#2019 earthquake

[familythings]

Hurricane Helene: How You Can Help Victims in North Carolina and in Other States

These days I’ve been following all the terrible news arriving from states in the southern USA. Hurricane Helene, despite holding the name of a very beautiful woman, is causing the same level of damage that the ancient Helen brought to Troy. I see lost roads, completely demolished houses, fallen trees, adding number of dead people, and very afraid people in shock asking for help and appealing for…

[courseyoulovemeyoudontknowme]

Frozen II (Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee)

06/06/2024

[bragascreenshot]

[fortune-maiden]

Finished Season 1 rewatch!

I really am having a lot of trouble believing Season 1 was written with The Twist in mind ^^”

[shihlun]

Koki Tanaka

- Vulnerable Histories (A Road Movie)

2019

[megaclubdiolis]

柄本 佑 || いだてん～東京オリムピック噺～ (2019) | ep22/23

[andromedasummer]

WE HAVE A DATE FOR THE CENTRAL LIBRARY OPENING!!!! 2026!!!!

[seashorepics]

On this day in – film, television, music, and modern culture

On January 12th, several notable events in film, television, music, and modern culture have occurred: Film and Television: 1966: The live-action TV series “Batman” premiered on ABC, starring Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin. Batman and Robin go to Drive-In for Bat-Burgers, Orangeades – 1966 1971: “All in the Family” debuted on CBS, becoming known for its frank and satirical…

[in-sufficientdata]

6 years out of the cult and yet when an earthquake hits southern California there's a little piece of me going, "It's happening, this is it"

(No one who understands reality can really believe that California is going to sink)

[thebibliosphere]

In case you were wondering how deep down the Batfam fixation hole I am, it's something I've actually been talking about in therapy a lot.

Not like, in a worried way, more just when my therapist asks me what I'm doing in my downtime, my answer always used to be either "sleeping" or "I don't have downtime. I have too much work to do."

Now my answer is "playing my Batman game" or "watching Batman show/reading comics/writing unhinged Batman x Muppet fanfic."

And my therapist is delighted. She's fucking ecstatic. She's like, "You have interests again!" and I'm like !!!! Because here's the thing.

Almost dying in 2019 kinda irrevocably fucked up my brain, like, a lot. Like a lot, a lot. And I've been grieving over that for the last few years as well as recovering from the physical aspects of it. And to cope with it, I threw myself into work even though I wasn't physically or mentally well enough, and that made everything worse, and well, if you've been here, you know.

My brain has not been kind to me for a long time. It still isn't. But I do the work. I do multiple types of therapy a week. I piece myself back together on the daily and try to remember what it means to be human and not just this numb static void that sometimes sounds like shrieking if you listen too closely.

And then randomly, a few months ago a friend bought me Gotham Knights on Steam, and it was like a light turned back on. The engine that'd been refusing to turn over for years suddenly sputtered back to life, and something in my brain went, "Hey, I remember this... this is fun?"

And then I started tentatively searching the tags here on Tumblr, and yeah, actually. I remember this. I remember enjoying this. I can dip my toes into this. This is safe. This is a childhood interest from Before the almost-dying-trauma. And besides, it won't get in the way of my work. This isn't going to consume me. Nothing consumes me like it used to. I'm too broken for that.

Except, haha, jokes on me because, for some fucking reason, Brucie fucking Wayne and his gaggle of chaotic crime-fighting children is what reached into my brain, picked up my trauma, and started shaking it loose like a category 7 earthquake.

I actually laughed about that with my therapist a few weeks ago. Of all characters, of all pieces of media, it's Batman that's helping me process a significant chunk of my emotional trauma in a healthy way.

The most emotionally constipated vigilante in superhero existence, and I'm weeping like a child every time I get an achievement in Gotham Knights, and it says some bullshit like this:

ID: a purple steam achievement icon that says: He'd Be So Proud Of You. Reach the maximum level as any member of the Batman Family. 6.3% of players have this achievement. /end ID.

(for context, Batman is dead in this game, and you are playing as his emotionally devastated children trying to keep it together. Wailing, gnashing, crying, throwing up etc, etc.)

And my therapist, who has sat with me through EMDR sessions and a multitude of other shit designed to rewire your brain, just shrugs and says, "Sometimes we need to externalize our emotions through safe media. For you, right now, that safety is Batman having a relationship with the Muppets."

And like... okay, yeah. I'll take the win on that one.

[reality-detective]

You won't see or hear this 👇 on your tv, in fact you probably won't see it anywhere...

The below is the first of a series on the Deep State Cabal’s Underground DUMB Tunnels used for US illegal bioweapon labs and Child Sex Trafficking, Organ and Adrenochrome Harvesting.

· On 20 Feb. 2017 Julian Assange unveiled a bombshell on Fox News Hannity, alleging that Wikileaks had hard proof that former President Barack Hussein Obama, along with his sidekick Joe Biden, operated and participated in a pedophile ring based in the White House.

· On New Year’s Day 2021 and a few weeks before the Biden fake Presidential Inauguration that was partially filmed on a Hollywood movie set, Delta Forces (under direction of President Trump) had raided Joe Biden’s 200 acre property in the Ukraine. The Military found a maze of underground chambers and tunnels that ran for miles in every direction. Bits of necrotic flesh hung from ankle and wrist shackles bolted to the walls. Seized laptops were said full of evidence of Biden’s massive international money laundering, gun/ drug running, child/human trafficking scheme – that appeared connected to other high powerful elites.

· Within this last month the recently arrested Satan worshipping Jeffrey Epstein of Hollywood, P Diddy, was exposed by his daughter Ally Carter. Ally was a survivor of pedophilia and human trafficking and she dropped a bombshell: there’s an entire network of tunnels that spans across the United States, connecting cities such as beneath the White House in Washington DC and Disney World Florida. These tunnels, Carter claims, are being used to traffic humans, mainly children.

· Since at least the end of World War II, an extensive Worldwide network of DUMB Underground Tunnels used for Child Sex Trafficking have been financed, built and run by members of the illuminati, Deep State, or Cabal using US taxpayer dollars funneled through a CIA Black budget.

· This was about child sex rings and blackmail at the highest levels of government. Evidently President George H.W. Bush orchestrated a child sex ring to blackmail Congress and top officials. It was named “Operation Brownstone” and “Operation Brownstar”.

· A secret US Military Operation trained for over a year on how to rescue what became millions of horrifically abused children from that extensive network of Underground DUMB Tunnels. It ran across the US, Canada, Mexico, South America and then throughout the World. Recent operations centered beneath major cities in New York, California, Florida, Washington DC and Disney World in Florida.

· The vast Worldwide child rescue missions was headed by President Trump, the Pentagon Pedophile Task Force, US Special Forces and Marines in cooperation with Interpol, and various nations’ special military forces. They included arrests of pedophile perpetrators and destruction of the underground tunnels and bases through bombs that caused minor earthquakes.

· The rescues began on Oct. 16 2019 when US Marines, Navy Seals and Special Forces rescued over 2,100 caged babies and children beneath the China Lake Navy facility in California. The children and teens were said to have been sexually abused, tortured and killed to collect their adrenaline.

Secret Underground Tunnels Beneath Florida! Sat. 12 Oct. 2024: EXPOSED: Secret Underground Tunnels Beneath Florida! The Hidden Network Under Ybor City You Were Never Meant to Discover.

And after hurricane Milton blew through, Ezra Cohen who has been a very accurate source posted 👇

I'm going to try to keep up with this series, and let's see what comes up about Taiwan 🤔

[stochastictimeline]

so! we got a canon bday (with a year!!) for wang qing. let's talk about it!

so, as we're painfully aware, the current year is 2019. we're told the fire happened 10 years ago, so logically one would assume it was 2009? right?

well, we're also told that wang qing was a student there at the time. however, in 2009 she'd already turned 19 (and was possibly studying at uni)

it's not likely she repeated a year (she's a top student) and i don't think it would make sense for her to go to school a year later since her bday is in january (and school year starts in september). i do know january kids that went to school a year Earlier tho

so with all that said, i propose you that the fire actually happened in 2008. and judging from the clothes it was probably spring, which would coincide with wang qing's last year (and semester) at school

it would Also make sense for the "10 years ago", which would make the current year 2018 and therefore make sense for the whole "trip that was 3 years ago" thing. the timeline is in shambles for real

oh and you know what else happened in spring 2008? the fucking earthquake. so cheng xiaoshi didn't lose his parents to that massive world-known disaster. but he probably lost them around the same time to the accident that was barely covered

on another note-- i do wonder when exactly did cheng xiaoshi's parents left. they've already been gone in 2008 but sadly we didn't get the date for the wang qing photo. they didn't leave together and cheng weimin evidently had been teaching for at least a few months. so i'm wondering about the time gap. did mom leave right after to search for her husband or did she investigate remotely first? and will we ever know lol

[bragascreenshot]

[tacoma-narrows]

[First piece is mine, others are by @/macaronichewtoyz, @/rose-grimm-spirit-does-dumb-shit and @/stormystarlight :3]

Seeing lots of Goodra posts on my dash and looking at his tag and seeing only like. 4 posts in it made me decide to do some SpatterPosting.

This is Spatter, he's my pokesona :3 I don't draw him super frequently since Pokemon isn't often in the forefront of my brain but I do love him a lot, he's my squishy guy <3 I've had him for quite awhile too, he was actually my first ever non-Wings of Fire OC when I made him in July of 2019. His moveset would be Dragon Pulse, Earthquake, Rain Dance and Protect and I've always had it in mind to draw him doing something with those moves but have never gotten around to it aha

Anyways, Spatter be upon thee !

[darkflierazura]

It occurred to me that 2019 Ao Bing has an incredibly similar outfit color wise to 1979 Nezha

Some non-academic thoughts below

Boy howdy those first 11 chapters that detail King Zhou’s corruption r not at all relevant today, yep. But we don’t care about that. We care about chapters 12-14

It’s been floating around with some other posts but I’d figure I’d share my own thoughts on the changes between the 封神演义 and 哪吒闹海

It’s been floating around with some other posts but I’d figure I’d share my own thoughts on the changes between the 封神演义 and 哪吒闹海

Ah right. The version I’m reading a complete translation by Gu Zhizhong, with an Introduction by a Professor Shi Changyu.

So Nezha 1979 mostly takes its story from Chapter 12, with bit from chapters 13 and 14. (Namely Nezha’s fight with the Ao Guang and his death (13) and the method of his rebirth (14))The biggest change between these two works is the recasting of Ao Guang and his family as tyrannical villains who demand human sacrifice and bring disasters seemingly for fun. In addition to that, Nezha is recast more heroic (from my perception anyways). In the novel, Nezha is a wrathful and vengeful brat (I read someone else comparing Heracles to Nezha and it’s not a bad one), unfortunately he’s also supernaturally strong and armed with magic weapons. Ao bing is described as having a lance, and his father says that Ao Bing was appointed as a god of rain by the Jade Emperor. Nezha doesn’t attempt to kill his dad, or rather, he doesn’t get the chance to attempt patricide.

The conflict begins because Nezha’s huntianling is so powerful, that when he dipped it in water, it caused earthquake level disruption to the dragon palace of the east sea. The yaksha who’s sent to investigate gets mad at Nezha for calling him a beast and attacks first. Ao bing attacks after Nezha admits he killed the yaksha.

The 1979 film obviously makes Nezha more heroic, his conflict with the dragons changed to being about defending Chentang pass, though the two parties are brought into direct confrontation for the same reason. While he’s capable of great violence, throughout the film I think he’s generally portrayed innocently and more reactive to threats than proactively causing problems. Also it helps that the lady Shiji conflict is completely ignored too (which makes sense when writing a stand alone narrative)

Side note: in the 2003 legend of Nezha Cartoon, which also seems to more or less be an adaptation of the full novel, Lady Shiji is adapted into a greater Villain who’s present throughout the entire show (at least, I think that’s what was going on??? I didn’t watch the show, just a few episodes without subtitles cause I wanted a better look at xiao longnu) working with Shen Gongbao and also maybe the fox spirit. In the novel, as far as I know, she’s introduced in chapter 13 and dies in it.

A second side note, I really love how Heaven is depicted in the 1979 film. That wide shot of Nüwa and Fuxi (I think) supporting respectively the Moon with the jade rabbit and the sun with the sanwuzu, on either side of the heavenly palaces. Ye

Right so. Why the changes. Idk. Probably the political landscape at the time.

Other things to spout about

There’s a ton of little visual nods to 1979 Nezha in the 2019 movie. The man servant has a markedly similar design. A scene I personally haven’t seen mentioned is the gifting of the Fire tiped spear. 1979 Nezha does a routine with the spear upon receiving it, the 2019 movie has the huntianling perform a shortened version of the same routine with the spear during the birthday party.

Here’s a dumb question, in the 2019 movie why is Ao Guang white? the east (directional) is traditionally associated with the color qing, while the west is associated with white. Is it to make him match with Ao bing? Did all the dragon kings get their colors shuffled around?

I thought about doing a more thorough summary and consideration of the adaptational changes, but eh.

Edit: after a bit more thinking. at least initially, Nezha doesnt quite resort to violence til after he’d been attacked. First by Li Gen, then Ao Bing. However, during his conflict with Lady Shiji, Nezha opts instead to attack her disciple, the one who’s going to speak with him, immediately instead of trying to have dialogue with Lady Shiji about the accident. (He accidentally kills one of Shiji’s disciples). I wonder if this decision was reached by experiencing the prior assaults + the fact that when Nezha admits his crime to Ao Guang, the dragon King opts to get further bureaucracy involved to punish Nezha’s parents.

[shadowbriar]

Diego Hargreeves — If the World was Ending

Pairing : Diego Hargreeves x (she/her) Reader Word Count : 5k Warning : Smut, MDNI! Angst but it ends with fluff. Season 4 references. Synopsis : After the Cleanse, Diego wasn't sure why he was brought back to the original timeline. Notes : Inspired by JP Saxe, Julia Michaels - If the World was Ending. If you like this story and would like to support me, please visit my kofi page and perhaps get me a coffee?☕

Diego wasn’t sure how he suddenly found himself standing in front of the Academy once again. He tried to look around, noticing the panic in the eyes of the passersby and how there were cars crashing by the road. Some of the buildings were ruined, rubbles and debris decorating them. An alarming view that raises his vigilance, especially since he couldn’t find any of his other siblings in sight.

Rushing inside, Diego tries to call for the names of his siblings. He runs around the hallway, calling for anyone in hope that they could regroup and think about what’s going on. Make a new plan to figure out the strange timeline they’re in, but the Academy was eerily quiet. No other soul was present— not even Pogo nor Grace.

He wasn’t sure if this was supposed to happen. If the Cleanse was supposed to kick him back to this timeline or if they’ve succeeded in stopping the Apocalypse at all. The uncertainty was daunting. He desperately needed to see someone, someone familiar who he could take refuge to, but as the only sound echoing through the house was his own, Diego understands that he’s left all alone.

“Think, Diego, Think,” He mutters to himself as he runs back to the living room.

He tries to make sense of the unfamiliar setting. Studying the Academy as he tries to find any piece of clue that would be useful to help ease his anxiety. Spotting some newspaper by the table, Diego ran his desperate hand through his hair and grabbed it. His blood ran even colder as he read the date: April 1, 2019. The day of the Apocalypse.

Just as he tries to compute the new information, an earthquake shakes the ground. It was powerful enough to make the chandelier rattles, threatening to fall from the weak bolts that were loose from the tremble. The books by the cabinets were falling, vases broken and furniture displaced. If this was the start of the Apocalypse, with none of his siblings around, Diego was sure that there would be no way he could escape nor stop it.

And so he runs back to his room, grabbing his car keys that he hasn’t seen for far too long. He’s lived one too many lifetimes coming in and out of foreign timelines. Perhaps it has only been a few days in this one since he was gone, but it certainly wasn’t the case for him. Still, the sight of the item patiently waiting for its master to return brought a short-lived sense of comfort in his heart.

The road was in chaos by the time Diego drove the car out. People were trying to flee the city. Sirens blaring, children crying as their parents try to keep them collected. Diego’s palms were wet. He’s got no idea of what’s happening nor what to do. He doesn’t know how to help, how to save anyone from this terror. For once, Diego felt entirely helpless.

Another quake was felt as he got to the main road. His heart was beating erratically, distracted by thoughts of her safety. Is she home? Is she out drinking? Is she in the living room, chilling and watching television?

It’s been far too long. Perhaps in this timeline it might only have been a year since they last saw each other, but for Diego, it would be an understatement to say that it felt like forever.

He wasn’t even sure why he felt like he needed to see her now. The thought of her hasn’t entered his mind as intensely, given how the task at hand was much more demanding, but she lingers still. In the split moments where he realised that the plan was spoiled or that they would need to figure out a way to escape to another timeline, he would always wonder if there would be a time where he could see her again.

A part of himself was grateful that they ended their relationship before the whole Apocalypse thing started to play. He wouldn’t have the heart nor strength to call it quits with her, knowing that the world was ending and that he couldn’t be with her to share their last moments. He was shamefully grateful that his inability to truly show her what he felt fueled the arguments that ultimately led to their separation. For once, Diego was glad that his flaws have done him more good than harm.

The sky was dark by the time he reached her place. He let out a breath of relief when he spotted her car outside, parked neatly in front of the house that he used to call home. There wasn’t much damage done to this neighbourhood, despite the bins and trees that now litter the road. Her house was in good shape too. Knowing that she’s safe was like a breath of fresh air after being suffocated by such an aggravating situation.

Wasting no other second, Diego runs to her door. He presses the bell a little too impatiently, desperately in need to see her in person.

“I said, I’m coming!” She yells as she opens the door, clearly disturbed by the uninvited guest but all anger evaporates once she recognises the man on the other side of the door “Diego?”

—-

By the third quake, she knew that something wrong was happening. They’ve never had this many earthquakes before, let alone ones that happened one after the other within a short period of time. The worry in her heart starts to bloom as more things in her house fall and shatter, wondering if there’s anything she should do in such a situation.

How long should she wait until someone instructs them to evacuate? Where should she go? What should she do?

Diego would’ve known what to do, she thought. She tried to imagine his reaction, the way his alert eyes would be all wide and the rigidness of his shoulders. He wouldn’t be afraid of what’s to come. He would try and save her, even when she wasn’t sure she needed saving. He would be busy rushing her under the tables while he stood and watched the post.

An involuntary chuckle escaped her lips. Yes, that would be Diego alright. Always too busy trying to save the world without giving himself the chance to register the danger he’s putting himself into.

It wasn’t that she was scared of the earthquakes. No, it was something she could weather through still. But it surely got her thinking about the time she had with him. How, through the many times he saved her, made her realise that she’s gotten a little too attached to the safety net he’s set around her. How he would always put everyone else before him, never one to complain about getting bruised or scratched when it comes to saving someone.

She remembers that one night clearly, when they went drinking and stumbled in the house. How she landed on top of him without making it past the kitchen, giggling like they were on the clouds of nine. She would always remember the gentle touch he would always reserved for her, the way his frown turns into a smile every time their eyes met, and how he would bring the warmest laughter to the house.

But such bliss was short-lived once she realised Diego wasn’t ready for forever. There’s still so many things he needed to do, so many people he needed to prove, that the words she showered him with felt like a passing buzz with no lasting meaning. She knew that it wasn’t his fault. Diego has got too many scars and wounds to heal before she could ever place the weight of guilt on his shoulders, but she too couldn’t wait forever. Perhaps forever isn’t for everyone, afterall.

When the eighth earthquake happened, she gave it a good twenty minutes before finally coming out of the kitchen table. The television was broken, plates and mugs smashed on the floor, and her carpet is now stained with wine that she was supposed to enjoy. The house was a real mess but given the harrowing nightmare, coming out without a single scratch is something she could feel triumphant of.

She lets out a sigh. The phone lines were down, no internet through her cells. It was practically impossible for her to get any information about her friends and family, about Diego if she wanted to drop a text and ask if he’s alright, unless she got out of the house and drove herself down to the gym. That is, if he still lives in the gym. But with everything that’s happened, how they haven’t talked ever since the split, and the chaos the road must’ve been in right now, she figures to just wait and perhaps send him a voice message in the morning.

Her train of thoughts were abruptly broken when someone rang her bell. They were pressing without a pause, making an everlasting ring that only amplifies the headache in her head.

“I said, I’m coming!” She yells as she opens the door, clearly disturbed by the uninvited guest but all anger evaporates once she recognises the man on the other side of the door “Diego?”

Diego blinked. He too was appalled the moment his eyes met hers. Looking surprised to find her there as if he didn’t drive himself in a disastrous traffic for hours down to her house, “I— Are you— I was just—”

Neither of the two have the words to express their emotions right now. Relieved, yet baffled. Supposed, given the calamity, it would make sense for them to try and see each other. But how was he supposed to explain that the world was ending? And what was she supposed to say when she was just thinking about him?

“Are you alright?” Diego asked.

“Yeah,” She nods, taking a step closer to him “Are you?”

Diego flashes a smile, “I— I meant to come earlier, but the traffic—And there were so many car crash— And the trees—”

“You drove here? Why?”

“I wanted to see you,” He confessed, a long sigh escaping his chest “I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

Without a thought, she pulled him for a tight embrace. She clung onto his neck, burying her nose to the crook of his neck as she stood on her tippy toes. He smelled different. Perhaps he’s changed his cologne, no longer wearing the one she gifted him a couple of years back, but she wasn’t in any place to complain right now. Having him by her side, having the warmth of his body pressed to hers once again, was more than she could ever ask for.

Diego was frozen when she first hugged him. It took a couple of seconds for his brain to register that it was real, that it wasn’t just some cruel mindgame his brain was tricking him into. He rests his hands on her waist, slightly lifting her so she wouldn’t be so sore from the tippy toes cause he wasn’t about to let go anytime soon.

“I’ve missed you,” She whispers.

“I’m sorry.”

She pulls away a little, standing on her feet as she tries to study his face. There were a few new scars that she’s unfamiliar with. The moustache was something new and the way he styled his hair was different. It feels as if she’s staring into a different Diego than the one she knew before.

“What a year, huh?” She says, tracing one of the new scars that was on his left cheek “Still couldn’t keep yourself out of trouble, I assume?”

Diego flashes a small smile, looking slightly embarrassed from the commentary.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I’m just really tired,” He answers truthfully, feeling the ache in his bones slowly settling in “Do you think I can lay down for a minute?”

She nods, the concern in her eyes magnified, “Of course.”

And so she led him into her bedroom. The one place where they once called ours. Diego lays gently on the bed as she busies herself with cleaning up the mess that was scattered around. The quake wasn’t giving her any kindness, especially now that she’s got a guest to crash.

“I’ll go and make you some tea.”

“No,” Diego says fast, taking her hand before she could leave the room “Could you just lay down with me? Please?”

“I don’t think that would be a great idea, Diego.”

“Please? I promise you won’t regret it.”

She hesitated, knowing granting his wish might mean a different thing for the both of them, but seeing how desperate he looks, the way his eyes were filled with plea and the fragility of his voice, she couldn’t help but to nod and give in.

Diego scooted to make room for her on his right side. He places his arm under her head, pulling her close as he tries to be a comfortable makeshift pillow. Her right hand instinctively found itself resting on his chest. There was a sense of contentment filling his heart. Like the missing puzzle piece he wasn’t aware he’s lost was finally found. He plays with the strands of her hair, listening to the steady sound of her breathing.

“If the world was ending, you’d come over, right?”

Her brows furrow, looking up to face Diego that looks as if he’s got a million questions running in his head, “What are you talking about?”

“If you knew that the world was ending, you’d come over and stay the night, wouldn’t you?”

“Don’t say such things, we just had eight earthquakes, Diego.” She answers, trying to dismiss his questions “The world isn’t ending.”

“But if it was, would you?” He persists “Would you love me for the hell of it?”

She propped herself on her elbow now, looking closer into him. Diego still looks conflicted. He looks as if he’s holding a secret, something so terrible that he couldn’t even let it escape his lips even if he wanted to. His eyes were radiating despair, lips tucked into a droopy smile. She’s never seen him looking this strained, but she knew that he was trying to save her once again, from whatever it is she might never know, but she was surely glad he’s here to be her knight.

Answering his question, she places a soft kiss on his lips, “The sky could fall upon us and I’d be holding you tight, Diego.”

All hell broke loose the moment those words escaped her lips. Diego was quick to turn her on her back, now pinning her down as he kissed her desperately. He sneaks a hand under her shirt. The warmth of his palm was startling, making her gasp between the kisses. His hand rests just below the clasp of her bra. A tease for the poor unexpecting woman.

But she wasn’t one to be a passive rival for such a game. Her legs found themselves encircling his waist, in her own way trapping the man in her grasp. Her fingers tugged on the strands of his hair. Satisfied moans escaping his lips. The taste of ecstasy was brewing in their stomach.

“Wait, Diego—,” She called, panting as she tried to pull away “We need to talk.”

Diego stopped his doings, looking into her with confusion and alarm, “Okay.”

“I just— I need to know that it will be different this time. I need to know that you want what I want. I need to know that you’re ready to settle with me. Forever, not just for a month or two,” She explains “Otherwise, we’ll only repeat the same mistake.”

It stings to hear her call their past a mistake, but Diego understands where she’s coming from. He’s ready for her. All the fights and running, trying to save the world from one timeline to another, made him realise that he’ll never be more ready to be with her than now, but to promise her forever? When he wasn’t even sure if there would even be a tomorrow? Would the remaining hours of April 1, 2019 be enough to be called forever?

Gently, Diego removes the hand that was under her shirt and cups her face instead. He smiles softly, staring into her with the most loving eyes she’s ever seen, “After everything I’ve been through, settling in with you feels like a pass to heaven.”

Her grin grows once more. This time pushing Diego down to the bed, flipping their position until she’s sitting on his waist. She kisses him once again, only parting their lips as she pulls his black jumper off of him. Her fingers wander around his chest. Multiple new bumps and scars were raising her brows that she had to sit up and take a proper look at his body.

“Are those.. Bullet wounds?” She asks as she spots the scar on his arm “What happened to you?”

“Long story. Tell you another time,” He says in a hurry, sitting up and kissing her neck “There’s so much talking in this, my balls are getting blue down there.”

She lets out a chuckle, “Always so impatient.”

“Only for you, babe,” Diego answers fast “Only for you.”

It took no time for Diego’s lips to travel back to her's from her neck. His kisses were getting more vigorous, more desperate as the pants he’s wearing feel much tighter. The movement of her hips on top of him wasn’t doing him much good. He was slowly turning blue, indeed.

With no difficulties, Diego slides her shirt over her head. He kisses the exposed skin of her shoulder, leaving a wet trail of love as he explores the skin he’s been deprived of. The smell of her skin was intoxicating. It gives him a great swell of pride as her sultry moans echo in his ear. He still knows his ways with her sweet spots, afterall.

Still with his lips busy on her skin, Diego’s hand swiftly unclasped her bra. The sudden exposure of her breasts were making her timid, instinctively trying to cover herself with her hands, but Diego knew her a little too well, proving her attempt to be futile as he led her hands to rest around his neck instead as his lips moved south. Loud gasp escaped her lips as Diego’s mouth found itself sucking on her throbbing bud. Her hands pulled his head closer in reflex, making Diego to mentally bite a smirk.

“I’ve missed you,” He says, looking up to see her in between her tits “All of you.”

She pulls his face closer, kissing him. Diego took this chance to switch their position, laying her gently on the bed without breaking their contact. Their bare chests were pressed against each other. Only separated by the thin layer of sweat that was forming on their skin.

Diego tugged harshly on the seam of her shorts. There’s just too many barriers, too much fabric that came between them. He grunted in annoyance when his fingers failed to undo her button without breaking the kiss. Diego pulled away curtly, frowning as he looked down to her shorts and unbuttoning it in a disapproving manner.

“Don’t ever wear those shorts again,” He grumbles, chucking the piece of garment carelessly.

“I like those shorts.”

“Well, I don’t,” He retorts “We’re throwing them out first thing in the morning.”

She chuckles at his frivolous whine, watching as he shimmied her underwear down, “You’re pathetic.”

“Pathetic, huh?” 

Diego’s calloused thumb runs through her fold without a warning, making her squeeze her thighs from the sudden jolt of arousal. A cheeky grin spreads on his face, satisfied with the shriek she lets out. His other hand now rests on her thigh, giving the most gentle form of encouragement for her to widen his opening.

Her eyes were locked on his as her leg follows his lead. The smile on Diego’s face returns, looking a little too satisfied with her obedience, “Good girl.”

She burrowed the back of her head into the pillows once his fingers found its way back to her heated mound. Her hands desperately gripped on the sheets, trying to suppress her moans as his movement turned rudely.

Diego watches with pride the way her back arched with each circular motion he does to her sensitive area. His mouth went back to her tit, sucking on the other breast that he’s yet to taste. His other arm slides under her back, pressing her chest to his mouth as if there were still space for them to eliminate.

Feeling his fingers to get slicker, Diego gave her clit a crude squeeze before aligning his fingers to her folds. The sudden intrusion left her gasping, her fingers unintendedly scratching on his arm from the tension.

“Shh, it’s just me,” He whispers, now kissing his way up from her chest, to her jaws, and ultimately her lips “Do you want me to stop?”

“No,” She breathes, pulling him close by his shoulder blades “Just kiss me while you do it.”

Not having to be told twice, Diego wasted no time and kissed her. He repositioned himself, having his passive forearm as support as his other hand busied itself with her. Her moans were uncontainable as his fingers reached the deeper, warmer depth of her. He increased the pace of his thrusts, curling his fingers as he felt her walls tightening. The knot in her stomach was threatening to burst. It was clear to see with the way her head fell back in bliss with each strike, but Diego was in no mood to stop. He wanted her to reach that extent of pleasure.

Her fingers clawed on his back as she reached her peak, leaving moon shaped marks on his skin. Diego groans from the slight sting but pays not much mind to it. He loves a little scratch from a good sex, a little bruise to look at in the morning that he wears like a badge of honour.

There wasn’t even a split second for her to breath before Diego’s lips travelled back down. He moves further south, locking eyes with her as his lips slowly find themselves in front of her folds. His hot breath was making her shy once again, almost closing her legs in reflex before he could pin them with his arms.

Diego clicks his tongue in disapproval, “Let’s not play any more games, shall we?”

Not waiting for an answer, Diego lifted her legs and rested them on his shoulders. With no warning, he runs his hot tongue across her fold, making her moan in undeniable pleasure. His moustache was giving a burning feeling in her inner thigh but before it could settle, Diego would erase it with his wet tongue.

The hot and wet sensation was driving her to cloud nine. With each swirl of tongue and cruel sucking that Diego does, she could feel herself losing the last strands of sanity. Her grip on the sheets have now moved to his head, tugging a little mean to the roots of his hair. Involuntarily pressing him a little closer every time he hits that one sweet spot.

Those throaty moans have slowly turned into needy, piteous whimpers. Clearly overstimulated from all the torture Diego was putting her through. His hands were pinning her hip in place. Not letting her buck away from his brutal assault. With a sinful moan, she finally came for the second time.

She tries to sit up, gathering the few will power she has left in her body to reach Diego’s waistband, “My turn.”

“No,” He says, pushing her hands away gently as he kisses her in apology “I’m literally two seconds away from bursting. You can pleasure me another time.”

“Are you sure?”

“No,” Diego frowns “But I’m not taking risks. I want you.”

“Well, let me at least help you get out of these pants.”

Diego watches as her dainty fingers unbuckle his belt, slowly undoing his pants and pushing it down his legs. He swallows a low groan as her hand palms his shaft. He pulls her for another kiss, passionately devouring her lips and tasting every corner of her mouth. He leads her back to lay on the bed, positioning himself on top of her as he leans on his forearms for support. He guides himself to her entrance, fingers dancing around the area to help redistribute enough slick before he slowly inserts himself.

Her claws find themselves back to his back, creating new scratches the moment she feels his length enters in a slow and controlled ease. Diego was grunting from the blissful restrain. A low sinful prayer escaped his lips. The warmth of her walls were drowning him, feeling as if they were swallowing him whole.

“You okay?” He asked, ever the gentleman.

She nods, eyes closed and mouth quivering in bliss.

Diego started his movement at a steady pace, letting her body adjust to the size of him that has been absent for a little too long. He kept the speed for a good few minutes before hastening his movement in a steadfast thrust.

“Fuck, Diego,” She breathes, biting on his shoulder from the overwhelming sensation.

There were no words that Diego could utter. Too busy trying to find the best angle where he could reach the desired depth. His thrusts were getting more vigorous with each retreat and return of his length within her, finding her moans to be the very fuel to boost his movements.

Deep, hearty grunts were all he could make now. Diego places his hands under her head, using his fingers as cushion so that the crown of her head won’t hit the headboard with each ferocious thrust. He nips on her neck, kissing and licking the spot before the pain could sink. Neither of them cared which of the sounds were louder— their moans or the creak of the bed.

“Diego—”

“I know,” He cuts, feeling the walls around him contracting “I’m right behind you.”

She pulls him for a kiss. Her hand guides one of his to rest on her neck, encircling his fingers around. Diego pulls himself away, watching as she closes her eyes when he squeezes her neck a little.

“Always so beautiful for me,” He praises between his pants, diving right back to kiss her “Mine. All mine.”

With one last thrust, Diego struck her core with all the pressure it needed to implode. He followed right after, just as he promised. The kisses he gives her slowly turn into soft and gentle ones as they begin to wane from their highs. His body tenderly loitered on top of hers, careful not to put too much weight that might suffocate her.

She runs her hand through his hair. Gently combing through it with her fingers. She kisses his forehead softly, brushing her thumb over the scar on his right side before planting a kiss there too. Diego always looked most charming laying on top of her like this.

“Did I do good? Was that enough to repent for my past sins?”

A crips chuckle escaped her lips, “For now, yes.”

“Great,” He says as he repositions himself, now laying on his side to face her “Now we can forget the past and focus on the future.”

She smiles, gazing into the beautiful man in front of her before giving him a sweet kiss. Something has changed in him. Something that made him look a lot more reliable. Like the past year they’ve spent without each other has finally knocked some sense into his head. Perhaps he really did go through something that changed him for the better. Perhaps the bullet wounds on his arm hold a bigger story than just another vigilante act he pulled. Perhaps the world really needed to end for him to finally understand how some people in our lives matter more than most, even if we felt like we needed to prove something to everyone.

Diego pulls her close to his chest, letting her hear the beating of his heart that has now gone to a steady pace. The clock by the bedside table haunts him. A couple more hours until the day ends and he���s still unsure if the Apocalypse was still happening. But even if the world was to end in their sleep, even if she was to be stripped away from his arms, at least he’s tried to show her just how much he loves her.

Even if it was done in borrowed time.

—-

Diego’s eyes flutter open. The brightness of the sun was hurting his eyes but he’d rather go blind than to move a muscle. The blinds of her bedroom were broken, making the light from outside reflect harshly on his face.

He looks down to see her still fast asleep on his chest. The events of last night play blissfully in his mind, recollecting their joyous reunion with a satisfied smile. He plants a soft kiss on the crown of her head, silently confessing his vow that he’d never leave her again, Apocalypse or not.

And that’s when he realises it. The day has come. It is officially April 2, 2019. The Apocalypse should’ve happened yesterday, yet it didn’t. There were only earthquakes that indeed have caused quite the damage but far too weak to be called the Apocalypse.

Eight earthquakes, she said. Perhaps the quakes were the signs of him and his siblings finding their own timelines. He only felt six quakes, maybe because he was the second to land on his timeline. If that was the case, then they’ve not only successfully stopped the Apocalypse from happening, but have also gotten the chance to rebuild their life, wherever they might be now.

She stirs a little as her slumber finally comes to an end. She looks up to see Diego with a smile, stealing a peck from him like a drunken woman, “Good morning.”

“Buenos días, mi amor.”

“Are you feeling better?”

“Much,” He answers, kissing her lips once again “All thanks to you.”

She smiles, basking in the love that he’s showering her with.

“Everything is going to change from now on,” He whispers to her softly, pulling her closer “It’s only gonna get better, I promise.”