#Death will do us part

[lostwhump]

@whumptober | Day #13: "Death Will Do Us Part" Captain America: The First Avenger (2011); Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014); Captain America: Civil War (2016)

[crimsonwolf715]

Death Will Do Us Part

(POV Bruce) 

Family dinner is chaotic as ever. Bruce smiles as his family eats and argues about whether or not to bet on the next villain to get out of Arkham. Of course, he doesn’t agree with the idea of placing bets on that, but it isn’t hurting anybody. Unless they break somebody out to win the bet, but that isn’t likely. The house shakes and everyone practically jumps to their feet. They can see vines through the roads outside, so everyone heads down to the Batcave. Bruce goes over to the computer and puts a call through to Commissioner Gordon. 

“What’s the situation, Gordon?” Bruce asks. 

“Everyone’s out of Arkham. We’re completely overpowered,” Gordon answers. 

“We’re on our way.” 

“Thanks.” 

His kids are collecting their gear and getting ready. 

“Did all of you hear that?” Bruce asks. 

“Yep, everybody’s out of Arkham,” Jason answers. “Pretty sure we jinxed it.” 

“Do we believe in that?” Cass asks. 

“I don’t believe in that,” Damian replies. 

“I don’t either,” Tim says. 

“I doubt we did,” Dick says. “But let’s just deal with this quickly. I have something to attend to later.” 

“Like a date?” Jason asks. 

“Like none of your business.” 

“It’s definitely a date,” Tim says. 

“Focus,” Bruce demands. 

“Don’t worry, we’re still getting ready as fast as we can. Speaking of which, I’m heading out,” Jason says. 

They all head out and start taking on the inmates of Arkham. Bruce gets a steady stream of updates over comms that his kids are dealing with inmates and he updates him when he takes them out as well. 

“Ivy’s causing too many problems. I have the building she’s in,” Barbara says. 

“Nice of you to join us, Oracle,” Dick’s replies. 

“Shut up. My setup got destroyed so I had to get to the Batcave to assist.” 

She gives the location. Bruce looks at his location. 

“I’m close.” 

“I’m close too, so I’ll come assist,” Jason says. 

The two make it to the building and it’s definitely a floral place. Jason and Bruce have to cut through greenery to get into the building at all. Poison Ivy gives them a hard time, but nothing the two of them can’t manage together. 

(POV Jason) 

“We should get out of here, this building’s unstable,” Bruce says. 

Jason nods, so the two head towards the roof with Ivy. 

“If I can’t win, you two won’t make it out of here alive,” Ivy says. 

Vines sprout up and start exploding, rocking the whole building. The floor cracks and Bruce shoves Jason to the part of the floor that isn’t cracked. 

“Dad!” 

Jason watches as the floor crumbles away under Bruce’s feet. He lunges to grab Bruce’s hand and barely misses the mark. Bruce tries to catch himself on one of the other floors, but fails. He falls onto a large piece of a floor, which impales him. 

“Dad!” Jason cries out. 

“What’s going on?” Barbara asks. “Why are Bruce’s suit’s stats bottoming out?” 

Jason pulls his helmet off and throws it. 

“Jason?” 

“I’m fine,” Jason says through gritted teeth. “But Batman isn’t. Delete the feed from my helmet without looking at it.” 

“What?” Barbara asks. 

“Delete the damn feed from my helmet without looking at it,” Jason demands. “Barbara, do it.” 

“Okay, okay. I’m sending medics to your location.” 

A pause and Jason can almost hear his father stop breathing. 

“Jason.” 

“I know. Let the others know and I’ll get him to a safe location.” 

He turns his comm off and grips the floor. He spots Ivy, who got thrown away from the two during the explosions, but seems fine. He gets up and she looks terrified. She starts trying to get away and he shoots her hands and feet. She cries out and starts cursing Jason. 

“I should kill you for still breathing,” Jason growls. “But I’m better than that now. You are gonna pay for killing him, but you deserve to live and suffer for it.” 

Jason drags her out of the building by her hair and officers are heading towards the location. 

“Red Hood?” 

Jason throws her over to the officers. “You might wanna cuff her.” 

He turns and heads back into the building. He walks over to Bruce’s limp body and he feels an overwhelming amount of anger. He stuffs it down and as gently as he can gets Bruce out of the building. After getting him into the Batmobile, he turns his comm back on. 

“He’s in the Batmobile. Send him home, Oracle.” 

The Batmobile closes and speeds off. Jason heads back to continue taking out inmates, turning his comm off so he doesn’t have to hear everyone’s reaction. 

{POV Cass} 

Cass is searching for villains when she comes across several people tied to a lamppost by their feet. She throws a batarang to cut the rope on the first person and catches them. When she does, she sees that the person’s eyes are wide and they aren’t breathing. Cass checks their pulse and realizes that they’re gone. 

Smoke starts spilling out all around her, so she tries to find the source. A metal orb with straw on it. Cass goes to grab something from her utility belt when someone takes her legs out from underneath her. Batman’s towering over her, completely decayed. She backs away and Batman crumbles to pieces. She pulls a mask on, searching for more threats in the suddenly dark world. Gotham’s been replaced by a metal room. 

“The darkness is where you belong. Killing people for someone who will never appreciate your efforts. They’ll only expect more out of you.” That voice belongs to her father. 

 Her father comes forward and she stumbles back. She starts searching her belt but can’t find any of the things she usually keeps in there. She closes her eyes and tries to focus, blood rushing in her ears. Her father’s getting closer, sword raised for a fatal strike. She jabs herself with what she hopes is the fear toxin cure and kicks her father away. 

Slowly, the world returns to what it should be. A grimy Gotham street with Scarecrow not far from her, getting up. Cass attacks Scarecrow, who tries to run. After a mostly one sided fight, Cass takes out Scarecrow. She ties him up and heads towards a police checkpoint to drop him off, still feeling the aftereffects of the fear toxin. 

{POV Damian} 

“Please help us!” An officer shouts when Damian drops down. 

“What is it you require assistance with?” Damian asks. “There’s nothing going on here.” 

“Goons are running loose in this area and Killer Croc keeps popping up and taking officers out,” the officer answers. 

“Does he?” 

Damian unsheathes his sword. He pulls up the manhole cover and stands by it. Once the goons come back, Damian starts taking them out with expert ease. He kicks the first goon into the sewer grate and can hear the audible crunch sound of Croc eating the goon. He continues to beat up the goons and then kick them in the sewer until Croc comes barging out of the sewer. 

“There you are,” Damian says. “I was starting to think that you were too much of a bitch to come and get me.” 

Croc charges at Damian and he dodges, slashing at Croc as Croc passes him. 

While the blade is mostly blunt, Damian can still easily kill someone with it. Croc would need more force and a pressure point, but Damian’s goal isn’t to kill him. It’s to incapacitate him. 

Croc goes headfirst into a lamppost and Damian snorts. Croc regains his senses quickly, then rushes Damian again. Damian and Croc go back and forth until Damian picks up the manhole cover and throws it like a frisbee. It hits Croc in the head, knocking him unconscious. After instructing the officers on what to do from there, Damian leaves the area. 

“Croc is accounted for,” Damian says. “I’m heading to the next one.”  

{POV Jason} 

“Am I close to any more villains?” Jason asks. 

“Freeze has been reported about a block from you,” Barbara answers. “You sure you’re good to keep going?” 

“I’m fine, Oracle. Give me the location.” 

She sends it and after looking at it, Jason heads in the direction. He walks into the courthouse Freeze is supposed to be in and it feels like the temperature has dropped at least ten degrees. 

“Well, Freeze is definitely here.” 

He walks into each of the courtrooms and barely manages to dodge a blast from Freeze’s gun. 

“You’ll never defeat me, Bat-Brat!” Freeze shouts. 

Jason pulls out his gun and starts shooting the dome around Freeze’s head. 

“What are you doing?” Freeze demands, ducking behind something. 

“Unless you wanna die here, you’re gonna surrender quietly,” Jason says. “I’m far past the mood to be lenient with you lot.” 

“What happened?” Freeze asks. “Doesn’t Batman normally keep you on a tight leash as his wild-child?” 

Jason pulls out a smoke grenade and throws it over the desk Freeze is hiding behind. Freeze runs out from behind the desk and Jason dropkicks him into a wall. Smoke starts spewing out of the grenade and Freeze looks confused. 

“All my grenades look the same to other people,” Jason offers to cure Freeze’s confusion. “I’m the only one that knows which one is which. So unless you wanna test your luck to see if I’ll blow you to hell, you might wanna surrender.” 

Freeze unclicks a freeze grenade and throws it at the approaching Jason. Jason kicks it away from him and beside a little frost on his shoes, is unaffected. 

“I’ll surrender,” Freeze says, putting his hands up. 

“Good.” 

Jason pulls Freeze up and handcuffs him. 

Even though it hurts to say, Jason says, “Batman doesn’t keep a leash on me.”  

(POV Dick) 

“I think you’re the only one with villains left,” Barbara says. “Everyone else is accounted for.” 

“Well, that’s nice,” Dick replies sarcastically. 

He’s having a hard time pulling his punches with the emotions flooding through his system, but he manages. 

Can’t deal with this right now. Dad’s dead and I’m here dodging being shot by two people that should be in a mental hospital.  

“The others are on their way.” 

“Beautiful. Everyone can watch me have a mental breakdown.” 

Dick’s fighting Penguin and Two-Face, who have decided that it is best to temporarily get over their issues so that they can beat him. They’re not doing very well even though they are technically getting along. Dick’s just doing flips around them, literally. Penguin tries to keep up with him, moving and shooting, but he just ends up falling off the roof. 

Dick throws down a net so Penguin doesn’t die on impact, but then turns his attention back to Two-Face. Two-Face shoots at him until he runs out of bullets. Dick runs forward to strike him down when Two-Face shoots Dick’s leg and his leg goes completely numb. Dick stumbles and falls. 

“Had this little beauty waiting for me to try. I’ve wanted to use it for a while, but never found the right moment. Pays off to go and get gear before engaging, doesn’t it?” Two-Face asks. “Alright, do we deliver the kill shot? Let’s flip the coin.” 

Dick turns towards his leg and starts trying to beat life back into it. 

“Ooo, luck is not on your side, Nightwing. Goodbye.” 

“Grayson!” 

Dick turns in just enough time to see Damian take a shot meant for him. It would have killed Dick instantly. Dick attempts to get up but his leg won’t let him. Damian stumbles into him and Dick wraps an arm around him so he doesn’t go anywhere. He grabs Damian’s sword and throws it. It goes through Two-Face. Dick turns his attention to Damian, who’s attempting to stop the bleeding chest wound. 

“Hey, it’s gonna be okay. Barbara, we need medical attention right now. Damian’s injured.” 

“It’s on the way,” Barbara says. 

“You’re gonna be fine, buddy.”

(POV Tim) 

Tim jumps onto the roof of the building where Damian and Dick’s trackers are and finds a horror scene in front of him. Damian and Dick are covered in blood and Two-Face is dead not far from them. Tears start pouring down Damian’s face as he clings to Dick. While Tim doesn’t want to, he can’t seem to look away. Dick’s crying and trying to soothe Damian. Tim can feel Jason and Cass’ presence beside him, but he can’t look at them. 

“Ssh. It’s gonna be okay, Dami. I swear, everything is okay.” 

A pause in sobs and the silence is broken by Damian quietly asking, “You love me, right?” 

Dick nods. “Of course. I love you. Everyone does. I love you so much.” 

Damian’s sobs resume and persist for a little longer, then stop altogether. 

“No, Dami. No, not you too. Dami, stay with me please.” 

Jason walks over to Tim, who’s frozen in place. Jason pulls him into a hug that Tim doesn't even attempt to fight. 

“He can’t be gone…” Tim mutters. “They both can’t be…” 

“I’m sorry,” Jason says. “I’m really sorry.” 

Jason goes to move Tim to arm’s length and Tim clings to him. Jason rubs Tim’s back as Dick’s cries for Damian ring in his ears. After a while, Jason finally convinces Tim that they need to go. That the crisis is over for them and that they need to get home. 

Tim watches Jason walk over and puts a hand on Dick’s shoulder. 

“No, no. You can’t take him.” 

“I’m not gonna take him, but we need to go.” 

Cass takes Tim’s hand and the two of them hold hands, silently supporting each other. 

“Where’s Dad?” 

“On his way to the Batcave. I’m really sorry, Dickie.” 

Dick stands up slowly, holding Damian’s body like a baby. 

“It’s not your fault, Jay. It’s Ivy’s. We should…” He chokes up and looks away from Damian. “We need to get back to the Batcave. Make sure that Tim and Cass get there, okay?” 

Jason nods. After stomping some machine by Two-Face to pieces, Dick takes off with Damian. Jason turns towards Tim and Cass, the three of them coming to a silent agreement. They head to the Batcave and are met by Barbara and Alfred. 

“Dick here yet?” Tim asks. 

Barbara shakes her head. Cass, Tim, and Jason all hug Alfred, who looks like he might break down. Dick comes in and bypasses all of them to put Damian on the table beside Bruce. He sits between Damian and Bruce. 

“Come on. You all need to get cleaned up and taken care of,” Alfred says. 

So they head upstairs. Dick and Alfred join them not long after. 

(POV Dick) 

Dick planned the funeral, refusing to let anyone assist him. Whether it was so nobody else had to deal with the event or him, no one knew. The event was only for family and close friends. Many of the Justice League members showed up to show support. Dick stayed in the back during the event and after giving his speech, didn’t say anything to anyone. 

Since then, he’s locked himself in his room in the manor. Just about everyone’s tried to come in and talk, but he ends up running them all off. Tim knocks on the open door and Dick barely glances at him before returning his attention to his hands which are planted in his lap. 

“Did you come in here to talk me into feeling better? To tell me to pull myself together? How am I supposed to pull myself together when my father is dead? When my baby brother died in my arms while waiting for medical support that never arrived?” Dick shouts. 

Tim doesn’t flinch or leave the room like the others did. He walks over, sits down, and wraps his arms around his oldest brother. Dick breaks down sobbing and the two end up hugging for a while. Dick breaks away, walking over to his closet. Dick walks over to his closet and digs around until he finds his box of keepsakes. He holds it out and Tim takes it. 

“Feel free to keep it as long as you’d like. You can share it with the other two if you want to.” 

“What is it exactly?” Tim asks. 

“Things I keep here. Pictures, items, writings about memories. I figured that you’d enjoy looking at some of the nicer ones,” Dick answers. “I won’t be able to even think too hard about them for a while, so you guys might as well.” 

“Okay, I’ll share it with the others.” 

Dick ruffles Tim’s hair. “Thanks, buddy.” 

“Do you need space?” 

“Yeah, a little. I’ll be down in a minute.” 

Dick watches Tim leave the room and he collapses on his bed. 

How am I supposed to live with the guilt that it should have me? That Damian’s supposed to be alive right now?

[psychologeek]

Whumptober #13:

TEAM AS A FAMILY | Multiple Whumpees | "Death will do us part."

@keitria this isn't exactly what you want, but part of the universe

There's a basement underneath The Nest. 

During the constructions of the old theatre, Tim has extended it sideways and below, making it so sheltered that one could survive anything smaller than a nuke. Whole with enough MRE for a year, necessarities such as bathroom and algae for oxygen and recycling water.

There's a box in the basement. One that used to hold his secret photos, back when he was a child.

It still holds memories. 

~

There's a kid's cap, and child-sized shovel.

("There you go, kiddo! Just like your dad!")

There's an old book and a pair of gloves.

("You are part of a long, powerful dynasty. Never let anyone make you feel ashamed of who you are.")

There's a magnifying glass and a pair of googles.

(“The hair gets in my eyes and Flush’s so mode about it he keeps telling me I just need  to cut it but I don’t want to did you know they have shampoo that can make you smell like STRAWBERRIES? that’s totally crash past is so crash but I still like my hair.”)

There's a golden earring. 

("What's wrong, Rob?"

And everything was too much. Too wrong. 

"It's nothing.")

There's a golden earring, shaped like the sun.

("It just. It feels wrong," he later tried to explain. "Like it's... it was done for a girl. But that was done to my body. But it wrong and- urrgh, sorry, it's hard to explain it.")

Just a single eering. 

(Kon and a needle and a pair of earrings -

"I thought maybe it could help," said his teammate. "Maybe we can make it, like, something of our own? Making this - I don't know. Something good? That we choose?"

And there was a needle in Kon's hand, and a hole in his earlobe were a tag used to be. A number.

But after that, they were just friends who shared a single pair of earrings.)

(Like it? I have more mini-fics Whumptober index | And full size fics on ao3. )

[oxideblack]

[moonlight0934]

Death Will Do Us Part

Peter wakes up to find himself restrained and unable to use his powers in a concrete room. Some of the other X-Men are scattered around the room, all unconscious and restrained too. Peter has no idea how they ended up like that since the last thing he remembers is getting his classroom ready for an activity that he had planned. He was completely alone, moving chairs, and then nothing, not even someone coming into the room with him.

His head is throbbing, and he feels like he probably has a concussion. He pulls on the restraints only to realize that there’s something locked around his arm from the wrist almost up to his elbow. Most of the feeling in that part of his arm is gone, probably from cut off blood flow. He takes a closer look at it without trying to twist his other hand around to probe the area. As much as Charles has been preaching restraint, grace, and not jumping to conclusions, this definitely looks like government equipment.

Storm starts to come to, also seeming confused and panicked. Peter doesn’t say anything, because he’s still freaking out, and has no idea what to say to make her feel better. She realizes that he’s awake and there, and she seems to calm down somewhat.

“Peter, are you ok?”

“I think I hit my head, but I’m not actively bleeding. I don’t know where we are though, and you’re the first one other than me to wake up. But you’re not hurt?”

“No, and you’re sure you’re good?”

“I seem to be.”

“Do you know what happened?”

Peter shakes his head, and his vision spins. He tilts to the side, having to catch himself with his shackled hands.

“Peter?”

“Sorry, I don’t know what that was. Anyway, what’s the last thing you remember?”

“I was outside of the mansion, and there were a lot of noises from inside, so I went to check on it. I didn’t make it past the entrance hall before I blacked out.”

“Whoever it was must have gassed the building. That makes sense why I don’t remember anything. The only thing I know is that I was setting up my classroom. The whole hall would have been empty, so even if my powers played into how long it took me to pass out, I wouldn’t have heard anything.”

Storm hums, trying to brute force the shackles off. Peter puts his head back against the wall, feeling very suddenly and unusually tired. He’s not sure how long he just sits there, but eventually he hears someone calling his name.

“Hm?”

He picks his head back up, wondering when he closed his eyes. A few of the other people in the room are just staring at him, and all of them are awake now.

“Sorry, what?”

“I think there’s something really wrong with him,” Storm says, sounding concerned and angry.

“Peter, can you tell me how you’re feeling?” Hank asks patiently. His tone is level, and he sounds much more calm than the rest of them.

“Wait, are we all here except for the professor?” Peter asks, realizing that he misjudged just how many people are scattered around the room.

“Almost, but that’s not important right now. Can you tell me how you’re feeling?”

“I feel fine, just a little foggy.”

“Ok, well-” Hank is cut off by a buzzer.

Before any of them can say or do anything, they’re all shocked. Electricity runs up and down Peter, and his vision fades out for a second.

Erik blinks, wondering where in the hell he is, because it’s certainly not his bed where he went to sleep last night. He’s in a concrete room with chairs on one side in front of a black window, and he’s restrained on the other side. There’s a console between the chairs and the glass. He startles realizing that Charles is next to him.

“Charles?” he whispers.

They’re alone in the room, and he can’t remember anything other than going to bed last night. It’s been almost a year since they’ve seen each other, but he looks exactly like he did the last time they saw each other. Charles doesn’t move, and Erik tries to make the shackles remove themselves, but nothing happens. Eventually Charles starts to stir, and he looks just as dazed and confused as Erik is.

“Charles? Are you alright?”

“Erik?”

“Yes.”

“I’m fine, what about you?”

“I’m unharmed as well.”

“Good, good.”

Charles sighs.

“I can’t use my powers,” Erik says softly.

“Neither can I. I can’t hear anything.”

A man in a military uniform walks in. He smiles upon seeing them awake.

“Good to see that you two are finally up.”

“Military,” Erik says, sounding entirely unimpressed.

The man smiles wider at that.

“Well, someone is feeling bold, especially to be bound and unable to do anything.”

Charles bites his lip, his eyes dark and unhappy. Two other men come in, and each one grabs one of them. They force them into the chairs in front of the console, which is dark except for the right hand side where the first man is standing. All of the buttons over there are lit up.

He presses one of them and the tint comes off of the window, and they can see the X-Men scattered around a concrete room. They’re talking, but the room Erik is in has no sound. His eyes linger on Peter just a little longer, though he isn’t sure why he’s drawn to him. There’s blood matting Peter’s silver hair along the side and back of his head. It’s a lot, but that’s not too surprising with a head injury.

“What are you doing to them?” Charles asks, sounding rightly furious.

“We’ve been given clearance to try a few tests with them. We’ll start with their tolerances to different things since most of them are completely unharmed.”

“You’re just going to torture them, and why? Because they’re different than you?”

The man smirks.

“Of course not.”

Erik scoffs.

“Why am I here?”

The man turns to Charles.

“You and the boy never told him? I must admit I was surprised when I got the results of the DNA test that we ran on all of you. You know what? I think I’ll let you be the one to tell him. For now though, we’re going to get the festivities started.”

He pushes a button on the console, and suddenly they’re all electrocuted. This goes on for a good fifteen seconds before he lifts his finger. 

“Stop that!” Charles exclaims, and Erik can feel his anxiety.

“Charles.”

The man puts his finger back down on the button as Charles just watches helplessly.

This happens a few more times before the man says, “Ok, well, we’ll call it now. I’ll let you guys watch them while I get the next test set up.”

Charles doesn’t look away from his children, or acknowledge the man in any way. Once the door shuts behind him, Erik takes a deep breath.

“Charles?”

Charles doesn’t respond, his eyes misty and still entirely focused on the X-Men.

“Charles?” A few seconds pass. “Charles?!”

“What?” Charles asks, sounding on the verge of tears.

“What was he talking about? What did you not tell me?”

“It wasn’t my place, and it’s not my place now.”

“Charles, no. You don’t get to do that. Whatever it is is the reason I’m here. Who was he talking about?”

“Peter. You remember him, right? He was the one who broke you out of the Pentagon.”

“Oh, I forgot about that, but I remembered him. He was with Raven last time. He was talking about Peter? What about him?”

Charles finally pulls his eyes away from his children to look at Erik with the saddest eyes.

“Peter is your son. He didn’t want to tell you because you’d just lost your family, but that’s why he came to the school in the first place. He wanted to find you, and tell you.”

Erik feels like the air is sucked out of his lungs, and all he can hear is the blood rushing to his ears. He turns to look back at the young man that he had met years ago. He’s almost completely forgotten that he was the one who got him out of the Pentagon, but now he remembers something that he said with startling clarity.

“You know, my mom once knew a guy who could do that.”

“No, he’s not…”

“Yes, he is. I spoke with his mother. She wasn’t happy that he wanted to see you, but he’s an adult, so she couldn’t stop him.”

“He’s my… I have-”

Peter stirs, his eyes glassy and more blood running down his face as he opens his eyes. Erik finds himself searching Peter’s face for any kind of explanation to what he’s hearing. He sees a lot of his own features in Peter’s face once he looks hard enough.

“He wanted you to know, but he was willing to give up his own peace to make sure that he didn’t take away any that you had left. He’s a wonderful young man who always does everything he can for other people. He’s so compassionate, and he’s a lovely person to talk to. All of the children love him, and most of them just met him a year ago. Everyone trusts him, and he’s always available if you need something.”

Erik takes a shaky breath, feeling a little bit like he’s going to pass out.

“We have to get out of here,” Erik whispers, trying to push the other information to the back of his mind.

“Yes, but I don’t know how.”

“Where’s Raven? I don’t see her.”

“She wasn’t home. She was in town for the day since she had the day off teaching.”

“What does for the day mean?”

“The entire day. She was going to be volunteering at the women’s shelter in town.”

“So she might know you’re gone by now?”

“Yes, but what could she do by herself?”

Erik puts his head back, frowning.

“I don’t know what to do.”

This continues for the next thirty six hours before Raven manages to get into the facility. They do a multitude of things to the X-Men in that span of time including, more electrocution, bursting out some of their eardrums, breaking some of their bones, and messing with their individual abilities. Erik and Charles have to watch all of it. It takes a few hours for them to get to a hospital once they’re rescued, but most of them are admitted immediately.

Erik, Charles, and Raven are left to wait after that. Charles and Raven have a mental conversation, but Erik doesn’t even try to puzzle out what they’re talking about. He just keeps his head on top of his knees, staring blankly at the wall. Raven eventually turns her attention to him.

“So, are you alright?”

“No.”

“Is it because of Peter?”

“How long did you know?”

“Since the government took us from the mansion. I think I was the first person he told.”

Erik hums, blinking slowly.

“I guess that makes sense. How could I have missed the first what, thirty years of my child’s life?”

“You didn’t know, and he didn’t for a long time either.”

“Yeah, but I… I don’t know what to do now.”

“That’s ok. You don’t have to know what to do right now. You’re also not the only important factor in this anymore. He’s not a child. He’s an adult, one who is not only very capable of making his own decisions, but pretty good at it too.”

Erik nods.

“Yeah, I know. What’s he like?”

Raven smiles.

“He’s funny. He loves music, telling stories, drawing, and poems. He’s really into bands, like more than anyone ever should be. He has an interesting style, which I’m sure you’ve noticed. He’s compassionate, and he’s a really good listener. He may not always know what to do, but he’ll always try. He’s so brave, and he makes everyone around him better.”

Erik feels his heart clench.

“Where did Charles go?” he asks, suddenly realizing that his friend isn’t in the room anymore.

“A doctor wanted to talk to him, so he went with them right before I started this conversation.”

“Oh, ok.”

They sit talking for almost an hour before Charles comes back. He looks terrible with puffy eyes, and a dark expression.

“What happened? Did someone die?” Raven demands, shooting to her feet.

“No, but they don’t think Peter is going to make it. He’s in a coma right now, but his head wound got infected. His body isn’t strong enough to fight it.”

Charles keeps talking, probably telling Raven bad news about the other kids, but Erik doesn’t hear it. Everything melts away at the idea that his child is going to die right after he learned about him. That he’s never going to get to know this amazing person that Charles and Raven have told him about, and it’s mostly his fault. 

[acidic-eye]

Whumptober day 13: Over the waterfall of death

whumptober day 13 prompt: Team as family| Multiple Whumpees | "Death will do us part." -

(SPOILERS FOR EP 9 OF ICEBOUND)

Death was imminent,

Ice was imminent. 

That is what he had once told Taishen on that fateful day, the day the dragonborn crashed them into the ice of Drakkar. The day their battle for survival had started, and the peace of the ship had faded. He could recall the terror he had sensed around him in that moment, yet it was nothing compared to the terror the group felt in the present. 

There was little thought going through Jornirs head as he dragged Taishen off of the ice. He could hear his heart racing in his ears, and little more then that. The deafening screech from the wendigo had done its toll upon him, his hearing and communication limited to watching the actions of the others around him. Each yell sounded like it had been muffled through walls of ice, each hit against them no more then a muffled noise of blood hitting the ground. 

He didn't think much before grasping the golden dragonborn in his arms, ignoring the bodies of his friends that lay either dead or close to it. He felt the man flailing in panic as Jornir lept off of the ice, his body falling ridgid as they landed in the ice cold water, somehow more cold then he had ever felt before. He felt the arms of taishen wrap around his shoulders, clasping onto him tightly as they were ripped down the winding river. He could feel claws ripping at his back to keep tightly held in his arms, he couldn't care less if it tore his shirt, or scared his skin, it was nothing in comparison to the wounds that Taishen and the others bore atop their bodies. 

“ Do not let go.”

- or: the waterfall scene and the aftermath but reimagined to be more angst bc no one is getting out of this without being properly injured and traumatized. (blame derek)

[donovankinard]

i'm so sorry, i'm so confused, just tell me, am i out of time? a fic by @thefootnotes for @whumptober

“I’m telling you, my name is Henrietta Wilson and I’m with the Los Angeles Fire Department. I need to speak to Bobby Nash, he’s here, he’s the technical advisor, it’s urgent, please, I need to talk to him.” “You have to go through security–” “Hen?” Bobby practically shoots out of his chair, waving away the crew and ignoring the scoff of the director on the far side of the room. “Hey, she’s a friend.”

Or the one where mistakes have been made, it could cost someone’s life, and Bobby just wishes he had been there.

T | bobby nash & the 118 | 1.2k whumptober day 13 - team as a family: familial curse, multiple whumpees, "death will do us part"

read on ao3.

[sushimango]

Day 13 of Whumptober!

In this RPG both siblings died during an accident in this house and since then couldn't leave

If being shoved down the stairs and stabbed through the neck count as accidents...

[lady-wallace]

Whumptober Day 13: Team as Family

I've got a little La Squadra everyone lives fic for today's @whumptober prompt :')

Prompt: Team as family, multiple whumpees, 'death will do us part' Fandom: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 5 Character: Risotto & La Squadra

~~~~~~~

Read on Ao3

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In the After

Risotto wakes up after nearly dying on Sardinia and realizes his team has been reunited and given a second chance by the new don (everyone lives au)

~~~~~~

When Risotto woke after his fight against the Boss on Sardinia, he wondered at the fact he had woken at all.

And part of him wished he hadn’t.

He had never felt so tired in his entire life. The fact that he had failed weighed on him. Despite his drive for revenge, leaving what was left of his team in critical condition to follow Bucciarati’s team to Sardinia had been one of the hardest things he had ever done and to then fail…

He still didn’t know what state Passione was in. The fact he wasn’t dead made him suspect that Bucciarati and his team had come out on top of the fight against the Boss, but he still didn’t know what that meant for him.

He didn’t even know if he had anyone left in this world.

He had tried to ask after his team when a nurse came to check on him, but she hadn’t seemed to know who he was talking about. And truthfully, it was stupid to ask. He was probably in some hospital on Sardinia, wasn’t he? Even if the others were alive they wouldn’t be here.

But Risotto could barely stand to stay awake for more than a few minutes at a time. His entire body ached despite the copious amounts of morphine. He was riddled with bullet holes.

He shouldn’t be alive.

That was the only thing Risotto could think the entire time.

Why was he here?

That was the most perplexing thing, because who had found him in time to save his life and get him to a hospital? It was frustrating and he wasn’t sure that he had even wanted to be saved. He had gone after the Boss for revenge and he had failed in that. Failed his entire team. It was the last thing he’d had to give them, to make up for all the tragedy they had suffered and now all of that just seemed so empty.

Risotto drifted, never having felt so helpless in his life. He felt like he had been cut loose at sea, at the mercy of winds stronger than him. But then, nothing had really changed in that regard, had it?

He didn’t know how many days he had been there before the nurse came in to tell him he had a visitor.

Risotto felt a sudden panic at his helplessness. He didn’t truly have faith that it was one of his team, as much as he wished that to be the case, so the only other option was the Boss or one of his men come to finish him off.

It was neither though, to Risotto’s surprise. He watched the door cautiously, trying to figure out if he could summon Metallica with the morphine in his system as his visitor entered.

It was the blond teenager, Bucciarati’s new recruit. Giorno? Was that his name? He was dressed in a black and green suit, overcoat hung casually over his shoulders as he approached the bed with a neutral expression.

“Risotto Nero, we finally meet face to face.”

Risotto glowered up at him. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Giorno didn’t really look phased and Risotto kind of respected him for that. Not that he made a particularly threatening picture in his current state.

“I came to offer you a deal, Signore Nero. An opportunity to swear your loyalty to me and start afresh.”

Risotto blinked, genuinely confused before it dawned on him. “You actually killed the bastard, didn’t you.”

Giorno nodded. “Diavolo, the former Boss of Passione is dead, or, well, he won’t be coming back.” Risotto didn’t want to ask what that meant. “I have taken over the position now.”

Risotto’s head was whirling with all of this information.

“You want me to swear my loyalty to you?”

“If you wish to stay in Passione, yes,” Giorno replied with a firm nod. “But if you wish to leave and live a different life, it is your choice. If you chose to be my enemy, then just know that I will be rid of you in the same way I got rid of the Boss—There are worse things than death, Risotto Nero.”

There was a ripple of Stand aura around the teen and a figure briefly showed itself at his shoulder. Risotto felt an unbidden shudder run through him.

He let out a long breath. “If I am to swear loyalty to you, then I want to discuss terms first.”

Giorno smiled. “I would encourage it.” He pulled a chair over to the side of the bed and sat down. “Okay then, Signore Nero, let’s talk terms.”

***

The mansion was…huge. Risotto couldn’t help but stand there, looking at it in shock long after the cab had dropped him off at this place that was supposedly his new residence.

He still couldn’t quite believe it. He couldn’t quite believe how Giorno Giovanna had done this instead of executing him. But after a long discussion about what would and wouldn’t be allowed in the new Passione, they had come to an agreement and Risotto had kissed the new Don’s ring, swearing his fealty. Giorno had healed his wounds before leaving and gave him a plane ticket back to Napoli the next day where he had been greeted by a driver who had taken him here.

Risotto finally gathered himself and walked up to the door, opening it slowly.

He had never thought to live in a place so opulent, his old flat and team headquarters had been the best he’d ever had but he had always longed to provide a place for all of his team to stay. A place where they could be secure between paychecks, and now that he finally had that he was missing his team. He had asked Giorno before he’d left, but the teenage Don hadn’t known where his team members were. He did say he would look into it, but Risotto hadn’t heard anything from him yet, and considering the conditions he had left them in…

Risotto had always known life was cruel, but the blow that he would live, that he would be given this, while he had no idea about the whereabouts or conditions of his team…it seemed like one final cruelty. A second chance that hadn’t forgotten his past sins.

He dropped his bag, just standing there, suddenly so weary. His eyes slid shut and his head drooped down between his shoulders.

“Risotto?!”

His head snapped up at the sound of a footstep and his eyes widened as he saw Melone hurrying into the foyer.

“Melone…”

“Hey, you’re here!”

Risotto turned to see Formaggio and Ghiaccio entering from the other side of the room. They were both limping and had visible bandages but they were alive. Alive was all Risotto had ever asked for.

“You took your time getting here,” Ghiaccio said, but there was less of a bite than usual in his voice.

“Be nice, he just got out of the hospital,” Illuso said as he exited a mirror on one of the walls, his eyes shining with relief to see his boss. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Big bro, look! Risotto’s back!”

Risotto glanced over to see Pesci and Prosciutto entering the room too. Prosciutto was leaning on a cane, face dark, but there was obvious relief in his eyes.

Risotto couldn’t speak. He wasn’t even sure if any of this was real.

Melone stepped forward. “Riz? Are you all right—oof.”

Risotto simply reached out, grabbing Melone and Illuso who were the closest and yanking them in tight toward him. He then reached for Formaggio and Ghiaccio, pulling them close as well. Ghiaccio grunted in protest but didn’t try to pull away. Risotto then grabbed Prosciutto by the front of his shirt and yanked him and Pesci into the mix as well.

He sank slowly to the floor, attempting to hold his entire team at once. They were all a tangle of arms, clutching each other close. He let out a shuddering breath and finally realized there was wetness on his cheeks. He was actually crying. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d cried.

“Risotto, are you all right?” Pesci asked in concern.

Risotto only pulled him in tighter. “You’re all alive,” he croaked.

“Yeah, we’re alright,” Formaggio told him. “The new kid—er—Don Giovanna; he fixed us all up.”

Gratitude of a variety Risotto had never felt nor thought possible for another human being washed over him. He realized for the first time that he had done right by swearing his loyalty to Giorno. The fact that he had been gracious enough to heal the men who had tried to kill him and his teammates spoke volumes about the new Don.

He scrubbed at his face, and someone pressed a handkerchief into his hand. His team, his family stayed there holding each other for a long moment, all of them likely reveling in the fact that they were all alive.

He finally pulled himself together though and stood, everyone helping each other to their feet with their various injuries.

“I guess we’re back on the job then,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Yeah with these new fancy digs!” Formaggio said with a grin.

Prosciutto snorted. “Yes, well, that doesn’t give you an excuse to have wild parties. This house belongs to all of us and I expect you to respect that.”

“Sure, mom,” Formaggio said with a good-natured jab.

Risotto felt his mouth stretch in a smile. It was an unpracticed movement, but he had a feeling it was going to be more common now.

“This is a new start for all of us. I expect you to make the most of it.”

“Yes boss,” the others replied, smiling back.

And surrounded by his family, Risotto thought that this was the first moment he had ever felt anything close to peace.

[vulpeskorsak]

Day 13 of Whumptober 2024: Help him help you

No. 13: TEAM AS A FAMILY Familial Curse | Multiple Whumpees | “Death will do us part.” (Set It Off, Partner’s In Crime)

AO3 got banned in my country and VPNs have not been working well on my PC lately, so I am not going to post these there for now. But hopefully I can do that at some point.

This is taking place in my own DnD/fantasy world.

Dr. Victor Moreau is my mostly human fleshsmith inventor (KibblesTasty Homebrew class).

Ludwig Richter is a tiefling and a former gravedigger turned archeologist who wields a rifle and a battle shovel named Charon.

Cristina is a triton, who works as Ludwig's assisstant/secretary.

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

Help him help you

"Calm down, Cristina. Please. It... will be alright."

Ludwig puts his hands on his panicking assistant's shoulders, trying to make her look at him.

"Yes. Yes. Right. Victor is looking for a cure already, right? He'll save us, right?" Cristina tries her best to reassure herself in a trembling tone.

She shakes uncontrollably in her cot. She was in the middle of the chamber when the gas trap was triggered. The other woman, bookkeeper Orn, accompanying her at the time has passed away an hour ago. Her body was unable to fight the poison any more. She might be next.

"The less you move, the more time Victor will have to help you," Ludwig reminds her.

He was following Cristina but was not as close to the center, so he was able to back out much quicker than she did. Who knew they all somehow managed to miss a trap after a thorough search and three whole days of work around the temple? He does not blame the guard who activated it. He had no way of knowing. It must have been hidden pretty much perfectly.

His body feels weak and sluggish already. If it were not for Cristina's condition, he would have stayed in his own medical cot. But she just will not stop moving around. Victor said they should avoid moving or worrying as much as possible and just relax and rest as he works on an antidote.

Orn reported feeling a horrible sense of overwhelming dread and restlessness in her last couple of hours, despite not knowing how long it will take for the poison to finish her off. So this is most likely as odd effect of the poison itself.

Ludwig is not very good at calming people down. But he tries his best.

"You know he is going to put his all into this antidote. He really really cares about you. He is fully focused on saving you right now. So, take a deep breath and try to help him help you, alright? We need to help him by staying calm and staying still."

Cristina nods trying to breathe less erratically. She tries to focus on Ludwig's deeply worried face. He rarely displays an emotion this strong, preferring to keep them from showing. Through the pain and fear she can feel a touch of happiness knowing he is not just her boss. He is a friend. And he is family. He cares about her. And she knows Victor does too. The doctor is utterly insane, in not just her opinion, but not devoid of love or compassion. She knows he loves her to a degree. Not as much as he loves Ludwig, everyone in the camp knows that "secret", but there is a bond between them. She has been their assistant for years now, being among the original crew gathered by Ludwig for his very first expedition. Only the three of them remain out of the two-dozen people who joined back then. She knows she will not leave them even if she survives this. She is no coward. These expeditions are the best, most interesting thing that has even happened in her life even if they have put her life in danger on more than one occasion.

She does not want there to be only two original members left. That sounds too sad. She reaches up to grasp Ludwig's shoulders in return for stability, managing to take her breathing under control after a couple of minutes. Victor needs time. She cannot afford to lose any for him.

[samwpmarleau]

fic: there but for the grace of ...

whumptober day 13: “death will do us part” masterlist: tumblr, ao3 “I know what I swore. Decades I’ve done your dirty work. I’ve watched everyone around me die. I have nothing left.” Exactly. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time, kid. Nothing to live for? Can’t ask for a better host than that.

It’d taken him a long time to notice. Or, perhaps, he simply hadn’t wanted to. It’d taken the others shooting glances his way more and more often, then finally, Daisy herself.

“It’s stupid to ignore this,” she says. “Everyone can see.”

“See what?”

“Robbie, come on. Look at us.”

He does, gets out of bed to stand next to her at the vanity regarding themselves in the mirror. Him, as youthful as he’d been when first they met, not a gray hair or crow’s foot in sight.

Her, beautiful still, but aged. Her thick, black hair streaked with silver, lines around her mouth and eyes. Though her powers are stronger than ever, her body has begun to fade. Not profoundly, true. She isn’t hunched over with knuckles the size of golf balls. But … no longer is she young, either.

“Fifty looks good on you,” he says.

“Fifty-one, and that’s not the point.”

“What, are you afraid people will think you’re a cradle-robber?”

She turns around to face him. It isn’t insecurity written there. It’s fear.

“I don’t care what people think. I care that … that this isn’t a temporary thing. Your clock isn’t going to just start one of these days. It’ll always be frozen.”

“I’m not gonna leave you for another woman,” he says, knowing full well that’s not what she means.

“Damn it, this isn’t a joke! I’m going to die, and my husband isn’t going to look a day over thirty.”

Robbie lifts her left hand and kisses the thin golden band there. “One person always dies before the other. I’ll last a little longer, that’s all.”

“Not a little. Forever.”

“Maybe so,” he allows flippantly, not wanting to think about it, “but not anytime soon. So can you stop panicking about something that hasn’t happened yet?”

She comes to bed, but she doesn’t sleep a wink. Neither does he, feeling her stiff by his side. Still, she lets it be after a few days, things returning to normal.

———

“Normal,” of course, was bound to cease at some point.

So it does now, Daisy’s hands over his in a grip he can only describe as frail. While her mind had never failed her, the rest of her did not have such stubbornness. Her hair is a halo of pure white against her pillow, dark eyes glistening as she gazes up at him.

“I told you,” she says faintly. “I told you we’d be here one day. I’m decrepit. You’re a snack.”

“You could still quake my ass across this room.”

“Hmm, true.”

Robbie places a hand on her cheek. “I love you.”

“If you didn’t, I would quake you.”

Daisy coughs, loud and sharp. It sounds like her lungs are coming apart piece by piece. Robbie looks over at the nurse, whose face reflects what Robbie wishes it didn’t. Worse, she quietly slips out the door, leaving them alone.

“Still so broody,” Daisy scolds.

“You like broody.”

“Not right now I don’t. C’mere.”

Robbie joins her on the bed, carefully supporting her as she turns to cuddle into his side like she’s done a thousand times before.

“I love you, too,” she murmurs. “So much.”

Thirty minutes later, the nurse comes back in. She places a hand on his shoulder then collects the machines.

———

Robbie recognizes all who show up at the service. For only a few of them can he muster up the slightest care. Everyone here had worked with her or been mentored by her. Some she even called her friends. But none of them are ones she’d known for decades. Those friends, they’d buried. Even Coulson they’d buried, in a fashion. He hadn’t outlasted May by much. One click of a button, and he’d powered down, for good. Everyone else had followed in due course. Daisy had hung on for him, Robbie knows. It’s as comforting a fact as it is burdensome.

He manages to stomach the funeral, suppressing the urge to shout at everyone to get out.

When finally they do, he leaves himself. Firing up the Charger, his faithful companion, he drives to the cemetery and walks down the rows. It’s a bit of a farce; there’s nothing but earth beneath her gravestone, her ashes spread in a village of ruin in the mountains of Nepal. Daisy had told him and no one else of its location many years back. With all other former residents long dead, and now Daisy, he remains the only living soul who knows it’s here.

Afterlife.

Nevertheless, a gravestone had felt appropriate. If nothing else than to appease those who wanted to pay their respects. He moves the flowers off to the side to expose the marble.

The graveyard is empty, save himself.

Himself, and the being he’s shared his body with for the past seventy years.

“Find someone else,” Robbie says aloud. “I’ve served my time in hell.”

The voice in his head that responds is as intimately recognizable as Daisy’s.

You swore to settle all my scores. There are more to settle.

Robbie kneels down in the soft dirt. He wishes he were the sort of man who could sense a loved one’s presence when visiting their tomb, but he’s not. Daisy isn’t here. Or if she is, he can’t feel her. He can’t feel anything but the Rider.

“I know what I swore. Decades I’ve done your dirty work. I’ve watched everyone around me die. My brother, my friends, my neighbors. My wife. I have nothing left.”

Exactly. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time, kid. Nothing to live for? Can’t ask for a better host than that.

“I don’t have vengeance in me. I don’t have what you thrive on.”

You have grief. It’s the sweetest emotion of all.

He’s not wrong in that. Robbie had been able to endure until now, Daisy’s counterweight keeping him afloat. In turn, he doing the same for her as she, too, lost people she loved. They were a team. They were …

Were. That’s all they’ll ever be now. Were.

He stares at the name on her gravestone and tries to smile.

“It’s antiquated. It’s patriarchal. I’m not doing it, Robbie, and it’s kind of insulting you thought I would.”

“That’s not why I’m — I just think we should have the same name.”

“Good idea. Do you need me to spell Johnson for you?”

Neither of them wins that particular argument, and the team resolutely declines to take sides. It isn’t until they’re helping Alya with her homework that the idea occurs to them at all. For there, at the top of the worksheet, is the girl’s name:

Alya Fitz-Simmons.

“We’re morons,” Daisy says, and promptly, finally, fills out the New Last Name boxes for them both on their marriage certificate: Reyes-Johnson.

“You sure you’re okay with this?” Daisy asks, blowing on the ink to dry it. “You’re not gonna feel emasculated or whatever?”

“I think my masculinity is safe.”

It’s an annoying undertaking to get everything switched over and disconcerting to share only half of Gabe’s name, but worth it, if nothing else than to see Daisy’s satisfaction with the compromise.

And the cherry on top — the Rider hates it.

Sixty years he’s had her name beside his. Sixty years she’s been as much of him as he is himself. A week ago, half of him had died. Half that feels like all.

“Please,” he tries again. “I’ll do one last mission for you, I’ll kill any scumbag you want me to in this world or any other. Just let me be with her.”

You would curse another for your own gain? How ruthless.

Again, the Rider isn’t wrong. He cannot remain incorporeal for long; the only way Robbie could rid himself of the spirit would be to pass it directly into another soul.

“There’s got to be someone better than me by this point. Someone who wants to kill, who would like having you.”

Oh, sure. I’ve sensed many over the years. But why fix what ain’t broke? You may not be ideal, kid, but it entertains me to have you do my bidding even though you don’t want to. Why would I give you up?

“Because I deserve it. I’m not the boy I used to be. I’ve held up my end of the deal.”

As did I. I let go of Agent Mackenzie, did I not? That was our deal. It is not my fault you are bad at bargaining.

“I know, I know, that’s what I agreed to. But —”

There is no “but,” Robbie Reyes.

“There could be. You could make an exception. You’ve done it before.”

Indeed. When it benefits me. This would not benefit me.

“Can’t you show some compassion? I’ve never asked for anything from you since our deal.”

Compassion? Compassion is weakness. Compassion is for humans.

“We can make a new deal. There’s got to be something you want more than you want me.”

No, kiddo. There isn’t. You’re mine, and you always will be. ’Til death do us part.

The demon inside him retreats, decides the conversation is over. Robbie knows well enough by now that he will not rise again until it’s pertinent. Not that Robbie can’t still feel his presence, of course. It’s there, lurking.

Robbie places his hand on the face of Daisy’s gravestone, traces the letters engraved there. Her name, her birthdate, her death date. Her epitaph.

Here lies the Savior of Worlds.

“Wait for me,” he weeps. “I don’t know how, or when, but I’ll find you.”

A gentle wind blows. He knows it’s not her. But it’s easy to imagine that it is, that she’s here just out of sight. He can hear her voice clear as a bell in his head the way it used to be, no death rattle, no pain.

Says the wind, “I’ve got time.”

[crazy-dane-art]

Bloody deaths

[much-obliged-timothy]

Whumptober #13

Day 13 - Dragon Age - "Death will do us part"

*

“Dorian. Dorian, stop. You have to stop!”

Dorian heard the words, but they were muffled and meaningless in his ears. His eyes fixed on Lavellan as he staggered forward towards Dorian. Dorian held his hand out, his vision blurring as he reached for the love of his life. 

“Dorian!”

Someone hit him across the face with considerable force. Dorian fell to his knees, his face smarting but his eyes immediately darting to Lavellan again. He was still moving towards Dorian, filling him with relief.

“Stop!” Iron Bull snapped, grabbing Dorian by his shoulder and shaking him roughly. “Stop it, you monster!”

“Bull!” Varric said, trying to push him off Dorian. “Bull, let him go. You’re not helping. Stop.”

Bull looked like he might strike Dorian again, but reluctantly released him and stepped back. He turned away sharply.

“Make him stop before I do, Varric,” he snarled, his voice breaking a little. “Make him stop.”

Dorian ignored them; nothing mattered but Lavellan, growing ever closer to him. He didn’t rise, instead waiting for the warm arms to wrap around him and bring him the comfort they always did.

Then Varric stepped between them. Dorian tried to look around him, but Varric refused to let him.

“Dorian,” he said, his voice wavering just the slightest despite how hard he was clearly trying to be firm. “Dorian, you have to stop this.”

“Move, Varric,” Dorian said. “Move. He’s trying to get to me.”

“He’s dead!” Varric said, pain engulfing the words. “Look at him, Dorian! He’s a corpse!”

Dorian felt the stinging in his eyes again. He wiped the tears away before they could distort his view of Lavellan as Varric finally stepped aside, then regretted it.

Lavellan continued his slow, shambling way to Dorian, eyes as blank as his expression. Despite the steady progress forward, he dragged one leg pathetically. The leg that had broken and left him stranded for them to…to…

The sword was gone from his chest, but the blood and wound remained.

“Let him go, Dorian. He wouldn’t want this for you. You know it’s not him. It’s just his body,” Varric said, practically pleading. “Please. Stop doing this to his body. He’s not in there. He’s dead.”

“I can fix it,” Dorian whispered. “I can. Maybe if I…with blood magic…”

Varric grabbed his shoulder roughly. “No. No, he would never let you. It would break his heart.”

“Maybe with it, I could bring the soul back to the body,” Dorian said, vision blurring again. This time, he let the tears fall. “I couldn’t save him the first time, but maybe it’s not too late.”

“Dorian,” Varric begged. “You’re hurting us, too. Let him go. Let him rest.”

At that, the shambling corpse fell to the ground, lifeless once more. Dorian let out a choked sob, burying his face in his hands. He knew it was over, that he was just prolonging the inevitable. But it felt like he’d given up.

Varric put his arms around Dorian. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry we lost him.”

Dorian couldn’t respond as he wept into his hands, unable to look at the bloodied corpse of the man he loved. For all the power Dorian wielded, it was not enough to save him in the end.

[fantasyismyonlyrealescape]

Whumptober 2024: No. 13 - Team as a Family/"Death Will Do Us Part"

Title: Reasons To Live

Fandom: Stargate SG-1

Characters: Jack O'Neill, Samantha Carter, Teal'c, Daniel Jackson (SG-1)

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 901

A/N: Welcome to another addition to Whumptober, Day 13. We are back in the world of SG-1. I don't believe anybody on this blog has any idea what Stargate is, but I enjoyed writing this one nonetheless. Cheers!

Summary: Jack O'Neill finds a new purpose in his team after the loss of his family.

Cross posted on AO3 under user wrestlinginjeans.

There are moments in life that stay with you, no matter if you want them to or not. That was how life was, a summation of hundreds of thousands of moments, snapshots in time. The scenery and people may change as time moves forward, the life of the individual evolving too in a dizzying display. But some people would always remain constant through it all and that was what made it all worthwhile.

Jack O’Neill had joined the Stargate program at the request of the Air Force. He had thought it would be for one mission, a one off and then he could go back to living his normal life. If you could call what he had been doing “living”.

It had been three months since Jack had lost Charlie. Three months since his wife had left him, overcome with grief and heartbreak over losing her only child and in those three months, Jack could do nothing but blame himself. He had lost everything in this world that mattered to him, and he only had himself to blame.

So, when two airmen showed up at his door, requesting for him to come with them to Cheyenne Mountain and back into action, Jack had agreed to it on the stipulation that it was only for one mission. He hadn’t elaborated further, and nobody had asked. They didn’t need to know that he expected this mission to be his last because he didn’t intend to come home.

But then, he had met one Daniel Jackson. A man, passionate in all things with a childlike wonder that made Jack’s heart ache. Daniel was just so kind, so good on a fundamental level that Jack had never seen before. Daniel had been Jack’s first reason to keep on living.

After Daniel, Sam Carter had come along. A brilliant astrophysicist, she became the light in his life, burning brighter than any star that she had ever studied. Her feisty nature, cultivated over the years as she fought to ascend the ranks in a still male dominated military had made her perfectly suited for a place on his team. Sam Carter had become Jack’s second reason to keep on living.

After Sam had come Teal’c. The former First Prime of Apophis, the Serpent God, Teal’c’s stoic and unwavering presence had been essential to Jack finding a purpose again. While it had been rocky in the beginning with convincing the Air Force that Teal’c was a valuable asset and not the enemy, that his ideals aligned with theirs, Jack would have done whatever it took to keep Teal’c with them. He would have gone to the ends of the Earth and beyond to secure Teal’c place and he would do whatever it took to succeed. Teal’c had become Jack’s third reason to keep on living.

Truth be told, he would fight with all he had for any member of his team. Not because he was their leader, but because they had kept him whole. They had given him a reason to keep fighting, to live for all those that he had lost but also for his found family in front of him now.

Jack nods his head slowly as he brings himself back to reality, walking back into the clearing that they had made camp in. He nods towards Teal’c to his right, currently standing watch as the other two members of his team sit around the small fire that they had constructed. Daniel was scribbling away in his journal as he sat bent over, trying to catch the light from the flames close by. Jack couldn’t help but smile, wondering what on earth Daniel could possibly be writing about as he approached, dropping the bundle of branches that he had in his hands onto Daniel’s lap as he passed, causing the younger man to start at the interruption.

“Jack!” He sputters, sending a glare his commanding officer’s way.

“Relax, Danny Boy. I was only trying to save your eyesight… And your back.” Jack says, the smile remaining on his face as he takes a seat next to the younger man.

Jack’s eyes find Sam then, digging through her rucksack and pulling out the provisions that they would need to prepare their field rations for the night. Sam flashes a smile at Jack when she feels his eyes on her, tossing a ration to him across the fire that he catches easily.

“Your turn to cook, sir.” She says cheerfully, the smile remaining on her face.

At Jack’s nod, she stands and walks away to check on Teal’c. Jack’s eyes follow her, taking in the two now standing close to the tree line before falling back on the seated man next to him.

Jack had lost his family in 1995, but with loss there was always the opportunity for something to be found. Jack had found a family in this team, this ragtag group that had been brought together from a variety of circumstances. Daniel had lost his parents as a child and was on a quest to reunite with his wife, Sha’re. Teal’c was on a mission to free his people from Apophis. Sam was on a journey of discovery, her thirst for knowledge only quenched for a moment before she was off on another research project.

Jack had found a purpose in Daniel then Sam then Teal’c. Together, they were SG-1 and SG-1 was Jack’s home.

[diegoalvesisgod]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Men's Football RPF Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death Relationships: Viktor Fischer/Simon Kjær, Viktor Fischer/Robert Skov Characters: Viktor Fischer, Simon Kjær, Robert Skov Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - Game of Thrones Fusion, Inspired by Game of Thrones, Game of Thrones-esque, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Dubious Consent, Blood and Violence, Betrayal, Insanity, Infidelity, Pseudo-Incest, like they're brothers here but not irl obviously Series: Part 13 of Whumptober 2024 Summary:

“I am King now,” Simon says then.

Viktor just stares at him. He supposes that Simon didn’t need to wake him up just to tell him that.

Simon runs his hand through Viktor’s hair. It’s longer now, again, same as Simon’s, the way they used to wear it whenever they were safe and could afford to keep this family tradition. It’s a symbol of safety in a way, at least for Simon. “And I promised you that when I would become King, I’d marry you.”

[starthornisscratching]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir & Nathalie Sancoeur Characters: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir, Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug Additional Tags: Ficlet, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Whumptober 2024, Whump, Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir Needs a Hug, Sick Nathalie Sancoeur, Damaged Peacock Miraculous (Miraculous Ladybug), Prompt: Familial Curse, Prompt: Death will do us part, Mentions of Cancer, Fear of Death, Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir Is Not a Sentimonster Series: Part 13 of Starthorn's Whumptober 2024 Summary:

A few years ago, he might have prayed for a time like this: Ladybug landing softly on his balcony with her hair sweeping in the wind, her eyes black as the night and reflecting the stars above. In her thin, dainty fingers there was a piece of jewelry and she held it out to him.

Or: Ladybug offers Chat the Peacock Miraculous. She doesn't know the truth about it.