prettysymbiosis

[clonedchaos]

“Did You Just Propose to me with Crochet Dinosaurs?”

Just a little Drabble for @fyeahjurassicocs Jurassic Pride Month featuring two of my Jurassic World OCs (whom I really need to get around to writing more 😭). This is just for fun/practice with them and many of the prompts so far have been interesting, so might as well jump in. (I'm late, I'm so very sorry ;-;) Sooooo… Enjoy!

Prompt: Day 1- Jurassic World Pride Parade

“Danny! Take a look at this!”

Jordan turned away from the vibrant collage of colors parading down Times Square. The sounds of the crowd deafened her senses, but she was able to detect her girlfriend’s voice anywhere.

Natalie stood a few feet away at one of the nearby Pride market booths with a giddy look on her face. She had decided to go all out for the New York Pride festival, an uncommon contrast from her rather modest clothing. Her black curls were done up in a high bun and her face was adored with intricate flowers and star designs painted with blues, purples, and pinks. She had on a flowery blue top with faux flowers on the collar and a purple and pink ombré petticoat.

Jordan on the other hand was blanketed in a lesbian flag that doubled as a cape. Her brown hair was pulled into a ponytail and held tight with a pink flower clip. Natalie had painted a heart on her cheek and applied a smoky eye shadow look for extra flair that Jordan was careful not to smudge despite her aversion to makeup. The colors framed her like the setting sun itself.

She ducked and weaved through the crowd towards her girlfriend. Natalie spun to face her with a wide grin. In her palms was a tiny crocheted hadrosaurus crafted in various shades of orange, white, and pink. “It’s a… ‘Lesbeosaurus.’ Get it? Because it’s a Lambeosaurus?”

Jordan chuckled as Natalie placed it in her palms. She gave it a little scratch on the head, fondly reminiscing on the times she had raised infant dinosaurs after they had been birthed from the hatchery. Despite the fall of Jurassic World, she still missed the dinosaurs on the island dearly. Especially Indie. How was the Indominus Rex doing, anyways?

“It’s adorable, Nat,” was all she said as she forced the thoughts away.

“And this one too,” Natalie added, reaching over to pluck a crocheted Dilophosaurus from its stand. “A Bi-lophosaurus… Do we need these? Or… DO we need these?” She smirked.

Jordan reached up and placed the hadrosaur on her shoulder like it was her mini partner in crime. “I think I’ve learned now not to let you run off on your own during a pride parade. Our wallets will thank us later once we ditch the market.”

Natalie gave a mock pout as she held her Dilophosaurus up to her head. “Oh, come on. It’s just one purchase.”

“You said that at the last four booths we went to,” Jordan snorted with a smile. Natalie had swore to her that the beaded necklace sporting the bi flag’s colors and a rainbow blanket for the apartment was a necessity, not a want. And of course a pride flag for the balcony, because their resident canine and feline had a habit on chewing on anything they could sink their teeth into and Natalie wasn’t about to let them tarnish something so important during pride month. Which, naturally, led to Natalie purchasing collars and toys for their ‘fur babies’. Jordan needed to pull her out of the market fast, before she blew their life savings in one day.

“This is perfect for your locker at work and my office at the vet,” Natalie claimed, already pulling out some cash from her purse. Before Jordan could stop her, the transfer was complete. If anyone was more stubborn than her, it would be Natalie-- though others had stated she was a lot more calm and collected about it like a forest stream while Jordan's emotions tended to crackle off her like a firework.

“There. Now we have two new buddies for our collection,” Natalie smiled, nudging her on the shoulder. As if either of them needed more dinosaur merchandise, they’d already gotten far too many memorabilia from their time working at Jurassic World.

Jordan smiled and reached up on her tiptoes. Natalie stood a full foot taller than her. It annoyed her to no end that she was the "small girlfriend". It annoyed her even more that Natalie occasionally liked to sweep her up bridal style when she was annoyed or flustered to calm her down. Well, that second part didn't annoy her truthfully, but no one else but Nat needed to know that!

She put her Lambeosaurus in front of Natalie's Dilophosaurus and made the two plushies give each other a swift peck on the cheek. “There. Now they’re dating. Like us.”

Natalie set her hand in Jordans as the two headed back into the throng of people. The roar of the crowd nearly drowned out their words, but Jordan could undeniably hear Natalie’s comment. “Dating? No, they’re engaged.”

Jordan’s head whipped toward her girlfriend as a blush crept across her cheeks. Natalie was suddenly down on one knee, diamond ring in hand. The paleo veterinarian seemed flustered, her usual collected exterior flooded with anxiety as she awaited a response.

Jordan was momentarily stunned and unable to cling to any thought spiraling through her head. It was really happening? Here? Right now? She wasn’t dreaming this, was she?

Her heart felt light for the first time in several years. She lunged forward, nearly tackling Natalie to the ground. Taking that as an acceptance, Natalie began to laugh. Jordan laughed with her as they held one another in a gentle embrace.

“…Did you just propose to me with crochet dinosaurs?”

[thatoneneuvichiliauthor]

Honestly at this point these boys would have a great time having a date at an aviary. Like, ducks and owls for Ratio and peacocks for Aventurine lol. Imagine the cute instagram pics theyd take (since we know that they canonically both have insta accounts). Like Aventurine takes and shares nearly a hundred photos of himself posing next to birds, pics of him dragging ratio into a selfie (which ratio is clearly annoyed by), lots of different pics of all the different colorful birds, etc. Ratio only posts one picture and its at the end of the day. Aventurine's hair is wild and untamed from the windy day, the makeup he wears on his eyes is slightly smudged from being worn all day, and, most remarkably, his smile is *real*. In the photo, the smile on his face genuinely reaches his eyes, and it gives his whole face a much softer and warmer look. He isn't even looking at the camera. He's holding a baby peacock that the handler is letting him hold and pet. The sunset behind him is catching his hair in a golden glow of a halo, and his eyes are focused on the scruffy little baby in his hands. It would seem strange to anyone else that the flamboyant Aven would hold so much softness for this not-yet-beautiful baby version of a peacock, but Ratio knows Aven well enough to know why. (wow this one got away from me lol)

Omg this is so perfect 😭😭❤️❤️❤️ The image of Aventurine petting the baby peacock is such a soft one, not to mention the deep meaning behind it, I can't 😭Thank you so much for sharing this adorable headcanon with me, I love it *happy incoherent screeching*

(And yes, going to an aviary would be the perfect date for them! Oh, and just a thought: Since Aven may have gotten the three black cat cakes because of how they're associated with bad luck/how people often treat them unfairly because of their reputation, I can also see them having a soft spot for crows and ravens, since the same applies to them.)

[satoshi-mochida]

Monster Hunter Wilds ‘1st Trailer,’ screenshots

From Gematsu

Capcom has released the first official trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds, which introduces the game’s untamed landscape teeming with new monsters, as well as first glimpses of the story, characters, system, and more.

Get the latest details below.

In Monster Hunter Wilds, players join the ranks of a special Research Commission team investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the Monster Hunter series, the hunter ventures into the unknown with their companions, including Guild-appointed handler Alma, their Palico partner, and a mysterious child. Monster Hunter Wilds features multi-dimensional biomes that can transform in unexpected ways. The first locale to be unveiled is the Windward Plains, a vast region encompassing harsh deserts, twisted rock formations, and swaying grasslands abound with life. These immersive ecosystems are populated with wildlife acclimated to their surroundings, including smaller monsters like Dalthydon, an herbivorous wyvern that migrates seasonally, and Ceratonoth, who rely on males to shield the herd from raging storms with well-developed dorsal horns that serve as lightning rods. Of course, large monsters also roam the Windward Plains, including Doshaguma. While massive and territorial, these fanged beasts are curiously sometimes sighted stalking the plains in aggressive packs. Meanwhile, the formidable amphibian Chatacabra uses its surroundings and adhesive saliva to become an even stronger adversary by armoring its body with natural materials like ore. To help hunters meet the challenges that await in Monster Hunter Wilds, the beloved gameplay of the series has evolved with an arsenal of new features. Players will experience a seamless flow from story sequences to gameplay without interruption. To traverse this world’s sprawling environments, the game introduces Seikrets, a new type of mount. These nimble creatures can guide their riders to destinations and allow hunters to perform actions on the go, such as sharpening weapons, gathering materials, and wielding the slinger. Hunters can also swap to a secondary weapon with their Seikret, empowering hunting parties to adapt to the changing conditions out in the field without returning to base. All 14 of the series’ iconic weapon types return in Monster Hunter Wilds and have now evolved to include new actions. Additionally, the game introduces brand-new systems, such as Focus Mode, giving hunters more precise control over aiming, guarding, and attacking monsters’ weak points. The new Hook Slinger also offers hunters additional abilities, including contextual actions and the power to collect items from a distance – even when mounted atop their Seikret. Monster Hunter Wilds players who link their Monster Hunter: World save data can receive special bonus items. This includes the Felyne Leather Set (Palico Armor) and Felyne Acorn Spade (Palico Weapon) for linking Monster Hunter: World base game save data, and Felyne Duffel Set (Palico Armor) and Felyne Trekker Peckaxe (Palico Weapon) for linking save data from the title’s massive expansion Monster Hunter World: Iceborne.

Monster Hunter Wilds is due out for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam in 2025.

Watch a new trailer below. View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.

1st Trailer

English

Japanese

[lesuccube]

➚ 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐊 𝐃 : ᴀᴜ-ᴄᴛᴏʙᴇʀ — ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴜɴᴛ

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒 — dancing with danger .

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 — no malware detected

𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 — not beta'd , constructive criticism is welcomed. reblogs and comments are appreciated .

𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓 — 0.8k

according to aristotle, humans are social animals, that we thrive best in the company of others. while that may prove true to some, it wasn't to you. the only thing this phrase would describe you as perfectly was an animal. running on pure instinct and adrenaline. an untamed beast.

a wolf in sheep's clothing? no. a more accurate representation of you would be a black mamba. blending into the night, hiding in places the light doesn't shine, the shadows became your home. it's your job to but at the same time, you liked your isolation.

far away from nosy people, from people that talked too much, that took up too much space and didn't know when enough was enough. you hated that, you hated them. and your handler took advantage of that.

taken in by a mysterious man, he raised you learning how to fight, self defense, martial arts, to kill and maim with your bare hands. he also taught you how to fight with every weapon known to mankind, even something like a spoon. now, why would you as a child let yourself be taken in by such a person? because as much as you loved being alone, living with him where you had a roof over your head instead of sleeping in parking garages, food on the table three times a day instead of scavenging for scraps, a shower instead of stinking, the works.

growing up, you were detached from your emotions. you were extremely apathetic and unfeeling. he knew that and took advantage of it to do his work. now, being an assassin wasn't all that bad. most of the time, your assignments consisted of cleaning society of very bad people and you relished in doing it, after all your services weren't cheap. and some days, you were sent to chase after regular people with regular lives. normal people who's worst crimes was probably arguing with others. but as stated before, you were unfeeling. robotic even. you don't care about all that jazz.

until jake lockley. your next assignment. the target on his back? your handler never explained except for the fact that someone really high up wanted him gone to get back at his own handler? whatever that meant.

but see, the thing was, he knew how to fight back. and he never backed down from one either. and the longer you chased him, the more you seemed to be captivated by him. all those witty spanish comebacks, all the subtle Itouches when he dodged your blows and every single close call that sent you both toppling over each other… they all made your heart go crazy for some unknown reason.

for someone so isolated from the world, you sure craved his company. and that's what boggled you the most; you just can't seem to understand your attraction towards him, unable to distinguish it from the innate loathing you held for each and every one of your assignments.

maybe that should've been your warning but you were never the type to listen to anyone but your gut anyways, and your gut tells you that you either liked him or hated him and it continues to perplex you so. so on one fateful encounter after the other, you managed to pull him under you after a hard blow to the head.

you pointed the tip of your dagger to his throat, a snarl on your lips as you breathed heavily, agonizing bruises blooming underneath your layer of clothing. "i'll cut your throat! that'll shut you up!" you rasped, threat half empty even with your weapon ready to slit him bloody open.

with ragged breaths, jake looks up at you, nose bloody and his own lips curled into a small smirk. "you're beautiful…" he whispers and those two words was enough to send your heart ablaze and your tummy churning with thousands of butterflies. your cheeks heated at the simple compliment, breaking through your murderous intent, turning you, a cold-blooded assassin into a mess like a teenage girl that just got her crush to notice her.

in your mind, you think you'll never be able to finish this assignment. jake will forever play with you this cat and mouse game, a neverending chase that tiptoed the border of love and murder, bloodied fists and bloody hearts. both your claws ready to tear each other open to reach into the depths of your chests and swap hearts in your carnal desire to be with one another.

there is beauty in violence where love is the center of it all. one soul so alone in the world and the other trying to find its place away from the shadows of those before him. there is beauty in violence in the way you would continue to rush after each other, hoping to be the first to touch and feel the other underneath fingertips and desiring gazes. there is beauty in violence the way jake will always be ready to receive you no matter how bloody you two will end up afterwards.

[ashley-jones]

To Which You Crave

Aemond Targaryen x Married Sister OC x Alys Rivers

OC Name: Visella Targaryen

It is our fate, I think, to crave what is given to others. If one posseses a thing, the other will take it away. - Helaena Targaryen

From the moment she was born into this world as the youngest child of King Viserys the Peaceful and Queen consort Alicent Hightower, that she would be queen. She married her oldest brother Aegon Targaryen, the favorite but useless spoiled rotten boy. She gave birth to two very healthy pureblooded Targaryen boys, each looking like her and Aegon. She did the unspeakable, something men haven’t been able to do in thousands of years, tamed one of the untamable dragons, the most dangerous and most powerful dragon, Cannibal at only the age of 6. It was a mistake, her and Aemond had just gone for a morning walk like they did every morning, to which she had borrowed Sunfyre for a ride due to Aegon never taking him out. While resting she had entered a passage that led her straight into the cannibal’s trap of corpses. 

His deathly green eyes had sat on her the moment she entered his territory, standing to his larger, overbearing monstrous height. His head reminded her of Balerion, the black dread’s skull that sits in King's Landing. He looked so much larger than Vaghar, her great aunt Leana’s dragon. He let out a loud roar that shook the ground and the skies. Her long white hair blew back behind her ruining the once perfect braid. Aemond had frozen about 30 feet behind her, unable to yell for his sister as she looked up at the dragon with pure amazement. A ball of fire could be seen filling the dragon’s throat, and as the flames were seconds from hitting her, the dragon stopped. She was smiling, her young childish features had turned to a beautiful smile staring up at him with pure amazement and giddy. The flames disappeared, slowly leaned his head down to which she reached her hand out until her tiny palm touched his snout. A deep rumbling purr escaped him, her fingers gliding along the pitch black night colored scales. “My dragon..” she whispered. 

When she turned to say something to Aemond he had disappeared, Sunfyre still standing watching her closely. “Aemond?” she called out. But nothing, he had walked away not saying anything going straight back to King's Landing. 

    When she returned home riding the black beast, all she got was stares of amazement from the handlers. Jace and Luke watched in terror, the same with Rhaenyra once the blacks realized the greens had a very strong and overpowering dragon on their side. Alicent was quick to make sure her daughter was okay, Aemond standing in the back listening to Aegon’s teasing of still not having a dragon. But Viserys congratulated her on conquesting something men haven’t been able to touch in thousands of years. 

    That was 11 years ago, when she was still young and innocent. Before she married Aegon and had children. Before her older brother Aemond lost his eye to their nephew Lucerys. Before he gained Vaghar, the second largest dragon in the world. But now she’s grown up, learned what kind of world she lives in. She’s lost count how many times she has entered her and Aegon’s chambers to find him with a whore, to which she would turn and just walk out; having come so used to the sight that it no longer bothers her. Usually when it came to this she would just take her two boys and go straight to Aemond’s room, which they seemed to much prefer over their own father. 

    “Visella, what do you think of this one?” Helaena questioned her younger sister. The younger turned her head away from the book Aemond was reading looking at the spider embroidery. “It's beautiful, sweet thing.” she softly replied. To which Helaena smiled and looked away moving onto another embroidery. Her sons were playing with two dragon figures, one of pitch black the other green and silver. Her lilac gaze moved back to the book that was still partially resting on her thigh and Aemond’s. Her gaze scanned the pages, reading over each line; but her attention would be stolen every few minutes when her boys would talk, or Helaena would ask her questions or mutter to herself. 

   

Soon the midwives came in to collect the boys to lay them down for a nap, each bowing to the three then walking out holding the boys hands. Aemond closed the boy after sliding the ribbon into place and setting it aside. Helaena stood muttering about nearly missing classes, saying her goodbyes to her younger siblings then walking out whispering to herself. Visella stood walking towards the place her sons had been playing, kneeling and beginning to pick their toys up to place them back into the basket. “Was he with another again?” Aemond questioned. “He was, yes.” she answered. She set the two dragons on top and placed the basket by the door so she would remember to grab it when leaving. “It removes his attention from me, to which I am perfectly fine with.” she simply said. Rejoining her seat on the floor, to which he had moved back to the chair, he head moved to sit against his leg. 

His hand pushed through her white hair, carefully brushing out any knots the boys had placed when messing with her hair earlier in the afternoon. Her purple haze soon turned blac as her lids closed, eyelashes grazing her cheeks. Taking care of the boys mainly by herself was exhausting. When they cried at night in the next room she was the only one to get up to handle them, Aegon muttering about the noise then just going back to sleep too drunk to care. Then she would spend the rest of her night rocking them back to forth. Aemond has actually entered the nursery once or twice to her physically rocking Rhaegal, but mentally she was asleep, mind exhausted and unconscious, but body on active mode. Hell Aegon has walked in on it as well, only to walk out calling her crazy. 

“Ziry gaomas daor gūrogon ao.” (he does not deserve you.) he muttered. “Mm Hae ao gaomagon telling nyke lēkia.” (Mm.. As you keep telling me brother..) she whispered. “Kesā sagon iā rōvēgrie dāria though mandia.” (You will be a great queen though sister.) he whispered. “Mērī sȳrkta lo nyke skoriot naejot sagon ondoso aōha paktot instead hen zirȳla.” (Only better if I were to be by your side instead of him.) he added. Slowly she lifted her head, placing her chin on his knee smiling up at him. “You would make a true king.” she whispered. She slowly stood, straightening out her gown. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. “Eman naejot jikagon ñuha jorrāelagon.” (I have to go, my love.) she whispered. Leaning down she placed her lips against his, arm tightening around her waist trying to pull her down onto him, but she pulled away before he could. She kissed his forehead, moving away smiling softly and leaving the room with the basket of toys sitting on her arm. 

Yes Visella Targaryen, the youngest daughter of Viserys Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, sister wife of Aegon ii Targaryen, mother of Rheagal and Copious Targaryen, and the rider of the Cannibal Dragon; is having an affair with her older brother Aemond Targaryen. Aegon didn’t show her any love unless he was drunk, or in one of his rare vulnerable moments. However, Aemond took care of her, played with her children, read to them, and even taught them how to ride dragons. In other words, he was everything she wanted in a husband, everything she longed for; everything Aegon was not. 

She opened the door to her and her husband’s chambers, smelling Aegon’s bath oils in the air. The sheets had been freshly changed, her nightgown laying neatly at the bottom ready to be put on this eve. Setting the basket down she walked towards the connected nursery, ignoring her husband’s call of her name and entering the nursery. Both boys were fast asleep in fresh clothes, fixing their blankets and making sure their stuffed animals were placed back beside them. Quietly she walked back into her room, closing the door quietly and walking towards her husband. “You left so suddenly this morning my dear wife.” he whispered with a cocky smile. “I had more important matters to tend to.” she firmly answered. “Always so serious..” he whispered. After a brief glance at him, she shrugged and walked away, no longer interested in what he was saying.

   

“Should I be worried about the fact Rhaegal is calling out Aemond’s name every three words?” Aegon questioned his wife. “Aemond is around him more.” she answered. “You know he can’t love you fully. Not with this new Alys Rivers in the picture.” he pushed. She froze her doings with her earrings, hands falting in place, eyes moving towards her husband. “I am in no relation with anyone other than you Aegon.” she muttered. “You always were a horrible liar. Though I cannot be angry with you, when I myself have been no better.” he spoke. “How long have you known?” she asked. Walking over she sat on the tub looking at his relaxed form, his lilac haze sitting against her own. “I hear of it from the maids, and you leave in the middle of the night sometimes, then return covered in bruises and bites. You have done your duties for heirs, we both have. I show no problem with this affair, because I know it hadn’t started until after you had the boys.” he explained. She looked at him with a shocked expression, confusion dripping from her gaze. “I love you Visella, but not the way they expect me to. But Aemond has been sending letters back and forth to a woman by the name of Alys Rivers, they speak of marriage and possible future children.” he informed. 

Her gaze moved away staring at the stone floor, knowing her relationship with Aemond was possibly too good to be true. She hummed in acknowledgment, leaning over kissing his temple to which he leaned into enjoying the small comfort. “Don’t take too long.” she whispered. Slowly standing she walked out of their chambers, making her way out of the castle towards the beach area. Cannibal and Vaghar laid a far distance between the two, the older female dragon refusing to get within 40 feet of the Cannibalistic dragon, to which Cannibal seemed perfectly fine with. His large black scaled head lifted, horns dripping with sand; emerald green eyes pushed into her. “Rytsas jorrāelagon.” (Hello love.) she softly spoke up to him. A deep rumbling purr escaped him, shaking the ground beneath her feet. He slowly stood shaking the sand from his body, then shifting, leaning his large body over pressing his shoulder to the sand allowing her to step up onto him. No saddle, ladders, or even ropes were placed on him; no one was able to get close enough to place them. But she found it more natural, more comfortable, especially for a dragon that had been untamed for almost a thousand years. He stood up once she was sitting comfortably, moving back and stepping through the water to gain leverage, lifting his body into the air. “Soar rȳ se jēdar ñuha taoba.” (Soar through the sky my boy.) she spoke. He rumbled a deep purr, a deathly sky shattering roar erupted from him awakening the world as Cannibal took to the skies

“Your sister, the soon to be queen, she is quite pretty is she not.” Alys whispered. Aemond froze at those words, his hand stopping their menstruations in her hair. “Yes she is, she’s the Aphroditi of King's Landing as the people call her.” Aemond answered slowly, uncertain of his choice of words. “You don’t have to hide your love for her, my love, there is truly nothing wrong with it. Your brother treats her horribly, you are just giving her the love she deserves.” she whispered. Aemond moved his hand away from her sitting up, not liking the feeling of this conversation. “Why bring my sister up?” he questioned. “Because you love her as you love me.” she whispered. 

The roar of Cannibal shook the lands, his head lifting and turning, feeling the vibrations of his deep dominating roar course through the skies, forcing the clouds to split for his and his rider’s entrance. Alys stood walking towards the window, looking up towards the sky, the dragon’s tail being engulfed by the clouds, but his large shadow still could be seen through the white thickness. Her shimmering emerald eyes of evil shone, but darkened at the same time. It was not a look he liked, he wanted to protect his little sister, his mistress, from becoming more a prominent target. 

"Why not ask her to join our humble affair, my dearest love?” Alys whispered. 

[pitroig]

SpyxFamily episode 25:  lessons on parenting

Or a reminder that Twilight is here for a very specific reason that we should not forget.

SxF episode closed season 1 with the first meeting between Twilight and Desmond Donavan. The animation encapsulated the same tension between Twilight/Loid that we perceived in the manga and with a beautiful play of lights and shadows conveyed the character duality, addressing the fact that, we like it or not, for the agent the mission goes first and above everything else.

I have a couple of thoughts about it:

1. it's sad 

Because Anya - cute, and small, and funny, and so many times rejected by other families - says that she doesn't know if his father loves her, and sometimes she’s afraid of how he reacts when she shows him her poor school performance, but it's ok because she loves him and that's enough. And despite we know that Twilight cares about her, he still uses her as a cover, his family as a mask, their bonds as and excuse. 

And yet, he uses the poor Damian - so love deprived, so lonely, so approval-seeking - to get closer to Donovan. All for the mission, of course, all for the greater good, but still: he is taking advantage of the untamed love of children for his purposes.

One of the main themes of the series (as also shown in the current arc in the manga) is what are we able to do in order to protect our loved ones. How far does Yuri goes with his torture to protect Yor? How many people should Yor kill for the sake Yuri’s smile? For how long Loid Forger is going to use Anya? Is the Handler truly worried about the Forgers future? And, what if the Desmonds and their detached love is a way of protecting their children, keeping them far and away of the danger? What if the experiments conducted on Anya by some hidden structure of the state were meant to create a super diplomat and not a war weapon?

As nations and countries and states conduct questionable operations in the spirit of their citizens safety, parents may be as ruthless when it comes to their children wellbeing.

I believe that at some point, Twilight will abandon his all-for-the-mission attitude and will think about his relationship with Anya - but is still a long run. (My suspicion is that the horrible scientist that didn't allow Anya to draw is going to be the real bad guy, but sssh 🤫

2. There is also a lot of hope

Loid Forger doesn't understand Anya. Like, the poor guy is absolutely clueless when it comes to his daughter motives, plans and actions - who can blame him. The little girl is as adorable as random.

But he talks to Donavan and makes a wonderful hidden paralelism of parenting and politics, when he admits that he tries to accept her and set a common ground where they can meet and start listening to each other. The same low key diplomatic core embedded in Anya’s talk to Damian.

And both talks lead to a brief but meaningful word exchange between father and son, and that's enough for now.

But it also leads to un unexpected development: Damian tomato red admitting that he really wants to get on we'll with Anya. Cutest crush ever.

PS: This post was written while in an airport stopover, sorry for the poor quality

[uefb]

Fantastic Beasts One-Shot

The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures link

Summary

It's June 1943, and Newt Scamander and Tina Goldstein are living in Dorset with their first child while Tina heads the American Auror initiative in Europe. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Magic has just begun working with the Allies to plan for the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe through Normandy, via Dorset's neighbouring English Channel. Newt and the rest of Dumbledore's team are still on Grindelwald's radar, and news of Ministry reconnaissance employing a certain magizoologist and a kelpie ends up in the wrong hands. Newt is brought before his own department for Animal Welfare violations, but it quickly becomes clear that this isn't really about the kelpie at all: war is about subtle threats as much as it is about violence itself, and--with the weight of his daughter strapped to his back and the memories of missions gone wrong in his mind--it doesn't take much to remind him of that. // This is equal parts adorable domestic fluff and historical-based angst.

EXCERPT*

June 7, 1943 - 8:45 AM Seaside Dorset, England, UK

Newt was juggling a child under one arm and a crutch under the other when an owl carrying a bright red, Ministry-embossed envelope swooped in through the open window of their house in Dorset. He ignored the owl for several minutes in favour of heating Leora’s porridge and preparing his own tea, absentmindedly reciting the taxonomic ranks of magical and non-magical salamanders to keep his daughter entertained while he worked.

When he’d finally gotten them both settled at the table (only dropping her bottle and his crutch twice) and triggered the daily charm that gently shovelled porridge into her mouth long enough for him to read their morning post and skim the Prophet, Ghost, and muggle headlines, he was surprised to find the address on the scarlet envelope stamped with the crest of the Beasts Division, as opposed to the urgent letters he was more used to receiving from the Auror Office these days.

He glanced up at Leora and cleaned off her chin with a calloused thumb and warm smile, and then slipped on his glasses and ripped into the letter.

He immediately blinked.

The thin stack of papers was topped with his own division’s letterhead, but then typed firmly below it in the blanks of an auto-filled, enchanted department form (that he had, decades ago, designed one of the charms for):

The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures and the Animal Welfare Office summon Newton Artemis Fido Scamander for unauthorised possession, transport, and misuse of a beast (kelpie); the endangerment of a beast (kelpie); the injury of a British citizen (wizard, civilian) by an untamable or mishandled beast (kelpie); and a Grade 5 infraction of the International Statute of Secrecy (ICW) for all of the above.

Newt stared at the page, reached down to scratch at the deep, slowly healing bite inflicted by the referenced kelpie (Moira), and then actually, truly laughed.

He was authorised (blanket-authorised to work with kelpies actually!) and the only injury—due to his own stupid mistake—had been his own.

What the hell was going on?

Sentencing: Up to and including disposal of the beast (kelpie) and/or 30 months in Azkaban (Scamander). Hearing to commence: Noon today (June 7) on Level 4 (Department for the Regulation & Control of Magical Creatures) at the Ministry of Magic, London.

Typical threats for the accusations and—though a thoroughly inconvenient timeframe (even if not an unusual one, given how often handlers tried to dispose of evidence)—he wasn’t particularly concerned by them. His work and care for the kelpie had been—even if off-the-record—assigned by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and that should speak for itself. However, as he read through the full two pages of the summons while Leora babbled musically beside him, it became—quickly—significantly less humorous…

…and unregistered transport of a creature from Britain to an international waterway for labour-related purposes constitutes unlawful trafficking. Furthermore, use of the beast in a non-native habitat (saline and/or brackish) outside its natural biome (freshwater: inland) should be considered particularly egregious. Note: Report and recommendations prepared by Alice Abbott, junior investigator (Beasts Division - Animal Welfare). Original investigation completed by Antony Flint, senior investigator (Beasts Division - Illegal Trade).

The details in his summons—frankly—should not have been known by anyone outside of the joint wartime DMLE-Muggle Liaison task force he’d recently been brought onto, in response to the Allies’ decision to breach the Nazi’s Atlantic Wall at France, via the English Channel. [1, 2, 3] The Ministry had finally become invested in the Muggle war when it was made clear a few years before that Grindelwald and his supporters were not at all above hiding behind—and occasionally utilising—Muggle warfare and Nazi ideology to thoroughly infiltrate every crack of the continent, and entire world.

But the task force was classified. And rather highly so. Newt had barely made the cut himself. (Which, to be fair, really wasn’t that surprising.)

He flipped to the final page to review the list of all the academic references Abbott and Flint had used to justify his summons, and then he immediately found himself blinking again, before another disbelieving (and uncharacteristically loud) laugh burst forth—

“Are you kidding me!?”

Leora made a sound of mild concern at his exclamation, so Newt looked up long enough to offer a simple explanation in soothing tones. (So sorry — I know that was an unusual noise from Daddy, little light. But that’s, um -  just one way humans express, er - frustrated amusement? Can you remember that? He didn’t think she really needed such explicit instruction—even at 14-months her eyes tracked faces just like Tina’s—but Newt wasn’t taking any chances.)

She opened her mouth again for the levitating spoon of porridge, so he flattened the parchment back down and hunched over to skim... *I’m sorry if you’ve already read part of this excerpt when I posted a snippet earlier -- there’s not a good choice for flow besides this one!

[anniebotao3]

Push and Pull

Published 17/11/2023 | E-rated | 10288 words | Chaptered | Complete

Tags: Alternate Universe - Spies & Secret; AgentsSecret Agent Wang Yibo; Handler Xiao Zhan; Flashbacks; One Night Stands; Developing Relationship; Bottom Wang Yi Bo/Top Xiao Zhan | Sean; mentions of Top Wang Yi Bo/Bottom Xiao Zhan; Wang Yi Bo Has a Big Dick; Blow Jobs; Anal Sex; Undercover Missions; Not Beta Read; Artwork attached; CollaborationReverse Bang Challenge; zswwlsfy_events' ZSWW & LSFY Reverse Bang 2023 (The Untamed RPF); LSFY | Wang Yi Bo/Xiao Zhan; Plot Lite; Alternating chapters; POV Wang Yi Bo; Head Empty Just Vibes; What I Wrote A Chaptered Fic?; Where Did All These Words Come From

Yibo arrives in Beijing, ready to start his new career as a spy agent. He wasn't expecting to meet a familiar face, let alone Xiao Zhan, the one night stand he's been unable to forget.

“Fuck me," Yibo swore, thoughts racing, ""but I have no idea what the rules are for fraternising, its never come up.” “Oh, I think that might get us in trouble if I did,” Xiao Zhan breaks into a grin even as Yibo feels his ears burn.

Or: There's a very subtle difference between the tension of working with a new colleague who keeps calling you newbie and the kind of sexual tension that can be cut with a knife

[kiriel123]

Fic recs for MDZS/The Untamed

under my red-valve heart by TooSel

WLW Modern AU lwj grows up knowing who she is and what she wants. A lovely look at lwj from child to adult, and how she becomes more comfortable in herself and, eventually, gets the girl of her dreams

your grave, a garden; a barrow, your bed by twinagonies

WLW Alternate Canon to ensure peace, the dastardly yllz takes the honorable hgj as a hostage into the Burial Mounds. Lwj is a very willing hostage and participant in some very hot dual cultivation to bring the Burial Mounds back to life

some life yet unspent by Fahye

Modern Spy AU lwj is a field agent and wwx is his handler. Lwj’s love language is returning all his gadgets in perfect condition, and they are the ultimate spy team. A really fun Bond-style romp!

Gold Rush by lazulink

A/B/O Alternate Canon lwj collapses in the Burial Mounds overcome with resentful energy, and wwx rescues him out of the goodness of his heart, and feeds him milk right from his own chest. Hilarious and hot, if lactation kink is your thing

i glow pink, blossoming over you

WLW Modern Cherry Magic AU wwx turns thirty, still a virgin, and hears people’s thoughts on physical contact. But she just can’t seem to stop touching lwj and being hit by horny fantasy after fantasy. Super cute and sexy with beautiful art embedded

(im)patience by starknjarvis

Modern AU wwx isn’t allowed to come until lwj gives him permission. He has a very long week of no permission and lots of sex. Tasty and delicious

with you by silverclaw

Modern AU lwj is a prince and wwx is his devoted body guard. But not even the royal class difference can stop their love. Very sweet, lwj’s devotion is, as always, overwhelming

haven | 一片容身之地 by auberjing

Historical AU county magistrate lwj is sent to oversee a village, and beats down the yllz’s gang for harassing the villagers. Unfortunately, after yllz’s men are incapacitated, the real bandits attack with no one to thwart them. Lwj takes his punishment (sexually) as he works with yllz to recapture what was lost. Smutty and fun!

Letterless by diamondbruise

Alternate canon after dragonji helps a wounded foxxian, foxxian, out of the goodness of his heart, repays dragonji by stealing all his proposal letters, so dragonji will need to meet his prospective spouses in person before rejecting them. So funny and cute

take me in your arms and make me by yesmissjane

Modern AU with Cultivation delivery boy wwx crashes right into single dad lwj’s body and his heart. Featuring matchmaker lxc, romantic student oyzz, and 5 accidental on purpose meetups. Very cute and sweet

[tamblynborton]

Safely Getting to Know the Horse

Introduction The Language of the Horse

Winston Churchill has a well-known and extremely accurate quote about horses, “There is something about the outside of the horse that is good for the inside of the man.” The relationship between man and horse is an unbreakable bond, once formed. It can be formed at any age; while life-long equestrians undoubtedly have a leg up on beginners in terms of overall experience, beginners can exercise the caution that the life-long riders may have lost.

More to the point, anyone can enjoy being around horses! Horses are beautiful, majestic, strong creatures that are also surprisingly delicate. Normal, everyday activities required for the care of horses present untold hazards to both horse and man. Thus, we will focus on safety as we look at getting to know the horse, and the many facets of horsemanship.

Today’s horse is a domesticated animal, but the horse evolved from a wild, untamed creature. Horse cannot be fully considered companion animals, like the dog or cat. (Please note that they are amazing companions in the barn or on the trail, so my last statement is not entirely true for everybody.) Horses continue to live outside, and do not think and react like humans, as a house pet might. Thus, horses are still very in tune with the fact that they are the prey, not the predator. Being a prey animal, the horse has developed keen smell, sight, and hearing.

How Horses Smell, See, and Hear

Horses are thought to have about 300 million olfactory receptors, while we humans have five or six million. Further, horses have a vomeronasal organ, which we do not, to detect pheromones and other volatile odors. Animals are widely believed to sense human emotions through smell, but they need habituation to determine the meaning of the various smells. So, while horses may be able to smell one’s fear, for instance, the person’s actions would need to reinforce the fear for the horse to associate that smell with that person’s fear. In fact, horses greet each other, and us, with a patient sniff. Just extending your hand for a horse to sniff is like a firm handshake, and mutual fear can subside. Horses certainly can recognize their handlers, and other people and animals. A bonus: Horses are extremely proficient at removing negative emotion, largely because one needs to be present at all times to be safe.

As humans, we view the world with binocular vision. The horse, on the other hand, has the ability to view objects with both binocular and monocular vision. With monocular vision, the horse can use one eye independently to view an object within its field of vision, or it can turn its head, neck and perhaps body to a position where the horse can use binocular vision, and can switch instantaneously. But the horse’s vision is also limited. A horse cannot see directly below its nose, nor can it see the top of its tail. The whiskers found on the horse’s muzzle serve to guide the horse in seeking objects due to the lack of vision in this area, supplementing the sense of smell and taste. Another interesting fact about horses’ sight is that their brain may only register from one side at a time, when in monocular vision. This means that a horse does not recognize from its right eye something that it has seen before with its left eye.

Horses have great hearing, thought to be heard much father than the human ear. The function and placement of the horse’s ears are very important in the audio gathering process. The horse’s ears are usually long, cylindrical, and rounded appendages for collecting sounds. The tips are slightly pointed, and placed on the head at an angle to maximize the collection of sound, while preventing the entry of water/rain and foreign matter. The ears have the ability to be rotated from front to rear, a nearly 180o degrees. Generally, the horse’s ears point to indicate the directional focus of its visual attention. Although only a limited amount of research has been conducted on the hearing ability of horses, we do know they recognize sounds, and can respond to those sounds through repetitive training. Based on observations, horses seem to ‘program normal’ sounds into their memory after repeated exposures, recognizing there is no threat associated with these sounds. However, a sudden unexpected sound, such as a blast from a shotgun, will frighten/threaten most horses not accustomed to the sound. Yet, with training and exposure, many horses adapt to accepting the sound without fear.

Horses Expressing Themselves

To survive, the horse has developed distinct and innate natural defensive behavior, which ultimately become those associated with the inherent risks of horses. Unusual and loud sounds coupled with visual threats definitely can be cause for a natural instinctive response. The combined audio and visual threats that occur in the non-daylight hours significantly elevates these responses.

In terms of fight or flight, the horse’s primary innate defense mechanism is using its speed and power to distance itself from the threat, whether real or perceived. A frightened horse will seek relief by instantly departing, rapidly moving away from the area/situation, a significant distance from the threat. Speed can reach 35 mph, horse makes aggressive maneuvers to rapidly evacuate the immediate area. Since the horse does not always behave in a logical manner (to us), this escape can easily include running over objects, running through fences, not obeying commands of handle.

Spooking is a form of the flight mechanism. If a horse suddenly sees or detects an object or audible sound that is perceived as a threat, the horse may suddenly shy or jump away from that threat. Spooking is an unexpected, sudden, rapid movement that involves evasive action, quick turns and sudden stops as they assess the situation. This is a form of flight where the horses can jump any direction, and turn completely around, within nanoseconds. It is generally through the flight mechanisms that humans in close proximity to the horses may be hit, knocked down, thrown off, or run over.

Shying is considered only a brief, temporary, momentary reaction to a threat, where the horse rapidly regains its normal composure. It is possible to classify shying as a preliminary form of evasion, where the horse may observe and respond to a threat, but immediately recovers and continues to follow the commands of the rider. For example, a horse identifies something that is foreign in its field of vision, it stops, “freezes,” looks, pauses and continues to go forward at the urging of the rider. Or, a horse “shies,” side steps, or stops and backs away from a threat but remains in physical and mental control by the rider.

In a retaliatory moment, a horse may strike out with a forelimb. This behavior Can be defensive posturing, and other times it is an aggressive maneuver used in self-defense. This trait is commonly found in a horse-to-horse situation, very rarely in a situation involving a human. Rearing is a combative action where the horse stands on both of its hindlegs, while simultaneously lifting the forelegs off the ground. The horse can become nearly vertical to the ground. This behavioral posture is taken in an aggressive move toward an opponent or a demonstration of authority or power. Some horses will rear in response to objection to being requested by a human to perform a specific task, such as standing tied or being guided in a direction the horse does not wish to travel. Horses will rear when restrained by the rider/driver with a heavy hand on the reins, while placing extreme pressure on the mouth. The horse rears to evade the pressure on the mouth.

The horse has the ability to kick backward with one or both hind legs simultaneously. When people commonly refer to being kicked by a horse, one or both hind legs have struck them. A maneuver called cow kicking is another form of defensive action whereby the horse lifts one of its hind legs, bringing it forward in a powerful motion with a lateral movement to its rear in an effort to defend their flank. Although these maneuvers are commonly found in horse-to-horse combat, a kicking horse can strike a person in range of the action. Horse handlers need to take care to prevent from being kicked by a horse attempting to kick at another horse, with no intention of causing harm to the human.

Bucking is a form of kicking but generally referred to when the horse is mounted or hitched to a vehicle and being driven. Usually, the horse lowers its head from a normal posture, shifting weight from the hindquarters to the forequarters, and then kicks out to the rear with one or both the hindlegs. In this posture, the horse balances itself on both the forelegs. It is possible for a horse to buck with such impulsion, force, from the hindquarters to lift the entire animal off the ground, including the forelegs. Bucking is usually induced by actions of the rider and/or tack and equipment being used on the horse.

Crow-hopping is a gentle form of bucking, many times a precursor to full posture bucking if not corrected by the rider. Horses will bite in response to an aggressor if challenged, and will bare their teeth with mouth open, ears laid back in a defensive posture without making contact. The power of the horse’s jaws is significant and can inflict significant damage, especially to humans.

When necessary, horses have the athletic ability to jump elevated obstacles and ditches, yet to ask a horse to perform this maneuver usually requires training. A classic example of this instinct can be observed in the avoidance of water obstacles by jumping. A horse approaches the water with no method to measure its depth, the horse hesitates while observing the obstacle, and then the horse jumps unexpectedly over a ditch or creek. Instinct has taken over the decision-making process.

Biting is a potentially dangerous action that can be both aggressive and non-aggressive – it is not at all unusual for horse to bite each other to establish hierarchy, to share mutual grooming, or to play. A horse might also bite its handler in search of treats, or as a response to something uncomfortable.

Horses have a limited range of vocalizations, and it is quite easy to pick up on what they mean for any given horse in any given situation. The neigh is the high-pitched yell of a horse that says hello or I’m lonely. A snicker is a sweet, low-pitched greeting that usually means: where are the treats? A snort typically suggests a horse’s acknowledgement of danger. A snort, followed by a turn and run can get the whole herd running without indicators from the other horses (i.e., they just start running). Licking and chewing sound to pick up on; licking and chewing signifies that the danger has passed to the horse’s satisfaction, and that the brain has reset.

When we understand that a horse is not coming from a place vindictiveness, but merely responding to perceived threat, we can use the horse’s natural defenses to communicate. For instance, a great way to get a horse to move forward is to make a gesture toward its flank, as this is the area where prey might attack. Observation of your subject and the herd is not only fascinating, it is educational. The longer we observe horses, the better communicators they become! Meant as a joke, but also so true. The conversation deepens, enriches over time. Horses are great mirrors, but they are also wise healers.

[clonedchaos]

Handler for the Untamable Chapter 1

Rating: T for canon-typical violence

Book Summary:

“I’m sorry, Ms. Dawson. But it’s out of my hands. The asset has been deemed far too erratic for such training. Look, I know you’re a capable young woman. But maybe… maybe this is something you need to let go,” My boss’s eyes bored into my own, matching it in flaming intensity. He was serious about this, wasn't he?

I could feel my fists curling tightly below the desk. It wasn’t fair. Putting her in isolation? What good would that do for her, or anyone at the park? I made a decision then and there. When faced with an impossible task, I wouldn’t give up. Didn't he know that? I can prove myself. I just gotta.

I raised my head, a defiant fire bursting forth from my gaze. Mr. Masrani leaned forward in his chair with an intent look. The room felt suffocating, like we were both holding our breath for what I was going to say next. But I knew I had to say something. Finally, I spoke my conviction.

“I WILL be the Indominus Rex’s trainer. No matter what this job entails or throws my way, I’m not giving up on her… Someday I hope you choose to do the same.”

Tumblr Version: ~Enjoy!~

Journal Entry #Whocaresanymore: December 19th, 2015

Okay, I don’t have a lot of time to write this, so I'll make it quick.

Everything has fallen apart.

Indie broke out of containment. She’s on a rampage.

I don’t know how many losses we’ve suffered. Frankly, I don’t want to know.

The guests are flying off the handle. Couldn’t blame ‘em.

’We pride ourselves on the safety of our guests and our animals’. That’s what the higher ups always told us. That’s what they told the guests.

I should’ve known there was something going on from the start. Something deeper to all of this.

We played God. Now, we’re paying the price for human ignorance.

Every. Single. One of us. 

Masrani is dead.

InGen is taking over… 

Hoskins thinks he’s in charge. And I just— He shouldn’t be! 

God, and now we’re scrambling to pick up the pieces of HIS mess!

First, he wants me to retire from my job as Indie’s trainer. Now, he’s bent on the notion that the raptors can kill her.

I couldn’t let that happen. I should’ve, after everything that has happened, but… 

I couldn’t.

I guess this is my fault. All my fault.

…I don’t know what to do… What can I do?

Will fleeing from our problems really solve them? Doubtful.

Owen can’t placate the raptors any longer, and I can’t get through to my own Rex.

We’re outsiders to her and her new pack. We’re in her territory now.

We’re her prey.

I practically raised her. Trusted her.

Whatever bond we made after all those months… It’s gone now.

I want to help her. I really do. But that doesn't seem like a viable option right now...

I can only hope that we make it 

“Jordan!” A sharp, alarmed scream hurls me right out of my journal and back into reality. The van slammed on its brakes, violently jerking me forward. The seatbelt chokes me around the collar and chest as the breath draws out of my lungs.

My journal tumbled off my lap and into the floorboards below. I thrust my arms out and onto the dashboard before I could slam my head against the windshield. Getting a concussion wasn’t on my list of things to have happen to me today— besides I was about 80% sure I had one already judging from my splitting headache.

Thanks, Delta.

”Natalie!” I snapped out through bared teeth as my brown, curled hair obscured my vision. My glasses slipped right off my nose and joined my journal in the depths of the van. I cursed under my breath, wishing I had extra contacts in my bag for the day’s catastrophe. But, alas, I was practically blind as a bat at the moment.

I leaned down and began to fumble around for the specs. At this late an hour, in the middle of the jungle, it was like searching for a needle in a haystack… if that needle was practically invisible.

Natalie, my alleged partner-in-crime, sat in the driver’s seat. She was a decent enough driver when it came to rougher terrain. I had seen her tactfully navigate around the rocks and dips in the jungle roads in order not to disturb the injured dinosaurs in the back of her medical vehicle. ‘I make this jungle trek look smooth as butter’, she’d proudly claimed one day.

Right now, though…? I think I’ve met rookie sixteen-year-olds that could drive better than her. But, I was in no state to be driving or complaining— which she had told me three times already—, so I had to live with her occasional stops or sharp turns around the tighter bends. I only wanted to hurl maybe once or twice. Perhaps writing my latest journal entry while speeding like a missile through the backroads wasn't such a good idea. But I needed to write my thoughts somewhere.

People needed to know what I had seen. What I had experienced.

Natalie reached a hand over to roughly shake my arm as I continued to search. Her other hand was currently wrapped in a death grip around the steering wheel; it had been ever since the raptors got loose in the jungle. It would take a will of steel to be able to rip her from it. Or, a dinosaur.

“Jordan—“ She stammered in a thick British accent, her words coming out as a strangled croak.

”What?” I groaned in exhaustion and mild annoyance as my fingers felt along the smooth glass of my spectacles. Aha! I snatched them up and quickly placed them back in its proper position, while making sure to brush the hair out of my face with a hand so that I could see better. Smudged, but not broken. 

When I turned over toward the paleo-veterinarian beside me, I found she was looking off into the distance with a petrified, blank stare. The van’s headlights scoured across the jungle floor before us and gifted a ghostly hue to the trees surrounding the path. Up ahead was a tight bend in the road, a clear safety hazard under such dim lights and no proper signage. The headlights were not the best in terms of night vision, but it was better than driving around in the pitch black with hungry, bloodthirsty dinosaurs on the loose.

I squinted in the direction Natalie was concentrated on. There was nothing there but the gentle, rhythmic sway of the leaves. I rolled the window down and reached out quickly with a hand before pulling it back into the safety of the vehicle. No wind.

I couldn’t see her at first. Then again, who really could? She was good at fooling people. That much I knew all too well. 

The Indominus Rex was deathly silent, with astonishing camouflage to boot, when she wanted to be. We all learned that lesson the hard way.

The blotched greens, blacks, and browns of the forestry ahead of us began to shift and ripple as if they were alive. A large, mottled muzzle peeks out from the branches and into the shaft of light. As the light shone upon its scaly surface, the skin is revealed to be a stark white. Albino. A rarity in the animal kingdom. Well, amongst dinosaurs, at least. And it was certainly a distinction from the shadows crowding the undergrowth and the night sky above.

A low rumble sent gentle vibrations along a watery ditch just beside the path. The clear signal of something approaching, something big. Fifty feet tall, to be more precise. 

The theropod drew nearer, allowing us to see her in full scope. Her large, serrated claws; her gnarled, crooked fangs that glistened and dripped with scarlet red drops of blood; her cold, reptilian stare. I shuffled in discomfort at the sight of her broken teeth and disheveled appearance. No one had taken care of her.

The large theropod took a step closer and leaned down, her large head tilting sideways like a curious bird. Her eyes resembled the crackling embers of a dying fire.

She silently sized us up with the gaze of an apex predator as she swiveled her head side to side. Even if she couldn't see us physically-- which I knew she could-- she would no doubt be able to see us via our heat signatures.

Why would a genetically engineered dinosaur designed for a theme park need the ability to detect thermal radiation? Ask Dr. Wu. I'm sure he could go on for hours about it-- if he was even still alive.

"Jordan..." Natalie whispered as she leaned as far away from the windshield as her seat would allow. Her hand still hadn't given up its iron grip on the steering wheel.

I didn’t hear her. I was rooted to my seat, my nails digging gouges into its leather exterior. My heart thumped loudly in my ears. It was almost deafening. 

The Indominus Rex blinked, her third eyelid shutting sideways like a reptile. Natalie was a mere afterthought for her. I was her target. And she was wired with every primal instinct to kill.

Once, I was her alpha. Perhaps her mother. 

I cared for her. Nurtured her.

Now, she was to be my demise. 

Indie roared, the sound a thunderous boom amongst the panicked silence. Natalie screamed and shielded her ears with her palms. I flinched at the sheer volume but forced myself to hold my head high.

Where did it all go wrong? Was there simply one moment that changed everything? Could I have prevented it if I’d done something different? Or was it all a mere cascade of inevitable events that changed the course of Jurassic World’s “perfect and safe utopia.”

Hmm. Now that…

Maybe, that's a tale to tell from the beginning?

I’m Jordan Dawson. And this is my story…

[niehuaisangsfan]

in an au where yanli, zixuan, and wwx dont die, yanli's relationship with her new brother-in-law (after they meet and jgy decides that she's now one of his favorite people in the world and she realizes she has a new murdery brother who she adores) is just him subtly making eye contact with yanli whenever someone dismisses her and somehow telepathically communicating this exact sentiment

and her subtly shaking her head everytime

[icarusdiesatdawn]

The Untamed + Lemony Snicket quotes

[animalstablets]

Dr. Teeth and Crazy Harry are friends!

Dr. Teeth and Crazy Harry have sat together on at least two occasions that I can recall: for the first screening of The Muppet Movie and at Miss Piggy and Constantine's wedding in Muppets Most Wanted.

I can't see Crazy Harry as having many friends. But Dr. Teeth seems to have a soft spot for the the untamed and the misunderstood.

Take Animal, for instance. When we think of Animal, we think of Floyd as his friend and his handler. But Dr. Teeth had taken in Animal before he even met Floyd.

He befriends those who have no friends. Just like he did when Kermit and Fozzie were on the run and in need. He never hesitates to lend a helping hand.

I don't think it would be a stretch, either, to assume Crazy Harry's been hired to do some pyrotechnics at Mayhem's shows. Who else was behind all those explosions during "Love Ya to Death?"

There's a friend out there for everyone, and Dr. Teeth is one of those kind, easy-going souls who's a true friend to all.

[tharros-auris-black-asimi]

Screaming Color

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Mutant Female Reader, Winter Soldier x Mutant Female Reader

Summary: Colors. Soulmates. Everyone had one. Once you met your soulmate, your entire world would burst into color. However, it had never happened to Bucky Barnes.

Not until he had been brainwashed into the Winter Solder. Having met a young woman while being in Hydra. Now that Bucky had been free from his brainwashing and has returned from Wakanda, Bucky is living his best life at the Avengers Compound.

Until one day, when he meets that same young woman again.

You've been freed from the hellhole that is Hydra. You work at the Avengers Compound and are attempting to keep a low profile, in order to not be exposed.

One day, however, everything blows up in your face.

Now exposed as a mutant to literally the entire freaking universe, you think that life couldn't get any worse.

But now, James Buchanan Barnes, the former Winter Soldier is now back on your radar.

Life fucking sucks.

Warnings: This story is set in a soulmate type of universe. In this universe, people find their soulmates when their world becomes colors instead of just being black and white. There are mentions of Hydra, and past torture, although it doesn't quite go into detail.

In this story, Bucky and the Winter Soldier are separate personalities, but I would not say that Bucky has DID. More like Winter is a part of him. Even though the trigger words are wiped away from Bucky, Winter is still there, and he and Bucky are a harmonious duo.

As always, my fics will always have a healthy dose of angst and smut towards the end. There is also some mild harassment in this, as well as some violence.

Additional Notes: This was written for @sunshinebuckybarnes's Jukebox 1k Writing Challenge! Congratulations on 1k, Zoey! As this is a jukebox ditty, my prompt was based on our lord and savior, Miss Taylor Swift's song Out of the Woods.

A friendly reminder that my works are 18+ only so minors, please DNI.

And as always, if you'd like to read this on my AO3, you can read it here.

Word Count: 13,579

Colors. Soulmates.

Almost everyone had one.

Bucky couldn’t remember the last time he had ever seen color.

Not even before the war. He and Steve were often the odd bunch for not seeing color. Growing up, his Ma told him that eventually, he would find the one.

Or ones.

Winifred Barnes never did discriminate.

When Bucky had been drafted into the war, captured and experimented on by Hydra, only to fall off that damn train and wound back in Hydra’s cold grip— even then, his world had remained cold.

Black and white were all he could see.

His world remained colorless.

Even when the Winter Soldier surfaced.

Winter. The Asset. The Soldat.

Hydra’s most prized Soldier.

The only one that they could successfully keep under their control. All the others had been failures. Too wild. Too untamed.

Over the years, his world remained black and white. Colorless. Everything was empty. He knew no one.

Until one day.

It had been one of those days, where Hydra would allow him out of his cryo-chamber and allowed him to let loose for once.

A simple taste of freedom was what it was.

The training room was quiet. For once.

For once, as Winter had walked into the room— everything was quiet.

Everything was peaceful.

Winter didn’t know what that was like.

At all.

He never knew what peace was.

Not until he heard footsteps.

Soft ones.

Ones that told him, alerted him that it was a woman.

Winter had seen men and women. Many times, in fact. Although most of his handlers had been men, he would occasionally see a nurse who was a woman come and patch him up. But, deep inside he knew that their touches did not linger long due to their fear of him.

He heard other footsteps too.

Heavier ones.

This other person was a man.

However, Winter remained stoic and alert, to see if any of them posed a threat.

When he saw shadows appearing on the wall, he still stood rigid.

“Greetings and salutations, Soldier.” Winter didn’t move an inch as he surveyed the man.

He noticed that the man was holding onto a leash.

And then he saw you.

You looked half-awake. Which, you were. You had been asleep in your own little freezer. Up until a couple of minutes ago, at least. The next thing you knew, your little freezer had been opened and someone was shoving you out. Then someone had put an iron collar on you.

You knew that collar.

You hated that collar.

You loathed it to the ends of the earth. Whenever you wore forced to wear that collar and were dragged by Hydra personnel with a silver chain to match, you didn’t feel human.

Not one bit.

You felt like a restrained animal. Like a piece of property. Worst of all, you couldn’t use your abilities. As a mutant who controlled electricity, your parents did not know what to do with you. They were afraid, that maybe something had gone wrong with your mother’s pregnancy. So when Hydra had appeared on your parent's doorstep, offering their help to “cure” you, how could they say no?

Hydra had not cured you.

Hydra had tested on you. They had practically gotten everything that they needed from you. Blood samples, tests of your powers, hooking you onto wires, and plunging you into a big tub full of water— Hydra truly could do it all.

Over time, you had forgotten what year it was. How old you were. You never had kept track of time, until that day.

Until now.

Your blood nearly ran cold when the man beside you gripped your chin hard. So hard that you were absolutely positive that it was going to leave a nasty bruise later on.

His grip on your chin forced you to look up, to gaze at the man who was standing a few feet away from you. Decked in from head to toe in complete black was the infamous Winter Soldier. Hydra’s most prized assassin. The Fist of Hydra.

Seeing him in person made you want to shudder. But you had to remain strong.

“Say hello to our Asset, pet. Our Soldat does not get many visitors.”

Suddenly, you were shoved right into the Soldier. A cry of surprise came from you as a pair of lean arms wrapped around you.

A sudden gunshot sounded. The shot rang in your ears. The smell of blood soon filled your nose.

Slowly and shakily, you lifted your head up.

You recoiled back.

His eyes.

His eyes were blue.

Oh no.

No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No—

You could feel something sticky on the floor start to trail towards you. Like water running down a drain.

Blood.

It was blood.

Finding every inch of you to not recoil at the sticky feeling on your feet, you looked back up.

His eyes were still blue.

It seemed as if everything had exploded into color for you. Now, it only left the question… had his world exploded into color when he had seen you, too?

There was only one way to find out.

“Can you…” you nervously swallowed. “C-Can you… see me?”

A nod.

“Can you… can you see the color of my eyes?”

Another nod.

“Can you tell me what color they are?”

Hoarsely, Winter told you what color they were. Your heart became all warm and fuzzy as if you were cuddling a pillow.

Some shit like that.

“Your eyes are blue,” you spoke quietly.

The look on Winter’s face didn’t change.

Geez, did this dude ever smile?

Like ever?

Was that something Hydra didn’t permit him to do?

Did they not like him smiling or something?

Hydra was weird sometimes.

“They’re very pretty. You’re pretty too.”

As soon as those words came out of your mouth, you might have let out a squeak.

Embarrassing!

This shit was so embarrassing!

“I-I…”

“You need to go.”

Up came your head again.

Winter looked far too serious now. He was shoving you back the way you came, and in your repressed state, electricity started to sparkle off of your body in nervousness.

Plus, you could feel a sticky feeling on your feet.

Oh hell… was that freaking blood?

Jesus frigging Christ.

As soon as you were out of sight, Winter could feel like he could breathe again. His gaze turned to the dead body on the floor, where blood was pooling.

He really hated messes.

After that, Bucky never really saw you again.

Neither did Winter.

They had no idea what had actually happened to you after that. After meeting you, well… everything had become a blur again. Time soon became nonexistent once more and Bucky found himself just… existing. Without any purpose. As the world moved on and changed around him, he didn’t change a bit.

Not until a little shit by the name of Steven Grant Rogers had appropriately Fucked Shit Up.

Steve was always such a little shit.

Even in their childhood.

Ever since they were kids, it was always up to Bucky to pull Steve out of his shit. Whenever a shitty situation arose, it was usually Steve who started them. Bucky just ended them.

Once Hydra had been exposed to the world and Bucky had gone on the run for his life, time actually felt meaningful. As if it now had a purpose in his life. Everything was so colorful and full of life. Fruits tasted sweet. Food actually tasted good. The breeze on his face actually felt nice.

Everything had been nice, up until the American Government apparently had a warrant out for his arrest.

Goddamn Hydra.

So, with no place to really go, and despite the Avengers’ protests, Bucky had turned himself in to the government.

Going on trial had been weird. Bucky had never done that stuff before.

Apparently, people had been really interested in the former life of a former Hydra assassin. News of his trial had spread like a wildfire thanks to social media, and Bucky found himself very internet famous.

No one had ever told him becoming internet famous was a thing, but it was a thing.

Still, to this day, Bucky couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that he was internet famous. Like, who even decided that the internet was a great thing?

Having to see his old mission reports made him want to throw up so much of the bile that rose in his throat. So many times he wanted to vomit. He even had the thought of asking his lawyer if he could actually bring a bucket with him, just so he could puke in it.

Matt Murdock was an amazing lawyer. Bucky didn’t know where he would be without the man.

Considering he was also the superhero Daredevil, but you know. It was what it was.

Bucky still said hello to the Hell’s Kitchen gang whenever they bumped into each other. And he was even invited to go to Jessica Jones and Luke Cage’s wedding— so that was that.

These days, Bucky spent his life as an Avenger. Helping to save the world when before, he had been wrecking it.

When Bucky had come back from Wakanda, the trigger words wiped from him, complete with a new Vibranium arm, he laid low for a couple of weeks.

Those couple of weeks, he wrote down any victim he might have killed as the Winter Soldier. Called some people, used his connections. When Bucky was first thinking about doing what he was doing, he went to the Bird Brain for advice.

“You wanna do what?”

Sam Wilson leaned against the door frame of the conference room. Bucky's number one frenemy was surprisingly lenient on hearing out what he wanted to say.

“I want to… go to every victim I might have had. When I was still, you know…” Bucky shot him an awkward look as he stuffed his hands into his front pockets. Bucky averted his gaze.

Sam pushed himself off of the door frame. Walking towards him. “You know, you don’t have to do this to make yourself feel better, Buck.”

“I’m not doing it to make me feel better, Sam.”

A dark eyebrow was raised at that. Sam looked at him with a considering look on his face.

“I’m doing it so those families… their loved ones have closure. I can’t bring them back to life. I can’t fix what’s already been broken. But, if I can give their families or loved ones some sort of closure… then that’s good enough by me.”

“Are you sure you’re not Captain America?” Sam teased him. Bucky’s lips curled up into a scowl.

“Shut up, Wilson.”

Bucky pulled his phone out of his pocket, shooting off a text to Steve. Before he slipped his phone back into his back pocket, a familiar voice caught his attention.

“Yasha.”

His head turned.

Natalia Ailanova Romanov-Barton, or Natasha Romanoff-Barton, as everyone knew her in the States, was crossing her arms against her chest.

“Natalia,” Bucky greeted his former student.

“Stark wants us to talk about the gala again,” If it were heavenly possible, Natasha would have banged her head against the wall by now. From where they were in the hallways of the Avengers Compound, Bucky looked at her appraisingly. Although that look of appraisal soon turned into one of annoyance once he got what she was saying.

“No,” came Bucky’s complaint. “Again?”

“Yes Yasha,” Natasha sounded just as irritated as he did. “Again.”

Bucky let out a groan.

Meanwhile, at the Avengers Compound, around the same time, with you…

“Dude, no! I told you, I have nothing to wear! You hear me, Jane? Nothing! N-O-T-H-I-N-G. Nothing!”

“Alright, alright. I heard you the first time.” Jane Foster, your ever helpful friend grumbled in annoyance. Darcy resisted the urge to snort into her coffee. But she did it anyway.

“Ew! Gross…” you physically recoiled. Darcy just scoffed, taking a sip of her coffee.

“I’m sure I can get Val to get you something.” Jane tried to assure you, but it didn’t work. At the mention of the fellow Asgardians, you let out a little noise.

“Oh no. Noooo. No. You shouldn’t.” You spoke in a form of protest.

“Your closet literally looks like your granny threw up in it,” Darcy remarked as you made another noise.

“No, it does not!” You cried out.

“Yes it does,” Darcy and Jane spoke together.

“My granny’s not even alive any more guys, please stop…” you whined, burying your face in your hands.

The three of you were walking down the halls of the compound, reaching the elevators. You pressed the DOWN button.

“Which makes it all the better if we ask Val! Or even Loki!” Darcy added enthusiastically. At the mention of the Trickster God, you recoiled even further.

“No! Not even your weirdo boyfriend!” Your shrieks were not appreciated by the people walking up and down the halls, because you received some weird looks in response.

“He’s not a weirdo! He’s a god!” Darcy protested as the three of you got into the elevator.

“I don’t care what he is, Darc!” You huffed. “Please, absolutely no meddling when it comes to my wardrobe. None. Nada. Ya hear me?”

The elevator dinged, and the doors opened.

“Fine,” Darcy grumbled. You shot Jane a heated look until the light-brown-haired woman nodded in agreement too.

You greeted friends, co-workers, and colleagues alike as you walked down the floors of the lobby of the Compound. You were awaiting a package. And you were totally stoked for it too. You had been waiting for a couple of days now. You had even tracked down your package.

Gleefully, you made your way to the front desk.

“Mornin’ Andrew!” Your greetings did not fall on deaf ears as the Amazon worker greeted you.

“Any dogs bark at you this morning?” You grinned. “Four already,” he spoke in dismay.

You sniggered.

“Poor you,” you nodded solemnly. The brunet man loved dogs. You signed your signature on the pad before excitedly accepting your package. Plopping it on the desk behind you, you told Andrew to have a good day and waved him off.

All was well until the doors opened.

You heard loud, boisterous noises of what appeared to be a small group of men walking through the doors. From what you could tell, they looked like they were from the reconstruction part of the compound. You had seen the reconstruction people once or twice when the compound was first being built when you had been looking for a job after Hydra’s Downfall.

You weren’t really bothered by them. You only pulled out your phone, sending a quick text back to a co-worker before shutting off your phone and plopping it back into your back pocket joyfully.

You had no reason to fight until one of them planted their hand on your shoulder.

Such contact made you want to sink into your body.

You did not like being touched very much.

You weren’t quite a touchy-touchy type of gal. You had never been, even before Hydra.

So it came to no one’s surprise when you spoke in a low voice.

“Get your hands off of me.”

In response, you felt his grip on your shoulder become tighter, and all of a sudden, you were spun around. And you were gazing into dark eyes.

“Are you that bitch from Medical?”

You nearly barked out a laugh. “No. I’m the bitch from upstairs. The only time I step foot into medical is when I do my physicals.”

You always avoided going to medical whenever you got injured, because you were afraid that your mutant status would come out. That your mutant status would be exposed. To literally the entire world.

Well— okay, maybe not the entire world, but if someone like Tony Freaking Stark found out about your mutant status, he’d freak out. You’d probably be fired. Or worse, he’d probably recruit you on his circus team.

You couldn’t risk it.

You didn’t want to fight anymore. Because granted, you could still fight. You worked out to keep yourself in tip-top shape, but you still had an endless love of food. So you were a bit curvier than most that you worked with upstairs.

Only when the time would call for it, would you fight. Over the years, you found that Hydra’s training, and in extension, Winter’s training was just something you couldn’t get rid of. Almost as if it was embedded in you.

So when the dude grabbed your chin this time, your hand clasped around his wrist roughly. Clamped down on it and did not allow him to escape.

“… I’m not going to ask you again. Let. Go. Of. Me.” You spoke through gritted teeth. Your eyes were blazing with a violent fury.

You could feel the electricity in the room.

You could feel the electricity humming all around you.

You could feel the electricity reach up to you, wrap around you as if you were a snake coiling around a tree.

Already, people were screaming and shouting to move out of the way, because holy shit it’s another one.

Above you, you could already feel the lights flickering on and off. If this asshole wasn’t getting his hands off of you, pretty soon, the entire Avengers Compound wouldn’t have electricity anytime soon.

At least Tony wouldn’t have to pay any electricity bills in the near future.

You hoped, anyway.

“I’m not going to ask again,” you hissed in Russian.

“Let. Go. Of. Me.”

A harsh spitting noise echoed in your ears.

You didn’t have time to blink as the realization sank into you. As if you had been taking a nice long sip of warm soup that warmed you all the way from your head, all the way down to your toes.

This man had spit on you.

He had spit on you.

You!

With no warning whatsoever, you twisted his wrist. You heard him scream in pain before you kicked him sharply in the stomach, and you sent him flying backwards. He made contact with the huge glass window behind him and you saw glass shatter everywhere.

The second dude, who you presumed was his friend, came at you.

And it was nice.

The motherfucker had friends just like him!

How sweet.

You stopped his punch in mid-air, grabbing the incoming fist. With his fist in your hands, you sent him a quick kick into his groin. When you saw him get to his knees, you kicked him in the stomach. Sending him down quickly.

Hearing the third man behind you, your hands dropped to the marble floor beneath you and electricity crackled.

The next thing you heard was screaming before a body thumped to the floor.

You didn’t kill the dude. You just shocked enough of the electric nerves in his body enough to make him pass out. Even you weren’t that cruel.

With his lackeys, or for lack of a better word besties were eliminated, you abruptly turned to your right and began to make your way to the shattered glass.

And to the man who had spit on you.

When the dude had caught wind of you, he began to slowly crawl back, despite there being shattered glass everywhere.

Glass crunched underneath your feet as you inched closer and closer to him.

You saw him throw his hands in the air, to try and plead. You heard him say sorry.

You wiped away the spit on your face.

“You should have really thought about apologizing to me before you spat on me, you son of a bitch.”

After all, you had told him to keep his hands off you.

You had told him.

It was just a him problem that he had hearing issues, after all.

And then the power went out.

Tony Stark had been having an amazing day so far.

He had actually gotten a solid eight hours of sleep, thanks to Steve dragging his ass to bed. Granted, he probably would have done another all-nighter had his soulmate not dragged his ass to bed by throwing him over his shoulder like a Caveman.

So there was that.

In fact, his day had been so amazing. Having gotten breakfast, his usual shake, and his workshop all powered up and ready to go, his first hour of work had been magnificent. He had gotten so many upgrades done. Hell, he had even told Steve that he wasn’t making him a brand new suit with spangles anymore.

There was just something with his soulmate’s Stealth Suit that just drove him wild.

That damn Stealth Suit…

Anyway.

Where was he again?

Oh. Right! His morning.

Oh, his morning. Wonderful. So wonderful.

Everything had been smooth sailing, right before FRIDAY spoke to him.

“Master Stark, there seems to be a fight going on in the lobby downstairs.”

Any AC/DC was silenced immediately.

A groan might have come from Tony in exasperation.

“Come on FRIDAY,” Tony couldn’t help but complain. “I was just about to get into it!”

“Sir, I—“

And FRIDAY stopped.

In fact, Tony’s entire workshop shut down.

Panic rose in his throat.

“FRIDAY?” Tony’s voice wrung out.

Nothing.

“FRIDAY?”

Nothing again.

“Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit—“ Tony rushed out of his workshop, and he heard it.

Screaming.

Screaming and shouting coming from downstairs.

Tony rushed for the elevators. When he tried pressing the DOWN button, nothing happened.

“Shit!”

It was then, that Tony realized, the entire floor had gone dark.

A blackout?

Who the hell had caused that?

With the elevator not working, he realized that he would have to use the stairs.

Cursing to himself, Tony bolted for the staircase. Flinging the door open, he rushed down the many flights of stairs, jogging down the steps until he reached the lobby floor.

Kicking the door open, he rushed in.

What he saw made him gasp in surprise.

“Holy mother of Jesus Christ!”

The entire lobby had gone dark.

Glass was spewed everywhere.

Behind the lobby was a room that was held by a glass wall. All the glass there had been shattered to bits and pieces.

And standing there at the front with your back turned to him— was you.

Tony had seen you once or twice in passing. But he didn’t know your name. All he really knew was that you worked upstairs with Val’s soulmate Jane Foster and the Shakespeare Matrix brother Loki’s soulmate, Darcy Lewis.

Technically speaking, you were harmless.

Well.

Good ole America fuck him sideways.

You were not harmless.

You were a powerful ass bitch.

Who knew?

Bucky and Natasha rushed in about the same time Steve and Sam did. When Steve tried to move, Bucky clasped a hand on his shoulder.

“No, Steve. I can handle this. I know her.”

“You know her, Buck?” came Steve’s hissed response.

In response to that, Bucky just rolled his eyes. “Course I do, punk. She’s my soulmate.”

“She’s your what?!”

Paying his childhood friend no mind nor attention, Bucky strode his way towards you.

Glass crunched underneath his thick boots. He was very thankful his boots were so thick. Not to mention, they were also very comfortable.

You felt a familiar hand on your shoulder.

Unlike earlier, this hand was gentle.

This hand… it felt familiar…

“Doll.”

You immediately stopped.

You felt like you were in one of those cheesy Rom-Coms that Darcy and Jane liked to watch with you on the weekends, where the main female protagonist saw her love interest and all time froze over.

This was one of those times.

You were so restricting any more Rom-Com watches at your apartment.

In fact, you were canceling them. If Jane and Darcy wanted to watch Rom-Coms, they could do it at their own apartments, because you were never watching another Rom-Com as long as you lived.

No more Rom-Coms.

Uh-uh.

No more.

“J-James?”

Of course! Of course, he was right here in front of you! Flesh and blood! Looking like an absolute frigging snack! Of course he would be!

Did the universe enjoy continuing to make your life hell, or what?

Did they find enjoyment in making you suffer?

Did they?

Suddenly, you were brought into his arms again.

Unlike the first time, you weren’t being shoved into his embrace.

Unlike the first time, Bucky’s arms weren’t lean.

You weren’t stupid. You had eyes. So, therefore, you had noticed he had bulked up. He had become beefy. Good Lord. He was so beefy now. His chest was ripped! And his thighs… his thighs… you would not know where to begin with his thighs. They looked so comfy. You knew for a fact that if you sat on them, you’d be comfortable.

Burying your face into his favorite red Henley, you let out a small little sniff.

Lips pressed against your ear. “Turn the lights back on.”

You raised your head up a little. Just so you could see his face.

“H-Huh?”

“The lights,” Bucky told you gruffly. “You caused a blackout.”

Oh.

Oh.

Oh!

“Oh, shit.” were all the words that came out of your mouth. “U-Uh… yeah… I’ll… I’ll fix that right now… hold on just a sec…”

One by one, the lights came back on.

Horrified screams and shouts soon filled the room again. One woman saw the amount of glass and blood and nearly fainted. Tony stepped back in surprise as he made eye contact with his soulmate.

Steve Rogers, not for the first time in his life, was truly stumped.

“Goddamn…” Sam breathed out as he saw all the damage. “Girlie really messed up this place.”

“Shit…” Natasha breathed out too.

“Oh, the bill’s gonna be huge for this…” she remarked. “It won’t be enough to give Stark a heart attack, he’ll be fine,” Sam just waved it off.

Your entire body shuddered once the last light came back on.

Bucky just held your face in his hands, as a way to soothe you.

“What happened?” he asked you gently.

Your lower lip quivered.

“H-He… he… I was… I was coming here for my Amazon package. A-And… he just suddenly came in… and asked me if I was the bitch from Medical… I-I told him that I was the bitch from upstairs. And then he grabbed my shoulder… I told him to let go of me. And then.. he grabbed my face. I told him, I told him to let go of me again. Then… then… then he… he…” You choked back a sob, your voice nearly breaking, shattering.

“What did he do next, sweet girl?” Bucky’s voice washed over you as if someone had put a thick, warm blanket over you. It soothed you. Made you feel safe.

“He spat on me.”

Bucky nearly gritted his teeth.

It was then, that finally, fucking finally— the security guards had rushed in.

Well. Wasn’t this just great?

Bucky didn’t want to deal with security. He didn’t want to deal with anything.

He had a soulmate to take care of, after.

Later that day, with the rest of the Avengers…

“So, Yasha’s got a soulmate.”

Natasha Romanov-Barton was overlooking the security footage in a room with the rest of the Avengers. Tony had gotten popcorn for everyone to enjoy while watching the footage.

Normally, if anyone else would have called Bucky Barnes “Yasha”, they probably would have been met by an angry look, or worse, a metal hand wrapped around their throat.

Back then, in the old days of the Red Room, Natasha remembered meeting Yasha as a young girl, with all the rest of the girls who had been trafficked into the Red Room.

Seeing him the first time had terrified her. Seeing her teacher all in black, with all of his knives strapped to him. Hidden ones that he kept underneath all that black somehow too.

And his gun holster. Natasha remembered holding onto Yelena, whispering to the terrified young blonde girl that everything would be okay.

Knowing him now though, after all that Hydra stuff, deep down, she knew he was still the same Yasha. He was still the same Yasha that helped patch her up after she had taken a nasty fall. He was still the same Yasha that had even helped out the other Widows whenever they had nightmares because he was their teacher.

Even after all of the Widows had decided to go their separate ways, freeing all of the rest of their Widow Sisters across the globe, someone always had Yasha on speed dial. They always sent him postcards of what they’d get up to.

“Is it just raining enhanced people these days?” Tony mulled over the fact that the glass wall had been broken, but didn’t really care about how much money he would need to repair it. The violence wasn’t all that bad. So he knew he wouldn’t be having a heart attack today.

“No, Tony.” Steve sighed.

“Well, from what I’ve seen, she ain’t like Steve or the Old Man,” Sam added as he looked away from the security footage.

Natasha let out a gasp when you kicked the first guy into the glass wall.

“Really reminds you of James, huh?” Clint chuckled to her quietly. Clint was amused, really. He had been the first person to watch the security footage and had been very amused when the first guy had been yeeted right against the wall. He had seen the glass shatter and had nearly snorted out his drink.

Liho, a black cat that had followed Natasha and Clint back from one of their missions way back when meowed and nodded her head up and down in agreement with her cat daddy.

Alpine, Bucky’s cat had trotted into the room. When she meowed, Clint patted his lap and she leaped into his arms. A pleasing meow left the feline when Clint rubbed her head.

“Holy shit!”

Alpine and Liho nearly yowled in outrage at Tony’s shout. Instead, they both hissed at him.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry.” Tony apologized profusely to the two felines. Haughtily, the two of them lowered their heads down from where they were laying on Clint’s lap.

Returning his gaze to the screen, Clint caught you dropping your hands onto the floor, and electricity crackled against the marble floor. All of the current Avengers watched as the third dude fell down behind you screaming.

“Hold on, hold on—“ Tony grabbed the remote and rewound the footage back to the electricity crackled on the floor.

“Oh… she must have been the one to cause the blackout,” Steve spoke in realization.

Several heads looked over at the blond Super Soldier.

“So… does she control somethin’? Like one of those people at that school upstate?” Sam wondered. “You mean Charles Xavier’s school? The one for mutants?” Natasha responded back to him. “How do you know about that school?” Sam inquired. “One of the Sister Widows, we found out that she was a mutant. She can control sound. So my parents sent her to Charles’s school.” Natasha answered him just as you had walked to the first dude who had spit on you.

She could easily imagine Yelena in your shoes. When she first saw the first guy spit on you, she could easily imagine Yelena’s reaction as being the same as yours. When you kicked the first guy back into the glass wall too, it reminded her of Yasha’s kick when she had been fighting him on the causeway.

Briefly, she wondered. Had Yasha taught you too? Just like how he had done with her and her Sister Widows? You had the same walking as Yasha had when he had still been under Hydra’s control. You looked very controlled. Stealthy.

“Oh!”

It made everyone jump.

This time, both Alpine and Liho yowled in outrage. Both of them even hissed at the brunet genius who was throwing his hands up in surrender. “Sorry, sorry, sorry!” Tony yelped, pleading for his innocence.

“No wonder she looks familiar! I knew I saw her from somewhere!” Tony looked absolutely delighted. It was beginning to worry Steve. Like a lot. “Doll…” started Steve slowly, “—What do you mean by that?”

“FRIDAY, please pull up the security footage from the New York Community Bank from last week,” Tony called out.

“Of course, Master Stark.” FRIDAY’s disembodied voice floated down as the footage quickly changed.

Everyone watched as the screen showed the security coverage of the inside of the bank, where some people were being held hostage.

“They even held people hostage? What amateurs…” Clint muttered under his breath in annoyance.

“Isn’t holding people hostage supposed to be the last resort?” Sam wondered.

“Yes,” the entire room spoke as one.

All of a sudden, just like earlier in the Avengers Compound’s lobby, all of the lights went out. Some people started to scream in fright.

Loud grunts and shouts of pain were heard before the lights turned on.

You were nowhere to be seen, unlike earlier.

“That’s the same blackout like earlier…” Sam was shell-shocked.

“… I had a day off that day. Felt like savin’ some people.”

Someone shrieked in surprise.

It was Tony.

It was totally Tony.

Once again, Alpine and Liho did not approve of this loud noise. So, Alpine being Alpine, leaped off of Clint’s lap and nearly tried to swipe a paw at Tony, who screeched.

“Barnes! Get your cat!” Tony was almost hysterical now.

Bucky let out a snort when he took in the chaos that his cat was creating.

“Come here, Alpine.” He instructed the white feline strictly. Alpine huffed as her tail rose up in a line, her tail swishing in annoyance as she made her way towards her daddy. Her head was held up high.

When Alpine was in her daddy’s arms, she meowed cutely. Making Tony huff. “Oh no you don’t!” He pointed a finger at the white cat. “Don’t you start looking all innocent now, you heathen!”

Alpine just hissed in Tony’s direction. Tony made a noise at the back of his throat.

This was an outrage!

If anyone was a heathen, it was this iron-cladded idiot! Walking around as if he owned the entire universe…  Alpine sent a glowering glare his way in annoyance. Huffing and hissing at him the entire way.

Peering her eyes away from the dramatic man, her blue eyes zeroed onto you.

Clearly interested, she cocked her head to the side in wonder.

Alpine hadn’t seen you before. A curious meow left her. Her little pink nose rubbed up against your cheek as she purred. She liked you. From the looks of it, you had arrived with her daddy. You were a good fit. A good fit for her daddy. Oh yeah, she would totally accept you as her cat mommy. One-hundred percent, she would.

“… Are you guys watching me?”

You were slightly creeped out at what you were looking at on the screen.

“Uh…” you heard Sam chuckle nervously. “No?”

You slowly stepped back.

“Yup… I’m leaving.”

A few weeks later…

“Hey! I bring good news!”

Darcy Lewis was happily making her way down the floor where you worked. Bouncing past colleagues, co-workers, and friends alike— she was having a great day so far! Her soulmate was coming to visit with his Shakespeare blond brother.

Something about the damn Space Rock.

Actually, speaking of the damn Space Rock, after some more looks at it, turns out, it wasn’t a fucking Space Rock after all!

It was a damn Space Egg!

A Space Egg!

Tonight, when she would see her dramatic ass soulmate, she would demand he and his Shakespeare brother take it back to New Asgard. She was getting sick and tired of hearing the nurses and doctors in Medical gossiping about it.

Darcy plopped down into her chair as you banged her head onto your desk with a groan.

“… Is she okay?” She leaned close to Jane.

“No,” was Jane’s sharp answer.

You continued to bang your head against your desk and continued to groan in agony.

“Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey—“ Darcy had to snap her fingers in your face to catch your attention. You lifted your head up with a moan.

“What happened? Do you need a coffee? I’ll get your usual,” Darcy suggested. You just groaned again. Shaking your head no.

“No… someone asked me out on a date yesterday…” came from you as your cheeks colored at the remembrance.

Both Darcy and Jane gasped.

Luckily, it was really early in the morning, so no one really cared about the tea that was being spilled at this very moment.

“Who?” Jane asked enthusiastically.

“James,” you muttered.

“Which one? There’s a lot of James people here! You gotta narrow it down!” Darcy added, much to your chagrin. “Tall, a beefcake, has a metal arm?” Your response had Darcy and Jane gasping.

“No! You’re kidding me! Bucky asked you out? What did you say?” Jane was living for this new piece of info.

“I said no, obviously.”

Jane and Darcy gasped again as if you had personally told them that you had run over their pets.

“You said no?!” They both exclaimed in horror. “Why did you so no?!” Darcy shrieked.

You leaned your face onto the palm of your hand. Heaving a sigh.

“Because… he’s my soulmate.”

“So?! That should make you say yes!” Jane insisted.

You just lowered your palm and buried your face in your hands, groaning.

“Noooo…” you whined. “No… I can’t… I had to say no because…. because…”

“Because what?” Jane echoed.

“Because! I haven’t been on a date in years! What if I dress funny? What if I accidentally spill water on him? What if—“

“You aren’t going to make a fool of yourself!” screeched Darcy. She even grabbed your shoulders to stop your rambling.

You stopped your rambling immediately.

Like the good friend she was, Darcy gently went through a breathing exercise with you.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Deep breaths.

Once you calmed down, Darcy clicked her tongue.

“Okay, here’s what you’re going to do… you’re going to track down Barnes, and you’re going to tell him that you changed your mind.”

“What?” You exclaimed. “Why?”

“Because you deserve happiness, damn it. And besides, he’s your soulmate.” Jane interjected.

You swallowed nervously.

Maybe your besties had a good idea after all.

You were regretting your entire life existence when you found yourself walking to the wing of the Compound that had all of the Avenger’s own personal rooms.

It was beginning to reach nightfall as you walked closer and closer to Bucky’s bedroom door.

The nerves in your stomach were coiling around you tightly in anxiousness.

Standing in front of Bucky’s door, it made all of those uneasy feelings bubble up to the surface again.

Just as you were about to say “fuck it” and turn back around to run down the hall as fast as you could, Bucky’s door opened.

James Buchanan Barnes had been baffled in his life a few times. Like the first time he had seen the Red Skull in the flesh. Or that other time the Guardians of the Galaxy came down to Earth for a friendly visit and that damn talking raccoon wouldn’t stop asking about his arm. That one time aliens tried invading the Earth was another baffling moment for him too. He always thought that aliens were just a part of sci-fi stuff.

But this?

This didn’t even hold a candle to those events.

And okay sure, Bucky had been feeling a little bummed because you had rejected him. To be fair, he had been more hurt on the end of, he was your soulmate shit, but then the rational part of his brain kicked in and was like you don’t own it you fucking idiot.

So, needless to say, yeah— he wasn’t feeling himself all that much today.

“H-Hi.”

Hi? That was all the best you could come with? Seriously?

Embarrassing.

You were so embarrassed for yourself.

“Hi.” Bucky at least was smiling. His smile made his eyes twinkle. For a second there, you nearly got lost in how blue they were. That was until that part in your brain that was still working screamed at you.

“O-Oh. U-Um… so… about earlier…”

When Bucky’s face fell at the reminder, you hurried to speak again. “No! It’s not like that! I didn’t say no because I’m like, not attracted to you or anything. I mean, I am, but that’s a whole other conversation.” You blabbered on as you tried to justify the situation. Or rectify it. Whatever.

“… so like, when I turned you down it wasn’t because of you. Okay? It’s not because I’m not attracted to you or anything. It’s just me. Believe me. It’s all me. You’re probably amazing and all, and you’re also my soulmate, but…”

“But?” Bucky probed at you. “But…” you continued on. And, to make sure you weren’t going to accidentally shoot yourself in the foot with the shit that was about to come out of your mouth, you also added, “You’re a nice guy. Not like one of those self-proclaimed “nice guys” I met on Tinder. Okay? You’re actually a nice guy. But… it’s just me, okay?”

“We’re soulmates.”

Those words pierced, no, cut through you. A knife to the heart. You nearly wanted to collapse to your knees and tell him how bad it was. You wanted to tell him how bad you felt every time you came to work after he came back from Wakanda and having to avoid him every time you walked into the building. You wanted to tell him how badly you wanted him after hearing all the gossip from R&D, not to mention that one chick from Accounting that he slept with.

That one wasn’t even alleged either.

It was true.

You wanted to tell him how badly you needed and wanted him.

Because he was essentially your other half.

He was your freaking soulmate for crying out loud.

You knew that he was still out there because your world was still colorful. If he had died, your world would have become black and white again. You would have felt it. Somewhere deep inside of you, you would have felt an empty, cold feeling.

It was at this very moment, you understood why when people lost their soulmates, that they did not last long. Usually, if one soulmate died or passed away somehow, their other half would soon follow. Call it grief. Call it an empty, hollow, cold feeling that they would get, knowing the other part that completed them was no longer there. They would not be able to function without their other half.

You realized that now.

You knew that now.

And when Bucky grabbed a hold of your hand, placing it right on his beating heart, you heard it.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

“I want to make this work. We can make this work. You. Me.”

Never had Bucky ever felt this much fury and rage in his life. There had been those incidents of him chasing down and finding out where Alexander Pierce and Brock Rumlow had been when he had taken them out, but even that could never hold a candle of the fury he felt in this exact moment.

Bucky, bless him, sounded so convinced that he could make this work. That he could accept you.

“We… we can’t…” You were already shaking your head no.

“We can’t what?” Bucky snapped through gritted teeth, almost as if he was ready to create a freaking fire. “We can’t make this work?”

“Yes!”

Such words did not make him feel better.

In fact, they just made his ever-growing temper fuse even higher.

“Don’t you understand, James? We aren’t normal! What I did a few weeks ago? Someone already recorded it! It’s everywhere now, James! Even on TikTok!”

Now, Bucky had no idea what the hell this “TikTok” was. He was even sure that Shuri hadn’t even told him of such an app before he had come back to America.

But any such word of you or your mutant status made him actually grit his teeth now.

Deep within him, in his bones, he and Winter were very happy that you were somewhat enhanced like him. Granted, you were not a supersoldier. Not by any means, no. But you were a mutant. You were different. Just like him. If you had been a normal human being, Bucky didn’t know how the hell he would be intimate with you without having that fear of accidentally being too rough with you.

Winter was not pleased with the chain of events.

Not one bit.

Really, the former dark part of him was torn on whether he wanted to have you on his knees or find whoever was making you feel this way and teaching them a lesson.

Inside of him, Bucky could feel Winter stirring and could already feel his displeasure.

“… and not only that,” you continued on as if you hadn’t even noticed the change in his demeanor. “You know how General Ross feels about people like me! He wants them on a list! He wants them to be signed up for that stupid Mutant Registration Act! I don’t want to sign up for that! I don’t want that! I don’t want you to be in danger because of me, okay? This is why this can’t work! Because of this shit!”

You were breathing in heavily now. Tears were streaming down your face, and you felt like absolute shit. You felt as if someone had run you over with their car. Or a truck. Or a train, even.

You felt so overwhelmed.

You were so done.

So, so, so done.

DONE.

You were so overcome with emotion that you hadn’t even noticed Bucky bringing you into a hug. Your sobs were muffled against his shirt. Your tears stained his shirt too.

You were absolutely crushed. Bucky, not wanting to cause a bigger scene than the two of you were already making, reached backwards for the doorknob with his metal hand, twisting the knob open and bringing you inside of his room.

Some how, some way, the two of you got into his room.

Some how. Somewhere in the universe, the two of you had stumbled into his room without any fuss.

Everything had been nice, until…

Alpine screeched in alarm.

Officially breaking and shattering any moment the two of you just had.

You screamed.

Alpine backed away a little. When she realized it was her cat mommy, she quite happily ran up to you.

When she heard you sniff, she cocked her head to the side in confusion.

Why was her mommy crying? Whatever the reason, she knew that she would make things better. Totally better than what her daddy would ever do. Like the helpful cat that she was, she nuzzled her head against your leg, purring.

At first, you were bamboozled at this strange cat purring and rubbing her face into your jeans. But, as her purring slowly calmed you down, bringing you back to Earth, you picked up the white feline. Alpine meowed when she caught sight of your face.

Alpine rubbed her nose against your cheek.

She was determined.

You were going to be her cat mommy.

Whatever it took.

You ended up eating some Chinese take-out in Bucky’s room after your sob fest.

And it had been some mean Chinese. Your cho mein had been very delicious. Alpine had lounged in between the two of you on Bucky’s bed while the two of you watched The Great British Bake Off show on Netflix. You were in deep with your beef and broccoli that you almost hadn’t heard what Bucky asked you.

So he asked you again.

Quieter, this time.

But you caught on to it.

“What did you do… after Hydra fell? Did you manage to escape? Or did you escape? Before?”

To which, you chewed on a piece of your broccoli and made sure to swallow, before you answered him.

You were raised better than that, after all.

“I escaped right after Hydra fell. Captain Rogers and Natasha Romanov did quite a number, exposing Hydra like that.” You couldn’t help but chuckle.

“They’re both little shits. And I should know. I grew up with the punk. I trained Natalia.” Bucky huffed.

“Oh?” An eyebrow was raised at him. “So she gets it from you, huh?”

All Bucky did was grumble in response, making you laugh.

“Hydra pretty much went into hiding after their big exposé. After that, well… it was easy to get… out, I guess. I managed to get away. Helped out Jessica Jones and Luke Cage once during a bank robbery, and she managed to pull some strings for me. And then I joined right before the Avengers moved from the Tower to the Compound. They outgrew it pretty quickly. So when they finished the Compound, I started working. But don’t tell Tony I told you. I need this job, okay?”

Bucky barked out a laugh.

“Your secret’s safe with me, doll.” He promised you. Shooting him an assuring look, you couldn’t help but remark, “You’re officially on my Top Five Favorite People List. You should be honored. Most people don’t even make my Top Ten.”

He nodded at you seriously. “M’ honored, doll.”

In between the two of you, Alpine meowed her agreement.

You and Bucky burst out into laughter.

Five months later…

Life was moving smoothly along.

After your tryst in Bucky’s room, eating Chinese food and watching Netflix, (which totally counted as a first date, you didn’t care what people said), you found yourself hanging out with Bucky. More and more. You didn’t really know if the two of you were really dating.

Dating wasn’t really the term you would use to describe your current status. Your history with Bucky was… complicated, to say the least. You two hadn’t met on Hinge. You two hadn’t even met up one random day at work. You two didn’t even meet in Central Park on a random occurrence, really.

You could safely say that for the past couple of months, you were slowly chipping away at your guard and only Bucky inside of your life more and more. Slowly, you felt like you were yourself again. For the first time in your life, you actually felt like you didn’t have to look over your shoulder before you did something. In fear of Hydra coming after you again.

You just didn’t know if that was scary to you or not.

Of course, there was a small part of you that was terrified.

What if Hydra found you again?

What if they separated you from Bucky?

Or worse...

What if you lost Bucky?

You didn’t want to know what you would do if that happened.

You truly did not.

As you walked into work that morning, you had done your usual morning routine. After your shower and eating a bit of breakfast, you had stopped by the coffee shop in the Compound before making your way to the staircase to get upstairs. However, since you had gotten there a bit earlier than you normally did, you elected to take the elevator.

Once you got there though, a very eccentric Tony Stark was waiting there for you.

For a moment, you actually thought Tony was going to fire you.

He was going to fire you, and you would have to find a new place of employment.

However, today seemed to be your lucky day.

Because Tony Stark was not there to fire you. Instead, he had offered you a new contract.

“Can you make sure to put in all of your stuff this time? Like your fighting skills?” Tony suggested. You looked up from where you had been looking over the papers.

A somewhat glare was sent his way.

“Anything Barnes can do, besides his knives, I can do. Whatever he put in his resumé should check out with me. Between me and Romanov though, she’s much better at being stealthy than I am. She can actually sneak up on you. The only thing I can do that makes me considered to be stealthy is becoming a literal ball of electric energy and speeding through power lines. Not as cool as her. Trust me.” was your flat response.

“Nah. I think that’s pretty cool. Do you get around that way when you fight crime? If you don’t, that should totally be your method of transportation.” Tony recommended. You seemed to ponder on that. “You know, Mr. Stark… that’s actually not a bad idea. I’ll keep that in mind when I’m stopping bank robbers next time.” You hummed at that thought. Putting that knowledge away for later to dwell on, you continued to fill the paper up. Your pen scratched on paper as you scribbled down stuff.

“So, how old are you exactly? You don’t look a day over your twenties.” Tony asked, all in curiosity's sake.

“I was born around World War One. Might be a few years after Captain Rogers and Bucky. It’s been a while though. So I can’t really remember. But, I’m definitely older than you.” You were signing your signature with a smirk at Tony’s look of horror on his face. “Oh mylanta,” Tony was horrified. “Please tell me you’re not as grumpy as White Jesus. Please tell me you aren’t.”

“Please Mr. Stark,” you scoffed at the audacity, “I’m caught up with the times. I have a Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ subscription. I watched the dubbed version of Fairy Tail on Hulu after watching the subbed version just yesterday. I’m cultured. You don’t see me blasting forties music on my Bluetooth speaker, now do you?”

“What’s Fairy Tail?” Tony was very interested. You breathed out a sigh of relief, happy to discuss your show with someone that wasn’t Alpine. “Fairy Tail is a manga and an anime show. It’s a show about friendship and stuff. There’s magic in it too. Shoeun anime. Dunno if you’ll like it, but you should give it a try. I got Erik Killmonger on it. He’s a huge anime fan, you know.”

“Oh! Erik Killmonger? King T’Challa’s cousin? I didn’t know he was an anime fan! Oh, well, something to talk about when they come and visit us for the UN meetings.” Tony was delighted at this new chunk of information.

Clicking your pen, signaling that you were finished, you slid over the papers and pen back to your boss. In delight, Tony collected your papers, stacking them together. “Thank you very much, ma’am.”

“Please don’t call me ma’am,” You groaned. “It makes me feel my age.”

All Tony did was let out a snicker.

Bucky found you during lunch. He could feel Winter in the back of his mind, lurking and watching everyone as he walked past people.

Eventually, he found you at one of the tables. Making his way towards you, like a predator stalking its prey, he plopped down beside you just as you pulled out the lunch you packed.

Tomato soup and grilled cheese, with some green tea. Some sugar, but no milk. You wanted a lighter drink to go with the heavy soup. Pulling out your hydro flask of green tea, you uncapped the cap and took a hearty sip. Taking off the plastic lid, you took a piece of grilled cheese and swirled it in your tomato soupy goodness before taking a hearty bite.

Bucky’s leg hooked around with yours, pulling you closer to the metal-armed man. You weren’t even fazed anymore at this point.

“Hello to you too, Sasha.” You greeted him.

Now. If anyone else were to call him “Sasha”, they probably would have been given a harsh glare.

No one called him Sasha except you. And besides, he looked like a total Sasha.

Totally.

“Thor and Loki are finally coming to take the damn Space Egg back,” Bucky grumbled. You raised a brow. “Oh yeah?” You replied, “Good. Darcy’s been bitching to Loki about how the nurses in Medical hate looking at it. Truly a downgrade from their day every time they go in. Maybe now they’ll just give it to King T’Challa in Wakanda or the Guardians to look at from now on. I’m sure Shuri would have an absolute blast looking at it and studying it too.”

“I’m just happy it’s getting out of here,” Bucky grumbled. “The paperwork I had for it? Atrocious doll. Absolutely atrocious.”

“I bet,” you hummed.

“We’re still on for our date tonight, right?”

You peeked up from where you were eating your soup.

Nods came from you.

“Oh yes. I’m still free. Oh, I have the exact outfit for it too. The coat I bought last time we went shopping together last time— I’m wearing that tonight. It’s soooo comfy.”

“The long, dark grey one, right?” Bucky inquired. At your nod, he leaned back.

“How’s Winter doing, by the way? Is he surviving in there?” You asked causally.

At first, Bucky didn’t say anything.

Indeed, Winter was still brewing in his mind, taking in his soulmate. You were just as much as Bucky’s soulmate as you were his. Being that, he was still a part of Bucky, even after all these years, made him possessive over you.

After coming to Wakanda and getting those damn trigger words wiped away from him, Bucky had spent his time split between seeing the Wakandan Elders, playing with the little kids in Wakanda that would come and visit him in the outskirts of town, and tending to his little farm and goats. He had fond memories of tending to his potato and plum farm, as well as taking care of his goats.

However, his time with Wakandan Elders, reconciling all of those broken, jagged pieces of himself made him realize that Winter was still in there. That the Winter Soldier was who he had become, in order to survive Hydra’s ways. That Winter was a part of him, and how that wasn’t a bad thing. Truth be told, it had taken him a while to come to terms with that.

Now though, Bucky had come to terms that what he had done, under Hydra’s harsh control, hadn’t been his fault.

James Buchanan Barnes had been a victim, not a villain. What he had been forced to do under Hydra’s control hadn’t been his fault.

In doing so now, with Winter, the brunet found life much more enjoyable than he had ever thought for himself. Winter was nice once you got to know him. Or if he liked you. Or if you stayed on his good side, anyway.

“He’s doing fine. He’s excited for the date tonight.”

Your lips curled into a smile at that. “Oh, good. We don’t want him to become all grouchy. Heaven knows what’ll happen when he gets all riled up like that.”

Your teasing tone made Bucky roll his eyes, much to your own amusement.

And with that, you continued to eat your soup and sip your tea.

Later that night…

“I’m telling you, Sasha! I’m telling you, there was absolutely no reason why Rose couldn’t have just moved to make space for Jack on that stupid piece of wood. But noooo, she had to be greedy and keep all of the space for herself and let Jack freeze to death.”

Bucky was absolutely amused and entertained by the shit you were speaking against the Titanic movie. Being that he also never had seen it, it amused him whenever you made references to it, even the “Draw me like one of your French girls” line, which didn’t make sense to him.

Wasn’t Jack supposed to be a starving artist or something? Like how Steve used to be when he worked at the comic strip place back when they were young? Bucky had worked at the docks, so he knew nothing about comics.

Then again, Bucky had never seen Titanic, nor did he have plans to ever see it.

“Could the piece of wood have supported them both?” Bucky wondered as the two of you were walking around Central Park, even though it was inching close to nighttime.

“Yes!” You exclaimed. “Yes, it could have! But Rose had to be greedy and kept it all for herself!” You couldn’t help but huff. Bucky just chuckled at the expression on your face. He thought it was downright adorable.

“Not to mention,” you continued on your rant, “The movie is literally three hours long. Like, what could be so interesting about a boat for three hours? It’s so annoying. Especially because that’s our fucking generation too? Ugh.”

“Careful now,” Bucky couldn’t help but tease. “That’s making me feel old, doll.”

“Well, you are a grumpy one hundred and six year old man,” You giggled at the look of offense on his face. “Now that’s just playin’ dirty,” he scowled at you. “Not dirty if it’s true!” You chirped.

Bucky continued scowling as the two of you walked down the still-busy streets of New York. Even though it was getting dark.

“You know Sasha, I’ve been thinking.”

“Yeah? About what?”

Your hand that was holding his flesh one squeezed his hand a little tighter.

“I’ve been… thinking. About us. About… this whole thing.” You gestured with your hands, motioning to him, and then back to you. “I’m not saying I’m in the pro-camp of us being… official or anything, but… I’m warming up to the idea.”

Something inside of him grew warm at the fact that you were slowly warming up to the idea. Of being official. Like, official, official.

Even before the whole mess with Hydra in World War Two, Bucky never really was a person who liked the limelight. Sure, he had been charming. He had liked being around dames.

But being the center of attention?

No. Absolutely not. Even Steve had hated that shit. Sure, Bucky had “accidentally” broken a few cameras here and there in the past, and currently in the present— but those were accidents. Simple accidents.

He swore.

“… Winter likes the lowkey stuff too.”

“Eh?”

You gave him a confused look. “Come on, doll. I know the slang words.” Bucky had the audacity to even pout at you. He reminded you of an innocent little harmless puppy.

“… Yeah… I know… I’m just wondering where you learned those words from… they sound… so weird coming out of your mouth, Sasha. What’s next? Are you doing to tell me what you’re gonna do to me in bed while we’re still on the street?” You couldn’t help but tease him.

Pressing his lips close, almost against the shell of your ear, you felt Bucky’s breath. It tickled your ear and sent shivers down your spine.

“Do you want me to tell you exactly what I want to do to you on the street? Hmm? Would you like me to tell you how I’d eat that pretty pussy, hmm?”

You nearly choked on thin air alone.

Really, it should have been considered one of your secret talents.

Truly.

“S-Sasha!” You were scandalized.

“What?” Bucky didn’t sound sorry in the slightest. “You tease me, and I’ll tease you right back Doll. That’s how this works.”

Your mouth dropped open. Forming an O.

Oh… oh…

Your soulmate was a certificated little shit.

Five Gold Stars.

Sometime later in the morning...

Bucky didn’t know how it happened.

Some how, some way, he had ended up falling asleep with you in your room. In your little apartment. You lived near the Compound, on Stark property. Living in a Stark Townhouse that was a good walking distance away from the Compound.

After stumbling into your apartment, that was when Bucky had lost it.

Or started to, really.

He had thrown you over his shoulder as if he was from the frigging Caveman era and ignored your noisy protests to put you down. A harsh smack to your butt had you squeaking before you quieted down.

Bucky couldn’t explain what had just come over him. How he grabbed your throat with his Vibranium hand and practically hissed at you to open your mouth before he spat in it.

Yes.

James Buchanan Barnes, your soulmate, your personal pain in the ass, the light of your life— had spit in your mouth.

And when he told you to swallow it like a good girl, you fucking swallowed that shit down as if it was your favorite latte.

What followed was an intense rough sex session that had conked you out so good that you probably had slept like a baby.

… Until Bucky had woken up, that is.

Bucky had woken up confused. Not from a nightmare. But he had woken up confused. He had woken up in a state of confusion. He didn’t know if he was still in Siberia or not.

He had woken up in the dark.

Well… it wasn’t really all that dark.

The fairy lights that you had bought off of Amazon hung behind your bed, illuminating the room in a soft golden glow.

Bucky felt like he was back in Siberia again.

He didn’t feel… he didn’t feel like he was Bucky.

He was too alert, too winded to feel like Bucky Barnes. He didn’t yawn, nor did he stretch out his arms and flex his muscles as Bucky did.

This was the Winter Soldier who had woken up in Bucky Barnes’s body.

Winter was too alert. Too winded. Too confused.

Winter had woken up with a purpose. An objective in mind.

Turning his gaze, he saw you peacefully sleeping. Even though you didn’t have your lamp turned on, or even your bedroom lights. Your fairy lights emphasized your face. Washing over you with a soft golden glow.

Deep in his gut, he was proud that you weren’t ready to go public yet. He was more than delighted to have you all to himself.

Because you were his. His soulmate. His other half. His girl. Someone he protected and looked after, damned with the consequences if there were going to be any.

No one would complete him like you did. No one would feel as good as you did. No one would scratch the itch that he desperately felt back when Bucky had been sleeping around with after coming back with Wakanda.

And to think you had been under his nose this entire time!

The audacity!

Winter knew you were still alive. Of course, you were still alive. You were not like normal women your age. You could not die as easily as other women. His world had not become black and white. His world was still deeply entrenched in color.

You had to have been alive.

You had to have still been out there somewhere, waiting for him.

The former Hydra assassin had waited. He had done his waiting for nearly five years. Waiting in despair and agony because he still knew that his other half had to have still been out there.

And now he had found you again.

He was not letting you go.

Oh no, he was not.

He was keeping you right next to him at all times.

Shuffling around in your bed, he moved. He moved down, all the way down to your legs, to where he could actually spread your legs open. His flesh hand trailing up your thigh to your mess of a pussy.

Bucky had absolutely ruined her. Your poor precious kitty had been thoroughly abused, and you hoped you were eligible for compensation because there was no way, no freaking way in this damn universe that Bucky could have made you come as many times as he had.

There was no way.

A long, thick finger probed and sunk into your cunt with ease. Your pussy was still wet. Slippery. Slimy. If Winter took out his finger now, his finger probably would have looked like snail goo had gotten on it.

Such an event did not wake you up. You were still in the deep throes of your dreamland that you did not stir. Not an inch.

Well. More playtime for him, then.

A low slick noise echoed in the quiet room as Winter slipped in another finger. He slid his fingers so deep that he was in knuckle-deep. When you still didn’t stir, Winter took that as a sign to add a third.

Once he started moving, so did you.

The sudden pleasure made your toes curl subconsciously. Almost as if you just knew.

Pumping noises sounded in his ear as the combined mixture of your shared arousal oozed out of you, dripping down to the palm of his hand.

For fucks sake, he wasn’t even using his metal hand! Although, that would have been a much more different sensation. Winter had noticed you looking at it. He was very observant that way.

Soft, small little whimpers of pleasure started coming from you in the throes of your sleep. All the while Winter had taken it upon himself to shove three metal fingers into your mouth, to keep you from making noise.

A muffled sound of surprise came from you.

Through your sleepy state of mind, you knew that your Bucky, your Sasha— did not do that.

Your Sasha would have never shoved his fingers down your throat while pleasuring you.

Which really left you with only one option.

Winter.

Drool dripped from your mouth and onto his metal fingers, coating them with your spit. As he continued his ministrations on your poor pussy, rubbing his thumb on your clit.

Coming with a muffled cry, your vaginal walls clenched down around his fingers, enticing him and keeping him there. While your orgasm overcame you. Your back arched and wielded, curling upwards as a muffled protest sounded. This only made more drool seep down onto his fingers as you shut your eyes tight, seeing white dots in your vision.

He didn’t stop with just one.

Oh no.

You were determined in the knowledge that he was going to split your poor pussy in half at this point. And he hadn’t even put his monster of a penis inside of you yet.

And ho boy, did you have a surprise when you first laid eyes on it.

You had jumped in surprise when Bucky had guided your hands to his jeans, as you had just popped the button. Pulling down the zipper, you watched with rapt eyes as his cock came into view.

“Holy fucking shit, Sasha!” You had exclaimed. Maybe even screeched a bit too. “Did the serum do this to you? I’m not going to be able to fit this in my mouth or my kitty! Forget my ass!”

“I’ll make it fit.”

You hadn’t known it at the time, but that had been Winter shining through. The darker side of your soulmate had bristled, he even had wanted to scoff at your words.

Your puzzled face was what had been your response to those words.

Just like now.

Even if the two of you were only lighted by your fairy lights. Your puzzled face looked up at Winter’s determined face.

It was so like your Sasha, but not at the same time.

Deep in your bones, you knew this was Winter.

You just knew.

Drool smeared on your lips and chin, you spoke.

“Do you know what time it is? We have work in a few hours, you know! And I’m not looking to waking up the neighbors!”

Winter simply cocked his head to the side as if he was a dog. Then he answered you.

“Then we won’t.”

All of a sudden, you were turned and flipped over onto your stomach. Your face smacked down right into your pillow.

A deep noise of offense came from you.

Call it catty. Call it bratty. But he had just woken you up! You needed your damn precious beauty sleep! You weren’t a freaking supersoldier! Oh, you were going to be so—

Pulling out his flesh fingers that had been buried into your pussy, you couldn’t help but whine when you felt that empty feeling. Your vaginal walls clenched around nothing, but not before a certain metal hand gripped, no— tugged, your hair, pulling it back. To the point where you could feel a little light-headed, but nothing major.

You screamed into the pillows when Winter thrusted deep into you, filling you up completely. It made your eyes roll back into your head so deep, you swore that you might have astral projected right then and there.

You were so full. So stuffed. Filled to the brim, really.

You were too stunned to speak.

You were so stunned, that when Winter said something to you, you didn’t have the heart in you to respond.

“That outta shut you up.”

You were gaping.

Gaping!

Oh this little… this little… this little shit!

“… waited too long,” hissed Winter. “Waited too long for you. Thought about you all the time, Kitten. Wondered where you were, if you thought about me. Not gonna wait anymore… I’m not going to wait anymore…”

His hands were trailing down, slowly getting lower and lower to your hips.

Your brain was muddled. To the point where you couldn’t really wrap your head around what he was saying. What he meant.

Winter had waited.

He had waited and mourned long enough.

“I’m going to end our suffering. Right now.”

A shuddering noise left you as you shuddered, lips quivering when you felt him sliding out of you. Your eyes were burning at the thought of being empty. That horny part of your brain was screaming.

No. No. No. No. No. No.

This was not good.

This was not good at all.

What the hell was he going to—

Your sudden scream was muffled because of your face being shoved into your pillow.

Winter had not spared you any mercy. And without skipping a beat, gripped your hips so tight, you knew there would be bruises.

Every thrust made your eyes roll into the back of your head. The slow drag of his cock had your toes curling. Your back was arching up, bending for him almost.

Your face was nearly smothered into the fluffy pillow as Winter took you mercilessly from behind. Clumps of his ejaculate and your fluids trickled down your thighs, staining your bedsheets.

“Never gonna lose you again,” Winter hissed. “Have you now. Never gonna lose you again. Never again. You’re mine. Mine. Mine! Say you’re mine. Say it!”

You came with a scream.

Screams from his soulmate were just wonderful. Like music to his ears. Winter continued pounding into you, making you feel every drag and vein of his cock, wet, sloshing noises oozing out of your poor little kitty.

With his body weight on top of your back, Winter dragged his tongue down your neck. Down your shoulder blade. Licking the curve of your back. His balls slapped against your ass cheeks as the tip of his cock hit your cervix. All the while your clit was being painfully rubbed against the bedsheets.

A deep, guttural noise came from Winter when he came. Emptying out his balls, pushing, giving you everything he had.

Deep breaths and pants filled the room.

Everything was peaceful. Quiet.

Until…

“… Fucking finally! Those two have been fucking for hours!” A man’s voice shouted through the drywall you shared with the neighbors next door. Even with Bucky’s enhanced hearing, and your ears, you picked up on it.

“… Oh my god Aaron! Let them be!” A woman’s voice shouted from the other side of the wall.

“No! They’ve been fucking for four hours! Who fucks for four fucking hours Pamela?!” Aaron retaliated.

“Shut up! They’re in love! They’re soulmates! He’s an Avenger! So what if they spend hours making love? That just means he knows where the clit is!” Pamela screeched.

You lifted your head in bewilderment.

Well. Sasha did know where the clit was. Your clit, anyway. You weren’t going to bet if Sasha knew where the clit was for every woman.

He probably knew.

“Since he knows where the clit is, maybe you should go next door! Maybe he’ll find your clit too!” Aaron shouted.

“You know what?! You’re sleeping on the couch for a month!” Pamela spat.

“So… you think it’ll fit in my ass, Sasha?” you couldn’t help but wonder.

Bucky chuckled darkly, his lips pressing against the shell of your ear.

“Oh doll, if I can make it fit in my tight little pussy, I can make it fit in that tight little ass. Come on— we’re taking this to the shower. I don’t want to know where Pamela’s clit is.”

Three weeks later…

“I’m telling you, for the last damn time— no.”

You were washing a plate in your sink as you balanced your phone in between your shoulder and your neck.

“… You should totally get some drinks with us! It’ll be a triple date!” Darcy chirped from the other line as you scrubbed the other side of the plate, before giving it a quick rinse. After putting it on the rack, you snuck a glance at the pan that was currently filled with water. You had been having trouble scrubbing it with the soft side of the sponge, so you had filled it with water and was boiling it to make your life easier.

“Isn’t Thor coming though? And you know James can’t get drunk,” you remarked as you set your phone down, opting to put Darcy on speaker.

“Yeah I know,” Darcy’s voice soon filled your kitchen. “But I think it would be a great bonding experience! Don’t you think?”

“I think,” you started, resisting the urge to snort. “—that Loki and James are going to spend far too much time having a dick measuring contest to see who has the better knife skills. Who knows, you might be having a trickster god trying to slice your bra when you guys decide to do the freaky shit. You know what— get a notebook. Write this shit down. Okay? You’re gonna need to write this down.”

Darcy’s groan coming from her end made you snicker as you shut off the running water, moving happily to the stove, turning off the fire. Grabbing the pan handle, you walked back to the sink, dumping out the hot water into the sink. Steam rose and covered your face.

Nothing like a free facial when washing difficult pans.

“Okay.” You grabbed the sponge, beginning to scrub at it with the soft side. “First one— knife kink.”

Darcy sighed your name.

“Second one— bondage.”

There was a thumping noise. You were sure she had banged her head on her desk or something.

But you weren’t done.

Oh no.

Not by a long shot.

“Third one— dumbification.”

“… What the hell is that?” Darcy was bewildered.

A scandalized noise came from you.

You also might have gasped in surprise.

“Darcy, I’m surprised at you! You don’t know what a dumbification kink is?” You exclaimed in horror. You turned the water back on, beginning to rise the pan. After rinsing the pan clean, you put it on top of the towel you usually had next to the drying rack on your counter.

“… No!” Darcy shrieked.

It was around this time, that Bucky unlocked the front door. You heard the key being pushed in, and the locks changing.

“Oh well,” you said with a sigh, “I’ll tell you later. Buck’s home.”

“But what about drinks?” Darcy cried.

You shrugged. “I’ll get back to you with that.”

And then you hung up.

With the dishes done, you had officially finished all of the chores you dragged your ass out of bed for. If you hadn’t done that, then you would have just slept in bed all day.

Even though staying in bed sounded great. It sounded amazing.

Moving to the oven, where the hand towel was. Drying your hands, you heard the front door close. You heard the locks sliding back into place.

Familiar footsteps carried themselves through the living room, and into the kitchen.

You turned around.

James Buchanan Barnes was still wearing his own version of his Stealth Suit, and by just looking at him— you could already feel your kitty tingling.

Licking your lips, you greeted your soulmate.

“Hey, Sasha. How was the mission?” you asked him quietly.

All Bucky did was grunt. Walking towards you, with no boots on, because he wasn’t a damn heathen and had taken his boots off at the door. Picking you up, he put you on top of the counter.

“T’was fine,” he grumbled. “But m’ hungry.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Leftovers in the fridge,” you informed him.

Bucky shook his head.

“No… not like that…” his hands trailed down, all the way down to the waistband of your sleeping shorts, hooking his thumbs under the stretchy material. Pushing and shoving it down to your feet.

“Be a good girl and let me in, sweet girl.” he rumbled.

Legs spreading out for him, Bucky was rewarded with the gorgeous view of your pussy. That was already glistening with your arousal.

“Oh… she missed me…” he breathed out, eyes darkening at the sight.

“Sasha,” you couldn’t help but beg.

You let out a soft little whimper when your soulmate took your puffy clit in between his pink lips.

“Don’t you worry doll, m’ gonna make up for all the lost time. I missed my pussy too much. I’m gonna show her how much she’s loved.”

Taglist: @greeneyedblondie44, @bxnnywriting, @hawsx3

[captainkirkk]

✩ WEEKLY FIC ROUND-UP ✩

All the fics I’ve read and really enjoyed in the past week-ish. Reminder: This list features any and all ratings and themes.

DC

The Startling Secret Identity of The Batman by Nokomis

Good evening, super-sleuths! Boy, do we have a treat for you today. We’re delving into one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of the modern era. The million-dollar question. The billion-dollar question, if one of these theories holds water.

That’s right. We’re gonna risk life, limb and sanity by asking the question… who is The Batman?

[In-universe Buzzfeed Unsolved accidentally stumbles on Batman’s secret identity. The Batfam reacts.]

sweet child o' mine by Nokomis

Steph said cheerfully, “Bruce, from now on, consider yourself in possession of one Steph-mom.”

“Absolutely not,” Bruce said.

Steph took a bite of her cake, undeterred.

Wayne Manor: Extended Edition by notquiteaghost

Bruce       9:17PM I miss when you were small

Dick       9:17PM No you don’t I yelled at you just as much I just also sometimes did it from atop the light fixtures

Tim       9:18PM i miss when we didn’t have this chat and if i didn’t want to know about the yelling i could just leave

Dick       9:19PM If you want the cat pictures and the play by plays of JL meetings you have to suffer through the conflict resolution

Crossover: DC/Miraculous Ladybug

Bad news, Paris by BlueTee

Part 1 of Paris vs Gotham

Tim: @notTHATtim Are you parisians all right??? #onlyinParis

Nathaniel Kurtzberg: @nathanielkart Replying to @notTHATtim

hahaha no.

(In which Nathaniel only wanted to pass some information but shenanigans issues and he ends up starting a twitter war.

Or: The author just wants to play around with some favorite fandom cliches and this fic is not to be taken seriously.)

The Umbrella Academy

The Five Whistle by I_Logophile

“What the hell was that?” Five tried to demand, but his breathlessness ruined the effect.

The Handler grinned. “What? This little thing?” she asked innocently, pulling a long, thin device from within the folds of her coat. “This is just a little something I had cooked up back at Headquarters just for you.”

The Handler twisted the end of the device. In response, the fabric of space released an unearthly howl of agony, making Five’s legs collapse beneath him.

Untamed

This Is The Way by musicmillennia

Five memes Lan Zhan sends Wei Ying to try and woo him and one time it actually gets through.

Clone Wars

Learned Men by Trixree

It becomes the Question—the one every vod is talking about from the bridge of the Negotiator to her dark bowels where the laundry rooms churn and chug along: who takes care of the General?

(In which Obi-Wan is touch starved and his men take notice.)

We Threw Our Hearts Into The Sea by carryaworld

Obi-Wan touches an artifact he really shouldn't have and gets turns into a five year old. Luckily, Cody is very capable at many things, including child-wrangling.

The Mandalorian

The People by musicmillennia

Din is used to being a faceless bounty hunter no one listens to. Being Mand'alor is...an adjustment.

Or, 5 Times Din Djarin was Surprised at his Position as Literal Ruler of a Planet...while accidentally winning the affection of said planet.

Star Wars/The Mandalorian

Where There's a Will There's a Way by xiaq

Luke walks straight to Din and Din suddenly feels like he should be doing something with his hands.

“Hi,” he says.

“Hi,” Luke agrees, grinning. “So. I didn’t get your name, before. Grogu just calls you ‘Daddy’ in his head but I’m assuming I should call you something else.”

Din chokes a little.

(This is basically an Accidental Warlord Din Djarin fic in which Din plays the role of reluctant DILF leader with a heart of gold and Luke plays the role of initially distrusted twink who quickly becomes beloved by all (especially said warlord). The Mandalorians are like, "we've only had Luke Skywalker for a day and a half but if anything happened to him I would kill everyone in this room and then myself.")