel the tears running down her cheek and she got madder.

“You’re asking me to risk the life I have!”

“I’m asking you to get off your ass and fight, goddamn it!”

She said, taking one step forward, hands gripping the lapels of his jacket. Steve and Scott both took a step closer with her.

“Nat, stop.”

Steve was trying. Natasha knew he wouldn’t succeed.

“Natasha, it’s suicide. There is absolutely no guarantee-“

“I’m good with that.”

“We’ll, I’m not in the mood for dying!”

Natasha heard steps coming on the porch. Part of her knew that both their kids were now watching, and so was Pepper. She didn’t care. He needed to agree to this.

She wasn’t the only one to notice the new spectators though.

“Think of your daughter, then. What if you die in this?” Tony said, voice low, hands gripping her wrists back just as tightly.

“I’m trying to get her other mother, brother and the fucking world back.” she seethed, gritting her teeth so hard it almost hurt.

“You really think Maria wou-“

She didn’t hesitate, her fist left the jacket and flew straight to his face at the mention on Maria’s name.

“Momma!”

“Dad!”

The two kids shouted, but no one moved, not even Pepper.

“Do not. She’d do anything. She’d have rationalized a plan. And she’d have done it years ago.” Natasha whispered, voice broken.

“Yeah… she would have.” Tony agreed, fingers lightly touching his nose to check the damage. As she looked back at him, she saw tears in his eyes, but Natasha knew it wasn’t from the pain. She’d held back. His nose wasn’t even broken.

“I’m sorry, Nat. I really am.”

Natasha turned around and left. Not looking at her daughter’s slightly confused, slightly hurt eyes. Didn’t look at the pity in Pepper’s. She just walked, focusing on her breathing. Already planning on how to get to wherever the fuck Bruce was.

As they were all sitting and the quinjet was taking off, Natasha just mumbled.

“Green.”

Steve nodded. Scott and Nicky looking confused.

“We need a bigger brain.” He explained.

Nicky got it. Scott didn’t.

Her daughter rolled her eyes.

“Uncle Bruce.”

“Who?”

She stared at him and, at any other moment, Natasha would have laughed at her daughter telling off Ant-man.

“The Hulk… duh.” Steve did laugh. Scott just looked ridiculously embarrassed with blushing cheeks.

“Ah…”

Xxxx

“Well, you pulled this off. I remember a time when that seemed pretty impossible too.” Natasha said, eyes never leaving Bruce’s.

He sighed, shoulders dropping, and Natasha held back her breath.

“He said no, didn’t he?” Bruce asked, eyes on the ceiling.

Her fists tightened, and she let Steve answer that.

“Yeah… He did. He has… reasons.”

Before Natasha could open her mouth, Steve was already speaking again.

“We might not agree with his decisions, but we can’t deny his reasoning behind it, Nat. You know we can’t.”

She just shook her head, refusing to speak at all in fear of saying something she might regret later. She just looked at Bruce again, who was analyzing his hands.

Silence.

“Bruce… please.” She mumbled, and at any other time she’d have flinched at her own tone. At how pathetic and desperate she sounded. She knew all eyes were on her. She didn’t care. She’d do anything for a chance at getting all of her family back. Anything.

“Okay.”

It was like she could breathe again.

Xxxx

“Momma?”

“Yeah?” Natasha mumbled, eyes fixed on Bruce and Scott as the he gave instructions to the latter.

“This is crazy.”

Natasha bit back a laugh.

“Well… most of our plans have always been crazy.”

“Momma…”

“Good! Cause if we blow the grid, I don’t wanna lose tiny here in the 1950s!” Bruce said, and it snapped Natasha to attention, her eyes widening like her daughter’s and everyone else’s in the room.

“Excuse me?” Scott panicked, almost backing away from the machine.

“He’s kidding!” she was quick to say, taking a step closer to Bruce, knowing her daughter was right behind her. “You can’t say things like that!” She angry whispered to him.

“It was a bad joke!”

Natasha shook her head. Glancing at Nicky, who was just now shooting her an incredulous look, she turned back to Banner.

“You were kidding, right?”

“I have no idea. We’re talking about time travelling here!”

Natasha felt a tug on her top.

“Momma…”

Natasha just nodded this time.

“Yeah, okay…”

3

Maybe this was a bad idea.

2

But… Maria…

1

Kaelan...

Bruce pressed the button and all of them held their breaths.

A teenager… a teenager was in front of them.

“Guys… who’s that?” Nicky asked.

“Ahm…” Bruce said as he stared.

“Is that Scott?!” Natasha asked incredulous.

“Yes!”

Button.

“Oh dear…” Nicky said, hands sort of covering her eyes, but not really. Natasha felt like doing the same.

Old Scott.

“Momma, this is not working.” Nicky deadpanned.

Sometimes Natasha hated how similar her daughter was to her and Maria.

“Yes, baby, I can see that.”

Another try. A baby.

A fucking baby.

They were doomed.

Bruce waved his hand at her urgently.

“When I say kill the power, kill the power!”

“Oh my god.” She mumbled heading towards the generator, ignoring her daughter’s disbelief look.

As soon as she hit the switch, they all stopped, holding their breaths.

“Somebody peed my pants...” Scott, an apparently normal Scott, said.

“Oh, thank god.” Natasha exhaled, letting herself drop against the wall. She saw her daughter shaking her head and leaving the room right about the time Bruce yelled something about this being time travel.

Maybe her kid and Tony had a point... this was too crazy even for them.

Xxxx

“Feeling more confident?” Natasha asked her daughter, a smile on her voice.

The beam she got in return made her heart lighter. Hope. Hope shone brighter than the damn sun in her Nicky’s eyes, and it lit up Natasha from the inside out. Because this had to work. There was no way around it.

“Well, Uncle Tony is in on it now! Nothing against Uncle Bruce, but I mean…”

Natasha laughed; it’d been a long time since she’d seen her daughter this free. This… happy.

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” Pulling her into a hug, Natasha just sighed happily. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell him.”

“Don’t tell either of them… Uncle Tony would get an even bigger head!”

The two shared a laugh at that.

“He really would.” Natasha agreed.

Mother and daughter stood quiet for a few moments, both staring at the frame on the opposite wall.

It was the four of them. Maria and Natasha each had a kid on their hips. Smiling like it was the happiest day of their lives. Natasha smiled; she remembered that day. Natasha had just settled home for good and Maria had been ‘fired’, so it had been the first day of a long period of time where they would just be together. Just the four of them and visits from their odd little family once every so often. They were happy.

The happiest Natasha had ever been.

“We’ll get them back, momma.”

Natasha started when her daughter spoke. She was so focused on the picture and the memory that she’d had a momentary lapse. She looked at Nicky; the intensity of her gaze made Natasha think of her wife once more.

“Yeah. We will.”

Cause she really had no idea what to do if they didn’t this time.

Xxxx

“Natasha, someone has to get him. Someone has to stop him.” Steve said, voice clear.

She hummed, eyes fixed on the ground outside. Steve sighed.

“Natasha-“

“He left, Steve. He just left her here. Alone.”

There was silence. Steve knew there was no possible excuse for Clint having left Nichole alone the way he did. None of them would have done it. None of them should have done it. No matter the circumstance. They were family. Family.

“Nat, he… he knew we’d get there so-”

“He did not know that. He didn’t. He had no fucking clue if any of us were alive, Steve. So don’t bullshit me. He left like it didn’t matter. Like he didn’t care, so why should I go now then?! Why should I try to save the bastard who left her, who left all of us when we most needed him?!”

She didn’t realize she’d started shouting, but she had. By the end of her tirade, she’d turned around and was starting at Steve with tears in her eyes, heart beating fast. The wound was 5 years old, but it still hurt. Everything about that day still hurt deeply. But there was nothing to be done about some things… anger was easier. More liberating.

“Why should I bother, Steve? Just because we have hope? He wouldn’t stick around when we needed him, so why would I try and giving him anything?”

She asked and saw hope leaving his eyes.

“Nat-“

“Because it’s the right thing to do.”

Natasha and Steve both turned around fast towards the door.

“Nicky…”

“Because it’s the right thing to do, momma. Yes, he was a coward. Yes, he left. But he’s still Hawkeye. He’s still Uncle Clint in there somewhere. Even after everything... You got him back once, ma. You can do it again.”

“Nicky, what he did… How can I-“

“We’re not the only ones hurting, momma.” Her daughter came closer, grasping both her hands in her slightly smaller ones. “You still had me left. And I had you. Can you imagine if that hadn’t been the case?”

“Nicky!” she admonished her. She didn’t wanna think of it. Never. It’d come so close to it.

“Momma.” she said, voice steady and serious, the look on her eyes so full of trust, love and determination that it was as if Maria was staring at her, chastising her for being too stubborn. “I know you wouldn’t have done the same as him, but momma, I know enough to know that it’d have crossed your mind.”

Natasha stopped, staring at her daughter. At the faith she had in her. Natasha wasn’t so sure she wouldn’t have done the same as Clint… the killing part, not the-

“I’d never have left any of the kids. Never.” she said instead.

“I know, momma. I’m not saying to forgive and forget. But he needs to be stopped. If not for himself, ma, then for Aunt Laura and my cousins. When they come back, they deserve better than what Uncle Clint has become.” she said, with such an air of certainty and finality that Natasha felt as if she was being sent off on a mission.

A chuckle coming from behind, told her she wasn’t the only one.

“It’s uncanny, isn’t it?” Natasha asked, cupping Nicky’s cheek with one hand.

The girl blushed as Steve laughed. Natasha smiled, feeling a bit of laughter coming up as well. She needed that.

“Mommaaaaa!” Her daughter complained, making both adults lose their restraint and really give in to the moment, making it much lighter than it was before.

Cheeks still red, Nicky puffed “I was being serious!”

Still chuckling, Steve approached her, putting one arm around her shoulders.

“We know, squirt. But it was really funny how it brought back many, many memories.” There was a nostalgic smile on his face, and Natasha knew the same was on hers, if perhaps a bit more pained.

There was a small silence.

“Do I really act that much like her?” her daughter’s voice was quiet. Almost as if she were afraid to bring up Maria’s name. Natasha knew it was her fault… She’d always get in a weird mood when Maria was mentioned. Her punching Tony was proof enough of that. She swallowed the lump on her throat and managed as proud a smile as she could.

“Yeah. Especially when you get bossy like that. You look and sound exactly like M-Maria.” She said, and both Steve and Nicky’s eyes widened at that.

…It hadn’t been that long since she’d said her name… had it?

“Yeah?” Nicky asked, shyly.

“Yeah.”

“And you’ll talk with Uncle Clint?”

“I’ll kick his ass.” She answered.

“Back here?”

“I’ll try.”

“Good. I’ll take that.”

Steve laughed again. “This is ridiculous!”

Mother and daughter laughed at that.  Natasha looked at Steve.

“Stay with her?”

He looked her in the eye.

“Always.”

Xxxx

“Alright, I’m going…”

It’d be the first time they were apart since coming back with news of Thanos’ death. Natasha was really reluctant. And now that they had to say goodbye, she could see Nicky (despite her hard orders) also hesitating.

“Yeah… kick his ass, momma… then bring him back, yeah?” Her daughter asked, arms still around Natasha’s waist.

“Yeah, I’ll try.” She answered. “To bring him back, I mean. I know I can kick his ass.”

“Okay!” Nicky laughed, squeezing her one more time before letting her go. Natasha was a bit slower to do the same.

With one last smile, she turned to head to the quinjet.

“Momma… be careful.”

Natasha pause. Closing her eyes, an unbidden smile came to her lips.

“Is that an order, little agent?”

She just knew her daughter was straightening her shoulders.

“It is, agent Hill!”

“Aye, aye, ma’am.”

With a smile, and an ease she hadn’t felt in years, Natasha boarded the ship.

Xxxx

"You son of a bitch." Natasha said quietly. Silent fury still there, reaching this massive strength that was just ready to explode.

All of her guilt, all of her frustration and anger and hatred and hurt of five years about to come unleashed and she couldn't stop it.

She did not want to stop.

He turned.

"Nat...I'm-"

She didn't let him finish, she attacked.

It was ugly. It was bloody. And both her wife and daughter would be sorely disappointed in her (or them both). By the time it was over, Natasha was hurting in places she did not remember could get hurt. Lying on the floor opposite of Clint, who also looked like he couldn’t move at all, she spat some blood.

“Ouch.” Clint said after a while.

“Yeah.” Natasha mumbled, feeling her ribs hurt at even that. Maybe those five years had made her soft.

“Let’s not do this again.” he said.

“Don’t make me want to do it, then.”

She couldn’t see it, but Nat knew he was nodding.

Silence.

“I am sorry, Nat.”

“That doesn’t cut it, Clint…”

A sigh.

“I know.”

“But it’s a start.”

They both smiled at each other. It was a start.

As they both helped each other to the quinjet, Natasha started to laugh.

“What?”

“You do know that as much as this hurts right now, Nicky’s waiting for you when we get home, right?”

The fact that Clint went paler than ever before made Natasha feel better than a punch or two possibly could.

Xxxx

"Barton." The clipped voice, the squared shoulders reminded Natasha so much of Maria she had to look away. She saw some of the others do the same.

She saw the hurt appear and disappear from Clint's face, and she knew that he didn't believe he deserved to feel hurt. He was right.

"Nicky."

Everyone held their breath as she approached him.

She was expecting a punch. He was expecting one. Hell, everyone in the room was probably expecting one. Natasha would definitely have punched him. Natasha had punched him.

Repeatedly.

But then again, Maria was there as well; it was not just Natasha.

Nicky just looked him in the eye for close to one minute. One tense minute, before she turned and started walking away.

Natasha was about to let a relieved breath, when it happened.

"I'm so sor-"

The punch was so fast that Natasha would have admitted she was impressed even if that wasn't her daughter right there. As it were... she was hella impressed. And also very proud.

"I don't hate you. But please don't speak to me. Not now."

She turned around before anyone could say anything, walking from the room.

Silence ran for a bit longer, the echo of her steps fading away.

"Clint?" Antman asked.

He made a very pained noise.

"That hurt."

Natasha smiled. Well, she had a lot of Maria in her alright, but she also definitely had some of her in there as well.

Xxxx

As everyone was just standing there, looking at the glass platform, Natasha took one step forward. The chance to see Maria and Kaelan, if just for one second, was more than enough.

“I’ll do it.”

Before she could take one more though, a hand on her top pulled her back.

Nicky.

Natasha froze.

This had a huge probability of going ridiculously wrong. The chances of her not coming back were real. And she was just gonna go and leave Nicky behind?

What the hell was wrong with her.

None of the avengers said anything as she stared at her daughter’s eyes, worry clear there, a sort of desperation that Natasha hadn’t seen in years. She was the cause of that. She was the reason her daughter’s hand was gripping her shirt with fear. She didn’t even have to say anything; the silence and emotion on her face was more than enough.

Maria would not have made this mistake. Would not have so willingly offer herself up when Nicky still needed her.

It should have been her. It’d been a while since she actively thought that, but it was true, wasn’t it? Maria would have… Maria...

“I…”

“I’m game. I’ll do it.” Clint offered himself up, interrupting whatever stupid excuse she’d have come up with.

Natasha looked at him; he just nodded.

Taking one step back again, Nicky wrapped her arms tightly around her torso, and Natasha put her own arm around her shoulder, pulling her close.

I’m sorry, she wanted to say. But no words came out.

As she watched Clint go up the steps, she held her breath.

5

4

3

2

1

Back. He was back.

She ran towards him, and this time Nicky didn’t stop her; she was right there with her.

“Hey, hey. Look at me. You okay?” she asked, wanting to ask so many other things, but holding herself back.

“Yeah. It worked, Nat. It worked.” he said, eyes meeting hers right on. A light shining fiercely there. A hope so strong, that Natasha’s heart started to beat faster.

Her daughter’s hand was gripping her arm tightly.

“It worked?”

“We’ll get them back, Nat.”

“All of them.”

“All of them.” The answer didn’t just come from Clint, but from everyone in the room. Natasha looked around. At her family, determinated faces, a united front with one goal. Saving the ones they loved. Saving the whole universe.

She smiled, tears in her eyes.

“Let’s do this.”

Xxxx

“You guys look very sad right now.”

From her uncomfortable position on top of the table she and Tony decided to have an impromptu nap on, Natasha raised her head to look at her daughter

“Well, thank you.”

“You’re as tactful as your mama.” Tony’s voice came from her side, but he didn’t move at all.

“And as smart.” Nicky said in a voice that brook no argument, making the three adults in the room move to look at her properly.

“Not that I doubt it, but what?” Tony asked.

“Well, genius.” the sarcasm in her voice was too much and Natasha had to cough not to laugh.

“Yeah, little Hill?”

“You didn’t realize that, if you pick the right year, there are three stones in New York, did you?”

Silence.

Wait… what?

“What?!” Tony jumped off of the table, along with Nat and Bruce.

“Shut the front door!”

Nicky rolled her eyes, a smirk on her lips.

“And you call yourselves superheroes.”

That little smirk, that light in her eyes, Nat could see, made the whole room relax.

That was her girl.

Xxxx

They were all there, up in the glass platform already. Except her.

Natasha was standing with Nicky. Her hand gripping hers so tightly, that Nat was sure she must be hurting, but she didn’t show. She knew what could happen… she sniffed to get rid of the tears gathering in her eyes.

“Momma?”

Closing her eyes quickly, Natasha opened them and turned to hug her daughter as tightly as she could.

“It’ll work out, baby.” She said, fiercely. “Mama will be back soon, with your brother, okay?”

“And you, momma. It has to be all of us. We’re a team, remember? You said so.”

Natasha squeezed her tighter.

Silence.

“Yeah. We’re a team.”

“You’re coming back.”

It was an affirmative, not a question, but Natasha would not know the answer even if it was.

She squeezed her tighter.

“Momma?”

“We’ll succeed, okay?” She said, pulling back to kiss Nick’s cheek, but refusing to meet her eye.

“Momma?”

“You stay here, we’ll be back before you know it.” She said, caressing her cheek and kissing her forehead before getting up.

Natasha turned her back, tears running down her cheeks now.

“I love you.”

She stopped at her place beside Clint and finally turned to meet Nicky’s teary eyes.

“I love you too, baby. It will work.”

She said loudly.

“It will work.” Her daughter repeated, and with a last tight smile, without moving her gaze, they were gone.

Xxxx

A soul for a soul. So this was how it was gonna end… It’s wasn’t too bad, exchanging her life for those she loved. She couldn’t leave Clint to die. As she looked at Clint, she tried to push the image of Nicky’s teary eyed face from her mind.

“I guess we do.”

“I’m starting to think we’re thinking of different people here, Natasha.”

A raised eyebrow from her side, a slight foot movement from his, and they were off. It was that day in Japan once more. running, punching, tripping, and somehow, they were both dangling off the damn cliff. Clint holding on to Natasha so she wouldn’t fall.

“Come on, Nat! This makes no sense!”

“How doesn’t it?!”

“All I’ve done, Nat! How can I face Laura and my children like this?!” he shouted.

“Don’t be a coward, Clint! They will love you regardless! Don’t run from your mistakes! You taught me that!” she said, and immediately regretted it.

Natasha closed her eyes, the hand gripping her arm tightening.

“Have I taught you that? Am I really the one running here, Nat?” His voice was quieter now, but it was ringing louder than a shout in her ears.

She shook her head. It should have been her; it would be her. Natasha had screwed up. She did everything wrong. Maria would do it right. Her daughter wouldn’t be alone. She had her uncles and aunts. She’d have Maria.

It should have been her.

“What if it doesn’t work, Nat? Nicky will need you!”

“If this doesn’t work, we’ll be as good as dead anyway!”

“No, we won’t! You told me not to leave her, you don’t get to go ahead and do it well, Nat!”

“I’ve been surviving, Clint. Not living. I can’t carry on without her, Clint. I can’t!” she cried out. “If this doesn’t work, if I can’t bring them back … I don’t know how I didn’t the first time! I’ll lose it, Clint!”

“No you won’t! Nicky knows you won’t, I know you won’t… You’re stronger than me, Nat. You’re stronger than all of us… You could have lifted that damn hammer if you’d tried!”

She shook her head at that, tears running freely on her face. Maria had told her that once. She still didn’t believe it.

“And what if we do it, Nat?! What if they come back? How do I look Maria in the eye, and tell her I let you jump to your death?!”

She closed her eyes. She couldn’t imagine Maria’s face in pain. No.

“How do I tell Laura?!”

“You have a daughter that’s ALIVE, Nat! ALIVE!” He screamed and Natasha’s heart clenched. “If our positions were reversed, would you let me jump?!”

“Bu-“

“No! Nicky needs you, Nat… Maria and Kaelan will need you too… They already lost their parents once, Nat…”

Natasha laughed out of despair. She couldn’t do it… It should have been her, but to cause this much pain to Nicky… to Maria, to Kaelan. She couldn’t. Damn Barton, for making her think.

“Fuck you, Barton…”

Nicky, I’m so sorry for what I almost did… Maria, Kaelan…

“If Laura kills me for this, I’m punching you in the afterlife!” Natasha screamed, hand tightening on his arm as she prepared to climb back.

Clint laughed, a teary and desperate sound.

“Yeah, you do that.”

Looking in his eyes again, Natasha put a foot on the hill, to get impulse.

“Come on, Nat.”

“Love you, brother.”

“I love you too, sis.”

Push.

Stone crumbled.

Loose hand.

Fall.

Natasha only realized what was happening because of the horror in Clint’s eyes. She didn’t hear his scream. Didn’t feel the wind on her back.

Nicky…

Kaelan…

Maria…

I’m sorry.

Xxxx

The sound of Nicky’s scream would forever stay with all of the Avengers, of that they were very much sure. The punches she threw on Clint’s chest were nothing, nothing compared to the hole he felt inside. They were nothing compared to the complete and utter destruction they saw in her eyes.

As they gathered around to snap the damn fingers, she wouldn’t leave Steve’s side. Glued to him as if he was the only thing keeping her up. And he probably was. Tears in everyone’s eyes.

Birds. Plants.

It worked.

And then it was a mess and they were fighting Thanos again.

“Where is Nicky!?” Clint shouted into his comms.

“She’s safe! Tony, get her away from here! To a quinjet to her house, go!” Steve screamed back.

“Laura will be there, tell her to go!” Clint shouted back.

“Will do!”

He was gonna save her. He had to.

As portals started appearing left and right, and a gigantic Hellicarrier showed up, Clint felt a huge wave of relief, but also an even bigger weight on his shoulders.

Maria.

Fuck.

Xxxx

As she observed the field beneath her, barking orders left and right, Maria zeroed in on the little group of superheroes at the front.

No redheads.

Well, her sight wasn’t that good. It was quite far away.

She ordered people to stand at the ready and prepare to engage, making sure all hands were at the proper stations, before tapping in her comms.

“Nat?”

She asked, trying to keep her voice from showing her longing to hear her wife.

Silence.

Her hand started to shake. She closed them into fists, crossing her arms.

“Steve! Clint! Where's Nat?”

They were silent, and Maria stopped all movement.

“Clint?”

Silence.

“BARTON! ROGERS!”

No answer.

“Stark? Thor? Bruce?”

No one answered her.

That in itself was all the answer she needed. The one answer she didn’t ever want to have.

“Maria... I-” Steve started, but she interrupted him.

“Don't." Her voice was numb. Devoid of any emotion. She kept looking ahead, at the war waging under her, but it meant nothing anymore.

Natasha... Nat was...

She closed her eyes, a ringing sounding in her ear so loud that it made everything else fade away.

She started to feel dizzy, a sense of out of body experience taking over her. Why shouldn't she leave? Why shouldn't she go and, hopefully, meet Natasha in whatever it was that came after this? What was the point in coming back if her wife, the one who has made sure she was happier than she'd ever been, was gone? What was the point?

There was none.

She felt her knees buckle. Her body and mind were screaming at her to just give up. Her heart was broken and bleeding and just begging to see Natasha again.

She let go.

But before she could actually fall, before she could reach the ground and just let it all just go away, two arms grabbed her around the waist.

She tried to fight it, eyes still closed but the ringing started to lower in volume. She suddenly became aware of far too many voices in her ear screaming her name, pleading for her to respond, to talk.

She didn't wanna talk.

"Maria."

Coulson. The arms around her, a voice not in her ear but by her side.

She gasped.

"Maria, Nicky and Kaelan are at home, waiting for you to go back after this.” His voice was fast and quiet, but starting to make sense. “The Avengers need you right now. The Universe needs you present. We need you to be strong just a little longer."

Her kids. They were both alive. She had to make sure they remained that way. But...Nat...

Nat...

She opened her eyes to look at her best friend, the tears that somehow gathered there making it harder to see. By how close they were, though, she could see his eyes were red, and his whole expression was that of pain.

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

She tried again.

"Nat…" she said. Or tried to, she wasn't sure that the sounds she managed to produce could count as a word.

The voices in her ear went quiet.

"I know." Phil said, voice low. After a beat he continued "Nicky and Kaelan, Maria. They're waiting for you."

Maria closed her eyes and shook her head. She had seen out of the corner of her eyes everyone in the Hellicarrier looking at them. She must have been louder than she thought. She could feel their sympathy. She didn't want their sympathy. She wanted her wife.

"They are waiting for their mums. Together." Maria rasped out. Her voice hollower than ever before.

"You're not alone, Maria."

Everyone in their comms repeated the sentiment, Nick's voice resounding louder than everyone else’s.

"For Nicky and Kaelan, Hill."

She opened her eyes and looked around. Everyone was waiting for her. Waiting for her orders, for her to get herself together as a war waged on down on Earth.

'Come on, commander' she heard her wife's voice, saw her face. 'Kick them to hell and back'

She squared her shoulders and put her hands behind her back, taking one step away from Phil with a nod. Her body was still shaking, her heart still broken. But there'd be a time for this. A time to grieve. Now she had to make sure there'd be a tomorrow for her kids. Her friends. Her family.

"For Nicky and Kaelan. For... Natasha." she whispered, and Phil nodded at her.

She looked at the room at large. She took a deep, shaky, breath.

"To your stations, agents. Rain it down on them. Protect our people. Now!" she barked the orders, and everyone turned around, fire in their eyes. She let muscle memory take over her, let the years and years of command take control in this hour of need.

She'd break down later.

Xxxx

Steve looked at the stones, and looked at what he could have.

He could give them all back, go back to the 70s and stay there... he could just live the rest of his life with Peggy. But then, he stopped. He remembered. He remembered Maria's face as she saw Natasha walking down the aisle. He remembered Maria's kind smile when she put the lasagna on the table. He remembered Kaelan and Nicky running around the backyard, laughing and shouting and just being kids. All the Avengers together on that house, just being friends. Being a family.

He remembered Natasha's expression of pure and unaltered joy after so much pain and suffering. He remembered the joy of the two kids at having two mothers that loved them. The pain they went through when they lost their biological parents. He remembered all of it. He could see it as clearly as the mountain in front of him.

And he couldn't do that. He couldn't alter the future.

He knew what he had to do.

Xxxx

“A soul for a soul.”

Hollow eyes stared back at him.

The skeletal face nodded, ever so slightly

“A soul for a soul.”

Xxxx

[dragabloodvist]

The Darkcup Chronicles: How to train your prize - 5

Yay, finally a new chapter!

________________

Crouched down next to her, Hiccup took a minute to listen to Astrid's harsh breathing. It sounded lovely, labored but shallow, her lungs desperate to suck in as much air as was possible as adrenalin rushed through her body. At the same time all muscles in her body were paralyzed, her ribcage not expanding as it was supposed to. Speed Stinger poison was cruel like this, even though the dried extract on his needle wasn't as effective as the fresh poison.

"This is all your fault," he said quietly as he moved to her head. He had to drill it into her, had to make her remember. It was on her whether she suffered or not. "If you're good, I'll reward you. But if you fight or disobey me, I have to punish you. You shouldn't have tried to run away."

Hiccup wasn't sure whether she'd heard him, though. Her face was a mask of panic, her eyes quickly darting around as if she was trying to make sense of what had happened. He smirked cruelly. Right, she'd never experienced Speedstinger poison before, had always been lucky when they'd dealt with these dragons before. Well, he wouldn't tell her what it was now. Not knowing how permanent her condition might be would only make her punishment more intense and memorable.

He gave himself a minute to enjoy her helplessness and kissed her harshly, his teeth biting down on her lip and his hand tugging painfully at her hair. Her pained noises made his blood pulse quicker but he drew away before he forgot himself. In his anger, her pain was beautiful. But she wouldn't be paralyzed forever and there were things he had to do before she regained use of her body.

First, he focused on relieving her of her clothes. Taking her boots off was simple. Her leggings were more difficult though and he quickly decided to simply rip them off instead. They were already torn from him fucking Astrid during their flight back. That hadn't been planned but he hadn't been able to help himself. Having her in his lap helplessly moaning at his every touch had been too arousing to wait until they were back here again, and the thin fabric had been nothing but a minor inconvenience. Although, in hindsight, he had to admit that sex while flying had been amazing. They would definitely do it again.

Her shirt proved to be more of a challenge. He didn't want to destroy it too, knew that Astrid's grandmother had knitted it for her before her death. And as much as he wanted to punish Astrid for her disobedience and had to break her to accept his lead… he didn't want to destroy her. Hopefully, she would appreciate this act of kindness.

"Please don't," she weakly breathed as he fought to get the tunic over her head and arms. "Don't… don't do this, Hiccup. Please… please don't hurt me, please…"

Hiccup pressed his lips into a thin line as he bodily moved her around like an oversized doll. He remembered well the small and weak boy he once was, the one who'd watched her from around corners and who would have yielded to her every wish. But that boy was dead, killed by the cruelties of the people who should have respected him as their prince. He wasn't that boy anymore, and all her pleading did was making his victory sweeter.

But still…

"I won't hurt you," he grunted as he finally pulled her tunic off. "But I can't let this slide, Astrid. You're mine now. You will obey me and not run away again. You've already been warned and from now on, every breaking of the rules has consequences."

Once Astrid was naked and lying on the hard floor, whimpering and unmoving, Hiccup went over to his workshop.

"I made something for you," he announced upon returning. "You don't really deserve a gift, but it'll come in handy for your punishment."

He crouched down behind her, purposefully where she couldn’t see what he was doing and worked to get all the leather straps and buckles into place. There was a harness of linked straps that went around her thighs and all the way to her upper arms, but also loose pieced for her wrists and ankles. They were wadded on the inside to not injure her too much and all had metal rings in them, wide enough for ropes to go through them.

Once he was done, he gave himself a moment to admire the sight in front of him. The leather didn’t cover more of Astrid’s body than was necessary. He wanted to see and to tough as much of her as possible. But it should be enough to restrain her every movement if used right and to put her into every position he wanted.

“You truly look amazing,” he hummed into her ear as he picked her up. “Delectable.”

She whimpered and visibly fought to move against him as he picked her up, but it was useless. He was in power now. He carried her over to a part of his hut that wasn’t visible from the entrance. He didn’t want to cause a riot should someone barge into his hut. Not yet. There, he looped ropes through the metal rings of her harness and through others that were attached to the walls and ceiling. It was a little tricky to maneuver her into the right position – bent over at the waist with her rear up high, her calves tied tightly against her spread thighs, and her forearms and hands tied behind her back and pulled upwards to keep her upper body from moving too much. But he’d designed this mechanism himself, so it only took a minute to get it working as he wanted.

Hiccup swallowed at the sight of her, so utterly vulnerable and exposed. It made his blood boil, his cock twitching in anticipation. But it wasn’t time for that, not yet.

Instead, he walked around her and crouched down next to her head. Her hair was like an untamed mane, falling around her face and blocking her sight. When he pushed strands of it aside to look at her, she shook his hand off, the Speed Stinger poison finally wearing off.

“Don’t touch me!”

Hiccup cocked his head. Her words were presumably meant as a threat or an order. But her voice was weak and trembling. Laced with fear. He went back to caress her cheek and down her neck. She trembled beneath his touch.

Then Hiccup grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her head up. She cried out in pain but he silenced her directly with a harsh kiss.

"Get it into your head!" he snarled, overcome by anger for the moment. "You're mine! I can do whatever I want to you!" His first was shaking with rage but he forced himself to loosen his grip a bit. "But how I treat you is entirely up to you. If you're good, then I'll happily reward you with pleasure and gifts. But if you disobey me…" he trailed off, tugging at her hair again. This time, she only whimpered.

He inhaled deeply to calm himself then reached for the last leather band. When Astrid realized where it was going, around her neck, the fought against him, even tried to bite his hand. Hiccup slapped her across the face with the back of his hand, hard. “Stop it!” he growled, seething. When he’d led her to his hut, he’d contemplated lessening the severity of her punishment. Now though, she’d lost this chance. He’d warned her times and times again but she wasn’t listening. So she’d get the full sentence, without parole.

Shaking with rage, he stood up and got some tools from his father’s box; a pot of lube and dildos in varying sizes. “You will see what your disobedience brings you!” he snarled as he stepped between her legs. “And once we’re through with this, you won’t resist me ever again.”

“Rape me all you want!” Astrid spat. “I’ll never give in to this madn- nnggh!”

Hiccup grinned cruelly as she broke off with a grunt, her body tense around his finger in her ass. He couldn’t say whether it was in pain or surprise but didn’t care either way. He didn’t plan to seriously tear her, else he wouldn’t opt to prepare her at all. But he certainly didn’t mind her suffering a bit. After all, this was a punishment!

He worked her roughly, adding a second finger soon. Astrid cried out, clearly in pain this time. Good. With his free hand, he held on to her hips, fingers digging into her skin.

“N-no. Stop!”

Hiccup didn’t listen to her as he switched his fingers for one of the dildos. It wasn’t even wider but certainly longer than his fingers, reaching far deeper into her.

“P-please stop...” she sobbed weakly. She tried to push away from him with her entire body, tensing and straining against her bonds. But it was useless. She wouldn’t escape, not until he released her.

And Hiccup had no intention of doing that anytime soon.

So far, anal sex hadn’t held much appeal to Hiccup. He was just fine with a vagina or a mouth around his cock, hot and wet. But as he worked Astrid open, changing for wider and wider lubed-up dildos every few minutes and listening to her ever-growing distress, he found the concept of her ass swallowing it all rather appealing.

Still moving the current tool, a thick wooden dildo, in and out of her, he opened his pants and fished for cock. He only needed a few strokes to become fully erect, then pulled the toy out of her and replaced it with his own length.

…

Astrid cried out, again, as she felt the change.

In a way, it was a relief to have Hiccup’s cock in her ass instead of his tools. He wasn’t as thick as the latest one and certainly more forgiving than the hardwood or metal. But at the same time, she just wanted for him to get out of her, to not do this. How much it hurt aside, having something shoved up her ass felt so wrong! Worse even than when he raped her before or thrust his cock down her throat. It hurt and she just wanted them out of her.

But what made it all even worse was how much he enjoyed it.

“Oh, gods. Fuck, yes!”

His moaned words made her feel sick in addition to everything else. She didn’t want this, didn’t want him coming in her ass.

“Don’t,” she sobbed. “Please, don’t do this. Get out!”

But Hiccup didn’t listen, just snorted in harsh amusement and thrust even harder. His fingers digging into her waist hurt but the pain got lost between everything else. Deeper and deeper he buried himself inside her. His hard thrusts made her swing back and forth, giving her even more momentum as she got impaled on his length again and again.

She was sickly familiar with his groan some minutes later, the sign that he would finish soon. Again, she pleaded. “Please, no. Please, Hiccup, pull out. Please!”

He didn’t. His pounding grew even harder still, his grip tighter until he pulled her flush against his groin and shouted out his relief. She could feel his cock swell and thrum, felt his come fill her up. Hot and bubbling and just wrong. It left her trembling and weeping quietly.

Gods, everything hurt! Her abused hole and insides but everything else, too. Her head was pounding. Her shoulders burned from how he’d bound her arms behind her back. All her muscles were screaming for relief, to stretch and relax. She’d thought she could resist any torture and still intended to - but at the same time, she wasn’t so sure anymore whether she would make it thought without breaking.

When he pulled out, she shivered and disgust overcame her in addition to everything else. Without him inside her, she felt weirdly empty. It wasn’t a good feeling, even as she certainly didn’t want him back inside. She could feel his come leaking out of her stretched hole. It ran down her thighs, slowly seeped over her belly.

Disgusting.

...

Satisfied in more than one way, Hiccup gazed down at her body, still entangled in the robes. She was trembling, weeping, and looked wonderfully ruined with his seeds dripping out of her. So she hadn’t liked him fucking her ass or him coming inside her? Well, then she would like what was to come later even less. It would be the perfect punishment, and after that, she certainly would never disobey him again. Pain and humiliation, that were the tools to break a strong woman like Astrid. And she would receive a lot more of both before he eventually would release her from these bonds.

If she learned her lesson, he might reward her with pleasure at the end, but that depended on her. Either way, Hiccup was sure that he would enjoy the coming hours - no days - immensely.

In a - probably cruel - show of reprieve, he gave her a minute’s rest. Instead of filling her up with the next bigger toy right away, he walked around her, caressing her sweaty skin wherever he pleased.

Astrid barely reacted though and just sobbed unrestrainedly. Only when he reached her breasts and rolled her nipples between his fingers did she give a desperate moan, pain and pleasure mixing in that wonderfully mind-bending way. Oh yes, she was his. And very soon, she would gladly follow his every command, would beg for the chance to please him and for him to give her pleasure and relief. He kept playing with her breasts for a little bit longer, enjoyed how her nipples hardened to his touch before he moved back between her legs.

Without a word, he resumed his former work: He used a dildo nearly the size of his forearm to thoroughly widen and stretch her further. Three more even bigger ones followed before he had her where she wanted her.

“The preparations are done, my love,” he announced. He crouched down by her head again, but when he brushed her hair aside this time, she didn’t shake him off. Instead, her eye met his, blurry but still very much Astrid!

“Preparations?”

Her voice was so weak and laced with fear. It made strange things to him. Heat flaring up inside him, the need to fuck her again right away. But also the urge to protect her. He loved her after all, didn’t want her harmed.

He gritted his teeth. If only she hadn’t run away!

It was her own fault!

“Yes, preparations,” he snarled. “I don’t want you to tear and bleed to death.”

Her shaking grew even worse. “W-what are y-you doing t-to m-me?”

With his hands balled into fists, Hiccup stood again. “I told you. It’s punishment. You’d better think twice about how you behave next time.”

He made another step backward, his eyes shifting to a point at the far wall. Toothless had watched them in his usual scary-silent manner but Hiccup recognized the look of blatant hunger his big green eyes.

Hiccup nodded at his friend, knowing how much the dragon had waited for this. “Come on, bud. It’s your turn now.”

____________________

I kinda enjoyed writing this. If you enjoy reading it, please let me know. 😉

Also, I intended for this chapter to contain so much more! But it became longer than expected so I cut it here and hope the next will come sooner.

[shadowedlamplight]

A Chance Encounter

Decided to post a snippet of something I’ve been working on for some time now (does 1800 words still count as a snippet??). It’s a superhero AU, with Roman, Patton, and Logan as the super-team, and Virgil as one of their major villains. There’s a lot I have planned for it, but this is all I have written so far.

Hope you enjoy it!!

Fandom: Sanders Sides Words: 1,743

Virgil’s back hurt. He knew from experience that a rooftop was the best place to watch from when he was patrolling, but damn was it hard on his spine, especially after a long shift. Maybe he should invest in a lawn chair—one of those portable ones that you could strap to your back! He could make it look like some sort of cool backpack, because it would kill his reputation is someone saw him with a striped chair on his shoulders. Never let it be said that he wasn’t grateful for his abilities.

After all, his outfit wouldn’t be nearly as intimidating if everyone could see the navy morphsuit for what it was. What hero would take him seriously if he showed up in that? No, the dark mask and tattered cape were much better suited to his position, even if none of it was actually real. He wondered if he should change it up, though—he quite liked the alternating black and purple on his arms and legs, but he remembered one news outlet that had called it “a bad Halloween costume with black underwear to boot.” Not that The Witness was exactly skewed toward his side of things...

He was yanked out of his fashion concerns by the slam of a door hitting the wall and shouting. He looked for the source of the sound. Down the street he saw a convenience store door smack shut with the sound of its bells, and a guy running down the sidewalk with something pressed to his chest. The shop door started to open again, and Virgil quickly threw out a hand, the thief suddenly becoming invisible to everyone but himself. The shopkeep looked left and right before throwing his hat to the floor and storming back inside. Virgil almost felt bad, but the owner of the store wasn’t his concern. He looked back at the thief, who was fortunately veering in the direction of the building Virgil was on. Good, less work for him.

He ran to the ladder that would get him to the fire escape and carefully slid down it. He had to get to the ground before the thief got past him. He silenced his footsteps on the old metal, grateful for the element of surprise it would give him, and climbed down as fast as he could, trying to get to the safest height possible. Then, once he was at a low enough height (where he was least likely to break any bones), and before he could talk himself out of it, Virgil jumped.

He grunted as he hit the ground. Bending his knees to a crouch helped to soften the blow, but it didn’t do much. The alley wasn’t quite wide enough for him to tumble safely, and while he was sure that it looked cool, he would be feeling it in the morning.

Looking cool seemed to have done the trick, though, because the thief—a teenager, as he had suspected—staggered back, almost slipping on the wet asphalt. His eyes went wide under the streetlamps as Virgil stood, and he turned sharply to run again.

“Don’t!” He barked, more harshly than he intended. He winced at his deepened, doubled voice, echoing through the alleyway. Sounding demonic probably wouldn’t help to stop the kid from running, but he couldn’t help that—the modulation was a part of his costume as much as his mask or his suit. He couldn’t just ditch it. He took a breath and tried for a calmer tone. “I’m not looking for a fight, I just wanna talk.”

The kid surprised him when he actually hesitated for a second, and Virgil was quick to put a guise of himself in the kid’s path. He made himself invisible and ran up to silently slip into its place as the kid gaped. For all the reputation that he had built there were still a few people who hadn’t realized what his actual power was, but he wasn’t quick to correct what worked in his favor.

“Breathe,” he advised, looking the kid over now that he had the chance. He almost cursed aloud. They just kept getting younger.

“You–” He was practically shaking, and it looked like the stolen goods that had originally caught Virgil’s attention, now tucked under his jacket, were about to fall out of his grip. “Y-you– You’re–”

“Forge, yeah. That’s me.” He sighed. “Now you wanna chill out? I told you, I just wanna talk.”

“Oh yeah, sure,” It was defensive, sarcastic, afraid. It was obvious this kid didn’t know how to control his filter. Virgil smirked behind his mask. “Because dark alleys where you jump from the fire escape are the best place to chat it up, my mistake.”

Virgil snorted. “Kid, if I wanted to hurt you we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I don’t fight over territory, and you don’t see me out there ‘fighting the good fight’ with Red, White, and Punchy, do ya?” The kid still looked like he was ready to run. “I’m no hero,” Virgil said firmly. “I’m not gonna bust you. We’re gonna talk for a bit, and then we’re both going to go our separate ways.”

The kid looked him up and down, and he swallowed. “That’s all?” He asked, licking his lips.

Honestly, Virgil couldn’t blame him for his nerves. “That’s all. Scout’s honor.”

The kid shook his head just slightly. “I’m no boy scout, man.”

Virgil grinned. “Funny, me neither.”

The kid didn’t seem to see the humor in it. He was shifting uncomfortably, smoothing his hand over the package under his jacket. “So what do you wanna ‘talk about’ if you’re not looking to beat the crap out of me?”

“Breathe,” Virgil reminded him. He sighed, looked him over again. “What’s your name?” He asked instead.

“What?”

“What. Is. Your. Name?” He asked calmly, meeting the kid’s eyes as best he could with his mask on.

There was a long moment of hesitation before: “...Drew.”

“Drew. Okay. And now we’re not strangers, yay,” Virgil drawled. “Now, Drew. What did you steal?”

The kid gripped the package tighter. Virgil rolled his eyes.

“Jesus fu– I’m not gonna take it from you!” He took a deep breath and let it out slow, running a hand over the top of his head and through the illusion of hair. He needed a good long rest when he got home—too much work had shortened his temper. “Just– What did you take?”

“Why do you care? You’re not gonna take it unless it’s something you want, is that it?” Drew asked, squaring his shoulders.

“Because I do.” Virgil crossed his arms. “And no. Now do you really want to prolong this by being stubborn—stupidly, I might add—or get it over with? Consider your options wisely.”

Drew stared him down for a brief moment, back straight and chin high, before he sighed. “It’s not that much,” he said quietly. “Just a loaf of bread, some peanut butter. Band-aids and shit.” He held up the bag of bread and pulled the other items from his pockets. “I didn’t go nuts.”

“No, you didn’t,” Virgil agreed, inwardly relieved. “Just grabbed the necessities, right?” He had suspected as much when he saw the way the kid bolted, but he’d needed to be sure.

Drew blinked. “I– Yeah.” He slipped the smaller items back into his jacket and seemed to deflate. “Can I go now? I gotta…” He trailed off, glancing back at the alleyway behind him.

“Get home, yeah.” He nodded. “Where are you going?” He held up a hand when Drew’s head shot up. “I’m not looking for your address, relax. Just the general area. And don’t bullshit me.”

Drew glared at him for a moment, expression just short of a snarl. He finally spat: “Wakehurst.”

Wakehurst Street. Virgil didn’t go there often, but he knew the area. Knew how to get there, at least.

“Okay,” he said agreeably. “Yeah, go on home, kid. But don’t take Addley, take Chapel.” Drew’s eyebrows shot up. “I know, Addley’s faster, but there’s a patrol down there about this time. Chapel’s quiet enough that you shouldn’t see anybody. And here.”

Virgil looked at the loaf of bread in Drew’s hand, and a moment later a guise materialized around it—a generic white shopping bag, THANKYOU printed in bright red letters on the side. The handles fit neatly in Drew’s clenched hand, as though the bag had been there the entire time. The teen’s eyes blew wide. The bread fell through the fake bag when he dropped it in shock, but Virgil was quick to catch it.

“You can’t let go,” he said, smiling. “There’s nothing really there. But walking with that will look a lot less suspicious than sprinting with something tucked into your chest at 1 A.M.. Can’t avoid cops if someone calls ‘em on you.”

He held out the loaf of bread and Drew slowly took it back. It slipped right through the guise of the bag and looked no different than an actual grocery bag. Virgil smiled privately at the realism.

Drew was staring at him. “Why are you…?”

Virgil shrugged. “Because you’re clearly new at this?” He offered. “Because you took the cheapest food you could find? Because those Doc McStuffins band-aids aren’t for you?” The kid glanced down at his pocket. “I’ve been there,” Virgil said simply. “And what you really need, you need. Even when it’s slightly illegal.”

Drew looked dumbstruck for a moment before he finally nodded, straightening. “Thank you, Forge,” he said softly.

“Don’t mention it.”

Drew’s lips curled into a small smile as he started to turn away. “‘No hero,’ huh? You sure you’re not one of the good guys?”

Virgil scoffed. “Dude, I’ve had more brawls with Schema than anybody else in this city, and I just made myself an accessory to your theft. Do you really think I’m gonna go join ranks and start singing about truth and justice?”

Drew laughed softly as he walked away. Virgil smiled despite himself.

Instead of heading back to the roof to finish his patrol, he turned in the opposite direction, toward home. He still had work tomorrow, and he needed to pick up Thomas from Tessa’s place in the morning. But making sure that kid got home all right would be worth the lost sleep. Though that didn’t mean he wasn’t looking forward to finally seeing his bed. Virgil made himself invisible and slipped silently into the darkness.

[lovemybluebully]

Is This a Joke?

Ugh! I'm late AGAIN getting a holiday fic up, but I spent a bit of time on it so I'm gonna post it anyways. Hope you'll still enjoy it! I wanted to get it up at least before the new year started, and it’s 11:30PM here so I managed to pull it off! YAY!! Happy New Year everyone!! And of course it's a tickle fic because, yeah, I can't help myself. XD Summary: It's Venom's first Christmas, and he and Eddie agree to exchange gifts for the holiday. Eddie can't resist having some fun with the idea at his buddy's expense, but then Venom decides to have a little fun of his own. M/M Tickle Fic

Word Count: 3,290

Just like every other holiday that came up, Eddie had to explain everything there was to know about Christmas to his symbiote companion; the origin, what it stood for, the religious customs and traditions that came with it. Everything.

Venom was definitely the curious type, and predictably flooded Eddie with questions about every little thing they came across when walking through the city. Finally Eddie had ended up introducing Venom to the internet and the Google search engine where every answer he desired could be easily found. Though the one concept that Venom had become particularly excited about was the exchanging of gifts. After Eddie had explained how it worked Venom was eager to get in on the action and find something special for his human friend. They agreed to take a day separated from the other so that they could keep their gifts a surprise. Venom had actually took on another host temporarily in order to purchase something without being detected. Later when they had reconnected and Venom was back inside of Eddie's body it wasn't long before he was pestering the man about what he may have gotten for him. "What did you get us, Eddie? Is it something delicious? Can we eat it? Hmm? Tell us tell us tell us!" Each word was enunciated with ticklish pokes into Eddie's sides, making the reporter giggle and smack at the playful symbiote tentacles with his hands. "I caahaan't tell you, asshole! Heehehehee, it's a surprise!" If Venom wanted to he could easily obtain the answer, but he wasn't trying that hard to get Eddie to spill the beans. He was actually moved that his host wanted to surprise him with something, and had vowed not to probe inside his mind for the week so that the secret wouldn't be spoiled.

Still he couldn't help but wonder and daydream about what it might be. In fact the alien had been so lost in his thoughts that he'd been a lot quieter than usual for the past few days; something Eddie took notice of as he chuckled to himself.

"What?"

"You. Still trying to figure out what I got for you, huh?"

"We like surprises, Eddie, but the anticipation is killing us!"

"Don't worry, it's Christmas Eve so you'll find out tomorrow."

Venom smiled in the most giddy way that Eddie had ever seen, and it was definitely funny to see the monstrous alien in this type of light. Eddie laughed and scratched the symbiote head under the chin as he nodded towards the few presents placed underneath the small tree in his apartment. "In the morning those'll all be yours, buddy." ............................................................ "Eddie......"

"Eddie!"

"............EDDIE!" As he opened his eyes Eddie unsuccessfully stifled his laughter when he found Venom grinning into his face with a fluffy Santa hat on his head. It really tickled him to see that Venom had embraced the Christmas spirit like this.

"Get up, Eddie! Get up! It's Christmas morning!"

"Is it? I had no idea. Well I doubt Santa left anything for a couple losers like us," the man smirked as he sat up and stretched out his arms before rubbing his hands over his tired face. "Screw that fat guy. I know Eddie didn't forget us," Venom smiled, pulling on his host's arm to hoist him out of the bed.

"Alright I'm up, I'm up," Eddie smiled as he slid out from underneath his warm blankets and allowed Venom to drag him over to their Christmas tree. The symbiote was acting just like a little kid would on this holiday morning. Shifting into his humanoid form, Venom crouched on the floor anxiously as he watched Eddie select a present from all the others. "Here," the journalist handed him the large package, "Open this one first."

Not wasting any time, Venom quickly used his claws to tear away the wrapping paper as he revealed a big box of assorted chocolates. His eyes lit up when he saw what it was as a bit of drool began to seep from his mouth.

"Thank you, Eddie! We can't wait to try some!"

He had already started to open up the box, but Eddie held out a hand to stop him.

"Why don't we wait until we've had breakfast first, ok buddy?"

"Ok, Eddie," Venom pouted a little as he reluctantly agreed. He perked up though when Eddie handed him another gift.

"Alright, now this one. I think this'll come in handy for you," his mouth twitched as if he were trying to hold back a smile, but Venom didn't seem to notice since all his focus was on the package in his hands. "This is heavier than the last one. Is it more chocolates?!" The symbiote asked excitedly as Eddie put a hand over his own mouth to hide his smirk and simply nodded. "Maybe. Open it and see."

A few seconds later the wrapping paper was shredded and Venom was left staring dumbfounded at the box in front of him. "...........What. Is. This?" "You can't tell? It's an electric toothbrush. We gotta keep those teeth of yours all squeaky clean with all that chocolate you're eating, don't we?" His attempt at keeping a straight face was beginning to fail as he watched his friend's eyes narrow in annoyance. "Is this some kind of joke?" Venom growled as he ripped the toothbrush from it's packaging and switched it on, staring at it with contempt as it began to buzz and vibrate. "What's wrong? Don't you like it?" Eddie couldn't stop himself and had fallen over laughing now, which was the wrong thing to do because Venom was quick to pounce on him. The symbiote wasn't angry about his host's practical joke, though he did have revenge on his mind. Strong tendrils wrapped around the reporter's arms and stretched them over his head with Eddie still laughing too much to object.

"Eddie wants to laugh, hm? Well we'll give him something to really laugh about." Eddie's giggles turned more frantic and hysterical when a mass of tendrils started to tickle up and down his sides, expertly honing in on the weakest spots. Having just gotten out of bed his only attire was a worn-in t-shirt and a pair of sweat pants, which left him pretty vulnerable for such an attack; he was doomed.

"Okaahaay! Okaahaahay, it wahahas a baahaad idee-heeheeheea!" Eddie giggled madly as he made pathetic attempts to squirm away, knowing there was no escape and that he'd might as well save his energy. "I think you knew we'd react this way. Sounds to us like you were asking for it, weren't you?"

"Nohoho! I'd nehehehever! I haa-hate beheeheeing tihihickled!"

Venom could see in his mind that Eddie didn't truly mean that, and that his thoughts were nothing but gleeful delight. Despite his words, Eddie was enjoying this fooling around and so Venom saw no reason to back off just yet.

"Well that's a shame, Eddie, because that's what I got you for Christmas.....lots and lots of tickles!" The tickling on his ribcage intensified as Eddie threw his head back in howling laughter, though continued to jokingly provoke his alien buddy.

"Ehehahahahaa! Wehehell thaahaat's a shihihitty presehehent! I hohope you g-got a gihift receipt!"

"It's non-returnable. Too bad for you. You'll just have to accept my present," Venom chuckled while one of his tendrils picked up the electric toothbrush so he could examine it more closely as he pressed the switch to turn it on. He then noticed how Eddie's t-shirt had bunched up from all his thrashing to reveal part of his belly. Now he had a very evil idea. "Hmmm, I think I know a good use for this....," Venom grinned as he applied the whirling toothbrush to Eddie's stomach, receiving an explosive reaction.

"Naahahaahah! Thaahaahaat's nohot whahahat thaat's fohohohor!"

Eddie squealed and vainly tried to roll to the side as the brush drew slow circles over his belly with the circumference of every stroke getting smaller and smaller until the vibrating head of the toothbrush dipped into his navel. "Shit shihihihit! Stohahahahahop! No no, waaahahahat are yoo-hoou doing?! Ahahhahaha!" The reported squeezed his eyes shut as he laughed his head off through the overwhelming feelings of the brush traveling up his sensitive side.

"But Eddie, we need to make sure you're squeaky clean. Every nook and cranny needs our attention," Venom teased while he swept the toothbrush slowly between the spaces of each rib as Eddie cackled and jerked his body like a beached fish.

He hated when Venom found ways to use his own words against him.

"You pretentious asshohohole! Oh fuhuhuck! Holy fuck, not there!! No please, dont don't doh-OHOHAHAHAHAAHAAHAA!!" Eddie squirmed with all his might, straining to pull his arms free and wishing he could sink down into the floor and disappear as the unorthodox torture device swirled deep into the crater of his left armpit.

"Stahahahap it!! Noooahahahahahaa!! Gehehet outta my pihihihit!!"

"Ok ok, we will get out of your pit," the alien said as the brush shut off and was removed from the tender area. Venom's smirk should've told Eddie that this wasn't over, but the man was being a bit naive and had started to relax. "Besides, you have another one!"

Eddie was still too busy trying to catch his breath to protest, but the panic in his eyes said it all as the toothbrush came alive again and whirled around under his right arm this time.

"Aaahahahah!! Hahahahahaha-nooooo!! Fuhuhuhucker!! Yoohoohoooou suhuhuhuck!!"

"On the contrary we do not 'suck', but we can do this...."

The long tongue flowed out and began to drag repeatedly over Eddie's bare belly, coaxing the tears from his eyes as he laughed insanely and kicked his feet against the ground. It slowly licked up his side, pushing his t-shirt up until it was right back into his other armpit to enthusiastically lap at the sensitive skin.

"Baahahahaah quihihihihit iiiiit!! B-Bad symbiote! Baahaad symbiote!! No lihihihicking!! Yoo-hou sick fuhuhuck!! Thaahaat's naahaasty-eehehehehee!!" "We forgot what a little bitch you could be, Eddie. Of course we know how to make you really cry like a baby," the symbiote's teeth gleamed as he grinned as wide as possible and began moving down Eddie's legs, wrapping them together with his black goo in the process to keep him from kicking out.

The seemingly disembodied head was now facing the bare soles of his host that were madly twitching as Eddie tried to free himself. "What have we here?" Venom grinned evilly and drew out a high-pitched squeal as his tongue licked up the bottom of a lethally ticklish foot, "Ohh so many nerves in such a small area. Maybe we can scrub them all away?" Eddie's eyes widened as he heard the buzzing sound of the toothbrush being activated once again. "No wait, just wait a minute! I said waaAAHAAHAAHAHAHA!!"

The feeling of the stiff bristles twirling around in the sensitive lengths of his arches made Eddie nearly hit the roof. His mouth opened wide as he laughed at the top of his lungs with his entire body thrashing in vain to break free of the gooey restraints. "Staahahaahaahaahahahap Vehehehehenom!! Thaahaahaat's the wohohohorst spohahahahaaat!!"

"Oh Eddie, you say that no matter where you're tickled," Venom smirked as he spread apart the man's toes one by one so the brush could work it's spinning magic on the extremely tender spaces, making Eddie screech like a little kid. "AHEEHEEHEEHAHAhahahaaha!! I t-taahaake it baahaahaaack!! TH-THAAHAAHAAAT'S the wohorst spooooooot!!" "Like we haven't heard that before." As he continued to zig zag the brush all across the bottom of one foot he then began to teasingly flick his tongue on the squirming sole of the other foot to double poor Eddie's torment. "HOHOLY SHIHIHIHIIIIT!! GAAHAHAHAAHAH!! I-I SAHAHAHAHAID NO-HO LICKIIIHEEHEEHEEENG!!" "Yes, you did. But when have we ever listened to you?" Venom's grin grew as his tongue stroked beneath the pads of the wriggling toes; the slight roughness of the dexterous muscle causing an extreme tickling sensation that Eddie couldn't stand. "AHAHAHAHA EHEEHEHAHAHAHAHA!! ENOHOHOHOUGH!! PLEEHEEHEEASE!! OKAAHAAY!! THE TOOHOOHOOTHBRU-BRUHUHUSH WAHAS N-NOHAHAHOT YOHOUR REEHEEHEAL PREHEHESENT!"

Venom withdrew his tongue for the moment to look curiously at his friend, though the toothbrush continued it's reign of terror. "What does that mean 'not our real present'?"

"Ihihit wahahas a johohohohoke!! I woohoohoo...!! I wouldn't do-hoo thaahaahaahaaat to yahahaha!!"

All tickling finally stopped and Eddie tried to compose himself through his residual giggles as the alien looked back at him in wonder.

"So you did get us something else?"

The symbiote's smile grew. He hadn't been truly upset at thinking the gag gift was his real present, but he was glad to know that Eddie had taken this more seriously than he originally thought. "Venom it's your first Christmas, of course I got ya something that matters. Just please....for the love of GOD, get that thing away from my feet," he laughed nervously as he nodded down at the toothbrush that was still buzzing away within inches of his cringing toes.

With the flick of a tentacle the toothbrush was shut off while at the same time gently releasing Eddie from his bonds. As he sat up he saw that Venom had shifted into his humanoid form as the alien handed over the hygienic device in good gesture to the blushing man. "Well that really backfired on me, didn't it?" Eddie laughed as he threw the toothbrush as hard as he could at the wall so that it exploded into several pieces of broken satisfaction upon impact, "Now just gimme a second here..." He then crawled over to the tree and reached into the very back behind his recliner chair and pulled out a box that Venom hadn't noticed before. Brushing the pine needles off that had fallen onto him in the process he turned and handed the package to his friend. "Here's your real present, dude. Don't think you'll end up tickle torturing me after this one," Eddie chuckled as Venom narrowed his eyes teasingly and took the box from his hands. "We will see, won't we?" Immediately he began to rip open the wrapping paper until it was all removed before cutting open the tape holding the box closed. Inside was tissue paper and more tissue paper as he dug to the bottom to find what Eddie had wrapped so meticulously. There he saw that it was some kind of framed document as Venom curiously pulled it out of the box and began to read. After absorbing the words he then looked up at Eddie with astonishment in his eyes as the man gave a small smile and nodded. "Yeah. I'm serious, buddy."

Venom then looked back at the frame and began to read it out-loud. "This is to certify that Venom has been formally adopted into the Brock family by Eddie Brock, and has agreed to hold and keep safe this symbiote forever in a loving home. He is entitled to all the rights and privileges there is as......a brother," Venom choked the last part out and Eddie saw something in his eyes that he had never seen before. "Just wanted you to know that you've always got a family with me, Venom. I mean, the papers aren't official obviously 'cause I don't think they allow you to adopt anything other than another human, but I thought you'd still appreciate it and...."

Eddie was cut off as Venom grabbed him into a tight hug, nearly smothering him as he held him against his chest.

"Th-Thank you, Eddie! Thank you! This means so much to us! We will love Eddie forever, and protect him with our very life! He is our brother, and we will never let anything bad happen to him ever again!"

Eddie laughed gently as he reassuringly patted him on the back. "I love you too, man. You know as crazy as it may sound, besides Anne, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me." "We will always have your back, Eddie. You will never feel alone again. If you're cold we will keep you warm. If you're hurt we will heal you. If you're sad we will make you laugh. You won't have to worry about a thing, Eddie! We'll take care of you!"

He lifted the man off the floor in his excitement as he gave enthusiastic licks to his face, making Eddie giggle as he strained his neck and tried to push him away.

"Heeheehe, dude, that tickles! Okaahaay, I get it! You're welcome! You're welcome!!"

Reluctantly Venom set him down, though he was unable to wipe the sharp-toothed grin from his face. After a moment Eddie cleared his throat as he then glanced over at their Christmas tree. "So uhh...," the reporter nodded to the last package underneath the tree, "That for me?"

Venom suddenly lost his grin as he looked over at the crudely wrapped gift. He knew Eddie wouldn't judge his wrapping technique being that it was his first time attempting such a thing, but for some reason he still stared at it with guilt.

"Yes, but..."

"But what?" Venom picked up the small package and held it away from him. "No, just forget it. It's stupid in comparison to what you've just given us."

"Ahh c'mon, Venom. Whatever it is I'm sure I'll love it."

Venom hesitated for a few long moments before finally handing it over to him, and then changing back into his serpent form in his anxious state. Eddie chuckled lightly as he tried to make sense of the excessive amount of tape covering the wrapping paper before finally pulling out a pocket knife and slicing away. Venom fidgeted and watched nervously during the whole process.

Finally Eddie got through the wrapping paper and reached the box, opening it as he peeked inside. He smirked as he reached in and pulled out a ceramic coffee mug, turning it over and glancing at the inscription on the side.

"World's Best Human Host," he smiled as he read it outloud, "You actually had them make this for me?"

Venom nodded apprehensively, though perking up at seeing that Eddie showed no signs of disappointment.

"I love it, man."

Venom's grin instantly returned upon hearing those words. "You...You do?" "Yeah, I really do. This is the best gift I've gotten in a long time, and I'm gonna use it every morning from now on. See? I'm gonna put it right here where everyone can see it," he said as he walked over and placed it on the counter next to his coffee maker.

Venom beamed happily, knowing that Eddie liked it, and put it where it could be shown off to everyone. He quickly crawled over, making Eddie giggle as he slithered up around his body until he was splayed across his shoulders. He adoringly rubbed his head against Eddie's, making a purring noise in the process.

"Thanks, Eddie. We're so happy right now."

"Me too, buddy. I love both the gifts you've given me."

Venom paused and his head craned around to look Eddie directly in the face as he cocked it to the side in confusion.

"Both? But...we only gave you the one thing."

Eddie chuckled and shook his head, knowing full well that the symbiote had no idea what he was talking about. "You gave me a lot more than that, Venom. You gave me your friendship at a time in my life when I needed it most, and I'll never forget that. I meant what I said, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me." He pulled Venom's head against his in a warm embrace as he stroked underneath his chin, making the symbiote alien glow with affection. "Same here, Eddie. Same here."<3

[waif-of-the-night]

I Know What You Did Last Summer (4.09)

Part 2

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Characters: Dean Winchester, Reader, Sam Winchester, Ruby, Anna

Warnings: Mentions of hell, Canon typical violence.

A/n: I’m going to be updating a bit more frequently now since school is over. Yay! Happy reading! :)

Feedback and/or requests are very appreciated and very welcomed!

You and the boys arrived at Anna’s home with the help of the address you got from the hospital. Dean stepped forward and rang the doorbell while you and Sam stood back outside the front door. You took a look around while you waited for someone to answer the door. When no one answered the door Dean suggested that maybe no one was at home. “Both cars are parked in the driveway.” You pointed out. Suspicion was already growing in everyone’s head as Dean reached for the door and found that it wasn’t locked. The door swung open widely with a little nudge allowing you to enter the house easily.

“Mr. And Mrs. Milton?” Sam called out as he stepped inside as you and Dean followed. Dean skimmed the room to his left for a moment, not taking much caution when he saw nobody was there as he traveled deeper inside the first floor. “We’re from the Sheriff’s department. We just need to ask you a couple of questions.”

You were waiting near the front door, eyes wandering when you heard Sam calling out for you and Dean. You and Dean immediately rushed to the spot in the living room where the voice came. A gasp left your lips when you saw the sight Sam had stumbled upon. Anna’s parents were lying on the floor, their throats slit clean. The demons definitely wanted that girl. And they wanted her bad. Sam walked in deeper and crouched down to inspect something he spotted on the floor. He took a small dab of the substance and brought it close to his nose to smell immediately regretting as the rotten egg smell hit his nose. “Sulfur” He coughed out. “The demons beat us here. Whatever the deal is with this Anna girl-”

“Yeah, they want her. They’re not screwing around.” Dean finished Sam. He stepped forward and began searching through the mail as he thought out loud. “All right, so, I’m ‘Girl, Interrupted,’ and I know the score of the apocalypse, just busted out of the nut-box, possibly using superpowers, by the way. Where do I go?”

As Dean looked through the mail, Sam looked around the bodies and you looked around the living room. You spotted a few pictures and headed forward to take a better look at them. Most of them were of Anna, happy and smiling. Some with her parents and some with her friends. You spotted a certain picture of Anna and her parents standing outside a church. “Hey, Sam, you got those sketches from Anna’s notebook?” he nodded. “Let me see ‘em” He handed you the sketches as you put the picture down for a moment. You skimmed through the sketches and found the one you were looking for. “Check this out.”

They came closer to you to take a glance at what caught your eye. “She was drawing the window of her church.” Sam mumbled. “If you were religious, scared and had demons on your ass, where would you go?” dean said, putting two and twos together.

------------

It didn’t take much time to arrive at the church and to your luck, the place was empty. You and the boys split to check every inch of the place you could but there were no signs of Anna. You all went into the attic as it was the last place left. All of your guns were out and pointed forward, ready to tackle any threat. Sam noticed a movement of shadow behind the stained glass frame. You knew it wasn’t a demon, it had to be the woman you were looking for. You and the boys shared a look and lowered your weapons.

“Anna?” you called out. You took some slow steps forward, not wanting to scare her. Sam thought it would be better to talk to her first, to make her feel safe. “We’re not gonna hurt you. We’re here to help. My name is Sam. This is my brother Dean, and our friend (y/n).” He said.

“Sam?” She repeated. “Not Sam Winchester?”

“Um” he shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah.” He answered.

You saw as she finally walked out of her hiding spot to stand facing you three, with a confused expression. She looked just like the pictures in her house.

It looked like she was going to say something but then she looked over to you. Her expressions immediately changed into something you couldn’t read. She stared at you for a couple moments which made you furrow your brow in confusion. Dean and Sam looked over to you trying to figure out why she was staring at you that way. You were about to ask her when she beat you to it. “Your eyes.” She said, almost to herself.

Your brows knotted in confusion.

“They’re just like I imagined.” She mumbled to herself.

“She’s our friend, (y/n)," Dean spoke in, " you drew her in your sketchbook. You know her?”

She never took her eyes off you as she walked a little forward with small steps.

“No...no, I don't. The whispers were faint but... I heard one of them describing her, so I drew it.” she drifted off. You noticed that she was now staring at the older Winchester.

“And you’re Dean?” she said. “The Dean.”

You were confused and surprised at her choice of words, and so was Sam. You both shared a glance and then looked over to Dean, who rather liked the way he was addressed. “Yeah,” he answered with a smirk forming on his face. “The Dean.” Anna looked at him with a certain glint in her eyes. “It’s really you. Oh, my God. The angels talk about you so much. You were in Hell, but Castiel pulled you out, and some of them think you can save us.” “And you.” She looked over to Sam. “Some of them don’t like you at all. But they talk about you two all the time lately. I feel like I know you.”

“So,” Dean couldn’t help but ask. “You talk to angels?”

“Oh, no. No. No way. Um, they probably don’t even know I exist. I just kind of...overhear them.” She answered with hesitation in her voice. “Overhear them?” you repeated. “Yeah, they talk, and sometimes I just, hear them in my head.”

“Like, right now?” Dean wondered.

“Not right this second, but a lot.” She answered.

“And I can’t shut them out, there are so many of them.” She added.

“So, they lock you up with the cases of crazies when really you were just...tuning into angel radio?” Dean asked, finally understanding a little about the situation. She gave him a slight nod. “Yes, thank you.”

“Anna, when did the voices start?” Sam asked her.

“I can tell you exactly- September eighteenth.” She answered. “First words I heard, clear as a bell- ‘Dean Winchester is saved.’”

Dean looked over to you and Sam and asked. “What do you think?” You merely shrugged while Sam just stood dumbfounded. “Well, at least now we know why demons want you so bad. They get ahold of you, they can hear everything the other side’s cooking. You’re 1-900-Angel.”

Anna smiled at Dean’s strange compliment and even let out a little e laugh. It seemed like she was finally comfortable around you three. “Hey, um, do you know-are my parents okay?”

The question made you frown slightly. “I-I didn’t go home. I was afraid.”

You opened your mouth to answer but you never got the chance from the suddenly slamming of the door you heard coming from behind. You peered over your shoulder to see that it was Ruby. “You got the girl. Good. Let’s go.” She ordered without wasting any time.

“Oh!” Anna screamed in horror. “Her face!”

You realized that Anna was somehow able to see the true faces of everyone. This explained why she reacted the way she did upon seeing you; your purple eyes weren't hidden from her. “She’s here to help.” Sam said to Anna, trying to calm her down. But Dean wasn’t exactly agreeing. “Yeah, don’t be so sure.” He said.

“We have to hurry.” Ruby warned all of you. Dean wasn’t simply going to take her orders so he questioned her. “Because a demon’s coming—big timer. We can fight later Dean.” She answered him.

“Well, that’s pretty convenient.” Dean stated, arguing. “Showing up right when we find the girl with some bigwig on your tail?”

“I didn’t bring him here you did.”

“What?”

“He followed you from the girl’s house. We got to go, now.” She explained.

While Sam and Dean were more focused on the demon, you noticed that an angel statue that was present at the left of the room started bleeding through its eyes. The boys soon looked up towards the direction you were looking when you heard Ruby’s words from behind you making you turn towards her. “It’s too late. He’s here.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Sam was on his feet, trying to take Anna to safety. He told her to hide in a closet at the back of the room, asking her to stay there and not move. You and Dean were looking around the room trying to come up with a possible plan while Dean took out his demon knife and kept it to his side for safety. As Sam walked back towards you, he pulled out his flask of holy water from inside his jacket, ready for the fight.

“No, Sam...” Ruby called out to him. “You gotta pull him right away.”

“Whoa, hold on a sec.” Dean argued. “Now’s not the time to bellyache about Sam going dark side.” She interrupted him. “He does this thing, he exorcises that demon, or we die.”

You and Dean shared worried glances but Sam seemed to agree to Ruby as he pushed the flask back inside his jacket. Before you and Dean could come up with an alternative, you watched as the wooden door of the room flung open wide and a demon possessing an older man in sharp clothing walked in with a slight smirk playing across his face.

He walked across the wooden barricade with an unimpressed impression as Sam raised his hand forward ready to exorcise him. He started concentrating, remembering everything he needed to do to exorcise the demon, but to your horror, the demon only let out a slight cough on his attempt to exorcise him. The demon’s smile grew wider.

“That tickles.” He chuckled out. He took a few steps forwards. For a second he averted his stare from Sam to you and you could swear you felt a change in his expressions.

“You don’t have the juice to take me on, Sam.”

Before anyone could react to what was happening, he easily lifted Sam from the ground and tossed him down the staircase. Without wasting a second, Dean charged at the demon with the demon knife. You and Ruby ran towards the closet where Anna was hiding. You shoved a pile of clothes at side to find her when she screamed in fear. You didn’t have the time to explain things clearly to her so you turned towards Ruby who was standing right beside you.

“Take her somewhere safe will you?” She nodded in assurance as she grabbed her by her arm and ran through the back door. You ran back to the attic to find Dean struggling with the demon. You noticed his knife lying on the floor on a distance from the pair. You silently walked towards it and carefully picked up knife while the demon threw another punch at Dean. As soon as you were close enough, you jammed the knife into the demons shoulder with all your strength. You watched as the orange yellow lights flashed in his wounded shoulder.

“You’re gonna have to try a lot harder than that, girl. I mean I did expect more from you.” He said smugly as he clutched tight to the handle of the knife that was embedded in his shoulder. You felt someone grab you by the shoulder and pull you towards them. You realized that it was Dean as he stopped and looked at you knowingly while the demon struggled with the knife in his shoulder. You gave him an agreeing nod and the next second you and him were running towards the stained glass window of the church which shattered at your contact leaving you falling straight on the ground. You tried to force yourself to look away from the concrete beneath you. You clothes did a decent job of keeping the glass pieces from cutting your skin, but there was a stinging pain in your arm and a throbbing ache resting through your entire body. You lifted your head slightly to see Sam pacing to help you and Dean.

You were slightly hopeful that maybe angels would know more about you or what you are since Anna heard one of them describe you. But then again the demon's words were playing in your head on repeat. I expected more from you. What did he mean by that? You had never seen him before, yet he seemed like he knew you. There was something terribly wrong going on with you, so many questions in your mind about yourself, but no one to answer them for you.

[justonehappyvictory]

It’s Only You I See

Posted on AO3

A late addition for @krysyuy birthday per her request. A Jealous Soo, a new dog, and happy domestic fluff. 

The rain beat against her outstretched hand and splashed onto her shoes. Once again, Soo had not checked the weather and was left stranded without an umbrella. She took shelter under the nearest awning when it started. She had thought about making a run for the bus stop, but riding the bus both cold and wet seemed like the worse option. So, she stayed, her hands itching to call So. Of course, that option was also out of the question. He was meeting up with his mother and she didn't want to add to his stress by asking him to come find her.

She leaned against the window front, sighing. “Looks like I'm just going to have to wait it out.”

A thunk and a whimper from behind caught her attention. A fluffy white dog sat in the window vying for her attention. Its paw scratched where her side laid against the surface and it pressed its nose against the window, clouding it with fast puffs of air. She crouched, tapping her finger gently and waving. The dog jumped up and down in response, it's tail wagging at the speed of light. She smiled at it's antics.

“Well,” she said, looking back at the rain, “I guess it wouldn't hurt to come in, would it? I can keep you company.”

So walked into his apartment feeling less of a person that when he had left it. He shrugged off his jacket, threw his keys in the basket Soo insisted on using, and kicked off his shoes. He dragged his feet over to the couch, throwing himself atop of it. If he slept for the next thousand years, maybe then all the stress his mother laid upon him would lessen a degree.

“Soo,” he called out, her name slightly muffled by the couch. “Soo, are you home? I could really use your kisses right now.”

He waited for the soft brush of her hand, her long strands tickling his nose as she leaned down, the warmth of her breath on his cheeks right before her lips made contact, but that's not what he received. Instead, something snorted a hot and smelly breath in his face followed by swift, wet licks on his ear, making him jerk away and sit up. He looked down to see a dog wagging its tail and panting for affection.

“Um, Soo-yah?”

The dog jumped into his lap. Not knowing what to do, he raised his arms over its body, letting it curl around his torso. It wasn't long after that that his girlfriend came out of the bathroom, wrapped in a robe and running a towel through her head. She stilled when she saw the two. “Oh, I, um, didn't hear you come in.”

His eyes flicked to the furry creature in his lap. “Is there something you need to tell me?”

“I got a dog?” Her smile was conflicted as she raised her arms over her head to make a heart.

He lowered his arms with a sigh, his hands plunging into the dog's fur, which was much softer than he had imagined it to be.

“It couldn't be helped,” she said, pouting. “We bonded. And I've already named him, so I can't take him back.”

“Can we really take care of a dog right now?” He stroked the dog's back, all the way down the long tail. It seemed to calm him and he rolled in his lap to give his new owner access to his belly, to which So complied.

Soo crossed the room and sat down next to him. She laid her head on his shoulder and her finger drew tiny circles in his shirt. “Just think of it as... practice for when we have kids.”

So chuckled. “We're going to have kids?”

“Psh, as if you haven't thought of it. I heard you talking to Baek Ah about baby names, mister.” She scrunched his nose at him. “Besides, it looks like you've already bonded with Pegasus.”

She wasn't wrong. The dog's leg kicked with satisfaction as he continued to rub his belly and his tongue hung out happily. “What kind of name is Pesus?”

“It's Peg-a-sus. You know, after the constellation.”

“That's what I said.” Pegasus flopped off of him, bounding towards the window. He barked at a bird sitting on the sill. So watched him with amusement. With a small smile, he realized the unexpectedness of the dog had driven his mother from his mind. He could get used to having a dog, especially one as happy as his unsuspecting girlfriend. “Well, I guess we have a dog now.”

“Yay,” she said. She pulled him into a kiss and his stress began to melt away.

Soo yawned and stretched to wrap herself in So's warmth, but she was met only with emptiness. She sat up and looked around. He wasn't in bed and the bathroom was dark. She moved her way through the apartment, seeing that Pegasus was gone, too. “I guess he took him for a walk.”

It was an hour before they both came home. The first thing she noticed was the damp ends of So's hair, the second was the running gear he had bought over a year ago and never wore, the third was the massive flash of white that hurdled to the bowls of food and fresh water she had laid out for Pegasus. So scuttled after, eyes bright and dazed with fatigue. He pulled her close to his body, nuzzling into her cheek.

“It smells delicious,” he murmured.

“Well, I should hope so.” She tried to wipe the dampness from his hair on his shoulder, only to find damp clothes and tried again with her own dry arm, eliciting a chuckle from So. “I've worked all morning on breakfast with no interruptions. Why the sudden urge to go running?”

“I never had a running partner before. And now we have a dog with way too much pent up energy, as I noticed when he dragged me out of bed this morning.”

“I would've ran with you,” she said through a pout.

“You?” He wiped a bit of flour from her nose. “You would wake up at 6am on a week-end to go running for ten or more miles?”

She pursed her lips. “Ok, so, maybe I wouldn't have, but it would've been nice to be asked so that I could personally tell you no.”

“Well, if I asked you to come take a shower with me, will you personally tell me yes?” He trailed light kisses along her neck, nibbled on the lobe of her ear. Her breath shuddered.

“It's very tempting,” she said. “But what about the food?”

“The food will still be here when we get back.” He flashed her one quick smile before ducking and grabbing her around the waist and stealing her away into the bedroom.

And the food was not there when they got back. It was smeared all over the kitchen floor, steeped into every strand of their's new dog's white coat, and the rest, they presumed, in Pegasus' stomach. Soo did not mind the clean up, nor did she mind setting up new rules regarding food and sex, but she did mind continuously waking up to an empty bed.

She had taken for granted all the times he would roll over in the morning, scooping her into his arms and kissing her bare shoulder. She began to miss snuggling for an extra ten or fifteen minutes and talking about the weird dreams they had or making fun of each other for morning breath but still kissing anyway. Now he was gone before she was even close to waking up, only cold pillows and tossed aside blankets to greet her. Morning had been her favorite time with So and a little bit of green began to wriggle its way in.

Pegasus barely lifted his head when Soo came home from work. A quick swish-swish of his tail and a low gruff woof was the only greeting she received. She sat next to him on the couch, curling around his body and letting her fingers run through his thick fur. “I had such a hard day at work, fluffy one. Couldn't you offer me a kiss at least?”

Pegasus whined but still turned and licked the side of her face. She brought his snout closer to kiss, but he refused her and she got his ear instead. “I guess I'll take what I can get. Are you hungry, Pegasus? Should I get you some food?”

Pegasus wriggled out from underneath and bounded for the pantry, scratching at the door with a whine in his throat. She sighed as she made her way over, tired but still glad to have company instead of an empty apartment. So had texted her earlier saying that his meetings were running late and not to expect him home for dinner. She had gotten use to his presence at the dinner table again. One of the good things about him running in the mornings, was that he didn't go to the gym after work anymore. She got more time with him in the evenings. They walked Pegasus together, stopping at the pet store when he had tore his way through a toy again or the bakery to get some pastries for the morning or getting ice cream when the weather was just right. It was a routine she loved settling into.

But tonight was going to be an altered routine. One where she got to eat ramen and have fried chicken delivered, and So wouldn't say he didn't want any only to steal bites while she wasn't looking and she wouldn't scold him only to give in to his sheepish grins. She could feel like a glutton and wash her stress away with high contents of grease, sodium, and beer. And Pegasus would root for her and be her number one fan.

Except, Pegasus was only her number one fan because she shared her chicken with him. And, when the chicken ran out, he passed out on the couch behind her, head resting on her shoulder as she sat on the floor watching dramas and scratching the back of his ear. His leg thumped in sleepy content.

Soo was halfway through a drama when Pegasus's head perked up. His tail wagged with hesitation and low woofs rumbled in his mouth.

“What is it, boy?” she asked, but it was answered when she heard the code being entered at the door.

At that sound, Pegasus rocketed off the couch, kicking Soo in the back of the head in his haste, and flew to the door in a flurry of barks. Soo's mouth dropped open in offense, at the dog not only racing to greet So when she had barely even got a kiss, but the way his whole body, not just his tail, wagged in excitement. She scoffed at the way he jumped all over So, trying to lick some part of him. She sneered when, finally, Pegasus knocked So to the floor when he tried to take his shoes off, scattering his belongings across the floor, and So gave in to his barrage of affection.

“Alright, already, Pesus,” So said in-between laughs, “I love you, too, you big lump of fur.”

Soo crossed her arms over her chest. “Your name isn't even Pesus,” she mumbled to herself. “How could you give more love to the guy who can't even pronounce your name?”

So laid in bed with his head on Soo's chest, listening to her heartbeat and her soft snores. He raised his head and chuckled at the sight of her drooling onto her hair fanned across the pillow. The clock next to her told him his alarm would go off in ten minutes and he knew he would hit the snooze just so that he could be next to her a few minutes more. He wiped the drool with his thumb and she stirred.

“Cold,” she murmured. She rolled closer to him and he let her shove her feet in-between his legs.

“Soo-yah?”

“Hmm.”

“I'm going to propose to you soon,” he whispered into her hair.

She snuggled closer into him. “Warm,” she replied through a yawn and he knew she did not hear him at all.

Soo thought it was weird, the way Pegasus began to walk around the apartment in a stately manner. His steps slow and purposeful, his head straight and still, his ears perked with intent. It wasn't all the time, usually in short small bursts down the hallway or across the living room, but enough for her to question what on earth he was doing. She'd try to reason why or how but he'd just as quickly become enthralled by the flecks of dust in the light and she'd forget about it until the next time it happened.

She soon picked up on So's new habit of giving Pegasus small items the size of her fist to bring to her. Pegasus would do as he was told and Soo would shoot So a questioning glance. He would just shrug and walk away, Pegasus close at his heels and gobbling up the small treat So pulled from his pocket.

She came home once to find Pegasus sitting in the middle of the living room, looking miserable with a small top hat resting on his head. When So had come into the room with a tiny dog veil in his hand, he stumbled over excuses, finally settling on a costume contest for pets. She didn't believe him, but brushed it off, too tired from work to figure out where his panic was coming from.

But she felt the loneliest and most envious when So and Pegasus seemed to leave her out of so many things. So took over walking the dog in the evenings, leaving her home with nothing to do. On the weekends, So would visit his brothers and take Pegasus with him. She would stop by the pet store on the way home from work to get Pegasus a new toy, only to come home and see So had already gotten him one and Pegasus would pay no mind to the one she got. Or So would go to sleep before her and, when she came to bed, Pegasus would be curled next to him. She tried to push him away, but he'd just lightly woof at her and she'd call him a traitor before kissing his snout and going to sleep herself.

She just couldn't understand why getting a dog had made So more distant instead of bringing them closer together or why he wasn't including her in their adventures together when she would very much like to be included.

So walked with a skip in his step, his hand swaying their arms in a wide arc. They were out of character this time – him rambunctious and cheery, her quiet and calm. But the breeze carried the smell of blossoms and with each step her mood lightened. She still tingled with jealousy over their dog who stole more and more time with her boyfriend, over her boyfriend who received more love from their dog, but, also, felt foolish for letting such things get to her, that it didn't really matter.

But, today, she had So to herself and couldn't help but feel a bit pleased about it. She rested her head on his shoulder, arms gripped tight around his as they walked, and she could still smell Pegasus on his shirt underneath his cologne.

“Do you remember?” he asked. “The first time we met.”

“It's hard to forget.”

He stopped and pointed at the stop walk. “It was right there. You were standing too close to the curb and a man bumped into you and you stumbled into the road -”

“Into oncoming traffic.”

“-and I pulled you back. And then, right there,” he pointed to a bookstore across the street, “is where we met again. My brother recognized you as the girl who spied on men in the locker room at his gym.”

“I wasn't spying,” she murmured, her face reddening. “I just... went into the wrong room.”

He took her hand and tugged her forward. “Come on, there's still more to see.”

Soo was curious what he meant. She had seen this street hundreds of times, maybe some store fronts changed or a new food truck popped on the road, but the trees always changed with the seasons and it always smelled the same no matter what. She wondered what the real intention behind this outing was. What are you up to, Wang So?

So kept checking his watch in-between pointing out different places and spots. There's where they shared their first ice cream and right there is she saw him cry for the first time and that park bench is where they first kissed. “And, do you know,” he said, “when I knew I loved you?”

She laughed. “Was it at that lamp post? Or that coffee shop? Maybe it was right next to that recycling bin?”

“No," he said, rapping on her forehead. She rubbed at the spot, playfully glaring at him. "It was at my brother's engagement party. We had gone to that karaoke bar afterwards. And you had sung a song for them. That's when I knew I loved you.” He pulled her up and kissed her. “That's when I knew there was no one else for me.”

She blushed under his gaze, burning with anticipation. She was a spark, waiting to be ignited, waiting for certain words to come out. If he said them now, she would say yes. But they didn't come and she fizzled as he looked at his phone and said, “Well, I think that's enough walking today. Let's go home.”

So made sure to reach the door of their apartment first. All day, while he kept Soo out of the apartment, he hoped his brothers were able to set everything up just as he had asked them, too. Hoped that Pegasus was in a cooperative mood. Hoped. And breathed a prayer. He rushed inside and to the middle of the living room. He beckoned Pegasus, lounging on the couch and dressed in a tiny tuxedo, to come to him. The dog sat just at his feet as Soo came in.

“Why did you practically ru-” And she stopped. First, she saw the peonies and fairy lights covering all surfaces of their apartment. Second, she saw So's brothers, all seven of them, lined across the room with blown up pictures of her and him together And then So and Pegasus right in the center of them. “What is this?” she whispered, putting all the pieces together, feeling ashamed, delirious, and euphoric all at once. “Is this what you two have been doing all this time? You kept leaving me behind to plan for this?”

So didn't answer. He smiled and clicked his tongue. Pegasus walked forward with majesty and nudged her leg, offering her a small slightly slobbered on velvet box. Her hands shook as she took it.

“I swear to god, you guys,” Soo said, tears building in her eyes and her voice wavering, “if this is some kind of elaborate joke, I will kill each and everyone of you.”

One by one, each brother flipped over their photo, their cards forming one sentence between them – HAE SOO WILL YOU MARRY OUR BROTHER? Soo couldn't help but laugh at them – Mu and Wook with their gentle, polite smiles; Baek Ah, Jung, and Eun teary-eyed with wide, cheesy grins; Yo and Won looking more pained than happy. Pegasus barked and wiggled in circles around her, struggling to remove his outfit now that his primary job was complete. She turned to So, but her tears blurred him. “Is this really happening? Are you really proposing?”

“Soo-yah,” So said. He reached forward and, since she wasn't opening the box, plucked it from her hands and knelt on bended knee. He opened the box and she choked out a sob, bringing her hands up to her face at the sight of a solitary rose quartz ring adorned with small gold blossoms. “I can't remember exactly what drew me to you, but there are too many reasons now why I can't let you go. My love is beyond measure and I want you to be my one and only queen.”

“Yah,” Yo called out, “this is too cheesy.”

“Noona, say yes!” Jung said.

Baek Ah whistled and Eun began to chant, “Marry him.”

So reddened. “Soo-yah, will you be my wife?”

Soo knelt down with So, wiping at her face she knew was now red and splotchy. She took the ring from the box and slid it on to her finger. So illuminated. “How could I possibly say no to you? Of course I want you to be my husband.”

As Soo reached for him, ready to kiss him, Pegasus barreled between them, knocking So over. Pegasus licked every inch of his face and Soo laughed, no longer envious of their camaraderie. “No, no, you fluffy traitor,” she said, pushing the dog and all remnants of her jealousy away, “he's mine.”

[dragonandtiger]

Fragments - 17

While the sight of such a large and majestic looking door signalling the end of their journey should have been a relief, it only served to make the Chosen Children and their Digimon entourage wary - wary of what trap, puzzle, or DigiGods knew what else awaited them. No one was willing to truly believe that their long, laborious, frustrating trip through the enemy’s stronghold was finally over - if anything, the worst was yet to come.

After taking a long, lingering look at the door, Ryo and Keiko glanced at each other with a similar grimness tightening their faces. They nodded ever so slightly before Ryo turned back to the others. “Ken, you and Wormmon take Neemon and Bokomon further down the hall a bit while Leomon and Nyamon open the door. It’s probably boobytrapped like the others.”

“Right!” Ken said before he swiftly picked up his partner and backed away a considerable distance. “Come on, Neemon! Bokomon!”

“C-coming!” Bokomon said, the Kappa Digimon waddling after Ken as quickly as his legs could carry him. “Hurry up, Neemon! Get out of the way!”

“Get out of the way of what?” Neemon asked as he cocked his head to the side.

Bokomon let out a low grumble as he raced back to grab Neemon by the cheek and drag the yellow Digimon after him, Neemon squealing in pain and flailing the entire way.

FlaWizarmon watched after Neemon and Bokomon with a wry grin. “Never fails, eh?”

Witchmon let out a quiet cackle. “Neemon is so lucky to have a friend like Bokomon to look out for him.”

Nyamon gave a sharp nod before she turned to look at Leomon, who stood beside her in front of the door. “Is everyone ready?”

Leomon nodded before he took a battle position, his fists raised. “Ready.”

Ryo and Keiko went to opposite sides of the doorway where they could watch from relative safety.

“Do it!” Keiko shouted as she pumped her fist into the air.

Nyamon drew her fist back at the same time as Leomon and, together, the two beast Digimon punched the door with all their might. The door shattered like glass, bursting into data as it was completely destroyed, revealing the monstrous throne room that awaited them.

Keiko and Ryo both cautiously peered inside as all four Digimon waited for their next obstacle, not daring to enter the room just yet until they had caught sight of it.

“You took your dear sweet time getting here, didn’t you? I was beginning to think you had given up, retreating with your tails between your legs.”

A deep, distorted voice echoed through the room, though it seemed to be empty as far as the eye could see. However, the voice itself confirmed that this was not the case, even if they couldn’t see the source itself just yet.

“Chimeramon,” Ryo said, voice low.

“The one and only,” the voice agreed, with a deep chuckle. “Though that’s Lord Chimeramon to you.”

“Actually, we’re just going to call you an idiot and kick your butt,” Keiko said with a smirk as she folded her arms over her chest.

There was a pregnant pause before the voice returned. “And I will call you an insolent whelp and kill you where you stand.”

“Not going to happen,” Ryo said as he clenched a fist. “We’re going to stop you right here and right now!”

“You’re welcome to try!” the voice retorted, before a bright golden light appeared at the center of the room. Before their very eyes, data came together, taking form. The Digimon was nothing like they had ever seen, more like a mixture of multiple Digimon. It had the grey head of an insect, the white feet of a beast, the tan tail of a dinosaur, the orange chest of a different dinosaur, two white feathered wings with two red leathery wings beneath them, a right skeleton arm paired with a left red insect arm, and finally two black twisted arms that horrifying reminded Ryo of Devimon.

Overall, it was nothing less than pure chaos.

“Behold!” the Digimon said, triumphantly. “Lord Chimeramon!”

Nyamon was silent for several moments before her expression deadpanned. “The hell is that mess.”

Ryo gawked at the abomination before them, eyes wide. “What in the world…?”

“That’s… a chimera, alright,” FlaWizarmon said as he scratched at his head with his left hand. “It suuuure is a chimera.”

“Well, he’s not wrong,” Witchmon said thoughtfully as she tapped her chin. “A chimera is a combination of different creatures, after all. A lot of familiar creatures in this case.”

“You look like something a toddler drew,” Keiko said, arms folded.

Chimeramon’s cheek visibly twitched. “What was that.”

A small smirk quirked at the corner of Keiko’s mouth. “Then the toddler chewed up the drawing and threw it back up again.”

Chimeramon’s cheek twitched again, the twitching growing rapidly more violent. “How dare you speak so insolently to me! You ugly little creature!”

Keiko pretended to yawn. “If you’re done talking about yourself, can we get to the point?” She glanced at Nyamon as she pulled out her Digivice. “Time to kick butt.”

“With pleasure!” Nyamon said as she crouched before the light of evolution overtook her, and she was soon replaced with that of Primal Angewomon.

“You got it, Lady Keiko!” FlaWizarmon said as he drew both of his matchsticks. “Yer in trouble now, buddy!”

Witchmon cackled as she brought the back of her hand to her lips. “You’re going to pay for that little maze of yours.”

“Ryo!” Leomon said, lifting his fist up. “I am ready as well!”

“Right!” Ryo shouted as he whipped out his Digivice, and soon Leomon was replaced with his evolution as well.

Chimeramon gave a sniff of his nostrils before he loomed forward, flashing the children a sneer. “Come, insects! Come and die at the hands of your god!”

Primal Angewomon was the first to strike, lunging forward to slam her claws against Chimeramon’s chin. Despite the considerable size difference, the blow was enough to snap the beast’s head upwards.

Chimeramon retaliated in kind, swinging one of his devil arms about to strike Primal Angewomon down to the ground, sending her into a crash that splintered the stone that made up the floor.

Panjamon gave a roar as he came from the other side, sprinting up the wall to gain altitude before leaping across the room to kick the monstrous Digimon in the side of the head, causing Chimeramon to stumble to the side before righting himself and striking the beast Digimon with a feathered wing.

“Useless!” Chimeramon snapped. “Is that the best you can do!?”

“I reckon we can do a lot more than that!” FlaWizarmon said with a smirk before aiming both of his matchsticks at the huge Digimon, sending a burst of fire his way that singed the fur on his legs.

“Heat Viper!” Chimeramon somehow shouted, despite his mouth gaping open wide to shoot a red beam at FlaWizarmon. Even as the scarecrow leapt out of the way, the shockwave of the blast still caused the entire room to rumble, kicking loose bricks from the wall as well as toppling pillars that lined the room.

The shockwave even went so far that Ken and the two Digimon down the hallway were thrown about by it, with Ken falling to his knees with a cry as Bokomon and Neemon wobbled about.

“Ay-yai-yai…!” Bokomon stammered as he stumbled about. “Oh my, oh no!”

“Yaaaay~!” Neemon said, raising his arms over his head and wiggling them as he moved with the rumblings. “The hallway’s dancing!”

Keiko and Ryo both braced themselves in the doorway, each holding onto a side as they waited out the shockwave. Their legs wobbled but thankfully the archway held, standing firm until the ground - and the room - finally stopped quaking.

“Are you alright, dearies?” Witchmon asked as she hovered on her broom over the two Chosen Children.

“Yes, by all means, tremble with fear before me!” Chimeramon said, with a deep-throated laugh. “For all the good it will do you!”

Keiko laughed, low and mocking. “You call that scary? I’ve seen Digimon throw tantrums more intimidating than that.”

Chimeramon paused at that before he reared up. “What did you say!? Did you not see the way the very foundation beneath your feet quaked, shaking the entire fortress at its very core?!”

“Narakumon does more damage just by stepping outside,” Keiko said with a cheeky grin.

Chimeramon’s nostrils flared as he glared down at the insolent girl. “Damage, is it? It’s damage you want?” The large Digimon fanned his wings, murderous rage clear in his eyes. “Then it is damage you shall have!” He reared up before he shot another red beam - this time, directly at Keiko.

Primal Angewomon dove into the way, bringing her arms up to shield herself as she had no choice but to take the full brunt of the attack. As the blast hit her, it sent another shockwave through the air, sending both Ryo and Keiko to the ground and Primal Angewomon herself backwards and through the wall behind them.

Keiko cried out her partner’s name out of instinct as she watched Primal Angewomon’s body slam through one wall to the next. Her throat constricted with the quickening of her pulse, but fear swiftly melted to anger that darkened the very air around her as she turned her blood red gaze back to Chimeramon. “Bastard.”

Chimeramon smirked down at Keiko before he opened his mouth again. “Heat-”

FlaWizarmon dove forward, swinging both his matchsticks forward to shoot a blast of flame directly into the beast’s mouth. Chimeramon let out a strangled cry as he jerked backwards, the flame launching deep into the back of his throat and singing flesh as it went.

Panjamon took the opportunity to attack, leaping through the air to slam his fist into the side of Chimeramon’s head. And while it jerked the massive beast’s head to the side, the abomination quickly recovered and whipped his head about to return the favor, striking the lion Digimon with the same force as a fist.

Witchmon swooped by Panjamon and enveloped him in her cape as he passed by. In an instant, it was as though his momentum was seamlessly altered from downward to upward, allowing him time to recover enough to catch himself by the time he fell back towards the ground at a relatively slower pace. She didn’t stop to take in her work or his landing on his feet that broke tile and scarred them with his claws, flying straight at Chimeramon with a spell circle forming in her hand. “Poison Storm!”

Chimeramon was too busy lunging at FlaWizarmon to notice the attack. It wasn’t until Witchmon’s voice rang out that he finally looked up just in time to see the spell circle go off, blasting him head on. The enormous beast grunted as he bore the brunt of the attack before he swatted at Witchmon with all four of his limbs, attempting to strike her down.

Witchmon barely managed to dodge the first attack with only a graze of his claw along her arm while the second knocked off her hat and ghost cat, the latter howling. The third and fourth hit only air as she teleported back to the others. “Man, he’s fast,” she panted once safely out of his reach.

“Somethin’ that big ain’t got no business being that fast,” FlaWizarmon muttered as he held his matchsticks at the ready.

“It doesn’t matter,” Keiko said, her expression grim. “It’s only a matter of time now.”

“I agree,” Chimeramon said as he straightened up. “It’s only a matter of time before I crush you!” With a snarl, he lunged forward, kicking his foot out in an attempt to crush Keiko between his toes.

Primal Angewomon rejoined the fight in an instant, surging forward to snag the foot before it could even get close to her partner. She held the foot firmly, even as Chimeramon pushed down hard upon her. “Threats like that lose their impact the more you spout them.”

“Especially when ya ain’t able to make good on ‘em!” FlaWizarmon agreed as he brought his matchsticks up to blast Chimeramon with his fire while the behemoth was distracted.

Chimeramon stumbled back, yanking his foot away, before he whipped about to strike the fire with his tail, dissipating it with a burst of sparks. He continued with his spin, bringing his tail about to strike at Panjamon as the lion Digimon got close again.

Panjamon narrowly avoided the tail, leaping over it just before it slammed into the wall, shattering the bricks and caving said wall in like a house of cards.

“He’s pretty tough,” Ryo muttered, gripping his hands tightly. “He’s taking on all four of them at once, and doesn’t seem to be tiring at all.”

Keiko gave a small nod, her expression grim as she kept her eyes on Chimeramon. “But he also hasn’t been able to ‘destroy’ us as easily as he keeps claiming he will, so he’s not nearly as powerful as he thinks he is.”

“You underestimate me, which shall lead to your downfall!” Chimeramon scoffed, startling the two Chosen Children as they jerked to stare up at him. “You are but flies compared to my majesty! Your precious ‘attacks’ are little more than a mosquito bite!”

Ryo blinked before he quirked an eyebrow. “So which is it, are we flies or mosquitos?”

Chimeramon paused at that, then bristled. “You are insects, begging to be squashed!” He then lunged forward, reaching his four hands downward in a strike at the human children. “And squash you, I shall!”

Primal Angewomon intercepted Chimeramon yet again, lunging at his face with a mighty swipe of her claws. As blood and data burst from her strike, it didn’t seem to phase Chimeramon as he snapped his head and opened his mouth wide.

The light of Chimeramon’s attack didn’t get an opportunity to glow as Panjamon lunged forward, slamming his feet into the abomination’s snout and forcing his mouth closed with an audible ‘snap’.

Chimeramon jerked forward from the force of the blow, then whipped his head about, striking both Panjamon and Primal Angewomon with either side of his snout, sending the two in opposite directions into the walls.

Chimeramon straightened up as he gave a snort, flexing the muscles on his multiple arms. “You fools are wasting your time! Even with an army, you would never be able to defeat me!”

“We’re not wastin’ our time,” FlaWizarmon said, with a cheeky grin. “We’re wastin’ yours.”

“And you’re quickly running out~!” Witchmon agreed, steepling her fingertips together as she giggled.

Chimeramon paused at that. “What?”

“Are you really that oblivious?” Keiko asked, with a smirk. “You’d have to be pretty dense not to feel what’s happening.”

Chimeramon paused at that before he glanced down, just enough to see the purple splotches appearing on his skin. Bits of data drifted upwards as the poison ate away at his flesh, slowly but steadily.

“The poison’s spreading rapidly through your body,” Primal Angewomon said as she hovered in front of the Chosen Children, acting as a barrier between them and their opponent. “As it devours your body, it will weaken you until it gives us the opportunity we need to finish you once and for all.”

“This ends now, Chimeramon,” Ryo said as he pointed at the mighty beast. “You’ll never be able to hurt anyone ever again!”

Chimeramon narrowed his eyes as he focused his attention on the humans, in particular the smug expression on Keiko’s face and that of her entourage. He flared his nose before he hunched forward, clenching his twisted claws as if he were strangling each of them. “Let us see about that, shall we?”

With that, a strange golden glow engulfed the mighty Digimon. While faint at first, it quickly grew in intensity, with a slow flashing that began to increase its tempo with every passing second. Chimeramon let out a bestial roar as the pulsating glow grew increasingly violent.

FlaWizarmon gripped his matchsticks as he crouched, watching the sight with no small amount of consternation. “Somethin’s happenin’.”

“Get ready,” Witchmon said warily as she crossed her arms before her.

Ryo frowned as the strange light show reminded him of something. When a thought of certain video game mechanics struck him, panic jolted through him. “Get back! He’s making an explosion!”

Keiko whipped her head towards Ryo, incredulous. “What? How can you-”

“Just trust me and run!” Ryo shouted as he seized Keiko by the arm and bolted towards the door.

FlaWizarmon stared after the humans, then at Chimeramon. The smug expression on the flashing Digimon’s face answered the scarecrow’s question, leaving him both shocked and horrified. “The hell you doin’, you idiot!?”

“Death is but a passing inconvenience to a god,” Chimeramon replied, with a toothy steer. “If it means taking you with me, I will gladly walk the path of destruction!”

“Y-you’re insane!” Panjamon gasped out.

Primal Angewomon grimaced before she whirled, moving quickly to snatch Keiko under one arm and Ryo with the other. “Move it!”

“Yes, run! Flee for your lives! See what good your efforts do you!” Chimeramon roared out. “Even darkness can’t flee from death!”

FlaWizarmon grimaced. If the beast’s words were anything to go by, then the explosion would be big - far too large to escape, especially when hindered by the maze-like structure. Their only option was to neutralize the threat of the explosion itself. And given how long the fight had dragged on, there was no way they’d be able to kill Chimeramon before he detonated. Even worse, their attacks ran the risk of setting him off.

If they couldn’t get away and they couldn’t stop him, what was left? What options did they have?

FlaWizarmon’s eyebrows shot up before he whirled to his companion. “Witchmon!”

Witchmon’s cape expanded as she neared her friends when she heard FlaWizarmon’s call. Their eyes met before he directed his gaze to Chimeramon. In that moment, she understood what he had in mind and rounded on her broom to charge straight at the cackling monster.

“By all means, struggle! Scream! Beg!” Chimeramon crowed as the flashing intensified until it became nearly a singular light. “For all the good-”

Chimeramon was immediately cut off as Witchmon’s cape suddenly engulfed him like a black tidalwave. The behemoth’s expression went completely blank, the words dying on hips lips as the cape gave way to open sky. Far above lush forests, with the fortress far in the distance, both Chimeramon and Witchmon appeared with a flutter of her cape.

Witchmon flashed Chimeramon a smirk, one final parting shot before she quickly wrapped her cape around her. She disappeared once more, leaving the behemoth to his fate. Chimeramon’s expression remained blank as he began to plummet to the ground like a stone, seconds before he detonated. The surge of energy vaporized the trees around him, and even the ground as he descended towards it.

With a deafening crack, trees and earth turned to ash - as did Chimeramon himself.