#Fire is a fine element too but metal is where the magic happens | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

heliads · 4 years ago

Text

Some Things Have To Be Said (Part Three)

When S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Y/N L/N is called to the S.W.O.R.D. encampment outside Westview because of her history working alongside Wanda Maximoff, she’ll have to face her past with Wanda and even a confrontation with the woman she loved.

previous / masterlist

You can only stare at her. Your blood feels like it’s freezing in your veins, slowing to a stop. The world crashes to a halt around you. After a long moment, you’re able to claw up the strength to form a single word. “What?” Wanda’s gaze doesn’t break. “Who are you?” She repeats, and the question still burns just as deep the second time.

“You don’t- you don’t know me?” Wanda shakes her head, the movement slow and unflinching. “Should I?” You blink, trying to regain any sense of clarity. “Yes. No. You did, once.” Wanda’s emotionless mask flinches once, and she tilts her head slightly to the side to consider you. “I did, didn’t I?” She looks deeply into your eyes, and you have that same sense of overwhelming scrutiny that you had felt before. Wanda must be reading your mind, but there seems to be something blocking her from looking too deeply, because she looks away after barely a moment has gone by.

“L/N. Agent L/N. If you’re with the government, why don’t I feel afraid of you? Something is telling me to trust you, but I don’t know why.” You feel a bitter smile creep onto your cheeks, lips tugged up at the sides. “It’s because I loved you.” Wanda nods once. “And me? Did I feel the same way about you?” You force yourself to keep a calm face, to not break down. “I don’t know. That’s why I came, to find out.”

Wanda furrows her brow. “Y/N. Your name was Y/N.” You incline your head. “We met a while back. I don’t know why you can’t remember me.” Wanda seems about to answer you, but then you hear the sound of shouting from across the town. It sounds like the cries of two young boys, and you realize it must be Wanda’s children.

Wanda appears to have come to the same conclusion and seems drawn towards the sound, but she forces herself to turn back to you, as if held in place by some anchor tying her to you. “I have to go.” You nod once. “I know. It’s alright.” Wanda’s eyes flicker up to you, and she places her palm lightly against your cheek. It barely touches you, but the sensation of her so close to you is spellbinding. “You need to be careful. There’s a woman here, Agatha. I don’t want you to get hurt.” You let your hand come to rest against hers, contact for just a second. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”

Wanda nods, takes in one quiet breath. “I’ll come back, Y/N. I promise.” You try for a smile. “I know you will.” Wanda hesitates one last second, as if drinking in the sight of you, then she finally pulls her hand away and hurries off down the sidewalk to help her children.

You’re left standing there, your own hand unconsciously rising to where hers had just left you. Your fingers feel cool against your cheek. Out of nowhere, a woman appears in the middle of the street, and walks until she’s shoulder to shoulder with you, both of you watching the place where Wanda had just been. You speak first. “You must be Agatha.” The woman leers at you, and you realize she was the strange neighbour from before, the one who had known your name.

Agatha’s voice is colder now that she’s dispensed with the ‘happy neighbour’ attitude. “And you’re Agent Y/N L/N of S.H.I.E.L.D. Don’t take Wanda’s lack of memory too personally, I’m afraid that was my fault. I needed her to completely fall apart so I could take her powers, and I knew she wouldn’t crumble as easily if she knew she had someone else waiting for her who wouldn’t vanish when her little suburban dream disappeared.”

You cut a glance over to Agatha. “So you took her memories of me?” She nods, shoulders lifting in triumph. “Had to be done. I’d tell you not to worry because the memories might come back, but I’m not even sure that will happen.” Agatha claps her hands together, suddenly purposeful. “Well, I’m off to rain destruction on your little friend. Stay out of my way, sweetie, or you’ll find yourself in more trouble than you can handle.” The words, spoken so carelessly, carry a far deeper threat than the seemingly innocent words would otherwise show.

In a heartbeat, Agatha vanishes, and you’re alone on the street once more. You glance around you at the houses nearby, and realize with a dull panic that Monica was supposed to be checking out Agatha’s house to find Wanda. Surely she would have heard the voices and come out, right? When you check around, you can’t find Monica anywhere, so you decide to enter Agatha’s house and try to find your friend. If you can’t help Wanda right now, you can at least try to get Monica out of Agatha’s control.

The door to Agatha’s house is unlocked, and you can hear a vague commotion going on upstairs. When you make your way up a flight of stairs and down a hall, you pause by a door leading to a bedroom. You can hear Monica’s voice coming from inside, so you try the doorknob but find it locked. From inside the room comes the sound of someone panicking, and they seem to be begging for their life. That does it- you back up a little, then run at the door and kick it down. Monica looks up at the sound of the door splintering open, and you find that she’s not alone- there’s another boy there, who looks like the new Pietro casting on Wanda’s show.

You raise an eyebrow. “Well, I was ready to join in the fight but it doesn’t look like you’ll be needing my help. Who’s he?” Monica gives one last look to the boy on the ground. “Ralph, apparently. I think Agatha put him under mind control to make him act like he was Wanda’s twin brother. Easier to recast than bring someone back from the dead.” You shrug. “I can’t argue with that logic. You want to come to the town center? I think some big fight is going on between Wanda and Agatha.”

Monica nods, and the two of you leave Agatha’s house, heading quickly towards the center of town. Sure enough, you see Wanda and Agatha hovering in the sky, exchanging blasts of magical energy. You also see Hayward and his S.W.O.R.D. reinforcements arriving to the scene, and tap Monica on the shoulder to point them out. “You see that? He’s still gunning for Wanda even though it’s obvious she’s not the villain anymore.” Monica frowns in determination. “He’s got a bigger hand in this than he’s letting on. Are you ready to help defend Wanda and her kids?” You grin, reaching for the gun at your belt. “I thought you’d never ask.”

At last, after days of research and planning and mind control, you’re finally back in your element. As Hayward’s reinforcements pour out of their armored vehicles, you take them down one by one, moving with the methodical grace of someone who was practically born for combat. It feels so freeing to be able to finally push everything out of your mind and just take down everyone in your path. A large part of your S.H.I.E.L.D. training was combat, so it’s nice to use that familiar skill set again.

Out of the corner of your eye, you see Hayward training a gun at Billy and Tommy, Wanda’s kids. Your eyes go wide as you realize he’s prepared to shoot, and even as you race towards him, desperate to stop this, you already know you’re arriving too late. Luckily, Monica is there just in time, and stands in front of the boys to protect them from the bullets. To your shock, Hayward still fires, but the bullets pass harmlessly through Monica and fall to the ground.

Hayward seems just as surprised as you are, and races into an armored vehicle in an attempt to ram the twins and Monica. Just as he’s flooring the gas, though, a food truck of all things hurtles into the vehicle, crashing into it in a flurry of sparks and twisting metal. You realize with a grin that it was driven by Darcy, and sigh in relief to realize that your friend is alright.

You hurry over to Monica. “Okay, I knew about the glowing eyes, but the bullet trick was new. Very cool and very dangerous.” Monica purses her lips in thought, but she looks exhilarated by her new powers. “I know about the dangerous, but I’m not so sure about the other part.” You toss her a grin. “I’ve worked with the Avengers for a while, and I’ve seen a lot of powers. Trust me, that was very cool.” Monica laughs at that. “It is, isn’t it?”

You look up to see Wanda floating out of the sky towards her children, and turn away hurriedly, distracting yourself by running checks on your weapon so that Wanda won’t see you. Monica frowns at you. “Y/N, when I got my powers I could see into Wanda’s head for a little bit. I know she loves you, and I know how you feel about her. Why are you trying to hide from her?”

You look back at the retreating figures of Wanda, Vision, and the twins. “She only has so much time left with this family, I don’t want to mar any of it with thoughts of others.” Monica follows your gaze, watching them leave. “Does it hurt to see her with them?” You sigh quietly. “Yes and no. It hurt more before, but I know that I’ll be able to be with her again once she lets them go. I want her to have as much time with them as possible.” Monica nods, and puts a hand on your shoulder in comfort. “If you need anyone, you know you’ve got me, right?” You smile back at her. “I do. Thank you, Monica.”

A woman in a black suit comes up to Monica, asking for a word in private. Monica nods, then turns back to you. Both of you know that this is goodbye, that you won’t be meeting up again today, or even for a while. Your eyes warm as you take in the sight of your friend. “I’ll see you again soon. I have no doubt of that.” Monica smiles at you. “Good luck, Y/N. I hope you can make things work with her.” You nod goodbye, then she turns and walks away, following the woman into a movie theatre. You slip away from the crowd of agents, walking briskly into the fading light.

Wanda Maximoff is striding purposefully down the streets of Westview. She’s almost on the outskirts of town when she notices the parked car waiting at the far edge. A woman is leaning up against the car, staring up at the sky, although she straightens once she notices Wanda approach. “Need a lift?” Wanda’s eyes widen as she recognizes the woman. “Y/N?” She hurries over, wraps her arms around the other woman. Although Y/N has had years of training on managing her emotions, she still freezes slightly, surprised at the sudden contact.

Then a smile appears on her face. “You remember me?” Wanda nods. “I remember everything. Agatha’s spell fell apart once I took care of her.” Y/N nods, a warm happiness glowing in her eyes. “I knew you would.” Wanda looks over at her, face falling. “Y/N, about everything, I-” Y/N holds up a hand, cutting her off. “You don’t have to explain. I know. I’m just glad that you came back.” Wanda reaches out, takes Y/N’s hand. She stares at it for a second before finding the strength to continue speaking. “I knew I would, eventually. I don’t think I could ever really leave you.” Her voice falters for a second. “I love you, Y/N. I wish I told you that before.”

Y/N’s face lights up at that, even as she struggles to keep her emotions under control. “I love you too. Always have and always will.” Wanda runs her finger over Y/N’s knuckles absentmindedly, fingers trailing over the faded scars that line her palm. “Thank you for waiting.” Y/N inclines her head at that, then gestures towards the car. “Are you ready to leave?” Wanda takes one last look at the town of Westview, then opens the door and slides into the passenger seat. Y/N crosses around the front of the car, and Wanda watches as she swings her legs over into the driver’s side chair. They lock eyes for a second, both closer than they ever have been, and then Y/N speaks at last. “So, where to?” Wanda looks back over the road before them, eyes trained not on the town behind them but the journey ahead. “Home.”

Wanda is sitting on the porch of a cabin in the woods, dressed in a simple gray. The piercing whistle of a kettle echoes through the open door, and she stands to pour herself a cup. Wanda glances at a dusty clock resting on the mantle, then gestures lazily with a free hand. A portal appears in the space next to her, scarlet sparks flying off into nothingness. A woman in a black suit walks through the portal, trading the tall buildings behind her for the quiet of the cabin. A label is stitched in white over her coat pocket: S.W.O.R.D. Director L/N. A promotion after the success of a recent job.

Wanda smiles at Y/N, handing her a cup of tea. “How was work?” Y/N takes a sip of the beverage, savoring the warmth. “Pretty good. Only a couple of new crises, but it’s nothing we can’t handle.” She gestures with her chin towards the corner of the room, where a strange energy seems to hover in the air despite nothing being there to conduct it. “Have you learned anything new?” Wanda grins, a faint aura of power tugging at her lips. “You have no idea.”

tag list: @username23345

426 notes · View notes

spadesverse-official · 3 years ago

Text

In the Spadesverse universe, there are four kingdoms. Every kingdom represents an aspect of what keeps the world going and humanity’s connection to it. They all have their individual roles to fulfil- Protectors for every one of this world's fundamental mechanisms, thus each nation is known to oversee a certain aspect of this world’s magic. The ability to control these ‘types’ of magic depends on how dangerous the magic is, some can be used by everyone, whilst others are trusted to the Monarchs alone. It is the duty of each monarchy to work together to bring balance, peace, and prosperity.

The four kingdoms are Diamonds, Hearts, Clubs, and Spades.

Diamonds

Magic

Diamonds’ connection is with nature. Their magic lies within controlling the elements; Earth, fire, water, and air. These are of course umbrella terms, water can extend to ice and other liquids, earth can also refer to plant life, etc. Elemental magic is the easiest to master as people are surrounded by nature, though it comes most naturally to citizens born in Diamonds or anyone who has ancestry from said nation, but it is not limited to just Diamonds alone. It can be wielded by anyone without connections to Diamonds who has a basic knowledge of magic or anyone in tune with nature. However, there have been cases where people have been able to resort to elemental magic without having studied any sort of magic before, usually under pressure, in distressing situations, situations that have activated one’s natural ‘fight or flight’, or under intense emotional responses stemming anywhere from joy, grief, rage, etc.

It should be noted, however, that the Diamonds Monarchy wields it the strongest. Diamonds Royals can complete elemental feats that even Masters (A title earned through training in the magical arts and mastering advanced types of magic) deem unimaginable, such as bending significantly more difficult elements like magma, or singlehandedly stopping entire natural disasters which would usually take hundreds, if not thousands, of magic users to stop.

General

Diamonds is known for its wealth and luxury, the nation of lavish galas and garden parties. They earn this wealth from their vast collection of natural resources, which they are able to take full advantage of due to their born ability to wield the elements. Before other kingdoms learned this magic, Diamonds was the first to hone this ability, getting a head start.

Their soil is already naturally rich, but it doesn’t hurt that farmers can make crops sing by taking advantage of plant based magic, for example. Most notably, Diamonds has exploited the caves that run deep within their grounds and the mountains to the North East, using earth based magic to create mines and harness resources all the way from coal to rarer finds like diamonds, hence the name of the nation. It’s fair to say Diamonds was quick to make significant profit, at least when other Kingdoms began to thrive, that is. The palace was decorated with the gold they mined to honour this show of wealth and, eventually, it became their national colour.

To put it simply, Diamonds thrives off of its agriculture and trade of luxury. They’ve become the fashion capital of the world, with fine silks, metals, and shimmering jewels for the most breath-taking of jewellery. You’ll find many aspiring designers migrating here, and often people retire to Diamonds after a lifetime of building their wealth. Diamonds has been able to enjoy the easy, expensive life with little financial concerns for the majority of the populace, leading, also, to a significant boom in leisure. Notably, Diamonds is home to some of the most famous theatres and the leading nation when it comes to the theatrical arts.

Hearts

Magic

True to its name, Hearts’ core magic revolves around the heart- More specifically, a heartbeat. The beginning and end of said beat. The Hearts Monarchy oversees life and death, tracking souls, so to speak. They do this through pendants (Can also be referred to as ‘amulets’). There are two types of pendants: Fertility pendants and soul pendants.

Fertility pendants are used to track pregnancy and the health of an unborn child. They are usually worn when trying to check if someone is pregnant, or if a couple is trying to conceive. A colourful ‘mist’ will appear in the pendant if the wearer is with child. The mist represents the soul of the child. If there is more than one child present, there will be more than one colour depending on how many embryos there are. There will be two colours in the case of twins, three for triplets, etc. The colours of these mists vary, the reason as to why is unknown. Some say certain colours depict what personality type your child will have, similar to Zodiac signs. There is no evidence to support this theory, however, and so the colour of the mist seems to be just up to chance. One colour is known, however, and only happens in a particular scenario. The mist inside a fertility pendant will turn black in the case of a miscarriage, which only happens if there is infidelity between a couple. Some say this is a punishment given by a higher power, but it is one that seems greatly unjust, especially if the wearer was not the party at fault.

Soul pendants are used to ‘store’ souls. Empty soul pendants will be worn by those who are aware they do not have long left, such as the elderly and/or the severely ill. When they pass, part of their soul/‘life force’ will then be ‘captured’ in the pendant, rather than moving on. Storing a soul using this type of connection to Earth allows the deceased to watch over the living realm as a part of them is still being kept on the physical plain. They can watch over their loved ones from a place most call ‘The Inbetween’. Not much is known of The Inbetween or the afterlife other than this, at least not to anyone still alive.

Soul pendants that are filled with a soul will be given to a loved one of the deceased to wear. The chosen wearer can be named in one’s will if, leading up to their death, the original wearer knows who they want to watch over the most.

A fertility pendant will act as a temporary soul pendant in the case of a miscarriage so that, if the parents wish, their child’s soul can be transferred into an actual soul pendant so that the child, in a way, will still be with them.

Finally, soul pendants (That have a soul inside) can enhance the magic of a wearer by using the life force of the captured soul, but this will weaken the soul overtime until it fades and the connection the deceased once had to the living realm will then be lost, forcing them to fully move on into the afterlife.

Only the Hearts Monarchy and their Makers (Term given to people that manufacture the pendants) can create these pendants. The Monarchy will bestow some of their magic onto Makers, so that they will also have the ability to transfer souls/make pendants that have the ability to capture souls as well. Makers are chosen by the Monarchy and there are very few of them, but they exist to to lessen the workload for the Monarchs themselves so they can still see to their Kingdom’s needs whilst not neglecting the demand for pendants.

It is rumoured that the King and Queen of Hearts share a power that no one else does, however. A final power that links to the human heart. This is the ability to see soulmates. But, again, this is merely a rumour and has not been proven nor disproven.

General

Hearts, well, has a lot of heart. As cheesy as it sounds. But it’s true. This Kingdom is known for its national pride, but also for its sense of community. Citizens will admit that it’s difficult to walk through most villages without at least one grandmother trying to feed them. Children are usually raised by whole towns, not just their own family.

Festivals are not rare in this Kingdom, and they usually surround its citizens’ love of food and alcohol. It’s a wonderful place to go when needing to feel loved and appreciated. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s one of the hotter nations, with a beautifully warm climate.

Moreover, its citizens seem to naturally value life more, and not just their own life for that matter. Many of the world’s best medical schools reside in Hearts, and many of its citizens become doctors, nurses, etc.

Hearts is also known for its art. Diamonds may thrive when it comes to theatre, but Hearts soars when it comes to painting, sculpting, pottery, etc. Both are currently racing to prove who produces the better bards and singers, though.

Clubs

Magic

Clubs' magic revolves around the sun and moon, light and dark, good vs evil, etc. The Clubs Monarchy oversees the balance between light, dark, and neutral magic within the atmosphere, constantly making sure the scales never tip into darkness too much. Dark magic warps people’s minds, makes them give into their darkest desires and selves, having too much of it in the atmosphere can lead to drastic consequences. It will lead people to insanity, create chaos and discord. Thus, it is the Monarchy’s duty to balance out the scales. Say if someone was dabbling in dark magic and they released too much of it into the universe, the Monarchy would balance it out via releasing light magic into the atmosphere, usually by giving out blessings, such as ‘luck’. This is also seen as distributing ‘karma’.

Since balancing the scales is their duty, it is also the role of this Monarchy to decide what types of dark magic are too dangerous and will decide the legislature regarding these types, such as what is illegal and what isn’t, or what needs to be licensed to use, etc. They will consult the other Monarchies before making a final decision, however. Typically, it is also the Clubs Monarchy who will then choose the punishment given to those who are practicing illegal types of magic, such as curses or necromancy.

It is said that the King and Queen can take away one’s ability to do certain types of magic if they begin to abuse their power, and can give this power to remove magic to others they trust, too. It is also said that the King and Queen can harness the energy of the sun and moon to enhance their own magic or the magical abilities of those around them. Neither of these theories have been confirmed.

General

Clubs is...Barren. It’s mountainous terrain, freezing temperatures, and overall snow covered lands makes it difficult to grow almost anything. It’s citizens get by on luck alone, quite literally. The King and Queen throughout history, apparently, have had to bless their citizens with luck just to get by. It’s actually because of this that their national symbol, which had once been a sun, a moon, and an eclipse to represent the balance between light and dark magic, became misinterpreted as a clover through the generations.

It’s main trade is ice and vodka. It doesn’t produce a lot of profit, but it gets them by. Clubs is not a very lively place. Whether this could change or not is up to the New Monarchs.

Spades

Magic

Nothing is known about Spades’ abilities at this point in time. It will remain that way until its Monarchy is found. There are rumours that float around still, from the days of the Old Monarchs, that the Spades Monarchy had the ability to change time. One can dream.

General

Spades is not known for anything yet, other than being the last Kingdom to fall, but also the last to rise again. All they have to show for themselves is a hundred years worth of ruin, like every other Kingdom did before Diamonds rose. They have some farmlands to the West, forests everywhere else, the ruins of old docks. Who knows what the new Monarchy will bring, and who knows what legacy they will create for the Kingdom.

#hetalia #cardverse #cardverse au #spadesverse #notable event #02/08/2021 #This project is called Spadesverse rather than Cardverse for multiple reasons which we will go into in a future post #We do not take credit for the pictures used in this post. We did steal them from Pinterest.#The picture limit does not do justice to the vibes and cultures of the Kingdoms. This will be explored in later posts and videos #You can use some of the lore from this post so long as you ask and also give credit to the blog #Our ask box is open so feel free to ask questions if you're interested in this project #Stay tuned to see the story unfold ;)#If you see a typo or grammatical error in this post. Then No You Don't.#Some small bits of lore or details may change as the team goes back and forth and develops the story #The post will be edited if that's the case though

39 notes · View notes

anxiouslyfred · 3 years ago

Text

Edited Lesson Plans

for @dukexietyweek‘s day 5 prompt ‘School’

Summary: The science experiments Remus includes in his lessons baffle most of the staff for how he’s able to get them past health and safety concerns. Virgil is just glad he hasn’t been questioned over stealing the plans to add precautions to them yet.

Warnings: elusions to chemical accidents, vauge mentions of bad lab safety, explosion mentions

/\/\/\

“Again? He's managed to get these major experiments in his work plan again?”

“Who the hell is he bribing to be allowed to do this stuff? Even I couldn't get a risk assessment thorough enough to do these things!”

“Remus has to be like dating the headmasters daughter. That's the only way Mr stick-up-his-arse Read would be letting him do these experiments. They're just too dangerous.”

“I think that's why Remus is doing them. Have you seen him mope when one is rejected?”

The talk in the staff room had once again returned to Mr Remus Cethalapod as the lessons plans and class schedules were shared among the teams, including the weeks where teachers should expect delays from students leaving specific classes. Virgil was sat working on fine tuning his own quietly, listening in, but never expected to join in with their talk.

That was the other certainty he knew the other teachers and faculty held, Remus would include science experiments no sane person would demonstrate to their teenage students, and Virgil would only speak up about issues with lesson plans if he saw classes overlapping with his that could be risky. The only exception to his demands to see the risk assessments were Remus's despite those classes following or precluding his own most often.

He smirked, making a few quick notes on a plan for the woodworking module. If the class picked up the skills in a different time period to expected a few classes might be moved around which would help with when Remus had chosen one of the few repeated experiments to be done.

“What is up, Bitches! Have I convinced any of you to give up repeating the same old plans and get something interesting in those classes?” Remus yelled, barging in to check the schedules for next semester.

“Why would we need to include something interesting when your lesson plans could well blow up the school?” Nate scoffed, shaking his head, and clearly unhappy that his classroom designation for the next semester was beside Remus's.

Virgil was tempted to speak up at that, defend his risk assessments except he wouldn't even acknowledge to Remus that he'd regularly steal the other teacher's lesson plans to make sure they're safe, or at a minimum have all possible and extremely necessary safety measures in place. He was certain that his input was known about though.

Remus just beamed at the veiled criticism. “My fairy health and safety agent says every class I do is safe as long as I follow the purple ink. Can you say the same?”

“You're creating fantasy creatures? You're meant to be a science teacher!” Nate's protesting was cut off as the first school bus arrived and everyone refocused back on this semester rather than the next.

/VR\

Teaching Engineering and Resistant materials had always been Virgil's main interest, and a lot of that relied on science not only to improve and progress but to remain safe for the people who practised it. Getting a few journals on Chemistry added to his reading list wasn't too difficult to do after Virgil first met Remus.

He'd loved the passion and energy when he'd heard Mr Cethalapod teaching during a free period in the first year they'd worked together at the school. Discovering that the class had been mixing dangerous chemicals without enough safety precautions however had him basically panicking for 20 minutes before he forced himself calm if only to focus on his next class and the teenagers about to be playing with fire as much as soldering some metal together could be called that.

After that day Virgil would steal Remus's lesson plans, originally just to satisfy himself that they wouldn't be putting students or teacher in danger, but all too soon he was adding sheets with safety instructions and getting risk assessments filled out. Enough of the things he did could cross over, although temperatures in chemistry got higher than they ever would in resistant materials and the chemical element rarely impacted engineering to the degree it would of course inspire a chemistry class.

Remus even seemed to accommodate his lesson plans getting stolen, once when they were first written, once soon before the start of each subject and finally the week before he'd teach the class. When Virgil had first realised that pattern had been deliberately made he tried to hide more, put the things back exactly as he'd found them, terrified there'd be some consequence for his interfering. Remus had after all once made a class where a parent had complained over his teaching style only read their books for a term, conducting the experiments he'd planned to show or have them do silently at the front of class, and another time brought in a mobile lab so he could walk his class around behind the PE class after the teachers were disparaging his class loudly at the end of the day.

Instead nothing had happened, except occasionally his additions would have more corrections added. Of course the corrections were usually only on the severity of the injuries that could occur if one of the safety risks wasn't followed, but it was an acceptance of his guidelines regardless. Even Virgil's students had mentioned feeling calmer and safer during experiments with Remus bringing new precautions in, all of which had been his own additions.

Honestly, being called a 'fairy health and safety agent' had Virgil snickering for the rest of his day. He had the powers of magic and way too much fear on his side and with it would save the school from dangerous experiments. That sounded like a lot more fun than screaming and lecturing the headmaster whenever one of the other teachers blatantly failed to follow even the basic health and safety precautions.

When Virgil gets the lesson plans at the end of that week a tiny part of him was tempted to put fairy wings on of something while taking them. He wouldn't do that for fear of having to explain why if another teacher spotted him, but it was a thought.

A thought that vanished along with everything else that night when in green highlighter, covering the last page of lesson plans Remus had scrawled

Dear H&S Fairy, I'll clap all the times I can to make sure you exist if only you come with me on a date next Friday. Love and other Goopy Stuffs, Remus xoxoxo

Please, Virgil could only pray, please say Remus actually had figured out he was the one doing these plans, because he wanted, but could not face turning up only to find out Remus thought it was some other teacher or administrator.

Before he could worry about that any further he scribbled a reply just underneath the note, signed with a doodle of a fairy.

/VR\

Now it wasn't that Remus had forgotten asking the Engineering teacher out on his lesson plans, or that he hadn't seen the response once they were returned to his desk. It's that he absolutely hated planning ahead any more than was necessary and his dreams were just of inspiration striking for the perfect date the minute they met up at his car.

Only as he was setting out the lesson and getting the students ready to carry it out did he finally think that someone so concerned with safety they'd steal his lesson plans might actually feel better if he had a plan in place. Remus couldn't exactly create a plan while teaching though, so it really would just be up to the evening and the thoughts it might bring to do.

He couldn't imagine a date being as full of risk as playing with low level acids though.

Virgil was already leant against Remus's car by the time he reached it and all Remus could do was beam. “I actually got it right! Damn, and Mr Read always says I can't figure out anything except explosions.”

“Glad to be who you wanted, should I even ask if you have a plan for tonight or just accept you're making this up as we go along?” Virgil snorted, pushing himself up as Remus rounded the car.

“I can at least guarantee lower chances of injury than I might find if you weren't with me.” Remus countered.

Perhaps they'd only really communicated via lesson plans and occasionally crossing paths around the school up until this point, but Remus couldn't wait to see where this first date might take them.

#dukexiety #dukexietyweek2021 #remus sanders #virgil sanders #mentioned logan sanders #teacher remus #teacher virgil #cw poor lab safety

30 notes · View notes

rmg91 · 3 years ago

Text

Zoe Week; Day 5-ROTT

So I know we got given a free day considered ROTT was...what it was but I decided to still go with the prompt and it turned into more of a small rewrite than just a ‘Let’s slip Zoe into this scene’. Zoe is everyone’s braincell and we know it.

Also I tried writing a fight scene....I donno how well it turned out lol

AO3

~*~*~*~*~*~

“He WHAT?!”

Zoe stared at the assembled guardians, the kids, that had gone up against the demigods bent on restarting the world with that crazy plan to strip them of their powers, only for it to fail. Yes, they were alive. Yes, they had Nari, in spirit, but the Arcane Order had her body, had Douxie, and that was not okay for her! That stupid, self-sacrificing idiot! Of course he'd do something like that! But all it would do would buy them time and just what was going to happen when those power hungry beings found out?! It wasn't going to be good, that was for sure and now Zoe had to hatch a plan to try and save her idiot before something bad happened.

Ignoring the overlapping explanations and assurances they'd come up with a plan, Zoe marched her way out of the ex-throne room and down to what was becoming her studio. Shuffling around the various tomes and grimoires, she searched for the one she was certain had the spell she needed to find him, growling to herself when she couldn't. This is what she got for not sorting through all these yet. Finally, just when she'd been about to say 'fuck it' and do it without the book, she dug up the dusty purple codex of scrying and grinned in victory. Oh, she was finding that idiot of hers and then she was going to give him a piece of her mind once he was safe.

Coming back upstairs, the pinked haired witch flipped through the book, looking for the magic circle that would allow her to find Douxie. Ignoring everyone's voices, she quickly read through the directions, reminding herself how it worked and set to etching runes in the air with her wand. The symbols of power fell to the floor in sparking pink power, forming the necessary element for her spell. “Nari.” She called, “I'm gonna need Archie for a moment.”

The little nature spirit, inhabiting her partners body, let his familiar go from her hold as she finished the magic circle, sending the tomb to rest on the floor outside it. Sitting in the center, Archie crawled into her lap in dragon form, already having a feeling on what she was going to try to do. Normally she could sense Douxie's power, they'd known each other for so after all it was easy, but between distance and most likely being blocked, she couldn't without help. It would be easier if their magic was bonded, tied together for the rest of eternity and the ultimate sign of trust and love between magic users but...they weren't. Not for lack of wanting to but their lives had been pretty hectic and dangerous and bonding their magic came with lots of consequences as well as benefits. If one of them died...it would be the worse kind of hell on the other. And as much as they loved each other they hadn't wanted to have the other suffer so. But maybe, after all this, they'd change that.

“Uh..what are you gonna do?” Toby asked, standing near as he watched the pulsing pink runes.

“I'm going to track Douxie using the bond between him and Archie.” She explained, holding the dragon-cat gently, one hand scratching between his ears, “It should, in theory, help me find where the Order is holding him.” Then they would retrieve him and she was going to kick his ass for putting himself in danger, again.

Everyone took that as the queue to be quiet, to let her work, and Zoe breathed in deeply, letting her magic seep out and take shape. The circle glowed as she let herself fall into a trance, focusing on Archie, who was relaxed in her lap, his own magic open to letting hers in. She found the bond, a shining string of magic that was warm, comforting, powerful, reaching out beyond their little space in search of their missing wizard. She followed it as it swirled, twisting and turning through the space between, searching, searching, searching until-There! It sung brightly, tightening like a perfectly tuned guitar string and humming with life and she knew in that moment just where to find him.

Opening her eyes, a pink glow encompassing them, she grinned sharply. The Order didn't know what was coming to them.

~*~*~*~

The group entered the abandoned train tunnel, sans one Trollhunter, looking for any sign of the Order or Douxie. Zoe knew she had been harsh when she told Jim he needed to stay behind but she was not going to take back what she said. He was injured and therefore a liability and she wasn't going to let him kill himself or any of his friends if things were to go pear shaped. But hopefully they wouldn't and they'd be able to rescue Douxie with minimal trouble.

Her blue eyes roamed over the various crates and scaffolding, sensing him near but unable to see him. But she just knew he was here. Even as the group spread out and looked around old, crumbling crates and rusty metal drums, confused as to why they couldn't find anyone, Zoe was reaching out with her magic, searching for her wayward husband. Frowning down at the tracks, something just wasn't sitting right with her, she tried her best to see and think like Douxie would. There had to be something here she was missing...

She blinked, a thought coming suddenly and could it really be that easy?

Trotting up a staircase to get higher ground, she looked down at the tracks, shaking her head lightly because for some eon's old beings, Skrael and Bellroc really couldn't be original? “Their hiding in plain sight!” She shouted to assembled guardians, flicking her wand out and rearranging the train tracks, “They've made a giant sigil with the tracks!” The tracks moved, soon lighting up and dispelling the room around them, revealing a much darker room and three beings in the center.

She wasn't sure if they were aware they weren't alone anymore but it looked as if the demigods of ice and fire were taunting who they thought were Nari. She, or rather Douxie, was hovering in the air, held aloft by his hands in glowing magic and maybe, possibly keeping quiet as to continuing fooling the gods. But then, as they were staring confusedly as the Genius Seals, wondering why they weren't opening, he opened his big fat mouth.

“Abracadabra, Buttsnacks.”

Zoe groaned, because why had he said that?! But before the Order could do more than threaten him, she raised her wand high and cried, “Hey! Hands off!” She then sent a bolt of pink lighting down, just barely hitting Skreal, and then it was on!

Everyone jumped into action, firing and fighting the two remaining members of the Order. Zoe jumped down, joining the fray, firing spells and shields as she made way to Nari's body. She was put to a stop though as the icy wizard floated in front of her, brandishing his staff. Oh, if he wanted a fight, he was getting a fight. Ignoring Douxie's strained call of her name, the hedge-witch ducked a swing of the staff, dodging to the right and not giving in to Skreal's taunting. Hedge-witch or not, didn't mean she wasn't powerful and she wasn't about to let these bastards win.

Zoe fired spell after spell, wildly missing the floating god as he chuckled darkly at her. But that was okay, all part of the plan because when he least expect it she smirked and performed a round-house kick, planting her foot below his belt with a cry of “Rule Number Three!!”

As Skrael crumpled, she turned back to Douxie in Nari's body, running closer and hoping she could break the spell keeping him in the air. Fire had started to burn everywhere, the old wood catching easily to the spells Bellroc fired off but she ignored all that as she examined the magic around Douxie's wrists. She shushed him as he tried to talk to her, needing to concentrate on what she was doing, hopefully she wouldn't need Claire's help. Then a dark chuckle came from behind her.

“You won't break him free.” She turned to glare at Bellroc, their ever fluctuating voice grating on her nerves, “That magic is too powerful for even a full fledged wizard, let alone a little hedge-witch.” She growled as they laughed at her. And maybe she wouldn't be able to break it herself but if she could break this beings concentration... A wicked grin came to her face, feral as she remembered the chaos she'd wrecked at Killahead, and she began drawing runes behind her back.

“You're right...Guess I'll just have to make you break it.”

And with a flash of pink, twenty more Zoe's surrounded the demigod.

Crying out, Bellroc began to blast away her clones, easily poofing them from existence, which was fine as it was only meant as a distraction. The real Zoe dodged behind him, thankful for the rest of the crew keeping Skrael busy as she charged her magic. She'd only have one shot at this and she hoped it worked. It had been a while since she last did this. Bringing her now brightly flashing hands together, she drew them apart, a glowing, sparking, pink arrow held between them.

“Foolish girl! This won't defeat me!!” Bellroc cried with rage, dispelling the last of her clones.

“It's not meant to!” She yelled back before firing the arrow, sending a million volts through the wizard and causing them to spasm. And it was enough, for the spell holding Douxie up sputtered and died, dropping him to the floor. Zoe dived for his staggering form as Bellroc cried out again, pushing him out of the way of a blast of fire. Of course now she needed a plan to get them out of there...

Just as the fire god was approaching, already up from her attack and ready to end her life, a black portal formed beneath her and Douxie and they dropped away.

~*~*~*~

Zoe groaned as she was dropped onto the floor of Camelot, rolling onto her back. That had been...something. She really needed to practice that attack again, it took far too much out of her but at least now Douxie was safe. And Nari. She heard the rest of the guardians tumble in, shouts from their assembled allies rising and still she laid there, catching her breath.

“Zoe! Zoe, are you alright?!” She looked up at Douxie's voice, finding Nari's face above her looking at her with concern and they were needed to change back because this was just getting too weird. She watched him sag with relief, most likely due to her opening her eyes and he sighed, “You were nuclear, Love.”

“You better switch back before you kiss me, Casperan.” Was her only response.

Chuckling breathlessly, he nodded and she watched him hold out his hand for Nari to take, the goddess now crouching on her other side. A flash of magic and she was then being pulled into Douxie's lap, the wizard now back in his body. She let him nuzzle his face into her neck, still recovering from the adrenaline and almost overuse of her magic as they sat there, friends and allies all around.

“Thank you, Zoe.” Nari said softly, sitting primly in front of her, “You risked so much.”

“It's fine, Nari,” Zoe said, smiling at the forest child, “There was no way I was letting them keep your body and Douxie's mind.” Let alone risk the possibility of them forcing the two back into their proper bodies. Then they really would have been in trouble.

“So what do you do now?” She heard Claire ask because now they were back at square one. Keep Nari out of the grasp.

“I donno,” Zoe sighed, “But the important thing is the Order doesn't have Nari anymore.”

“That's not all they don't have..” The nature goddess smirked shyly before holding up the Genius Seals.

Zoe's eyes widen as cries went up around her, Douxie laughing in surprise, before she grinned wide and shark like. Oh, things were about to get interesting.

~*~*~*~*~*~

How the rest of the movie would play out from here I have no idea but there’s some choice Zouxie protecting each other/Nari/Archie so...there’s that. I hope you all enjoyed!

#ZoeAppreciationWeek #Zoe Week #Zoe #Douxie #Zouxie #Nari #ToA #Tales of Arcadia #Wizards #ROTT #Fanfiction #ROTT rewrite #Yeah Zoe and her arrows returned #heehee

27 notes · View notes

translytherins · 4 years ago

Text

Unaccepted Permission Slip {Part 1}

Peter's P.O.V

[A/n: You can use the picture at the bottom as refrence also the picture isn't mine]

"Mr. Parker i will not accept this permission slip"

"Why not?!?!"

"Because your permission slip is signed by Tony Stark-Rogers and we both know that your internship is fake so just give it up and go home"

I was fuming "Fine!!!" I shouted and stormed out of the classroom. If your wondering what happened. Let me explain.

-Flashback-

I accidentally fell asleep in science class because well... I'm not dumb. I already know this stuff. Having Tony Stark-Rogers as a dad and as a mentor before that while also having Bruce Banner teach you has it's perks. I was woken up from sleep by Ned who was trying to shake me awake which definitely worked. Obviously. I lifted my head from my table only to see the teacher glaring at me. I don't know why but the teacher hates me with every bone in her body.

"Now that Mr. Parker is awake" she said glaring at me before she continued.

"We will be going on a field trip next week on Friday. The location will be a surprise but until then everyone must take one permission slip for your parents to sign.

Class dismissed"

Everyone packed their stuff and got up from the seat while mumbling excitedly about the trip. I couldn't care less about the trip but..whatever. I took one permission slip while receiving a (not so) deathly glare from the teacher and walked out of the classroom.

-End Of Flashback-

When i was a few blocks away from my school, i saw Happy waiting for me next to a limo. I went up to him and gave him an apology for the slight delay. He accepted and we both got in the limo with me at the back while Happy sat at the drivers seat and started heading home with me not talking much because i was still mad. Happy kept looking at me frome the rear view mirror but i payed no attention to that and kept looking out the window.

-Timeskip-

I got home and saw that none of my family members were at home probably on a mission. I walked into the living room and saw my (h/c) boyfriend reading on the couch. I smiled, walked over to him (sneakily) and backed hugged him making him drop his book while mumbling something under his breath in surprise. I started giggling at his cute face that he made.

(M/N) 's P.O.V

I was reading a book while waiting for the others to get back because even though I'm the newest member, they said it was "too dangerous" for someone as young as me (although I kicked all of their butts in one go)I was so deep invested with my book that i didn't even realise that someone was sneaking up behind me. When i did realise it, is when i felt someone back hugged me.

"Holy f*cking sh*t" i mumbled under my breath and dropped my book by accident. I heard someone giggling from behind me. I turned around and saw Peter giggling at me. I let out a playful sigh and glared at the giggling boy while picking up my book.

I continued reading my book which is a sign that I'm (slightly) pissed by his actions. He stopped giggling and walked around the couch so he was standing in front of me but i didn't look at him. He took my book, marked the page i was reading and placed it on the table. I was about to protest but he straddled me and kissed me. I melted instantly and kissed back. It got heated after a few minutes and we started making out with Peter on my lap. We we're so distracted that we didn't even realise that the others were back already just staring at us like the creeps they are. We pulled away when we heard someone coughing, trying to get our attention. We turned around and saw the Avengers standing there, some with there arms crossed (Steve, Tony, Loki, Vision, Bruce) while the others we're snickering in the background (Nat, Barton, Pietro, Wanda, Bucky, Sam). Peter was a blushing mess. When he turned to look at me and he saw the mischievous smirk on my face. I gently squeezed his butt and he gave a little squeak in return. He glared at me but my smirk didn't falter one bit. Revenge tastes sweet. He turned back to the others and smiled akwardly.

"Uhm... Hey dad..." Peter said akwardly.

"We'll talk about this later" Tony said with a glare and they left the room.

He turned towards me and smacked my chest while burying his face into my neck.

"I hate you"

"Love you too" i replied with a sly grin on my face.

-Timeskip to dinner-

Peter's P.O.V

Just another dinner night at Stark Tower. My dad was playfully arguing with Uncle Clint (yes i have to call them uncle and aunt except for Pietro and Wanda). Uncle Thor was eating pop tarts for dinner. Uncle Loki was struggling to use his utensils. Pietro was laughing hysterically at him for not being able to use them properly, pushing on Uncle Loki's buttons making him aggravated. Uncle Bucky and Aunt Nat were talking in Russia. The only normal one's were me, (m/n), Uncle Bruce, Vision, my pops aka Steve Stark-Rogers and Wanda. We we're just watching the scene play out infront of us. (m/n) and i was snickering at how childish they we're acting even though we're younger than them (except for Aunt Nat and Uncle Bucky. They looked like they we're talking about something important) until i remembered something.

"Hey Pops???"

"Yes Peter???" he awnsered looking at me.

"Is it okay if i stay home next Friday???"

When those words came out of my mouth everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at me suddenly intrigued by what i had to say.

"And why do you want to stay home???" Aunt Nat asked me and i knew i couldn't lie because this is Black Widow I'm talking to and she knows when someone's lie. I sigh in defeat.

"Well...you see..." and i told them about what happend with the teacher not accepting my permission slip and talking trash about me. After i explained all hell broke lose. Aunt Nat was sharpening her knives, Wanda and Loki had magic surrounding them, (m/n) had a little string of (f/c) fire twirling around his fingers, Thor was looking at his hammer probably contemplating how hard he can throw it, Uncle Clint was sharpening his arrows, Pietro feets were looking impatient, Uncle Bruce was turning a little green, Dad was typing something on his phone probably calling his suit, Uncle Bucky was clenching his metal arm and Pops was trying to calm himself down. Well...this is going to be a fun night. (note the sarcasm)

-The Next Morning-

Ned's P.O.V

I was on the bus sitting next to MJ who had her nose stuck in a book and i was looking out the window ignoring Flash yelling insults about Peter being a coward for not coming on this trip with us and about how he was right about his "fake internship" because the teacher told us we we're going to Stark Tower. I have been there on lots of different occasions, most of the time it's because i have an intern ship with Stark industries as well and it was all thanks to Peter. He is most definitely going to be there because he didn't show up to school. This isn't going to end well is it. Oh well... More entertainment and drama for me.

(M/N) 's P.O.V

I was in my room scrolling through my phonewith Peter snuggling into my side. He dies have his own room which is next to mine but he decided to sleep in my room because his dad doesn't really let us sleep in the same room but he does it anyways but i don't mind because i get to cuddle my little spider. I was looking at a cute cat photo which was playing with a leaf when i heard FRIDAY, Starks AI, greeting me.

" Good Morning Mr. (L/n). Tony Stark-Rogers has requested Peter to lead the tour for today at 10 later"

"Thanks Fri. I'll tell him when he wakes up"

FRIDAY hummed in acknowledgement and left. I put down my phone on the bed side table and i turned my body towards Peter which resulted with him cuddled into me and nuzzled his head deeper into my chest (if it was even possible at this point considering about how close we were already)

"Peter, Babe. Time to get up. Your dad said that you need to give a tour to some visitors later at 10"

Peter's eyes fluttered open but he just closed them again and nuzzled his head further into my chest.

"Do i have too? Can't i just cuddle with you?" he said while giving me his puppy dog eyes. I sighed.

"Even if I want to, I need to go on a mission with Clint, Pietro and Tasha in about... *glances at the alarm clock* 5 minutes so I have to go. But don't sweat it, the missions gonna take two hours at least. When I get back I'll come help you with the tour when i get back

Okay??? "

" Fine" he whined and gave me a soft kiss which i gladly returned.

I got up from the bed and went to the bathroom to get changed into my outfit which is a hoddie that is as strong as Steve's shield but still flexible, fluffy and comfortable to wear. I put on my fingerless gloves and headed back in my room. When I entered the room again and saw Peter scrolling through his phone. I smiled and walked towards him.

"Bye Pete, I'll see you later" i gave him a kiss on his forehead.

He smiled at me while i grabbed my shape shifting elemental sword and my wireless headphones. I know what your thinking. Why am i bringing a wireless headphones with me to a mission. Well...that's because i fight while listening to music. It enhances my ability to fight and makes it easier for me to use my elements. left the room while waving at him. I put on my (f/c) mask and headed towards where Pietro, Nat and Clint were at so we can get this mission over and done with.

-Timeskip-

Peter's P.O.V

I was sitting at the lounging room, waiting for the visitors to arrive while messing around on my phone. I heard the sliding door open and close but i didn't bother to look up because if they were the visitors, Alicia is going to explain how everything works and how to use the badges before giving them it. Only when she was done i would take over and show them the places that they have access to. While I was scrolling through Instagram, i heard Alicia call my name. I got up from my seat and walked towards them while still looking at my phone. When i reached them i looked up from my phone my eyes were wide as saucers because the visitors were my classmates!!! I have a lot of explaining to do aren't i...

"Uhh... Hey guys..." i said while waving at them awkwardly.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE PUNY PARKER!!!" Flash yelled at me with a hint of rage in his voice.

I rolled my eyes at him and responded to him in a sassy tone.

"I'm actually doing something useful in my life other than waste my time insulting someone. What are you doing???"

Flash was fuming with anger but didn't say anything else while the class, Alicia, Mj and Ned were chuckling because Flash just got told off.

"Okay Peter I'll leave it to you. See you later Mini G" she said while walking and waving.

"Later Alicia" i said while waving back at her before turning back to the rest of the class with stunned faces except Mj and Ned who were chuckling at Flash's stunned face.

"Anyways... I'm going to be your tour guide for today. So, unless you want to spend the rest of the visit outside the tour while the others have a good time, i suggest you keep your mouth if you have nothing nice to say because people at Stark Tower does not tolerate bullies especially Mr. Stark and Mr. Steve Rogers"

I didn't say there actual name which is Mr. Stark-Rogers because it isn't public yet that their married and no one definitely knows that tgey adopted a child aka me. But later on we're going to have a press conference revealing their marriage and me to the public. Flash looked slightly pale but didn't say any insults (or anything in that matter) and Mrs Warren was glarring daggers at me but i couldn't care less about what she thought about me at this point because all i want to do is get back to bed, wait until my boyfriend gets back from his mission and cuddle with him.

"Ok everyone. You need to scan the badges you got from Alicia and walk through the metal detector. You are also not aloud to take pictures during the tour. Any questions???"

Nobody raised their hands and i ushered them towards the scanner and the metal detector. One by one, everyone scanned their badges and walking through the metal detector (their phone don't count). F.R.I.D.A.Y announced their names, badge level and wether or not they have weapons or anything else dangerous. I let Flash walk through for demonstration (don't know why i did), F.R.I.D.A.Y announced his name in the same bored tone she always uses when it wasn't any of the avengers, me, Ned or Mj.

"Eugene Thompson, Omega badge level 2, no weapons"

He looked at me like he finally achieved something in his life. I rolled my eyes at his shit eating grin, scanned my badge (even though I didn't need to because I can scan my face and enter the building without having to waste my time with these badges) and walked through the metal detector.

"Peter, Delta level 10,no weapons detected. Hello Peter nice seeing you use the door once in a while" F.R.I.D.A.Y said with slight sarcasm in her voice but i just sigh in relief because F.R.I.D.A.Y didn't use my full name. But Flash just had to open his goddamn mouth and say something stupid like he always does.

"WHAT DID YOU MEAN USE THE DOOR ONCE IN A WHILE!!!HAVE YOU BEEN BREAKING INTO THE TOWER!!! HUH PUNY PARKER!!! AWNSER ME!!!"

I just ignored him which I do like 90% of the time and waited for the others to get through. While checking my watch to see how long i have left until (m/n) joins us.

Almost everyone has gone through except for Ned and Mj. Mj scanned her badge and walked through the metal detector without looking up from the book because she comes here to help Pepper with some business stuff. Oh!!! Did i forget to mention you that Mj is Pepper's assistant. I didn't??? Oh well moving on.

"Michelle Jones, alpha level 8, no weapons detected. Glad to see you Mj" F.R.I.D.A.Y greeted her happily.

"You too Fri"

Everyone's mouth was gaping because the Ai system recognised Mj. The last person was Ned and he got the same exact reaction from the class.

"Ned Leeds, alpha level 7, no weapons detected. Good evening Ned, i hope you enjoy your visit"

"I will Fri"

Flash was slightly annoyed that he didn't get the same treatment but beggars can't be choosers. I coughed slightly to get everyones attention and lead them towards the elevator so we can get started with the tour.

We reached the fifth floor so that they can look at the Avengers exhibition for the oldest and newest avengers. Everyone was looking awed and starstruck including Ned (who has been here loads of times) and excluding Mj (because she was still reading her book).

"Ok everyone you have an hour to look around and if you have any questions, you can come and ask me"

And just like that everyone was scattered all over the place looking at all the suits and weapons displayed. Of course they were just replicas of it. I walked around to make sure that they were no inconvenience. Everyone was mostly gawking at my iron spider suit that i got from dad and Elemental's mask, hoodie, headphones and his shape shifting sword especially Flash. He can only dream of wearing our suits. Let alone hold (m/n) 's shape shifting sword because have you seen that thing??? It's pretty epic if i do say so myself.

"Hey loser. Maybe you should explain more about the suits everyones gawking at" Mj said with a knowing smirk and looking up from her book for the first time since she entered the tower.

It's not really a surprise that she knows my relationship with (m/n) because the whole tower knows and thinks were a cute power couple. I returned her smirk and started to explain about the origins of the suits and (m/n) 's weapon.

"Well the Iron Spider was designed by Mr Stark for Spiderman when he was first offered a spot as an Avengers. He turned down the offer at first deciding just to stick on being a friendly neighbourhood Spiderman but he joined in the end after some complications"

I finished my explanation for the Iron Spider and looked at everyone. They were all listening to me very intently on the origins of the Iron Spider (with the exception of Mj who was still reading her book). I countinued onto Elemental's origin.

"Elemental is the newest member of the Avengers who joined almost a month ago. His sword can shape shift to any kind of weapon you can think of such as an axe, a bow and arrow, a bow staff and much more but i think that it be too long of an explanation if i kept going on. He can control natural elements which are fire, water, wind, ice, light, dark, and nature. Whichever power he choses has it's own abilities. He can also transport the elements into his weapon. For example if he was using an axe as a weapon and he transported his fire element into the axe it would turn into a fire axe. Any questions??? " I saw somebody raise their hand at the back.

"Yes you at the back" i said while pointing at the person at the back.

"How did the Avengers meet Elemental because he was annouced as one but nobody got an explanation"

"Good question. Well nine months before he was announced as an Avenger, the Avengers were in a battle with Red skull. They almost died when he was suddenly frozen and he was shattered tp a million pieces. They saw a silhouette of a person but his face was covered with a black face mask. After months of searching and researching for this person. At first he refused to join but he caved in the end after some persuasion by Spiderman. Anything else???? "

Someone was about to ask another question but Friday said that our time was up and that we had to mive on to the next part of the tour which was the mechanical workshop. I have a feeling that my Parker luck is gonna struck again but when has it not.

When we entered the workshop it was pure chaos. Dad was yelling at Clint something about almost ruining the mission Nat was sharpening her knife. Pietro was next to Clint holding his hand and (m/n) was fixing his motorbike whole wearing his wireless headphones, listening to music. So he was pretty clueless on what's going on around him. They all stopped what they were doing (with the exception of (m/n) who was to focused on fixing his motorbike) and smiled at us.

"Hey Pete boy what are you doing in these parts of the tower" Pietro asked while he suddenly appeared next to me. He put my head in a headlock and messed up my hair a bit before letting me go.

"I could ask you the same thing. Your not exactly trusted here" i said while fixing up my hair a bit. He put his hand on his heart while giving me a mocking gasp.

"I'm offended. Just because i zoom around the place that doesn't mean i broke anything"

Dad looked at him with a 'are you serious' look. Pietro did a damsel in distress look while sighing a dramatic sigh.

"I'm hurt by your words"

I just chuckled at his childish attitude while Aunt Tasha just exited the room. I swear Pietro is more dramatic than dad.

"While it was fun watching you joke around the class has a tour that (m/n) needs to take over. So i think it's time to take our leave. (m/n) time for you to take over!!!

(m/n) didn't move away from his motorbike so I'm guessing he didn't hear dad.

"(m/n)!!! Are you listening to me!!!"

"Don't worry Tony i got this" Pietro said with a mischievous grin on his face.

At the sidelines, everyone was mumbling to each other. Some of them were about being in the same room as their favourite superhero. While the others were mumbling about my internship being true. Flash was flushed red because i got noticed by them and not him.

(m/n) 's P.O.V

I was fixing my motorbike because someone *cough* Clint *cough* thought it was a good idea to "accidentally" knock over an expensive vase (which i think he did it on purpose) and he almost got shot if it wasn't for me jumping in with my motorbike and the latter decided it was a good idea to use an explosive arrows while I'm near the proximity. So, now i have a lot of things i need to repair on my motorbike. While i was fixing my motorbike, i was startled when someone yelled in my ear.

"(m/n)!!! Peter's in trouble!!!" Pietro yelled into my ear.

"What!!! Where!!!" i shouted with slight panic but i accidentally hit my head on my motorbike's turbo booster really REALLY hard because of how fast i lifted my head.

"Ow..." i said while closing my eyes and rubbing my head.

Whwn i reopened my eyes, again and saw a bunch of teenagers (is that the right way to describe them???) staring at me with wide eyes with a laughing Tony and Pietro and a blushing Peter (probably because i was worried about him getting hurt) . I was glaring at Pietro and Tony so hard that (f/c) flames started to surrounding me. They raised their hands in surrender, terrified that i might burn them if they continued. I smirked a victory smirk and the (f/c) flames disappeared. I took off my wireless headphones and walked towards Pietro and smacked his head really hard.

"Ow... What was that for???" Pietro whined while rubbing his sore head.

"That was for scaring me" i said and i started walking towards Peter. He blushed a darker shade of red while the teenagers behind him started giggling and whispering about how "hot and attractive" i was, but i just tuned them out and continued walking until i reached Peter. I wrapped my right hand around his waist and layed my head at the crook of his neck.

"Hey Pete sorry for not joining the tour earlier because someone decided to be stupid" i said emphasising the word someone someone while glaring at Clint who was now, sulking in a conner and was being comforted by Pietro. I just rolled my eyes and gave Peter a peck on his lips.

"Wait... PARKER IS DATING ELEMENTAL"

I looked over and saw a guy wearing a jacket, trying to look cool which he did horrible at.

"Yeah. What Peter never told you he was dating me. Pete, baby how could you not tell other people that you were dating this handsome dude"

I heard Tony snort at the word handsome while Peter just chuckled at my childness.

"As much as i want to mess around more. We need to get on with the tour. I'm assuming your going to be showing us around"

"Mhmm,nothing ever gets by you does it" i said while smiling fondly at him and kissed his cheek before unwrapping my hand around. I walked towards Tony, Clint and Pietro and shooed them out of the workshop. Once they were out , i turned towards the class with a soft smile which made everyone blush and drool (even the hoe of a teacher). I mentally rolled my eyes and pulled my (f/c) mask back on. I clapped my hands together and said,

"Let's get the show on the road now, shall we?"

-59 minutes later-

I looked at my watch and realised that i had one more minute until they had to get to the next part of Stark Towers. I decided to awnser one more question that they might have. For the entire time they've been in here i showed them some of the things that i made. For example, my motorbikes, electric cars, jets, mechanical wings for falcon, guns, Clint's arrows and pretty much anything you need i can make it. They all were impressed that i could make all of this and on top of that i gratuated school pretty early. Oh!!! Did i mention that I'm 17? No? Oh well,now you know.

"Alright everyone i only have time for one question before we move on onto the next destination of Stark Tower. So if anyone of you have a question don't be afraid to ask because you miggt never get this chance again" and instantly five hands were raised up but I pointed at the guy near me.

"How does Parker get not one but two look a like Avengers, fake badges and how much did he pay you to kiss him"

I felt my blood beginning to boil. My bangs covered my eyes but they were red with anger (A/n: Your eyes changes colour depending on the emotions) because how dare he thinks that my Petey will do something like that. The tempature in the room dropped making the class shiver. I started approaching him very VERY slowly with lightning trailing behind me, so i can scare him a little which worked. Everyone made sure to keep a good ten feet away from us. Peter looked terrified about what's going to happen but didn't move because he knew the consequences. ( A little hint. He didn't get kisses and cuddles from me for a week. He can go without those for two days)

When i was right in front of him, i tilted my head to the side revealing my glowing blood red eyes. I pushed him into a the nearest wall, trapping while shape shifting my sword into a darkness knife.

"One more bad word about my Petey. Your head won't be attached to your body after this. Got it!?!??!" i said while pressing my knife dangerously close to his neck. He nodded so fast that i would've mistaken him for Pietro except he got a much more bitchy attitude than Tony when he wants attention from Steve or when Clint was ignored by Pietro because he did a 'breaking up' prank (it was kinda funny seeing Clint begging to Pietro for two hours straight) and that's basically giving them a compliment.

I let go of him and told the others to wait outside to wait for the next part of the tour because I wanted to have a word with Peter. Everyone basically bolted out the room trying to stay on my good side. I turn towards a nervous looking and kinda sweating Peter. He visibly gulped because he knows he is in deep, deep trouble.

Peter's P.O.V

I feel like I'm screwed because not only did i not tell them about my salty teacher much earlier but i didn't tell them that i also have a bully on my track. He crossed his arms while tap his left foot impatiently waiting for an awnser. Well, here goes nothing let just hope he doesn't go on a killing spree.

-Timeskip after the explanation-

When i was done explaining, he was mad but surprisingly calm about the whole situation. He placed his hand on my shoulder and started talking.

"Look I'm not mad that you didn't tell me but if something like this happens again i want you to tell either me or the others because we care about you and don't want you to get hurt. Alright???"

I nodded my head while crying slightly and hugged him really tight like if i let him go i would lose him. I'm really thankful i have someone like him in my life. He chuckled and ran his fingers through my head and kissed my forehead before pulling away. He wiped my tears away and kissed me before pulling away. He pulled away from the hug and extended his hand to me.

"Come on Pete. We have a tour to get back to"

I smiled and took his hand letting him lead my hand outside towards the class to continue the tour.

I looked at my watch and realised that the tour was almost over. We only had two more destination which is the training room on level 20 and after that the class will meeting the rest of the Avengers. I mentally jumped for joy because my suffering is almost over. Not that I didn't enjoy it because (m/n)'s hand is always either on my hip or around my waist. He will give me a random pecks here and there. Mrs. Warren and Flash aren't picking on me because (m/n) kept giving them death glares but they still glared at me (i swear those two are oblivious) . So overall, I'm enjoying myself.

TBC (because I've passed my block limit 😅 but stick around for part 2!!)

#spiderman #yaoi #male #male reader #peter parker #peter parker x male reader #school #field trip #lgbt pride #gay #marvel #superhero

89 notes · View notes

kookie-doughs · 4 years ago

Text

Y/N L/N AND THE HALFBLOODS

Percy Jackson X Reader -Y/N L/N met Percy Jackson and everything was now ruined.

CHAPTER 10: The Wheels On The Bus Goes Skrt Skrt Skrt

It didn't take me long to pack. I didn't have anything at all, which left me only an extra change of clothes and a toothbrush to stuff in a backpack Grover had found for me and Percy. Both having nothing to carry we decided to share a bag. The camp store loaned us one hundred dollars in mortal money and twenty golden drachmas. These coins were as big as Girl Scout cookies and had images of various Greek gods stamped on one side and the Empire State Building on the other. The ancient mortal drachmas had been silver, Chiron told us, but Olympians never used less than pure gold. Chiron said the coins might come in handy for non-mortal transactions—whatever that meant. He gave Annabeth, Percy and I each a canteen of nectar and a Ziploc bag full of ambrosia squares, to be used only in emergencies, if we were seriously hurt. It was god food, Chiron reminded us. It would cure us of almost any injury, but it was lethal to mortals. Too much of it would make a half-blood very, very feverish. An overdose would burn us up, literally. Annabeth was bringing her magic Yankees cap, which she told us had been a twelfth-birthday present from her mom. She carried a book on famous classical architecture, written in Ancient Greek, to read when she got bored, and a long bronze knife, hidden in her shirt sleeve. I was sure the knife would get us busted the first time we went through a metal detector. Grover wore his fake feet and his pants to pass as human. He wore a green rasta-style cap, because when it rained his curly hair flattened and you could just see the tips of his horns. His bright orange backpack was full of scrap metal and apples to snack on. In his pocket was a set of reed pipes his daddy goat had carved for him, even though he only knew two songs: Mozart's Piano Concerto no. 12 and Hilary Duff's "So Yesterday," both of which sounded pretty bad on reed pipes. We waved good-bye to the other campees, took one last look at the strawberry fields, the ocean, and the Big House, then hiked up Half-Blood Hill to the tall pine tree that used to be Thalia, daughter of Zeus. Chiron was waiting for us in his wheelchair. Next to him stood a surfer looking dude. According to Grover, the guy was the camp's head of security. He supposedly had eyes all over his body so he could never be surprised. Today, though, he was wearing a chauffeur's uniform, so I could only see extra peepers on his hands, face and neck. "This is Argus," Chiron told us. "He will drive you into the city, and, er, well, keep an eye on things." I heard footsteps behind us. Luke came running up the hill, carrying a pair of basketball shoes. "Hey!" he panted. "Glad I caught you." Annabeth blushed, the way she always did when Luke was around. I looked at him with a frown. "Don't look at me like that. I had to find out from the others you're going on a quest." he glared. "So much for the option you won't die at." "I would've told you if you were at the cabin when I got back. Now what's with the shoes?" "Just wanted to say good luck," Luke told Percy. "And I thought... um, maybe you could use these." He handed him the sneakers, which looked pretty normal. They even smelled kind of normal. Luke said, "Maia!" White bird's wings sprouted out of the heels, startling me so much, Percy dropped them. The shoes flapped around on the ground until the wings folded up and disappeared. "Awesome!" Grover said. Luke smiled. "Those served me well when I was on my quest. Gift from Dad. Of course, I don't use them much these days...." His expression turned sad. I didn't know what to say. It was cool enough that Luke had come to say good-bye. But here he was giving Percy a magic gift.... It made me a bit jealous. "Hey, man," Percy said. "Thanks." "Listen, Percy..." Luke looked uncomfortable. "A lot of hopes are riding on you. So just... kill some monsters for me, okay?" They shook hands. Luke patted Grover's head between his horns, then gave a good-bye hug to Annabeth, who looked like she might pass out. The three went to Chiron about stuffs while Luke and I had a staring contest. "So Percy got a present and I only get an I don't know... a hug? Here I thought I was your favorite." "What made you think you are?" He laughed and ruffled my hair. "And no you don't get a hug." "Suddenly I'm not coming back." He smiled and from his back he pulled out a sheathed knife. "I meant to say you won't get only a hug. I noticed you're not a fan of swords. So, I made this my self. I am no Hephaestus child but hey..." He handed me the knife. The sheath was plain colored with a metal chap and locket, it had chains attached to the locket where I could probably put it on something to make sure I bring it with me. Pulling the knife out of the sheath, its knife was around 15 inches. On the blade, Ancient Greek was engraved on it. I think it's my name and the other side is his. "What is this?" I grinned. "I don't know. I ran out of good ideas! I swear I looked up some of Plato and Socrates for that." "And you settled for that?" I laughed. "I am going to take that back now." "Hey, that doesn't mean I don't like it. Thanks." "It's celestial bronze... Half of it at least." "Half?" "I'm sure Chiron won't appreciate it. It will harm both us and humans." "So... It'll hurt both side?" "Yup. And I'm not sure but according to a Hephaestus kid but it's supposed to glow when its near something." "Its not glowing now." "We never said no backsies. I'd like it back now." "I'll take good care of..." I stopped to think of a name and almost immediately remembered a perfect one, "Sting." "I would ask but I already know." Luke shook his head. "Be careful with Sting. It---" "He. Sting is a he, thank you very much." "HE, is lethal. He it can kill us, others close to our kind and normal humans." "Oops I accidentally stabbed myself." With a worried look he pulled me in a hug, "And whatever happens. Put your safety above all. No need to be the hero. If you die in this quest I will get the lord of the dead revive you or kill me." "Ew how sentimental." "Be careful... okay? All of you. Promise me that." "Fine, I promise. On the knife, I'll come back not dead, with everyone." After Luke was gone, I placed the knife on my waist. I went back to Percy. "Okay, that's extremely cool," I heard him say. "What's cool?" I grinned standing behind Percy overlooking his shoulder. "My new pen." He showed me his pen and uncapped it only to show a sword. "I can't loose it no matter what! Its called Riptide." "But what if a mortal sees you pulling out a sword?" Chiron smiled. "Mist is a powerful thing, Y/N." "Mist?" "I just keep hearing that over and over can someone finally explain?" "Yes. Read The Iliad. It's full of references to the stuff. Whenever divine or monstrous elements mix with the mortal world, they generate Mist, which obscures the vision of humans. You will see things just as they are, being a half-blood, but humans will interpret things quite differently. Remarkable, really, the lengths to which humans will go to fit things into their version of reality." Percy put Riptide back in his pocket. For the first time, the quest felt real. We was actually leaving Half-Blood Hill. We was heading west with no adult supervision, no backup plan, not even a cell phone. (Chiron said cell phones were traceable by monsters; if we used one, it would be worse than sending up a flare.) I had no weapon stronger than a knife to fight off monsters and reach the Land of the Dead. "Chiron..." I said. "When you say the gods are immortal... I mean, there was a time before them, right?" "Four ages before them, actually. The Time of the Titans was the Fourth Age, sometimes called the Golden Age, which is definitely a misnomer. This, the time of Western civilization and the rule of Zeus, is the Fifth Age." "So what was it like... before the gods?" Chiron pursed his lips. "Even I am not old enough to remember that, child, but I know it was a time of darkness and savagery for mortals. Kronos, the lord of the Titans, called his reign the Golden Age because men lived innocent and free of all knowledge. But that was mere propaganda. The Titan king cared nothing for your kind except as appetizers or a source of cheap entertainment. It was only in the early reign of Lord Zeus, when Prometheus the good Titan brought fire to mankind, that your species began to progress, and even then Prometheus was branded a radical thinker. Zeus punished him severely, as you may recall. Of course, eventually the gods warmed to humans, and Western civilization was born." "But the gods can't die now, right? I mean, as long as Western civilization is alive, they're alive. So... even if I failed, nothing could happen so bad it would mess up everything, right?" Chiron gave us a melancholy smile. "No one knows how long the Age of the West will last, Percy. The gods are immortal, yes. But then, so were the Titans. They still exist, locked away in their various prisons, forced to endure endless pain and punishment, reduced in power, but still very much alive. May the Fates forbid that the gods should ever suffer such a doom, or that we should ever return to the darkness and chaos of the past. All we can do, child, is follow our destiny." "Our destiny... assuming we know what that is." "Relax," Chiron told me. "Keep a clear head. And remember, you may be about to prevent the biggest war in human history." "Relax," Percy said. "I'm very relaxed." When we got to the bottom of the hill, I looked back. Under the pine tree that used to be Thalia, daughter of Zeus, Chiron was now standing in full horse-man form, holding his bow high in salute. Just your typical summer-camp send-off by your typical centaur. I took Percy's hand and we gave each other a reassuring nod. I wish us luck. Talking whilst at camp drained me. I apologize if I won't be much help. You have stamina? So you aren't a bigshot all powerful god? Without you and I as one. I am nothing. I have given you my everything.

Argus drove us out of the countryside and into western Long Island. It felt weird to be on a highway again, Annabeth and Percy was sitting next to me as if we were normal carpoolers. After two weeks at Half-Blood Hill, the real world seemed like a fantasy. I found myself staring at every McDonald's, every kid in the back of his parents' car, every billboard and shopping mall. "So far so good," Percy said. "Ten miles and not a single monster." She gave him an irritated look. "It's bad luck to talk that way, seaweed brain." "Remind me again—why do you hate me so much?" "I don't hate you." "Could've fooled me." She folded her cap of invisibility. "Look... we're just not supposed to get along, okay? Our parents are rivals." "Why?" She sighed. "How many reasons do you want? One time my mom caught Poseidon with his girlfriend in Athena's temple, which is hugely disrespectful. Another time, Athena and Poseidon competed to be the patron god for the city of Athens. Your dad created some stupid saltwater spring for his gift. My mom created the olive tree. The people saw that her gift was better, so they named the city after her." "They must really like olives." I interjected. "Not you too! You know what? Forget it." "Now, if she'd invented pizza—that I could understand." "I said, forget it!" In the front seat, Argus smiled. He didn't say anything, but one blue eye on the back of his neck winked at me. Traffic slowed us down in Queens. By the time we got into Manhattan it was sunset and starting to rain. Argus dropped us at the Greyhound Station on the Upper East Side, Percy and I didn't let go. Taped to a mailbox was a soggy flyer with Percy's picture on it: HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BOY? He ripped it down before Annabeth and Grover could notice. "They could've at least gotten a better picture." I smirked which caused him to roll his eyes. Argus unloaded our bags, made sure we got our bus tickets, then drove away, the eye on the back of his hand opening to watch us as he pulled out of the parking lot. Grover shouldered his backpack. He gazed down the street in the direction Percy was looking. "You want to know why she married him, Percy?" I stared at Percy then at Grover. "Were you reading my mind or something?" "Just your emotions." He shrugged. "Guess I forgot to tell you satyrs can do that. You were thinking about your mom and your stepdad, right?" Percy nodded. I missed my parents of course, but I had Luke and Grover to talk to which made me less lonely. Percy became an outcast when we got to camp and had no one to talk to. I squeezed his hand and gave him a smile. "Your mom married Gabe for you," Grover told him. "You call him 'Smelly,' but you've got no idea. The guy has this aura.... Yuck. I can smell him from here. I can smell traces of him on you, and you haven't been near him for a week." "Thanks," Percy said. "Where's the nearest shower?" "You should be grateful, Percy. Your stepfather smells so repulsively human he could mask the presence of any demigod. As soon as I took a whiff inside his Camaro, I knew: Gabe has been covering your scent for years. If you hadn't lived with him every summer, you probably would've been found by monsters a long time ago. Your mom stayed with him to protect you. She was a smart lady. She must've loved you a lot to put up with that guy—if that makes you feel any better." I knew what Percy was thinking. He was thinking of the fact we'll get his mom and my parents. How we'll save them all. We got restless waiting for the bus and decided to play some Hacky Sack with one of Grover's apples. Annabeth was unbelievable. She could bounce the apple off her knee, her elbow, her shoulder, whatever. I wasn't too bad myself. The game ended when I tossed the apple toward Grover and it got too close to his mouth. In one mega goat bite, our Hacky Sack disappeared—core, stem, and all. Grover blushed. He tried to apologize, but we were too busy cracking up. Percy pulled me to a corner, after excusing ourselves for a bathroom break. "You finally going to tell me about this quest?" "The truth is," He started. "I don't care about retrieving Zeus's lightning bolt, or saving the world, or even helping my father out of trouble." I gave him a look that reassured him to continue. "The more I thought about it, I resented my father for never visiting me, never helping my mom, never even sending a lousy child-support check. He'd only claimed me because he needed a job done. All I cared about was you and my mom. The underworld god had taken her unfairly, and he is going to give her back." "Percy, we don't even know what's going on. Yeah, he might have her. But what is there's another reason? We don't exactly know anything. I don't even think my parents are with him." "Well, no matter where they are. We will get them back. The least I could do is get them back." He rested his head on my shoulder. "Don't "You will be betrayed by one who calls you a friend," "What?" I froze. "Percy... I would never---" "You will fail to save what matters most in the end." "What are you talking about?" The rain kept coming down. "The rest of the prophecy. Y/N, I don't want you to betray me. Please... don't." I could hear his voice breaking. "Of course I won't. We'll get this quest done. We won't loose anyone and we'll get our parents. Don't worry." I hugged him. "I will stay with you. I won't leave and I won't betray you." "Hey Bonnie and Clyde, we need to go." Finally the bus came. As we stood in line to board, Grover started looking around, sniffing the air. "What is it?" I asked. "I don't know," he said tensely. "Maybe it's nothing." But I could tell it wasn't nothing. I took Percy's hand and started looking over my shoulder, too. I was relieved when we finally got on board and found seats together in the back of the bus. We stowed our backpacks. Annabeth kept slapping her Yankees cap nervously against her thigh. As the last passengers got on, I immediately clamped my hand onto Percy's knee. "Percy." It was Mrs. Dodds. Older, more withered, but definitely the same evil face. I scrunched down in my seat. Behind her came two more old ladies: one in a green hat, one in a purple hat. Otherwise they looked exactly like Mrs. Dodds—same gnarled hands, paisley handbags, wrinkled velvet dresses. Triplet demon grandmothers. And I was now sure, Mrs. Rudolph was one of them. They sat in the front row, right behind the driver. The two on the aisle crossed their legs over the walkway, making an X. It was casual enough, but it sent a clear message: nobody leaves. The bus pulled out of the station, and we headed through the slick streets of Manhattan. "She didn't stay dead long," Percy said, "I thought you said they could be dispelled for a lifetime." "I said if you're lucky," Annabeth said. "You're obviously not." "All three of them," Grover whimpered. "Di immortales!" "Who knows maybe they just want to play?" I said nervously. Annabeth gave me a look of irritation, "Not now," she said, obviously thinking hard. "The Furies. The three worst monsters from the Underworld. No problem. No problem. We'll just slip out the windows." "They don't open," Grover moaned. "A back exit?" she suggested. There wasn't one. Even if there had been, it wouldn't have helped. By that time, we were on Ninth Avenue, heading for the Lincoln Tunnel. "Maybe a nice chat would help?" "They won't attack us with witnesses around," Percy said. "Will they?" "Mortals don't have good eyes," Annabeth reminded him. "Their brains can only process what they see through the Mist." "They'll see three old ladies killing us, won't they?" She thought about it. "Hard to say. But we can't count on mortals for help. Maybe an emergency exit in the roof... ?" We hit the Lincoln Tunnel, and the bus went dark except for the running lights down the aisle. It was eerily quiet without the sound of the rain. Mrs. Dodds got up. In a flat voice, as if she'd rehearsed it, she announced to the whole bus: "I need to use the rest-room." "So do I," said the second sister. "So do I," said the third sister. They all started coming down the aisle. "I've got it," Annabeth said. "Percy, take my hat." "What?" "You're the one they want. Turn invisible and go up the aisle. Let them pass you. Maybe you can get to the front and get away." "But you guys—" "There's an outside chance they might not notice us," Annabeth said. "You're a son of one of the Big Three. Your smell might be overpowering." "I can't just leave Y-- you guys!" "Don't worry about us," I assured him. "Go!" His hands were trembling. But I took the Yankees cap and put it on. And he simply vanished. Mrs. Dodds stopped, sniffing, and looked straight at a spot. My heart was pounding. Apparently she didn't see anything. She and her sisters kept going. "Maybe if they approach us, I could try talking? I really was Mrs. Rudolph's favorite..." I stammered. "Yeah stage is yours." Annabeth answered. The old ladies were not old ladies anymore. Their faces were still the same—I guess those couldn't get any uglier— but their bodies had shriveled into leathery brown hag bodies with bat's wings and hands and feet like gargoyle claws. Their handbags had turned into fiery whips. The Furies surrounded us, lashing their whips, hissing: "Where is it? Where?" The other people on the bus were screaming, cowering in their seats. They saw something, all right. "He's not here!" Annabeth yelled. "He's gone!" The Furies raised their whips. "Don't!" I stepped in front of them shaking. "H-Hi Mrs. Rudolph. W-What could you need?" Annabeth drew her bronze knife. Grover grabbed a tin can from his snack bag and prepared to throw it. To our surprise the bus jerked to the right. Everybody howled as we were thrown to the right, and I heard what I hoped was the sound of three Furies smashing against the windows. "Hey!" the driver yelled. "Hey—whoa!" The bus slammed against the side of the tunnel, grinding metal, throwing sparks a mile behind us. We careened out of the Lincoln Tunnel and back into the rainstorm, people and monsters tossed around the bus, cars plowed aside like bowling pins. Somehow the driver found an exit. We shot off the highway, through half a dozen traffic lights, and ended up barreling down one of those New Jersey rural roads where you can't believe there's so much nothing right across the river from New York. There were woods to our left, the Hudson River to our right, and the driver seemed to be veering toward the river. The bus wailed, spun a full circle on the wet asphalt, and crashed into the trees. The emergency lights came on. The door flew open. The bus driver was the first one out, the passengers yelling as they stampeded after him. The Furies regained their balance. They lashed their whips at Annabeth while she waved her knife and yelled in Ancient Greek, telling them to back off. Grover threw tin cans. It was as if I didn't exist which was kinda offensive. "Hey! I'm also here!" I yelled pulling out my now glowing knife and helped Grover. "Hey!" A voice from the door way echoed. "Percy you idiot! Run!" I yelled. The Furies turned, baring their yellow fangs at him. Mrs. Dodds stalked up the aisle. Every time she flicked her whip, red flames danced along the barbed leather. Her two ugly sisters hopped on top of the seats on either side of her and crawled toward him like huge nasty lizards. I don't know how but I managed to parkour my way to avoid them and get to Percy in no trouble. I raised my knife and stood in between of them. "Perseus Jackson," Mrs. Dodds said, in an accent that was definitely from somewhere farther south than Georgia. "You have offended the gods. You shall die. I suggest you step away from him Y/N L/N." "I liked you better as a math teacher," he told her. She growled. Annabeth and Grover moved up behind the Furies cautiously, looking for an opening. Percy took the ballpoint pen out of his pocket and uncapped it. Riptide elongated into a shimmering double-edged sword. The Furies hesitated. Mrs. Dodds had felt Riptide's blade before. She obviously didn't like seeing it again. "Submit now," she hissed. "And you will not suffer eternal torment." "Nice try," I told her. "Percy, look out!" Annabeth cried. Mrs. Dodds lashed her whip around my sword hand while the Furies on the either side lunged at him. I managed to keep one of them and parried with her using my knife., which turned out to be Mrs. Rudolph. "I hate to admit it but you were my favorite teacher. Why go mean now?!" I struck with the hilt of my knife against her, sending her toppling backward into a seat. I turned to see Percy had sliced the Fury on his right. As soon as the blade connected with her neck, she screamed and exploded into dust. Annabeth got Mrs. Dodds in a wrestler's hold and yanked her backward while Grover ripped the whip out of her hands. "Ow!" he yelled. "Ow! Hot! Hot!" Mrs. Rudolph came at me again, talons ready, but I dove in and got in range to swing Sting at her and she broke open like a piñata. Mrs. Dodds was trying to get Annabeth off her back. She kicked, clawed, hissed and bit, but Annabeth held on while Grover got Mrs. Dodds's legs tied up in her own whip. Finally they both shoved her backward into the aisle. Mrs. Dodds tried to get up, but she didn't have room to flap her bat wings, so she kept falling down. "Zeus will destroy you!" she promised. "Hades will have your soul!" "Braccas meas vescimini!" Percy yelled. I wasn't sure where the Latin came from. I think it meant "Eat my pants!" Thunder shook the bus. The hair rose on the back of my neck. "Get out!" Annabeth yelled at us. "Now!" I didn't need any encouragement. Taking Percy's hand, we rushed outside and found the other passengers wandering around in a daze, arguing with the driver, or running around in circles yelling, "We're going to die!" A Hawaiian-shirted tourist with a camera snapped my photograph before I could recap my sword. "Our bags!" Grover realized. "We left our—" BOOOOOM! The windows of the bus exploded as the passengers ran for cover. Lightning shredded a huge crater in the roof, but an angry wail from inside told me Mrs. Dodds was not yet dead. "Run!" Annabeth said. "She's calling for reinforcements! We have to get out of here!" We plunged into the woods as the rain poured down, the bus in flames behind us, and nothing but darkness ahead.

Previous | Masterlist | Next

UwU Haha this is what the knife looks like since I'm not sure if I describe it that well... Omg I just realized my brother changed the chapter title lmao -kookie-doughs

Just imagine it has your name on the blade.

Taglist?

@gayer-than-the-gayest-gay @the-natureofme @booknerd-3000

#Percy Jackson #Percy Jackson X Reader #Percy Jackson X Y/N #percy jackon and the olympians #luke castellan #Luke castellan x reader #Lightning thief #Y/N L/N #Y/N L/N and the halfbloods #pjo #X Reader #Book 1 #Chapter 10 #Fanfiction #fanfictions

52 notes · View notes

mercurial-muses · 3 years ago

Text

Meeting of the Minds

Valdyss has nearly completed her first phase of research into ley lines and places of magical power in Drustvar. I realized last night that, since a lot of that has been happening in one-on-one RP or 'off screen' completely, there's no way my Autumnhearth guildies and those who RP with us would know that. I'm posting this scene with my writing partner's permission to catch everyone up a little. As a bonus, y'all get to meet Faye's younger sister, Asta.

- - - - -

Valdyss may have met one of the Ladies of Frostfall, but the second remained apparently rather elusive.

Where Faye spent a good deal of time in her workshop, Asta was across the hall in the keep’s study. The other Lady Callahan slowly opened the door and took a step outside. Not out of caution, but because she was distracted. Another book sat open in her hand as she gradually walked out from the study. ‘Rumination on the Elements and Nature,’ read the title. Yet another way to feed her curiosity about the ways of nature based magic.

Asta frowned slightly as she went over one particular passage, moving down the hall with the sort of practiced, subconscious ease one might expect from a regular resident. She was headed towards the kitchen apparently, with the unconscious desire for food.

At least she was going to try and eat unlike someone else in the keep.

The portal behind Valdyss blinked from existence with a quiet whoosh, plunging the spacious guest room into darkness. A snap of the mage’s fingers conjured a tiny flame that hovered between them for a few seconds before it grew into a fiery ball the size of a marble and moved to levitate over her palm. The illumination it provided did little more than push back the shadows immediately in front of her, but it was enough light to allow her to get to the door without taking a header over anything that might be in her path.

Val opened the door with her free hand and, standing in a rectangle of light cast into the room from the hallway, she shook her other hand to extinguish the fire it held. She waved away a wisp of smoke as she stepped into the hallway… and very nearly right into a woman passing by the room. “Oh!” she yelped, unconsciously bringing a hand up to cover her galloping heart. “Light, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you coming.”

Asta subconsciously moved away from the sudden figure, but the yelp drew her eyes away from her text towards the mage. They were a much darker blue than Faye’s and currently filled with both alarm and confusion.

She shut the book in her hand sharply, giving Valdyss a once over. “That’s…fine. Who are you?” With the small number of servants they had, it wasn’t hard to recognize this was not one of their friends. And she couldn’t recognize her from the village either.

Nerd that she was, Val’s attention was almost immediately drawn to the book in the woman’s hand. That, combined with a beauty that was so familiar by now, made all the pieces click. “Asta?” she said, brow raised.

“Valdyss Duskbane, but Val’s fine.” The mage made a critical study of the other woman and, noting the alarm in her eyes, remained alert for sudden movements or any other signs of a fight. “I come in peace, I swear just don’t…” The fingers of her left hand wiggled in the general direction of the floor as she held her right one out in a defensive position. “Don’t root me, or whatever.”

Valdyss would have to look up to meet the woman's gaze, as Asta stood easily over 6' tall. The recognition was confusing up until Val introduced herself.

The alarm dropped from faintly familiar features. Asta's entire posture relaxed with a small huff. "You're Valdyss?" The younger Callahan asked, looking the mage over in a new light. She pursed her lips for a moment before humming with a shrug. "Mmm, I think I get it."

Nonetheless she offered a hand out towards Val. "I am Asta, yes. My apologies for the suspicion. I didn't recognize you, nor did I know you'd be visiting us today. Usually Faye warns me so I don't barge in and make a fool of her. Well, more than she already is anyhow."

Val grinned up at Asta as she took the younger Callahan’s hand in a firm grip. “I am indeed Valdyss.” She withdrew her hand and instead gripped the strap of her pack and pulled it a little higher on her shoulder. “And I am also at fault for you not being warned of my arrival. Faye’s not expecting me yet.”

A faint blush began to rise in the mage’s cheeks as she continued on. “I finished up earlier than expected in Dalaran and, um...” She paused, cleared her throat.

“Well, I was wandering around to kill time and came across a vendor selling a spiced liquor that I thought would add a nice kick to the Crackle n’ Apple.” Val’s hands moved as she spoke and her expression grew animated in her explanation. “And then I found this roasted pork tenderloin and thought that along with some brie would pair really well with the apple and-” Her words tapered off into a chuckle. Val shrugged. “And I didn’t want to wait any longer to see her, okay?”

An amused expression very similar to the one her sister often got grew across Asta's face. She just waved the fluster off with an easy gesture before turning.

"Then by all means: I was headed towards the kitchen anyways. I can help you make the drink and you'll get to kick in Faye's workshop door to make her eat this time. Stag knows you'll probably be a lot more appealing than me getting to lecture her again." Asta snorts, starting to walk off.

"Do you honestly think Faye takes issue with you interrupting her?" Val called to Asta's back as sped to catch up to the retreating woman. She fell into pace at her side and looked up at her. "Asta, your sister adores you."

Asta lets out a soft scoff. "Oh no, I don't really. Well. Most of the time." She corrects with a pause. "The one time she spilled Shroom Bloom on herself was a... very interesting incident." Despite that, there's a hint of fiendish delight that crosses Asta's expressions for a moment. But then it's gone, and she's looking to Valdyss.

"But I adore my sister as well. And if you do too, you'll know I essentially have to intrude or she'd be in there for hours without a drop of water."

“I do,” Val replied without missing a beat. She hefted the pack hanging off her shoulders to emphasize her point. “It’s exactly why I ran around half of Dalaran putting together a meal before finally caving to my haste to get here. "Brought plenty for three, by the way,” she added with a smile.

Asta shot Valdyss a look when that little addition was made. “Trying to curry favor with food?” she quipped with a faint smirk. “My my, you may be as smart as Faye claims.”

“Not looking to curry favor as much as to take advantage of an opportunity to get to know you better.” Val had to jog for a few steps to catch up to Asta’s side again. These tall Callahan women and their long strides. “If it isn’t already, I believe it will become important to your sister that we meet and spend some time together. Light, at least I hope my read on things is correct in that regard.”

Asta finally made it to the kitchen with Val: a large space with a stone oven, some door inlaid with runes, a healthy fireplace, and many more stonework "appliances." Magic hung thick in the room as Asta went to open another door and begin pulling out what must have been supplies to make the Crack N' Apple.

"If she's as fond of you as I suspect, and this continues as it does, I suspect the same." Asta commented. "But that extends both ways, you know. I'd like to understand just who my sister is seeing."

Blue eyes shifted aside to look at Valdyss pointedly, framed by the shorter blonde hair on her head. There was no maliciousness to the statement: no threat. But she was observing the woman.

Valdyss had no control over the grin that transformed her previously tense features, and wouldn’t have tried to compose herself even if it was possible. Of all the emotions she could wear outwardly like a badge of honor, those she felt growing for Faye were among the most important.

“Well, to use a cliche I suspect you’ll appreciate, I am an open book.” As she spoke, Val unpacked the food and then bustled around the kitchen, gathering what she’d need to warm the tenderloin and then plate it up along with the cheese. "I don’t have a thing to hide, so ask away.”

"Well first- Oh here." Asta moved aside and got a large metal pan. She walked over to the fireplace and slid the pan into a niche made partway up the stony alcove. Reaching below, with a murmur, Asta ignited the rune carved there and a hearty fire sprung to life.

"There you are: and the plates are right over there." Asta pointed to a cabinet in question before returning to making her drink. "First: why were you in Dalaran? I was told you are doing some studies there? Something about ley lines I believe."

Valdyss muttered a quiet thanks as she crossed to the cabinet Asta had gestured to. She grabbed three plates and brought them back to the counter closest to where Asta was working. “I’ve been trying to locate areas of concentrated arcane energy here in Drustvar. My hope is to use those as pinpoints that can then be connected together to accurately map the network of main ley lines in this region.”

The mage peeked into the stone recess to check on the roast, smiling as she inhaled the pleasant scent of rosemary. “This trip wasn’t to research as much as it was to log my findings so far.” She shook her head. “The Kirin Tor doesn’t have nearly as much data about Drustvar as I imagined they would, and I intend to remedy that.” Val sighed. “The dark history of your homeland and the potential for that history to repeat itself is just too important to go unnoted.”

Asta, meanwhile, was busying herself with mixing their drinks. She was listening of course, judging from the eventual hum that left her as Valdyss finished speaking.

"Interesting. And what have you found so far? I have a sneaking suspicion a lot of the arcane points of power would likely also be tied towards important places for natural magic."

Val nodded. “What I'm seeing here in Drustvar is consistent with the relationship between ley lines and places of power all over the world. Sites that hold a concentration of arcane magic are either over a main ley line- a trunk, if you will -or where two or more smaller branches intersect.” Talking with her hands as always, the mage crossed her index fingers to illustrate that last point.

“As for natural energy being tied to sites of power in the same way arcane is, that makes complete sense to me.” She leaned one hip against the counter and watched Asta work for a moment before adding, “I can give you copies of the final map and my findings once I have it all pulled together, if you’d like.”

Asta glanced over to the mage as she spoke, and there was clear interest in her expression. Even more so when the offer of a map came into the picture.

"I would absolutely love a copy, if that were possible." She agreed, putting the whipped creme into each of the three glasses. "My knowledge of ley lines is not quite as advanced, but they are rather intriguing. It feels as though the notion of arcane magic isn't quite as talked about around here, despite the Lord Admiral's daughter being a particularly potent mage herself. Or perhaps even more so because of that, actually."

“Ah. We mainlanders with our strange Light and magic, eh?” Val replied, adding a wink for Asta.

The mage looked in on the roast again and, seeing it would likely be perfectly browned in a few minutes, she turned to the counter and unwrapped the round of brie she'd brought. “I’d be interested in visiting a few of the mapped sites with you.” Val centered the cheese on a plate and held her open hand a couple of inches over it, palm down.

“My theory is that you may feel a stronger pull of nature magic there, just as I will with the arcane.” As she spoke, a flickering red glow illuminated the space between her palm and the plate. The brie began to bubble and melt.

“Not to say they’re the same magic. I mean, they’re channeled in different ways, as far as I know,” Val continued. “But I believe that- in the most elemental sense -nature and arcane magic come from the same energy, so I think we’d prove that there are more similarities in the way that our people actually conjure and wield magic than there are differences.”

Asta was in the middle of sprinkling the cinnamon across the drinks when Val made her second offer.

Her hands paused in their work, hovering there for a moment in thought. She continued shortly after, but seemed ever so slightly distracted. It might be subtle enough for Valdyss to miss initially.

"It would be something, certainly, depending on the days you'd choose. I have not gotten the chance to read much into the interplay between the Arcane and Natural magics: most of mine have to do with the latter. Aren't you the Steward of Autumnhearth as well, yes?"

Val nodded. “I am...well, I will be.” She lifted her hand away from the now perfectly gooey round of brie. “I'm currently the Court Secretary and, as honored as I am to have the role, I’m not sure I would have accepted it if I had the impression that all of my time would have to be dedicated to that alone.”

As she spoke, the mage moved to the oven to remove the tenderloin. Once she’d set that down to cool, Valdyss swiped a hand across the rune carved low on the fireplace, cutting off the flame. “As it is, I’ll have the flexibility to choose days that are convenient for you.” She leveled a gaze at Asta, softened by a warm and genuine smile. “We both know your sister won’t need any convincing to cut you loose from here for a little while.”

And here, Asta stopped. She stared down at the three prepared drinks with an intensity they didn't deserve. It was a few seconds before she turned her attention towards Valdyss and smiled politely.

"Well," She finally said, picking up the drinks, "I suppose I'll just have to speak with her on the matter." And that was that. "Now, what can you tell me about your work in Autumnhearth? It seems to be quite the up and coming barony in Drustvar, which is good given everything that's happened."

Valdyss was tempted to push because she knew how much Faye adored Asta and desired more for her and- unexpectedly -because she already liked the younger Callahan enough herself to want to help. It wasn’t the mage’s place though, and Asta’s curt response and quick change of subject only drove that fact further home. ‘What do you know about family matters anyway?’ the mage silently mused to herself.

Taking the hint, Val found a cutting board and set to work slicing the meat as she spoke. “It’s my duty to represent and speak for Autumnhearth, in person or by correspondence, when the Hallewells aren’t available or have had to recuse themselves.” She shrugged. “I haven’t had to do much of anything yet, but I’m ready and honored to… and a bit nervous to, if I’m being honest.”

Valdyss grew quiet then, clearly lost in her own thoughts. The silence between her and Asta didn’t feel uncomfortable, not to her anyway, and she briefly wondered if it was the same for the other woman. She slid the precisely sliced tenderloin onto a plate and tilted it so there was a little space between each slice, allowing one to see beyond the golden seared surface to the pale meat in the center. Grabbing up the pan, she poured the juices- dotted with rosemary, pepper, and garlic -over the roast.

“Promise I’ll help clean up later,” Val said, eyes on the plates of meat and cheese as she picked them up. “But, for now, I think we’re ready to eat.”

tagging @merelliahallewell and @alexandriawilliams for brief mention of the Hallewells

#Valdyss #Asta #Autumnhearth

7 notes · View notes

hauntingjackalopes · 3 years ago

Note

Following your lead - all odd numbers for Grim :3c (Feel free to skip any (esp spoilery q’s) or add any other questions you like!)

Thank you Kovu! :D Under a read more cause probably gonna get Long lmao. Also sorry this took so long, ended up staying at a friends place for a couple days unexpectedly

2. before they met their party, what was their main goal?

Mainly to separate himself from his past, and find a way to be at peace with himself

4. if they could learn one spell that isn’t available to them at present, which spell would it be?

Since he already has a bit of healing magic under his belt, his next focus will probably be something defensive, ideally one he can use to protect the party as well as himself

6. which party member do they relate to the most?

He doesn't necessarily relate to or trust any of them yet tbh. They've been traveling together for a very short amount of time so he's still got his guard up

10. how often do they lie? what situations cause them to be dishonest?

There's very rarely a time where he's completely honest. When he left his old crew, he adopted a new identity and has yet to let anyone get a peak at who he was before

12. have they ever been in love?

Yes, and he still is, but that's long gone. Whether he admits it or not, he's a hopeless romantic

16. what are their feelings on the people who raised them?

Their relationship is strained at best, practically non existent at worst

18. do they see themself as a leader or a follower?

He's much more comfortable as a follower. It's easier for him to keep an eye out when he doesn't have anyone breathing down his neck

22. what is a promise they’ve broken?

That he wouldn't run

24. which of the four elements speaks to them the most?

Bit of a cliché, but fire. He sees how easily his anger and hurt can get out his control, and the damage it can cause

26. who do they miss?

Plenty of people. He's deeply sentimental

28. who would they kill? who would they kill for?

His morality is questionable at best, so plenty of people for plenty of reasons. He's trying to learn to talk first instead of going in swinging

30. what do they seek out from others?

More than anything, comfort and safety. Forgiveness too, though he's not sure who he wants it from

32. do they seek control, or do they want less of it?

The only thing he wants control over is his own life

34. which party member do they go to in a crisis?

As of now, none of them. Talking about his feelings feels like pulling teeth

36. what’s a secret they’ve kept?

His party knows next to nothing about him and he's perfectly fine keeping it that way. For now at least

38. what do they smell like?

Probably a combination and metal, the polish he uses for his axe, and a bit of smoke. He likes to sleep by the fire if there's one going

40. do they enjoy poetry?

Never really been properly introduced to it, but it'd definitely be a guilty pleasure if he was

42. what are three words they would use to describe themself?

Brute, protector, abrasive

44. what do they need to learn?

That what happened wasn't his fault. That he's allowed redemption

46. what do they deprive themself of?

He holds everyone at an arms length now so he's touch starved and misses having bonds with people

48. what do they see in their future?

Hopefully a sense of peace and safety

50. can they sing? can they dance?

His voice is husky and a little raspy but has a surprisingly nice singing voice. He's too embarrassed to do it most of the time though. He can't dance whatsoever

52. from whom do they seek validation?

Everyone, whether he realizes it or not

56. what animal do they most relate to?

Bears, for obvious reasons lmao

58. what do they think their role in the party is? what is their role in actuality?

He sees himself as the brute, the intimidation. The body guard type. In actuality, he is the brute strength but he's also the team dad

60. do they whisper or yell more often?

He talks pretty quietly. He's well aware of how intimidating he is and while he's more than willing to use that to his advantage, he generally tries not to scare people

62. do they value mercy or justice more?

He favours justice but is trying to learn mercy

66. who makes them feel warm?

Right now, the closest would be Zarus. He sees them as incredibly charismatic and appreciates the effort they put into being his friend, no matter how little he responds. He also very much appreciates that they don't seem intimidated by him at all

(this section is just questions I felt like answering for him :P)

9. do they care about their appearance? how much effort do they put into presentation?

He doesn't see why people would be attracted to him so he puts minimal effort into it, but he likes having his nails painted (black obviously) and puts in a lot of effort to maintain his muscle

17. what do they dream about, when their dreams are their own?

More often than not when he does, it's recurring nightmares. He does occasionally dream of growing old with someone and putting his axe away

35. which party member do they worry for?

All of them but Maco and Zarus especially. Maco because he seems young and naive, Zarus because they're reckless

39. are their hands calloused, soft, or something else entirely?

Calloused and scarred

41. what are they attracted to in other people?

Confidence, humour, passion, selflessness

45. how do they hug people?

It's pretty hard to get a hug out of him nowadays but when he does it's bone crushingly tight. He wants to give the kind of hugs that make people feel safe

59. what is a quiet passion of theirs?

Animals and wood working, which leads to him carving lots of small animal statues. They're surprisingly detailed

#grimshaw tbh #agentnorthdakota

8 notes · View notes

zero-rider · 4 years ago

Text

A grim truth

This wasn't supposed to happen

His original idea was to face Salem as much as he could so his friends could leave Atlas before it fell in Mantle, which it was okay with him, since all the civilians were evacuated from both Atlas and Mantle and were being staying in many Atlas ships by the order of the new general of Atlas; Winter Schnee, they were also being protected by what remains of the Ace-ops and Penny with her still newly winter maiden powers. He also planned to fall along with Atlas and Salem if he didn't make it, but if his Aura and semblance could take the fall, then he would be more than fine in his book, it also would be more than fine if she just struggle to get out of the debris of Atlas while they escape,

But in just some minutes, his plan failed. His Aura could only took 5 hits form her magic, 4 if you didn't count an ice stalactite that was tanked by his semblance and reduced his Aura to 1%. Atlas was falling faster than he though and he just got a call from Ruby that everyone of his friends were searching for him, so the idea of them leaving Atlas in one piece was a colossal no right now. There was also the factor that three Seers were keeping him in the ground with his face on the dirt and in front of the queen of the Grimm, he was still panting and searching for an opportunity to escape from the Seers tight hold

"don't fight it, they will tighten their hold on you the more you fight" Salem smiled while holding and inspecting Jaune's sword, the same shining and sharp metal that cut her head four minutes ago "an excellent blade for an incompetent huntsmen, looks like Ozma has been lowering his standards about his soldiers"

"funny you say that, because i remember this incompetent huntsmen cutting your head minutes ago. With that said, i think i'm a pretty good huntsman" smugly replied the blond before he was kicked in the face by the pale woman

"you bragging about that little mistake? oh my, Ozma really has really lower his standards. I'll admit, you lasted longer than the previous Ozma pawn who faced me, i'll give you that" she chuckle, then she walked slowly to the almost broken shield from Jaune, just a short distance away from him

"why, thank you. i would have last longer, but i wasn't prepared to face a magical old hag" the blond said, before he was slapped by one of the seers and caused a little cut on his right cheek

"do you have a death wish or something?" she shook her head in disapproval, holding the faced-downd shield "youngsters these days. anyway, i know from two certain agent of mine, that you are quite close to that silver-eyes spawn, so i believe that i can ask a certain question. how do you activate the Relic of Knowledge"

"you have to say immas ucke-uuughh!" the seers tighten their hold on Jaune and he was lifted to the same level as Salem's face, whose red and black eyes were looking straight at him

"wrong answer, i will say it one more time and slowly so you could understand. How. do. you. activate. the Relic. of Knowledge" Salem took the shield and inspectione it, it surprised her the weight a little, but the Arc family emblem was what took her attention. It was like certain emblem in that tower she used to live, but inverted, before she was what it was now. Sadly for her, her blond prisoner still had enough energy to insult her again and suffer the consequences, and took her away from her memories momentarily

"fine, i think it was ligma-AAAAAAAHHHHH!!" this time he was meet with a little (in her words) thunder from her. She didn't even looked at him when she fire it, she just looked again to his shield and with some hand moves, a diamond was put in his shield, in the middle of the inverted emblem

Something hit her in that moment, it was a still existing pain in her chest that was later replaced with joy for a few moments, then sadness took the joy's place. If what she thought was true, then her daughters (or at least one) could have lived after that explosion of magic that take them from her. Many thoughts came to her mind about what could had happened so one or all her daughters could have survived in that moment, many were about Ozma hiding their daughters from her. Just a few were about none of them knowing that their children were alive, and they left them before checking if they were alive. But that could take her mind another time, right now it was about her descendant and how she was torturing him

She droped the shield, and the Seers released a confused jaune, who touched his jaw to feel any other damage apart from the kick from her and kneeled to recover from the still fresh thunder he received. Salem, on her part, was having an internal struggle. She was just looking at him, the way his eyes and body were showing fear for the first time, the way he was trying to comprehend what was happening and why Salem didn't used a Grimm to turn him in nothing more than just a pile of flesh, and how he was screaming mentally at himself to run. It got worse when she began to cry

"my family... i'm trying to kill my family again... just like thousands of years ago" tears leaked from her eyes, just as her bloody red eyes looked deep at his sapphire blue ones. Nostalgia came, it was like watching at her youngest daughter again, only turned into a boy, but the resemblance was evident

"your... family? what. what are you talking about?" his question was not answered, for something worse than a truth was now to take place

"it can't be... Ozma, he... Ozma!" hell broke loose, she released all kind of spells destroying constructions and even creating more craters in the destroyed streets of Atlas "HOW DARE YOU USE OUR CHILDREN AGAINST ME, OZMA?!!" what she did was like a light spectacle. Fire, thunder, ice, earth, wind and any other elements where shooted to all directions from her hands, mouth and eyes, she didn't even spare one of her Seers, but strangely, not a single hair was touched from him, but that didn't took the possibility of a stray attack coming his way, after all, he didn't had Aura and an attack with that kind of magnitude would kill him immediately

After what it felt like an eternity, she calmed herself enough to give a mental order to her seers to leave them alone or dissapear, which they did the second with out an objection and left after their labour was complete. Jaune for his part, was still scared and on his knees, the sovereign of the grimm used all her power to vent for her anger at Ozpin in front of his face, she decimated an entire block of Atlas in her anger with just one of her spells, the other only did craters deeper than the previous one in erratic shoots of magic. All that show of her power made him understand a little the ex-headmaster of Heaven academy, if her power scared him for almost destroyed Atlas in her irrational anger, then what a rational Salem could do with all that magic made him tremble

and suddenly, his worries and fears were lost after a single question from her part "what's your name, my child? i need, no... i must know the name of my family"

"fa... family?" he was lost of words, scared of the implications and he was hyperbelint

"yes, my child. You are my family" Salem, for the first time in millenia, truly smiled, a bright smile showed and more tears filled her eyes, this times were tears of happiness

"that, that's impossible. Ruby and, Ozpin said-" he was cut from his rambling, as his belief were being proven by Salem, who was now walking with her arms spread, waiting for a hug he didn't wanted, but was too shocked to even try to fight it

"oh please, Ozma always liked to keep his secrets well hidden. Just look at me, if people knew about my existence, do you think we would had this conversation? Would you be alive or would you be dead?. Who knows? Maybe you could have had a good life if it wasn't for Ozma's silence, but not anymore" she broked the hug and stroked his hair, like his mother used to when he was a younger and more tiny, now he recieved from his many-greats grandmother "your name, darling, tell me you name"

"Jaune... Arc" certain memories inside him made sense in that moment, why he was admitted in Beacon even with his fake transcripts in first place, why was he named team leader and why Tyrian was interested in him. Was he there because Ozpin wanted? Did Ozpin made him team leader for a master plan he had in the moment? he didn't knew it, but... a part of him told him that he did

"then, Jaune Arc, accept this gift from me" her ivory hand came to his chestplate and without much effort, she tear it from his body, then she put the same hand in his chest "AWAKE!"

His chest began to hurt and some weird black liquid enraptured his body, he felt good, it was relaxing and for some reason, he forgot why he was afraid, so his mind just sleep, he was safe, he was fine and he would obey. Then, the black liquid over his body become a black under suit, his white and gold gloves changed to a white and red armored gloves that covered all his arm and with sharp nails that resembled claws on his fingers. His foots also got white and red armored protection that covered all his legs and toe caps that looked like feets of a beast, with a white armored belt over his waist with the Salem/Arc emblem in the middle painted black instead of yellow. His chestplate came next, this one was more stylish than his previous one, the area of the pectorals were bulky and had red pattern over them that looked like roots and a yellow gem bellow the pectorals

Just when he was about to receive his helmet, a well known voice for him came to his ears "JAUNE!" it was Ruby, who first looked at her friend with a worried look, then she looked at the Grimm queen with hate "leave him alone!!" the red tipped haired girl sayed before she deployed Crescent Rose and taked a shoot at Salem's head, who recieved with a smile

"a silver-eyed girl descendant of Ozpin trying to save my descendant. Ironic" she said, still with her hand in the armored chest of her descendant, whose look was in the floor

"desc- Jaune's your descendant!?" Ruby lowered her weapon a little, shocked but not fully believing the words of her enemy

"that's right, silver eyes, your beloved... friend, i guess? is my family. Please, show her, my child" Salem patted his armored shoulder and stood from her previous posture, letting Jaune stood

"yes, mother" Ruby gasped at his face, his previous saphire eyes were now blood red eyes with black sclera and black veins coming from his eyes. there was also some white hairs in his previous blond hair and his hair was the same when she meet him for the first time, long and messy, instead of his spiky short hair

Before she could even mutter a word, his face was covered by white helmet with sharp fangs, long wolf like ears, some simulated fur made with the same white metal coming from the sides, it was practically a wolf helmet showing his fangs with yellow eyes.

He would later took his sword from the floor and gave it a new form with the black liquid, it was more longer, had black root like patterns in the blade and the guard of the sword was replaced with what it looked like bat wings

This wasn't Jaune anymore, not the one who was always for her when she feeled down, the one who cried when they meet again in Argus and not the same vomit boy she was falling for. this was... as much it broke her heart, another Grimm, one she didn't and hoped never to face. His sword was lifted in order for a horizontal strike, but his target moved faster than him and avoided his attack to recover the shield of Jaune, with the diamond shape thing out of the arcs of his emblem. She hugged the shield and gived the armored man a last look, before the tears could leak from her eyes and used her semblance to get away

"Ru...by..." his distortioned voice was the last she heard before flee from there at the max of her speed, with Jaune's previous shield in her hands and her heart breaking on her chest

#rwby #Jaune Arc #salem #ruby rose #rwby lancaster #lancaster #jaune is salem's descendant theory #Grimm!Jaune

72 notes · View notes

loosescrewslefty · 5 years ago

Text

Miraculous Ladybug- Fixing the Powers

I’ve been very much bothered by the way that the writing team for Miraculous Ladybug has been handling powers for a long time now. It might not be as frustrating or offensive as how they sometimes treat the characters and their relationships, but it BOTHERS me. Because it doesn’t make sense that Adults are more powerful than kids just by the grace of being an adult if the magic comes from a kwami and the jewelry and as such the age of the wearer shouldn’t matter as much. And objectively speaking, there as several ‘minor’ miraculouses that seem WAY more powerful than the two that are supposed to be the most coveted, the Ladybug and Chat Noir miraculouses. Also both the addition of the potions AND the distinctions given to some of the miraculouses/kwamis (Such as Pollen being the ‘Kwami of Subjugation’) are just... ODD. So a while back I sat down and charted out a way to ‘fix’ the powers in Miraculous Ladybug, much like I’ve seen others fix plots and characters.

More Clearly based on Yin/Yang, Wu Xing, and the Zodiacs

I can’t tell you how much it annoys me that Astruc clearly chose these Chinese motifs for the aesthetic, and didn’t bother researching or properly applying any of the theology attached to them to his show. Ladybug and Chat Noir SHOULD be equal, and balance one another out, but they’re not. Instead, Ladybug gets way more power and importance than Chat Noir does. And the Wu Xing Cycle is an important one too, because that’s nature holding itself in check.

The Wu Xing has four different cycles attached to it; the Creation Cycle, the Destruction Cycle, the Insult Cycle, and the Controlling Cycle. It could have been interesting to lean into this, so that pairing two miraculous heroes together can lead to new powers being unlocked, depending on the two in question, and that if a Hawkmoth happens, there are two heroes other than Ladybug and Chat who’d be able to step up and confront him.

New Stations/Distinctions for the Kwamis

It bothers me that the distinctions chosen for the Kwami feel extremely random, and don’t fit together at all. Nooroo is “Generosity”, Trixx is “Deception”, Pollen is “Subjugation”, Wayzz is “Protection”, and Duusuu is “Emotion.” Like, on their own these are fine. But none of them really relate to one another in a way that makes sense, which the Wu Xing SHOULD. As much as it annoys me, I can sorta understand why it would be a bad idea to attach the specific elements themselves to each Miraculous, because then people will expect the powers of that miraculous to relate to that element, which is very limiting. The Wu Xing is about much more than just nature and the elements. It’s also used to reference the passing of time, physical parts of the body, emotions, cardinal directions and so much more.

But I still feel that the Distinctions for each Kwami and their powers should be presented in a what where it makes sense to see them relating to one another. One way I’ve suggested for people to do this is to include Ladybug and Chat in the consideration and base each of the Kwamis off of one of the Seven Chakras. But another way I like much better is to consider the kwamis in relation to what area their abilities will affect. For Example; Fox- Mind (Wood) Bee- Energy (Fire) Turtle- Body (Earth) Peacock- Soul (Metal) Butterfly- Heart (Water)

These are things you can tell at a glance relate to one another, without limiting the kwamis too much to being one trick ponies. And speaking of limits...

Limits are based on internal balance, not age

In an effort to make the sage figure that is supposed to be Fu NOT look like he has sand for brains and decided it’d be a good idea to give his chosen heroes a massive handicap against the villain right out of the gate, we’re going to change up the limiter for the Miraculouses. Rather than being based on age, the thing that determines how well you use a miraculous is your affiliation with the element/distinction that the Miraculous represents. Let’s use Kim as an example here. He’s very energetic and driven, so he’d have a great time with either the Bee or the Turtle, but give him the Peacock, the Butterfly, or the Fox, and things will get a hell of a lot harder for him. On the exact flip side, Juleka would be great with the Peacock, Butterfly, or Fox, but would struggle with the Bee or the Turtle.

Having the powers draw off of being able to synchronize with that power/ability due to personality makes sense, and is more true to the concepts that Miraculous Ladybug is trying to present than claiming that it’s because of age. And the beauty of this is that people can grow and change at any point in their life, which means that they can learn and change and miraculouses that they once struggled with can become easier for them to use while ones they once used easily can slip from their grasp if they begin to neglect that aspect of themselves.

More Clear and Understandable Power Pyramid

This is one of the things that bothers me MOST about how they’ve been handling the powers. We’re supposed to see Ladybug and Chat Noir’s miraculouses as the be all/end all, but many of the zodiac miraculouses seem much more powerful than them, and even the Peacock and Butterfly can create opponents that are more than a match for the Lucky Duo. Not to mention the fact that, as I said before, the Lucky Duo itself is imbalanced due to Ladybug getting all the power in their relationship. So the best way to fix that?

Power Pyramid.

By this, I mean that instead of all miraculouses just getting one power and calling it a day, it makes more sense to present the powers as an almost ‘trickle’ effect. To start off, Zodiacs get defined by a single element and whichever side of Yin/Yang they fall on, and get their power based on that. For example, the Dragon. That is a Yang/Earth (Body) Personality, who uses the elements in an aggressive way. Meanwhile, Snake is a Yin/Fire (Energy), so they require someone who comes across as passive, but is actually patient and knows to wait for the precise moment to strike.

Next level up from the Zodiac Miraculouses, we have the Wu Xing/Elemental Miraculouses. Rather than just one power, each Wu Xing Miraculous should get two, one based on it’s “Yin” Abilities, and one for it’s “Yang.” the way I broke it down when I was working this out for examples went like so;

Trixx

Fox Powers/Mind

Yang- Mirage

Creates an illusion of the user’s choosing.

Yin- Outfox

Gives the user the ability to convince the victim that anything they’re saying is true.

Pollen

Bee Powers/Energy

Yang- Nectar

Ability to heal injuries and cure illnesses (not as strong as Miraculous Cure)

Yin- Sting

Causes temporary paralysis

Wayzz

Turtle Powers/Body

Yang- Shell-ture

Creates an impenetrable shield

Yin- Withdraw

Teleportation ability that allows the user to put people and object of their desire in a pocket dimension of their own making for protection.

Duusu

Peacock Powers/Soul

Yang- Good Spirits

Creates a golem/familiar of sorts that is bonded to a certain person or object and protects them at all costs.

Yin- Soul Search

Allows the user to leave their body and enter another persons to take control of their actions and peer into their memories.

Nooroo

Butterfly Powers/Heart

Yang- Metamorphosis

Creates heroes to fight alongside the user

Yin- Butterfly Effect

Allows a brief glimpse into the future

And then after the Elements, at the top of the Pyramid we have Ladybug and Chat Noir, who get a whopping FIVE power each, but can only access those powers when they are in tune with that aspect of themselves, much like using the lesser miraculouses. For Example, Marinette’s Ladybug Can easily do the Mind, Energy, and Heart powers, but has a much, MUCH harder time with the Soul one, because she tends to read people at face value rather than trying to see beneath the surface. Adrien’s Chat Noir is excellent with the Body and Energy powers, but struggles much more with Mind (linked to one’s creativity) and Heart (Based on people’s abilities to connect with others, something Adrien struggles with after being home schooled his entire life) My idea for the Ladybug and Chat Noir powers look like this;

Tikki

Ladybug Powers:

Positive Heart- (Healing)

Miraculous Ladybug/Miraculous Cure

Heals all wounds, restores everything to its proper state

Positive Mind- (Inspiration)

Lucky Charm

Grants Ladybug an object to help her win

Positive Energy- (Creating)

Wish Come True

Allows Ladybug to will into existence something of her own choosing

Positive Body- (Protecting)

Elytron

Allows Ladybug to recreate both her own suit and the suits of her allies to help them fight (space suits, ice skating form, underwater suits, ect)

Positive Soul- (Life)

Red Thread

Ladybug has a limited ability to communicate with plants and animals, extending some of her power to them. Also works on humans, if the person trusts Ladybug enough to basically let her see into their very soul.

Plagg

Chat Noir Powers:

Negative Heart- (Toxicity)

Cat Scratch

Curses the victim with a lingering sickness that can only be healed by Ladybug.

Negative Mind- (Madness)

Cheshire Cat

Causes temporary insanity, which varies from victim to victim.

Negative Energy- (Destruction)

Cataclysm

Destroys anything the user touches.

Negative Body- (Weakness)

Catatonic

Puts the victim to sleep.

Negative Soul- (Death)

Catacomb

Allows the user to see, touch and summon spirits/ghosts

And that’s the basic breakdown of how I feel the powers of the ML universe SHOULD be handled instead. Feel free to comment with thoughts and inputs of your own and ask questions if any of this doesn’t make sense! ^^

#miraculous ladybug #marinette dupain-cheng #adrien agreste #gabriel agreste #master fu #hawkmoth #ml: ladybug #ml: chat noir #power fix #canon fix #yin/yang #wu xing #zodiacs

4K notes · View notes

fanfalc-616 · 3 years ago

Text

Time for Amnesia

Chapter Ten: “Don’t Make Me Repeat Myself.”

(Previous Chapter Here)

Yeah sorry for the mix up here’s the chapter I finally wrote after like 6 months-

Something pokes his face.

Blinking groggily, Kai looks around. Where the hell is he this time? What’s going on?

It takes him a few moments to realize that he’s stuck in some kind of prison cell, laying uncomfortably on the floor.

Jay pokes him again. “Are you awake yet?” He prompts.

Kai immediately gets to his feet, cursing at the stone walls lined with metal and the way the sole window is in the door, a set of bars through it for extra security.

“Yeah, we’re kinda stuck. Captured. The others probably have no idea where we are or who kidnapped us- we don’t even know who kidnapped us.” Jay gives a quiet laugh- one more out of fear than humor.

“We’re gonna die. This is it. We’re just going to get murdered here. Are we even going to find out who captured us? I mean probably, but we’ll be killed immediately after. I’d say we haunt them as ghosts, but after seeing what that did to Cole, I’d rather be in an afterlife. I think. I’ll have to ask him what being a ghost was really like- or I would, if we had the chance to see him before getting murdered!” Jay’s clearly panicking, and- hey, isn’t he supposed to be the experienced one here?!

Kai stares at him for a few moments. “We- we’re not gonna die.” His voice is shaky, but he tries to ignore that as he goes up to the barred window in the door. No, he won’t die, he refuses to die. This can’t be how it ends, with him not even knowing who he is! That’s not fair!

He wills his fire into his hands, but nothing happens. Scowling, he tries again, but for some reason, it still doesn’t work.

Ugh, come on, he did this before without even really thinking about it! Why is it so hard to do now?!

“Jay, blast this thing with lightning!” He instructs. “We can figure out where to go from there.”

Jay looks unimpressed. “It’s vengestone. You can’t use elemental powers when there’s vengestone.” He sounds tired, and Kai gives him a glare.

“Would you mind picking an emotion and sticking with it? Panic or calm or annoying or whatever? I’m not in the mood to navigate whatever the hell is going on in your head.”

He ignores the sputtering noise the ginger makes in response in favor of looking closer at the bars of the cell they’re in. There’s gotta be something he can do here…

Unfortunately, if there actually is something he can do, he can’t figure out what it is. Which is bullshit, but something tells him this is how his life usually ends up going.

With a grimace, he looks back at Jay. “Do you know who captured us? Or why?”

The other shrugs, which only serves to fuel his annoyance. “No idea,” he admits, “but they’re probably trying to keep us from stopping them from doing something evil.”

For a few moments, all he can do is stare. Seriously? This is what he’s working with here? What the fuck is wrong with this guy?

“That’s super helpful, thanks,” he grumbles sarcastically, silently lamenting his past self. Why would he hang out with these people to begin with? Sure, they said something about him needing to rescue Nya, but couldn’t he have just left afterwards? Why would he let himself get put into these situations?

“Look, we- we’re probably gonna be fine.” Jay assures. “It’s just- uh. I tend to overreact a lot. It’s gonna be okay, I just freak out easy.” He sounds uncertain of himself, and Kai resists the urge to roll his eyes.

“Like I said: pick an emotion and stick to it,” he snaps, turning away again. This entire situation is infuriating as it is, he really doesn’t need Jay pissing him off more.

Shaking his head, Kai comes to a conclusion. He doesn’t know what’s going down here, but whatever it is needs to hurry up and just happen.

Narrowing his eyes, he takes a step back, trying to dig back into those forgotten memories. He knows how to fight, doesn’t he? Why can't he remember it?!

With a huff, he comes to a decision. He’ll give this a shot and hope that his muscle memory will take care of it.

“Kai?” Jay speaks up behind him, but Kai ignores him in favor of taking a deep breath, preparing himself.

“Kai, I don’t think-“

Summoning all of the rage and frustration inside of him, Kai moves forward, kicking the door with as much strength as he can muster.

But even with all the force in his hit, the door only rattles against its hinges in response.

As a matter of fact, the only real result is the red-hot pain that’s suddenly jolting up his leg.

The high-pitched yelp that escapes him is just plain embarrassing, and as if to damage his pride more, he ends up stumbling backwards, falling flat on his ass against the stone floor.

“Ow,” he grumbles, grabbing his foot instinctively. Damn, that hurt a lot more than he thought it would- well, actually, he wasn’t expecting it to hurt at all. In the movies, the door would’ve just swung right open.

But this isn’t a movie. This is real.

The sudden understanding hits him like a bucket of ice water.

He keeps not thinking, he keeps just acting, but this isn’t a game. He knows nothing about what’s going on, he doesn’t know what enemies he has, and all he’s done so far is alienate the people who he needs to stay alive.

Jay pries his hands off of his foot, and Kai feels himself flinch. When had he gotten that close?

“Alright, uh, maybe don’t do that again.” The ginger suggests. “It doesn’t look too bad, but there’s probably gonna be a few bruises.”

Grimacing, Kai nods. “Okay,” he agrees, ignoring the frustration boiling in his chest.

He can’t afford to keep doing this. Like it or not, this is his situation. If he keeps this up, he’s going to get himself killed. He needs to work with the allies his past self had made- he has them for a reason.

That doesn’t make them any less annoying, though.

Jay seems surprised- probably because he didn’t snap at him. Well, actually, if he’s being honest, he probably needs to do something to fix whatever damage he had done to their relationship since he woke up.

Not romantically, though. He doesn’t even want to think about that.

Gritting his teeth, he abandons his pride- for the moment, at least. “I was being mean to you earlier. ‘m sorry.” He mutters the words in a low growl, refusing to look at the other while he does.

Even though his eyes are on the floor, he can still tell how startled Jay is. Which is honestly fair- Kai hasn’t exactly been the nicest since he woke up.

“What?”

Flashing him a glare, Kai struggles to keep his temper under control. “Don’t make me repeat myself,” he snaps.

He has to get along with these people, sure- he doesn’t have a choice- but would it really hurt for them to be less annoying? Or is that just their personalities?

Jay opens his mouth to reply, but just then, there’s a weird slithering noise coming down the hall, growing closer. Silently, they exchange a glance. The ginger seems to be trying to tell him something, but for the life of him, he can’t figure out what.

Quickly pulling the two of them to their feet, Jay grabs him by the arm and pushes him against the wall by the door. Once he has, he takes a few steps back, staring out the window definitely.

It takes a moment before that clicks- if the door is opened, anything on the other side won’t be able to immediately see him. Of course, it comes with the risk of getting a bloody nose, but-

The noise stops just outside the door, and even though Kai can’t see past the bars where he is, he can at least see the ginger’s almost shocked expression.

“Hello there, ninja. Long time no see, hm?”

Taking half a step back and clenching his fists, Jay seems to be trying to swallow back his fear. “Ha, with that ugly mug, I wish it’d been longer!” He snaps.

“And you are still as unoriginal as always, it seems,” the stranger tsks, sounding amused. “But I suppose I must ask, what happened to that little fire-starting friend of yours? He was in here earlier, I know.”

Kai feels himself tense, but Jay doesn’t even glance in his direction. “Wouldn’t you like to know, weather boy?” He finishes the words off with a hesitant smirk, but then pauses. “Well, I mean, I guess technically I’m the one with the lightning powers… but I’m still not telling you anything!”

There’s another pause, and after a few moments of it, Jay huffs, narrowing his eyes. “I see that someone doesn't know their memes, huh?”

“Yes, well, some of us are actually intelligent. But that is… besides the point. I wasn’t aiming for the two of you in particular for this, but I suppose you’ll do.”

This time, Jay does glance towards Kai, a poorly-hidden terrified look on his face for the split second their eyes meet.

“So he’s just beside the door, then? Hmm. I suppose I had a bit too high of an opinion of you both to think one of you could have escaped,” the stranger chuckles again, somehow making it sound even more insulting than before. “But then again, I most likely would have caught him again anyway.”

Kai can feel his breathing catch at the words, his entire body tensing with apprehension.

Who even is this guy?!

Jay scoffs, but he’s still clearly stressed out. “Don’t flatter yourself, Pythor. We’ve beaten you before, and we’ll do it again!”

Alright, so their name is Pythor. If Kai didn’t know any better, he’d say that that kind of name would belong to a serpentine. But serpentine are just an old bedtime story, so they can’t be-

Well, it wasn’t long ago he thought the same thing about magic. So it might be possible. But it still doesn’t sound-

Wait. When Lloyd was telling him about the volcano… he mentioned serpentine, didn’t he? And- and this Pythor guy specifically!

… and this serves to show that Kai should really pay more attention to what these guys talk about.

Speaking of which, he should probably tune back in to whatever’s going on with Jay and Pythor now.

“-can’t be serious. I mean, I knew you were crazy, but this is a whole new level, even for you. Didn’t someone actually say that the definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results? I don’t remember who, but my point stands! You-“

“Yes, well, I don’t recall asking for your opinion on the matter. I do, however, have other questions I would like answers to.” The words are spoken threateningly, intense enough that Kai can feel himself shudder.

Jay, however, looks unaffected- actually, he looks like he’s starting to calm down from his earlier panic. “And why would we give them to you?”

Fear still coiled in his guts, Kai forces himself to take deep breaths. This doesn’t look good, and Jay just seems to be escalating the situation. And Kai would try to do the opposite but one: he doesn’t know how. Two: he’s pretty sure Pythor wouldn’t listen. And three: he has a very intense desire to punch this guy in the face. There’s not really a reason, he’s just annoying and sounds really punchable.

“Well, blue ninja, I think you’ll find it’s because you don’t have a say in the matter. One way or another, I-“

Fuck it.

Shoving his rational thoughts to the side, Kai quickly sidesteps in front of the door. And- yeah, that’s definitely a serpentine. Still, he doesn’t let himself dwell on that. If anything, the long neck is a plus.

Because it’s that much easier to reach through the bars and grab.

Hand tight around Pythor’s throat, he yanks him into the door, forcing his head to slam against it with a very satisfying smack.

Kai lets himself smirk as he lets go, expecting the snake to collapse to the floor from the force of the hit.

Instead, he finds himself staring into infuriated magenta eyes.

Oh. Okay.

Kai may have made a mistake.

#ninjago fanfiction #time for amnesia au #fanfiction

17 notes · View notes

cali-holland · 4 years ago

Text

The End of the World- Peter Parker One Shot

Pairing: Peter Parker X Reader

Prompt: As a daughter of Thanos, you betrayed him to join Gamora and Nebula with the Guardians. You thought it was the end of the world when he started collecting the Infinity Stones, but then you found a source of hope- you met Peter Parker.

Word Count: 7000

Warnings: severe daddy issues (i mean it’s thanos?), mentions of anxiety, discussion of self-sacrifice (could be triggering as suicide), maybe some swearing, violence, death

A/N: so the reader has a regular skin color (aka not blue/green/purple)

Based On: End of the World by Kelsea Ballerini

Masterlist Peter Parker Masterlist

*Gif is not mine*

~~~

You paced the ship anxiously. They should be back by now. You didn’t know why you’d agreed to stay behind; you should’ve gone, you should’ve been there to help them fight Thanos on Knowhere. Gamora had told you, though, that it’d be better if you were safe, if he couldn’t get his hands on you again. While the two of you may not have been blood sisters, you were raised alongside her and Nebula as a daughter of Thanos; with your special abilities to control the elements, he found you extra advantageous for his glorious plan. You were too powerful for Gamora and the rest of the guardians to lose you to him.

Hearing the transport ship dock, you knew they were back. You went to greet them, nervous to see what happened, if they had gotten the stone or not. Quill brushed you off, keeping his head low and his face tight with frustration.

“He took her.” Mantis told you quietly, and you felt your heart shatter. If he took her, that meant you were one step closer to losing this battle.

“Quill!” You yelled, chasing after him. He was supposed to protect her, but he was also supposed to kill you or Gamora if either of you got taken. “Did you- did you even try?”

“Did I try to protect her or did I try to kill her?” He asked, tears in his eyes.

“Both.” You said, but his lack of words let you know he had, “If Thanos gets the soul stone-”

“What if we got it before him? You, Gamora, Nebula, you all know where it is. We could beat him to it.” Drax offered, and you shook your head.

“I promised my sister to never go there, to never speak of its location. If I took us there, we could just be leading him there.”

“What will we do?” Mantis asked. Quill may be the leader of the team, but you were the one with the most experience with Thanos, your disgusting excuse for a “father”. Before you could respond, a message came through the speaker. It was Nebula, calling for you to meet her on Titan with the rest of the team.

“We go to Titan.” You said, sitting down in the pilot seat. Quill was angry and upset with himself and with Thanos; he was in no state to fly.

The trip to Titan was brief and you watched as Ebony Maw’s ship came into view. As it traveled into Titan’s atmosphere, it crashed to the ground, making you wonder what happened to Maw. Quill quickly devised a plan, and you all got ready to attack. He blasted the side off the ship and all four of you ran into the destroyed ship. You saw three figures, two in seemingly red and gold metal suits and the third in an odd costume.

“Mantis!” You called out to her, seeing one of the metal figures shoot sticky web substances at her, freezing her in her spot. You quickly shot a blast of fire at the strange enemy, only for it to turn towards you and grow four extra long metal limbs. You continued to shoot flames at it, but it jumped too quickly for you to hit it. Finally, you hit the figure with a gust of air, shooting it down to the ground. With one hand, you wrapped their torso and arms with water as if it were a rope, keeping them from moving; with the other hand, you held a fireball near its head threateningly.

“Everybody stay where you are. Chill the f out.” Quill spoke up, standing near you defensively. He removed his helmet to speak. He pointed the gun at the other metal figure, standing on Drax with his guns for hands raised, “I’m going to ask you this one time. Where is Gamora?”

“I’ll do you one better. Who’s Gamora?” The other man asked, his mask vanishing to show a human face. You jumped a little in surprise, but kept your grip steady.

“I’ll do you one better. Why is Gamora?” Drax questioned and you looked at him with raised eyebrows.

“Tell me where the girl is or I swear to you I’m gonna French fry this little freak.” Quill demanded, holding his gun up to the stranger in your hands.

“Let’s do it. You shoot my guy and I’ll blast him. Let’s go!” The other shouted.

“Do it, Quill. I can take it.” Drax insisted.

“No, he can’t!” You and Mantis both protested.

“She’s right. You can’t.” The other stranger with the orange magic shields said.

“Oh, yeah, you don’t want to tell me where she is? That’s fine, I’ll kill all three of you, and I’ll beat it out Thanos myself.” Quill threatened further. He turned to the one in your arms, “Starting with you.”

“Quill,” You tried to stop him. There was no way Thanos would entrust Gamora’s whereabouts to humans- but yet again, you still didn’t know if the one you were holding was human. It felt human?

“Wait what? Thanos?” The magician-like one asked. “All right, let me ask you this one time. What master do you serve?’

“What master do I serve? What am I supposed to say? Jesus?”

“You’re from Earth?” The one threatening Drax asked.

“I’m not from Earth. I’m from Missouri.” Quill corrected him.

“Yeah, that’s on Earth, dipshit.” The stranger said. You held back a laugh; you weren’t sure if you trusted these odd people, but you appreciated their humor when it came to Quill. “What are you hassling us for?”

“So you’re not with Thanos?” The one in your arms asked quietly.

“With Thanos?” Quill questioned, sounding offended. “No, I’m here to kill Thanos.”

“He took my sister. Who are you?” You asked and the mask of the one you held disappeared. So it was a he and he was a human.

“We’re the Avengers.”

“You’re the ones Thor told us about.” Mantis piped up.

“You know Thor?” The one by Drax looked from Mantis to you to Quill.

“Yeah, tall guy, not that good looking, needed saving.” Quill stated, making you roll your eyes.

“Look, okay, we’re all on the same team then. We’re all here to stop Thanos.” The stranger stepped off Drax and you let go of the one you held. He left to stand by the other two and Drax came beside you and Quill. You felt your eyes linger on the stranger; he looked far too young to be a part of all this, but yet again so were you. You didn’t know much about humans, except for the few you had met like Quill, and you’d dare to say he was cute.

“I’m Doctor Stephen Strange. This is Tony and Peter, or Iron Man and Spider-Man.” The non-metal one said, gesturing to the others.

“I’m Peter Quill, call me Star-Lord.” Quill stated. “And this is Drax the Destroyer, Y/N, and Mantis.”

“That’s the time stone.” You pointed out, your eyes landing on the doctor’s necklace.

He shifted almost defensively, looking at you quizzically for your comment, “I took an oath to protect this stone. Thanos is not getting it, nor anyone else.”

“I’m not looking to take it from you.” You told him, “What happened to Maw?”

“Maw?” The young Peter asked.

“Ebony Maw. One of Thanos’ children and lieutenants. This is his ship. I assume he was trying to acquire the time stone for Thanos. Where is he?”

“We killed him.” Iron Man replied, unremorsefully.

“Serves him right.” You felt a weight lift off your shoulders- one last psychotic ‘sibling’ to take care of. You turned to Quill, “We should leave this ship. Thanos will be coming here for that stone. With the power, space, and reality stone, we need to be ready.” You started on your way out with the rest of the guardians.

“Excuse me, but how do you know so much about Thanos and these stones?” Doctor Strange asked you, stopping you in your tracks.

“Because I’m his daughter.” You said, turning sharply and leaving Maw’s wrecked ship. You and Quill needed to focus on a plan.

“I should go check in with Nebula. She should be here soon.” You told Quill, pulling him away from Mantis and Drax momentarily.

“Let me know if she hears anything about Gamora.” He said, his voice stumbling a bit. “And I’m sorry, I couldn’t-”

“It’s fine, Quill. I’m sure there wasn’t much you could’ve done if he had the reality stone already as well as the power and space.” You reassured him. “If he comes back without the soul stone and he tries to get me, make sure you-” You cut yourself off, not wanting to say the words that would make it too real. How can you ask someone to kill you, even with the fate of the universe resting on your life?

“I won’t- I won’t fail, not again.”

“Hey, Mr. Lord, person, we need to discuss a plan.” Iron Man called out to Quill as he and his other two teammates came to stand by Drax and Mantis. Quill looked back at you and you nodded, silently telling him to go while you communicated with Nebula. You made your way back to Quill’s ship, settling in your seat to radio your sister.

“Nebula, Nebula, come in. It’s me, Y/N. We’re here on Titan and we’ve found some allies. They’re humans from Earth, but they’re powered. They killed Maw.” You spoke into the microphone. You waited a few moments for a transmission back, but nothing came. You heard a soft step coming from behind you; instantly, you jumped from your chair, forming an ice dagger in your hand, and grabbing the neck of your attacker.

“It’s just me. Same side, remember?” The new Peter said, shaking a little from shock. You stepped back and dropped your hands, the dagger forming into a small pool of water as it hit the ground.

“Didn’t you ever learn not to sneak up on assassins or do they not tell you that on Earth?” You asked, sitting back down in your chair, still waiting to hear from your sister.

“Must have skipped that day.” He replied with a small laugh. “What are you doing over here?”

“I’m waiting for my sister to send a transmission.” You stated and he hesitantly sat in the chair beside you.

“Your sister as in-” You could tell he was just genuinely curious as he warily brought up the elephant in the room.

“Look, Thanos is not my actual father. He took me from my home world when I was young because I was gifted and he trained me to be an assassin alongside Nebula and Gamora.” You explained, “Long story short. We escaped a few years ago. Nebula went back to try to kill him again, but she was captured. She only just escaped, and he took Gamora now. The thing is, the three of us all know something that gives him an unprecedented advantage in this battle.”

“What is it?” Peter asked, and you let out a small sigh.

“When we were still serving him, he tasked us with finding the soul stone, the one stone which has had unknown whereabouts for as long as the universe has existed. We found it, and we realized he could never know that information.”

“Where is it?”

“If I tell you, I’d have to kill you. Thanos cannot know about it, he can’t get the soul stone. That’s why Quill has to kill me if he gets me.” Your voice broke off at the end. Peter was a stranger and yet you still felt like you could trust him.

“There has to be some other way. Surely, you don’t have to- to die to protect that secret.” He sounded so sincere, so genuinely hopeful that your life could be better.

“Don’t be naive. If it comes down to me or half of the universe, it’s a sacrifice I’d be willing to make. This feels like the end of the world for me.” You stated definitively.

“Half of the universe? That’s what-”

“That’s what Thanos will do. Destroy half of all life in the universe, perfectly balanced ‘as all things should be’.” You quoted the often repeated phrase of your father’s. You turned away from Peter, looking back at the comms panel in front of you.

“Your powers- what are they?” He asked after a silent moment.

“I don’t have a fancy term for them. I can bend the elements to my will.” You told him. “Air,” You blew a small breeze towards him, “Water,” You created a small orb of water, “Earth,” You moved the land below the ship a little, shifting the Benatar as you did so, “And fire.” You ended with a flame coming out of your open palm.

“So you’re basically the Avatar.” Peter said with a small smile, brown eyes intently watching the flame burn in your hand.

“Avatar?” You asked in confusion.

“It’s this TV show on Earth, and it’s about this kid that has the weight of the world on his shoulders because he’s the only one who can end this raging war since he’s the master of all four elements. It’s the best show ever.” He beamed, and you nodded, vaguely understanding his thought process.

“I guess, then yes, I am. What about you?”

“I got bitten by a radioactive spider, so I’m super strong and agile, and then I created this web-like substance to use so I can fight more like a spider. Mr. Stark gave me this suit today, so the retractable legs are new.” He explained, showing you his web fluid on his wrists.

“So you’re not part spider?”

“No, I don’t think so.” He shook his head with a laugh, “I also have, well, I call it my Spidey sense, and it helps me know there’s incoming danger.”

“You seem young for a hero. How old are you?” You asked.

“16.” Peter replied, a bit embarrassed. “And you? You seem pretty young compared to the rest of your team.”

“I don’t know.” You said and he felt his face heat up in further embarrassment, “Thanos took me when I was so young, I have no recollection of my home world. He wasn’t the type of father to care about birthdays. I suspect I would be around your age; he never really let me go into battle because he deemed me too young, but he wanted to use me for my powers when I was ready. Two years ago, Gamora and the guardians helped me escape, and I’ve been with them ever since. And since then, my powers have only grown.” You paused, sensing his pity for you, “It’s okay, though. I may have never known my true family, but the guardians are my found family.”

“Hey,” He reached out and placed a comforting hand on your shoulder. You tensed, not expecting the physical affection, but you didn’t pull away, “I don’t have much in the way of family either. My parents died when I was young, and my aunt and uncle raised me, but my uncle- he passed a few years ago. I love my aunt, and she’s the only legitimate family I have left, but the Avengers have become my family now.”

“I’m sorry to hear about your parents and your uncle.” Your apologetic words sounding so foreign to roll off your tongue.

“It’s made me better as a person, and stronger as a hero.” He stated. “Your past makes you stronger.”

“Technically, it made me a deadly assassin with incredibly strong powers.” You said, laughing lightly. Peter let out a chuckle, his eyes closing as he laughed at your comment. Before the conversation could continue, the speaker went off as a transmission came through.

“Y/N, I should be there soon. I only have a few more jumps. I don’t know where Gamora is, but she told him- she told him about Vormir.” She said, her voice sounding urgent and you let out a shaky breath. Peter took his hand off your shoulder, running it over his other arm.

“Oh no.” You mumbled. If Gamora told him about Vormir, he found the soul stone.

“He’s near.” Peter breathed out.

“Your Spidey sense?” You asked him and he nodded. You turned back to the microphone, “I’ll see you soon, Nebula. He’s almost here.”

You jumped out of the seat and rushed back to the others with Peter trailing along behind you. “Nebula’s almost here.”

“And so is Thanos.” Peter added.

“Do you have a plan?” You asked looking between Quill, Doctor Strange, and Tony, already knowing Drax and Mantis wouldn’t be much help.

“Strange will distract him and then we’ll surprise attack.” Quill explained as if it was simple.

“Do you know anything else about the stones that can help?” Tony asked you.

“He has the power, space, and reality stone that we know of. The reality stone warps things so your perception is off, the power stone is more powerful than anything else- it can bring down a planet, and the space stone allows him to transport. Together, they’re incredibly powerful. We need to keep him from closing his fist.” You informed the group, and they all nodded. “He also has the soul stone now, but that won’t help him until he has all five.”

“You all need to hide for now.” Doctor Strange spoke up, going to sit on a pile of rocks. You all went to find decent hiding spots, creating a surprise advantage over Thanos.

“Y/N,” Peter pulled you aside for a moment. You could see it in his eyes, he was worried, “It’s not the end of the world, not today.”

You wished you could believe him, you so desperately wanted to believe his words. More than anything, you wanted to believe that you could somehow beat Thanos, but with three stones, you knew your chances were slim. Peter swung away before you could say much more, leaving you to shift some rocks to create more cover for you all.

You stiffened as the blue portal opened and Thanos stepped out. You hadn’t seen him since you escaped his torturous clutches; you felt your fingertips burn with fire, ready to avenge your fallen past. He talked to Strange, demonstrating what Titan once was before he ‘freed’ the plant through the reality stone, before Stark smashed him with part of Maw’s ship. You all jumped into attack mode at his signal. Drax took jabs at him with his knives, Quill shot him with his gun, Peter swung into action and tried to web his eyes shut, Tony shot him with energy blasts, Strange used his mystic arts on him, and you shot a mix between the elements at him. Nothing seemed to weaken him enough though, each person getting thrown back, beside you.

“Daughter, you disappoint me.” Thanos spoke viciously as you shot fireballs at him; your flame was running so hot, they were a striking blue.

“I don’t care what you think anymore.” You stood your ground from his attacks. Sending an icicle spear at him, it skimmed his left arm. He grunted in agony as it cut deep enough to draw blood. Just moments before Strange’s cape covered his fist, he used the power stone, sending you flying backwards.

“Are you okay?” Peter asked when he caught you in mid-air.

“He’s bleeding. He’s weak.” You told him as he set the two of you down behind a rock. “Something happened to Gamora. I can feel it.”

You stepped back from his embrace as fire started in the palm of your hands and a large gust of wind came through the atmosphere of Titan.

“It’s going to be okay.” Peter reassured you. One of Strange’s golden portals appeared beside Peter and he jumped into, effectively kicking Thanos across the head. Stepping out from your protective rock, you began to shoot pellets made of the earth at Thanos. Peter jumped through a few more portals to attack him, before the titan caught him by the neck.

“Peter!” You exclaimed. Before Thanos could hurt him further, your hand shot out in front of you, but instead of the regular hot flame bursting out of your palm, it was lightning from your fingertips. Surprised, Thanos was thrown back away from Peter; you didn’t even know you could do lightning. Suddenly, a ship came from the atmosphere, crashing into him.

You didn’t have to question who that was. It was Nebula. She came out of the ship, yelling as she attacked Thanos with her knives. You joined beside her, freely letting the lightning shoot from your fingers. It didn’t go far before he threw both of you back again, but you had both stalled him enough that Strange could catch his right hand with Tony on his left, Drax holding down his feet. The doctor created a portal for Mantis, who dropped onto Thanos’ head, and put him to sleep. You froze water around his legs, keeping him stuck in place. As Tony and Peter tried to remove the gauntlet, Quill flew back down in front of Thanos.

“I thought you’d be hard to catch. For the record, this was my plan.” Quill told the paralyzed titan, “Not so strong now, huh?”

“Where is Gamora?” You questioned, eyeing the soul stone on his gauntlet.

“My Gamora.” Thanos mumbled, dazed from Mantis’ hold over him.

“No, bullshit. Where is she?” Quill spat, growing angry at his words.

“He is in anguish.” Mantis cried out. You stepped back, looking over to Nebula in concern, your worst fears falling into your mind.

“Good.” He smirked.

“He- he mourns.” She further added.

“What does this monster have to mourn?” Drax asked, straining as he helped Strange hold down his hand.

“Gamora.” You and Nebula said in sync.

“What?” Quill turned to the two of you in disbelief.

“He took her to Vormir.” You stated.

“He came back with the soul stone, but she didn’t.” Nebula explained.

“Okay, Quill, you gotta cool it right now. You understand?” Tony spoke up as he and Peter still tried getting the gauntlet off. You felt frozen in place; Thanos murdered his favorite daughter for the soul stone. You knew he was heartless, but he always admired Gamora, you thought that maybe she was safe at least. As long as Thanos lived, you could never be safe. “Don’t, don’t- don’t engage. We almost got this off.”

“Tell me she’s lying.” He raised his voice, looking at Thanos. “Asshole, tell me you didn’t.”

“Quill, don’t.” You urged, realizing the gauntlet was just about off. Before you could step forward, Thanos quietly spoke up.

“I had to.” And that was all it took for Quill to break.

“No, you didn’t. No, you didn’t.” He repeated, hitting Thanos with his gun.

“No!” You shouted and he woke up, grabbing the gauntlet just barely before Peter could get it off his hand. He flung Mantis off his head and Peter swung to grab her before she could fall. He blocked Quill, Strange, Nebula, and Drax from attacking, leaving you and Tony to take him.

“Kid, watch out.” Tony said to you, blasting Thanos.

“I literally have lightning coming out of my fingertips. Are you really calling me kid?” You questioned, throwing more lightning at Thanos.

“Hit me!” Tony told you, and you did a double take at his words. Lightning was incredibly dangerous and it was something you didn’t even know you could do until now. “Hit me, just like Thor.” You realized his suit was completely electric, you’d be surging his entire system with more power. You sent a destabilizing gust of wind at Thanos before striking Tony with lightning, giving him even more power.

But Thanos was too strong, using the stones to bring a moon crashing down on you all. As much as you tried to stop the moon from falling with your air power, you couldn’t as Thanos hit you with another shot from the power stone. While your body weakened, you could see Peter swinging about and saving your teammates from the moon. You tried to block the falling rocks, but one hit your head just a bit too hard; as your vision grew fuzzy, you saw Peter land in front of you, calling out your name.

“Hey, hey, stay with me.” Peter spoke softly, cradling your head in his hands. You heard Quill yelling in the distance, but you couldn’t focus on that.

“Peter, we need to go- we need to fight.” You pushed yourself to sit up. As much as your head hurt, you needed to get up, you needed to end this. When you stood up, you felt yourself leaning into Peter’s side for support, a feeling you weren’t used to. It was quiet, you couldn’t see Thanos at all, “Where is he?”

“He’s gone.” Peter mumbled, walking you over to where Strange, Tony, and Nebula were. When Peter saw Tony’s hurt state, he rushed over to his. You let out a sigh of relief as you saw Mantis, Quill, and Drax making their way over to you- everyone was fine, but Thanos was gone. Nebula came beside you, placing an awkward yet comforting hand on your shoulder.

“We lost.” You breathed out. “Gamora’s gone, and we lost.”

“There’s still one more stone, right? Vision-” Peter started, looking from you to Tony, but his mentor just shook his head.

“I don’t know where he is. All we can do is hope that the others can stop him.” He said solemnly.

“Something’s happening.” Mantis spoke up, looking around at all of you concerned. In less than a second, she was gone, nothing but dust. For the first time, you felt your heart truly break- you lost, Thanos had won.

“Quill,” Drax looked over at him, but he too was dusted quickly. Quill’s eyes rested on you, and you shook your head, feeling a bubbling worry creep up your throat.

“Oh no.” He muttered and the next second he was gone.

“Tony,” Doctor Strange called your attention back to him, “There was no other way.”

As soon as he was nothing, but dust, you felt yourself collapsing into Nebula’s side, growing incredibly weak. Peter watched in horror as you fell into your sister’s arms. He was frozen in place, feeling his own body fighting a strange sensation.

“Y/N, no. Not you.” Nebula cried out as you shook in her arms.

“Kill him for me,” You said weakly, before you too were gone.

“Mr. Stark, I don’t feel so good.” Peter mumbled, stumbling closer to his mentor.

“You’re alright.” Tony tried to reassure him, but Peter could tell they were both breaking.

“I don’t- I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t know.” Tony caught the young boy as his legs gave out, “I don’t wanna go. I don’t want to go, sir. Please, pleasure, I don’t want to go, I don’t want to go.” He repeated before Tony laid him down softly. “I’m sorry.”

And just like that, all was silent on Titan, all was silent in the universe as half of it vanished without a trace.

~~~

You woke with a jump, ice daggers appearing defensively in your hands. You blinked in confusion; you were on Titan, but it all felt like a bad dream. Gamora getting taken by Thanos, coming to Titan and meeting the Avengers- meeting Peter, fighting Thanos, losing to Thanos, your teammates getting dusted. You had a gut feeling that something was wrong, you just couldn’t place it.

“Y/N!” Peter hugged you as soon as he saw you standing near him. You dropped the daggers, surprised from the sudden physical intimacy.

“What happened?” You asked, trying to comprehend what was happening. Peter let go of you, realizing he may have overstepped.

“You- you turned to dust. I thought you died.” He said, worried. You looked over and saw Mantis, Drax, and Quill looking just as confused as you and Peter.

“I watched you all turn to dust.” You spoke softly, happy to see them okay again. “Where’s Nebula?”

“Where’s Mr. Stark?” Peter wondered, unable to see either of them anymore.

“Okay, this is going to be a lot, but stick with me here.” Doctor Strange spoke up, calling for all of your attentions. “It’s been five years since we were here. Thanos snapped his fingers, we were part of the half that turned to dust and died. The Avengers time traveled and Hulk just used the stones to bring us back, but Thanos’ army from 2014 is there, and we need to go help them.”

“Wait, time travel?” Quill asked in shock, “How advanced has Earth gotten?”

“That’s not important. We need to go now and fight Thanos’ army.” He insisted.

“2014? Are Nebula and Gamora-” You started and he nodded.

“There’s two Nebulas, the one that you know as your sister and the one that you know as a slave to Thanos’ will. Gamora, on the other hand-”

“Is starting to doubt Thanos.” You finished his thought, knowing that the Gamora from four- or technically nine, years ago was the Gamora about to betray Thanos and join the guardians.

“Are you all ready?” Strange asked, beginning to make a portal. You got your daggers ready as Peter stood beside you. He looked over at you with a small, hopeful smile on his face.

“It’s not the end of the world, not today.” He reassured you, just as he had done seemingly earlier that day, even though apparently that was five years ago. You let out a nervous breath as the portal opened, giving you the view of Thanos’ army in the full. There were hundreds of them, but as you all stepped through the portal, you saw more and more golden portals opening, enough people to take on Thanos’ army. You could see Thanos standing in the middle, ready to command his armies- his lieutenants on either side of him. Peter let out a laugh of disbelief as he looked at all of those on your side of the battle field.

“Not today.” You told him quietly.

“Avengers,” You heard someone yell out from the front of your side. “Assemble.”

The battle cry was said, and everyone ran together towards Thanos’ army to attack. Peter swung away, using a gigantic person to get himself farther on the battlefield. You couldn’t think of the confusion that was Earth though, too focused on destroying Thanos. You were sending everything you could at Thanos’ forces; at first, they seemed hesitant to fire on you- after all, you were still Thanos’ daughter in 2014, but they quickly learned you weren’t on their side.

“Hey, Y/N!” Thor smiled, seeing you shoot lightning at a Chitauri that was about to attack him. “See your powers have improved.”

“Watch out, I’m stealing your lightning.” You joked, teaming up with his to create a small lightning storm. “Who has the stones?”

“The Spiderboy.” He replied, and that’s when you heard the call.

“I don’t got this. Help, somebody, help!” Peter exclaimed. He wasn’t too far away, and you sent a large blast of wind to flick all of the Chitauri off him. You rushed to his side as he crouched down with the stones while Thanos called for his ships to rainfire. Bending the earth around him, you created a shelter for the two of you.

“Hey, you alright?” You asked him as he held onto the stones, trembling a little in fear.

“Nope.” He shook his head. The firing stopped as a person came in through the atmosphere, crashing through his ships with ease. Peter called out for assistance a glowing figure dropped in front of the two of you.

“Got something for me?” The short-haired woman smiled.

“I don’t know how you’re going to get through all that.” Peter said, eyeing the swarms of Thanos’ army.

“Don’t worry.” A woman in red landed beside the other.

“She’s got help.” You stood up from your spot beside Peter, your fingers flickering with lightning. As you started to charge with the other two, you became aware of the other countless women attacking with you; and somehow, nothing felt more powerful. Those stones were getting back to that destroyed van (even if you had no clue why).

Thanos blew up the van and it quickly became another game of keepaway. Thor fought Thanos with the help of another, and you stepped in, firing with your own lightning, wanting him to pay for causing so much suffering and destruction. He fought the other two men off him before Tony attacked, and you took the opportunity to grab the gauntlet.

“Daughter?” Thanos looked at you in confusion, not realizing this wasn’t the girl he had known. As he saw your hostile eyes, he spoke again in anger, “Don’t defy me.”

“You don’t control me anymore.” The gauntlet slipped onto your hand, and you stumbled backwards from the unprecedented power coursing through you.

“Y/N, no!” You heard Peter call out, swinging down nearby, as you snapped your fingers. The battlefield grew silent while Thanos’ army dusted away. Your body shook as you watched Thanos dust away, the stone still shimmering on your hand. You ripped the gauntlet off, tossing it aside. Peter rushed over to you, catching you in his arms before you could crumble to the ground weakly.

“I got you.” He tried to comfort you. Your arm and hand were covered in burn marks from the gauntlet’s power. Shakily, you placed your other hand on your arm, cool water coming from your palm as a way to soothe the numbing pain.

“How did- how did you do that?” Tony looked at you in disbelief. You didn’t know it, but he had witnessed the Hulk barely survive snapping his fingers and here you were, incredibly injured but healing yourself.

“I don’t know.” You mumbled, still surprised by your actions.

“Y/N,” Nebula came to your side, seeing you for the first time since five years ago. “You did it.”

“He’s gone.” You whispered as your eyes transfixed on the spot where Thanos turned to dust before you.

There wasn’t much discussion after you had snapped with the infinity stones. No one really knew what to say. Half of the universe died five years ago and came back like nothing changed, nothing happened, but to the other half of the universe, something devastating happened and it was a near impossible task to move back to a normal life.

For the next few days, you stayed with the other guardians at Tony’s house, all of you trying to recoup. Peter stayed with you too, and so did his Aunt May, the one he had told you about when you first met him. She also died from the snap, leaving them homeless for the time being. It was hard on everyone, especially you and the other guardians because none of you knew Earth before the snap, none of you could really understand the same emotions as the others.

“I want to stay here.” You told Peter a week after the battle as you two sat by the large lake on Stark’s land, watching as the sunset behind the trees. Peter looked at you skeptically for a moment, before his gaze softened. Both of you knew the guardians would be leaving soon, and your own future was kind of left in the air with no Thanos or murderous other adoptive family members to track down.

“I want you to stay, too.” He replied quietly.

“What would I do? If I stay here with you.” You asked, looking at him like he had all the answers, but he didn’t.

“I don’t know. I’ll talk to May and Tony about it all, but you could come to high school with me, if you wanted to.” Peter offered.

“What’s high school like?” You had gone through Thanos’ own twisted version of schooling, knowing enough to be on the path to become an expert assassin like Gamora; while you were intelligent and strategic, your mind wasn’t the most exercised skill of yours in Thanos’ hands, not when you had powers.

“It kind of sucks, to be honest, but it’s life. I met my best friend, Ned, through school. You’d like Ned, he’s cool. We’re on the academic decathlon team together.” You watched as his brown eyes lit up in excitement. “There’s also social parts of school, like sports and dances.”

“Dances? Like Footloose?” You asked, thinking back to when Quill would bring up the Earth movie as the best dancing movie of all time.

“Well, kinda.” He laughed a little, a lopsided smile on his face as he looked at you, “It’s just teenagers gathering in a gymnasium and we’re all dressed up in suits and dresses. Then we dance, kinda like in Footloose. I’ll show you that movie, then you’ll understand.”

“Will you show me that Avatar show too?”

“Of course.”

Later that day, you and Mantis were entertaining the young Stark as Peter talked to his aunt about you staying on Earth. Morgan seemed fascinated by the fact that you could do magic, as she called it, and she found Mantis’ antennas incredible.

“Peter, we can’t.” You heard his aunt speak, and you slowly made your way to where they were sitting at a table in the kitchen, trying to overhear the conversation while you remained hidden by the doorway. His aunt’s voice sounded shaky as she continued, “As much as I want to, I can’t raise a second teenager. I was just barely getting by with you, and now- well, it’s been five years. I don’t have a job, we don’t have a home anymore.”

“Can I intervene?” Tony’s voice sounded from right behind you, startling you. His question drew Peter and May’s eyes over to you, and your friend smiled weakly at you, knowing you’d heard his aunt reject the offer. Tony stepped into the kitchen and urged you in as well. Peter stood to come beside you, his shoulder brushing against yours.

“Y/N, I’m sorry. You seem like a bright girl, but I can’t afford another teenager, not right now.” May told you, her eyes filled with sadness. She turned to Tony, “Peter wants Y/N to stay here with us on Earth.”

“What about staying with me?” Tony offered, and you looked at him in confusion. You had briefly fought with him on Titan, but you didn’t know him well enough to think he’d ever willingly open his home to you like that. “Pepper and I can work out all the details, make it official with adoption papers, all of that. And May, I’ve got you and Peter a place to stay in Queens. Pepper’s looking into open positions at Stark Industries for you too.”

“Tony, you don’t have to.” May started, but he cut her off.

“I want to. You and Peter are like family to me, and Y/N saved the universe. It’ll be nice having her around.” As if on cue, Morgan came running into the kitchen, grabbing your hand and Peter’s hand.

“I forgot to show you my treehouse! Uncle Rhodey made it!” She tugged on your hands. You and Peter looked at Tony and May, who both just nodded, silently agreeing to discuss this topic later.

“Uncle Rhodey made you a treehouse?” Peter asked Morgan enthusiastically as you two followed the little girl. Yeah, you definitely wanted to stay on Earth.

~~~

“You promised me tonight was Footloose night!” You protested as the screen crawl for Star Wars: Return of the Jedi started. Peter shushed you, sitting beside you and placing a blanket over your laps.

“I said we’d watch Footloose after we finish Star Wars.” He laughed.

“There’s too many of them.” You sighed overdramatically, turning away from Peter in feign anger. Peter pouted, wrapping his arms around you, but you refused to budge. Your boyfriend knew you too well though, and he peppered your face with kisses until you cracked a smile. One of his hands cupped your chin, pulling you back to face him.

“This is the last one of the originals, and then we’ll watch Footloose, alright? I won’t make you sit through the other six yet.” Peter said.

“Okay.” You smiled, “I have to see Footloose before Homecoming next weekend or else I won’t understand any of it.”

“Footloose won’t make you understand Homecoming.” He shook his head with a light chuckle. “I haven’t even asked you to come with me yet.”

“Am I supposed to wait for you to ask because Pepper already took me to get a dress with Morgan- and those things are uncomfortable.” You stated, grimacing a little.

“Since you’re homeschooled, yes.” Peter laughed. He cupped your cheek, lightly caressing your skin with his thumb, “Do you want to go to Homecoming with me?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” You teased. Peter’s lips barely brushed against yours before someone cleared their throat behind you.

“Parker, you’re not corrupting my daughter, are you?” Tony questioned, raising his eyebrow at the two of you as he came into the living room.

“Oh please, dad, you know I can handle myself.” You laughed, playfully creating a few lightning sparks in your free palm.

“Keep it PG in here.” He said, before leaving, and you shook your head, turning back to Peter.

“Is there ever going to be a day where he doesn’t interrupt us?” Peter chuckled.

“Not today.” You whispered, before capturing your boyfriend’s lips in yours, both of you smiling into the kiss. Even though that day on Titan eight months ago felt like the end of the world, Peter was your lifeline right on time.

~~~

Tag List: @viagracex @theamazingtomholland @Hellomoveonby @heyitsshrez @harrisonosterfieldhazmyheart @joyleenl @t-o-m-holland @lonikje @sleepybesson

Peter Tag List: @quaksonhehe

#peter parker #peter parker imagine #peter parker one shot #peter parker x you #peter parker x reader #peter parker x y/n

138 notes · View notes

nautiscarader · 4 years ago

Note

billythesquid writes: How about Finn and Huntress Wizard for Snowed In? They're on a mission to the Ice Kingdom, there's an avalanche, and oh no! They've got to get warm fast.

(Ao3)

Also, if you enjoyed my work, here's Ko-fi link if you'd be so kind ❤️ .

=============

- That's not how you summon a trasheratrops.

Huntress Wizard chuckled and scolded Finn after he let out a prolonged, grumbling moan that echoed around the snowy canyon they have been travelling in.

- Really? it worked last time... - Here, let me show you.

Huntress stopped and produced her magical flute. Though the night air in the Ice Kingdom was predictably freezing, she took a deep breath and blew into her instrument, producing a melodious, yet deep sound that, if they were in a different part of Ooo, could attract a whole herd of mythical beasts she was talking about.

When she opened her eyes, she noticed a deep, crimson blush on Finn's cheeks. Despite their lengthy trek to Ice Kingdom, it wasn't because of the cold, though. If there was one thing that never failed Finn to reignite his love for Huntress Wizard, it was her music talent that properly mesmerised him, as if he was the animals she was taming.

- Ooh, let me try.

Finn took out his flute and joined Huntress Wizard. He was less skilled than her, but as their music continued, the two started harmonising, creating a music that soon diverted from their original intent. Huntress and Finn looked at each other, as they became more and more entranced by their performance, walking up the snowy mountain. And for a long, glorious moment, the two forgot about their mission, and the rest of the world...

But the world reminded them of itself with a thunderous, low, rumbling sound, akin to a horde of trasheratropsi running down the mountain. A cloud of white snow erupted high above them, but in a blink of an eye it travelled several dozen feet, forcing the two to evacuate.

- Avalanche!

Finn screamed, but Huntress was quicker. She grabbed him with the talons of a hawk she transformed into, taking them from the main path of the avalanche. But she miscalculated how wide the wave of snow was after them, forcing her tu turn sharply towards a mountainous range that arose in front of them. Just before she thought they would crash into the rocks, Finn pointed to a small crevasse, and with a sharp turn, Huntress flew into it, just before the walls roared when the avalanche missed them by just a few feet.

The two tumbled on the solid ice, until Finn reached to his detransformed girlfriend.

- H-Dubs! Are you okay?! - I'm... fine, Finn.

Huntress spoke, though she pointed out to the narrow entrance that now was completely cut off by a wall of snow. The teo looked around the icy room, illuminated just by a faint crack in the ceiling, too small for neither of them to slip through, at least not without getting torn to shreds by icicles.

- Well, at least we're not gonna suffocate...

Finn spoke, examining the thick, icy walls that surrounded them. He tried making a dent in them, first with his bare, metal arm, and then his sword, but up to no avail. And by the looks of it, the fresh snow that chased them has started forming another impenetrable wall as well.

- Looks like we might have to spend a night here.

He expected to hear from his girlfriend, but when he turned around, all he could see was her, curled up next to his backpack, unmoving.

- HW!

Finn rushed to her, closing his arms around her, feeling her body shivering from cold. Of course, she was part-plant, Finn thought. At once he got rid of his coat, and threw the contents of his backpack on the ground. The bed was one thing, and it would insulate her from the floor, but at this rate, they won't last long.

He heard her teeth chattering, as he looked through the things that could help them. Huntress closed her eyes, listening to Finn's rambling about fire. And then, she heard a sound of metal sliding against metal, and something bright reached her vision, and when she opened her eyes, she Finn holding a torch in his hand.

- H-How...?

And then she noticed. It was his flute.

- Well, it got us in trouble in the first place, didn't it?

Finn looked around to see what else could he use, but Huntress was faster.

- Here, let me help you...

Despite the cold, she stuck out her arm and shook it, letting many, many leaves fall to the icy ground.

- We need some kindling.

Reluctantly, Finn gathered the leaves and set them on fire, separating the small campfire from the ice with rocks. It took him quite a while, but after a few minutes, the fire was burning with enough heat to give them just a shred of hope of surviving.

Him, at least.

Huntress was still shivering, despite the double layer of insulation and the warmth of her boyfriend cuddling up next to her. The two formed a tight cocoon sharing the heat of their bodies, and with that, her state improved marginally, especially when Finn offered her a bit of candy liquor.

- Thanks, Finn... - No worries, H-Dubs, we're gonna get through it. - I hope so, Finn...

She closed her arms and legs around him, letting their bodies share the necessary closeness. But as long minutes went by, Huntress started considering another option.

- Finn... there is one way we can share our heat. - How? I don;t think we can get any closer, I'm practically inside you.

Huntress smiled at him.

- Oh. - We can become one, Finn. That is magic powerful enough to keep us alive. - Woah, H-Dubs, I mean... you know what happens when dudes enter cold bath, though, right? - Don't worry. You gave me enough heat, it;'s time for me to repay you.

She leaned forward, or as forward as she could, being almost face-to-face with him and kissed him, while her arms sneaked between their pressed bodies and into his trousers. She was already straddling him, so with one more clumsy move, she lifted her pantaloons. And if Finn had any worries about her hands closing around his cock, then the few droplets of liquid heat dripping from her sex brought him back to full flory, as if they were in his treehouse.

Huntress made one forceful push and let out a prolonged moan when his hot rod sneaked between her folds, already bringing her the energy she so desperately needed. Their arms curled around each other, as their savoured their intimate connection, and when their kiss broke, Huntress smiled and began moving her hips up and down.

Clouds of air erupted from Finn's mouth as short gasps, but he quickly redirected them in between their bodies, to bring save much needed warmth, though with Huntress' moves, the friction between them was doing enough already. But Finn knew it wasn't just silly physics. There was magic in action, he could see it in her eyes and her body wriggling and twisting around him, and when he began movig his hips, the spell was complete.

The two forgot about coldness that surrounded them, and the potential lethal consequences of their trip. they forgot about their obligations as well, as they continued to rock against each other, letting their love generate more energy than any battle could have ever done.

But they both knew that there was one crucial element they were both withholding with each long minute of their carnal dance, and Huntress, as usual, was the one to verbalise it.

- Finn, we need to come together. I-I will coat you with my warm sap..

Huntress spoke in short, needy sentences, that roared in Finn's mind despite her whispering.

- But I want you to set me on fire... I need your flame inside me... In my loins, my sex...

She leaned against his shoulder.

- In my womb...

Something about that last word struck a chord in Finn's brain. The way she accented it, the way she spoke of it as something vital and imperative, speaking to a very primal part of Finn's brain. The next moment, he felt Huntress Wizard shuddering atop him, and that, in turn, brought him to his edge.

Hoping his metal arm won't cause any harm, Finn tightened his grip on her back, and with a mighty, yet still slightly girly roar, his body jerked, and with Huntress' walls squeezing on him, he spilled himself inside her, shooting stream after stream of his own brand of warmth up her sex, right where she wanted it.

For a moment he wasn't sure if Huntress was speaking metaphorically, or if her wooden, leafy body really would be set aflame - from the way she moaned and arched her back, it would have certainly seemed so. But she was okay, riding him, letting the pleasure consume her, until every drop of his warmth was safely inside her. When she ran out of energy as well, she collapsed onto him, though, from the feeling of it, her sex was still closing around him erratically. Finn listened to soft chirping Wizard has been producing with each drop of seed she milked him of and with each layer of sap she coated his cock and balls with.

- H-Dubs, you-you are still shivering... - Finn spoke amidst his own, bliss-hazed mind - It's-it's Fine, Finn. - Huntress spoke, reaching for his lips. - And so are you.

Every nerve of her body reacted to the intimacy and closeness they shared, and part of her wanted to disrobe completely, but she knew better this was just a false sensation. Instead she buried herself deeper in the cocoon of clothes, feeling droplets of sweat on her forehead. And with Finn's heartbeat next to hers, she closed her eyes and whispered her final plea.

- Don't go, Finn. I want to be with you like that forever... - Uh yeah, but, uh, I gotta... - Oh.

For an agonisingly long split of second, the two lovers had to part, so Finn could go the furthest corner of the cave and do his thing, hoping that he won't freeze while doing it. And when he returned, he was met with the sight of Huntress wizard with her legs spread invitingly, and her hand over her used sex, keeping her folds shut.

- I don't want a single drop of it wasted.

Finn sat in his place and let his cock slip inside her again and seal his seed inside her, especially as with his strength and stamina regained, he slowly became hard again. Their eyes met, and the two shared a nod, before their bodies began rubbing against each other for a second time.

- Are we-we gonna do it all night? - Finn asked, seeing her lips curling into a wide smile - I wouldn't mind...

And the two pushed their bodies to the limit, becoming one time after time, after they both fell asleep in each other's arms, unsure if they would ever wake up again.

When the morning arrived, Finn opened his slightly frosted eyelids only to Find Huntress cuddled against him, lightly snoring. His first sensation was that of overwhelming warmth that connected and joined them after countless rounds of short, but passionate love-making that kept them alive. A wide, satisfied smile was plastered on her face, and when she felt his sudden moves, she woke up too, happy to find them both well.

- Morning, Finn. - Morning, HW. - Morning, you guys.

At once, Finn and Huntress wizard jumped in place, as the third, croaky voice reached them. Lost in themselves, they only now became aware of Ice King sitting around their campfire, now fuelled by a bunch of paper wrappers, trying to roast a marshmallow over it. Finn instinctively pulled out a sword and aimed it at his old adversary.

- Ice King! What the flip are you doing here? - I just wanted you guys to know that I found my keys. - Wait, how did you find *us*?! - I didn't, I was trying to shuffle back my snow that you guys have dragged from up my mountain! And that's where my keys were all this time, so my bad.

He reached into his pocket and jangled a key ring.

- So, yeah, I no longer need you.

Finn and Huntress Wizard blinked.

- Wait, you needed us to... find your keys? That's why you called for us?! - Well you promised "All heroic deeds" in your ad. - Ice King shrugged - Oh, and I see you don't have Jake with you... Tell him he still owes me money from the last card game.

Ice king stood up and waddled nonchalantly towards the exit, now unblocked, leaving Finn and Huntress Wizard utterly dumbfounded.

- Did we almost freeze to death for that? - Uh, I think so. - Finn replied - Oh, hey, he left marshmallows.

Finn untangled himself from his girlfriend and reached for the snacks, while Huntress tried to comprehend the situation. If it wasn't for Finn, she'd seriously considered quitting the "Hero for hire" job.

A few minutes later, the two were packed and began journey back to Candy Kingdom, and just like yesterday, the two talked and joked all the way. But while the air was still chilly, Huntress Wizard wasn't feeling it at all. Just like she asked him to, Finn has ignited a spark inside her, one that would soon turn into a wildfire and keep her warm for months to come.

#finntress #lemon #Anonymous #aged-up characters and all that #nautiscaraderfics

23 notes · View notes

mcfanely · 4 years ago

Text

The Ice Emperor and the Earth Dragon AU

"For my first order, you are to never speak of this 'Zane' again."

Getting thrown into a far off realm hadn’t been a purposeful decision on Cole’s behalf, but it wasn’t one that he’d change. Following Zane into a desolate wasteland of snow and ice with a broken mech, a corrupting scroll; and nothing else, he’d rather be trapped with his brother than still be at home and wondering about his well-being. Whether he’d lost him all over again. Then a stranger disrupted the fragile routine they’d established, and Cole was still willing to protect his waylaid brother.

Chapter 01 - Of Ice and Earth, 1659 words

Cole hadn't meant to get struck by Serpentine magic.

Or maybe he had?

He'd made a split second decision, acted on sheer instinct without thinking much on the possible outcome. It was also something he'd gladly do again, even with his previous assumption that anything that got struck with the power contained in the Staff of Forbidden Spinjitzu was sent into oblivion. Destroyed, gone.

With that knowledge, and watching the purple arch of energy spewing out of the staff still held by a frozen Aspheera, the deep blue crystalline ice that held her in place and pronounced her defeat seemed to do nothing to sway her from getting the last laugh. The beam had shot forwards, and he and Zane had reacted simultaneously. Zane, he moved in front of Wu.

Cole, he'd tried to grab both of them by the arm and pull them out of harm's way. He'd barrelled past Jay, his body moving on autopilot before his mind had caught up.

He'd caught onto Zane's sleeve, balled the fabric in his hand.

Then his gaze shifted to darkness, and a cold chill quickly seeping into his skin and deeper into his bones pulled him from the dregs of what must have been unconsciousness. Even though the resounding thumping from inside his head was enough to make him want to curl up in a ball and ignore the world.

World?

Cold?

He was alive?

"Hello?" someone called.

Cole shifted slowly from where he was laid, the crisp snow below his hands giving way as he gathered himself up off the floor. It didn't help with the chill at all, but as his eyes adjusted to the bright glare of light reflecting off a snowy landscape, aches and pains and uncomfortableness faded into the background as confusion set in.

He'd been inside. He'd been in the vehicle hanger under the Monastery? Inside. Even then, outside had been spring weather with a slight chance of ancient serpentine fires.

Not… Not snow and cold. Not an overcast sky.

Cole didn't do cold weather.

He needed warmth, he needed greenery and the sun because who liked a drab and seemingly never ending snowscape that bit into his fingers, fogged his breath and made him hug his bare arms and shiver involuntarily.

What had happened?

Aspheera, the staff, Zane and an incredible show of his ice powers; the final blow.

Zane…

"Is anyone there?" Came that voice again. The tinny metal sound carrying over the snowy silence. He'd recognise that voice anywhere.

"Zane!" Cole called back, turning as fast as his feet would allow him so he could look around.

Zane was okay?

The surroundings fell back into silence, and Cole kept looking. Snow. Snow. His breath fogging in the air in front of him. Mountains. Cliffs. A mound of rocks.

A glint of titanium.

And, "... Cole?"

That was all he really needed to give him a spur of energy. To ignore the snow seeping into his gi and shoes, to put what had just taken place out of his mind even just for a second. Zane was here, and he was okay.

He charged through the snow, leaving a large drift in his wake as he made his way over to his friend and all but tackled him down with a hug and a laugh. It was only the counterweight of the nindroid that kept them both from falling backwards into the snow.

"You're okay!" Cole pulled back and let out a heavy breath of relief, keeping his hands on his friends shoulders as he looked him over. Assessing him, seeing whether what Aspheera had shot directly at him had any adverse effect.

"You damn tin-can. Self sacrificing-" Cole closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You'll give me a heart attack one of these days." He stammered out, a smile pulling briefly on his face. Zane was here.

Wherever here was exactly.

"Need I remind you," Zane began, and Cole's gaze drifted up to the bright eyes of his brother. It was like a constant development, that every second that passed that he was looking at the Nindroid made him realise that he was okay. Zane was alive and in one piece. This wasn't a repeat of the Overlord.

Though his silent pondering was shattered when he felt a light push to his shoulder and refocused to see a look that was an unusual mix of repose and irritation. Zane wasn't the most widely expressive person, but he did have his moments of animation. They were always a sight.

"You were clearly intent on carrying out the same action that I did." Zane gestured to the entirety of Cole's body, as if that encapsulated his whole argument. Which it did. Cole's presence was proof enough that the same thing happened to him that had happened to Zane. They'd both been victims of the spell.

He still wasn't going to let his brother get a one up that easily. "The same-? You got in the way of the blast, you could have, like, pulled Sensei Wu out of the way."

"Everything happened fairly swiftly, Cole. I acted on-"

"- instinct?" Cole finished after a second, then nodded. "Same here. I saw Aspheera- and you were distracted," He cleared his throat before reaching up and patting Zane's shoulder lightly. "I'm glad I'm here with you, anyway. Wouldn't want you to be alone," He nodded loosely in the direction of the vast quantity of snow behind him. "You know, here."

Zane's eyes shifted around as he fully took in their environment, his brows furrowing lightly. Then he started walking through the snow, and it took Cole a moment to realise that the mound of rocks he'd seen a few minutes ago was anything but. It was Lloyd's Mech, wedged in a deep trench of snow with seemingly no power running through its systems. Currently just a useless hunk of metal.

One of which Zane was making a b-line for. Cole just followed closely behind, watching as the other climbed up onto the breastplate and stared off into the distance.

Vantage point, better view. Right.

He climbed up to join him.

Their attention jointly settled on the setting sun framed by a few rocky outcrops and towering pillars of ice.

"Wherever here is. My scanner does not seem to be working."

Like that wasn't concerning.

"Maybe we're in the first realm, just a very different part of it."

"Or an entirely different realm all together." Zane said.

Like that observation didn't make their whole circumstances that bit more bleak. The shift in tone was paramount in that moment, Cole felt his shoulders drop just a little. Zane kept his attention resolutely set on the light from the sinking sun.

Clearly, neither one liked that possibility.

Then there was a spark, and Cole's attention snapped to his brother, and more specifically the panel in his chest. Zane's gi was ripped in places, dirtied in others. His body was lightly scratched and dented in the same way Cole could feel a bruise swelling up on his forehead; but the chest panel had buckled slightly inwards enough that it wasn't closed fully, and from inside he could see flashes of light.

"You're hurt." He stated plainly, and any and all attention promptly shifted over to different matters, pressing matters.

Only, Zane gently caught his wrist and pulled it down away from where he was going to open the panel, much to Cole's chagrin, "Zane,"

"I am fine." was the simple answer. It didn't do much to sway his opinion.

"You're sparking more than Jay. Let me take a look at you." Cole tugged his arm out of Zane's grip and stepped forwards, only for Zane to respond by stepping back.

"If you wish to fix something, we should start with the mech." He pointed down to what they were standing on, "We can't leave it out here to the mercy of the elements."

Without waiting for a reply, and just as quickly as he'd scaled the side of the mech to look around the area, Zane had climbed off back onto the snowy ground below, the crunch of the once fresh carpet soon being broken by the sound of a metal panel being pried loose. Cole made a move to follow, before the realisation that he'd just be getting his already soaking gi even more wet and logged with icy water.

Minor injuries he could handle, a brother who was refusing to be looked after and ignoring his advances to help, he would begrudgingly allow.

But getting too cold? In an already frozen environment? A headache or sparky and fritzed wiring could be fixed. Hypothermia? Whilst there was no clear way for them to get warm and dry off? Death sentence.

Well, maybe not so much for the Master of Ice, who was currently centralised on removing the casing from Lloyd's mech to get at its inner workings. Walking around in his own element, his own white gi damp and clinging to his body. The one advantage Zane had, the cold wouldn't be his downfall. He was a nindroid, whether he felt the cold was ambiguous, but Cole was fairly certain that after knowing him for years, Zane got cold but he never felt it.

Fixing the mech and getting it up and moving wasn't for Zane's benefit, Cole realised. It was for him. A moving mech meant travelling much faster than they could on foot, it meant keeping them both off the ground; shelter, and with power and usage, came heat from functioning machinery.

And Cole needed to find a way to get warm sooner or later, since the tips of his fingers and cheeks were already getting numb.

"Fine. Okay. We'll fix the mech first." He caved begrudgingly.

He would be lying if he didn't sense accomplishment in the light chuckle he heard from his friend, carried up to him by a wispy breeze.

Ch 01 > Ch 02

Cross-posted to AO3

#The Ice Emperor and The Earth Dragon #cole brookstone #zane julien #cole #zane #ninjago cole #ninjago zane #The Ice Emperor #The Ice Emperor and the Earth Dragon AU #ninjago seaosn 11 #Ninjago #lego ninjago #lego #Fanfiction #mcfanely aus #mcfanely writes #mcfanely draws #mcfanely

144 notes · View notes