#BRING TIGRESS BACK I MISS HER

[drawyourweapons]

Just One Glance

Synopsis: Set a few months after the events of the Secrets of the Scroll, and years before the events of the first Kung Fu Panda film, The Furious Five make their official debut as the new protectors of the Valley of Peace. Po, not really knowing who they are but remembers seeing them when they fought Boar together, and having enough memory to carve their action figures out of wood, sees them presented to society for the first time as masters. He is in awe of their skills and awesomeness, but one young Tigress catches his eye. 

If the events of Secrets of the Scroll was about the day Po fell in love with Kung Fu, then this is about the day he started crushing on Tigress.

Based on a short script I wrote a couple years ago (or longer, I can’t remember.) You can feel free to read the script here on FF.net.

I have been wanting to create a comic or animatic for this for a long time to get it out of my head, and I finally had some time to work on it over a weekend (emphasis on 'some'), so it’s not perfect, but enough to get the idea across lol. I can’t do voices, so had to add subtitles, but if anyone is interested in adding a voice over for these characters, let me know lol. 😂 Took some liberties, too, but I hope you KFP/TiPo fans enjoy nonetheless! 🐼 🐯 🍜 

[alishaaxo]

List of All Elia Martell-centric fics I enjoy:

Elia Martell And The Crown She Didn’t Want: AU where she marries Baelor Hightower yet Rhaegar is longing for her, which is unreciprocated.

Two Father’s, One Son: Everyone Lives AU where Jon Snow dies unexpectedly and Elia comes back to KL, married to Baelor Hightower.

The Isle Of Faces Does Not Welcome: Elia and Rhaegar have a third child, and Elia confronts Lyanna. No bashing of her, from Lyanna’s POV.

Clean AU: Elia and children are missing, assumed dead for 15 years, until a mystery knight returns to KL, claiming the blue roses his mother deserves.

The Queen And Her Bastard: Everyone Lives AU. Legitimised bastard Jon with sympathetic Lyanna slowly turned more cunning against Elia. Jon-Aegon have positive relationship, in spite of their mother’s ambitions.

The Brightest Sun: Elia and kids transported to Harry Potter Epilogue era. Train and arrive to Westeros during GOT. 200K words.

Poetry is what he thought, but did not say: Erik Kilmonger as Rhaegar. Ruthless Elia with ruthless Rhaegar who has a controversial temperament and bad reputation. Interesting dynamic with Barristan, Arthur and Aerys.

Dragons spin and spin: Spiders weave and weave: Mainly Elia Martell AU oneshot collection, with other characters included.

A tigress, not a woman: Elia Martell scorned by Rhaegar, wants for a annulment. Elia beloved by the Smallfolk.

Poison is a Woman’s Weapon: Queen Regent Elia watches on as Aegon gets crowned, reminiscing on the past.

An unexpected news item: Elia Martell gets shocking news. Very exaggerated bashing of Lyanna.

With Careful Hands and A Strong Chin: Doran died as a babe, Elia is the heir to Dorne. Arthur-Elia.

With Duty In Mind: Elia and Rhaella clean up Rhaegar’s messes.

Gone Girl: Elia dies only to wake up before her wedding. She runs away, with Rhaegar following suit in her trail in regret.

In The Chaos Of A World: Rhaegar dies while Lyanna and Elia live to see Robert ascend. Robert-Elia not in a romantic light, but political.

Caged Beasts And Cloudy Skies: Braime-centric, yet Elia-focused as they wish to crown her after the scorn from R+L, and bring her to rest at her homeland.

Lex Talionis: SIOC of Elia, takes the war into her own hands. Jaime-Elia centric.

Lady of Stormsend: Annulled Elia-Rhaegar, yet Elia married Robert and jealousy and resentment arises.

From Where Blessings Flow: Robert and Elia marry, yet the Realm is not settled as Aegon and Rhaenys grow. With Rhaenys-Viserys.

Living With Regret Of The Chance Not Taken: Rhaegar and Lyanna are married, while Elia, Aegon and Rhaenys are missing… until they are not. And life turns on it’s head. No bashing, just critical of R+L.

Planetos React: Modern AU react to historical figures Elia, Aegon, Rhaenys and Jaime found within tombs, and go wild on tumblr.

But A Woman Is A Changling (always shifting shape: My fic!! Selfless promo! Elia has a green-dress moment ala Alicent where she shows pride in her heritage and snarks towards Rhaegar and Lyanna.

This is all the Elia-centric fics I know of and enjoy! If you have any, please comment them and I’ll add them to this masterlist!!

[nixariel]

Timelines and Carmen Sandiego: To Steal Or Not To Steal

...or, can I make the interactive special play nicely with canon? Meant as a companion to my previous timeline; please note that this is centred around the 'perfect' route where Carmen manages to save both her ground crew and the stolen items. For an overview of how to access all eight endings, I would highly recommend this excellent schematic.

Shanghai (stated in dialogue as approx 1 year after Carmen started stealing from V.I.L.E.; "which part of the last year")

·        "Notorious V.I.L.E. stronghold" is in Lujiazui district of Shanghai; location roughly corresponds to the Jin Mao Tower based on position relative to the Shanghai Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center ·        Carmen can enter from the air by ziplining across from the Shanghai Tower or from the ground via the elevator shaft ·        Walks into conspicuously-open vault to learn her ground crew has been kidnapped; if she does not cooperate, the faculty will use Dr. Bellum's mindwiping device to turn Ivy and Zack into V.I.L.E. operatives        ◦ As per bad ending 1, Coach Brunt had bet Professor Maelstrom a steak dinner that Carmen would refuse V.I.L.E.'s deal point-blank ·        Curiously, a 10-19 licence plate is visible on a passing car during Player's intro of the target; in the main series, this number seems to be used exclusively for A.C.M.E. vehicles

Xi'an (roughly 2h direct flight time from Shanghai to Xi'an)

·        First task is the theft of a terracotta warrior for Brunt; Carmen goes to a "fresh dig site" where more statues have recently been found ·        Exact date unknown but apparently a Tuesday; "it's either dress-up Tuesday for the security staff or..." ·        Tigress has been sent as V.I.L.E.'s handler-slash-back-up for Carmen; leaving her in the pit reveals she has a fear of insects but helping her enables the later 'imperfect good' ending of saving Zack and Ivy while V.I.L.E. keeps the statue ·        Carmen gets her first check-in with the siblings, then is offered the choice of going to either Hell Creek, Montana, to retrieve a T. rex bone for Dr. Bellum or Monte Carlo, Monaco, to steal one hundred tins of Beluga caviar for Countess Cleo

·        If trying to establish a 'canon' narrative for the special, Cleo's caper would make the most sense as the next theft; Carmen has managed one heist for V.I.L.E. but now struggles with the implications of needing to do it again, and to a charity no less. Mime Bomb is also present more to monitor Carmen than to help, much like Tigress, and Julia does not mention a stolen dinosaur bone despite bringing up the missing terracotta warrior during her brief conversation with Carmen. Going from one plainclothes agent in Monte Carlo (or presumably only one; no recognizably-A.C.M.E. faces in the crowd and Julia reaches for her pen rather than an earpiece if tricked into going to the roof) to three officially-dressed agents in Montana also seems like a more appropriate escalation of A.C.M.E.'s efforts to catch Carmen than the reverse.

Monte Carlo (roughly 11h direct flight time from Xi'an to Monte Carlo)

·        Exterior of the hotel hosting the charity dinner appears somewhat similar to the Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo ·        Debut of 'Scarlett Santarosa' as an alias; Player's startled "who??" upon hearing it suggests that this may not have been entirely planned ·        Declining the diplomat's offer to dance leads to Carmen expressing a preference for tango over the waltz; accepting it shows her losing focus/drifting into a daydream partway through, which may be a sign that having to rush through back-to-back capers is starting to wear on her ·        Evidently A.C.M.E. has received intel that V.I.L.E. may be targeting the caviar, Julia assigned to investigate and/or thwart; she seems much more comfortable blending in with upper-class society than pretending to be a fashion model in Milan ·        Julia also much more overt with her willingness to extend Carmen the benefit of the doubt; that she's carrying around a champagne glass full of some unspecified sparkling liquid is probably pure coincidence ;)

·        Carmen acknowledges having "joined forces with Jules before"—a phrasing that suggests something more like their collaboration in Milan than simply leaving the recovered Magna Cartas on a train seat; trusting Julia is necessary to achieve the 'perfect' route ending ·        The successful grab 'n' dash route leads to Carmen landing on a bridge-like structure with some similarities to the Fontvieille Shopping Centre; the unsuccessful stash 'n' sneak option has her walking down what is almost certainly the Rue de Millo in La Condamine

Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport (roughly 2h direct flight time from Monte Carlo to Heathrow)

·        Before continuing on to the third heist, Carmen demands another check-in with Ivy and Zack; comparing the amount of light coming through their cell window at different times of day allows her to deduce that they are being held somewhere with 24/7 sunlight ·        Player confirms that this would currently be the North rather than South Pole; midnight sun in the Arctic goes from late March to late September

·        Choosing to attempt a rescue instead of continuing with the third heist reveals that Tigress has been stationed at the Arctic facility, presumably to oversee the guarding of Carmen's ground crew; unclear how/if she is involved in their transfer to Île d'Oléron for the ending of the 'perfect' route        ◦ The diner from the post-Arctic bad ending is located in none other than San Diego, suggesting that this is after Team Red purchases the Carmen Brand Outerwear warehouse (and is quite possibly the Best Sneaky Detail in this entire special asdfghj XDD)

Hell Creek (roughly 9.5h direct flight time plus 3.5h drive time from Heathrow to Hell Creek State Park)

·        Carmen more resigned than upset at the thought of stealing the T. rex bone for Bellum; would be in keeping with having managed to get through two heists for V.I.L.E. already ·        Archaeologist from Morocco can be seen entering one of the tents at the excavation site (a.k.a. the OTHER contender for Best Sneaky Detail XD)

·        Even considering something as risky as trying to catch and break into a plane while it's taking off may be another sign of strain/fatigue affecting Carmen; this would also fit with Montana being her third caper in a row ·        Research lab is approximately 200 miles away (and is attached to an amusement park like the discount version of a Michael Crichton novel, there's even a Tyrannosaurus head over the main entrance, this is ABSOLUTELY intentional XDD) ·        Bellum expected her to have snagged the bone within mere hours of landing in Montana ("been in Montana for an entire afternoon"); pushing Carmen to complete the thefts as quickly as possible is likely part of keeping her too busy to out-think V.I.L.E.'s trap ·        Carmen is offered the choice of El Topo or Le Chevre for assistance; El Topo will show up having helpfully researched potential exit routes while Le Chevre drops a pinecone on her head and calls her "the bossy one in [their] class" ·        Compared to El Topo, Le Chevre also distinctly under-impressed by the quality of A.C.M.E.'s suits ·        El Topo's knowledge of the tunnels underneath the combo museum/amusement park leads to a quick and A.C.M.E.-baffling disappearance after nabbing the bone; picking Le Chevre, on the other hand, leads to the very serious A.C.M.E. agents very seriously commandeering a dinosaur-themed roller coaster train in order to chase Carmen along said roller coaster's track until she manages a daringly acrobatic escape that ends with her hang-gliding off into the night (yes I have a favourite operative how can you tell)

·        As an alternative to a straight reconciliation with show-canon, might I suggest that riding a literal roller coaster in order to chase Carmen Sandiego through an amusement park in the middle of the night sounds suspiciously like someone trying to prank a newly-reinstated Devineaux? ;)

Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport (unknown drive time plus roughly 9.5h direct flight time from Montana to Heathrow)

·        After she returns to the airport, the faculty sends Carmen an e-ticket for a ferry to the Île d'Oléron; she is to bring the dinosaur bone and caviar tins there to exchange for her ground crew ·        Somehow Julia has managed to track Carmen to Heathrow, unclear if A.C.M.E. aware; her attempt to tail the thief is quickly noticed and Carmen uses the opportunity to ask for her help

Île d'Oléron (roughly 75 min direct flight time from Heathrow to La Rochelle; ferry to the island takes another hour)

·        Paperstar watching from the Phare de Chassiron; as per the final bad ending, V.I.L.E. plans to have Lady Dokuso and the Cleaners ambush Carmen after she disembarks

·        All real-world ferries to Île d'Oléron look to be from La Rochelle; closest actual stop would be Saint-Denis-d'Oléron, approximately 4 km away, as the coastline near the lighthouse is too shallow to permit a commercial dock ·        Carmen has Julia take her place on the ferry and swims to the island instead, finds Zack and Ivy in the V.I.L.E. aircraft hangar there ·        Paperstar notices Julia's glasses and alerts the guards, interrupting their escape ·        Zack figures out how to fly a helicopter in a hurry and Carmen references Casablanca ("here's looking at you, crew"); terracotta warrior conveniently found to be already stowed/never unloaded in back

Julia's apartment, presumably still in Poitiers

·        All stolen items deposited neatly outside Julia's door, complete with a bouquet of roses; we do not see who rings the doorbell ·        One possible explanation for the opening and closing scenes of Ivy and Zack during the post-ending bonus music video is that they indeed managed to break out of their cell at least once while Carmen was busy with V.I.L.E.'s capers, even if they were then recaptured before they could find a way off the Arctic base; certainly their parts of the song are referenced in-episode during both the post-Xi'an check-in and the post-Arctic bad ending

Special vs. Canon

In terms of trying to fit the special with the rest of the show, both Carmen's dialogue ("which part of the last year", see estimated date for Boston caper in previous timeline) and the Arctic midnight sun reference suggest a late spring/early summer time frame, meaning roughly April to June-ish depending on how strict we want to be with the definition of a year. Shadow-san's absence from the faculty and from the special in general, plus the fact that the remaining members appear to be in some transitional location—as per the industrial metal-panel backgrounds during most of their calls to Carmen, rather than anything resembling either the Canary Islands school or the Outer Hebrides castle—isn't as definitive, but would at least be in keeping with a post-explosion (March-ish) pre-move-to-Scotland (October) placement.

There is also Julia's readiness to trust Carmen's intentions in Monte Carlo, combined with Carmen's "joined forces with Jules before" line, which would suggest that this is before Player Trojan-horses the A.C.M.E. database but after the Milan caper. Given the notable absence of any reference to Stockholm, this might further suggest a point after both that mishap and the failed Botswana collaboration because Carmen's willingness to reach out for A.C.M.E.'s help with the diamond mine could be seen as forgiveness for chasing her off a tower in Sweden—and with that attitude of letting bygones be bygones, Julia might consider doubling down on her faith in Carmen to be a more convincing apology than dragging up bad history.

With how quickly things go from Brunt dropping the Wolfebomb to Carmen salvaging the mainframe hard drive to her demanding answers from Shadow-san, it would be very difficult for the special to take place then regardless of how conveniently it would excuse the ninja's absence. However, there is an unspecified amount of time between that confrontation and Carmen showing up at Chief's usual coffee shop in Seattle—and since Carmen wouldn't have confirmed Shadow-san's truthfulness yet, he'd most likely still be benched in San Diego (nor would the faculty expect to see him with her given their belief in having driven a wedge between the two). Chase, at this point, would also have been retrieved from the island and fired by Interpol but not yet reactivated as an A.C.M.E. agent.

Although not a perfect reconciliation—that Carmen would be willing to put a hold on finding answers about her father's death in order to raid a random V.I.L.E. vault in Shanghai is... questionable, to say the least—the most plausible canon setting for the special would therefore seem to be after the reveal of how Shadow-san became a faculty member but before Team Red comes up with a plan for how to hack A.C.M.E.'s database.

As always, this is the work of only one person. If there's something missing or incorrect, let me know and I'm happy to update. Otherwise, I have a CS 2019 trivia tag for the things that didn't quite fit in either timeline, as well as the odd headcanon that does a little more reading-between-the-lines. ;) Have fun.

END

[aheckinmess]

Fire in the Hole [Bakugo] (Fluff)

(One-shot 2/? in a collection of My Hero Academia one-shots posted regularly on Saturdays.)

Read on AO3.

Tags: Bakugo x OC, Katsuki Bakugo, Dynamight, Pro-Hero Bakugo, Pro-Hero OC, Feisty OC, Fluff, Fluff with maybe a little angst, one explosion boy.

Word Count: 1,202 words

Summary: Everyone knows that Dynamight can be a hot-head. But Tigress notices that his aggression is doubled when directed at her, and she's in for a wild surprise when she finds out why.

Author's Note: This one-shot isn't a part of a series, so if you're ever looking to see what character I'm writing for, I'll give a character name and whether it's angst, fluff, or smut in the title. Enjoy!

Ichijiku (Tigress)

It’s a little off-putting to say the least when Dynamight starts acting weird around me. Every time we team up against villains, he seems to get more feral and aggressive towards me. Granted, he’s always been feral and aggressive…but he really likes laying into me.

Today he pushes a little too far. I step into his agency to visit a friend and he roars his displeasure.

“WHY THE HELL IS THIS DAMN CAT HERE AGAIN?!” He bellows at me. “YOU’VE GOT SOME NERVE–”

My fist swings around to meet his face and he blocks it with surprisingly quick reflexes. I use the momentum to slam my foot up into his stomach as I scream at top volume, pumping fear into him.

I’m not surprised when he lands a hit into my side, but I remain on my feet with bared teeth.

“Stop treating me like a damn disease, Dynamight!” I hiss. “I came here to visit a friend, not listen to you complain!”

“Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?” He grits his teeth with a glare at me.

I try not to admit to myself that he makes me feel warm inside. That despite his abrasive exterior, I appreciate his authenticity and the subtle ways he takes care of others. Even though he hides it.

“Ichan! You made it!” Sayuri chirps from behind. Her face instantly turns into a scowl as she wraps an arm around me and guides me away. “Leave my bestie alone, Dynamight. We’ll be back.”

“You’d better. I don’t pay you to goof off, Phobos.” He growls.

“We’ll be fifteen minutes, tops, pretty boy.” I huff over my shoulder.

“You better make that ten, extra!”

“I’ll make it twenty if you piss me off!”

. . . . .

Lunch with Sayuri has become habit at this point. It’s friend time carved into the week in order to help me maintain my mental sanity. I recline at the table as we wait for our waitress.

“So, how are you and Kiri doing these days? I miss hearing about my besties!” I giggle, smiling at the waitress as she comes by to take our drinks and orders.

“He’s the best! And I’m sorry we haven’t been keeping in touch much. You know with the move we’ve been pretty stressed. And there’s been a tick in crime this fall season.” She surveys the area as she says it before grinning. “But aside from that, things have been well. It still seems crazy that we’ve already been married for six months.”

“It feels unreal.” I agree, before the waitress brings our drinks.

I get quiet as I sip my tea and look at Dynamight’s bright sign for his agency next door. Why is he so mean to me anyway? Little brat is asking for a visit from my claws. I don’t realize my facial expressions show my thoughts so loudly until Sayuri speaks up.

“Sorry about Dynamight. He’s a bitch.” She chuckles, sipping her water. “I hope it didn’t bother you too much. I know sometimes loud noises are hard for you.”

“Is he always like that?” I ask, wondering if maybe I’ve been exaggerating how he behaves around me. I’ve always heard he’s a hothead, so maybe I’ve just been walking in at the peak of his tantrums?

“To an extent,” Sayuri begins, before looking thoughtful and adding. “He always seems more aggressive towards you now that I think about it. Did you do something to piss him off?”

“I knew it!” I set my chair all the way down just as the waitress comes by and drops off our sushi. I pull out my chopsticks as I sigh. “I don’t know what I did to him. All I know is that every time I enter the room, he targets me. I swear it’s like he’s got a tracker on me.”

“Yeah…I’m sorry. I know you like him.” She shakes her head and pops some sushi in her mouth.

“It’s nothing serious.” I shrug, even though it hurts more than I bargain for.

While we both pause to savor the flavor, I start turning over memories of fighting with Dynamight. Even since the first time we worked together, it feels like he’s only ever had it out for me. In fact, I barely interacted with him that first time. What the hell is his problem?

We make it back to Dynamight’s agency exactly fifteen minutes after we left thanks to quick service at the sushi shop. When we walk in, Dynamight’s busy with a group of rookie sidekicks.

“You idiots! You’ve got to try harder. If you keep making little mistakes like that, they’ll pile up and it could mean someone’s life instead of a faulty budget. Go fix it!” He hisses, but it lacks the venom he uses with me.

“See?” Sayuri whispers. “I don’t get it. The little shit.”

When the rookies move away, he notices us and his face twists in anger.

“There you are! I told you you had ten minutes!” He snaps.

“And I told you that we’d be back in fifteen.” I stand firm, glaring at him.

“Shove off, Dynamight.” Sayuri rolls her eyes and storms past him, looking professional and ready to work. I don’t miss that she stops just outside her office to watch us, though. When we don’t go for each others’ throats, she steps inside.

“I have a question for you, Dynamight.” I say with piercing eyes. “What did I ever do to piss you off?”

“Tch. You’re wasting my time. I’ve got an agency to run.” He turns and stomps off.

I head towards him for a moment, before I clench my fists and start walking back downstairs to leave. Not worth the energy. Just a stupid crush. I’m rounding the corner of the stairwell when I’m shoved into a dark, empty room.

“Goddamn it…how do you do it?” Dynamight’s voice growls in the darkness. When I squirm, he grips my wrists and turns on the light. His red eyes bore into mine, pupils huge. “What made you think you’d pissed me off?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that you’re meaner to me than everyone else.” I growl, despite the growing attraction buzzing in my chest. I shield it with anger. “It doesn’t matter when I’m here, you always single me out!”

My pulse picks up speed as I struggle to maintain eye contact, but he’s a lot stronger than me. At least in this moment. He grips my chin with his hand and gets closer to my face. My eyes flicker to his lips for half a second.

“Don’t you understand anything?” His calloused thumb rubs my cheek, making me meet his eyes again. “I’m only more pissy with you because you make me feel like doing this.”

His lips capture mine and I could swear his quirk extends to my heart as an explosive force draws my arms around his neck. I tangle my fingers in his hair before pulling my other hand down to rest at his chest until we both pull back, our expressions much softer and uncertain.

“You know…you could have just told me that instead of making me think you hated me.” I swallow thickly.

“Whatever.” His cheeks tinge the slightest shade pink. “I get off at 7. You like sushi, yeah?”

“I do.” I smirk.

“Then your ass better be here by 7:05.” His lips ghost my ear before he leaves.

Want More Bakugo? Try: Boom! Goes the Dynamight - Sasses, Spice, and Everything Nice

Credit to @cafekitsune for the divider!

[plumsaffron]

Cherry Crimson Brine Part 2:

What or Who You Found (2 of 2)

Go back to Crimson Brine 2 Part 1 of 2 here

Or Jump To This Link Containing Links To Every Part

Otherwise...

2 days later Uncanny Valley: This is my last day I can be here. Hopefully this plan does bring peace this town. Vesperia: Certainly, but we won't miss. Carapace: Lets do it. 5 Minutes later Manon: What do you think you're doing!? STOP LEAVE MOM ALONE! Viperion: Pft. I don't listen to a child. Throws Nadja into a bunch of seats Manon: MOM! runs towards her in terror Viperion: Second Chance Manon: Mom!? I- Where did you- Achk Her mom fell on her instead because he reversed time in a way where it only affect Nadja Viperion walking towards the camera man Viperion: Clara Contard, you're next! I hope you and your helicopter crew have parachutes. A bunch of water falls on the helicopter Viperion: Well I guess you guys can pray for only a sprain. Better luck next time or life!

Viperion: We will be ruining your lives as you see. We are done protecting a bunch of useless voters or is it citizens as Andre would say. And we might have something special in store for the mayor. Destroys the signal (edited) Meanwhile Pigella: Subjects Attack the Parisians and Minotaurox and Vesperia. The gift brainwashed Parisians charge towards them. Some are being warped to other places to attack

Somewhere Else Rena Rouge: Well well well. What is your damage? NPC Male: You traitor. NPC Male 2 with a bat: We will end you and your friends. Rena Rouge: What did I do? I didn't attack anyone. NPC Female: You are in association with threats to the public. You and your fallen comrades shall pay dearly in sync. 

NPC Female 2 runs with some electrical current staff towards her Rena Rouge: (So that's how you people want to be... Even if you tell them and don't start trouble, trouble will find you)

Somewhere else else Purple Tigress: There you GO! FLINGS Carapace Shell back at him Carapace: Whoa! Barely dodges (She’s too much into the act) She charges Clout Purple Tigress: Fall to pieces Carapace: (What? she's not attacking me.) Jetting towards some npcs Random NPC girl: Run! Some go into tunnels. 

Others take their chances going into them street manholes Carapace: STOP! Purple Tigress: I wouldn't get any closer. I always wondered what my power would do to his little bro Carapace Freezes Purple Tigress: You seem to have a close bond to Nino’s brother. Purple: You can have him. Throws Chris towards him He catches him Carapace: GO! Get out of here! His brother runs to somewhere away safe (I will have to have a talk with this girl, later, once we’re done acting) Seconds later, feels debris hitting him Shocked seeing buildings collapsing towards and around him

Unknown Location Looking on her phone Seeing electric dust devils in uncommon lasting time unconscious people Random people attacking Argos, despite being unmatched

Pigella's zombie army now after Rooster Bold Fencers and sporting npcs throwing objects at Ladybug Caprikid battling against Polymouse Miss Hound using random people as fetchables

Fire hydrants destroyed poles and electric wires falling around town NPCs dropping rocks from high places towards heroes Some people trying to escape but places to exit town were destroyed Rena Rouge creating Illusions to trap people 30 minutes later Chrysalis: How do you even get captured so easily, Cat Noir? I expect better of Paris' 2nd most valuable asset. How the heck did a group of a bunch of heroes become sloppy messes? Funny thing though is; I don't want your miraculouses right now or any of you tired, still fighting, or unconscious allies either. (edited) Just the Ladybug one. It's kind of weird that when I got here,

there's less people than usual. 

More than usual.

Almost like they disappeared. Walking towards Ladybug some blocks away While walking Npcs attempt to attack her

Leaps away and continues walking More NPCS try throwing stuff a her but she deflects dodges blocks and got tired on them so she counter throws objects and jumps away

Where the downed Bug location is

Chrysalis: It's a shame. All your allies became baddies like me and you allowed it. You never cease to amaze.

Chrysalis: Since I first arrived here. You and those who truly follow your way wanted to wipe me out but you learned how to destroy yourself and everything you so called stood for or by. But I already knew you would. Oh well, time to show the world who you really are since you appear to be speechless. I understand. 

You've left me like that but now it will be a huger scale than mines.

Ladybug (Actual): Nice speech. Chrysalis: What the? AHKG Blasted by Ladybug Urg And so her entire team, join quickly

Ladybug that blasted her, reverts to Uncanny Valley Chrysalis: You planned this all? Cat Noir: And that's why it worked. Cat Noir: Now, Uncanny Valley. Tell us who she really is. Uncanny Valley: The Butterfly user is... What?! No

Doesn't compute anymore? I just had it?

Why? What's going on?! Why can’t I say her name? Some of them: What?! Cat Noir: Quick, Vesperia! Tries to venom her Somehow makes her hit Uncanny Valley instead Chrysalis: Well... lookie here. hmmhmmhmmhmmhmmhmmhmmhmmhmm Cat Noir: Pigella! Quickly! So much for your hard work to stop me but it's just that... Miss Hound: What?! Restrained by NPCS Carapace: GET OFF OF ME! Throws one but a bunch are swarming around him like dinosaurs Minotaurox uses Resistance to avoid damage Individuals in helicopters or nearby, throw nets to catch the heroes Chrysalis: That worked well if you were me. Now to resume my plan. Ladybug: Your plan will never play. And as soon as she said that, a portal open and the 2 fell in Cat Noir immediately goes into before it finished closing

Some special unknown area Chrysalis: So it's just you, Pussycat, and me. Ladybug: This will where your reign of evil ends. Chrysalis: What makes you so sure? Cat Noir harnessing Cataclysm Chrysalis: Now I know for a fact y'all are really hungry. And so they battle her Meanwhile Argos: Shall I make the citizens reappear? Viperion: Not yet. We need Ladybug and Cat to give the signal to do it for the right now. As he turns his face perturbs Pegasus: What's wrong- (Why is Bunnyx there, unconscious?)

Some minutes later Bunnyx: Ugh ahhh yawns Rena Rouge: She's alright. Rooster Bold: So what happened to you? Bunnyx: I don't know I opened a portal as Ladybug requested as a last resort. 

Then I was going to regroup with y'all but I don't remember. Maybe I overexerted myself. Uncanny Valley: I don't think so. You definitely didn't. 

I can tell by scanning your vital signs.

Meanwhile Once Again

Chrysalis: It must suck being captured by your own yoyo Since I ruined your lucky charm spam. Welp, time to show him who you really are. Cat Noir: Whuwu uuhhhuuuuuuuuh! Some unknown trap door he fell through

Chrysalis: Seems he wont be seeing anything. 

Well the show must go on. 

Takes her miraculous off and throws them away to somewhere in the space

Meanwhile stuck in that trap but is using his staff to stay in place

Cat Noir: This is bad. There’s no way I can stop her once and for all. Cat thinking Maybe I don't need to

Back to the defeated Bug Chrysalis: Now all I need to do is... Marinette: Lila Rossi. And so A piece of paper flies towards the two Chrysalis: Hmm what's this? Her eyes open up briefly Marinette kicks the butterfly miraculous partially off her and she detransforms Confused Marinette

Marinette: What? Who are you?

End Of Part 2 - What or Who you found

Go to part 3 of the story or Crimson Brine 3

[darkcrowprincess]

Im bringing back the kung fu panda incorrect quotes cause I miss them(plus I jut miss tipo in general and I can't wait for the 4th movie!)

*Kung fu Panda 4 au*

Po nervous and wants to keep Tigress out of jail during their mission: Palace Guard, my girlfriend here has something she wants to tell you.

Tigress doesn't want to apologize to a guard that insulted her boyfriend:*glares and growls*

Po gives Tigress worried eyes: Babe c’mon, we’ve talked about this.

Tigress: Fine!

Tigress: I'm sorry I hit you in the face with a chair. Than broke the chair with your face.

[bxttxrflybxddie]

LETS FINALLY TALK ABOUT MY FAV POOR LITTLE MEOW MEOW ((aka, me simping for mime bomb for an entire episode)) ((beware))

so starting off, i really enjoy that we see things of carmens past get to her. i love love love it when our heros arent always perfect robots and do go through emotions; including past traumas that get to them

to this day shadowsan shouldve called foul idc idc lol

black sheep doesnt get it the first time, thats fine! she knows that shadowsan is a very skilled thief. but the more she misses the more agitated she becomes until it seems like shes stealing for her life. this is a lovely detail!!

also crackle watching her w a big smile on her face bc ugh shes so cool, theres no way shes gonna fail! right?

she falls and D: but tigress is being a meanie as usual

player knowing whats wrong bc hes a great bestie

ALSO GET THIS CHILD SOME NATURAL SUNLIGHT PLEASE.

i've never personally been to san francisco so learning about the fog was a nice touch! i havent seen any movies or shows go over the fog either!

her charity fit is so slay oh my god

what an expensive stamp

i wish we couldve seen players stamp collection el oh el

devineaux yet again being a Guy, i love him lol what a Dude

SHE FR THREW A RED BOTTOM HEEL AT HIM. MA'AM I WOULDVE TAKEN IT.

julia being smart againUGH shes my WIFE.

MIME BOMB!!! THE MAN OF THE HOUR !!!!!!!!!!

THE WALKING BACKWARDS !!!! HES SO CUTE I JUST WANNA KSJDFKSUBDHSKJLF

julia being correct again.

wh. whwere is mime bomb calling the faculty from????

I think shadowsan continues to send Tigress bc he knows shes gonna fail. to this say i wish they wouldve touched on this.

i also enjoy the detail that dr bellum watches cat videos lol shes a cutie

MIME BOMB SITTING ON NOTHING??????? WALL SITTING ON AIR. THE CORE STRENGTH???????? (sidenote very attractive imo bc im crushing on him)

Brunt: "he aint what youd call the strong silent type." HES WALL SITTING ON AIR. WITHOUT A DROP OF SWEAT, NO MOVEMENT, JUST CHILL. HOW. BRUNT HOW ARE U MISSING UR CLEAREST STRONGEST STUDENT.

i think tigress' day outfit is cute. shes a fashionista.

AND THEN HES READING AN INVISIBLE NEWSPAPER, STILL SITTING ON NOTHING.

Mime Bomb is visual comedic gold. One of the many things I enjoy abt his character and how he steals the show everytime hes on screen. give him more screentime. revive the show for him, pls,.

tigress is a grown woman bringing up old shit. cmon girl.

i also enjoy the differences between how carmen and tigress open the lucky cats. I LOVE CHARACTERS.

ug hes my husband i gotta say more abt him. mime bomb is so smart, hes such a genius lil mime whos a code breaker and a quick thinker. i wish we couldve seen him be more intellectual than the rest of his peers more often. dumping the big obvious cat to not only distract carmen but to get away w the stamp? genius, he deserves a kiss. mwah.

HIS LIL STRUT!!!

"Another street clown, so what?" HES A MIME!!!! U SILLY GOOF!!!!!!

HIS DOUBE LOOK BACK STARE IM. i need him to be real. i need to omg.

miming running away to be tackled pt.2, cmon babe this is a pattern now.

THEY JUST. KIDNAPPED HIM. BAG OVER HIS FACE AND ALL.

'~' (((hes very cute)))

they handcuffed a non-verbal fella. i feel like this is more messed up then i think.

julia being pro-mime. we stan.

now rewatching this, chase straight up SLAMMED our sweet mime into a CONCRETE WALL. i need to fight a frenchman for that very reason.

yet again to mime bomb being smart, PLANTING THE STAMP ON THE SAME PEOPLE TRYING TO FIND IT AND ALSO CARMEN SANDIEGO WHO IS ALSO TRYING TO FIND THE STAMP. OH MY GOD.

his expressions r very cute. mmmmwah

slay tigress being smart!! shes not dumb she just makes some brash decisions!!!!!!!!!!! characters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"what about 'Where did you hide it'? >:( ma'am yall are in PUBLIC. CARMEN DOES THE SAME THING.

for 2 people trying to follow a mime these acme agents are doing a bad job at figuring out what he's doing.

*how episode wouldve ended if they looked a little deeper*

julia: "Inspector, could you check your left, inside pocket?"

chase: "ugh, if it pleases yWHAT-"

and then they wouldve also seen him act this out Very Publicly to a woman that is Not Carmen Sandiego which would help them for future investigations at least

LOOK AT THE DUDE YOURE FOLLOWING PLS

mime bomb didnt even keep the 26 cents tigress gave him lol

((tw: talk about the taking care of witnesses rule)) if tigress can rip up an entire article of clothing without chase even feeling a tug, then i hate to imagine how swift she takes care of witnesses tbh

SHE JUST LIFTED AN ENTIRE MAN OUT OF A CAR WINDOW, N NOT THE ONE CLOSEST TO HIM.

((tw: mention of rule again)) also this victim was a witness. he saw her face. is she gonna come back to him orrr???

chase being a dummy dumb pt. 28374

WHY DID HE JUST LEAVE JULIA THERE????? WHAT AN ASS LMAO

okay but like. so the cleaners werent planned to pick her up given shadowsans reaction. h. how was she going to deliver the stamp?? teleporting????

this kids also is why u dont text and drive

SHE TOOK IT OUT OF HER POCKET TO SHOW THE CLEANERS THAT DEF CANT SEE IT FROM UP THERE. WHAT IF IT WAS WINDY??? CMOOOOIIOOONWKJEFSKHFKJDGSKHFJ

sidenote tigress took a precious stamp out of a little baggy in one fist close without damage to the stamp, well done!

whyyyy does tigresssss put the stamppppp in her hightop boooot ((that could not only fly out easy)) in front of the woman who has been known to be an improving thief and has crashed one of her missions before. she didnt get a dollar bill once. shes mad at that. TIGRESS, IF 2+2=4!!!

mmmm side profiles

i wanna be like "oh tigress why didnt you fight her" but at that point i wouldve gave up too

also the cleaners saw this all happen lmao

also slay devinaux being in actual danger, puts actualy fear and tension into the characters future!

tldr: WOOHOO MIME BOMB!!!!! and chase + tigress are silly geese

© BXTTXRFLYBXDDIE

[the-diabolic-acid]

top ten women moments go

1. everytime river song says “spoilers” in that lil fruity way. changed me as a person

2. valkyrie from the mcu. everyone missed my obsessed with valkyrie phase maybe i should bring that back

3. that one time i stole a little stuffed winnie the pooh doll and didnt cry a single time. girlbossing.

4. doc ock. i support women’s wrongs. i think she should be ruled innocent on account of pretty :)

5. when hugo came out as gender fluid in vat7k and then said “its trialing time” and trialed all over the 7 kingdoms

6. when all my hot and sexy women friends give me gentle little kisses on the forehead

7. tigress from kung fu panda existing. NOT IN A FURRY WAY.

8. when mae adopted her rat army. correct. epic woman moment.

9. im not a woman but i think im pretty and deserve to be on this list twice

10. nuru

[originaltyphoonkryptonite]

Chapter 12: Bachelorette Party Surprise

Zella pov

I was getting everything ready for my bachelorette party that was tonight. Since I wasn't comfortable with the idea of what is normal for such a party, we were instead having a slumber party. I was making sure we had plenty of snacks and drinks even though they told me not to since this was a party for me. Dinah, Stephanie, Cass, Artemis, and M'gann were coming and bringing pizza. Since they knew about my identity, Cippia would be staying. He is currently getting the living room ready by moving the furniture for me. Once that was done, I had some blankets and pillows spread out on the floor just in case if we need more then what the guests are bringing. They should be arriving a bit after sundown.

I was already dressed in my pajamas and Cippia was dozing on his large dog bed when the doorbell rings and he sits up. He bounces over and whines as he waited for the door to open. I give a small laugh as I open the door and Cippia rushes out. Arty moves out of the way, so the person who got pounced on by my dog just happened to be Dinah. He knocks her to the ground and he starts licking her face, leaving a bunch of slobber on her face. I chuckle at his excitement. He adores Artemis but since she moved Dinah gets his attention. She gently pushes him off with a smile. I hand her a towel and she wipes off the drool.

"Thanks but I already have GA drooling over me.", she says with a laugh.

We head inside and they get into their pajamas. They also put down the bags they brought with and the pizza boxes on the coffee table. Cippia goes to lay down on his bed watching us.

"I am so excited for this.", M'gann says with a smile.

We start off by them admiring my engagement ring before watching a movie while eating the pizza. Stephanie chose Bridesmaids, the 2011 one. It was pretty good and funny. Cippia got bored so he went through a shadow to check out the city. We were finished with the pizza and were just talking.

"I'm not kidding!", Artemis says with a smirk in my direction.

"Don't tell them!", I yelled with a large blush covering my face.

"Oh come on, it can't be that bad.", Steph says.

"Yes it was.", I whine as I use a pillow to hide my face.

"She looked even better then that fictional singer Jessica Rabbit.", Arty says. "I even have pictures.", she said as she takes out her phone.

"You what?!", I said horrified.

I drop the pillow and try to grab the phone but it didn't work. She just hands it to Dinah who then showed the others the pictures. They took a look and burst out laughing.

"I hate you.", I said to Artemis.

"Love you too Zell.", she says with a smirk.

"Well that explains why Dick got distracted during that meeting.", Cass says.

"Oh?", Dinah asks.

"Yeah.", Steph says. "He was staring at his phone while Bruce was trying to explain the plan to us."

"End me now.", I said with a groan as I fall onto my back and cover my face with the pillow again.

"Never.", Arty says as she takes the pillow from me.

Cippia suddenly bursts through a shadow and whines at us. Miss M talks to him with her mind and finds out that there is big trouble in a abandoned warehouse near the edge of the city. Some thugs are using it to ship out drugs and weapons. We change into our 'work clothes' and head out.

We get to the warehouse and each were hiding. Cippia decided to stay at home so it was just us girls.

There were about 36 of them so we each got 6 to take care of. Spoiler and Black Bat took the 12 outside the building by picking two off and have the others look for them. Miss M took the 6 by the doors. Tigress, Black Canary and I were going to take out the rest or that was the plan.

Things were going fine but one of them saw the three of us and alerted the others. We jump into action but that was when the real problems started. I got about 5 of them down when I tired to use a new move that Canary thought of. She noticed how my shadows can turn into wisps around my feet when I get angry or scared so why not use them to my advantage she said. Doing so allowed me to have several wisps around me that acted like arms. I just move them the way I want.

I summoned the wisps but they seemed different. They were transparent. I had one go at a thug but half-way there it starts to flicker and by the time it reached the guy, it vanished. I frown and try again with another one but the same result happened. I was starting to feel dizzy and couldn't focused. My vision disappears.

"Phantasma!", I hear as I started to fall backwards.

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

Tigress pov

"Phantasma!", I hear Black Canary yell as I see her fall to the ground.

I take out the last of my group and rushed towards my fallen friend as the last one aims at her heart. I kicked him away and Black Canary used her Canary Cry at the guy to send him into a wall.

Once that was taken care of we go to her side. Black Canary calls The Watchtower as the others get over to us and then we get transported to there. The Medical staff brings her to a room. Canary tries to find Doctor Fate since the staff had no idea what is going on with her.

I see Zatanna walking towards me while I was watching Zell rest from the window. She stops and stands next to me.

"Doctor Fate is on a off world mission. I could try to see what is going on.", she says.

"Alright.", I said.

We went in and she does a spell. When it was done she looked confused.

"That's weird."

"What?", Black Canary asks as she entered the room.

"From what I can tell she has light in her."

"What?", I asked.

"Since she uses Shadows, Light would counteract her powers causing them to fail. Maybe trying to use them when they disappeared caused too much stress on her body and she fainted."

"But how did this happened?", Miss M asks as she enters with the others from the party.

"I have no idea. I can't tell. But what I can tell it is not life threatening. Just have her take a break from doing hero work."

"Oh boy, her fiancée won't like hearing about this.", Steph says.

Cass nods her head in agreement knowing how he can be.

"I am sure given time her powers will come back.", Zatanna says.

Zantanna starts to leave but pauses in the doorway. "Tell Nightwing I am happy for him and I wish them luck.", she says with a huge smile.

"Guess you won over another person Zell.", I think with a small smile as I take a seat next to her bed.

[wonderfuldeath]

.o| Bad Temptation : X |o.

Warnings : Violence, injury, graphic depictions, sex

Please, consider supporting me on Ko-Fi ! ♥

It must have been around eighteen o'clock when the door to his office opened on a slightly uncomfortable Choi-Mi, shifting from one foot to the other, glancing behind her back. Taehyung straightens his eyes from what he's doing, a slight smile blooming on his lips as he looks at his little secretary, before wrinkling his nose at the merry-go-round she's serving him.

“- Is there a problem, Choi-Mi?

- Mr. Kim, there's a lady here to see you.

- Well, why don't you go in?

- But I'm not sure…”

She plays with the hem of her dress, looking for a spot to look at like when she's sure she's about to do something stupid, and Taehyung twitches a little. He straightens up, ready to go and see this new person who's obviously disturbed his secretary. He wrinkles his nose a little as the zombie stands in front of the door, nodding curtly as she plays with the knot in her hair.

“- No. Mister Kim… You shouldn't..

- What's going on, Choi-Mi?

- Ah. He's here all right then.”

Behind Choi-mi, a small woman, brown hair held in a half ponytail, a slim figure, a black dress. She looks Taehyung up and down, surely like the most par of vampires, telling herself that humans were different from what they'd thought. The journalist wrinkled his nose; he didn't know this face, had never met it, but he quickly recovered, taking a step forward under the desperate gaze of his secretary. Then he understood why, there, clinging to the young woman's leg, the little boy whose father no one was supposed to wonder. Jungkook must have been proud of her offspring, and Taehyung felt his heart clench, holding back a hiccup of surprise as he quickly resumed a neutral expression, a polite smile. When all he wants to do is ask when he missed the episode of the pregnant companion, who looks after the baby while he goes off to play.

“- Excuse my rudeness, but I don't think we've met, have we?

- Madame Jeon. Well, future Mrs. Jeon, you can call me Lysa. And this is her son, Kiyeon.

- Kim Taehyung, the owner of the newspaper. What can I do for you?

- I'm here for the interview. I read your latest article on marriage.

- Oh sure, come on in. Choi-Mi, bring me some tea.

- Sir.

- And some cakes for little Kiyeon.

- He only eats cakes without sugar. And no glucose. And no Ivanovich cupcakes. They're… Disgusting.”

The zombie nods gently before going into the kitchen to see if they have anything for the poor kid. Gently, Taehyung indicates for her to take a seat, while he grabs his notebook and settles down opposite her. He stared at her, something bothering him, but he couldn't put his finger on what could be making him so suspicious. Jungkook had never spoken to her about her, or even said he'd potentially had a relationship with a woman; he'd always said he was gay. So how could he have fallen for a tigress? Questions burned his lips, and he didn't hesitate to begin his real interrogation.

“- So you and Mr. Jeon, how did it go?

- A real fairy tale. We met at university and it was love at first sight for both of us. Oh sure, I'm not easy, so we took our time. Then our son was born.

- To hear you tell it, you'd have to say that Mr. Jeon made an impression on you.

- But he did, when Kiyeon was conceived.”

She points delightedly to the mark on her shoulder. The tiger's lily, a little duller than hers, but there it is. Taunting him, as if to tell him it was all a deception, a lie. He smiles again, politely, tense, letting the pen scrape the paper quickly, becoming quite serious all of a sudden. The door opens again to reveal Choi-mi, carrying tea and sweets, which she sets down in front of the two of them. She then bows politely, before stumbling back to the exit. Lysa doesn't hesitate to dig into the sugar-laden cupcakes, leaving the drier ones for the poor kid, who had remained quite silent. Taehyung watches the scene unfold, the merry-go-round. The child wants a cupcake, but his mother refuses, gently pushing him away, almost throwing him the ones the child doesn't really seem to like. But Taehyung makes a scathing comment, before resuming the conversation.

“- So, may I say that you are Mr. Jeon's bride?

- Of course, who else? A pure blood, with a pure blood. Both our families will be delighted.

- Of course.”

He doesn't really have the heart to continue the exchange, so he invites her to come back later, which she accepts. Hoping that this time, her husband would be here. She leaves as she arrived, like a shattering storm in the distance, leaving Taehyung feeling capsized, ready to cry. Choi-Mi remains silent until the human takes a deep breath, turning to look at his secretary.

“- Cancel all appointments with Mr. Jeon.

- Mr. Kim.

- Tell him his little privileges are over. And prepare for the next conference, where we'll announce Mr. Jeon's big secret to the world.

- Are you sure you…?

- Yes. Make it official. I refuse to be Mr. Jeon's little bitch.”

Anger was an understatement, Taehyung felt betrayed, outraged, he had the heavy impression that they were playing with his feelings, he grabbed his computer, closing it a little abruptly before heading for the exit, trying not to cry, he had to stay strong, not show the slightest weakness by the time he reached his car. Where he let himself go in the torrent of tears that shook his shoulders, clutching the steering wheel, he drew a long breath. He's soaked with rain and tears when he rings his best friend's doorbell. Jimin looks at him a little confused, but opens his arms wide when he throws himself at him, letting himself go in the pain of having been tricked, as he explains the situation to the wizard. Jimin remains silent, holding him in his tender arms, before letting him return to his large, comfortable bed. Listening to him calm down in a stony silence.

“- Are you sure?

- She had the mark Jimin. How could I let myself be fooled? I thought for a moment it would be me.

- I… You're going to be okay?”

Taehyung doesn't see Jimin's eyebrows furrow, or even his small gaze lost in conversation, trying to find the right words. But Taehyung isn't here to hear mere snippets of words, but to be listened to, understood. Jimin keeps his comments to himself, letting his best friend drift off to sleep as he strokes his back, his gaze lost in the distance.

-x-

“- He doesn't want to see you anymore.

- But I need to see him. You don't understand.

- Yes, I don't understand. I don't understand how you can play with people's feelings like that.

- Move over wizard. Or else…

- Or else what?”

A week had passed, slowly for Taehyung, agonizing in his best friend's house, Jungkook couldn't enter here, he wasn't allowed to, so he'd been walking in circles, running his hands through his hair, trying to calm his nerves, an eye contact with Taehyung or just something. Driving him crazy, the article was out, sounding like a bomb. How could this bitch have gone to see Taehyung, with this nonsense, he should have killed her the very day the deception had reached him. But he was too kind, Jungkook told himself, she didn't deserve it. Now he was itching to dismember her, but first he had to see the human. He could feel it, Taehyung wasn't well. It was a feeling that tore at him, took his breath away as he took deep breaths, his fingers running through her hair. The vampire didn't know how to stay calm, he felt on edge, so he stepped back to make sure he didn't attack Yoongi's little protégé, even if he didn't want to rip his pretty little head from his shoulders.

“- By Jungkook. Please. You're making it difficult.

- I can't, Jimin. Do you understand? I can't.”

Jimin pinched his lower lip, before looking behind him, Taehyung wasn't well, literally. He was feverish, pale, breathing hard. And if the sorcerer listened to him, he'd let him into his home to let him go and help Taehyung. He closed his eyes, drew in a small breath before begging him with his eyes this time; he really wanted to do the right thing, and Taehyung had told him he never wanted to have anything to do with Jungkook again.

" - I'm sorry. But Taehyung was clear.

- He'll die if I don't see him.

- Go home, Jungkook.”

Jimin closed the door, leaving Jungkook knocking again against the wood panel. He must have really wanted to get in to help Taehyung, the vampire was destroying his hands. But Jimin was far more worried about Taehyung. He was delirious, his eyes sometimes rolling as if possessed by a demon, and he confessed to being a little overwhelmed, even more so when the human started vomiting blood, completely panicking the wizard, who finally decided to let the door open on the vampire. He seems to be in the same state as Taehyung, short of breath, glassy-eyed, sweating coldly, which the vampire seems to ignore. He runs to bite directly into Taehyung's flesh under Jimin's furrowed brows, opening his mouth to speak, to complain, to scream at him. But he held back when he could see Taehyung's color returning, and Jungkook seemed to be getting better too.

“- We can't be separated. Wizards all know that. Vampires who mark depend on the person marked. And vice versa.

- I…

- Does your grimoire really teach you nothing?”

Jimin remained silent, the pic had been delivered in a terrifying tone, but had hit the nail on the head. No, his grimoire doesn't teach him anything. He pinches his lower lip as Jungkook picks up Taehyung, carrying him to the exit, slamming the door behind him.

“- What a jerk.”

[help-i-need-a-cool-username]

I love this

Character design concepts for my Carmen Sandiego timeskip au!! I imagine it takes place about 3 years after the final scene of the show (which seems to be a 2 year timeskip, making it 5 years altogether); It follows the characters slowly coming together as V.I.L.E’s faculty properly break out of prison and are hellbent on revenge and rebuilding their criminal empire.

I have explanations for what each character is doing under the cut!

Carmen and Player:

After spending several years reconnecting with her mother and helping out at the orphanage, she heard whispers of V.I.L.E returning and decided it was once again time to throw on the red coat and get back into action. She takes a less active role this time round, as she knows that there are other people on the case, but she still shows up to kick ass when necessary. Mostly she’s just there for fun

This time, however, her good friend Mr. Bouchard had just graduated from university, and decided to join her on an “apprenticeship” so they could travel the world together. They’re basically crime fighting best friends/siblings who stop heists occasionally and then spend most of the time doing really dumb shit together

Zack, Chase, and Julia:

You know those movies where a character stumbles into great fortune and success by complete accident? Yeah that’s EXACTLY what happened to Zack. After a couple years of working for ACME he decided to leave and finally pursue his dreams of being a race car driver; not only did he make it to the top of his field, but through a series of unpredictable events he also became a wildly famous model, a respected food critic, and AN ACTUAL DUKE. Nothing about his personality changed, he’s still a goofy Bostonian himbo, just living his best life in Italy where all of this happened.

Unfortunately for Zack, with great fame comes a couple of haters, notably ex-V.I.L.E operative Dash Haber who was plotting his downfall from the shadows. Chase was assigned to investigate, and then Chief realised how much chaos Zack and Devineaux would cause if they were in a room together, so she assigned Julia as well so someone among them would have a brain cell

Ivy, Sonia, Xifeng, and The Troll

When Zack left ACME to go pursue his dreams, Ivy initially stayed behind because she liked her job, but eventually started questioning what she wanted to do with her life. That is, until, one night when she ran into Sonia, who had followed in Carmen’s footsteps and was now acting as the new “femme rouge”. Ivy found purpose in the work she did for Carmen, so she decided to assist Sonia in her work by providing her with tools and a getaway driver, just like the good ol’ days.

While on their travels they ran into Xifeng, who joined the two of them on their travels, since she wanted to see the world (and also had a bit of a crush on Sonia oop). They also ran into ex-V.I.L.E operative The Troll, who they were initially going to turn in to the authorities, until Sonia remembered that Carmen had a hacker on her team who made their capers run a lot more smoothly. So they basically blackmailed him into going with them. While Ivy was naturally suspicious of him at first, he actually warmed up to the group eventually, since he was still committing cyber crime and making money, he had no reason to betray them.

With the new Team Red assembled they basically did the same stuff the old Team Red did, although Sonia’s strategy and the group’s general chemistry made their capers go WILDLY different to how Carmen’s used to. Sonia is much more mischievous and playful than Carmen used to be, and she isn’t as hesitant about fighting dirty. Xifeng is the only chill one on the team and The Troll is still a bit of a jerk, and Ivy is frequently driven up the wall by their antics. I can genuinely imagine her yelling at them after their goofing around got them into trouble and calling them “unruly pranksters” and feeling Shadowsan’s spirit physically channeling through her

Shadowsan

Taking a well deserved nap and being bullied by his brother. Do not disturb him

[domxmarvel]

Red

Masterlist

Requested by:Anon

Pairing: Carmen Sandiego x Female!Reader

Words: 602 

Request:Carmen x fem reader, where the reader is Carmen's gf and one day Carmen just disappeared, she didn't answer any calls and she was nowhere to be found. The reader found her earrings and got in contact with player who helped her find Carmen. Thank you!

You hadn't heard anything from your girlfriend in two days,and you were quickly getting worried. She always called or texted you,even when she was across the world. Even her HQ was completely empty. The only thing you found were her earrings,coat and hat along with a note.

‘Gone on a mission,if you need something call Player’ You put on her earrings,hearing a beep.

“Carmen!” Player yelled,that meant he didn’t know where she was either.

“Y/N,actually. You don’t know where she is either?”

“No,she did finish the mission she was on. But she dropped off the map seconds later”

“You think it’s Vile?”

“I could be,there’s some chatter about another Vile caper. But since Carmen’s missing there’s no one to stop them”

“Where are Zac,Ivy and Shadow-san?”

“They’re out looking for her,but there’s no one that can stop Vile” You looked up at her coat and hat,hanging by the door. You had helped her out multiple times,and even designed some of her gadgets so you knew exactly how they worked.

“That’s where you’re wrong,Player. I can stop them until Carmen reappears” You put on her hat and coat. “Now,what’s Vile up to?”

***

Following the intel led you to Vienna,quickly figuring out that Vile was planning to rob a museum. Zac and Ivy were waiting outside as you snuck in with Shadow-san. Carmen ran past you with Tigress behind her,from what she told you they didn’t really like each other so it was weird.’Did she team up with Vile? No,she wouldn’t go back’ You were arguing with yourself. Shadow-san took out Tigress as you followed Carmen.

“What are you supposed to be a copycat?” She mocked you,she was wearing a new pair of earrings,green upside down triangles.

“Carmen, don't you recognize me?” You asked

“All that I know is that you’re a copycat and that you’re standing in my way.” She tried to punch you but you dogged.

“Carmen,what are you doing? It’s me Y/N” She didn’t answer,she kept trying to fight you. You dogged her attacks and she was quickly getting angry,you managed to get a tracker on her without her noticing. During that moment you were distracted,she punched you knocking you off balance. She punched you multiple times,but Shadow-san showed up before you got hurt too badly. 

***

"Y/N what happened,what did she say?"

"She was like a completely different person,she didn't even recognize me"  There was a buzz coming from your coat,you pulled out a ballpen. It looked normal for the most part,but it was flashing. Clicking the top you dropped it and a hollowgram appeared,Carmen had told you about her,Chief. 

“Y/N right?”

“I guessing you’re Chief”

“We know what happened to Carmen,and we have a plan to bring her back” 

***

“Don’t worry we’ll get her back” Shadow-san put his hand on your shoulder,trying to reassure you. The seconds you turned you saw Carmen on the roof of the building,all of you ran in behind her. You managed to catch her,using one of your new tools,which was a retractable net. One of the ACME agents used the device on her to restore her memory. 

“Y/N?”

“Welcome back,red” She looked you up and down.

“Looks good on you” You helped her up,holding her so that she wouldn’t fall. “What do I call you now?”

“It’s Y/N Sandiego now” You both laughed. “I missed you”

“I missed you too”

[a-chlolix-blog]

The Threatening Three AU

An AU about Chloé working alongside Lila and Félix.

In this AU, the characters are aged up and in College.

Marinette was able to get every miraculous back and reveal to the public that Gabriel was Hawkmorh/Shadow Moth/Monarch & Nathalie was Mayura.

Gabriel is in Prison while Nathalie is on the run.

Lila has the Butterfly Miraculous and goes by "Falena".

Félix has the Peacock Miraculous and goes by "Phoenix".

Because they were able to get their hands on the Bee Miraculous after Zoé moves back to New York, Chloé's an occasional member of the duo team.

She wields the Bee Miraculous and once again goes by "Queen Bee".

Since she knows they're NEVER gonna beat Ladybug, Queen Bee's often watching The Akuma and Senti-Monster of the day get defeated.

Since the three are incredibly well known villains, they obviously have a secret hideout just outside of Paris.

The only time Chloé isn't bored out of her mind is when Bunnyx appears.

Cause that's when things get WILD.

Falena and Phoenix have tried to get their hands on the Rabbit Miraculous several times, but always fail.

The seriousness of the situation doesn't stop Queen Bee from flirting with Bunnyx.

Queen Bee: Come on Ally-Bun. Please give me the pocket? I'll let you take me out to dinner afterwards.

Bunnyx: No Chloé.

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

Queen Bee, pouting: You should leave that Burrow of yours more often, Ally-Bun. We don't hang out like we used to...

Bunnyx: You canknow blame your boss and her husband for that.

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

Queen Bee, on top of Bunnyx: Oh Ally-Bun! We should meet like this more often~

Bunnyx: That would not be the best idea...

Whenever she could, Chloé would unify the Bee and Butterfly Miraculous (becoming Queen Moth) and would use the power she gives someone to summon Bunnyx.

Of course the rabbit heroine wouldn't be too happy about this.

Bunnyx: Chloé, what do you want now?!

Queen Moth: I just wanna spend time with you while the world ISN'T in trouble, Bitty-Bun~

Bunnyx: SO YOU AKUMATIZE AN INNOCENT CIVILIAN?!

Queen Moth: Just so you know, Ship-Sailer is a HUGE BunnyBee shipper.

Everyone knows how much Chloé misses Alix, and will NEVER stop bringing it up.

From Lila and Félix dunking on her about it.

Lila: Chloé, while you're fighting, can you NOT drool over Alix for five minutes?

Chloé: Today's fight wasn't that bad...

Félix: When you were hit by Pigella's Gift, LOTS of thoughts of making out with her appeared in first of you. Which allowed Purple Tigress to punch you into a wall.

While Bunnyx's identity isn't known to the public, it IS known by the superheroes and the supervillains.

So she's often in the Burrow, much to Chloé's dismay.

Lila and Félix have tried to get signings of her leaving her burrow, but she's never been caught.

Tell me what you guys think of this one!

[ryik-the-writer]

CHAPTER 31: Alone

A03

      Chapter 1: Pan meets a Wendy

·         Chapter 2: Scars (Felix’s Story)

·         Chapter 3: Day One

·         Chapter 4: Revenge and Fireflies

·         Chapter 5: Brighter than Stars

·         Chapter 6: filler: The Tigress

·         Chapter 7: Operation Spotless!

·         Chapter 8: Operation Spotless: Reporters Down

·         Chapter 9: A Dance with the Devil

·         Chapter 10: filler: Felix and the Pancake

·         Chapter 11: The Girl with Blue Eyes pt. 1

·         Chapter 12: The Girl with Blue Eyes pt. 2

·         Chapter 13: The Girl With Blue Eyes: Underground

·         Chapter 14. Recovery

·         Chapter 14.2 Recovery some more

·         Chapter 15: Trapped

    Chapter 16: Filth

    Chapter 17: Fairydust pt. 1

    Chapter 18: Fairydust pt. 2

    Chapter 19: The Mystery of the Dead Nun pt. 3

    Chapter 20: The Mystery of the Dead Nun pt. 2

    Chapter 21: The Mystery of the Dead Nun pt. 3

    Chapter 22: Reflections pt. 1

    Chapter 23: Reflections pt. 2

    Chapter 24: Closing

    Chapter 25: Felix is helping Pan

    Chapter 26: Temporary Fix

    Chapter 27: The Search Begins

     Chapter 28: The Missing Pan

     Chapter 29: Instincts

     Chapter 30: Temperance

    Chapter 30.5: Circuits

------

Life's weird, you know? I'm 26 years old and I'm essentially trying to start over.

I've quit my most recent job – and possible career—as a journalist. It was from a combination of exhaustion and a disagreement with management, but the job was leaving me no time or energy to pursue my personal writing. I've been very depressed the past few years and am making some adjustments in my life to try to ease it. I don't know what's happening next, but I want to be me again, and that may take a while. But, in the meantime, I think the best place to start is here.

P.S. I've been working on this chapter since February. It's good to finally get it out.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"We're almost there, okay?" Graham said to the shaking girl beside him, keeping his eyes on the road. If he looked at her, he'd go back to the docks and tear that damned ship apart with his own hands. He'd prefer its owner.

Wendy didn't respond, her bloodshot eyes trained on the passing town, the icy window cooling her burnt cheek.

She was so drained following her confrontation with Jones, but she was angrier at herself than anything else.

She let him go. She let him go and she didn't know why.

He was right there in front of her and she had distracted him long enough that if she had sent the call to Graham he would have been there in moments, gun drawn and handcuffs awaiting Pan's kidnapper.

But she let him go!

"Stupid, fucking stupid!" Wendy husked, fresh tears starting to flow.

"No you're not," Graham soothed.

"I let him go I let him go…" Wendy yelled before breaking down all over again.

Graham gripped the steering wheel hard, trying desperately to contain his firm composure.

Wendy was in trouble and he had no choice but to bring her into custody. As the sheriff, it was his duty, as the man who'd gotten to know her, who'd helped as many times that he had, he was devastated for her.

His fingers twisted into the rough leather, years of police work helping him ease into an impassive state so that her cries wouldn't affect him.

Almost.

He turned down the road to get her to the hospital. He'd have to have Whale look her over for legality sake, but then it'd be off to the station.

He was half-hoping Jones had threatened her, forcibly coerced her into letting him go. At least then she'd be innocent on that level.

After all…Jones did have valuable information on her…

Before he could muse on that subject any further, they arrived at the hospital, and Graham decided to let the matter rest for now. He had a lot of calls to make and Wendy couldn't do much more harm in a secure hospital room.

They sat in the car a moment longer, each musing on their own thoughts.

Wendy had let go of a madman and she couldn't pinpoint why. If it had been de Vil or Jekyll they'd be in a jail cell by now, but why not Jones?

Because she was too close, she realized, and she still hadn't accepted that he had used her. That he lied to her face while Pan was dying just under her feet.

But he was going to let her go! Hell, he'd promised her twice.

And in the end he had…

"I can't kill you, Wendy, you've grown on me too much."

Wendy leaned her head back into the leather seat, groaning. Maybe he did have some shred of humility, fine, but he was still a kidnapper and most likely a murderer.

She'd messed up, Gods had she.

The shrill of a cellphone caused them both to bolt, Graham grabbing the device in his cup holder to silence it.

"Damn it," he cursed when he saw the number, shooting a look to Wendy. "Stay here."

His voice more cold than he'd wanted it to be. But he had to harden his heart now.

Back at the car, Wendy watched the exchange between Graham and whoever was on the other line blankly, her latest outburst having drained her.

The sheriff looked tense and his eyes would cut to her momentarily. Finally he ended the call and made a quick line to her door.

"Let's go," he sighed.

"Where—"

"Back to your room for now," Graham responded, not meeting her eyes.

Wendy allowed him to lead her back to the hospital.

A cold gust of air hit them when they entered the lobby, the very place Wendy had snuck from not even an hour before.

She glanced at the chairs Felix, Tink and August had been in and found them to be empty, but more yelling caused her to turn to the circulatory desk.

"We just want to make sure they're alright!" Tink yelled at the nurse.

"And I've told you unless you're family—"

"We are family!" Tink shot back.

"Enough!" Graham yelled, all but shoving Wendy into the open elevator. "Visiting hours are over. I want you all to go home and I don't want to see you again tonight or so help me I will throw you all in a cell!"

The trio stiffened. Graham had never been this firm before, this…angry.

Tink's eyes met Wendy's. There were so many things they knew they wanted to say, and Wendy was desperate for some kind of comfort.

"I'll bring you some things," Tink said with an uneasy smile.

"Bring them to the station," Graham muttered as he closed the elevator, leaving the trio and Wendy stunned.

The sheriff said nothing to his charge as they traveled to their destination. Wendy knew she was in dire trouble, but she couldn't muster enough fear to truly care. Her mind was too otherwise occupied.

They made to their floor and Wendy stepped out without instruction.

"Just get cleaned up and stay put," he sighed as he opened the door, pausing when he saw that the other occupant was wide awake…

And going through the file he'd left behind.

Wendy gasped at the site of Pan sitting upright in his bed. Just an hour ago she hadn't even been sure he'd ever open his eyes again.

But his eyes were wildly searching through the contents of the file, tearing at the pages with strength he shouldn't have.

"Pan…"

His eyebrows were drawn down in a way that made him confused. He blinked once and finally looked up at her and his expression was utterly unreadable.

That is until he turned to Graham and fire arose in his eyes.

"Is he locked up? Have you told her?" His voice was a bare croak..

Graham came around her and snatched the file from Pan's hands, papers flying about the room.

"You are always…" Graham began with a growl, stopping as his nails tore into the papers in his fingers.

Pan looked between them and at the paper that had flown on the floor. Jekyll's blank face was staring up at her and it was making her nauseous.

But there was something else.

"Have. You. Told. Her!" Pan yelled, his voice breaking from exhaustion.

Graham kept his jaw clenched, is eyes cutting to another series of photos that his officers and pulled from Jones's ship.

Wendy followed his gaze and met the sheriff's, who seemed to beg her not to move, not to think about the situation going on around her.

But she was shaking at this point, terrified and so very confused.

She darted to the photos Graham was staring at, feeling the ghost of his hand grasp at her to stop her, but to no avail.

"Wendy wait—"

But she had one photo turned over, and her blood ran cold.

The faces staring back at her were friendly. Their authentic smile should have comforted her.

But instead they filled her with the most gut-wrenching horror she'd felt to date.

They were the smiles of her parents, her dear mother who never had an unkind word for anyone. Who braved cancer so that her only daughter could seek her own adventure without guilt or burden. Her firm father, who wasn't unkind, but had no patience to try to understand his daughter. Wendy wanted to fix that one day. Her brothers, so young, still coming into their own.

And her. At least, Wendy thought it was. She could barely recognize the girl in the photo, bright eyes and unscarred skin.

It was a picture that, to her knowledge, only existed on her hallway table in her apartment and her parents' mantle at home.

Why was it in one of the boxes that had been on Jones' ship?

"Miss Darling?"

Wendy blinked, the motion slow. The act of lifting her head to look at the Sherriff's face was nearly impossible to do. Her life had been sucked from every cell in her body.

What had she done?

"Miss Darling," Graham repeated. He sounded so far away. Wendy could almost believe he wasn't in the room.

In the distance, a deep grunted cough. And then another until the sound was a constant, frightening hum.

Graham vanished from her view in a flash and she heard his voice burst.

"Pan! Nurse, get in here!"

Wendy found the strength to turn her head.

Pan was bouncing up and down on the bed, mouth agaped, gasping for air that wouldn't come.

"Whale!" Graham screamed as he tried to stabilize Pan.

A broken sound left her throat. Not Pan. Not now.

"Don't …" she croaked, collapsing miserably as struggled to lift herself to her knees.

Don't go.

"Get her—"

What had she done?

"Away!"

Then…

Shifting.

She couldn't see Pan any more. She'd been pulled into a separate part of the room, a thick curtain drawn to obscure him from her view.

But the noise was all too clear.

"P—P—"

"Get Whale in here now!"

Wendy's voice cracked and she has to use both hands to block out her sobbing.

What had she done?

A shift.

Like waves.

The light had changed both inside and outside the room. It must be night now.

On a ship.

Wendy sat up from her hard hospital bed, the curtain drawn around her making her feel more closed in. Suffocated.

The only relief was the thing line separating the curtain from the wall, giving her the barest glimpse of the rest of the room.

The sounds of the hospital's machines lulled her into an outward sense of calm. On the inside however, her blood was crawling.

Hours seemed to pass as she watched the minimum activity occur from that slit. Nurses checking Pan's vitals, checking his monitor. He didn't move once.

"He almost died," once nurse whispered.

"Him?" the other gasped, looking hurriedly back and forth between the comatose boy and her workmate. "Unbelievable! Of all the times he's been in this hospital…"

They blessedly left her alone.

Even if they had looked in to check on her, she wouldn't have been able to reply or cooperate. The shock of the last day had left her numb, incapable of feeling anything but the weight of her mistakes.

It was heavier each time she saw the tense rise and fall of Pan's chest as oxygen was manually pumped into his body by machines. In the way the tube down his throat shook on occasion.

This was the stillest she'd ever seen the wild boy. It was unnerving, like a lucid nightmare.

"Please, open your eyes."

Heal this scar on my heart.

His silence did allow her to think, however.

Her family was in some kind of apparent danger. Why would Jones have a photo of them? What had she or Pan done to make them targets?

She wondered if Graham had notified them or at least the authorities in London. Were they safe? Were they—

No. She couldn't think that. If Jones let her live, certainly he'd exchange the same curtesy to her parents and two underage boys, right?

Wendy slowly sat up, letting blood flow more evenly to her as she urged adrenaline to return. She couldn't just lie here. She couldn't risk her family not knowing they could be in danger.

She eased her legs off the side of the bed carefully, both for balance sake and caution. The nurses would very well tie her to the bed if they saw her walking around. And she had the suspicion that Graham was ready to throw her in a jail cell for the trouble she'd caused.

She was formulating a half-hazard plan in her groggy mind, and it would take someone more diabolical than she to help her optimize it.

She had to get to her family.

Her bag and clothes were laid out neatly on the counter between her and Pan's bed. She grabbed her bag and hugged it to her chest as she slid down to the foot of her bed, trying to stay out of sight from the roaming nurses outside. She breathed in relief as she found her cellphone. 20%. That was enough to make the call she needed.

She hands shook as she dialed the appropriate numbers to make a long-distance call to London and waited to hear her mother's gentle greeting or even her father's more gruff one.

A click.

"Mother?"

We're sorry, we cannot connect this call. Your service is out of bound. Hang up and –

"Damn it!" Wendy shouted, gaining just enough composure to quiet down before a nurse showed up.

Her mind raced like the wind during a sea storm, all her ideas scattered like the remains of a wrecked ship.

Then suddenly, a glimpse of clarity. The eye of the storm.

The eye of the devil himself.

Wendy readied her cell phone to make another call.

No, not to Tink or Felix, or even Lily or August. Too risky. They needed to be here for Pan.

No, she needed someone darker, someone who didn't have anyone else to lose.

She grimaced when she felt the crumpled up business card at the bottom of her bag. For a split second, she hoped it wasn't the one she was looking for, but of course it was.

She gripped it tightly in her clasped hands, hesitatingly heavily. She glanced at Pan's unconscious form, wishing desperately that he would open his eyes and talk her out of what she was about to do. Yell at her. Call her names. Anything.

But he was comatose because of her. She had no right to hurt him anymore.

She took a deep breath and checked once more that there wasn't a nurse coming dialed in the number on the card, hoping they wouldn't answer. It was late after all. Well past business hours—

"Gold's Pawnshop."

Wendy closed her eyes, feeling a nauseous sense of regret hit her.

"Hello?" The voice on the other line inquired more aggressively.

"M-Mr. Gold," Wendy finally spoke just when she thought he would hung up. "It's…It's Wendy Darling."

The pause that followed sounded like the silence after a car crash, when a survivor was still trying to determine if they had survived or not.

When Wendy heard the haunting chuckle that followed her greeting, she was more than certain that at one point in the last few days she must have died.

She was entering the lowest level of hell.

"Miss Darling," Gold spoke. Wendy could picture the large grin spreading over his sharp face. "What can I do for you?"

Wendy fussed with the card in her hand, the silky cardstock a scalding coal in palm.

"I need your assistance getting out of Storybrooke, preferably in the next hour,"

"Does the Mirror not pay you vacation time, Miss Darling?"

Wendy clenched her teeth. "Please, stop."

She hadn't meant the words to come out as a choked sob, but the stress from the last few days were weighing her down fast and she no longer had the ability to hold up her control.

Gold seemed to sense her distress and cut to the chase.

"What's happened?"

"I…I…I can't…" Wendy slipped down the wall, clutching the phone for dear life. "It's complicated, but I got involved with someone who has put everyone I care about in danger."

"Is this about Pan's disappearance?" Gold questioned evenly, even the barest hint of concern absent from his voice.

Wendy decided not to focus on that, knew she'd say something that would end their conversation abruptly is she did.

"It's more about the person who caused his disappearance, partially I mean," she tugged on the edges of her hair nervously. "Bottom line, he's done with Pan and Storybrooke, I think, but my family in London might be next on his list."

Gold remained quiet as Wendy summed up the details from the last few hours, not pressing for any unnecessary details.

"I know it's asking for a lot very quickly, but …" Wendy allowed herself to trail off, not having the strength or the mentality to press on. He knew what she needed, he didn't need the sob story.

"It's quite the request indeed," he commented. Wendy could heard the wickedness rise once more in his voice. "But I accept, but I need something from you first."

"I have every intention of paying you back."

"Not's hardly a concern of mine, Miss Darling," he said. "What I need from you is something a bit more personal."

Wendy gripped the phone tightly. Wendy hadn't thought she'd underestimated him this entire time. She'd seen the darkness in his eyes, saw it in his cold, calculating smile.

She thought briefly of Belle, recalled the gentle way she heard him speak to her at the hospital. Had that been a farce, or had he simply pulled down his mask long enough to appear human. At the time of the young woman's rescue, Wendy wondered if perhaps Gold would recall Wendy's part in saving her and call them even.

"What is it?" she asked, accepting her fate.

He was quite for a moment, but the words he spoke next chilled her.

"I need you to tell me how much you need my help,"

Wendy blinked, generally unsure just what he meant.

"Pardon?"

His cold chuckle followed.

"I know how to recognize a desperate soul, and you are by far the most desperate one I've met to date."

Wendy shook her head, unable to fully comprehend what he was asking of her.

"What…I…I…"

"And I want you ask yourself why that is," he continued.

Those final words hit her like a bucket of ice. Every faux decision she'd made in the last few weeks.

She hadn't meant to hurt anyone. Hadn't ever wanted to. It just happened, and she inadvertently isolated herself from anyone who cared for her.

She looked at Pan's unconscious form once more. It was easy to blame him. He'd twisted every decent thing she'd tried to accomplish. He burned everything he touched.

But she'd made her own choices. She chose to allow him in her life and kept him too close. He'd gotten hurt in the process.

In a way, he would have been better off if she had cut him out.

"This is my price, Miss Darling," he said. "You may take it, or we can part, and we'll speak nothing more of this conversation.

"Fine. I need your help. I…I really need your help."

"Because?"

A hot tear ran down her cheek. It felt like the barest of defeat.

"I'm…"

All.

Alone.

"I'm desperate."

She heard the lightest hum as his response. It was almost a gluttonal sound. She wasn't sure how she would have reacted if she'd heard him laugh.

"Very good, Miss Darling," he said at last. Wendy managed to keep her chin from wobbling.

"Now, I need you to follow my next instructions very carefully. Are you able to leave the hospital?"

Wendy straightened up. Her family. She had to leave.

"I can try, but there's nurses everywhere. I think Sheriff Graham has me on some kind of unspoken lockdown."

Gold hummed once more, this one more calculating than gratified.

"I'll handle him. Now Miss Darling, I want you to dress and gather what you have with you and be ready to leave. When I hang up, I need you to wait exactly 15 minutes. Exactly that, do you understand?"

"Yes." Wendy replied half-heartedly.

"Good. When you're 15 minutes start, you'll make your way down the hospital stairs. Under no circumstances are you to go near the elevators."

"Cameras." Wendy concluded.

"Very good," he praised, though the comment had the weight of an insult.

"Then, when you come out on the first floor, you're going to take a left until you get to the west wing, the one adjacent to the children's ward, do you recall?"

Wendy felt her entire body tense.

The darkness. The smell of mold. Belle's wile, blue eyes.

That horrid man's hands around her neck.

"No." she said definitively. "I can't go through there. I won't."

"Yes you will." Gold said firmly.

"There's another way, there has to be," Wendy pled. How was it that she'd been in this hospital so many damn times but hadn't learned the exit routes?

"Just maybe there is, but do you really want to waste time exploring those options?"

Wendy seethed. "You're doing this on purpose. You're sick!"

She was greeted with a humorless chuckle. "I'm many things, Miss Darling, but right now I'm the one person in the world who could help you."

That's not so, Wendy wanted to say, but she dared not bring Felix or Tink or even August into this. This man seemed to gain power over anyone who gave him their name.

"Then what?" She croaked.

Why are you doing this? I helped you.

"You'll vacate the ward and you'll continue along the wall of the west wing until you come across an overgrown parking lot about a quarter of mile past the hospital. There's an overgrown courtyard you must go through. A man by the name of Mr. Dove will be there waiting for you with a car. You'll go with him and he'll escort you to Boston. By the time you reach there, a one-way ticket should be awaiting you."

The term 'one-way' perked Wendy's attention. Did he think she made no plans to return? Did she at this point?

"Is all that agreeable?"

Wendy hesitated. What was waiting for her if she returned? Scorned friends who were better off without her? An unstable job she was more than certain she was fired from at this point? A jail sentence?

She glanced at Pan, unconscious and oddly peaceful-looking.

"Yes," Wendy answered. "I'll meet him there."

"Very good," Gold said. "Fifteen minutes, Miss Darling."

"Yes." Wendy agreed, ready to hang up.

"Oh, and Miss Darling?"

Wendy flinched, begrudgingly lifting the phone to her ear.

"Yes?"

"Such a pleasure hearing from you again."

He hung up before she could respond, leaving her in blessedly silent quiet.

She sat there for a moment more, trying to decide exactly what consequences she'd see for making a deal with a shark like Mr. Gold. It couldn't be any worse than the rawness in her soul.

She wiped her face. She couldn't think about that now, couldn't focus on anything but getting to her family.

Fifteen minutes. Exactly fifteen minutes.

She began to move, gathering what little she had with her and changing, her stomach lurching at every sound. She eyed the door as she finished, hearing the distance taps of nurses shoes go back and forth.

She silenced her phone, ready to leave, but the site of Pan's still form from the corner of her eye caused her to pause.

She lowered her head in a sense of shame, each beep of his heart monitor stabbing at her.

He didn't respond when she stood over him, her hand's hovering above his form, unsure of where to go.

Ten minutes.

Wasn't there evidence that comatose patience could sense the outward world? Hear, smell and even imagine everything around them?

Looking at him, Wendy had to doubt that theory. He was so still. So unlike the every-moving wild boy who brought so much chaos in and out of her life.

Wendy grazed her fingers over his hand where the IV pumped life into his veins.

The nurses said his dehydration had led to a severe kidney infection. He had just narrowly missed full organ failure by a day.

"Pan," she whispered. "I…I'm sorry for everything. For my part in hurting you. For not seeing Jones for what he was."

Of course she received no reply. In a way she was thankful for that. If he was awake, would he talk her out of this? Try to be some sort of voice of reason? Or would he encourage this dangerous and wayward idea?

Five minutes left.

She continued to graze his skin, counting every second until she could move.

Why did Gold give her such a specific time limit?

"You never really told me about him." she said to Pan. "You didn't tell me how dark he really was."

Wendy found the gal to turn her hand and grip his hand.

"What else did he do to you Pan? Why do you hate him so much?"

Pan's hand flinched under hers.

She would have thought the scream that followed next was his if it wasn't for the flashing lights above her head.

Times up.

Wendy stilled as chaos erupted outside, nurses yelling, running back and forth trying to make sense of what was going on.

But she knew. It was time to go.

"I'm sorry," she said hastily to Pan, missing how his fingers curled inward—trying to stop her.

Wendy stuck her head carefully from the room, having to squint through the flashing red light that bathed the upper level of Storybrooke Hospital. The alarm had summoned all the nurses and the security guards to it, giving her a chance to escape unseen.

She took a deep breath and made a beeline for the stairs that would get her on the first floor.

Her ears were ringing and her vision was blurring from the aggressive lights. Coupled with her exhaustion, it was almost enough to make her pass out. She kept losing her grip on the stair railing and had to claw at the wall to keep from barreling down.

She paused when she saw the dingy, dented door that led to the forbidden ward. It was her only exit, the quickest way to get to her family and ensure their safety.

It was ridiculous to be afraid. Sheriff Graham had looked the place up and down. There was no one in there now. It was empty and dead.

But in Wendy's mind, they were still in there.

Suddenly, the alarm stopped, the agonizing red siren paused, bathing the hospital in the sickening white light. It was now or never. She inhaled sharply and ripped open the door, the dank air sucking her in. Trapping her in as she slammed the door behind her.

Wendy squinted into the dark gray hallway, trying to control her breathing, listening intently to every sound the dank ward had to offer.

She had a ride waiting for her, that's what Mr. Gold said. They'd leave, and then she'd truly be lost. She had to move. She had to move.

She kept her palms on the wall, her hands shaking as she crept carefully down the hall.

"There's nothing here," Wendy whispered to herself. "I'm alone here, I just need to get to the exit…I just need to get out."

Her grip on the wall became more frantic as she ventured further, the hallway advancing into a darkness she'd only see in the depths of her dreams.

The space around was beginning to feel more dream-like, as if she were walking through an inky cloud, surrounded by thick air that threatened to evaporate at any moment.

Dropping her to a slow, expected death.

As the pressure changed, so did Wendy's vision. Burst of reds and greens flashed before her, overstimulating her shaken mind. She began to get disoriented, fearful that she'd gotten lost and she would never find the exit. There was no light, nothing to lead her out.

But then, a shift. A flicker of icy wind licked her cheek.

And something swiped at her hair.

Wendy shot forward, the scream stuck in the depths of her throat shooting upwards to her brain.

No no no no no no no no.

She had to leave, whether out a new exit or to her death she didn't care.

She kept running into the darkness, anemic lines of right becoming more prominent, revealing she was closer to freedom.

Or perhaps it was her own mind singing its desperation for escape.

There was no door, no natural means of escape. The hallway only seemed to get longer.

As full-blown panic began to morph into sheer delusion, instinct kicked in. Wendy searched for the source of the scarce light until she found a filthy window. She used her sleeves to wipe it frantically, her fingers outlining the trees she could just see in the distant.

She pushed at it, trying frantically to get it open as her desperation rose.

A long bead of sweat dove down her spine, her arms shaking from excursion.

"Let me out!" she yelled, slamming her hand on the window until it was caked with a thick layer of dirt and dust.

"Please," she gasped as she began to beat on the glass again. Her only escape. "NOW!"

Wendy's palm burst through the glass, the crisp icy air embodying her freedom. She felt the blood before she felt the sting of the shards breaking into her skin but she continued to push and punch to get out of the forbidden wing.

With a final burst of adrenaline, she grabbed the edges of the window and pulled herself through the narrow space, the surrounding shrubbery scratching at her skin.

Her hips were just barely able to get through, and Wendy was certain she could feel something pulling at her ankles, trying to pull her back into the dark.

She clawed at the out wall for extra leverage, giving her just what she need to squeeze out of the window and hit the hard ground.

Wendy crawled as quickly as she could from the building, flipping onto her back to defend herself against the thing that had been lurking in the ward.

But she was met with nothing but darkness and blissful quiet. Whatever phantom that had plagued her has simply vanished.

Wendy took in a shaky breath, piecing her thoughts together bit by bit.

She had escaped the hospital, though the commotion she just made would no doubt garner unwanted attention. She had to keep moving. She had to get to her family.

She sighed and began to stand, shrieking when a piercing pain erupted though her right hand, arm and hip. She looked down in horror and saw flakes of glass sticking out of her limbs, the testament to her escape. She couldn't even flex her fingers. Each time the glass would stab at her damaged hands.

Wendy's frustration finally boiled over and she let out a great scream, one worthy of a cryptid.

"FUCK!" she yelled as loud as she could, a sharp sob breaking through her throat. For several moments she couldn't stop sobbing, couldn't be brave any more.

The last few months had been pure Hell and she had taken all the hits, numbed herself to the consequences in an attempt to move forward. But it wasn't just her psyche that took a dive this time. It was her heart and her spirit. Killian Jones had shown her the first bout of affection she's truly felt in weeks, made her feel more human that the soulless heap she'd felt like. Pan had long damaged her spirit, but she'd nearly lost her heart completely when she saw him in that hospital room. On death's door because of her.

Now her family—her parents and dear brothers—could be in the same state because she didn't have the gall to pull the trigger on Jones. What if he was there already? Could she do it this time?

She'd never find out if she stayed here sobbing in the dirt, she decided. She wiped her eyes, taking in several calming breaths. Yeah, she'd made some misguided decisions lately, but she had the chance to at least amend one. She'd made a deal with the devil to get to London and she had to go through with it, even if she had to face Graham's wrath when she returned.

She stood with a grimace, hissing as blood ran down her arms and legs, and began limping towards the aforementioned courtyard that modeled yet another maze of horrors. But, with the thought that she was yet another step closer to getting to her family before Jones did, she limped bravely into the weave of dead vines and branches.

She began to look back at the space she just left – wanted to catch a glimpse of the monsters who forced her through that beacon of hell—but decided against it as tears began to well into her eyes.

She'd had enough of that place.

The moon acted as Wendy's only guide and only light source save a few illegally dimmed streetlights. She pulled and fought of dead thorns as she moved closer to what she could make out as a black sea.

Wendy stumbled through the rest of the shrubbery. A glance behind her proved she's put in a good half mile from the hospital—which had otherwise been silent following her escape.

Knowing her time was still extremely limited, she search around quickly to spot an older-fashioned car and a notably tall man standing at its rear.

Wendy approached the two cautiously, both throbbing limbs and paranoid suspicion bubbling through her. This could easily be a trap from Gold—a diabolical and brutally cruel scenario to tease her exhausted mind. It would surely incriminate her to a tee. She's be sitting in Sheriff Graham's jail for the rest of her life.

But she had everything to lose, so she paused at the car, several feet from the large man.

Wendy cleared her dry throat—vaguely tasting dust—and coughed out a greeting to the man. He turned around effortlessly, his eyes evaluating her with a calm and potently disinterested scowl.

"Mr…bird?" Wendy coughed.

"Dove, actually," the man returned with a curt nod, his tone more softer than his appearance had previewed. "Miss Darling, I presume."

Wendy felt a twinge of relief, nodding.

Mr. Dove nodded and stepped around the car—oddly seeming smaller not that he was closer to Wendy. He opened the back passenger door and waved Wendy to it.

"We haven't much time, so I'm afraid we'll have to go straight to the Boston Airport,"

Wendy tensed. "We can't stop by my apartment quickly? I'm sorry, but I have to grab my cellphone charger, not to mention my passport—"

Mr. Dove moved slightly, holding out a shoulder bag thick with items.

"Mr. Gold had me gather the proper documentation. I'm afraid you'll have to figure out your toiletries in your own time."

Wendy's face paled, an unfortunate image of this perfect stranger filtering through her intimate belongings but accepted the bag quickly.

"I guess this is it," Wendy sighed, feeling a strange emptiness weigh her.

"Yes," Dove answered. "If you'll please—"

The irritating sound of a revved engine spearing towards them caused Wendy and Mr. Dove both to pause. Both shot towards the reverberating sound as a pair of headlights beamed closer to them.

Wendy sucked in a breath. If it was Graham, she was done for!

Mr. Dove tensed beside him and Wendy gasped when his hand drew into his oversized coat for what must have been a weapon.

The car – a pea green Voltzwagon Bug – came to a screeching halt in front of them, its owner stepping out with a growl.

"Tink!" Wendy gasped.

"Miss Le Bell?"

Tink burst out of her pea-green bug, the door slamming so hard behind her Wendy feared the sound echoed into the hospital.

The blond woman glared back before her Wendy and the excessively tall man who seemed to know her.

She stopped in front of them, hands on her hips, and they both seemed to shrink under her sharp gaze.

"I knew it," Tink said, the words like acid. "I felt it in my bones. Something is wrong and you're working with…"

"It's not what you think!" Wendy jumped in.

Tink gave her an incredulous look and turned her ire back towards the excessively tall man before them.

"Mr. Dove," Tink said as a form of greeting. "Please?"

"I'm sorry, Miss Le Bell," Dove spoke evenly. "This is between Miss Darling and Mr. Gold."

"Well now it's between her and me," Tink said, stepping around to the passenger side of her car. She opened her door, begging Wendy's cooperation with her eyes.

"Wendy, please get in."

"I can't," Wendy said, though she was itching to get into Tink's warm and familiar BMW than Gold's cold and ominous Cadillac.

"Wendy, whatever's going on, whatever you did or what you're running from, associating with Mr. Gold is not the way to fix your problem," Tink said.

"I don't have a choice," Wendy said simply. "I don't have time to explain, and I know I have no right asking you for anything…" she swallowed guiltily. "Please Tink, don't say anything and don't try to stop me."

Tink shook her head. "Wendy, let me help you. Gold is the last person you can trust. The second you accept something from him, your deal never ends. Whatever's happened to you, it's not worth chaining yourself to him."

"It is if it keeps my friends and family safe," Wendy countered before frowning. "Family, I mean."

Tink sighed. "Wendy, what happened between me and Mother Superior, that had nothing to do with you."

"Of course it is!" Wendy said.

"No," Tink said as she shook her head. She bowed it next as the next thought came to her. "It's kind of like Pan said, she had it coming. I hate her lies were exposed the way they were, but in the end, I'm glad it's all over with. Yes, I'm angry, but I'm ready to move on, and I am so sorry you got hurt and mixed up with this."

Wendy struggled not to cave. Tink wouldn't dare try to use mental manipulation with her, but this still stalling her even if her words seemed sincere.

"I…" Wendy gulped, too many thoughts swarming her senses.

"I…I can't do this now," Wendy cried. "I have to go."

"Where are you going? What's going on Wendy, let me help you!"

"I can't let anyone else get hurt because of me! Please Tink, let me handle this."

"Not like this," Tink said firmly, turning her sharp gaze to Dove. "Where are you taking her? I'll take her there."

"Tink, no—" Wendy begged.

"Don't be like Pan, Wendy," Tink yelled. Wendy stiffened. "Don't push everyone away when things become too much! You have people who care about you! Let them help you. Whatever's happened, don't go at it alone."

Wendy stared at her former friend. How could one person be so sure when everything was falling around them? Was Tink right? Was she doing what Pan would do and push people away? He did do that, but there were moments when she could feel that all he wanted was to reach out. However, he disguised this need with cruelty, either due to a lack of compassion or a fear of intimacy she had yet to discover..

And now Wendy was doing the same thing.

You're just as filthy and selfish as he is.

Even though she wanted to protect Tink, she also didn't want to leave Storybrooke with a complete stranger.

Wendy turned to Dove, who was still watching their interaction quietly.

"I'd like to go with her, please,"

Dove nodded. "I can't stop you, but I will have to alert Mr. Gold of this change."

"You may do so," Wendy said, slinging the bag with her passport protectively over her shoulder.

Dove looked down at his watch. "I'd suggest you move quickly then. You're flight for London leave at 4 a.m."

Tink stiffened. "London?"

Wendy looked at her helplessly and Tink didn't press the subject further.

"Boston Airport it is."

Wendy nodded and got into Tink's warm car, putting on her seatbelt as Tink typed the directions in her phone.

Wendy looked at Dove through the rearview mirror as they drove off. He was a still as a statute, and she truly hoped he was more friend than foe. Still, she wondered what the repercussions of her decision would be with Gold. But she couldn't think of that right now. She couldn't think of anything but getting to London.

"Check the glove compartment." Tink said suddenly.

"What?"

Tink took her eyes off the road for a moment to nod at Wendy's hands and legs.

"You're bleeding. I think I have some antiseptic and gauze in my first aid kit. It's in the glove compartment."

"Oh!" Wendy said, the pain creeping back into her limbs. Her hands were blood and dirty as were her jeans. A thick, dry gash stained her entire thigh. Wendy viciously rubbed at the area with Tink's provided wet wipes, biting her lip to keep from hissing at the pain. No doubt she'd need to clean it properly when she reached London. She parents may insist she see a doctor.

Tink remained quiet as they drove but Wendy could sense her tension. Her hands gripped the steering wheel firmly, a hint of white spreading across her knuckles.

"I can't tell you much right now," Wendy said, looking out the window so she wouldn't meet Tink's eyes.

"I figured," she returned. "But…I'm willing to listen. You know that, right?"

Wendy did. And she was more than grateful. But she didn't want her to taint her with her sins. Tink deserved so much better than that.

Thankfully, Tink didn't breach the subject any further and they soon arrived at the airport with ample time to spare.

"Do you want me to walk in with you?" Tink inquired.

"I'm fine, thank you," Wendy said as she opened the door.

"Hold on," Tink said, undoing her seatbelt and turning to search through her back seat. Wendy was surprised when she pulled out one of Wendy's tote back, her cellphone charger poised at the overflowing bag's contents.

"I…"

"Told you I'd bring you some things," Tink finished, giving her a half smile. "I got you Wendy, no matter what."

Wendy hugged the bag closely to her, the familiar scent of her clothing causing tears to well in her eyes. And try as Wendy did, she couldn't stop them from flowing. She was sobbing before she could stop herself, harder than she had even at the hospital.

Tink allowed her a few moments to get started before she leaned in and wrapped her arms around her, allowing her to sob into her shoulder.

"It's okay," Tink said.

As she continued to release her anguish, Wendy thought perhaps she was right. She survived so much so far and Tink's compassion inspired her that she would survive this whole horror story.

She calmed finally, though Tink's comfort did not cease.

It was this comfort that allowed Wendy to belive—truly, truly believe—

She was not alone.

Felix never really knew what to make of August. He knew of his doomed relationship with Pan, knew it was just a bit more serious than some of his other trysts, but ultimately didn't survive Pan's chaotic mood and lifestyle.

Frankly, he wasn't fond of August. He hated how he'd hurt his father over and over again. Hated how casually he lived with the things he did.

But, he decided as they walked to Pan and Wendy's shared room, he had to have some decency if he went through all they had the last few days for Pan's sake. Pity his fondness was one-sided.

They entered the room the nurse below gave them, squinting in the black to see two empty and unmade beds.

"Maybe we're in the wrong room?"

Felix knew good and well they weren't. August knew it as well, but admitting to the sight before them would lead to a whole new wave of trouble.

Pan's bed was empty, his IVs thrown carelessly to the floor.

His window—fully opened—had let in a strangely warm and terrifying breeze in his absence.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Geez, I finally got Pan off that ship … but where is he now?

Life's weird, you know? I'm 26 years old and I'm essentially trying to start over.

I've quit my most recent job – and possible career—as a journalist. It was from a combination of exhaustion and a disagreement with management, but the job was leaving me no time or energy to pursue my personal writing. I've been very depressed the past few years and am making some adjustments in my life to try to ease it. I don't know what's happening next, but I want to be me again, and that may take a while. But, in the meantime, I think the best place to start is here.

P.S. I've been working on this chapter since February. It's good to finally get it out.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"We're almost there, okay?" Graham said to the shaking girl beside him, keeping his eyes on the road. If he looked at her, he'd go back to the docks and tear that damned ship apart with his own hands. He'd prefer its owner.

Wendy didn't respond, her bloodshot eyes trained on the passing town, the icy window cooling her burnt cheek.

She was so drained following her confrontation with Jones, but she was angrier at herself than anything else.

She let him go. She let him go and she didn't know why.

He was right there in front of her and she had distracted him long enough that if she had sent the call to Graham he would have been there in moments, gun drawn and handcuffs awaiting Pan's kidnapper.

But she let him go!

"Stupid, fucking stupid!" Wendy husked, fresh tears starting to flow.

"No you're not," Graham soothed.

"I let him go I let him go…" Wendy yelled before breaking down all over again.

Graham gripped the steering wheel hard, trying desperately to contain his firm composure.

Wendy was in trouble and he had no choice but to bring her into custody. As the sheriff, it was his duty, as the man who'd gotten to know her, who'd helped as many times that he had, he was devastated for her.

His fingers twisted into the rough leather, years of police work helping him ease into an impassive state so that her cries wouldn't affect him.

Almost.

He turned down the road to get her to the hospital. He'd have to have Whale look her over for legality sake, but then it'd be off to the station.

He was half-hoping Jones had threatened her, forcibly coerced her into letting him go. At least then she'd be innocent on that level.

After all…Jones did have valuable information on her…

Before he could muse on that subject any further, they arrived at the hospital, and Graham decided to let the matter rest for now. He had a lot of calls to make and Wendy couldn't do much more harm in a secure hospital room.

They sat in the car a moment longer, each musing on their own thoughts.

Wendy had let go of a madman and she couldn't pinpoint why. If it had been de Vil or Jekyll they'd be in a jail cell by now, but why not Jones?

Because she was too close, she realized, and she still hadn't accepted that he had used her. That he lied to her face while Pan was dying just under her feet.

But he was going to let her go! Hell, he'd promised her twice.

And in the end he had…

"I can't kill you, Wendy, you've grown on me too much."

Wendy leaned her head back into the leather seat, groaning. Maybe he did have some shred of humility, fine, but he was still a kidnapper and most likely a murderer.

She'd messed up, Gods had she.

The shrill of a cellphone caused them both to bolt, Graham grabbing the device in his cup holder to silence it.

"Damn it," he cursed when he saw the number, shooting a look to Wendy. "Stay here."

His voice more cold than he'd wanted it to be. But he had to harden his heart now.

Back at the car, Wendy watched the exchange between Graham and whoever was on the other line blankly, her latest outburst having drained her.

The sheriff looked tense and his eyes would cut to her momentarily. Finally he ended the call and made a quick line to her door.

"Let's go," he sighed.

"Where—"

"Back to your room for now," Graham responded, not meeting her eyes.

Wendy allowed him to lead her back to the hospital.

A cold gust of air hit them when they entered the lobby, the very place Wendy had snuck from not even an hour before.

She glanced at the chairs Felix, Tink and August had been in and found them to be empty, but more yelling caused her to turn to the circulatory desk.

"We just want to make sure they're alright!" Tink yelled at the nurse.

"And I've told you unless you're family—"

"We are family!" Tink shot back.

"Enough!" Graham yelled, all but shoving Wendy into the open elevator. "Visiting hours are over. I want you all to go home and I don't want to see you again tonight or so help me I will throw you all in a cell!"

The trio stiffened. Graham had never been this firm before, this…angry.

Tink's eyes met Wendy's. There were so many things they knew they wanted to say, and Wendy was desperate for some kind of comfort.

"I'll bring you some things," Tink said with an uneasy smile.

"Bring them to the station," Graham muttered as he closed the elevator, leaving the trio and Wendy stunned.

The sheriff said nothing to his charge as they traveled to their destination. Wendy knew she was in dire trouble, but she couldn't muster enough fear to truly care. Her mind was too otherwise occupied.

They made to their floor and Wendy stepped out without instruction.

"Just get cleaned up and stay put," he sighed as he opened the door, pausing when he saw that the other occupant was wide awake…

And going through the file he'd left behind.

Wendy gasped at the site of Pan sitting upright in his bed. Just an hour ago she hadn't even been sure he'd ever open his eyes again.

But his eyes were wildly searching through the contents of the file, tearing at the pages with strength he shouldn't have.

"Pan…"

His eyebrows were drawn down in a way that made him confused. He blinked once and finally looked up at her and his expression was utterly unreadable.

That is until he turned to Graham and fire arose in his eyes.

"Is he locked up? Have you told her?" His voice was a bare croak..

Graham came around her and snatched the file from Pan's hands, papers flying about the room.

"You are always…" Graham began with a growl, stopping as his nails tore into the papers in his fingers.

Pan looked between them and at the paper that had flown on the floor. Jekyll's blank face was staring up at her and it was making her nauseous.

But there was something else.

"Have. You. Told. Her!" Pan yelled, his voice breaking from exhaustion.

Graham kept his jaw clenched, is eyes cutting to another series of photos that his officers and pulled from Jones's ship.

Wendy followed his gaze and met the sheriff's, who seemed to beg her not to move, not to think about the situation going on around her.

But she was shaking at this point, terrified and so very confused.

She darted to the photos Graham was staring at, feeling the ghost of his hand grasp at her to stop her, but to no avail.

"Wendy wait—"

But she had one photo turned over, and her blood ran cold.

The faces staring back at her were friendly. Their authentic smile should have comforted her.

But instead they filled her with the most gut-wrenching horror she'd felt to date.

They were the smiles of her parents, her dear mother who never had an unkind word for anyone. Who braved cancer so that her only daughter could seek her own adventure without guilt or burden. Her firm father, who wasn't unkind, but had no patience to try to understand his daughter. Wendy wanted to fix that one day. Her brothers, so young, still coming into their own.

And her. At least, Wendy thought it was. She could barely recognize the girl in the photo, bright eyes and unscarred skin.

It was a picture that, to her knowledge, only existed on her hallway table in her apartment and her parents' mantle at home.

Why was it in one of the boxes that had been on Jones' ship?

"Miss Darling?"

Wendy blinked, the motion slow. The act of lifting her head to look at the Sherriff's face was nearly impossible to do. Her life had been sucked from every cell in her body.

What had she done?

"Miss Darling," Graham repeated. He sounded so far away. Wendy could almost believe he wasn't in the room.

In the distance, a deep grunted cough. And then another until the sound was a constant, frightening hum.

Graham vanished from her view in a flash and she heard his voice burst.

"Pan! Nurse, get in here!"

Wendy found the strength to turn her head.

Pan was bouncing up and down on the bed, mouth agaped, gasping for air that wouldn't come.

"Whale!" Graham screamed as he tried to stabilize Pan.

A broken sound left her throat. Not Pan. Not now.

"Don't …" she croaked, collapsing miserably as struggled to lift herself to her knees.

Don't go.

"Get her—"

What had she done?

"Away!"

Then…

Shifting.

She couldn't see Pan any more. She'd been pulled into a separate part of the room, a thick curtain drawn to obscure him from her view.

But the noise was all too clear.

"P—P—"

"Get Whale in here now!"

Wendy's voice cracked and she has to use both hands to block out her sobbing.

What had she done?

A shift.

Like waves.

The light had changed both inside and outside the room. It must be night now.

On a ship.

Wendy sat up from her hard hospital bed, the curtain drawn around her making her feel more closed in. Suffocated.

The only relief was the thing line separating the curtain from the wall, giving her the barest glimpse of the rest of the room.

The sounds of the hospital's machines lulled her into an outward sense of calm. On the inside however, her blood was crawling.

Hours seemed to pass as she watched the minimum activity occur from that slit. Nurses checking Pan's vitals, checking his monitor. He didn't move once.

"He almost died," once nurse whispered.

"Him?" the other gasped, looking hurriedly back and forth between the comatose boy and her workmate. "Unbelievable! Of all the times he's been in this hospital…"

They blessedly left her alone.

Even if they had looked in to check on her, she wouldn't have been able to reply or cooperate. The shock of the last day had left her numb, incapable of feeling anything but the weight of her mistakes.

It was heavier each time she saw the tense rise and fall of Pan's chest as oxygen was manually pumped into his body by machines. In the way the tube down his throat shook on occasion.

This was the stillest she'd ever seen the wild boy. It was unnerving, like a lucid nightmare.

"Please, open your eyes."

Heal this scar on my heart.

His silence did allow her to think, however.

Her family was in some kind of apparent danger. Why would Jones have a photo of them? What had she or Pan done to make them targets?

She wondered if Graham had notified them or at least the authorities in London. Were they safe? Were they—

No. She couldn't think that. If Jones let her live, certainly he'd exchange the same curtesy to her parents and two underage boys, right?

Wendy slowly sat up, letting blood flow more evenly to her as she urged adrenaline to return. She couldn't just lie here. She couldn't risk her family not knowing they could be in danger.

She eased her legs off the side of the bed carefully, both for balance sake and caution. The nurses would very well tie her to the bed if they saw her walking around. And she had the suspicion that Graham was ready to throw her in a jail cell for the trouble she'd caused.

She was formulating a half-hazard plan in her groggy mind, and it would take someone more diabolical than she to help her optimize it.

She had to get to her family.

Her bag and clothes were laid out neatly on the counter between her and Pan's bed. She grabbed her bag and hugged it to her chest as she slid down to the foot of her bed, trying to stay out of sight from the roaming nurses outside. She breathed in relief as she found her cellphone. 20%. That was enough to make the call she needed.

She hands shook as she dialed the appropriate numbers to make a long-distance call to London and waited to hear her mother's gentle greeting or even her father's more gruff one.

A click.

"Mother?"

We're sorry, we cannot connect this call. Your service is out of bound. Hang up and –

"Damn it!" Wendy shouted, gaining just enough composure to quiet down before a nurse showed up.

Her mind raced like the wind during a sea storm, all her ideas scattered like the remains of a wrecked ship.

Then suddenly, a glimpse of clarity. The eye of the storm.

The eye of the devil himself.

Wendy readied her cell phone to make another call.

No, not to Tink or Felix, or even Lily or August. Too risky. They needed to be here for Pan.

No, she needed someone darker, someone who didn't have anyone else to lose.

She grimaced when she felt the crumpled up business card at the bottom of her bag. For a split second, she hoped it wasn't the one she was looking for, but of course it was.

She gripped it tightly in her clasped hands, hesitatingly heavily. She glanced at Pan's unconscious form, wishing desperately that he would open his eyes and talk her out of what she was about to do. Yell at her. Call her names. Anything.

But he was comatose because of her. She had no right to hurt him anymore.

She took a deep breath and checked once more that there wasn't a nurse coming dialed in the number on the card, hoping they wouldn't answer. It was late after all. Well past business hours—

"Gold's Pawnshop."

Wendy closed her eyes, feeling a nauseous sense of regret hit her.

"Hello?" The voice on the other line inquired more aggressively.

"M-Mr. Gold," Wendy finally spoke just when she thought he would hung up. "It's…It's Wendy Darling."

The pause that followed sounded like the silence after a car crash, when a survivor was still trying to determine if they had survived or not.

When Wendy heard the haunting chuckle that followed her greeting, she was more than certain that at one point in the last few days she must have died.

She was entering the lowest level of hell.

"Miss Darling," Gold spoke. Wendy could picture the large grin spreading over his sharp face. "What can I do for you?"

Wendy fussed with the card in her hand, the silky cardstock a scalding coal in palm.

"I need your assistance getting out of Storybrooke, preferably in the next hour,"

"Does the Mirror not pay you vacation time, Miss Darling?"

Wendy clenched her teeth. "Please, stop."

She hadn't meant the words to come out as a choked sob, but the stress from the last few days were weighing her down fast and she no longer had the ability to hold up her control.

Gold seemed to sense her distress and cut to the chase.

"What's happened?"

"I…I…I can't…" Wendy slipped down the wall, clutching the phone for dear life. "It's complicated, but I got involved with someone who has put everyone I care about in danger."

"Is this about Pan's disappearance?" Gold questioned evenly, even the barest hint of concern absent from his voice.

Wendy decided not to focus on that, knew she'd say something that would end their conversation abruptly is she did.

"It's more about the person who caused his disappearance, partially I mean," she tugged on the edges of her hair nervously. "Bottom line, he's done with Pan and Storybrooke, I think, but my family in London might be next on his list."

Gold remained quiet as Wendy summed up the details from the last few hours, not pressing for any unnecessary details.

"I know it's asking for a lot very quickly, but …" Wendy allowed herself to trail off, not having the strength or the mentality to press on. He knew what she needed, he didn't need the sob story.

"It's quite the request indeed," he commented. Wendy could heard the wickedness rise once more in his voice. "But I accept, but I need something from you first."

"I have every intention of paying you back."

"Not's hardly a concern of mine, Miss Darling," he said. "What I need from you is something a bit more personal."

Wendy gripped the phone tightly. Wendy hadn't thought she'd underestimated him this entire time. She'd seen the darkness in his eyes, saw it in his cold, calculating smile.

She thought briefly of Belle, recalled the gentle way she heard him speak to her at the hospital. Had that been a farce, or had he simply pulled down his mask long enough to appear human. At the time of the young woman's rescue, Wendy wondered if perhaps Gold would recall Wendy's part in saving her and call them even.

"What is it?" she asked, accepting her fate.

He was quite for a moment, but the words he spoke next chilled her.

"I need you to tell me how much you need my help,"

Wendy blinked, generally unsure just what he meant.

"Pardon?"

His cold chuckle followed.

"I know how to recognize a desperate soul, and you are by far the most desperate one I've met to date."

Wendy shook her head, unable to fully comprehend what he was asking of her.

"What…I…I…"

"And I want you ask yourself why that is," he continued.

Those final words hit her like a bucket of ice. Every faux decision she'd made in the last few weeks.

She hadn't meant to hurt anyone. Hadn't ever wanted to. It just happened, and she inadvertently isolated herself from anyone who cared for her.

She looked at Pan's unconscious form once more. It was easy to blame him. He'd twisted every decent thing she'd tried to accomplish. He burned everything he touched.

But she'd made her own choices. She chose to allow him in her life and kept him too close. He'd gotten hurt in the process.

In a way, he would have been better off if she had cut him out.

"This is my price, Miss Darling," he said. "You may take it, or we can part, and we'll speak nothing more of this conversation.

"Fine. I need your help. I…I really need your help."

"Because?"

A hot tear ran down her cheek. It felt like the barest of defeat.

"I'm…"

All.

Alone.

"I'm desperate."

She heard the lightest hum as his response. It was almost a gluttonal sound. She wasn't sure how she would have reacted if she'd heard him laugh.

"Very good, Miss Darling," he said at last. Wendy managed to keep her chin from wobbling.

"Now, I need you to follow my next instructions very carefully. Are you able to leave the hospital?"

Wendy straightened up. Her family. She had to leave.

"I can try, but there's nurses everywhere. I think Sheriff Graham has me on some kind of unspoken lockdown."

Gold hummed once more, this one more calculating than gratified.

"I'll handle him. Now Miss Darling, I want you to dress and gather what you have with you and be ready to leave. When I hang up, I need you to wait exactly 15 minutes. Exactly that, do you understand?"

"Yes." Wendy replied half-heartedly.

"Good. When you're 15 minutes start, you'll make your way down the hospital stairs. Under no circumstances are you to go near the elevators."

"Cameras." Wendy concluded.

"Very good," he praised, though the comment had the weight of an insult.

"Then, when you come out on the first floor, you're going to take a left until you get to the west wing, the one adjacent to the children's ward, do you recall?"

Wendy felt her entire body tense.

The darkness. The smell of mold. Belle's wile, blue eyes.

That horrid man's hands around her neck.

"No." she said definitively. "I can't go through there. I won't."

"Yes you will." Gold said firmly.

"There's another way, there has to be," Wendy pled. How was it that she'd been in this hospital so many damn times but hadn't learned the exit routes?

"Just maybe there is, but do you really want to waste time exploring those options?"

Wendy seethed. "You're doing this on purpose. You're sick!"

She was greeted with a humorless chuckle. "I'm many things, Miss Darling, but right now I'm the one person in the world who could help you."

That's not so, Wendy wanted to say, but she dared not bring Felix or Tink or even August into this. This man seemed to gain power over anyone who gave him their name.

"Then what?" She croaked.

Why are you doing this? I helped you.

"You'll vacate the ward and you'll continue along the wall of the west wing until you come across an overgrown parking lot about a quarter of mile past the hospital. There's an overgrown courtyard you must go through. A man by the name of Mr. Dove will be there waiting for you with a car. You'll go with him and he'll escort you to Boston. By the time you reach there, a one-way ticket should be awaiting you."

The term 'one-way' perked Wendy's attention. Did he think she made no plans to return? Did she at this point?

"Is all that agreeable?"

Wendy hesitated. What was waiting for her if she returned? Scorned friends who were better off without her? An unstable job she was more than certain she was fired from at this point? A jail sentence?

She glanced at Pan, unconscious and oddly peaceful-looking.

"Yes," Wendy answered. "I'll meet him there."

"Very good," Gold said. "Fifteen minutes, Miss Darling."

"Yes." Wendy agreed, ready to hang up.

"Oh, and Miss Darling?"

Wendy flinched, begrudgingly lifting the phone to her ear.

"Yes?"

"Such a pleasure hearing from you again."

He hung up before she could respond, leaving her in blessedly silent quiet.

She sat there for a moment more, trying to decide exactly what consequences she'd see for making a deal with a shark like Mr. Gold. It couldn't be any worse than the rawness in her soul.

She wiped her face. She couldn't think about that now, couldn't focus on anything but getting to her family.

Fifteen minutes. Exactly fifteen minutes.

She began to move, gathering what little she had with her and changing, her stomach lurching at every sound. She eyed the door as she finished, hearing the distance taps of nurses shoes go back and forth.

She silenced her phone, ready to leave, but the site of Pan's still form from the corner of her eye caused her to pause.

She lowered her head in a sense of shame, each beep of his heart monitor stabbing at her.

He didn't respond when she stood over him, her hand's hovering above his form, unsure of where to go.

Ten minutes.

Wasn't there evidence that comatose patience could sense the outward world? Hear, smell and even imagine everything around them?

Looking at him, Wendy had to doubt that theory. He was so still. So unlike the every-moving wild boy who brought so much chaos in and out of her life.

Wendy grazed her fingers over his hand where the IV pumped life into his veins.

The nurses said his dehydration had led to a severe kidney infection. He had just narrowly missed full organ failure by a day.

"Pan," she whispered. "I…I'm sorry for everything. For my part in hurting you. For not seeing Jones for what he was."

Of course she received no reply. In a way she was thankful for that. If he was awake, would he talk her out of this? Try to be some sort of voice of reason? Or would he encourage this dangerous and wayward idea?

Five minutes left.

She continued to graze his skin, counting every second until she could move.

Why did Gold give her such a specific time limit?

"You never really told me about him." she said to Pan. "You didn't tell me how dark he really was."

Wendy found the gal to turn her hand and grip his hand.

"What else did he do to you Pan? Why do you hate him so much?"

Pan's hand flinched under hers.

She would have thought the scream that followed next was his if it wasn't for the flashing lights above her head.

Times up.

Wendy stilled as chaos erupted outside, nurses yelling, running back and forth trying to make sense of what was going on.

But she knew. It was time to go.

"I'm sorry," she said hastily to Pan, missing how his fingers curled inward—trying to stop her.

Wendy stuck her head carefully from the room, having to squint through the flashing red light that bathed the upper level of Storybrooke Hospital. The alarm had summoned all the nurses and the security guards to it, giving her a chance to escape unseen.

She took a deep breath and made a beeline for the stairs that would get her on the first floor.

Her ears were ringing and her vision was blurring from the aggressive lights. Coupled with her exhaustion, it was almost enough to make her pass out. She kept losing her grip on the stair railing and had to claw at the wall to keep from barreling down.

She paused when she saw the dingy, dented door that led to the forbidden ward. It was her only exit, the quickest way to get to her family and ensure their safety.

It was ridiculous to be afraid. Sheriff Graham had looked the place up and down. There was no one in there now. It was empty and dead.

But in Wendy's mind, they were still in there.

Suddenly, the alarm stopped, the agonizing red siren paused, bathing the hospital in the sickening white light. It was now or never. She inhaled sharply and ripped open the door, the dank air sucking her in. Trapping her in as she slammed the door behind her.

Wendy squinted into the dark gray hallway, trying to control her breathing, listening intently to every sound the dank ward had to offer.

She had a ride waiting for her, that's what Mr. Gold said. They'd leave, and then she'd truly be lost. She had to move. She had to move.

She kept her palms on the wall, her hands shaking as she crept carefully down the hall.

"There's nothing here," Wendy whispered to herself. "I'm alone here, I just need to get to the exit…I just need to get out."

Her grip on the wall became more frantic as she ventured further, the hallway advancing into a darkness she'd only see in the depths of her dreams.

The space around was beginning to feel more dream-like, as if she were walking through an inky cloud, surrounded by thick air that threatened to evaporate at any moment.

Dropping her to a slow, expected death.

As the pressure changed, so did Wendy's vision. Burst of reds and greens flashed before her, overstimulating her shaken mind. She began to get disoriented, fearful that she'd gotten lost and she would never find the exit. There was no light, nothing to lead her out.

But then, a shift. A flicker of icy wind licked her cheek.

And something swiped at her hair.

Wendy shot forward, the scream stuck in the depths of her throat shooting upwards to her brain.

No no no no no no no no.

She had to leave, whether out a new exit or to her death she didn't care.

She kept running into the darkness, anemic lines of right becoming more prominent, revealing she was closer to freedom.

Or perhaps it was her own mind singing its desperation for escape.

There was no door, no natural means of escape. The hallway only seemed to get longer.

As full-blown panic began to morph into sheer delusion, instinct kicked in. Wendy searched for the source of the scarce light until she found a filthy window. She used her sleeves to wipe it frantically, her fingers outlining the trees she could just see in the distance.

She pushed at it, trying frantically to get it open as her desperation rose.

A long bead of sweat dove down her spine, her arms shaking from the excursion.

"Let me out!" she yelled, slamming her hand on the window until it was caked with a thick layer of dirt and dust.

"Please," she gasped as she began to beat on the glass again. Her only escape. "NOW!"

Wendy's palm burst through the glass, the crisp icy air embodying her freedom. She felt the blood before she felt the sting of the shards breaking into her skin but she continued to push and punch to get out of the forbidden wing.

With a final burst of adrenaline, she grabbed the edges of the window and pulled herself through the narrow space, the surrounding shrubbery scratching at her skin.

Her hips were just barely able to get through, and Wendy was certain she could feel something pulling at her ankles, trying to pull her back into the dark.

She clawed at the out wall for extra leverage, giving her just what she need to squeeze out of the window and hit the hard ground.

Wendy crawled as quickly as she could from the building, flipping onto her back to defend herself against the thing that had been lurking in the ward.

But she was met with nothing but darkness and blissful quiet. Whatever phantom that had plagued her has simply vanished.

Wendy took in a shaky breath, piecing her thoughts together bit by bit.

She had escaped the hospital, though the commotion she just made would no doubt garner unwanted attention. She had to keep moving. She had to get to her family.

She sighed and began to stand, shrieking when a piercing pain erupted though her right hand, arm and hip. She looked down in horror and saw flakes of glass sticking out of her limbs, the testament to her escape. She couldn't even flex her fingers. Each time the glass would stab at her damaged hands.

Wendy's frustration finally boiled over and she let out a great scream, one worthy of a cryptid.

"FUCK!" she yelled as loud as she could, a sharp sob breaking through her throat. For several moments she couldn't stop sobbing, couldn't be brave anymore.

The last few months had been pure Hell and she had taken all the hits, numbed herself to the consequences in an attempt to move forward. But it wasn't just her psyche that took a dive this time. It was her heart and her spirit. Killian Jones had shown her the first bout of affection she's truly felt in weeks, made her feel more human that the soulless heap she'd felt like. Pan had long damaged her spirit, but she'd nearly lost her heart completely when she saw him in that hospital room. On death's door because of her.

Now her family—her parents and dear brothers—could be in the same state because she didn't have the gall to pull the trigger on Jones. What if he was there already? Could she do it this time?

She'd never find out if she stayed here sobbing in the dirt, she decided. She wiped her eyes, taking in several calming breaths. Yeah, she'd made some misguided decisions lately, but she had the chance to at least amend one. She'd made a deal with the devil to get to London and she had to go through with it, even if she had to face Graham's wrath when she returned.

She stood with a grimace, hissing as blood ran down her arms and legs, and began limping towards the aforementioned courtyard that modeled yet another maze of horrors. But, with the thought that she was yet another step closer to getting to her family before Jones did, she limped bravely into the weave of dead vines and branches.

She began to look back at the space she just left – wanted to catch a glimpse of the monsters who forced her through that beacon of hell—but decided against it as tears began to well into her eyes.

She'd had enough of that place.

The moon acted as Wendy's only guide and only light source save a few illegally dimmed streetlights. She pulled and fought of dead thorns as she moved closer to what she could make out as a black sea.

Wendy stumbled through the rest of the shrubbery. A glance behind her proved she's put in a good half mile from the hospital—which had otherwise been silent following her escape.

Knowing her time was still extremely limited, she search around quickly to spot an older-fashioned car and a notably tall man standing at its rear.

Wendy approached the two cautiously, both throbbing limbs and paranoid suspicion bubbling through her. This could easily be a trap from Gold—a diabolical and brutally cruel scenario to tease her exhausted mind. It would surely incriminate her to a tee. She'd be sitting in Sheriff Graham's jail for the rest of her life.

But she had everything to lose, so she paused at the car, several feet from the large man.

Wendy cleared her dry throat—vaguely tasting dust—and coughed out a greeting to the man. He turned around effortlessly, his eyes evaluating her with a calm and potently disinterested scowl.

"Mr…bird?" Wendy coughed.

"Dove, actually," the man returned with a curt nod, his tone more softer than his appearance had previewed. "Miss Darling, I presume."

Wendy felt a twinge of relief, nodding.

Mr. Dove nodded and stepped around the car—oddly seeming smaller not that he was closer to Wendy. He opened the back passenger door and waved Wendy to it.

"We haven't much time, so I'm afraid we'll have to go straight to the Boston Airport,"

Wendy tensed. "We can't stop by my apartment quickly? I'm sorry, but I have to grab my cellphone charger, not to mention my passport—"

Mr. Dove moved slightly, holding out a shoulder bag thick with items.

"Mr. Gold had me gather the proper documentation. I'm afraid you'll have to figure out your toiletries in your own time."

Wendy's face paled, an unfortunate image of this perfect stranger filtering through her intimate belongings but accepted the bag quickly.

"I guess this is it," Wendy sighed, feeling a strange emptiness weigh her.

"Yes," Dove answered. "If you'll please—"

The irritating sound of a revved engine spearing towards them caused Wendy and Mr. Dove both to pause. Both shot towards the reverberating sound as a pair of headlights beamed closer to them.

Wendy sucked in a breath. If it was Graham, she was done for!

Mr. Dove tensed beside him and Wendy gasped when his hand drew into his oversized coat for what must have been a weapon.

The car – a pea-green Voltzwagon Bug – came to a screeching halt in front of them, its owner stepping out with a growl.

"Tink!" Wendy gasped.

"Miss Le Bell?"

Tink burst out of her pea-green bug, the door slamming so hard behind her Wendy feared the sound echoed into the hospital.

The blond woman glared back before her Wendy and the excessively tall man who seemed to know her.

She stopped in front of them, hands on her hips, and they both seemed to shrink under her sharp gaze.

"I knew it," Tink said, the words like acid. "I felt it in my bones. Something is wrong and you're working with…"

"It's not what you think!" Wendy jumped in.

Tink gave her an incredulous look and turned her ire back towards the excessively tall man before them.

"Mr. Dove," Tink said as a form of greeting. "Please?"

"I'm sorry, Miss Le Bell," Dove spoke evenly. "This is between Miss Darling and Mr. Gold."

"Well now it's between her and me," Tink said, stepping around to the passenger side of her car. She opened her door, begging Wendy's cooperation with her eyes.

"Wendy, please get in."

"I can't," Wendy said, though she was itching to get into Tink's warm and familiar BMW than Gold's cold and ominous Cadillac.

"Wendy, whatever's going on, whatever you did or what you're running from, associating with Mr. Gold is not the way to fix your problem," Tink said.

"I don't have a choice," Wendy said simply. "I don't have time to explain, and I know I have no right asking you for anything…" she swallowed guiltily. "Please Tink, don't say anything and don't try to stop me."

Tink shook her head. "Wendy, let me help you. Gold is the last person you can trust. The second you accept something from him, your deal never ends. Whatever's happened to you, it's not worth chaining yourself to him."

"It is if it keeps my friends and family safe," Wendy countered before frowning. "Family, I mean."

Tink sighed. "Wendy, what happened between me and Mother Superior, that had nothing to do with you."

"Of course it is!" Wendy said.

"No," Tink said as she shook her head. She bowed it next as the next thought came to her. "It's kind of like Pan said, she had it coming. I hate her lies were exposed the way they were, but in the end, I'm glad it's all over with. Yes, I'm angry, but I'm ready to move on, and I am so sorry you got hurt and mixed up with this."

Wendy struggled not to cave. Tink wouldn't dare try to use mental manipulation with her, but this still stalled her even if her words seemed sincere.

"I…" Wendy gulped, too many thoughts swarming her senses.

"I…I can't do this now," Wendy cried. "I have to go."

"Where are you going? What's going on Wendy, let me help you!"

"I can't let anyone else get hurt because of me! Please Tink, let me handle this."

"Not like this," Tink said firmly, turning her sharp gaze to Dove. "Where are you taking her? I'll take her there."

"Tink, no—" Wendy begged.

"Don't be like Pan, Wendy," Tink yelled. Wendy stiffened. "Don't push everyone away when things become too much! You have people who care about you! Let them help you. Whatever's happened, don't go at it alone."

Wendy stared at her former friend. How could one person be so sure when everything was falling around them? Was Tink right? Was she doing what Pan would do and push people away? He did do that, but there were moments when she could feel that all he wanted was to reach out. However, he disguised this need with cruelty, either due to a lack of compassion or a fear of intimacy she had yet to discover..

And now Wendy was doing the same thing.

You're just as filthy and selfish as he is.

Even though she wanted to protect Tink, she also didn't want to leave Storybrooke with a complete stranger.

Wendy turned to Dove, who was still watching their interaction quietly.

"I'd like to go with her, please,"

Dove nodded. "I can't stop you, but I will have to alert Mr. Gold of this change."

"You may do so," Wendy said, slinging the bag with her passport protectively over her shoulder.

Dove looked down at his watch. "I'd suggest you move quickly then. You're flight for London leave at 4 a.m."

Tink stiffened. "London?"

Wendy looked at her helplessly and Tink didn't press the subject further.

"Boston Airport it is."

Wendy nodded and got into Tink's warm car, putting on her seatbelt as Tink typed the directions in her phone.

Wendy looked at Dove through the rearview mirror as they drove off. He was a still as a statute, and she truly hoped he was more friend than foe. Still, she wondered what the repercussions of her decision would be with Gold. But she couldn't think of that right now. She couldn't think of anything but getting to London.

"Check the glove compartment," Tink said suddenly.

"What?"

Tink took her eyes off the road for a moment to nod at Wendy's hands and legs.

"You're bleeding. I think I have some antiseptic and gauze in my first aid kit. It's in the glove compartment."

"Oh!" Wendy said, the pain creeping back into her limbs. Her hands were blood and dirty as were her jeans. A thick, dry gash stained her entire thigh. Wendy viciously rubbed at the area with Tink's provided wet wipes, biting her lip to keep from hissing at the pain. No doubt she'd need to clean it properly when she reached London. She parents may insist she see a doctor.

Tink remained quiet as they drove but Wendy could sense her tension. Her hands gripped the steering wheel firmly, a hint of white spreading across her knuckles.

"I can't tell you much right now," Wendy said, looking out the window so she wouldn't meet Tink's eyes.

"I figured," she returned. "But…I'm willing to listen. You know that, right?"

Wendy did. And she was more than grateful. But she didn't want her to taint her with her sins. Tink deserved so much better than that.

Thankfully, Tink didn't breach the subject any further and they soon arrived at the airport with ample time to spare.

"Do you want me to walk in with you?" Tink inquired.

"I'm fine, thank you," Wendy said as she opened the door.

"Hold on," Tink said, undoing her seatbelt and turning to search through her back seat. Wendy was surprised when she pulled out one of Wendy's tote back, her cellphone charger poised at the overflowing bag's contents.

"I…"

"Told you I'd bring you some things," Tink finished, giving her a half smile. "I got you Wendy, no matter what."

Wendy hugged the bag closely to her, the familiar scent of her clothing causing tears to well in her eyes. And try as Wendy did, she couldn't stop them from flowing. She was sobbing before she could stop herself, harder than she had even at the hospital.

Tink allowed her a few moments to get started before she leaned in and wrapped her arms around her, allowing her to sob into her shoulder.

"It's okay," Tink said.

As she continued to release her anguish, Wendy thought perhaps she was right. She survived so much so far and Tink's compassion inspired her that she would survive this whole horror story.

She calmed finally, though Tink's comfort did not cease.

It was this comfort that allowed Wendy to believe—truly, truly believe—

She was not alone.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Felix never really knew what to make of August. He knew of his doomed relationship with Pan, knew it was just a bit more serious than some of his other trysts, but ultimately didn't survive Pan's chaotic mood and lifestyle.

Frankly, he wasn't fond of August. He hated how he'd hurt his father over and over again. Hated how casually he lived with the things he did.

But, he decided as they walked to Pan and Wendy's shared room, he had to have some decency if he went through all they had the last few days for Pan's sake. Pity his fondness was one-sided.

They entered the room the nurse below gave them, squinting in the black to see two empty and unmade beds.

"Maybe we're in the wrong room?"

Felix knew good and well they weren't. August knew it as well, but admitting to the sight before them would lead to a whole new wave of trouble.

Pan's bed was empty, his IVs thrown carelessly to the floor.

His window—fully opened—had let in a strangely warm and terrifying breeze in his absence.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Geez, I finally got Pan off that ship … but where is he now?

[youngjusticeslut]

Some Thoughts on ‘The Lady or the Tigress’

It’s Monday, so I’m back fresh on my YJ brainrot! 

This week’s episode is (allegedly) titled ‘The Lady of the Tigress’, a play on the short story, ‘The Lady or the Tiger’. Because I have plenty of ✨time✨on my hands, I decided to read this short story and see if it could ignite any thoughts ™️ before the new episode. 

For those who haven’t read the short story, here’s a brief summary:  A king  seeks to punish people with poetic justice re: luck. He enjoys coordinating trials by bringing people who have committed crimes to a room, where there are two doors. Behind one door is a lady, and the other a tiger. The criminal must choose, by luck, which door decides his outcome. If he chooses the lady, he is deemed innocent and can marry the lady behind it. If he chooses the tiger, he is guilty, and will be eaten by the animal. As it turns out, the king has a daughter who has taken a lover beneath her status, and of course he learns about this tryst. As punishment, the lover is put to this trial. The princess uses her wits to figure out which door has the lady and which has the tiger, but the reader realizes that she is heavily weighing both her options, as either way she'll lose her lover. When it's time for the trial, her lover looks to the princess and she tells him to pick the door on the right, but the reader never learn the outcome.

Going solely off the title, we can see that ‘The Lady’ in question is Lady Shiva, and ‘The Tigress’ is Artemis. Now, granted, the title could mean nothing but a cheeky appearance of the book somewhere in the episode, and Artemis’ monologue during the credits. However, we do have some interesting allusions and connections with the source material here.

One of the connections we have lies in Jade, who has to make a choice. Will she choose the tiger (being metaphorically eaten alive and maybe even physically dying) in that she continues running away from her family and her problems, or will she choose the lady, redemption and returning home for her second chance? The second lies in Lady Shiva vs. Cass. Lady Shiva is likely angry that Cass ran away and wants to serve her poetic justice via a fight to the death. And then lastly, we have the literal: will Onyx and Cassandra choose the Shadows, (Lady Shiva), or redemption (Artemis). Who can be trusted? Which side will prevail? (I’m sure there’s more connections I’m missing, but this is what I got.)

[mortallyclearwonderland]

Kung Fu Panda Legends of Awesomeness - "The Hunger Game"

Episode 67 overall 

Synopsis:

Po and the Furious Five must stop food-stealing rats to end a great famine, but will Po's weakness for food hinder the mission?

Characters:

Shifu and the Furious Five are starving themselves just as the towns folk. 

At first, it seems honorable and a necessity because they also don't have much food. Even when they were offered something to eat by Madame Zhou they refused. And let me tell you how stupid that was. You don't want to eat while everybody is hungry? Then take as much food from the table as you can carry and share it with others. You came to her to get only rice but she offers more food. What is she going to do? Tell you not to share it with anybody?

Later they become so hungry they can't even fight. When Po comes back they complain about him not bringing any food for them. Then why didn't you take some the first time? If they did there would've been no plot and conflict because Five could've defeated the rats while satiated.

Also, I don't like how everybody gives Po a hard time for being hungry. Their argument ''everybody is hungry'' doesn't hold much water when you take into consideration different species. They even acknowledge in the show that Mantis doesn't starve as much cause he's so small and needs less food. They know what a panda is. Don't they realize he needs more food just like a rhino or an elephant would?  

Monkey is the only one to believe in Po just being late. When everybody is upset with his actions, Po singles Monkey out to apologize. They're bros!

Overall great episode!

Villain: Ju-Long and the Lao Shu are rats who still food. It's interesting that Ju-Long is this madman yet still got all those rats to follow him. Wouldn't they be mad at him for wasting food and money? They probably just stash away something for themselves.

Madame Zhou is a good villain but I have some questions. Why does everybody call her old, she looks rather young, middle age, maybe, and everybody acts as if she was older than Shifu. Did the scriptwriters and animators have some miscommunication and didn't know what she looks like? Am I missing something because of translation? And what's with her pining over Po? If there really is such a huge age gap between them it's creepy. I know Po is an adult but he's obviously uncomfortable. This series has a huge problem with determining characters' ages.

Still counting!

Interspecies relationships in Kung Fu Panda:

Mantis and a caterpillar/butterfly. 02

A pig female and a duck male married couple. 13

Mr. Ping, a duck, and all his girlfriends, Mrs. Yoon a goat, a pig, a mantis, a water buffalo, and Lady Scorpion. 15

Tigress's crush on Shifu. 17

Sung, a snow leopard, tries to seduce Po, a Panda. 23

Crane has a crush on Bai Li, a female pig. 26

Tigress and The Midnight Stranger (Tigress didn't know who he was and lost interest when she found out it was Po. If she found out it was any other guy she might still have been interested.) 32

Monkey has a crush on Ming, an Ibex girl. (Finally! I know what animal Woo is!)  Monkey used to have a bunny as a girlfriend.  And many more. 42

Shifu, a red panda, dated a Mei Ling, a fox. Also, Mantis and Zeng, a duck, show interest in her. 44

Mantis flirts with a Bunny lady 49

A pig female and a duck male married couple  are back. 54

Po, a panda, and Lu-Shi, a goat, are engaged. 55

Tigress has a crush on Yijiro, a prawn. 58

Madame Zhou, a gazelle, is allover Po this episode. Ju-Long, a rat, is flirting with her and Madame Zhou likes it. 67