#6 year old me never clocked this information

[goldenstarprincesses]

Naw what

Madeline isn't a little French orphan being raised by nuns?

She's a Texan ranch owning oil heiress with stock in Neiman Marcus who seemingly grew up in a Paris boarding school until at least 1939??

[starlightshadowsworld]

So I was reading back through @zinder-fox 's fic open my eyes to everything (there must be something more.)

Which, side note highly recommend. It's a Dazatsu time travel fic. Essentially, when Atsushi and Akutugawa fuse abilities for the first time, Atsushi accidentally breaks time and space.

As you do.

And ends up 6 years in the past, complete with breaking the door to Dazai's shopping container.

As you do.

It's about Atsushi trying to figure this new life out knowing he can never return. And trying to prevent as much chaos as he can, while causing more chaos.

We've reached when Shibusawa is going to try and get the tiger from 12 year old Atsushi.

And it got me thinking about the whole thing with that in canon. I refuse to believe that the Headmaster wasn't aware of what Shibusawa was doing.

Atsushi is watched carefully and around the clock by the staff. And if the staff aren't, the kids immediately snitch on him and stuff.

I can't imagine a scenario where something like this went under wraps.

And even if it did, someone had to have found Atsushi and the dead body of Shibusawa surrounded by all this equipment... And an electric chair.

I think the Headmaster was informed of Shibusawa's goal and allowed it. Maybe he figured it would kill Atsushi for good or would relieve them all of the beast forever.

One way or another.

There's a definite shift in the Headmasters actions. He goes from trying to kill Atsushi multiple times, almost succeeding but now he's trying to keep him alive... Somethings not adding up.

And I think this incident and failure is the the moment things changed. And I imagine Fyodor was involved.

Because they didn't keep Atsushi here for the goodness of they're heart. And Fyodor does know about the place, maybe he placed him there.

I'm curious to see where this fic takes this. If the description sounds interesting, do check it out.

[charmwasjess]

6, 13 and 18 (Dooku) for the fandom ask, please :D

6) Show us a bit of a WIP!

:D You get the Sifo + Dooku + Time Travel Piece that I'm "definitely" "not" "writing." Some Asajj + 20 year old Dooku team-up nobody asked for. Especially not Asajj. -

Asajj studied him again, more appraisingly this time. He did look disconcertingly familiar.

Did Dooku have an heir that she’d never heard about? She’d clocked the boy as younger, what with all his naivete and whining, but now that she really looked at him… Nineteen? Maybe twenty years old? The age lined up disconcertingly well with Dooku’s first days as Count. A hereditary title, after all, passed from father to son. The idea of Dooku reproducing was nauseating, of course, though it was at least a little funny to imagine the former Jedi’s face upon being informed that House Serenno required his “gift” to ensure the bloodline’s survival.

But no. Why would House Serenno surrender an heir to the Jedi? She didn’t need to see the long braid to recognize that this was clearly one of their Padawan Learners; he reeked of a sheltered Temple upbringing. She could practically smell the refectory milk on his breath.

“Why do you want to be the one to kill Count Dooku so badly, anyway?” she asked, instead.

“He killed my best friend!” His voice broke on the word best, but his fury streaked, vibrant as a comet in the Force.

Asajj almost choked on her laugh. It was so melodramatic. Cliche. Like a line from an overwrought holonovel, spinning out in predictable plot hooks before her eyes. This Jedi child was pathetic. She ought to get them into space and send him to look for Dooku out the airlock. It seemed like it would save her and the Jedi both a lot of trouble.

She thought of her sisters.

Vengeance. Thick and sweet and tangy, like spoiled cream clinging to her tongue. It belonged to her, but no less to the others whose lives Dooku had crushed out for no better reason than because he could. She was here to glut on the Count’s blood. Who was she to deny this hungry child his own right to the feast? Dooku made a big corpse. There was plenty for all.

“Do you know how to sit down and shut up?” Asajj turned briskly to the ship controls. They had already wasted too much time.

“Yes.” A lie. She could tell that without even looking at him.

“Yes, what?” She prompted, glancing back. Maybe she just wanted to hear him try to call her “my lady” in that ridiculous, overformal Coruscanti accent of his.

He swallowed audibly, clearly uncertain. He glanced again at the twin lightsabers at her waist and seemed to decide. “Yes, Master.”

Asajj couldn't help the small, startled laugh that broke from her chest. That hadn’t been what she was expecting. No one had ever called her that. She felt surprised at the strength of her own reaction. Perhaps this would actually be amusing. At least, for a little while.

“What is your name?”

“My name?”

Asajj rolled her eyes. “You have a name? Or should I just refer to you as ‘idiot’?”

She watched his hesitation, saw those big, guileless brown eyes drift and refocus. Black fucking stars, he lied artlessly, like a child.

“Sifo-Dyas. My name is Sifo-Dyas.”

13)What's a character or ship you haven't written/drawn yet but would like to some day?

I know I went backwards here writing the most unknown/unpopular character in the series with Sifo-Dyas to the most popular, but I'd really like to spend a little bit more time with Obi-Wan. He's got a large role in the next chapter of Twelves Months to Murder Count Dooku and I'm really excited. I really like the character. Kenobi changed something for me about him.

18) Type [charater]'s name and tell us what the autocomplete suggests as the next word

Lolol. "Dooku FOUGHT." "Dooku only" and "Dooku Nu" were other suggestions. Yeah, that really says it all. No notes, google.

[knickynoo]

Back to the Future Part II, The Novel by Craig Shaw Gardner: Thoughts, commentary, and general ramblings

Part 6: A weird-looking old man and a little guy in a leather jacket.

Previous posts here

• Instead of describing Doc as a “crazy, wild-eyed old man,” Old Biff says, “a weird-looking old man,” which is just so personal, lol

• There’s an interesting scene where Marty is almost caught in Biff’s garage. The shouting between Biff and his grandmother isn’t there to alert Marty, and instead, Biff just walks straight out to the garage. Marty thinks it’s Doc who has come to rescue him and calls out, which Biff hears. Marty then hides in the car, and waits as Biff looks around a bit before getting distracted.

• I really want the full scene of Doc scrambling to get that new hat and bike so he can head over to Biff’s house. The book mentions that he’d bought the bike a few hours prior (then had to wait for it to get dark enough) but I’d love to see how that played out. I also want Marty doing his shopping for his Inconspicuous outfit.

• Marty has a very funny response to Doc reminding him to be careful at the dance since his other self is there with Lorraine. “Yeah, that’s right! Hey, that’s cool, Doc. Maybe I’ll say hello to myself.”

This is followed immediately by, “’No!’ Doc felt like he might have a heart attack.”

And what I want to know is: is Marty just being a wisenheimer, or is he genuinely considering stopping to chit-chat with his other self? I could honestly see it going either way with Marty.

• This chapter is giving me a few good chuckles so far. Marty enters the dance and it says, “He stepped through, and found himself in the same alcove where he’d had that heart-to-heart with his future parents—the one about being nice when your son sets fire to the rug.”

Why don’t we have any definitive information on The Rug Incident? That story should’ve been included in the comics. I need to know what unfolded that day. Why did Marty set the rug on fire? Was it purely accidental? Did little Marty go through an arsonist phase?

I demand answers.

• When we return to Doc, who is still riding his bike all over the place, he ends up at the Peabody farm. There’s a cop there talking to Mr. Peabody, who’s recounting the alien encounter he had. Which…doesn’t make much sense to me since this is a week now since the “flying saucer” originally crashed into his barn. But I guess this has been an ongoing ordeal, and Otis has been trying to get someone to take him seriously.

Anyway, Doc is worried that they might actually stumble upon where he’s hidden the DeLorean behind the billboard, so he goes over and announces that he saw the spacecraft take off wayyy in the other direction. The police officer and Otis immediately take off in search of it.

• I wish I got a dollar for every time in this novel that Marty has said, “Yo, Doc!” because I would have many dollars.

• Lester (Wallet Guy) describes Marty to Biff as, “A little guy in a leather jacket.” So true, Lester. He IS just a little guy in a leather jacket.

• Ok, OK!! So! Two things to mention about the scene after the dance where Marty runs into Biff outside the door. After Biff calls him chicken, Marty once again recalls that, per his mother’s repeated suggestions, he’s supposed to count to 10 when he’s upset. And as he wrestles with his feelings, he thinks, “Maybe he always felt he needed to do this because he was so short.” !!!!! May I direct you to this ask and poll? There you have it, folks. Marty (book Marty, at least) is quite aware of his height and ALSO aware that it might be the reason he wants to fight at the slightest provocation.

• I already always feel bad for the Western Union guy when I watch the movie, and this makes me feel even more sorry for him. He gets no closure!!! He will NEVER know what the 70-year-old mystery letter was all about. The most disappointed voice Marty has ever heard!!

• We close with the scene of Marty running back to the clock tower. However, his revealing his presence to Doc is pretty different in the book than it is in the movie. We’re told, “Marty stepped out of the shadow of the courthouse. He tapped Doc on the shoulder.”

I mean. It definitely doesn’t have The Flair of Marty running full speed and dramatically spinning Doc to face him, but it is funny. He just. Steps out from the shadows and gives him a little tap. A gentle, “Um, hi, hello, I’m back.” Amuses me to think about.

This is how I imagine it, btw.

• The book ends with Doc passing out and Marty legitimately fearing that Doc may have just DIED before his very eyes, and how will he ever get home now?

I guess we’ll find out in the part III novel! Stay tuned.

[collapsedglasshouses]

An Angel for Noah || Noah Sebastian x OC [Part 1]

DIVIDER ART WORK BY @cafekitsune

PAIRING: Noah Sebastian x Jules (she/her)

SUMMARY: When Jules finds herself assigned to be a rockstar's guardian angel, she couldn't be more overwhelmed.

WARNINGS: ANGST (LIKE A LOT), talks about death and grief, talks about mental health issues, talks about religion, swearing, … (each chapter is going to have individual content warning, if I forget something pls let me know)

A/N: Hello! I'm back with a new series. I’m not religious at all but I wanted to do something like this because it spooked in my head for years but I never found a fitting story line. Also this was my way to tribute Keaton Pierce, whose music I loved and whose death still makes me so incredibly sad. So this fanfic is dedicated to Keaton and therefore very dear to me.

Keep in mind, this takes place in an alternative universe. Even though I write about real people, the way I write them has nothing to do with how they are in real life.

If you wanna be added to the tag list, please let me know in the comments or DM me.

When her alarm rang at 6 AM, Jules was everything but pleased. The weekend had been way to short and the gravity of life slowly began to hang on her shoulders again. Sometimes she couldn't believe how stressed she was at such a young age.

She was twenty-two years old, a music student at Juilliard and literally all the pride and joy of her family. Being an only child of a couple who wished to have children for years, made it very clear that Jules was going to have everything she needed in life.

So when she crawled out of her bed and made her way into her bathroom, she reminded herself of how proud her parents were always going to be.

When she looked at the clock again, she realised she was running late, so she quickly grabbed her coat and scarf, before heading to the front door, where she reached for her backpack and keys.

Not even five minutes later she ran out of the apartment building and looked from left to right. Quickly she started to walk in the direction of her university. She knew she couldn't be late again. It was only weeks before a very big performance with the school orchestra and this semester she finally got the opportunity to play one of the first violins.

When she reached one of the big crossroads, she quickly glanced at the green traffic light and than back at her phone, ready to dial her best friend's number to inform her about her possibly being late.

But she hadn't had the time for that, because the next thing she knew was a sharp pain in her whole left side and than a hit on her head.

When she woke up again, her head rang. The room she was in, was so bright that her eyes just couldn't adjust to it. It took her several minutes to finally realise where she was. She was laying in a hospital bed. Or was she even laying? She just noticed her parents in front of her. Eagerly Jules tried to remember what had happened but she just couldn't put the pieces together.

"Mom?" She asked weakly but couldn't hear anything except her mother's muffled cries.

Jules felt so different. She could remember the immense pain she had right before she was here but she just couldn't think of the thing that made her feel like that. When she tried to get up, it was easier than she thought. Everything just felt so light and easy.

She sat at the edge of her hospital bed, when she realised that she had no cables attached to her. Why was she even here, when she wasn't even in pain?

"Mom? Dad?" She said again but again her parents didn't answer her.

She sighed before standing up and turning to the bed, when it hit her just like the vehicle earlier this morning.

Why was she still laying in that hospital bed?

Jules's gaze wondered between her parents and herself. Her parents were crying. Her mom almost crumbled in her father's arms, while he tried to hold himself together.

When she looked back at herself in that hospital bed, she just couldn't believe it. She looked awful. Her hair was tangled and a bandage was wrapped around her head. She couldn't even recognize herself anymore. There was no color on her except the blood sticking on her forehead and neck. When Jules noticed that even on her other self no cables were attached, it really hit her.

She was dead.

Her parents cried because they lost the only child they had. The child they loved more than anything. And only because she was looking at her damn phone.

"The driver is still alive." She heard a familiar voice behind her and jumped a little. When she turned, an older man stood at the door of the hospital room and she instantly recognized him.

"Grandpa?" She asked the man in front of her and couldn't believe her eyes. He stood there like she remembered him. Very colorful and satisfied.

"The driver is still alive. A single mother. She also looked at her phone and didn't realize she drove over a red traffic light." He explained and stepped next to his granddaughter.

Jules didn't know what to say so she just looked at her parents again, who couldn't bear to leave her side.

"What now?" She asked her grandpa, who put an arm around her.

"Now begins your new forever, my dear." He answered her softly before guiding her away from the bed. Jules realised she had began to cry. Everything in her wanted to go back inside her body. She didn't want to go. She didn't want to leave her parents.

"Five more minutes." - "Jules, you know it wouldn't be just five minutes."

Her sobs became more hysterical. "I can't go, grandpa. I can't leave them."

Jules closed her eyes for a couple of seconds and tried to contain her cries but when she opened her eyes again, she was in a white room. Confused she looked around her while her tears ran down her face. Her grandpa was gone. Everything around her was just white.

"No!" She screamed and tried to run in one direction to get back to her parents but soon her head was met with a transparent wall. She fell to the white ground and held her head in reflex. She couldn't even feel the impact. In fact she couldn't feel any of the things that happened to her. No head injury, no pain at all.

"Let me out! I NEED TO GO HOME!" She yelled with so much anger and sadness in her voice that she knew she would have had a sore throat if she hadn't been dead and therefore numb already.

"Fuck." She swore and ran a hand over her face. This couldn't be real, this was all just an obscure dream of hers. She would be woken up by her alarm in a couple of minutes and she would go to university and she would drink a coffee with her best friend Meghan after classes and than she would call her parents and talk to her mom for hours, like she always did. "Fucking hell!"

"In fact, it is not." A voice suddenly said, causing Jules to get up from the floor and look around the white room. There was a man she didn't recognise at first, but when she got closer she got even more confused.

"Aren't I supposed to be dead? Why the hell do you look like Oli Sykes?" She asked the person in front of her. He laughed.

"No worries, darling. Oliver is pretty much alive." The man exclaimed while Jules eyed the guy closely. There was literally no doubt, he looked like Oli.

"Then why the fuck do you look like him?" - "Oh, yeah... I'm an angel... You know... Heaven and shit." - "I don't believe in god and that doesn't explain your appearance."

"That is kinda rude, Julliett." The man walked through the empty white room and looked around before his gaze landed on her again. "You may know about angel appearances. We normally don't look very human-like. So we got the regulation to turn into someone our new angel trainee wouldn't be scared of... And since I know about the dirty little fanfiction you read when you thought you were alone, I thought I would make myself attractive to you."

Jules mouth fell open. Did an fucking angel just out call her and her taste in fiction?

Her cheeks must have been a dark red tone, because the Oli look-a-like cleared his throat and began to talk again, "No worries, I wasn't the one who was spying on you. That was own your guardian angel."

Jules couldn't even talk. She hadn't even had the time to process her passing and now some Oli Sykes guy tried to tell her something about heaven and guardian angels.

"I know this is a lot, so imma just talk you through it. I'm just here because your guardian angel is a very busy one... You know... Sometimes not enough people are fitted to become guardian angels and than our workers need to protect more than one person and than things get messy... That's actually why you aren't playing your violin at the moment... BUT... To his defense, he really has some difficult people to watch over and that is where you come into the game." 'Oli' told her, while her mouth still stood slightly open. She knew if she would have been alive right now she would have drank herself into a coma.

"And who is my guardian angel? And where the fuck did my grandpa go?" Jules finally asked.

"Your grandpa his back at his well deserved rest. He just wanted to make sure you got here and wouldn't freak out." - "But I AM freaking out right now." - "Well, you are stuck with us so no need to panic." - "How kind of you."

"To your other question. You guardian angel will be here any minute." 'Oli' explained and with that there was a door banging shut and a stressed man appeared in the nothingness this room was.

"I'm so sorry... I couldn't make it earlier." A man stumbled into the room. He had blonde hair and soft face features. His nose was decorated with a nostril and he wore a band shirt and a black jeans. He instantly made Jules feel comfortable.

"Jules!" The guy exclaimed happily and gifted her one of the most heart-warming smiles she ever received. Immediately she recognized the feeling she had in her stomach right now. She felt it pretty often over the last couple of months. Was it him? Did she always feel it when he was near?

"I'm Keaton... Your guardian angel." He introduced himself to her and she felt herself began to smile. She liked that name.

"I know this is all very confusing. I do remember being in your position pretty well." He instantly started to explain and Jules noticed how his smile turned sad for a moment. He hadn't been here for long. "They are very picky about their guardian angels, so consider yourself lucky to be part of the team." He joked, before looking at the Oli-angel.

"You can go if you want, I'll take care of her." Keaton told the angel and with a last examining look, Oli smiled a little and than disappeared into thin air.

For a couple of seconds Keaton looked like he didn't know what exactly he wanted to say, so Jules decided to take the lead. "I just wanted to thank you for helping me. The Oli look-a-like told me you were really busy with watching over us all... You did your best. I felt protected... You couldn't save me from being dumb and looking at my phone."

Keaton looked surprised by her statement, blinking a couple of seconds before talking. "Thank you. That means a lot to me... I feel really guilty though... You were literally just an adult and now... You are here."

Jules shrugged her shoulders and gave him a reassuring look. "So? Guardian angel? What am I going to do?"

Keaton reached out to grab Jules's hand and before she knew she sat on a bench near a forest. The scenery was beautiful. The sky slowly turned into red tones while the cold wind blew around her face. She wasn't cold, but she felt everything.

"I wasn't really fond of this whole Heaven thing myself... But they really except every opinion. If you don't believe in god, it's fine. If you do, it is also fine. They usually don't have anything to do with this whole thing anyways." Keaton started to explain. "You will be assigned a person, you will guide over."

"And how exactly do I do that?" - "That is yours to find out."

Jules looked at him confused.

"You will find your ways. The only things I can tell you are: You protect them. You need to guide them. You need to prevent them from making mistakes. If you fail, they fail. If you succeed, they will thrive." Keaton explained and Jules didn't know what to say, so she just nodded confused.

"They asked me to assign you someone. You always get to watch over someone that matches you and your energy. It will be easy. Really. I got the opportunity to watch over my friends. My best friends to be exact." He explained further. "So I am more than honored to tell you, you were the first person I was assigned that I didn't already know when I was alive and it was such a fun experience seeing how a twenty-two year old reminded me so much of myself when I was younger."

Jules eyes turned a bit glossy. Seeing Keaton talk about his past and everything, made her so honored and sad at the same time. They were just two souls that were took way to early.

"So, I'm literally going to be the one to support you by taking over some of your duties?" Jules asked interested, nearly forgetting the fact, that she died not even 24 hours earlier. Keaton nodded.

"But since I know you, I decided to give you just one task." Keaton than explained, "It is something I trust you with and I just know, you are going to be the right person for it."

Jules gestured for him to continue talking.

"You need to watch over my friend Noah for me."

PART TWO HERE.

[cherryfairytwist]

RickFic Ch3. FickleRick

(Tags: substance abuse / harassment / substance use / intoxication / 18+ minors DNI)

—- HELLO —-

—- INITIATING DOWNLOAD SEQUENCE MEMORY CLUSTER #3 —-

—-PULLING UP EARLIEST ASSISTED MEMORY RECORDS —-

—- NARRATION SIMULATING NOW —-

 The next day she felt horrible. Astrid followed the regular routine of shifting to look just fine and blurring out her day with music in her earbuds. Her old agency communicator was blowing up from messages sent by Glacks demanding to know why she left the “party” without saying goodbye and how she needed to come back soon as to not keep him waiting. She muted it and groaned. Why did she keep doing this? Why couldn’t she just move on and enjoy a real restart like the “vacation” was for. Suddenly she felt a hard bump to her side,

“Long time no see sexy.” Harris emerged from seemingly nowhere while Astrid had been zoning out. 

“Jesus. You always pick the worst times.” Astrid groaned under her breath. 

“Oooo touchy this morning. Had a bad night? He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close, “Someone not giving you what you need?” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down in a suggestive manner. 

“I’m clearly older than you Harris, why do you keep harassing me every day?” She tried pushing him off lightly but he wouldn’t budge. 

“Come on Astrid! Age is only a number. Besides you’re not that much older than me right..? What like 6-7 years? Wait or is it more than that?” He counts on his fingers and looked up at the ceiling mockingly pondering. 

“Wait….. you have to be right? I mean you look young…But you’re already graduated from college if you’re like a teacher assistant now..??” He started to really ponder and question.

Astrid felt a dull pain in her chest. She really had no clue how old she was. The Agency had never given her that information. But she recalled hearing the news from an inside source when C-137 Rick Sanchez’s original family had been killed. That had been a couple of years before she had gone on an assisting mission to help Cognito inc. while working for the agency. She seemed young but she definitely had to be much older than all these high schoolers. 

“Yes Harris. I’m definitely older than you.” She hissed back and roughly tossed him off.

“Hey wait! I didn’t mean it like that! I don’t care I still think you’re hot.” Harris insisted and grabbed her arm as she pulled away.

“Harris stop it. I need to get to class. And so do you! Don’t get on my last nerve.” She irritatedly pulled away. 

“Come one Astrid give me a chance! You at least gotta give it a try. One date. Then you can tell me to fuck off.” He pinned her against the hallway lockers. 

She felt the hairs on her neck rise and her blood started to boil. She couldn’t blow her cover though. Should she still beat his ass and claim she knew self defense…? She couldn’t take this anymore she was going to rip him to shreds- *Wheeerammp* a familiar portal noise interrupted her train of thought as Rick Sanchez entered into the school hallway. He looked up and noticed the high school boy pressing up against Astrid as she clearly was pushing him away angrily. 

“Oh W-WOAH now.” Rick announced loudly. 

“I think the f-fuck not.” He said plainly as he pointed the portal gun at Harris’s feet. 

A portal opened up below Harris and he in turn plummeted through it. Rick then raised the gun to aim at the ceiling above the portal on the floor and fired another one off. This then caused Harris to continuously fall in a loop through them as he screamed out in confusion. Astrid bust out laughing so hard she started to wheeze. 

“Holy shit. Thanks!” She breathed out heavily as she caught her breath. 

“Y-yeah *burp* don’t mention it.” Rick stated.

He kind of awkwardly stood there a moment while she composed herself. Kind of glancing in her direction and then around in the empty hallway. 

“S-so yeah… You know where the kids are? They not with you?” He kind of mumbled out while looking at a clock on the wall in the hallway.

“Oh right.” Astrid wiped her eyes from tears of laughter, “they are both in first period by now.” She then calmly stated. “Morty is in history class, down the hall and to the left.” 

“Appreciate it.” He nodded and walked off in the direction she pointed. 

A loud thud came from behind her as Harris hit the floor after the two portals closed. She turned and smugly looked at him. Harris whined and got up clearly terrified. He then proceeded to run in the opposite direction down the hall. Finally some peace and quiet. She put her other earbud in and continued on towards her first class. “Count Contessa” by Azealia Banks played. She smiled to herself and thought about Sanchez. What an odd guy. She looked forward to seeing him again soon. 

Suddenly the spring had come and gone. The summer season had arrived. And in timely fashion, Summer Smith had invited Astrid to a girl’s sleepover night with her friends at the Smith house. It had been a few months since the occurrence in the hall where Rick had helped Astrid. But things seemed to have gotten more civil between her and Rick. Any time he showed up at the school looking for one or both of the siblings, he’d ask her where they happened to be, now knowing she knew their schedules. Nothing crazy. But it seemed like they were on good terms now. 

 Astrid stood in her apartment bathroom finishing her appearance shifting in the mirror. Making it look like she wore a light amount of eyeliner and a couple of fake black stars on her face. She wanted to look nice but still herself when seeing the Smith family and Summer’s friends. She wore a pair of high waisted black jean shorts with black fishnet tights underneath. She bent down and laced up her doc marten boots. She then stood back up and adjusted her black cropped t-shirt and black choker. She sighed and tapped her fingers on the sink. 

“First time for everything right?” She muttered as she looked at herself in the mirror.

 She left the bathroom towards the living room to retrieve her overnight bag as she slipped out of the apartment. She quickly locked up behind her and set out towards the direction of the Smith house that was only a few blocks away. 

Physically walking there gave her some time to mentally prepare for it. Summer had introduced her a while ago to her friends Grace, Tricia, Tammy and Nancy. She’d been around Tricia and Nancy a few times after that. Hadn’t met Grace much so there wasn’t much to note. However she had heard a thing or two from Summer about how something bad had happened between her family and Tammy. She was hoping to learn more later that evening. 

Nearing the Smith front yard she glanced over to  the yard across the street where she had impacted that one night. The crater had been filled in with dirt. Lawn Flamingos and flowers decorated the top of the new soil. They rubbed their face in embarrassment thinking about it.

“Thank fuck no one saw that.” They whispered to themself as they turned up the sidewalk to the front door. 

They breathed in and stared at the doorbell, this couldn’t be worse than an undercover mission right? They rang the doorbell and waited. Hearing some stomping and yelling from inside before the door quickly swung open. 

“Omg Astrid! You came!” Summer shouted enthusiastically as she grabbed their arm and pulled them inside. 

They climbed up the stairs to her room where Nancy sat on a bean bag with a book in her hand. 

“Hello Nancy!” Astrid greeted her from the door.

“H-hey.” Nancy shyly answered as she kept reading her book. 

“Heyyyyy bitchhhhh!” Tricia called out from the other corner of the room where she sat atop Summer’s desk. 

“Okay everyone is here, Grace couldn’t make it tho…. so let’s get to it!” Summer shouted as she pulled out a secret stash of what looked like alcohol and drugs from the desk drawer. 

“Hey wait, aren’t y’all too young to be doing all that..?” Astrid asked a little concerned. 

“Oh come on Astrid!” Tricia laughed.

“Yeah it’s really not that big a deal.” Summer insisted casually. “We only do it when we have sleepovers or parties at home. Also it’s not like my parents really notice or care. I mean grandpa Rick always knows what to do if something goes wrong so I mean we’re home free!” 

“I don’t really partake myself. Don’t feel like you have to.” Said Nancy timidly. 

“Oh no. I mean… I’ll partake. I just was worried about you guys…. And I mean like what your parents-“ Astrid got cut off.

“Come on Astrid you’ve met my parents before. You know they don’t care unless it becomes their problem.” Summer doubled down. 

Both Summer and Tricia shared a swig or two from a bottle of liquor and pursed their lips. 

“Uhg it’s so bitter! I want a chaser!” Tricia complained and got up off the desk. 

“Let’s go get one, Astrid, Nancy, want to come with us?” Summer asked as they walked towards the door and exited. 

“I’m fine staying in here for a bit.” Nancy replied still enthralled with her book. 

Astrid then made her exit as well and followed the girls down the stairs to the kitchen. They rummaged through the fridge and grabbed some sodas Tricia had brought. They both proceeded to take sips and laugh while Astrid glanced over at the garage door. 

“He’s not in there right now.” Summer noticed,

“He’s off doing a quest or something.” She took another sip and grinned at Astrid.

“Rick! R-Rick….?” Morty’s voice shouted from in the den. 

“Grandpa isn’t here Morty!” Summer yelled in annoyance back.

Morty entered the kitchen and rubbed his neck as a nervous laugh escaped his lip, “oh jeez, h-hey Astrid! Uh h-hey Tricia.” 

“Hey Morty” they both replied in unison and then looked at each other and laughed. 

“S-so y’all partying… or what?” Morty meekly asked. 

“Yeah nerd. We’re all ganna get lit and have a GIRLS NIGHT!” Summer whooped and took another swig of the liquor. 

“Here, Astrid it’s your turn.” Summer handed her the bottle. 

“Well…. If your parents are okay with y’all doing it…sure why not?” Astrid grabbed the bottle and downed at least haft the bottle and let out a large burp. 

“H-holy shit Astrid!?” Morty asked shocked.

“WOOOOO!!!!! ASTRID!! ASTRID!!!” Tricia and Summer chanted. 

Astrid laughed and wiped her mouth, “Don’t worry Morty. This Liver is one of the strongest livers on Earth.” 

“Ha…. T-that’s something grandpa Rick would say..” he replied. 

“Well I’m not your grandad.” Astrid said with an eye roll as the two other girls laughed. 

“Damn Astrid I guess we’ll have to catch up. Do you feel anything at all?!” Tricia questioned. 

“Nope, just warmed me up.” Astrid sighed and continued to pass the bottle between the three of them as Morty awkwardly watched from the side. 

“Wait are your parents going to be coming home soon…?” Astrid asked hoping to not cause a bad impression. 

“Oh yeah, my dad is like in his man cave… but he probably won’t bother us. And Mom is working late. She’ll probably come home in a couple hours.” Summer replied. 

The night continued on with some pizza, and finishing the bottle…but mostly by Astrid. The other two girls had only taken a couple of sips and seemed pretty buzzed. They all sat around the tv playing video games or watching interdenominational cable in the living room. Morty had stuck around and sat in the arm chair while all the girls sat on the couch, even Nancy had come down to join them. After a few hours had past and the night got late Earth Beth came home and greeted the girls and Morty but then went upstairs to bed after a glass of wine in the kitchen. Astrid was a little relieved that the family seemed so chill on her first time coming over. But she still kept expecting Sanchez to show up, she glanced back over towards the kitchen. Was he always somewhere else when he wasn’t with the kids? She contemplated but was distracted when Summer let out a yell at the screen when Morty seemed to be beating her in their street fighter game. 

“Y-Yes!! Ohhh hoo! Take that Summer!” Morty cheered and pointed. 

“Whatever! I’ll get you next time!” She shouted back.

“Uh no offense guys but can we watch something on that uh thing…?? You know the cable tv your grandad brought you.” Tricia asked getting bored of watching Summer and Morty have a pissing match. 

“Yeah! Of course!” Summer said enthusiastically as she switched it over. 

Time passed and it had gotten to the late hours of the night. Morty had fallen asleep on the arm chair, Nancy and Tricia had already gone up to Summer’s room to sleep. Summer laid against the couch nodding off but started to wake up. Astrid, still awake continued to sit watching TV hoping she’d get a moment to herself if the siblings went to bed soon. And like clockwork Summer stirred and looked over at sleeping Morty. 

“Morty!” She said a little louder than a normal whisper. “Go to bed!” 

He too stirred and rubbed his eyes as he slowly got up and stumbled over to the stairs to head to bed. Summer then stretched and looked over at Astrid, 

“You tired? Or are you good chilling down here for a while?” 

“I’m more of a night owl, I’ll be fine just hanging out down here for a bit.” Astrid said relaxing into the couch. 

“Okay cool, I’ll see you in the morning Astrid. This was fun. We should all do this again sometime.” Summer said as she got up and went towards the stairs. 

“Yeah. I’d like that.” Replied Astrid just before Summer was out of earshot. 

Astrid sat quietly on the couch as she listened for Summer’s last footsteps upstairs and bedroom door closing. She then got up and went towards the slide door leading to the back yard. She quickly unlocked it and slipped outside. She inhaled deep enjoying the night air and silence. She put an earbud in and shuffled through some songs while simultaneously pulling out her pipe she had in her bag. She packed it and sparked up her lighter. As “Them Changes“ by Thundercat played she took a big inhale. She blew the smoke into the night air and tried to stifle her coughing as to not wake anyone. She started to kind of slowly sway with the music and enjoy how her night went. Was this what it was like to have a normal life and make friends? Seemed… mild but nice. Really nice actually. This felt like the first time Astrid had really breathed in a long time. But that feeling was cut short when the sliding door slid open. She quickly exhaled a small puff and looked over to see who was coming from the dark room inside. Rick came out from the dark room wearing his typical lab coat and light blue shirt with slacks. He looked tired but alert as he let out, 

“Jesus!” Rick exclaimed as he noticed Astrid standing in the shadows of the back patio, “I didn’t hear a-anyone come out here. How are you that quiet?” He asked eyeing her while standing in a spot the floodlights were lit on the patio. 

“I mean… I left the TV on and the door was cracked open. I thought that would indicate someone is out here.” She stated amused. 

“I thought it was one of the dumb kids leaving it open tonight.” Rick explained irritated. 

His eyes adjusted and he realized by the smell and the small ember that Astrid was smoking. 

“Y-you come out to smoke at night too?” His grumble shifted from irritated to more enthusiastic after getting a whiff. 

“Yeah… I’m guessing you too?” She asked as he pulled out a pipe of his own from behind his back. 

He laughed and sat it down on the patio table and pulled out a grinder, “I guarantee my shit is better than your shitty Earth weed.” He said smugly. 

“Ha, probably” Astrid lied knowing full well her weed was from a planet a couple galaxies over. It was grown specifically on a dispensary planet, it was good stuff. 

“Grew and engineered this baby myself for the perfect high.” He grinned referring to the weed he finished packing in his pipe. 

He took out a robotic looking lighter out and lit it. Taking a deep drag and then exhaling out. Astrid eyed the lighter and wondered if that’s all it could do, knowing how Rick was with gadgets. 

He noticed her staring at it and grinned. 

“Oh you like this?” He dangled it up in the air causing it to reflect a patch of light on to Astrid’s face in the shadows. 

“Yeah, knowing you it probably does something crazy besides just lighting your pipe.” She snorted. 

“C-check this shit out.” He clicked the lighter three times and a blazing tower of flame protruded out of it forming a flame blade. 

He tossed it around and did a couple of swooping motions to show off how it handled before letting it go back down and putting it away. 

“Nice, a lighter lightsaber.” She laughed. 

Rick rolled his eyes and fought back the urge to explain how his lighter worked and took a swig from his flask. There was a long awkward pause as he looked at Astrid from the corners of his eyes while standing facing the yard. 

“S-so you’re like actually hanging out with Summer and Morty now?” He asked. 

“Yeah…? Is that like a problem or..?” Astrid waited for his response. 

“Fuck I don’t care. I just was getting tired of hearing them complaining when you wouldn’t hang out w-with them.” He said nonchalantly.  

“Yeah well I was kind of busy with life stuff for a bit there. And I don’t know… I wondered if they actually wanted to hang around me being older than them and all.” She said honestly. 

“I d-don’t see the problem unless you’re looking to cause problems.” He gave Astrid a quick sharp look. 

Astrid felt like he was implying more than just her causing normal “friend” problems. She felt the suspicion creeping out from him. 

“The strangest thing happened an about a month ago.” He said, his tone changing to amused. 

“Oh yeah..? What’s that?” Astrid awkwardly asked as she took another hit from her pipe. 

“Something caused a huge crater in my neighbor’s front yard the other night.” 

He eyed her intensely. 

Astrid’s cheeks heated in embarrassment as she choked out her exhale. She tried to act as if she had taken too large a hit and started coughing a little. 

*cough* “T-that is weird,” *cough* “did you happen to find out what did that…?” She looked back at him doe eyed in an attempt to throw him off. 

He recoiled a little after seeing the seemingly innocent and confused face she gave him. But then his brows furrowed as he squinted at her for a second before he relaxed and turned back to look at the yard. 

“N-nope. Haven’t found out yet.” He stole a quick glaring glance at her again then took another drag from his bowl and muttered, “maybe I’m just seeing things.” 

Continuing to play the ignorant act Astrid persisted, “Seeing….what exactly…? The crater?” 

Rick grabbed his forehead in annoyance, “No! I know the crater was there. It’s s-still there, they just filled it up with tacky lawn ornaments.” He waved his hands around as emphasis, “I mean I thought I saw someone climbing out of it that night.” He huffed. 

“Odd…but I mean that’s your area of expertise right..?” Astrid paused for a second and looked at Rick’s face, “Summer tells me you’re the “smartest man in the universe” right? I’m sure you’ll catch whatever creature must have crash landed.” She took another hit and exhaled. 

His eyebrow rose and he looked at her again more inquisitive, “Oh so you t-think you have me all f-figured out now cause Sumsum tells you all about g-grandpa hu? You seem-*eeeuurhh* awful calm if you think an alien creature just crash landed on Earth.” He took another swig and waited for a response. 

“Ha, I don’t know shit. Just what I’ve been told. And I’ve seen some weird stuff I guess it’s not that shocking to me? I mean you transported me off planet the other day at school didn’t you..?” She tried to brush off his questions casually. 

He wasn’t convinced but let it go and pulled out a chair from the patio table and sat down with one ankle propped up on top of his other knee. He took a swig and started to pack another bowl. Astrid awkwardly stood there a second before thinking of something else to talk about.

“It’s nice, you’re not shoving me in and out of a portal for once.” She said jokingly. 

“Yeah well I was busy. A-and I didn’t have time for back talk at the moment.” He said plainly.

“Do you really think I’d be that useless on an adventure with you guys?” Astrid questioned. 

“Here.” Rick held up his pipe to her, “Smoke this and let’s see.” He beckoned her to take it. 

“Wait… okay…? Sure.” She took it from his warm hands gently and proceeded to partake. 

He sat there and waited as she blew out. Suddenly she felt intensely high. Her eyes felt dry and everything felt like a dream around her. She rubbed her face and handed him back the bowl as she let out a few coughs.

“How was that?” He grinned waiting for her reaction thinking it had to be the most powerful shit she’s smoked. 

Astrid stood there a second and looked around the yard in a daze, “ Wow it’s good. But it makes me feel kind of tired now.” 

His face fell slightly in disbelief from her mild reaction, “Jesus y-you must smoke a ton. O-Or… where do you get your weed from…?” He asked again inquiring. 

“Ha…I probably smoke more than I should, I’ve been trying to lay back on it. And ya know..from here and there. Nothing like perfect genetically altered weed made by a mad scientist.” She laughed trying to dodge his last question. 

“You think I’m mad Hu?” He scoffed. 

“Yeah you’re nuts. But like in a fun threatening erratic way.” She said with a laugh.

He started to grin but then coughed as he took another hit. Astrid started to feel the anxiety of trying to hide her identity creep up on her. She knew if she stayed out and chatted too long with Rick he’d start asking more questions. And the effect of the weed he let her try was starting to make her feel like she wouldn’t mind telling him even. But that was risky and she’d rather play it aloof for now. 

“Well thanks for the sesh.” She said cheerfully, “I’m getting a bit tired so I think I’ll hit the sack.” 

Rick raised his eyebrow at her but did not protest. He continued to sit stoically on the patio. 

“Goodnight Mr. Sanchez.” She said softly as she went towards the sliding door. 

“Call me Rick.” He said bluntly over his shoulder before she closed the door. 

A rush went down her spine and her heart pounded as the went up the stairs to Summer’s room. She felt a kind of nervous thrill by being under Rick’s suspicion. She was going to have to play it safe as long as possible… but if things where going to be like this…she grinned ear to ear as she quietly snuck into the room to her sleeping bag and laid down. She couldn’t wait to see if Rick fell for her act or not. 

—- PART THREE COMPLETED —- 

—- SHUTTING DOWN —-

—- GOODBYE —-

[orienteddreamerrr]

Here is a random “cringe” and “all over the place” story I made like 3 years ago and I’m now just sharing it…I involve some big people in it like my old friends, actors, and myself, I put them in parentheses…almost technically like a crossover…if you don’t want to read this kind of story, I suggest moving on, but if you do, then please, enjoy and leave a like if you did so!

You’ve been warned, this is so so long!

--

A Heavy Heart.

(Big Movie-like story!)

(VERY LONG)

Rating: PG-13 for….brief violence, brief sensuality and thematic elements!

I couldn’t sleep. Insomnia was taking its toll on me. I looked at my alarm clock with the numbers glowing 4:30. Damn! I have to get up at 6 to go to work. I work at “Sylvie’s Shelf”…a grocery store. I take care of the deliveries that come into the store with the help of my friend Vincent (My old irl friend named Chance). I quickly got myself up and ready for what’s ahead. By the time I was done, it was 5:30! Enough time to say hi to my friends. I just hope they are up and awake already. I called Vincent first…he picked up rather quickly. “Hey Vincent…ready for work?”, There was silence on his end and a sigh. “Everything okay Vincent?”, I continued. Vincent finally spoke into the phone after the few moments of silence. But…it wasn’t him.

“Hello Jessica (me!)…this is Vincent’s mom…I’m sorry but he won’t be coming in to work today…”, I heard her sigh deeply again as she continued. “Vincent…has been in an accident…earlier yesterday….after you two left the store…he sped down the road too fast and got hit by a truck…and that truck was running a red light…and he is now on life support in the hospital…I’m sorry honey…we…can…both visit him after you’re done with your shift…what time do you get off?”, Standing there, I wasn’t sure how to talk to her, as I was still soaking in the information she just told me. I could only stifle out a “5:30…in the evening…” and hung up without hearing her response. I glanced to the clock to see it was 5:45…time to go.

I picked up my keys and hoodie, leaving out the door with my mind feeling frazzled. I was not going to let this incident get in the way of me working…I’ll pretend it never happened. It was a good drive as I pulled into the store parking lot, seeing there were lots of signs posted in the front saying, “Get better Vincent” or “We have faith in you!”. I got out of my car and over to the building. Staring at those signs, I felt a small swell of anger as I tore them all down, making my way inside the store. This was not helping me at all! As I got ready in the lounge, my co-worker, Jason, (Adam Driver who played Kylo Ren on Star Wars), came into the lounge to ask me if I was okay. Since my mind was still frazzled, and I have a small crush on him, I didn’t say anything as I stuffed my hoodie into my locker. Jason walks closer to me to say, “If you wanna talk about it—or if you don’t, I’m right here…”, He slowly takes my hand as I turn to him, feeling him grab my other hand as he gave them both gentle squeezes. I sighed knowing Jason always finds a way to make me feel better.

I nod to him. “Thanks Jason…but I’ll talk when I’m ready…”, Jason nods back and gives me a long hug. Without me expecting, Jason lightly kissed my cheek. I felt my cheeks get warm as I chuckled in amusement of this. Jason smiles, chuckling along with me as he gave me one more look before leaving to the warehouse that was set at the back of the store. Our shift doesn’t start until 8:30—and it was only 8! I stayed in the lounge for a little longer before making my way to the warehouse. It felt weird since Vincent wasn’t around. But there was a newbie taking his place for the time being…his name is Jack! (Heath Ledger who played the Joker, from the Batman Trilogy) I see him sitting outside, waiting for the deliveries to arrive I’m guessing. I look over to see Jason walking up to a tall shelf to organize it. As I walk closer to Jack, my heart suddenly races.

I’m not sure why—maybe it’s my ego? I see Jack clear as day as he is wearing shades. But I also noticed the slits at the corners of his mouth. People had been telling me he likes to wear “clown makeup” and had gotten these scars from his early childhood. Deep inside, I felt kind of bad for him. Without warning, I noticed Jack had quickly shifted his attention from the ground to me as he said, “Well heyyy dollface! Are you ready for work?”, I jumped just a little at how he came at me as I got closer to him, leaning myself up against the wall, nodding to his question. “Hopefully it won’t be too hectic…”, I hear Jack scoff. “You never know…”, I smile faintly to his words as he smiles faintly back at me. I was going through my thoughts when I noticed Jack standing and coming over towards me. “Y’know…we could, uh, keep in touch—you and me…”,

My cheeks felt warm as he licked the sides of his mouth, shoving a folded-up card into my hand. I stare at him as he walks over towards Jason to greet him. I look back to my hand and unfolded it to see it was a number written on a Joker Card—found by playing those card games. Is he for real doing this? I get to text Jack? Just me? Of all women in the world, he picks me? I sighed to myself as I stuffed it into my pocket for later. The truck finally arrives as he started unloading the crates that carried fresh produce and meats. Some co-workers who work at the front of the store came in to get those boxes we’ve taken out of the crates. We were finally on break at 2:30…and our break ends at 3:15.

It's not much of a break—but it will have to do! I’m wandering through the warehouse, and I instantly see Jack smoking at the same exact spot from this morning. I went over to him, standing near him against the wall as I asked, “So—got anything you wanna talk of? Are you looking for a new job? Is this one temporary?”, Jack puffed out some smoke before replying, “Well—I plan on moving out of the dumpy city…and to live free and large…”, He gave me his creepy smile before smoking another puff of smoke. I smiled back in a fake way as I sat near him, crossing my legs. I was daydreaming a little when smoke was blew into my face.

I coughed some as I waved my hand around to waft the smoke away. “Hey dollface—I’m talking to you!”, I giggled slightly, with him giggling along with me, knowing he was only joking around. Time must’ve flown as Jason interrupted our little moment, saying we needed to get back to work. After all the deliveries came in, the time was now 4:30 and the trucks have stopped coming in for the day. Yet, it’s a bit early for some reason. I was putting boxes with canned goods inside on a shelf when Jason came over to me, trying to scare me. I didn’t flinch one bit. I sighed and turned to him. “Y’know Jason, you really need to work on that…”, I gave a little chuckle as Jason chuckles along with me. After a few minutes of organizing and stocking a few things, my phone rang. I picked it up to hear it was Vincent’s mom again. “Hey Jessie’, are you almost off of work yet?”, She talks to me like I was her best friend or something…yet I don’t know her very well. I quickly turned to see the wall reading 5:15. “Oh yeah—I’m almost done!”, I quickly replied. “Okay well—I’m here at the hospital…if you are wanting to visit, now’s the time because doctors won’t let visitors see him anymore…”, My heart felt like dropping out. Not see him anymore? Are you kidding? “Alright, I’m on my way…”,

I quickly hang up and shoved my phone into my pocket. Jason was standing there with a sad empathetic look on his face. “I can take you…”, He said lowly. I shook my head at him. “No, I’ll be fine…thanks anyways Jason…”, I go over to him, standing on my tippy toes to give his cheek a light kiss, returning his gesture he gave me from this morning. Jason smiles and hugs me tightly in return. From afar, I could see Jack was nearby and noticed what he had witnessed. Looking jealous, he gathers up his stuff and leaves. I sighed as I released Jason, seeing him give me one last look before walking off to the lounge as I follow, quickly gathering my stuff as well before heading out of the store to the parking lot, with Jason trailing behind me, going to his car. It was sweet of him to take me to the hospital, but I rather go alone. I’m on my way there when my phone rings yet again—but it was only my friend Janet! (My irl friend Britney) “Hey Janet! Um, why are you calling?”, I can hear Janet sigh a little before responding. “I hope you aren’t too busy…I need help with something…”, “Alright, well let me visit the hospital first and I’ll swing by your place when I’m done, alright?”, “Alright..”,

With that, I hung up and arrived at the hospital. I’m walking up to the receptionist to ask where my friend Vincent is. “Oh, he is just down the hall to the left…”, I gave her a thank you and proceeded down the hall. Vincent’s mom was sitting out by the door when she noticed me. “Took you long enough to get here…”, She got up and gave me a light hug, also adding that I could go in. As I did, I see Vincent, laying almost lifeless on the hospital bed. I sat next to him in a chair, gently grabbing onto his limp hand. “I’m sorry Vincent…I should’ve been there…”, “You should have, but there was nothing you could’ve done…”, A voice startles me from behind. I turn to only see a doctor checking out Vincent’s X-rays. “Oh, sorry, I thought I was the only one in the room…”, The doctor only shook his head and made a flinging gesture with his hand. “No, no it’s alright…I’m Doctor Bridgeworth by the way…but you can call me Stanley…”, (Tom Hiddleston who plays Loki). I stand and shake his hand to greet him.

“Will he be okay?”, I ask, sitting back down in my chair. “He’s quite stable for now…but he might have to stay on life support just for a few more days…other than that, he should be fine in a couple of weeks give ‘er take…”, I gave a slow frustrated sigh. Stanley noticed my mood and patted my shoulder, giving it a small squeeze. “It will be alright…a couple of weeks go by very fast…”, He gave a wide smile as he left out of the room, on his way to tend to other patients probably. After the visit, I went straight to Janet’s house, wondering what she could possibly want help with. As I entered her house, I saw everything was in disarray! “Janet?”, I tried calling out her name. No answer. I take a look around her living room, seeing her coffee table was flipped over, couch pillows littered onto the floor, her lamp laying on the floor also. “Janet?!”, I yell out her name this time. Still no answer. My heart starts racing. I rush to where her room is but as I just opened the door, a guy wearing clown-like makeup and purple colored attire was standing there with a knife quickly pointed towards me.

He suddenly realized who I was as he lowered it. I realized who he was too—Jack! “Jack? What are you…doing here?”, Jack only giggled to himself as he slowly stalks around Janet’s room. “Well, y’know me…just taking care of some business…”, He licked his lips and walked over to me. “Where is my friend?”, I growled to him, standing in front of him, making sure not to let him walk away without an answer. His eyes flicker on me from head to toe before answering, “She’s in the bathroom…”, He points over my shoulder to a door that was behind me. I quickly go over to open it, finding her tied up and sitting on the toilet seat. I went over and released her from the ropes around her waist and ankles. She hugs me tightly in return. She then stands to take a small handgun that was hidden in the waistband of her pants, pointing it directly to Jack. Jack only shot up his hands in a jokingly manner as he laughs faintly. “Janet! No! He’s okay…he just thought you were a bad guy or something…”, I look to Jack, seeing that he liked my excuse by his lips curling into a smile.

Janet lowered the gun with a sigh. “I’m…NOT having that psychopath be here for the night…make him leave Jessica, please!”, She begs me, giving me a little push on my arm. But I had cut her off, telling her to go fix up her living room a bit. Seeing her walk away, I grab Jack’s hand and led him outside. “Come on Jack!  I know you’re better than this…”, Jack only licked his lips in response and giggles. I sighed frustratingly and tried to walk back into the house but Jack grabs me by my arm to stop me. “What’s the matter doll, hmm? I’m just having a little bit of fun…it’s not like I’m causing chaos…”, I only looked at him blankly. Jack inches a little closer to me. “Look, Jessica…as long as nobody is hurting you…I’m not hurting anyone…”, He was caressing my hand that he was still holding. Without myself thinking, I quickly hugged him as I felt him instantly hug back, but I told him to go. “See yah at work doll face!”, He tells me as he skipped into the shadows. I sighed to myself as I go back inside to help Janet with her house.

It took forever but we managed to fix up the living room and some of her room as well. It took as long as midnight had arrived. I was half-asleep on the couch—I could still see and hear my surroundings a little. I watch through my half-opened eyelid, seeing Janet open the door as Jason slowly enters. I could see Janet putting a finger to her lips, signaling Jason to be quiet as she points me to the couch I’m lying on. I only see Jason respond with a nod as he hangs his coat up to dry. Janet walks back to the kitchen as Jason comes over, squatting down in front of me. I squeeze my eyelid back shut as I feel him softly caress my forehead, giving me a light kiss for comfort. After what felt like hours—but I might’ve passed out, I woke up to check my surroundings. All was dark except for a lamp light near my feet. I sat up fully, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I look to the clock on the wall reading 3:45. Nowhere near time to get ready for work. I stand as I make my way to the kitchen. Jason was there drinking on some decaf—but his presence startled me. “Oh, Jason…I thought you were asleep…and yet, you usually sleep on your breaks!”, I sat myself next to him as I hear Jason sigh. “Well, not tonight…”, The feeling of concern swells up inside me as I replied, “Why? What’s wrong?”, Jason sighs again. I got up to hug him around his neck, trying to make him feel more at ease. I feel him hug back, squeezing my arms firmly, having a tight hold of me. After chitchatting and staring contests, we eventually got ready for work as we both drove, following each other to the store. Janet works too but she works as a receptionist in an office building not too far away from where I work.

I got out of my car after I parked as I made my way into the store. As I dropped my things off in the lounge, Jason comes up to me, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind. “Jason what are you doing?”, I ask him. Jason gives my cheek a peck as he says, “I don’t know, just felt like doing it…”, I giggled at his response as I gently force his arms off of me, giving him a playful push as he give me a playful push back. As we made our way to the back, Jack was already here, stacking boxes here and there. As soon as Jason walks off to check for the truck’s arrival, I went over to Jack to greet him. “Hey Jack!”, I punch him softly on the shoulder. Jack only grinned and turned to face me. “Hey doll…nice to see you showing up at work…”, I rolled my eyes and quickly hugged him. “Don’t let your boyfriend see this…”, He added. I got out of the hug to notice his voice thickening with light jealousy. “What, are you jealous or something?”, Jack looked embarrassed and turned back to face the boxes he was unpacking. “Jack, it’s okay, you can tell me…”, I tried placing a hand on his shoulder, but he flinched away. “No…no it’s noT…”, He only said that as he walked off to another pile of boxes that needed to be unpacked. Feeling bad, I continued to onward with my shift.

Once the end of the day came, I was busy packing up my things in the lounge when Jack came in. He went over and sat in this chair that was nearby. I suddenly get the courage to say, “I’m sorry Jack…I didn’t mean it that way…”, Jack sat there for a good minute before getting up as he stood near me, closing my locker door for me. “If you were going to be sorry, you should have said it in the first place…”, “Well, I am!”, I quickly hug on him, the second time, as I feel him go stiff for a minute, but he was able to relax into it and hug me back. “D’you wanna come over to my place then? Hmm?”, He had asked me as he was stroking my back in small circles. I was just about to answer him with I heard Jason had barged in to take notice of our little moment. He stands there, his face forming into anger. “Jason! What are you doing here?”, I asked, pushing myself out of Jack’s arms, moving him to the side a little. Jason only grabs his bag and leaves with a huff. I hear Jack giggle to himself as he walks over to his locker. I slumped into the chair Jack was sitting in earlier, feeling confusion swell in my brain. “What’s wrong dollface? Hm?”, I only stared at the floor, not answering him. He takes notice of my silence as he walks over to me, squatting down in front of me. “Doll—it’s all okay…in the end, it wouldn’t matter, Jason will dump you and move on to some other chick…he would then bcome a worthless piece of—“, “I know Jack! I know…”, I only smile faintly at his words, looking up to see him. Jack matches my smile as he caresses my cheek.

Out of nowhere, he kisses me on my forehead and leaves. Well, that caught me off guard! As I’m driving home, my phone rings. I picked it up to hear it was Vincent on the other end! “Vincent! Oh my God, are you okay? I thought you were still on life support!”, Vincent was silent, but he only said, “Meet me at the hospital…”, He then hangs up. This is not like Vincent at all. By the time I got to the hospital, it was 8:15. I got out of my car and rushed to the lobby. As I am, flashbacks of me and Jack appear in my mind out of nowhere for some reason. My heart sinks, feeling like he may be here and holding him hostage like he did with Janet! I booked my way to his room, pushing the door open to find Vincent by himself, sitting up and relaxing, being on his phone. He noticed me having a worried look. “What’s good, Jessica!”, He threw both of his hands, throwing peace signs. I chuckle at that as I rushed over to hug him tightly. “I’m so glad you’re okay!”, Vincent hugs me back, rubbing my back in a soft manner. “I’m glad you are too…”,

After the visit, I went home to find my bedroom a mess! Did Jack do this? Was he still mad? I was starting to clean up when Jack appeared from the shadows. “Nah ah ah…I made this mess for a reason…”, I shoved my bag into my closet. “For what? So you can make me change my mind? It’s not working for you!”, Jack inched closer and held my face in his gloved hands, but not too tightly as I struggle in his grasp. “I need you to know somethin’ dollface…”, Without hesitation, he mashed his lips upon mines as I can’t help but quickly melt into. It lasted 6 seconds until he pulled away, with me being released from his grasp. I stand there, feeling confused yet again. “What was that for?”, I asked, with Jack still having his arms around my waist. He didn’t say anything for a few moments as he was staring at my features. “Well, isn’t it obvious? I see that blush on your face…I see the way you look at me…”, I only smile and wrap my arms around his neck to embrace him, feeling him embrace me back. Afterwards, Jack helped me clean up my room before falling asleep on my bed, feeling Jack tuck me in with a kiss to my forehead.

When morning came, I stirred up to find a paper note lying next to me on my nightstand. I sat up and took it reading:

“ ’morning dollface! I had put you to bed last night, I’m guessing you’re already aware—but just to let you know I’m not coming to work today…I got some unfinished business…I’ll see you around though!

-J :) “,

I sighed to myself what Jack had wrote. Today would be the day I’ll have to suffer through without Jack. But at least Jason will be there. IF Jason will be there…it depends. But I eventually got up and ready for work. Just slipping on my jacket, a folded-up card slips out of it. Jack’s number! I quickly pick it up, having this sinking feeling that I should take it with me as I shoved it into my pocket. As I’m driving, I was trying to call Janet, but she wasn’t picking up. She’s been silent for a while. I hope she’s okay! I parked my car in the parking lot and went inside the store. It wasn’t open just yet as the isles were empty and there were no customer cars, just employee cars. I sadly turned to look out of the window to notice but to also notice Jack’s car missing in the lot. I memorized the color of it. A mix of blue and purple with flame design on it. And it was a Camero! I was still looking out of the window when I felt a hand was placed on my shoulder. I turned to see it was Jason. “Oh! Hey! Jason��look…I’m sorry about yesterday…I can explain!”, Jason only smiled and nods, but I can tell Jason was still angry and that something was wrong…with him! Without a word or warning, I got hit on the head by a large book of some kind. I felt myself fall onto the floor out cold.

When I work up, my vision was blurry but cleared up enough for me to see I was being held hostage, in a store warehouse. “Some tactic, huh?”, I said out loud, feeling Jason’s presence was behind me. I writhe around, feeling the ropes tied around my hands and ankles, no using getting out of them. “Nobody and can hear you, nobody and save you…”, Jason’s words flew out of his mouth. Those words were unrecognizable. Nobody? Not even…Jack? Then the idea hits me…I remember Jack giving me his number a few days ago…I still have it on me! If I could just call him to let him know, he’ll come rescue me! I cleared my throat to say, “Can I at LEAST—have my phone call? Please! Before you do anything else?”, Jason walks around me, as if he was trying to read my mind to see if I was calling for help or something. He walked around some more before releasing my restraints. “Only one…”, He told me, handing me my phone. As he left to give me privacy, I pulled out Jack’s number, which was that Joker card and dialed in the numbers. Yet, I had a feeling his number would come in handy at some point. A few rings rang in my ear until I hear him pick up. My heart starts pounding in my chest, as I think Jason might be listening in. “Heyyy dolly doll…I’m kinda busy here at the moment—“, “Jack! Listen to me! I need your help! I need help! Please! I’ve been captured! I…”,

I tried to be quiet as much as I could but before I could get my last sentence out, Jason barged back in and snatched up my phone. He then smashed it into the hard concrete floor. Guess I’m going to have to get a new phone later! “You’re going to regret it!”, He slaps me without warning, but he did it so hard, I collapse to the floor. I tried sitting up, but Jason kicks me back down. I wonder what happened to Jason…what did he do? Was jealousy taking over him? All of a sudden, he knocks me out with one punch…not sure with what.

-------------

Jack’s (The Joker) POV:

I quickly got her message. She was in trouble. And I knew that Jason was no good. I shoved my phone back in my coat pocket and rallied up some of my men to go look for her. One came back and told me where she was. She was located in this warehouse—of the store I reluctantly work at. I gathered my mend as we all piled into a truck to leave. As we came upon the store, nobody was there except Jessica’s car and that lying prick’s car. I hopped off the truck and strode inside. My mend searched the store for any signs as I searched for dollface. I went inside the warehouse, and there she was…laying on the floor, out cold. I quickly went over to her and checked her out. Her face had a red spit on it, her breathing was labored…I have to help her in some way and fast.

-------------

Back to my POV:

Everything was black, I didn’t know how long I was out, but I woke up and I was in my room. I sat up to take a look around—clean, organized and dark. I slowly stood to my feet, going over to cut on one of my lamps so I could see more better. I was about to sit at my desk when I noticed a sticky note posted on the edge. I picked it to read:

“ I was able to find and save you dollface—don’t worry, you are safe, and Jason is taken care of…I’m not sure for how long…catch you around!

-J “,

I sighed to myself, sinking into my chair more. At least someone has my back! And yet, I never knew Jason was plotting against my back this whole time…I wished someone, or something warned me about him sooner! I took a moment before exiting my room, feeling my eyes were becoming heavy. I entered the living room to see Janet was here along with Vincent as well. They were both chilling on the couch. And they both must’ve heard what happened to me. Janet rushed up to hug me as soon as she noticed me. Vincent noticed me too as he gets up and walks over to me. “Damn! What happened to you Jessie’?”, Vincent questioned me as Janet released me so he could hug on me.

He had let me out of his embrace so I could answer. “It was Jason…he attempted to kill me…I’m sorry…I put you guys through so much drama already…”, Janet shakes her head and grabs me in for a second hug. “No Jessica! We are your friends…we want to help you when you need it…Jason should be the one who’s sorry…”, I only smiled and sighed. As Janet had let go, I asked, “What do you think about Jack then? Can he stay?”, Once I had said those words, Jack appeared out of nowhere and was smiling his creepy smile. But Vincent got freaked out and pulled out his gun he had in his waistband and shoved it in his face. “Nah ah ah! You wouldn’t wanna do that! We wouldn’t want a mess on this floor, now would we?”, Jack was shaking his finger back and forth, doing this habit of licking the sides of his mouth. I quickly reached for Vincent’s gun and snatched it out of his hands, tossing it to the couch. “Vincent! He’s okay…he won’t hurt you…”, Vincent only hissed a swear word, smacking his teeth as he takes his gun from the couch, flopping himself onto it. Janet was silent during the little moment. She then sighed and turned to Jack who was stifling a giggle but turned serious once he noticed her. “I always thought you were a monster and a psycho…but since you are so keen on keeping Jessica happy, don’t mess this up for yourself…but if you try as so much as lay a finger on her, I swear to God…”, “I know—I know…kill me and uh, pulverize me…I get the jist’ dolly…”, He shot up his hands in reassurance, showing a gleaming smile.

Janet only huffs and makes her way outside to the driveway. Vincent does the same. I sighed to myself and flopped onto the couch. “Don’t get yourself rattled up dollface…at least she’s allowing me to be here and not to, uh, kill me…”, I chuckled at how he said that as he sat himself next to me and rubbed on my thighs gently. What was he trying to do? I sat up straight to look into his eyes. He looked into mine. From what I can tell, he did want me around—he was trying to protect me—he wanted me—only me! In a sudden instance, without more thinking, I pulled him by the collar, capturing his lips with mine. He hummed surprisingly into the kiss as he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me in. We were interrupted after a moment when Janet had barged in, looking outraged. I quickly got out of Jack’s lap and stood up saying, “Janet! What’s wrong?”, Janet noticed what we were doing but ignored it. “It’s Jason—we just heard word that he’s wreaking havoc at the store…”, It was only 10:30 pm…and things were about to go down.

I looked over to Jack, as he looked like he was ready to fight with someone. I only nod in agreement to leave as we all left to the store. As we got there, several police cars surrounded the building. Luckily, the police weren’t around the entrance, keeping guard, so we allowed ourselves in. We headed down to the warehouse, where there were still no cops around, just destruction! Jason was throwing boxes everywhere, blood stained the floor from him throwing those boxes, getting cuts and splinters. I managed to take a leap of faith and confront him, but a whisper of “Jessica, don’t!” came from Janet’s mouth. I sighed and continued walking over to Jason, who was hunched over against the corner of the wall.

“Jason? I wanna talk…please…”, Jason whips his head around as I saw his face—it was red with tears strolling down his cheeks one by one. “NO! DON’T you even DARE TALK!”, Before I could get a word out, even though I was feeling speechless, Jack quickly got in front of me and held a black rifle-like gun to Jason’s forehead. He probably got that from the storage room. “Time is ticking Jason…are you gonna apologize or do I have to do it for you?”, He clicked the gun against his forehead, loading it. “Jack! Don’t! I can get something out of him, please!”, I begged as I tugged at Jack’s coat. He only flinched me away and kept his gaze on Jason who didn’t look afraid and positioned himself on both of his knees. Without hesitation…BAM! BAM! BAM! Blood spilled out of his head and splattered everywhere. I heard Janet and Vincent gasp from behind. Jason falls lifelessly to the ground, not moving. My eyes were beginning to blur with tears as I buried my face into my hands. Jack drops the gun to the floor and squeezes me into a tight hug. He held me light that for a good minute until I was able to stop crying. The police then came in and dragged both Jason’s body and Jack away.

6 hours later, when Jack was put into prison, I was wanting to stop by for a visit on my way to Janet’s, just so I can see him one last time. They sentenced him to life, but something tells me Jack won’t stick in there long. I was waiting at a table in the visitation room when a buzzer rang, and two doors opened to reveal Jack and two guards behind him. He still had his clown face paint on, but it was a little faded. And his clothes were replaced with an orange jumpsuit. I gasped faintly as I got up to go hug him. Since he was in shackles, I only felt his head snuggle into my neck. The guards evidently broke up our hug and told us we have 5 minutes. I sat across from Jack as he gave me his wide smile. “Miss me, dollface?”, I only nodded and said, “Yeah…it’s weird…but something tells me you’re not gonna last long behind bars, are yah?”, I gave a small smirk towards him. Jack shot one back and shook his head lightly, sinking into his chair. “Don’t worry…I got a plan up my sleeve…and before you know it, I will be with you again…”, He licked the insides of his mouth after saying that. I stifled a chuckle as I repositioned myself in my seat. Jack did the same.

“I only want to ask you one question Jack…hear me out, please…”, Jack went serious. “Alright doll…anything…”, I sucked in a breath and asked the question. “Is it true you protected me cause you…love me?”, I looked down in embarrassment, already regretting the words that came out of my mouth. But in the corner of my eye, I noticed Jack’s lips curling into a smile. “Well, yeah…I guess you could say that…I loved you from the beginning…with my heart…”, I smiled at his words, letting those words seep into my mind. I eventually stood up, having a feeling those 5 minutes were up by the way the guards were looking at us. “Alrighty…I guess I’ll be seeing you Jack…gotta go now and visit a friend…”, Jack stood too with the guards already at his side, taking him away, dragging him to his cell. “Remember dolly doll…I’m getting outta here…even if it takes a heavy heart…”, He called that out over his shoulder as he disappeared behind the doors. I stand there thinking, “A heavy heart? Really? I hope so, cause we got stuff to catch up on after you escape!”, With that, I left the prison and onto the road to Janet’s house, waiting for Jack’s return!

The End!

---

If you made it to the end, congrats!!! I did not know it was THIS long…it seemed so short typed up on my pad…if you like it, then I thank you…I don’t expect myself to make a part two to this so…hopefully you enjoyed!

[depressedhatakekakashi]

I had some thoughts on the timeline about Dai and B&B au.

Dai on day one waking up semi delirious and running into a furious Kakashi after he picked the Forget me knot. Learning the story from the furniture (which yup. These are the best animatronics he has ever seen! He once made a small moving toy for Gai but this is beyond him! (That or he's dying from fever. One or the other. But magic does not exist so its not that ^^b)). And making a self rule/ promise that he shall not return until he made things right with the young hairy master, by fixing his garden!

Dai seeing Asuma with a crack on his clock face and using his old skills to fix it on day 2 of being there. Also helps tune him up afterwards so he's running better than ever. Then gets back to work outside (Kakashi does a double take at that.)

Dai being thrown into the carriage, only to not only break it open from the inside with his tools, force the carriage take him back; but he fixed that up too before returning to the garden. This is day three. (Kakashi doing a triple take!)

Day 4 and Kakashi is forced to have a conversion with this strange, stubborn man when he realizes yelling, intimidating and literally throwing him out won't work. Tries to get him to leave only to learn about this man's life and sweet young son back home.

Day 5 and Dai learns the beastly man has a name! Sickness is getting worse but he has made a promise and he will get through it. Also is starting to fear the wolves will use the new exercise machine he made to grow powerful and become the dominant species after growing jacked. Kakashi seems a lot more worried about him after he discloses that information.

Day 6 and Dai can't stop hacking up a lung. But he promises on his youthful spirit that he will get this done. No matter how many times Kakashi throws him over his shoulder and puts him back in bed. He swears that after all this, he will also teach this young man how to shave since his own father was not there to teach him. Poor thing. In the mean time the two have an actually fun talk about science and how clocks and other household items can be fixed. Wishes the fluffy boy would stop playing a pranks on him with this magic stuff but alas, understands if he wants to keep his machines a trademarked secret.

Day 7, his sweet young son is here! And he just kicked his host in the face!!! Must de-escalate the situation! By now his baby boy, his furry boy, and the furniture are all starting to make sense and maybe he should see a doctor for a brief visit while his son does some of the work for him. Promises to be back soon and for Gai to be nice to their furry host. Asks Kakashi to treat his young boy (who is 21) nicely. And finally accepts the carriage ride back to the village. Hopes his boys will get along without him...

Love the thought of Dai venomously denying the existence of magic and refusing to hear anything about a ‘magic curse’ or furniture that’s actually human’s. Preposterous!

And the immediate adoption of Kakashi is delightful. Man saw a fury child and went ‘ah, yes. A child in need of a father’ XD just didn’t realize his role as a father would be that of a Father-in-law XD he has to learn that the hard way when he finds out his son went and fell in love with the fury man.

Asuma getting fixed! He has had that crack for years after a bad spill, and Kakashi was able to repair him a bit so he kept working but he could never repair the glass.

Dai finds some unused glass in the castle and cuts a piece out if it perfectly fitted for Asuma, and replaces it with such ease that Kakashi and all of the staff are amazed.

He even fixes up some of the other furniture if he can. Like Obito has a bent candle arm that he warps back into place and Kurenai has broken hinges that he happily replaces before turning his attention to the dusty state of the castle.

He even fixes Tenzo who’s screws have gone a bit rusty over the years and makes sure he’s in good working order again before continuing his work in the garden (it’s hard for Kakashi to hold a screwdriver. Fixing Asuma was hard enough with his giant paws, Dai did that job way better than he could have)

Also i imagine Kakahsi being very intrigued with Dai’s inventions and being the first person other than Dai who wants to hear more. Which is where the major comparisson between Kakashi and Madara appears.

Madara treats Dai as a nuisance and crazy for his ideas

Kakashi clearly admires him and wants to hear more

The choice is pretty easy for Gai to make even if he didn’t spend months hanging out with Kakashi slowly falling in love with him

[saint-starflicker]

Nobody tagged me, I just thought this would be fun.

1. what was your writing-highlight this year? what made it special and how will you reflect on it next year?

I found out that I start whinging really loudly at 18,000 words that I hate doing this and I'm never going to write anything ever again—but I can push through that moment to a word count of 30,000.

2. what did not go so well this year? how do you feel about it and what is a positive thing you learnt from it?

Physical health. Got a new adjusted painkiller prescription.

3. did you achieve everything you wanted to this year? if not, how will you go about it?

No, but hope springs eternal.

4. what is your favourite line you wrote this year?

I'm more of a story arc person than a sentence person. Stephen King in On Writing said a complete sentence has a noun and a verb, and all my other more direct writing influences told me to choose as strong a verb as I can think up at the time of writing, so that became my autopilot mode and I don't really think about making showy, stylish, deft, clever yet unobtrusive sentences anymore (which is probably why I don't accomplish stylish, deft, clever yet unobtrusive sentences.) If a reader gets curious enough about the second sentence that they read it and then the next sentence, then I am grateful for my good fortune.

5. what is your favourite book/story/poem you read this year?

For all its problems, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. I think a lot of classics get a "summarized badly" stereotype around it until we think we don't have to read it because we got information against our will about what the story content is. "Moby Dick is about Captain Ahab going on an ordinary whale hunt for too many pages that describe the color white." "Everything Jane Austen wrote was about dresses and balls, rich people visiting other rich people's houses, and sassing a beau until he becomes a husband." I think for Jane Eyre it's "Mr. Rochester locked his wife up in an attic and then tried to marry Jane. She still married him because that's true love. These are disaster heteros, do not be these people." It really makes Jane sound like some wilting violet downtrodden by her employer's boot, but Jane has an almost decades-long extended family melodrama going on that Rochester doesn't have anything to do with—that I think is a more significant part of her characterization and those family dynamics are my favorite part of the book.

6. did you make any new writeblr friends? give a shout-out! if not, it's time to praise one of your old besties <3

I don't want to accidentally shade anybody by recommending that we maybe should actually be writing.

7. what are three songs you put on your WIP-playlist this year?

Fish in a Birdcage

Til I Hear It From You

I count the following two songs as one entry because they were on a playlist for the same story:

Nothing Without You

Between the Lines

8. what are three things you're looking forward to next year?

Writing original fiction.

9. create a meme or moodboard that captures your past writing-year!

naur

10. which character(s) turned out differently from what you had planned? how so?

I thought Claire Simmonds would be more evil in "Cross to Wear".

11. which scene was harder/easier to write than anticipated? why?

"Cross to Wear", I was clocking in the scene in which Peter tells his dad off, because Papa Simmonds was just...an empty husk of a person in my mind, and not even in an interesting way, as in if that cad and reckless child-abandoner was only just slightly more active in my mind then that would've gone more easily. As it stands, Papa Simmonds was a plot device, and nobody talks about how difficult those characters are to write because there's nothing in them to make any momentum happen. It's like kicking an empty soup tin can down the street in hopes that it will play fetch with you. There's no life in a plot device character.

Mikey versus the 1990's was strange because I got to the 18,000-word mark and I whined as usual that this was taking too long and was too much effort and I am so going to quit this hobby, and I didn't mean to retell the whole entire goddamn novel from the point of view of a background character who was very in the background like way, way in the background...and then I blinked and just under 26,000 words were written out to the end in what felt like less than 2 weeks. It took something like 2 months to get to 25,000 words in "Cross to Wear".

12. if your character(s) had their own new years resolutions, what would those be?

Get written. Bother their author.

13. how did you change as a writer? did you learn anything new? started to plan instead of pants? share your wisdom!

I got bitten by a Muse of writing nonfiction essays, actually, which was odd because I did not previously know that was a thing.

14. time for writing wrapped! what would be your top three used sentences?

(I hope I don't have that! Let alone 3 of that.)

15. time for shameless self-promotion! answer with a piece of writing you want others to see/read! (if you have nothing posted/published this year, any other year is fine too ^^)

I did finally get a short story (original fiction) accepted for publication by a new local magazine, so I'm happy. But this is my fandom blog for fanfictions.

[mae-dwrites]

Taking Flight - Chapter 8 - Surviving

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“Marigold! Wakey, wakey!” Bridget called as she climbed into Marinette’s room.

Marinette groaned as she pulled her blanket down around her head.

“I seriously don’t know how your mother hasn’t just shoved you off your bed yet,” Bridget said as she came up the ladder.

“See us wells at ne,” Marinette’s face was muffled from the layers on her.

Bridget whacks Marinettes thigh, “Get up darling. Can’t understand you when you cover your face.”

“Oww!” Marinette jolted up. She glared at Bridget with gritted teeth, “I said she just yells at me.”

“Well she used to drag me out of bed without worry. I don’t know why she never drags you around the house. That was the highlight of her day,” Bridget climbed down the ladder. She looked at the windows, they had paper taped to them. Colorful pinks and purples, some blues in here and there.

Bridget couldn't help herself from touching the paper, it was like looking at evidence in the labs. It helped her to think, that if she got her own handle on it then maybe the pieces could come together easier. Or maybe it was just therapeutic for her, to help her overcome the pressures.

But this wasn't a case, this wasn't a mission. This was her niece, her fifteen-year-old niece who had grown after she left. And the saddest part was she didn't get to see her flourish, even if it was in this disgusting magic war.

This war was a disgrace to the city, magic, and at most to Diana. How could the city just close itself off from the world? Was it shame? Shame that they obviously had to rely on children to protect them. They knew they could get help from outside heroes, heroes that knew the ways with magic. So why did they restrict their doors to the path of progression?

“Āyi what are you doing?” Marinette snapped Bridget out of her web of possibly. Bridget turned to Marinette, she had that same nervous overly done smile plastered on her face. Her eyes looked between her and the paper as if she was on the verge of being made. But what would sweet Marinette need to worry about being made about? Perhaps it’s just her usual nerves, Marinette was always a bit jumpy.

“Just looking at the paper, it’s very pretty.” Bridget knew how to get information out of Marinette when she spun her words just right.

“Oh yeah!”-Still nervous-“I put it up 'cause I wanted to change my room up a bit”-Not a complete lie, but she’s still hiding something-“It gives a nice effect when the sun is in the right place. Also, Akumas flying around or heroes swinging by can see in. It gives me privacy, Ladybug and Chat Noir go around at night to see how likely an Akuma may or may not be, and to be already about in case.”

That last part was true but still had something else. It makes sense, you don’t want peeping toms; also it would be awkward if a hero was making their rounds and glanced by your window at the wrong moment.

“I really need some for myself,” Bridget touched the paper again. Marinette tensed again, Interesting. “Where did you get it?”

“My favorite crafts shop!” Marinette’s voice went chirper.

“Are you okay Mari?” Bridget asked turning back to her niece. Marinette’s eyes had been looking behind her before looking her in the eyes, with her smile a little too forced. Bridget turned around but found nothing there. When she faced her niece again she fought to narrow her eyes at the girl. Marinette let out an uncomfortable laugh, “Well thank you for waking me up so early, I can actually get to school on time! Wait what time is it?”

“Uhh,” Bridget looked down at her watch. “It’s 6:11 am.”

“What,” Marinette squeaked. Her eyes looked like they were bulging out of her head.

“06:11, sorry I forgot you guys use continental time.”

“No, no I understand your American 12-hour clock time. Just why?” Marinette looked so pained looking at Bridget.

“Because you should get up? You’re always late I thought I would help you get up.”

“School is right next door!” Marinettes hands gestured dramatically towards the school.

“And yet you always wake up late, meaning getting up late, which means you get ready late, so you’re out the door late. And then you arrive tardy, and that makes or breaks your future! You need to get yourself in a morning routine or a better night routine.” Bridget scolded the young girl. “Anyway I’m making breakfast, you’re parents are starting the Bakery.”

“Okay, thanks!” Bridget heard her call to her as she exited the room closing the trap door behind her.

Bridget opened the fridge door to an abundance of different foods and snacks.

“Marinette likes to eat in her room lately, she’s been getting all these different things and it’s been filling up. Leaving us without as much room as before, we’ve been considering buying her a mini-fridge.”

Sabines' words from their call a few weeks ago rang in her ears. Perhaps she could just leave the food up in her room. She could just hang out with her after she ate. Bridget was many things but unobservant was not one. Marinette had always liked a little privacy and she could respect that, and Marinette was a growing girl and they had their secrets. She knew that; it just kinda hurt is all, but she couldn’t change that.

Bridget grabbed the foods on the list stuck to the refrigerator. And complied them neatly on the tray, it was strange she ate so much. Yes, Marinette had always been one to eat more than she looked she could, but seriously all this for breakfast? Bridget left a few things out because obviously not all of these could be eaten for breakfast. Marinette could have the others at lunch, also today was a half day. She could eat these during the rest of the evening if she wanted to.

Bridget was about to knock on the door when she heard voices and Marinette squeal, or maybe squeak would be better. Some sounded like they were coming from a device but some sounded like there were others in Marinette’s room. She heard Marinette move things and tripping over things and possibly herself. Bridget fought the urge to flinch at the sounds.

Bridget finally knocked on the trap door, “Marinette are you okay up here? I have breakfast for you.”

“Āyi!” Marinette's leg snagged on part of her chair as Bridget turned to her. Marinette fell but brought her forearms up to break her fall, “Thank you! Um, let me just-” Marinette turned her sewing machine sideways for her aunt to set it down on the space.

“Marinette is that your aunt?” an orotund voice asked, it wasn’t the clearest due to it coming from Marinette’s speakers.

“Yes I am,” Bridget smirked as she turned to the screen to find Alya Césaire. Exactly the girl she had been wanting to talk to. Yes she had met Alya multiple times but Marinette or her were always dragging the other out the door. So there was never a formal meeting.

Bridget heard Marinette mutter an “oh no” under her breath.

“Oh my gosh, I’ve been wanting to meet you!” Alya said through the screen. “Mari is always dragging me off to do things or we’re already got plans.”

“Of course, you girls are busy. Also where are you from? Your accent isn’t thick like Marigold’s.”

“Oh, I’m from America. We moved here last year because my mom got an offer to be a cook at Le Grand Paris. And well here we are,” Alya said. “Also thank you for getting Marinette up so early, I never get to talk to her this early.”

Marinette groaned as she nibbled on some dragon fruit. She had taken bites from a bit of everything, but she didn’t seem to eat that much of them. But she was almost done with her cereal though.

“Of course, I’m surprised her mother hasn’t been doing it the way I did it.” Bridget joked.

“I hope she doesn’t take it to heart,” Marinette mumbled.

“Oh that depends on you getting your shit together,” Bridget said dryly.

“Can you leave so I can talk to my best friend please?” Marinette glared at Bridget. Huh.

“You wound me Mars! What happened to when I was your best friend?” Bridget dramatically flung herself on the chaise.

Marinette yanked Bridget up off of the chaise, which wow! Marinette didn’t look that strong. She knew Sabine had trained her in Martial Arts but not that she had put on some mussel. Then again maybe everyone had with what was happening in their city.

“Out!” Marinette cried, although she had let a laugh slip out Bridget could feel the annoyance in Marinette’s voice.

“Okay, okay. I’m outing, I’m outing!” Bridget said as she went down the stairs.

Okay while that had not gone as planned she did get to officially meet Alya. Kinda. And that means if she just happened to randomly see her while she was out it wouldn’t be so weird if she just walked up to her. Besides everyone had been overly nice in Paris, at least some people. It unnerved Bridget to ends meet. While it makes sense it’s annoying, cause how well had people gotten at pretending?

Now of course it was to be expected that the people would need to adapt. It was only natural, that’s what evolution was all about. An organism developing from acting one way to another as nature and its surroundings in order to survive. Such as how birds while in the same genus had many different species as they varied due to the area they lived. And those who did well moved on as natural selection or Darwinism. Sometimes though it was through perseverance and resilience that one made it through, and that was far more admirable.

Close to, if not, the perfect example of if you’re determined enough you can do anything. All Chengs knew that mentality well.

-•-

Marinette rested her head on Alya’s shoulder, she wanted to curl up in the sun and stay there until Bridget left. Perhaps she was spending more time with Chat than she thought, the dark hair haired girl thought with a sigh. Bridget just got on her nerves for some reason. It wasn't like this before, yes Bridget always had a tendency to get into people’s bubbles but she was respectful, she saw where she overstepped. But it didn't sit right with Marinette, it was like Bridget was looking for something.

But Bridget wasn't anything to worry about; she's just a civilian, a very personal bubble invading civilian.

Like she just barged into her room and smacked her leg! Yes it got her up but oh Kwami she could have been nicer! Bridget was so over the top and it was aggravating to no end. Marinette had to sneak the Kwami food while her aunt talked to Alya. Like yeah, she got her out but the Kwami didn't get their respective snacks to just be naturally fueled.

It was amazing to finally be up early though, not to mention some of the Kwami got to eat in the morning rather than waiting for her to return for lunch, or sneaking down. Marinette did leave some snacks accessible in her room but she couldn't leave much without getting in trouble.

Marinette sighed again much more tiredly as her eyes felt like they sagged down her face. At this point she was surprised her face hadn't slid off with how tired she was.

“Oh come on girl, I doubt your aunt is that bad. She seems great.” Alya smirked down at Marinette with her unblocked arm on her hip.

“Important note, never use “seem” around my aunt. That's like an automatic judgey auntie eyes for you,” Marinette said as she finally raised her head from Alya’s shoulder.

“Don't get what that means entirely but noted,” Alya said with a laugh. “Anyway, are you excited about French-American friendship week next month? I can't wait, I hope we get to see Majestia in person. You need to see her!”

Marinette smiled as Alya ranted about the heroes of New York City. Marinette had heard Alya go for hours upon hours of hundreds of heroes. From the most famous to little guys that didn't get the recognition they deserved. Alya talked the most about the United Heroes and the Justice League, usually the United Heroes as she had lived in what had consisted of their heroing jurisdiction for the majority of her life. A good chunk of that being the North Eastern of the States, along with bleeding into the Midwest. And the Justice League because we'll, it was the Justice League. What hero enthusiast wouldn't be obsessed with it?

Not to mention Alya was 1,000% confident that they were gonna be one of the classes to win the contest to participate in the week-long exchange. It was New York’s turn to host the event between the two countries, the previous year it had been in Lyon, France as Paris wasn’t available due to Hawkmoth and not wanting to risk the safety of some American students. Of course Marinette wouldn’t know that, but Ladybug would have played a part while discussing this with the mayor and President. Also the President loved the idea for it showed more than just Paris to the students, showed from reports it actually did very well and the students got to learn efficiently about the economics of France as Lyon was a major centre of banking, biotech, pharmaceuticals, and other things. The students even got to tour a decent amount of the universities that Lyon has to offer.

Marinette had been over the moon when she heard how well it went.

“Is that Chloé?” someone said.

Marinette snapped out of her thought train.

“Guess the greedy bitch decided to stop hiding in her daddy’s hotel,” another sneered.

“And to think she was turning over a new leaf.” another guy said quieter than the others.

“Pft as if. That leaf was made of fool's gold.” the first person said with disgust.

“How is the President even letting this slide?” An older classman asked before continuing, “She should be locked up at this point.”

“How does she let the Mayor abuse his power like this? Let alone to the whim of his daughter,” a fifth person piped up.

The comments went on, people glaring at the blonde. Marinette could easily pick her out of the crowd, with the way people seemed to avoid one section of the courtyard how could you not? But she looked…different.

Chloé was no longer having her signature fierce white with her yellow overcoat. Her white shirt with stripes no more, her sleek eye-catching yellow jacket all gone. Now she had dark brown pants and a beige shirt with a soft yellow cardigan. They were still undoubtedly high brands, but they were far more modest than anything the girl had worn. Chloé still had her hair in a ponytail but it was much looser than her high-strung one. It was freer, it certainly wasn't the straight I’m-better-than-you one she wore for the last few years.

All of it made Chloé look so much more real, she looked soft and not just for her new look. Her face was serene in a way; she still didn't give a crap what people thought of her, clearly, but there was something in the way she held herself that was different from the few times Marinette saw her while on Patrols last week.

It had been two weeks to the day, since Double Strike as everyone had started to call it. Marinette supposed they weren't wrong. But just that thought made Marinette’s insides twist. It had been two weeks since Master Fu had lost his memories and given her the responsibility of watching over the Miracle Box.

“Do you think she’s okay?” Alya asked finally, it brought Marinette back to the now.

“I'm sure she’s just been processing. It must have been horrible, having your parents Akumatized and not getting to help save them. And then that very emotion being what made you an accomplice in more pain,” Marinette replied. Though it wasn't really out of answering the question, more her internal guilt gnawing at her. While it wasn’t entirely her fault (the Kwami had been trying to tell it wasn’t her fault at all), she still played a major role in it.

Alya gave her a weird look in question, but didn't press Marinette. As much as she would love to, Marinette hadn't even turned to Alya, just kept watching Chloé as she scrolled through her phone. Alya would ask later.

-•-

“Chloé!” Sabrina ran over to Chloé excitedly to see her best friend again. Everyone in the courtyard seemed to hush, some tried to pretend they weren't watching but it was very obvious. Chloé could almost feel the eyes turning their way, the ears tunning in with that weird cartoony sound when a character remembered something.

“Chloé I’m so glad you're back! I’ve been doing your homework for you even while you were away. So you don't have to worry about that at all! Not to mention I’ve kept your seat clean for you, not even a fly has sat-” Sabrina’s loud ramblings were cut off.

“Sabrina stop.” While Chloé’s quiet voice still held its’ commanding air, but it had lost its annoyed tone. It sounded more like a plea to Chloé’s ears. The fact that she couldn't help her voice to come up a plea made her feel a bit dizzy, as it was very unusual; it felt unusual. Sabrina looked at Chloé with innocent waiting eyes, if Sabrina became an Akuma due to this Chloé didn’t know what she would do. Chloé looked at the redhead for a moment before sighing, “This isn't going to work anymore Sabrina.”

“What? Bu-But Chloé- I don’t-” Sabrina's stuttering stopped when Chloé interrupted again.

“It isn't going to work because this isn't okay. How I’ve treated you isn't good, and I knew that and continued to anyway for a good chunk of that time. I may have been raised in an environment where I was taught it was okay but it doesn't mean that it is okay.” Chloé took a deep breath, “We can't be friends Sabrina, we, uck. Really what was going on here wasn't even friendship, my friendship with Adrikins is just passing. But with you it’s barely even classifiable as that and you went along with it, and I, in a way, taught you that this was okay. It's ridiculous that no one sensible tried to tell me- Wait no- ugh! No sensible adult tried to tell me that, they just let me. Even before Hawkmoth.”

“Chloé, it's fine!” Sabrina cried. Chloé’s heart twisted, God please don’t let her get Akumatized. Because despite how their relationship was she had grown to care about Sabrina. She had disregarded all the red flags they both gave for years, and it needed to stop before there was no turning back.

“No, it’s not and you should know that. But you don’t, because of me. I’ve done some reflecting,” Chloé said the word like she was trying dragon fruit for the time again. The texture of the jelly-like interior paired with seeds taking up the area like a strawberry. The word left her off-set like the fruit. “And I’ve realized that I can't really become a better person if you’re still acting as some servant of mine. We can’t continue like this.”

“But we can still be friends right? We can still be friends!” Sabrina grabbed Chloé’s hand with desperation. Her eyes bore into the blond’s, as if this would save them.

“No, we can’t Sabrina,” Chloé took her hand away. “I have switched seats with Krutzberg, he will be your new seatmate.” Some of the words came out with clear disgust but it was necessary. She was just glad she was able to get them to move the Italian lair across the aisle without much argument. When they first tried to say that it was unnecessary as she was already asking for a disruption in the class. All it took was threatening to bring her father into the equation for them to comply.

“Wha-What?” Sabrina sounded so heartbroken, her eyes widening at the blond. But Chloé was right, she knew it. She had thought long and hard, and Sabrina and Chloé enabled the other in the worst ways possible. They both needed to become their own persons, and that couldn't happen if Chloé still allowed Sabrina to do everything she made her do for her.

Chloé walked away from Sabrina feeling a little lighter, this is the right thing to do. That's what she kept telling herself, there were better ways but Chloé just wanted to rip the bandaid off. She had never liked to drag things out, which was one of the reasons she had taken the habit of using her father to get her way.

The whispers followed her throughout the day, not that it was a new thing. Her mother’s scandal had latched itself onto her and her father long ago before she was aware. And for once none of it bothered her, it didn’t get under her skin. And Chloé felt all the more stronger for it.

☾•☽

Makzenie stared at the door, she had been doing this for who knows how long. She really didn’t want to do this but she knew the hero wouldn’t stop bothering her or giving her things unless she did something. Sure she could have skipped town, but how? She had no money; most of the ways out were turned into fortresses after Hawkmoth started. They made it difficult for people to get in, and in turn, made the same for the opposite.

Even then she wouldn’t know her way around like she knew Paris, she wouldn’t have the same equivalent of knowledge she did here. She knew Roger’s chase limit; she knew the best spots to crash; she’d made safe-havens. If she left she would be left worse off than she was here.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad an idea to reach out…

She finally took a deep breath and brought her hand up to knock on the door only for it open in front of her. Makzenie blinked once before looking up at the giant teddy bear man that was Tom Dupain. The girl blinked again suddenly feeling extremely short when she was quite tall her age really. She watched as the man seemed to brighten up at the sight of her, even in her dirty clothes and semi-tangled hair. She started to feel dirtier than she had a few seconds ago, becoming very self-conscious. She felt the dirt and grime that stuck to her hands; the too-thin fabric of her shoes; the heaviness of her eyebags; the weight of her backpack while it didn’t hold much suddenly became kilograms, the straps becoming more apparent to her nerves.

“Makkie listen to me. Respirer,” Tom’s voice broke through. Makzenie’s eyes looked up to the baker, “There you are. Take another breath with me.” Makzenie complied and took breaths along with Tom.

Tom helped her sit down on the stair step, “I just need to deliver this box across the street. Do you think you’ll be okay if I leave you here for a few minutes?”

Makzenie nodded, but Tom raised his eyebrows at her. While the face was supposed to be stern it made Makzenie smile, because as sweet as the baker was he could never threaten anyone who knew him. She nodded again, “Really I’ll be fine while you do that.”

Tom seemed to hesitate before nodding and mumbling to himself as he picked up the box to make his delivery. It didn’t take that long but it felt as though he was gone for way longer; it didn’t help that she couldn’t stop her leg from bouncing while she waited. Usually, she was better at hiding her nervousness, she prided herself on it. But then again, it wasn’t like this was something she did every day. In fact, being in situations like this were one she actively avoided.

“Makkie?” Makzenie looked up to see Sabine looking at her confused. “I didn’t know you were here. I would have welcomed you in if I had.”

“Oh it’s fine Mme. Cheng. M. Dupain let me in. He said he’d be back after a delivery.” The girl tried her best to smile at Sabine with confidence. Confidence she didn’t really have at the moment.

“Let me get you something to eat dear.”

Makzenie's eyes widened in panic, “No, it’s fine really. You don’t need to!”

Makzenie’s words fell on deaf ears as Sabine blatantly ignored everything that came out of the girl’s mouth. Sabine left her to retrieve something for Makzenie. Makzenie sighed and pulled her hair back with a groan. It’s not like she didn’t appreciate the Dupain-Chengs, they offered help to anyone. They didn’t try to force her to meet social workers or to go to homeless shelters, they didn’t hide how they felt, and while they didn’t try to push her into things they also didn’t directly ask her questions. It was strange how sometimes they seemed so direct and then when Mak took a closer look that they were asking around the bigger questions they want to ask.

Sabine reemerged with a box, “We don’t have much for regular nutritional food but if you stayed around you could stay for dinner.”

Makzenie opened her mouth but closed it. It’s okay, they were good people. Genuine good people unlike most of Paris, everyone had to put on a face and be nice if you didn’t want to cause an Akuma.

“That would be nice,” Makzenie finally said. “I uh, I wanted to talk to you two about something. Not right now though, it can wait.”

“Of course,” Sabine gave her a smile. “If you’d like you can just hang out down here, or upstairs. I can’t let you just sit around in the bakery or the kitchen.”

“You don’t have to,” Makzenie started to say. Sabine suddenly rose and shook her head, “No come upstairs dear. I trust you not to get into anything we haven’t allowed you into before.”

Makzenie reluctantly followed the older woman. It wasn’t her first time with them, but this time she was very nervous. She had nothing to worry about, this was M. Dupain and Mme. Cheng.

“Right now not many people come in. I only have a few minutes tops, I’ll let Tom know you’re up here when he gets back.” Sabine explained as she unlocked the door, “You can watch anything we have while you wait. Marinette is coming home soon, and if the door opens before then it’s either Tom and myself or possibly my sister.”

Makzenie’s eyebrows rose and she looked at the short woman. It never crossed her mind that Mme. Cheng would have siblings, but then again her kind and defensive nature seemed to make more sense.

“Her name is Bai- I mean Bridget,” Sabine let out a chuckle mainly to herself. “I forget not to call her by her birth name. But if isn’t one of us, it’s most likely her.”

Makzenie stood awkwardly near the door as she took in the area. It wasn’t her first time in here but it always made her feel out of place. The place was so clean, the thinnest layer of dust on the shelves and coats or shoes just laying mostly out of the way. It was so simple, just purely mundane.

“Come on sweetheart come sit down.” Sabine gestured to the couch. She showed her a reassuring smile before opening the cabinet that the tv sat a top of, “Pick anything you like. I'll just be down in the bakery.”

Makzenie mumbled a thank you as Sabine went to reattend the bakery. The girl decided it wouldn’t hurt to put something on, she went through the cases reading the backs trying to find something that piqued her interest. She must have been doing this for a while because she heard a knock on the door, which made her jump, before it opened. She turned back to see the baker's daughter enter with a smile.

“It’s just me,” the girl sent Makzenie a reassuring smile. Makzenie couldn’t help but smile back.

Makzenie lifted her arm, “Still got the coat. It’s a bit dirty now though.”

“That’s okay,” Marinette said with a laugh. “Clothes aren’t meant to keep the wearer warm and comfortable. And that includes getting dirty, no one likes to be dirty.” Marinette’s eyes seemed to scan the girl over before looking her in the eyes again, “Do you want to take a shower? I have some clothes you can borrow. You’re slightly taller than me but I think you’ll fit something.”

Makzenie even if didn’t mean to had leaned away as the girl said this. She didn’t want to intrude, but as Marinette looked at her with her wide eyes she thought, I’m already going to be asking something that does have me practically intruding.

“It wouldn’t hurt,” Makzenie finally said getting up.

“Okay just give me a moment,” Marinette ran up to her room. After hearing the teen make her way through her room for a few seconds a very loud thump sounded. Makzenie cringed away from the ladder. How the girl always seemed to be falling or bumping into things made many worry, that did not exclude Makzenie.

“Here!” Marinette cried when she came back down. “These should fit you. If not I can always adjust them. Here’s a towel, feel free to use mine,” Marinette had grabbed Makzenie’s hand and brought her toward the bathroom. She pointed at the bottle, “That one, don’t worry about the water just enjoy it for a moment.”

Marinette smiled at Makzenie, the younger girl gave a small one back. Marinette turned to leave before turning back, “And you can lock the door. So you don’t have to worry about anything.”

“Oh, um. Thank you.” the girl said before Marinette left. Makzenie shut the door behind her and locked it. She took a deep breath as she looked around the bathroom and started the water. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad, if Chat was right.

-•-

“And then,” Marinette said with a mouth full of spaghetti before swallowing it down. “And then! Kim chanced Alix out of the classroom for the bracelet.”

Mackenzie laughed with the Dupain-Chengs and Mme. Cheng’s sister. The woman, Bridget, was quite strange, while she had a bubbly personality of sorts she wasn’t truly all smiles and fake positivities or someone trying their hardest to hold on to her positive emotions. It was refreshing if Makzenie was being honest, as that’s what most of Paris was. Positive emotions had become things that had to linger, people going out of their way to make happy and perfect events. Not a thing could go wrong, some people did well enough despite it all. Others though, Makzenie didn’t want to remember them.

“So Makzenie what did you want to talk about?” Sabine asked gently and quietly. Makzenie swallowed down some noodles, she suddenly didn’t want to go through with it. She wasn’t the only one out there, but it felt selfish of her to leave them.

But like them, she just wanted a home.

When she looked up to finally say something Bridget’s calculating eyes made her stop. She shifted in her seat under her gaze. It felt like she wasn’t seeing her but through into her, analyzing every part of her.

Bridget reached for her hand but Makzenie brought her hands under the table.

“From a bad home?” The Asian American asked in her rusty French. Makzenie pursed her lips before nodding.

“I, um, I was hoping I could stay with you,” Makzenie stared at the plate in front of her.

“Oh dear,” Sabine took the young girl’s hand. “Of course, you can. We know the shelters aren’t the best, and that process can be messy.”

“I can help you get out,” Bridget said moving her head so Makzenie could look at her. “I know people, um, that can make it go easy. Did I say that right?” Bridget glanced over to Sabine who chuclked and nodded.

They started talking about what they could do. Bridget slipping into English as she spoke to Sabine and Tom.

Marinette nudged Makzenie to give her a smile.

-

September 25, 2019 ☾•☽ September 25, 2019

—

So I did research on homelessness in Paris before I finished this chapter, and by that I mean this morning, it’s actually surprisingly high. But also I suppose it shouldn't be surprised as it's a big city and a capital. It became worse after Covid as their system was taken from them.

Their shelters aren't very hygienic is what I remember from reading from one of the four articles I will be linking. So that's something I decided I want to make it apart of my story.

Disclaimer: I am not from France or fully aware of their political culture and problems. I am simply using them for a story element and also thought it would be good to bring up.

Homelessness in Paris: The Darker Side of the City of Light by Paul McQueen

Homelessness and the pandemic: Paris by REBECCA ROSMAN

Housing shortage blamed for tripled homeless population in France by Mario Fernadaz

Homelessness and poor quality of living is on the rise in France | Euronews

[fredborges98]

Brave New World*.

The War and The Doors's and Windows's perspectives.

Admirável Mundo Novo.

A perspectiva da Guerra, Windows and The Doors.

Por: Fred Borges

By: Fred Borges

Texto bilíngue com parte transcrita para o Inglês, traduzido, e com versão autoral.

Bilingual text. Translation, version, transcription by the author.

Thank you:

Agradecimentos a:

The Magazine of the National Endowment for the Humanities

Feature

The Talented Mr. Huxley

The brilliant, eclectic thinker who wrote the classic dystopian novel Brave New World.

Danny Heitman

HUMANITIES, November/December 2015, Volume 36, Number 6

Photo caption

Aldous Huxley in 1934.

—© Pictoral Press Ltd. / Alamy Stock Photo

Transcrição do vídeo : The banker and the truth.

https://youtu.be/I7HZhL_hQgU?si=Of26wGdFMpHiqv1f

The banker and the truth.

"Hello, my name is Montague William III and what I will tell you may well sound absurd, but the less who believe It the better for me, for you, see I am in banking and big industry, for many years we having controlled your lives, while you older struggle and suffer in strifes.

We created the things that you really need

Your sports cars and fashions and plasma

TVs

I remember it clearly how all this begun family secrets from father to son

Inherited knowledge that gives me the edge

While you peasants, people lie sleeping at night in your beds

We control the money that control your lives

Whilst you worship false idols and wouldn't think twice

About selling your souls in a place of sun

This thing doesen't matter when your time is done

But as long they are there to control the masses

I just seat there and control my assets

Safe in the knowledge that I have it all

While you common people are losing your jobs

You see I just hold in utter content

But the smile in my face,well,It just make me a exempt

For I have a weapon of global TV

Whish gives us connection and invites empathy

You would really believe that we look out for you

While we bankers and brokers are only a few

But If you saw that then you would take back the power

Hence dayly terrors to make you cowers

The Panics, the crasches, the war and the illlness

That keep you from finding your Spiritual Wholleness

We rig the game and we buy out both sides

To keep you slaved in your pitfull lives

So,get out and work, as your body clock fades

And when it' all over, a few years from the grave

You' ll look back on all this and then you'll see

That your life was nothing, a mere fantasy

There are very few things that we do not control

To have Lawyers and Police Force was always a goal

Doing our bidding as your march on the street

But they never realises that they' re only just sheep

For real power resides only in the hands of a few

You voted for a parties, what more coul you do?

But what you don't know they are one and the same

Old Gordon has passed good,old David then reigns

And you' ll follow the leader who was put by you

But your blood will runs red, while our blood runs blue

But you simply not see it' s part of the game

Another distraction like money and fame

Get ready for wars in the name of free Vacinations for illlness that will never be

The assault of your childrens impressional minds

And micro chipped world, you' ll put up no fight

Information impression will keep you in toe

Depopulation of peasants was always our goal

But eugenics was not what we hoped It would be

Oh, It was us that funded Nazis!

But as long as we own the media too

What really happens doesen't concern to you

So just go on watching your plasma TV

And the world will be run by the ones you can't see."

Tradução-Por: Fred Borges

O banqueiro e a verdade.

Olá, meu nome é Montague William III e o que vou lhe dizer pode parecer absurdo, mas quanto menos acreditarem, melhor para mim, para você, veja, estou no setor bancário e na grande indústria, há muitos anos controlamos suas vidas , enquanto vocês mais velhos lutam e sofrem em conflitos

Criamos as coisas que você realmente precisam

Seus carros esportivos, moda e televisores de plasma

Lembro-me claramente de como tudo isto começou, segredos de família de pai para filho

Conhecimento herdado que me dá vantagem

Enquanto vocês, povo, povo-pessoas dormem à noite em suas camas

nós controlamos o dinheiro que controla suas vidas

enquanto você adorava falsos ídolos e não pensaria duas vezes

sobre vender suas almas em um lugar ensolarado

essas coisas não importarão quando seu tempo acabar

mas enquanto elas estiverem lá para controlar as massas

eu apenas sento lá e controlo meus ativos

seguro sabendo que tenho tudo

enquanto vocês, pessoas comuns, estão perdendo seus empregos

você vê, eu apenas mantenho conteúdo definido, absoluto ou essencial

quanto ao sorriso no meu rosto, bem, isso só me torna isento

pois eu tenho uma potente e perigosa arma: A mídia

que nos proporciona uma conexão, um vínculo emocional e convida à empatia

você realmente acreditaria que cuidamos de você?

embora nós, banqueiros, bancos centrais, agentes econômicos e financeiros,formos e somos apenas alguns, a ordem, o sistema não muda

mas se você observasse, analisasse, se preocupasse, quisesse mudar o sistema,poderia com isso, você recuperaria, o poder

daí os terrores diários para fazer você se encolher, se reduzir a sobreviver

os pânicos, as crises, a guerra e a doença

tudo isso o impede de encontrar sua totalidade espiritual

nós manipulamos o jogo e compramos ambos os lados

para mantê-lo escravo em suas vidas miseráveis

então, saia e trabalhe e continue não pensando,sem reflexões, flexões, movimentos que possam vir a abalar o sistema, enquanto seu relógio biológico desaparece, sua morte diária o emudesse

e quando tudo acabar, alguns anos após no seu túmulo

você olhará para trás e verá e terá a visão que tudo isso

que sua vida não era nada, uma mera fantasia

Existem muito poucas coisas que não controlamos

Advogados, juízes, políticos, Estado Paralelo do Deep State, além de Forças Militares e Policial, isto sempre foi o objetivo e meta

cumprindo nossas ordens como sua marcha, marcha de martelos procurando pregos na rua

mas vocês nunca percebem e nunca perceberão que são apenas ovelhas

pois o verdadeiro PODER reside apenas nas mãos de poucos

você votou em um partido, o que mais você poderia fazer?

Mas o que você não sabe, eles são a mesma coisa, farinha do mesmo saco

o velho Lula passou bem, o "novo" Lula então reina

e você seguirá o líder que foi colocado por você

mas seu sangue ficará vermelho, enquanto nosso sangue ficará azul ou verde de dólares

mas você simplesmente não vê que faz parte do jogo, um simples peão do jogo

outra distração como dinheiro e fama

prepare-se para guerras em nome da ordem, da nova- velha ordem, de vacinas gratuitas para doenças, epidemias e pandemias que nunca existirão

o ataque às mentes impressionistas de seus filhos,mentes abertas,abertas para criar, mudar, questionar, reinvidicar o PODER

e de um mundo micro-chipado, da I.A. ou IADG, você não resistirá

A impressão e multiplicação de informações irá mantê-lo alerta, mas ao mesmo tempo anestesiado, drogado e manipulado

o despovoamento dos camponeses, povo, população das camadas mais pobres em países desenvolvidos,do contrário será o : " crescei e multiplicai-vos" para manipular a manada pelo voto obrigatório, sempre foi o nosso objectivo e meta controlar as massas, massificando e deteriorando a educação

Mas a eugenia não era o que esperávamos.

Oh sim, uma confissão, fomos nós que financiamos os fascistas, nazistas e até mesmo os comunistas "de faixada"!

Mas enquanto,em paralelo também formos donos da mídia

o que realmente acontece não lhe diz respeito, nada que nos interessa, interessa a vocês, vocês são as ovelhas que serão sacrificadas, ovelhas de barro e de ouro

então continue assistindo sua TV de plasma, sua Internet alienante e viciante

e o mundo será governado por aqueles que você não pode ver, enxergar e morrer.

With this impactful text we could feel satisfied, but our stomach turns, there is a poor digestion going on, our body, mind and spirit react, they try to come into harmony, a dictatorship of happiness tries to be established, where laughing is a duty, where comedians normalize what is considered normal as corruption, usurped and manipulated elections, layers of maneuvering masses and what is natural becomes common and common is normal, and what is normal is to sentence a woman with the Bible in her hand preaching the salvation of Brazil to 17 years in jail, while leaders of the PCC, CV( Organized Crime), among other parallel commands( paramilitares forces), are honored by corrupted Justice,by the sale of Judicial sentences, sentences phrases weak in semantics and syntax.

The war is here, the Gaza strip is here, how many died from bullets lost and found in the bodies of honest workers and children?

In the State of Bahia-Brazil alone, according to the Security Secretariat itself: 1,464 (One thousand four hundred and sixty-four people), of these 30 were children died due to massivo conflicts between Police, Paramilitary Forces and Drug dealers.

This happened only in one State!Multiplies by 27, It'll give you the total arithmetic average of 810( Eight hundred and ten people) - of children a year!

In the Ghaza Strip there have been already 3,000 (three thousand) children died).

If the numbers of bankers, the money of an elite kill or "new order" to kill, with the coexistence and convenient "new global disorder, what will happen to Earth's future?

After all, were we created to make live or to make die?

After all, democratic elections, are a big farce?

After all, is Democracy a big lie?

Questioning is necessary!

Change is needed!

While the policy of Inclusion and Reparation receives crumbs from POWER, minorities become the majority overnight by magic, in a Hollywood great production and performance, in a theater of the absurd, absurdities become routine, vaccines, pseudo-democratic gaps!

As for The Doors and The Windows, numb and drugged, bring and dredge for themselves the democratic simulacrum, Pandora's** box, statue of salt and coke, Coca-Cola and Cocaine of the POWER that alienates, the people are alienated by Bill Gates' Windows.

And please don't give me the crumbs!

Crumbs from bankers, tycoons, billionaires who suspend glasses above the masses,stepping on the massas, and hiding their real intentions, permeate, snakes, behind Foundations, NGOs, Institutes that promotes charity with the people's hat with the consent of Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Com este texto impactante poderíamos nos dar por satisfeitos, mas o estômago embrulha, há uma má digestão, nosso corpo, mente e espírito reagem, tentam entrar em harmonia,tenta ser estabelecido uma ditadura da felicidade, onde rir é um dever, onde humoristas normalizam o considerado normal da corrupção, das eleições usurpadas, manipuladas, das camadas das massas de manobra e o natural se torna comum e o comum normal, e o normal é sentenciar mulher de evangelho na mão pregando a salvação do Brasil a 17 anos de cadeia, enquanto que líderes do PCC, CV dentre outros comandos paralelos, são agraciados pela Justiça corrompida, da venda de sentenças, sentenças fracas na semântica e sintaxe.

A guerra é aqui, a faixa de Gaza é aqui, quantos morreram por balas perdidas e achadas em corpos de trabalhadores honestos e crianças?

Só na Bahia- Brasil, de acordo com a própria Secretaria de Segurança: 1.464( Hum mil quatrocentos e sessenta e quatro pessoas), destas 30 eram crianças.

Na faixa de Gaza já são 3.000( três mil crianças já morreram)

Se os números dos banqueiros, o dinheiro de uma elite mata ou manda matar, com a convivência e conveniente " nova desordem mundial) o que será do futuro?

Afinal fomos criados para plantar ou matar?

Afinal as eleições são uma grande farsa?

Afinal a Democracia é uma grande mentira?

Questionar é preciso!

Mudar é preciso!

Enquanto a política da Inclusão, da Reparação recebe migalhas do PODER, minorias se tornam da noite para o dia maioria,numa grande encenação, num teatro do absurdo, absurdos se tornam rotina, vacina,lacunas pseudo democráticas!

Quanto ao The Doors e o The Windows entorpecidos e drogados tragam e dragam para si o simulacro democrático, caixa de Pandora, estátua de sal e coca, Coca-Cola e Cocaína do PODER que aliena, alienado povo está pelo Windows do Bill Gates.

E por favor não me venham com as migalhas!

Migalhas dos banqueiros, magnatas, bilionários que suspendem taças por cima das massas e se escondem ou se escamoteiam, permeiam, serpenteiam por traz de fundações, ONGS, OSCIDS, Institutos que promovem a caridade com o chapéu do povo!

*Aldous Huxley transcribes the emotionally arid landscape of Brave New World into visual terms, translating the dormancy of the human soul into a city devoid of bright colors. In his description of a laboratory where new citizens are conceived, he writes:

The enormous room on the ground floor faced towards the north . . . for all the tropical heat of the room itself, a harsh thin light glared through the windows, hungrily seeking some draped lay figure, some pallid shape of academic goose-flesh, but finding only the glass and nickel and bleakly shining porcelain of a laboratory. . . . The overalls of the workers were white, their hands gloved with a pale corpse-colored rubber. The light was frozen, dead, a ghost.

The Doors of Perception achieved considerable cachet in the drug culture of the 1960s. The rock group the Doors took its name from Huxley’s book, and in a sad irony, its lead singer, Jim Morrison, struggled with drug abuse and alcoholism until his death in 1971.

Huxley transcreve a paisagem emocionalmente árida de Admirável Mundo Novo em termos visuais, traduzindo a dormência da alma humana numa cidade desprovida de cores brilhantes. Na sua descrição de um laboratório onde são concebidos novos cidadãos, ele escreve:

A enorme sala do térreo estava voltada para o norte. . . apesar de todo o calor tropical da própria sala, uma luz forte e tênue brilhava através das janelas, procurando avidamente alguma figura leiga envolta, alguma forma pálida de pele de ganso acadêmica, mas encontrando apenas o vidro, o níquel e a porcelana de brilho sombrio de um laboratório. . . . Os macacões dos trabalhadores eram brancos, as mãos enluvadas com uma borracha pálida da cor do cadáver. A luz estava congelada, morta, um fantasma.

As Portas da Percepção alcançaram um prestígio considerável na cultura das drogas da década de 1960. O grupo de rock The Doors recebeu o nome do livro de Huxley e, numa triste ironia, o seu vocalista, Jim Morrison, lutou contra o abuso de drogas e o alcoolismo até à sua morte em 1971.

**Pandora, (Greek: “All-Gifts”) in Greek mythology, the first woman. According to Hesiod’s Theogony, after Prometheus, a fire god and divine trickster, had stolen fire from heaven and bestowed it upon mortals, Zeus, the king of the gods, determined to counteract this blessing. He accordingly commissioned Hephaestus (a god of fire and patron of craftsmen) to fashion a woman out of earth, upon whom the gods bestowed their choicest gifts. In Hesiod’s Works and Days, Pandora had a jar containing all manner of misery and evil. Zeus sent her to Epimetheus, who forgot the warning of his brother Prometheus and made Pandora his wife. She afterward opened the jar, from which the evils flew out over the earth. Hope alone remained inside, the lid having been shut down before she could escape. In a later story the jar contained not evils but blessings, which would have been preserved for the human race had they not been lost through the opening of the jar out of curiosity. Pandora’s jar became a box in the 16th century, when the Renaissance humanist Erasmus either mistranslated the Greek or confused the vessel with the box in the story of Cupid and Psyche.

Pandora, (grego: “Todos os presentes”), na mitologia grega, a primeira mulher.

De acordo com a Teogonia de Hesíodo, depois que Prometeu, um deus do fogo e trapaceiro divino, roubou o fogo do céu e o concedeu aos mortais, Zeus, o rei dos deuses, decidiu neutralizar essa bênção.

Consequentemente, ele encarregou Hefesto (um deus do fogo e patrono dos artesãos) de moldar uma mulher da terra, a quem os deuses concederam seus melhores presentes.

Nas Obras e Dias de Hesíodo, Pandora tinha um jarro contendo todo tipo de miséria e maldade.

Zeus a enviou a Epimeteu, que esqueceu o aviso de seu irmão Prometeu e fez de Pandora sua esposa.

Depois ela abriu o jarro, de onde os males voaram sobre a terra.

Somente Hope permaneceu lá dentro, a tampa foi fechada antes que ela pudesse escapar.

Numa história posterior, o jarro não continha males, mas bênçãos, que teriam sido preservadas para a raça humana se não tivessem sido perdidas ao abri-lo por curiosidade.

O jarro de Pandora tornou-se uma caixa no século XVI, quando o humanista renascentista Erasmo traduziu mal o grego ou confundiu o vaso com a caixa da história de Cupido e Psique.

[letsgosisyphus]

Alright so boom Im back and Im turning my contribution to this space into a live journal of my experience with Retention and just life in general. I just kept going and God kept protecting me from wasting my life force. Paragraphs aren’t separated by topic really anymore, it just looks easier to digest than a wall of text.

I have been doing dummy missions and bringing my ex along to kill 2 birds with one stone and it almost killed me. I gotta stop trying to kill birds simultaneously and just focus on one at a time, unless it’s clear there is no negative benefit of killing them.

I will never mate with her again, Im jilting her(I know I could use that work better). She is like a planet. It’s already been too long I’ve been running in circles (ironically not orbiting but lemme cook) just spiraling out but it turned out I was spiraling up into a helix and then I reached escape velocity.

I no longer can exist on that vibration. I have been busy with studying for this mechatronics assessment and just trying to eat healthier things. I want to have these concepts understood enough to explain to a 5 year old or and old head. I wish there was an online community for people interested in mechatronics so I could learn and be around like minded people.

This girl who I’m kinda like impressed with gave me $40 dollars today and said she was a Christian and God told her to give this to me. She’s pretty cool and is into anime and sad music, she’s pretty introverted and idk I try not to bother her too much. I talk to everyone I work with but I just be telling her my whole life lmao. But as far as the money thing, I have to think of what to do about that, like I don’t know what I’d want most if I was in her shoes.

I’ve literally been in her shoes atleast somewhat when I’d give people an unexpected large amount of money, usually homeless people or people Id only see once. Her superego speaks to her perhaps but with religious support. I think we both feel like vessels for God. It’s an interesting situation meeting someone pretty similar to me and yet not exactly the same. Oh and she’s a writer.

I have to remember to raise my vibration and not ask for the attraction of specific person but of someone who is on the same vibration. It is no point in love potions be they physical or abstract. I will not settle for specifics, that would only build up energy unnecessarily. I am not hedging my bets on individual people, myself included. I require a team, we all have value and some are more suited for certain tasks and delegations than others.

I really desire clear skin and healthy hair. I have clear skin and healthy hair. My chakras are balanced. I am trusting of the process and I am patient. I study for 2 hours and then I take a 15 minute break, every other revolution I take a 30 minute break. On these breaks I eat and just focus on something else. Im basically using Amazons work structure for my own purposes.

I also want to get my official enneagram. People speculate Im a 6. It deals with so many different things and I just want the information so I can create a better world for everyone(myself included). I had some time where I freaked out thinking I was a narcissist but I’m not disagreeable enough to be that. My extroversion is limited to people I work with directly. I don’t particularly enjoy having to convince people of the truth that I am not flirting with them. In public I am not that social or rather I have not been in social situations where I felt it necessary or appropriate to give my name or any life details- aside from work.

I really need to write more, I still record stuff on my phone tho. I need to buy some recording equipment next week to work with a friend from a psychology group. Im really excited to create with another person and really create something special. I will do my best to not let myself or anyone down. I should read more of my adhd book as well to help with that.

Ok it’s nearing 5 o clock and I need to get sleep. Later slimes🙏💚

-Slime

[god-whispers]

jun 16

a different way to pray (a repeat daily)

"but you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." matt 6:6

so many out there do not have the prayer life they really want.  maybe they have good intentions, but just cannot ever feel really connected.  i well remember how i used to get antsy and view the clock often.  our flesh begins to burn the closer we draw to the holy.

the following story might give you an intro into an intimate and cherished connection with our Lord.

we all take baby steps to where ever we're going.  they may be small, but if we persist, they will get us there.  this is something we all need if we are to "endure" to the end.

-------

a man's daughter had asked the local pastor to come and pray with her father.  when the pastor arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed.  the priest assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.

"i guess you were expecting me," he said.

"no, who are you?"

"i'm the new associate at your local church," the pastor replied.

"when i saw the empty chair, i figured you knew i was going to show up."

"oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man. "would you mind closing the door?"

puzzled, the pastor shut the door.

"i've never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man.

"but all of my life i have never known how to pray. at church i used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it always went right over my head.."

"i abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued, "until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, 'joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus.  here's what i suggest.  sit down on a chair, place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair.  it's not spooky because he promised, 'i'll be with you always.'  then just speak to him and listen in the same way you're doing with me right now."

"so, i tried it and i've liked it so much that i do it a couple of hours every day.  i'm careful, though.  if my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm."

the pastor was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old guy to continue on the journey.  then he prayed with him, and returned to the church.

two nights later the daughter called to tell the pastor that her daddy had died that afternoon.

"did he seem to die in peace?" he asked.

"yes, when i left the house around two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me one of his corny jokes, and kissed me on the cheek.  when i got back from the store an hour later, i found him dead.  but there was something strange, in fact, beyond strange-kinda weird.

apparently, just before daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on a chair beside the bed."

- author unknown

-------

you know, i like stories most that were composed by unknown authors.  they seek no glory or praise for themselves.  they want it all to go to God.  it seems to me, that's as it should be.  "for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast."  eph 2:7-9

there is no boasting that we have earned our way to heaven.  we are all unworthy of the great gift He has given.  any good works we might have accomplished since we came to Christ was just His working in us and through us.  that is dependent on how much we yield ourselves to Him.  even then, it is His precious love that draws us.

"[for my determined purpose is] that i may know Him [that i may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that i may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that i may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death".  phil 3:10 ampc

[clearlydiamondz]

Mr. and Mrs. Coleman

Erik!Stevens X Black!Reader

- - - - - - - - - -

Erik and (Y/N) are assassins for opposite quarters. The two are paired together to kill each other, but love and lust has snuck it’s way into the two relationship. 

Warning: Fighting, strong language, SMUT

- - - - - - - - - -

Nicole and Dereck Coleman were the new couple on the block. All of the surrounding neighbors enjoyed their presence. Even though they only known each other for over a year, they decided to get married and move in with each other. Some might say that they were moving too fast, but there is no such thing as moving fast if you aren’t in love. Oh so they thought. 

The big hand hit 6 on the analog clock that hang over the arch way of the kitchen. She took the glazed ham out of the over, placing it on the stove as she took off her red mittens. She sighed looking at the watch on her wrist. He should've been here an hour ago. Paranoia ran through out her body, making sure she had a gun in close distance of her person.

This mission was one of her longest missions she has ever taken. It was pitiful really. She was suppose to get information on him about a year and a half ago. She knew that this particular mission was going to be one of her hardest. He was good and could be a great manipulator. Everyone either feared him or was obsessed. But there was just something about him that she couldn't just shake off. Maybe it was the way he could silence a room just by his presence. Or even just the way he looked at her like she was on the only girl in the world. And God knows how handsome he made this man. She could just stare at him all day and be content. She couldn't bring herself to kill him.

Yes, after the information was received he was supposed to be killed. She already received it, but she didn't turn it in or killed him. It was like everyday that passed it was harder for her to complete it. How could she?

But today was going to be the day. She was going to finally kill Erik. She just didn't know how or when. But she was going to do it one way or another.

- - - - - - - - - -

Erik sat in front of the grocery store, listening to the rain hit the roof of the car. He looked at the pistol that he had in his lap. His jaw clenched in frustration that he couldn't manage to do it. He has never had an issue with getting a mission done. There was just something about her that he couldn’t get out of his head to let him finish. 

It could be how confident she was, it was in her voice and the way she walked. How gorgeous she was, even when she thought it was her worse he swore she gets more gorgeous by the day. Maybe how smart she was.  She was always reading some new article about what was happening in the science community, standing on the porch with her telescope looking at the different planets and constellations. 

The mission was simple. Get information, and kill her. Be her husband for a certain amount of time then kill her. Everyone at the quarters told him that it was gonna be one of the hardest missions of his life, due to the fact that she was one of the best. She was known in every district around the world.

He heard his phone ringing, grabbing it from the cup holder he saw it was her name. He answered it and put his airpods in. “Hi Gorgeous, what’s up?” he asked her. 

“Nothing much. I just finished cook and was wondering when you were coming home. I was a little worried.” she said to him. He smiled, knowing that their was a bit of truth in it. But not that truth. Maybe it was, he could old hope. 

“I’m on my way now, they needed me to stay in for an extra moment and I got caught up in the rain.” he reassured her. 

“Oh, I was worried. Don’t be on the phone though. Ion need you to get hurt.” she said as he chuckled. 

“Okay mother.”

“Boy bye. Love you.”

“Love you too.” the phone hang up as he looked at the screen go black.

- - - - - - - - - -

She placed her gun under the seat next to where he usually sat then walked to the sink. (Y/N) starred at him through the kitchen window, wondering what he was going to do. It was complete paranoia with these two. Always wondering if they other was going out. She heard the front door open. “Nicole!” he heard her ‘name’ being yelled. “Dereck is that you?” she yelled from the kitchen. He walked in smelling the nice smelling dinner. 

“Smells good.” he came behind her kissing her shoulder as she smiled. She hated that she enjoyed any type of contact with him. 

“I made your favorite.” he looked over the pot to see that it was gumbo. He smiled. To be a skilled assassin, this woman sure knew how to throw down in the kitchen. 

“You go get yourself situated and I’ll make you a plate.” she kissed his cheek. His cheek heated up. 

“Fuck.” he said to himself. 

“You said something baby?” (Y/N) asked him. 

“Nope.”

The two of them sat in the dining room eating as no one said a word. The only sounds being heard was the sounds of their spoons and forks hitting the glass bowls. The both of them kept sneaking glances of the other one in hopes that the other one spoke. But it was just quiet. 

The two of them were finished. (Y/N) stood up, about to grab his plate but her grabbed her arm. Immediately she was alerted. “What’s wrong my love?” she said. He chuckled. He loved when she called him that.

“I know who you are... (Y/N).”

It took her three seconds to process what he said, but only a split one to pull her gun with a silencer from her side dropping the glass on the floor. He was quicker though, grabbing his gun placing it between her eyes. He smirked. 

“Finally, I wonder what is taking you so long to kill me.” 

“I guess we are both on the same page.” she told him. He furrowed his eyebrows together before she said, “You can’t kill me.” she said. “You don’t want to.” he took the safety off. 

“You must not know me.” he said his tone now deadly. “I’ll leave your ass for-”

“I guess I don’t know you. The stories I hear about Killmonger is more ruthless.” she smirked at him. She was trying to get under his skin. Bruise his ego just a little bit.

“I will kill you.” he snapped. There was silence. She started to whistle looking everywhere but his eyes. 

“If you can’t I’ll do it.” she trailed off.

“(Y/N) shut the fuck-: She brought her hand up moving it out of her face. She grabbed it, but he had grabbed her by the throat, slamming her on the table as she gasped. His grip became tighter as she grabbed his wrist. She left her legs, draping them over his shoulders.

She turned her weight as he fell onto the floor, wincing from the glass she dropped earlier. She caught herself before placing her foot on his neck and pointing the gun at him. “I’m going to kill you now so-” she yelled out in pain wen a piece of glass was shoved into her calve. 

“Fuck!” she exclaimed falling onto the floor. He got on top of her, pulling the gun out of her grip, pointing it at her. She saw her gun under the chair. She grabbed it shooting him in his side, trying not to fatally shoot him. He yelled in agony, grabbing the gun from her throwing it so she couldn’t get to it. The both of them went for each other throat, chocking each other out. Considering she was smaller, her air flow was low. She became dizzy so she leaned up a bit him in arm and wouldn’t let go till he did. 

“WHAT THE FUCK!” he yelled. She gasped as she was finally able to breath. “Did you just fucking bite me!?”

“You were choking me! What else was I suppose to do?”

“You’re a trained assassin. Probably one of the best and you’re go to move is to   fucking bit me!?” he exclaimed she rolled her eyes sitting up.

“In all honesty, there really is no rules for fighting.”

“I know for a fact that’s not how you fight.” he said. “Biting and shit, and you don’t want to kill me either.” She rolled her eyes. She couldn’t argue about that. Even if she lied, he’d know.

She sat up looking at the puddle of blood that they were in. It was a mixture of both of their blood but more his than hers. 

“We should probably clean ourselves.”

After bandaging herself, she was helping Erik stitch up his wonders. He sat shirtless, on the bathroom counter. “What gave it away that I was trying to kill you?” he asked her. She looked at him. 

“When you were eager to move in with me after only knowing me for three months.” she said wrapping the bandage around a few more times. He took a sip from the Jack Daniels bottle before looking at her.

“Why didn’t you kill me?” he asked her. She chuckled looking at him. 

“Who said I wasn’t?” she walked out the bathroom with a limp. He followed her. 

“Excuse- wait. So are you really considering killing me? Are you fuck-”

“It’s either you or me. And it’s not going to be me.” she told him.

Now it was his turn to get underneath her skin. He smirked, “You’re afraid aren’t you.” she stopped in her tracks, turning around quickly. 

“Scared? Scared of who?” she asked him as he chuckled. “It’s okay (Y/N). But if you even try to step at me I’ll-”

“You’ll what? Hesitate to kill me again. Admit it, you wanna kill me but you’re. a. bitch.: she said stabbing him in the chest with her pointer finger making him scoff. 

“I ain’t no bitch. If you were going to kill me, you wouldn’t have helped me.”

“And how do you know I wasn’t trying to kill when I shot you?” she asked him. 

“Once you grabbed the gun you could’ve shot me anywhere. You chose my side because it was the most safe and convenient.” he said. She didn’t say nothing. “So who’s the-: she squeezed his side, as he yelled out in pain. 

“I suggest you shut up now.”

Erik was officially done with her shit. He grabbed her by the neck, pushing her into the wall as she groaned. 

“Admit it. You’re either scared, you really do want me or it’s both.” he said smirking at her. 

“This was the worst time to be getting turned on. He noticed the shift in her attitude. They've never had sex, but they have fooled around with each other. Enough for him to pick up signs when she’s turned on. He wasn’t sure if this was a play for her to catch him off guard, but then he realized if she truly wanted him dead he would have been dead. 

He kissed her as she him back. He let go, lifting her up the wall by her thighs as she wrapped her legs around him. The two of them kissed with so much dominance, neither of them was letting up. Her arms wrapped around his neck as he pushed her more into the wall. She bit his lip pulling away as she slowly opened her eyes. He walked her to their bed, throwing her on it. 

She sat up taking off her silk tank top, throwing it across the room showing him her bare chest as he licked his lips at her. She grabbed the waistline of his bottoms, pulling him closer as he grabbed her face.

“Yeah, I’ma fix your ass.” he whispered to her. He pushed her onto the bed, grabbing her matching shorts ripping them off of her body. She laid naked, anticipating his next move. He placed kisses in her inner thigh, every few seconds biting it softly.

A soft moaned escaped her lips, as her hands found his way to the top of his head. “You want something from me?” he asked her looking her dead in the eye. 

“Yeah and you know exactly what it is, so stop fuck-” he bit her again as she gasped at the pain then moaned. Erik could damn near smell her arousal. He looked down at it, seeing her wetness on her lips. Some of it smeared on her inner thighs. With his index and middle fingers, he separated her lips watching her get wetter. She sat up on her elbows, biting her lip at the sensation. 

“First thing first, watch your fuckin mouth or you ain’t getting nothing.” he told her. She stayed silent, her eyes clouded with lust. He smirked at her. “So that’s what I gotta do to your fine ass. Don’t come unless I say.” Before she could say okay, his tongue laid flat on her clit then took a long lick tasting her sweetness. She gasped looking down at him. 

“So wet and sweet.” he whispered to himself. His thumb went into her entrance as she looked at him desperately. He pulled it out, his thumb so wet that it dripped down his palm. “Pussy so tight. If I know this is what you had sitting between ya legs I would’ve been fucked you.” he said. His lips wrapped around her clit, sucking on it like it was his own personal pacifier. 

“Oooh fuck!” she moaned closing her eyes and biting her lips. 

“Open your fucking eyes.” he told her. Slowly she opened it to see him staring up at her, a dangerous but a sexiest look. His tongue trailed down to her entrance, her bucking her hips to allow her to fuck his tongue. 

“Yes, letting me fuck your tongue? Nasty ass nigga.” she groaned. Her wetness dripped down between her ass cheeks.

“Use my mouth bitch.”

That’s all he had to say. She grabbed the back of his head, whining her hips against his tongue. His nose rubbed against her clit, causing a friction against it. 

“Mmm baby.”  With her other hand she played with her nipples, Erik reaching up playing with the other one. Her eye started to twitch, thinking she was about to cum, he pulled away using her ring and middle finger he placed them inside of her making a come here motion with his fingers.

“Right there! Fuck don’t s-stop.” her head threw back as he smirked at her. 

“You better not cum. What the fuck did I tell you?” he asked, bringing his tongue to lick her clit. 

“I wanna cum all over your tongue. I’m so fucking close.” she begged him. Oh he liked this. All his actions stopped. He sat up as she looked at him in shock. His fingers stayed still and her clit throbbed. He could physically see it, wanting more than to just put it back.

“What the fuck?” she asked him. 

“Beg me.” was all he said before she bit her lip. 

“Please daddy. Can I cum please? I just wanna cum on your tongue.” she said as he shook his head. 

“You must not want it that bad. That ain’t shit.” he said to her, about to take his fingers out but she grabbed his wrist making him stare at her with a raised eyebrow. 

“I’ll let you do whatever you want to me..” she whispered. That peaked his interest. 

“Oh yeah..” his finger slowly started to thrust into her as she moaned. 

“Yess daddy. Whatever you want.” she moaned. Before he could say anything, her mount opened but nothing came out. She came all over his lips. 

“Shit!” she moaned out. She tried pushing him away but he wouldn’t let up.

“Fuck you taste so good.” he moaned continuing to eat her. She attempted to push him away, her clit being sensitive just by the tip of his nose, but he pulled away slapping her clit. 

“Move your fucking hand. I wanna eat it.” he said, continuing to eat her. 

“Erik!” she gasped bucking her hips. He finally pulled away, lips and beard wet with wetness, him looking happy and content. She sat up grabbing his jaw before licking her juices from his lips before kissing him again. Her tongue rolled against his, tasting herself as she moaned. He pulled away to look at her. 

“You know what you asking for girl. I do whatever I wanna do, you gonna be in some trouble.” he told her tracing her lip with his thumb. She leaned down, rubbing his dick through his basketball shorts. 

“I know that you know that I love trouble, Erik.” she whispered, grabbing it tighter. His jaw clenched as she smirked from his reaction 

The way she said his name and they was she was looking at him should be a sin. 

She looked down, pulling the waist band down for his dick to spring out, moving up and down from being freed. She looked at his dick licking her lips. 

She wasn’t surprised at the size of it because she happen to see it sometimes if he was in the shower or sometimes through his basketball shorts or sweatpants. But she was more surprised by how beautiful it looked. 

“Damn... all this dick just for me?” she asked him, stroking him a bit. His tongue licked his bottom lip staring at her were low doughy eyes. Her other hand trailed behind the back of his neck before she smashed her lips into his. 

The two kissed passionately as she stroked him off harder. “Fuck you’re too fucking sexy.” he said pulling away. “Gone head and get on your knees.” he stepped back to give her some room and to kick of his shorts that were on his mid thigh.

She stood up, getting off the bed before she got on her knees with her knees spread apart. “You have such a beautiful dick Erik.” she said playing with her nipple, and holding him at the base.

“Yeah? You gonna make this dick cum, huh?” 

She kissed the tip, looking him straight in the eye daring not to break contact. She wrapped her lips around the sip suck it and twirling her tongue around it. Erik winced at the sensitivity, loving and hating the feeling. ‘

“Daddy tryna feed you the dick mamas, don’t play with it.” he told her after a minute. She finally decided to take him all the way down in a slow motion to throw him off. His dick hit the back of her throat each time as he moaned loudly. 

“Fuck.. like that? You don’t even have to warn up for this dick.” he whispered astonished. She added her hand, moving it in a twisting motion and twisting her head. Her speed got faster, as her saliva dripped down her chin and down her bare chest. 

His eyes was closed and his face was towards the ceiling. He grabbed the back of her head, pushing her faster but she kept up not even gagging. All through out the room you can only hear the gawk sound from her slurping.

He pulled away before bending down, grabbing her jaw and kissing him. The head was so good, he had to kiss her midway though.

 The kiss was nice and sloppy, her clit damn near throbbing. His tongue swirling around hers not caring about the saliva around her mouth. She moaned in the kiss, as he pulled away looking at her rub her clit. She looked at him. “Did I say you could fuck yourself?” he asked her.

“No daddy, but my pussy is just so wet.” she said. “See?” she took her fingers out, her middle finger and index finger covered in her juices. She took her index finger and tasted her self.  Before she could do the same, he grabbed her hand so that he could suck her finger.

She bit her lip looking at him and when he was finished, she grabbed his face kissing him again.He pulled away before saying, “Close your legs and put your hands in your lap. All I want is your neck and your mouth bitch.” he said. 

She closed her legs, her thighs rubbing together for friction. She placed her hands on her thick thighs, opening her mouth and sticking her tongue out. He entered her, holding her in place as he used her mouth.

Tears rolled down her face as she had the back of her throat attacked. She never knew she would want to be used like this but she loved it. He pushed her head against the bed, before shoving his dick all the way down her throat, her not making a noise. 

“Fuck.. you gonna make me c-cum down your throat.” he moaned out, thrusting his hips. She moaned, sending the vibrations through her suck. And just like that he emptied himself all in her mouth. When he pulled out, his dick was covered in cum and saliva as it trailed down her chest.

Erik looked down at her, smiling at the way she looked. He was used to her looking clean and precise even when she went to sleep wearing expensive PJ’s, eye masks, specialized bonnets. Not a hair out of place.

Right now, she looked properly used. Her hair was a mess, her eyes watered making her mascara run down her face, and her lips were nice and swollen from sucking his dick.

“You look gorgeous all ways but right now you look so beautiful, baby girl.” he said. “I can’t kill you now, head too good to kill you.” he smirked at her as she smirked back at him. He picked her up, putting her on the bed as she scooted back to the middle. He climbed on top, settling between her legs. He grabbed his dick slapping it against her clit. 

Her eyes locked with his as he placed his tip at the entrace slowly entering. He saw her reaction as he slipped in, her gasping at the feeling of him stretching her. “Fuck, she’s just eating this dick up ain’t she?” Erik said, leaning down and moving slowly. She moaned, closing her eyes. Erik placed his arms on the tip of her head while the other one held himself up. 

“Open your eyes. I wanna see how good I’m fucking you.” he said. She slowly opened her eyes, as her jaw dropped. It was like his dick was getting bigger inside her and messaging her walls at the same time. His whole dick was wet with her juices. She was speechless. 

“Goddamn this pussy so fucking good. This what you been hiding from me huh? Keeping this good pussy away from me.” he asked her in an aggressive tone making her clench him. 

“Take your pussy daddy. This your pussy baby.” she said, looking him in the face. He smiled. Genuinely smiled. He knew at that moment, she was dick whipped. Hell he was pussy whipped even before he got in her shit.

“I know.” he kissed up her jaw as his pace started to get faster. “Ooh fuck. My pussy so wet for you.” she whimpered. He pulled out, standing up on the side of the bed. He grabbed her ankles pulling her to the edge and entering her again. He wrapped his hands around her neck, as he fucked her. 

“Shit! Erik...” she moaned rubbing her clit.

“Such a good girl letting me do whatever I want to you. Your my slut ain’t you?” he asked her as she nodded. His hands tightened. “Speak.”

“Yes daddy. I’m your slut.” she said through her breaths. He leaned down kissing her, her rubbing harder as her toes curled in the air. “Daddy, I’m going to cum.” she said. She rubbed her clit faster as she squirted all over her torso. 

“Yeahhh that’s it. Squirt on my dick you slutty bitch.” he pulled out, moving her hand away and replacing it with his mouth. He wrapped his lips around her clit placing his two fingers, fucking her just like that. 

Her eyes clenched, and her mouth opened, she squirted in his mouth, him drinking it all. “Fuck you nasty ass nigga!” she screamed as her body shook uncontrollably. He stood up, picking her up as she wrapped his arms around his neck. He pushed them against the wall, lightning himself up with her again before slamming into her. 

“Fuck!” They said in unison. 

“I love this pussy. I’m taking this whenever I want you understand.”

“Please daddy...” she whispered with her head in the crook of his neck. Everything about this man et her whole body on fire. He was making her body do things that she didn’t know was possible. “I love this big ass dick. It makes my pussy feel so good.” she whimpered.

“Oh really?”

“And it looks so good going in and out of me. That’s my dick.” The feeling of this position and her dirty talk was getting him close. 

After a couple more thrusts, he pulled out, the cum dripping down to the floor as he moaned.  His dick was still hard. He took her to the bed, pushing her onto bed, he turned around so that she was on her stomach. 

“Arch your fucking back. I ain’t done with your ass yet.” he warned her. She followed his instructions as he slapped her ass. 

“Fuck. Shit so beautiful.” he whispered lining himself up behind her. He pushed all the way in as she dug her nails into the blanket. 

“Mmm Erik. Fuck me just like that.” she met his slow thrusts as he messaged both of her ass cheeks. His pace went fastened, her ass clapping back at him. 

“Damn girl, wet ass pussy.” he whispered. He went faster and harder, her feeling a mixture of pain and pleasure. Her moans were so loud, he fell in love with the sound. 

He stood still, smacking her ass again. “Gone head and fuck this dick all by yourself. I know you can.” 

Without a second though, she started to throw her ass back on him. All he could do was look at his dick covered in her cream and the way her ass bounced back on him. 

He reached over, grabbing her neck pulling up, her back touching his check. One of his wrapped around the neck as the other one trailed in the front of her.He messaged her boobs as he continued to fuck her.

“Tell daddy you’re sorry for shooting him. Go head.” he whispered to her. She could barely get a word out. His hands went further down before they were at her clit rubbing it as she moaned. 

“D-Daddy I’m sorry. F-Fuck!” she yelled, as she squirted once again. He held her in place, fucking her through her orgasm. 

“You still wanna kill me? I should take this dick away for saying some dumb ass shit like that.” he grunted tightening her hands around him. 

“Please no. I don’t wanna kill you. I want that dick.” she begged him as he smirked. 

“I know you do bitch. I been knew that. Can I cum in that pussy?” he asked her as she nodded. He moved his hand to slap her on the ass with this hand he was rubbing her clit with. “What did I say? You answer me when I’m talking to you.” he slowed down to tease her as she moaned.

“Yes baby, cum all in it please.” she whispered. Erik kissed her, as her head was bent all the way back for him to kiss. 

“I’m cumming..” he whispered as she gasped as he went faster. 

“I’m cumming again!” she yelled, cumming all over again.

“F-uck...” he moaned out, his cum filling her up. He let her go as she fell onto the bed in a backshot position. She gave him a view of her pussy filled with his cum as he licked his lip. 

“I got something for your ass.”

- - - - - - - - - -

There was a knock on the door, Erik opening it up to see two police officers standing in front of him. An a man with a younger female. “Can I help you?” Erik asked confused. 

“Hello, we have had some noise complaints. Something about fighting.” The man said as Erik chuckled. 

“Oh no sir. No fighting.” Erik told him. The female officer didn’t believe him saying,

“So how did you get those bruises on your neck?” Right on cue, (Y/N) came from around the corner.

“Everything alright- oh no. What happened?” she said. The police officers looked at her to see her neck and thighs looked exactly like his. 

“We were checking up, neighbors heard what sounded like fighting.”

“Oh.. um we weren’t fighting.” (Y/N) said as the police officer cleared her throat. 

“Well we see the bruises mam.” she said as (Y/N) pretended to blush.

“Oh well see, my husband and I can get a little... aggressive when we have relations with each other. If you know what I mean.” she said as the man cleared his throat and the officer blushed. 

“O-Oh. Well be more quieter guys. Sorry to bother you.” They dismissed themselves as Erik shut the door. Erik turned to look at her before laughing. 

“It’s not funny Erik.”

“It kinda is.”

- - - - - - - - - -

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[stonemags]

Lesson (N.R)

Natasha Romanoff x Reader

Summary: The Black Widow gets caught red handed.

Warning: Angst, implied SMUT, cheating, swearing words. 18+

Word count: 1756

A/n: The one that never fails is the one that never tries. @chelleztjs18 stop bugging me. I hope you are proud of yourself.

➼ | x | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 |

It's almost 4 pm and you should be here by now. Natasha sits on the bed that you shared for the past two years waiting for you to arrive, playing with her fingers clearly anxious about passing time. 

" We are going to be late" she tells herself looking at the clock again. She had enough and if you two want to make it to the airport on time she needs to find you right now. "Friday can you tell me where y/n is?" She asks the AI. "I'm sorry Miss Romanoff but this information is classified" Her eyes widened in surprise. " Since when?" It's clear by her tone that she is upset. " Miss y/n y/l/n changed the access yesterday". The confusion is written all over her face. Why would you do that? Why would you cut off that information about you? It doesn't sound like you at all. Without any other words she decides to find you the old fashioned way. Since you don't pick up your phone and Friday has no clue where you are she is going to look for you. 

It takes her 15 minutes to stumble into Steve after looking at all the places you might be.

"Romanoff, what are you still doing here? Shouldn't you be going on vacation with your girlfriend?" Subconsciously Cap makes the situation worse by not knowing that you are missing. " I would love to but I can't find her" the annoyance building up with every passing second. She doesn't want to lose any more time and she moves into the direction of the main hall.

 " I think she had a meeting with Fury '' the low voice takes Natasha by surprise while she moves behind the couch. Wanda's eyes secured on the screen playing one of her favorite sitcoms, not even looking at the older avenger. The red powers surrounding the glass of wine, moving it from the table to the witch's hand.  Natasha only nods in understanding and moves into the direction of Furys office  wondering what he might want from you. 

The compound is so big that it takes several minutes for your girlfriend to even get close to the area you might be in, but she stops in her tracks when she hears the quinjet doors getting open. Her breath quickens when she sees you struggling with your bags trying to get all the equipment inside of the jet. 

Totally oblivious you are still moving the stuff inside until a hand rips the bag from your hand. " What the f-.." you cut off when you see her not being able to finish the sentence. " Exactly Yn, what the fuck is going on" She says and punch your arm at the same time. "You were supose to be in our room a half hour ago, we have a flight to catch and you cut me of from your informations.So yeah what the fuck?" Honestly you don’t want to give her any explanations, the anger mixed with fear evident in her eyes as they look at you, waiting for any reason, why you did what you did. 

You grab the bag and go inside of the jet with Natsha on your heels. You put down the last of the equipment still being silent and she is not pushing, waiting for you to start talking. You take your eyes off the floor and look at the face of a person that you loved just yesterday.  A face of a person that you trusted with your life and you can't recognize her anymore.

 " Fury gave me a mission. I'm going undercover into the hydra base in Norway…. For at least 6 months' ' you rush out the information. " Six months? Wait, I don't understand, what about our trip? It was your idea, you said it yourself thay we need a break" the surprise and confusion take over Natashas features and she tries to come closer to you and grab your hand. You step back from her getting out of any possibilities for her to touch you. You dare to look at her and it's a mistake. You see the pain that your action caused, and all you want to do is to take it away. But you can't… not this time.

" You know…" you start slowly gaining her attention on your face. " Tony needed me yesterday to help him find the files from Sokowia because Ross is being a pain in the ass again" she nods, not saying anything, waiting for an explanation of the whole situation.  " The last place they were put in was Hill 's office….. " you took a break to gather the courage to speak again " two weeks ago. So we checked the cameras to see what happened to them….. And we stumbled on a security footage that was taken 2 weeks ago…. on friday" 

*retrospection*

*You sit on Tonys desk while he is looking for any clues to what happened with the documents. He is going fast letting Friday recognise the top folder and follow its movement for the past two weeks. For a brief second you see something you can't and you don't want to believe in. " Friday stop!" You nearly yell. " What?  Did you see what happened to them?" Tony asks you, being sure that you solved the mystery. The terror that he sees in your eyes tells him othervise. You look like whole blood just left your body. Your pale face is stuck on the screen." hush Tony. Friday move the footage 2 days before this one" you say with a shaky and the ai does as you ask…. And you wish that you just stayed fucking quiet.   "Mother fucke…" Your friend can't even finish his sentence when you speak again. "Play it" the order spilling from your mouth like venom. Your hand grabs the table behind you, because you feel like passing out. Your legs are shaking and you are not sure if you won't fall. You gather all the strength inside of you to not run away from the situation. " Yn..  are you sure you want to…" You cut him off again and you refuse to back down. You need to see this… you need to make sure, because if there is a slight chance that this is a misunderstanding then you can still save it. " Play it …" and he does.

The first thing that you can hear is a loud moan that you would recognise everywhere. The sounds you were sure were only secured for you. " Fuck… harder" you hear Natasha say while Hill is two fingers deep inside of her having her bend on her desk. One hand between Natashas legs while the other one on her back, pinning her to the surface. The pounding and the wet sounds fill the room and you can't take your eyes off the screen,your hand covering your mouth stopping the gasp and you slowly die inside. If the breaking heart would have a sound, you would be hearing nothing but shattering glass. The tears come to the brim of your eyes stinging with pain. The next thing you hear is Hill and you are sure you are going to kill her right this second. " Tell me that only I can make you feel like this. Destroy you just the way you like it " And Natasha does. She admits every single thing and you just wish that your heart would stop beating. Natasha comes apart screaming Hills name, and you feel like you are going to throw up. " That's enough" Tony's voice brings you back from your trance. You just stand there frozen with the tears falling down your cheeks. " Yn I…" you cut him off for the third and last time. " Not a word about it to anybody " and with that you leave him there , your head down, while your vision is blurry from the tears.*

That's the exact moment when everything clicks for her. The pupils are dilated, muscles tense up and you can see how the lump in her throat makes it hard to breathe. You never saw her this way. She looks scared and Natasha never shows her fear. She doesn't cry. You know her for a long time and you are pretty sure that she doesn't even know how. 

She is the first to break the silence." I can explain '' She says and you feel like you are in some cheap dramatic romantic movie. A low chuckle is leaving your mouth." There is nothing to explain Natasha. I don't need details. I saw everything with my own eyes." She still stands tough but you cant anymore and your feelings get the best of you, you start crying seeing the love of your life breaking in front of you with guilt. " It didn't mean anything to me I -" The look that you send her makes her go quiet. " Say another word…. I dare you'' there is a second of silence between you, filled to the brim with pain on both sides. You both lost because of her choice and you know it. It's over and you need to ask. " How long ?" Two words that make Natasha swallow hard. " It was one time I swear it meant nothing to me "  she says in a rushed tone and you don't believe her. The things you saw, the way they were with each other proves that it wasn't the first time. She hurt you, cheated on you, broke your trust and now she lies to you. You just feel sick. You look at her with pity in your eyes, your features getting softer. Your voice is coming out soft, like a gentle cold wind on a hot skin and you know that you are about to cause more damage. " That's even worse Tasha… You better find some meaning in it because right now it's all that you have left" She is frozen in her place refusing to believe that this is the end. You see her trying to come up with something to make you stay but she comes up short, letting the silence linger between you two. 

With that you take the last bag into your hand and move further into the quinjet. You turn around to look at her for the last time. She is crying now and you don't trust that these tears are real for even a second. " I never knew I could hate someone so much, seconds after loving them with all my heart. Thank you for the lesson."

➼ next part

[yn-dere]

[6:44 PM]

TW: Extremely dark topics.

The slow ticking of our grandfather clock alongside my son's sprightly voice is what an weekday's evening sounds like to me. Colourful publications scattered all across the coffee table as he tries to figure out the words in his chosen nursery book. Though he reads enthusiastically, I was informed by his teacher that he seldom pays attention in class unlike how he used to be. Maybe it's because of his mum's lack of involvement in his studies nowadays so I try to make up for it as much as I can. Listening to a child rhyme baa baa black sheep for the umpteenth time might not seem like the best way to spend your leisure time but I wouldn't trade this for anything else.

"That was great, love! Can you rhyme the next one once for your old man?"

Peter Peter pumpkin eater~

As his voice began to fill the atmosphere again, I subconsciously rested my eyelids as my chest heaved deep breaths. My mind soon found itself pondering over the pleasant former years, a reminder of what it used to be like. From the day that we met, it was clear to everyone that we were meant for each other. She was the fresh wind that pulled me from the banal structured life that I lead. I was the security she craved when her lifestyle got a bit too crazy. I somehow convinced this fickle woman to settle down with me, never bothered by the effort I had put in to do so. With the addition of my friends complaining about me being too docile with her. Labled Henpecked, whipped, submissive, dominated etc. I couldn't care less even if I tried, as long as I had her... I was fine.

Had a wife but couldn't keep her!~

But even after the birth of our son, I would still notice that one brief look whenever life got a bit too stale. Her eyes, that were always seeking.. seeking for more pleasure to devour. I tried to ignore and act oblivious for the sake of my happy family, wishing it would fleet away as the years go by. But soon, her once tempting eyes started to look more guilty. I clenched my fist as my mind illustrated the messages I saw between her and her old neighbour. My once calm breathing turned into a series of shallow inhales and exhales. When confronted about it, she threatened to leave. Leave the family, the sole reason for me to keep on living. Leave the life, which I carefully crafted for her comfort. Looks like it wasn't enough.

He put her in a pumpkin shell~

She might not need me, but I need her. We both need her. And she is too oblivious to notice how her flighty heart, restless and reckless behaviour is ruining her own life. So after some careful consideration, I decided not to just give the neighbour a visit. He isn't spared from the consequences but a fickle mind might even be distracted by lowlives and there are plenty of them running around. A birdy can only fly if she has wings, right? And I desperately need her to be here with me, with us. The chains gives both of us enough time to forgive each other, one for betrayal and the other for captivity. I hate to keep her away from our son but this is the only way.

And there he kept her very well~

I hope we can go back to being happy. I hope I get my fairy tale ending

"Good job! Doesn't sweet peter and your father have a lot in common? The next one is 'Mary, Mary, quite the contrary.. do you know how to read this one, love?

(Yan!Sunghoon finds himself relating to a nursery rhyme character. Does anyone want a tutorial on how to build a pumpkin house to cage keep your wife in when she threatens to leave?)

Gif by @chenleyah