#I actually did used to have a friend who would poke me/taser my sides ALL THE TIME

[gigglegrub]

Me whenever I get poked/tickled and instead of fight or flight, my response is to curl up and die ✌️😔

[thunder-at-dawn]

7 with eternalduo? lee!eret perhaps?? idk -paper anon

i loved writing this one so much oh my god thank you for this galaxy brain prompt paper anon

word count: 1,805

prompt list can be found here!

prompt 7: "i happen to know a weakness of yours."

warning: this is a sfw tickle fic! don't read if that makes you uncomfortable :]

The Red Banquet was an event that shook the land. Everyone who attended left with something in mind. Whether it be hope for the future or a feeling of dread, it was a night that no one would forget.

For Eret, they were reminded that they needed to be more alert.

They nearly died that night. They were almost sacrificed, and had no way of defending themselves. While royalty normally had knights in shining armor and didn’t have to ever defend themselves, Eret decided that would no longer be the case. The monarch had never really been the fighting type, and hopefully, would never have to be. They just decided that it was time to practice some skills.

One of the things that Eret did was set up an archery range. It was behind their castle, and had a small variety of targets to shoot at, all different lengths away from the starting line. They often spent quite a bit of time there, regularly practicing their aim and making sure to hit as many targets as they could.

Today was a relaxing day, a cool breeze flowing through the air with a slight overcast in the sky. Eret drew back their bow, taking a deep breath. The only noises around were just the chirps of bird and the wind passing through. Eret calmed their mind, focusing only on the target.

PING!

They unclenched their hand, watching the bow zip towards it’s target. It landed right in the center. A perfect bullseye.

“Woo!”

Eret paused, knowing that cheer didn’t come out of their own mouth. When they heard clapping, they turned around to see an old friend applauding for them.

“A bullseye! Bravo, old pal! Bravo!” Foolish clapped his hands together as he walked towards Eret. The monarch smiled and took bow, both of them now laughing at the antic.

“How’s your day been?” Eret asked, walking over to the targets to collect the arrows they had shot around.

“Eh, it’s been alright.” Foolish shrugged, crossing his arms and resting them on the fence post that acted as the shooting line. “Just been building stuff like usual, and I was in the area, so of course I had to pay a visit to my old pal! And you were exactly where I’d thought you be.”

“My castle?” Eret asked, pulling an arrow out of the target they had previously shot at.

“No, the archery range behind your castle. You’ve been spending a lot of time here for the past month or so, I’ve noticed.”

“Well, you know what they say. Practice makes perfect.” Eret nodded, stepping behind the fence and loading an arrow in their bow. As Foolish nodded in agreement to Eret’s statement, the monarch pulled back the drawstring, taking a deep breath and focusing on the target in front of them. They released the string, watching the arrow fly straight out towards the target and landing in the center. Another bullseye.

“WOO! Man, you’re good at this! I feel like… you’re just unstoppable! You’re a force of nature, nothing can take you down!” Foolish said in awe before pausing, a small smile on his face. “Well, actually, there is one thing.”

“The wind.” Eret answered with a small chuckle. “It’s definitely made things a lot harder out here than they normally are.”

“Oh, no. I was thinking of something else.” The totem-shark stepped closer to his friend, now grinning widely. “I happen to know a weakness of yours.”

“Oh really now? And what would that be?” Eret pulled back the drawstring to the bow, focusing and making sure the arrow would hit the target. They took a deep breath, ready to fire. However, right as they let go of the drawstring, they felt two hands suddenly squeeze at their side. The bow’s aim was suddenly shifted down, and the arrow landed right in front of the target, in the grass instead of on the target itself. Eret whipped around, only to be greeted by a grinning Foolish.

“The fact that you’re stupidly ticklish.” Foolish smirked as he looked as his friend, who scoffed with a grin on their face.

“Betrayal.” They mumbled, although they couldn’t help but laugh a bit to themselves.

“Oh, come on. It provides a fun challenge, doesn’t it? You try to shoot bullseyes into the targets, while I try to not make that happen. It’ll help you improve your skills!” Foolish suggested.

They looked at their old friend, chuckling as they loaded another arrow into the string. “Alright, challenge accepted.” They nodded, Foolish clapping his hands with excitement and standing behind Eret.

Eret stood in place, pulling back the drawstring once again. Everything was calm and peaceful until they started to feel one-finger pokes across their torso.

“Heyyyy, Eret! Are you gonna shoot that? Are you gonna shoot the arrow?” Foolish asked as he prodded around the monarch’s sides and stomach.

“Ihi’m trying to focus.” Eret said, a giggle slipping out.

“Oh? Was that a giggle? I thought I heard something, I guess I’ll have to prod a little more to get it out of ya, huh?” Foolish started to poke at the right side of Eret’s body with two rapid fingers. They tried to keep their laughter in and focus on the target, but they eventually broke into giggles, stumbling away from Foolish and letting go of the arrow. It flew out and landed on one of the white rings of the target.

“Looks like you gotta get some more practice in, huh?” Foolish teased. Eret rolled their eyes, moving to a target that was closer to them. They drew back an arrow, taking a breath and holding it steady. However, things wouldn’t be peaceful for long. Foolish quickly shot his hands up into Eret’s underarms, surprising the monarch and causing them to accidentally let go of the arrow. It shot upwards in the air, landing somewhere on the blue ring, above the bullseye.

“Foolish!” Eret whined lightheartedly.

“What?! You agreed to this!” Foolish shot back. Technically, he was right, but whatever. A challenge was a challenge.

Eret made their way to other targets on the shooting range, wanting to shoot a bullseye, but Foolish would be there to thwart their plans every time. He would poke at one spot repeatedly, taser them in the sides, blow light air onto their neck, and everything else imaginable to throw them off guard. It would work every time, as Eret was unable to hit a single bullseye.

The monarch set their sights on the furthest target away from the shooting line. This would be the last arrow Eret would shoot until they had to go and retrieve the arrows back from the targets. They drew back the string of the bow, holding it steady and waiting for Foolish to try to distract them. They let go, the arrow flying and landing on the blue ring.

“You didn’t do anything that time.” Eret acknowledged out loud, turning towards their friend.

“That’s right!” Foolish commented, not adding anything else.

Eret wouldn’t lie, they were a little bit suspicious. They watched Foolish closely, but shrugged it off when it seemed like they had no mischievous intent.

“…Alright.” Eret set the bow on the ground, turning their back to Foolish. “I’m going to go get the other arr- AH!”

Oh, how wrong they were to think that Foolish was going to let them off so easily. The demigod had tackled them to the ground, and he held Eret’s wrists so that they couldn’t try to escape.

“What? I had to catch you off guard somehow! You know, you gotta be aware of your surroundings when you’re shooting arrows, old pal! You never know when a monster could sneak up from behind and attack you! You could get blown up by a creeper, shot by a skeleton, your brain could get eaten by a zombie, or in this case…” Foolish grinned, letting go of Eret’s wrists and forming his hands into claw shapes. “You could get snuck up on by a tickle monster!”

Eret nervously tried to squirm away, but their friend was quick to shoot his hands down, clawing at the monarch’s stomachs with both hands. They tried to keep their laughter hidden inside of them, but quickly broke after a few seconds.

“Fohohoolihish, nohoHOho!” They giggled, weakly trying to push his hands away.

“Eret, I’m serious, you should be more careful! Tickle monsters can be very dangerous!” Foolish playfully warned his friend, skittering fingers all over their torso. “They hide in plain sight, just waiting for you to be caught off guard, and then they pounce! And after they attack, their victims can get really tired out, and leave them to be more prone to being attacked by other monsters!”

He spidered his fingers up and down Eret’s sides, relishing in every bit of laughter that came out of their mouth. They tried pushing his hands away, but had no success, their arms likely tired out from pulling back strings and arrows all day. Foolish moved his fingers up his friend’s body, dancing over their hips now.

“They’re extremely dangerous, my friend. They have a variety of strategies that they use, and no singular monster is alike any other. So if you get attacked by one, it’s attack will be very different from the second one you encounter!” Foolish squeezed at their hips, watching as Eret wasn’t even trying to fight back anymore, only laughing their head off.

“Eret! I’m trying to warn you and be serious, why are you laughing at me?! This is no laughing matter, old pal!” He shook his head, moving his hands up to scratch and scribble up and down their ribcage. Eret’s laughter quickly escalated in pitch, squirming around and weakly trying to fight Foolish off.

“NoHOHO- FOHOHOOLIHISH! YOHOU- YOHOU’RE-” The monarch attempted to talk back, but was interrupted by frequent squeaks and laughter flowing out of their mouth.

“I don’t get what’s so funny, Eret! This is very serious!” Foolish tried to stay straight-faced, but couldn’t help but smile when he saw his friend’s face. Eret’s sunglasses were starting to tilt off of their face, their hair was disheveled from so much thrashing, and a stupidly wide grin graced their face as high-pitched giggles came from their mouth.

“You still hanging in there?” Foolish asked as he slowed down the movements of his fingers to a stop. Eret nodded, still giggling as they adjusted their glasses and put them back properly on their face. The demigod reached out a hand, helping Eret off of the ground.

“Gotta be more careful next time, old pal! You never know when a monster might attack.”

“Oh, shut up.” Eret shoved his friend lightly. The two friends looked at each other, smiles on their faces as happy laughter filled the fields.

[tealwheelz01]

Popcorn and other Terran secrets

“So you’re telling me, that you Terrans explode these, ‘seeds’ by applying high levels of heat, before smothering them in butter and stuffing your gob with them? I mean, I like exploding things as much as the next guy, but sheesh, humans are next level!” The popping behind you escalates in volume as you spin to face Rocket. “Don’t knock it till you try it, fur-ball! There’s a reason people on my planet are in the midst of an obesity epidemic - this stuff tastes gooood!!” Ding! The microwave punctuates your point, disseminating the delicious salty aroma around the dining quarters. After a tedious (albeit highly necessary) week of ship maintenance - thanks Peter for flying into that meteor shower - the Guardians and yourself were having a well-deserved night off. You and your brother, Peter, had decided that a traditional movie night would be a nice way to end the week, and that obviously meant acquiring popcorn. You shuffled into the living area, plopping yourself down between Mantis on your left, and Gamora on your right. Peter and Drax were sitting on the couch to your right, and Groot and Rocket sat on the recliner to your left. “Oi sis, pass us some, will ya?” You grabbed a large handful, and then passed the bowl to Gamora for her to try. Peter, thinking Gamora would then pass the bowl onto him, eagerly put his hand out for the popcorn. But once Gamora had grabbed her portion, you swiftly snatched the bowl back and offered it to Mantis, who grabbed some with glee. “Oooh! This is strange! It’s like eating a golden salty cloud!” “Haha, yeah, I suppose it is,” you giggle back. Once Mantis has grabbed her second handful, you make the effort of going around to Rocket, Groot, and then across the room to Drax, all the while feeling Peter’s increasingly frustrated eyes on you. “Oh come on, Y/N! You’ve got to be joking!” “Sorry Petey!” You ruffle his hair. “ I just thought it would be nice if our non-Terran friends try some first. Show them some of the best food Earth has to offer.” You shrugged, “We wouldn’t want to be rude.” As you take your seat, Peter mumbles something about it being ‘his ship, his popcorn’, and hits play on the movie. Gamora quietly sniggers at his reaction, making you smirk. About half an hour into the movie, you’re eyes are fully glued to the screen. You’re watching The Breakfast Club, and you’re just starting t to get into the character's backstories, when Mantis pokes a finger into your side, making you gasp. “May I please have the salty clouds back? Y/N - did I startle you?” “Oh, ahh, sure Mantis. Peter, pass us the popcorn please?” You feel heat rising to your cheeks. You’d so far kept your ticklishness a secret from the Guardians, and you intended to keep it that way. Well, except for Peter, of course, but you were hoping he would never bring it up with the team. Begrudgingly, Peter hands you the bowl to give to Mantis, and again, you pass the bowl around, ensuring everyone gets a fair portion. Twenty minutes later, Mantis again pokes your side to get your attention. “Ack! Mantis, quit doing that!” You gasped. These unexpected attacks made it difficult to conceal your reactions. “I just wanted some more clouds. Why do you keep jumping and blushing whenever I poke you?” To prove her point, she poked you again between your ribs, this time making you squirm and bat her hand away. The Guardians had all turned to look at you both, and now you were sure your face was as red as a cherry. “Ahhh, I was just really distracted by the movie, and I… wasn’t expecting you to touch me.” “You’re not distracted now.” Mantis pointed out, again tweaking your side, this time, making you giggle. “Is someone feeling a bit ticklish, Y/N?” Oh no. You turned to look at your older brother, whose face was now smug with glee. He threw some popcorn on his mouth, crunching for dramatic effect. “No! I just -“ “I am Groot?” Peter smirked. “Well, Groot, ticklishness is a condition that effects,” Peter caught himself before he revealed he was subject to this weakness, too, “female Terrans, and it makes them -“ You shot up and placed a hand over mouth. You were NOT about to let Peter divulge your secret to the group. “Oi, Y/N, I wanna hear what Star-Squasch has to say!” “We’ll I don’t,” you growled to Rocket. Unfortunately for you, You suddenly felt two branches wrap around your arms, securing them behind you. “Groooooot!” You whined. “Oh, you are so much trouble!” Peter wiggled his eyebrows, standing up. “As I was saying before I was interrupted,” he began stalking towards you, “female Terrans have a particular weakness, where if you touch them in certain spots, they start laughing and squirming. Allow me to demonstrate.” You were frantic to free yourself, but despite your attempts, baby Groot had a surprisingly strong hold on you. “Peter, if you touch me, I swear I will - ahha!” “Yes?” Peter grinned evilly as he tasered your sides. Being your older brother, Peter had memorised all your worst spots. “PeeehtAAA!!! I’m gooonna, haha kill youuuu!” “Hmm, that’s not very nice, Y/N.” He moves to your tummy, making you fall to your knees and curl up on your side. Peter follows you down, switching between tasering your sides and spidering over your belly. “I seem to remember you keeping the popcorn from me, your loving brother. Plus, I just thought it would be nice if we show our non-Terran friends your sensitivities. Show them games the games Earth has to offer. We wouldn’t want to be rude.” He quoted back to you. “Peeheheter stahhp this isn’t funny!” “Actually Y/N, this is pretty funny,” Gamora laughed at your reactions. The way you were thrashing on the fish was far more entertaining than the movie. “This is both the funniest and stupidest thing I ever learned about Terrans! What kind of a species literally eats exploding food for fun, but can be reduced to a writhing maniac by a few touches?” “Rockehehet plehease help HAHA, HELP MEEE!” Tears had pooled in your eyes from mirth. Peter had moved his hands to your underarms. “Do you want to Rocket? Everyone can have a turn if they like.” “This is haha, this is nohoht whahahahat I meant!” The Guardians all slid to the floor to join you. Groot holding your arms securely above your head, while the others sat around your upper body. After some pointers from Peter, Gamora was wreaking havoc on your underarms, Rocket was brushing his tail all over your stomach, Drax was gently drilling into your hipbones and Mantis was just going wherever she pleased, laughing along with you. “HAHAHAHAHAHA GUYS STOHOHOP!!!!” “Alright, there’s one final place to try.” Peter moved towards your slippered feet, and as soon as you felt a hand gripping your ankle, you screamed. “PEHEHETERRRR NOT THERE, PLEAHEHESE!” “Sorry sis, I guess you should have thought about that before you kept the popcorn away from me.” Peter began scribbling all over your soles, causing your thrashing to become even more desperate, if possible. He took great care to slip between all your toes, switching between feet at random, and occasionally reaching up to get a jerk out of your patella. Finally, when your laughter became silent, Peter signalled to the others that it was time to stop. The others withdrew their hands (and branches) and Gamora helped you sit up. You gasped in lungfuls of air. “Youhou guys, hehe, are so mean!” “Guess you’d better watch yourself around here now we all know your secret.” Peter poked you once you, making you yelp once more. “Not sit down and watch the goddam greatest movie of all time!” You rolled your eyes at Peter’s 80s obsession. Yes, life with the Guardians sure would be interesting now that discovery had been made. You’d just have to make sure that the Guardians made another discovery about Peter. Because female Terrans are not the only ones with a ticklish secret.

[gingerwritess]

"Isn't it past your bedtime?" / "Isn't it time you died?" pRE-DATING IDIOTS AKHKSHDKAJSJ

uh ohhh did i completely ignore the quote you gave me and decide to focus on only the “pre-dating idiots” part ???

Y E P

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You can count all the times you’ve encountered Loki Laufeyson on one hand.

It only takes two fingers. You’re not exactly friends.

The first time ended so well, with his torso punctured by bullets and Loki frowning across your office at you pulling the trigger with your eyes squeezed shut—the second accidental encounter in the showers was no better.

After swearing off communal showers altogether and deciding to completely avoid the psychiatric floor of the tower, you expected your days running into a god with slightly greasy hair might be over.

But he’s in your office again.

Already lounging comfortably in your chair, ankles crossed up on your desk.

He sits up when you slip in the door, trying not to bring any attention to the fact that you’re exactly seventeen minutes late, and for half a second Loki looks just as surprised as you are.

Although, Loki doesn’t whip out a taser with a quick shriek of fright and jolt his body with a good 50,000 volts of pure electricity.

Nope, you’ve got that part covered.

You weren’t expecting him to actually pass out, but he crumples onto your desk before you’ve caught your breath, eyes rolling back in his head.

Twitching.

His mouth is still half open with the almost “not you agai—” he was trying to get out.

Note to self: tasing a god works much better than shooting him.

“What the hell are you doing in here??” You hiss, tossing the taser on your desk and shoving him hard in the arm.

Loki just…jiggles.

Okay, you weren’t expecting him to be that deeply unconscious.

“Loki?”

No response. You poke him a couple times with the end of a pencil—he just twitches a couple more times, body jolting with a few leftover sparks.

Oh god.

People come in here. Appointments, meetings, memos, your coworkers and supervisors come in here constantly, and now you have the highest secured prisoner in the tower unconscious on your desk.

You give him a good shove and hiss his name, only for him to flop onto the floor with a loud thud.

Oop.

Cringing and praying nobody heard that, you hurry to the door and shut it, just in case.

He’s out cold.

You tug a lock of his hair, flick him on the forehead, pinch his arm, and he still doesn’t move.

His skin is strangely cold, now that you’re actually touching him. Feels normal otherwise, though you didn’t really know what else to expect—I mean, it’s not like you’ve ever touched a god before.

But he seems pretty…human, up close.

Having his cheek squished into the hardwood floors is certainly helping, and oh—yep, okay, now he’s drooling.

This guy threatened you?

Power feels good, let’s just get that out there now. It’s a thrilling rush, a little fizz in your soul that you never want to lose, knowing that you just took down a god.

What you’ll actually do with him until he wakes up…yeah, that’s a good question.

After a pointless ten-minute struggle of trying to drag his body behind a filing cabinet, his legs still stick out a mile in plain sight, so you have to haul his limp ass back to your desk—under it seems to be the only option.

Common sense seems to be telling you to please, please just call security, but your idiot side of the brain is curious.

It’s just weird, why he keeps showing up in your way, out of all the other employees here; you just want to ask him. Just want to…try your hand at a little interrogating.

Knowing you have the power to knock him out might already be getting to your head.

Well, that, and Loki looks like an idiot.

That whole terrifying image you’d had of him, the one where his blue eyes were rimmed with red and flashing across tv screens with warnings, that image of him sneering at you in the showers, him unaffectedly covered in bullet holes, put there by you—gone.

All you can see—and will ever see—now is Loki, god of mischief, quite literally shoved under your desk.

Butt in the air, face smushed against the floor, arms flopping by his sides.

Almost an hour later, Maria Hill stops by, knocking on your door and peeking her head inside.

“Did you get the transmission from Hungary?”

“Working on it now,” you smile, tapping your computer. “Need anything?”

“Nope, just checking, keep it up.” She looks a little distracted, reaching up to press a button on her earpiece. “Oh! I should tell you, Loki’s being pretty cooperative today.

You blink.

“I-is he really?”

At that exact moment, of all the moments in the world, a cold hand wraps around your ankle and gives your leg a very telling, very rough tug.

You have to bite your tongue not to squeak.

“His therapist told us the session they just ended went better than ever,” Hill continues, over a paper on her clipboard as she does, “we upped his visits to three times a day, seems to be helping. Thought you might want to know since you’ve had a couple run-ins with him.”

“Nah,” you croak out when Loki squeezes your ankle harder, “don’t care!”

“Oh.” She shoots you a strange look. “Okay…well, still stay away from him if you can. He’s still extremely unstable.”

You nod vigorously, the possibilities of everything that could go wrong with having Loki hidden under your desk ricocheting around your mind.

Particularly the one scenario where his fingers crawl any higher up your leg.

Or the one where Maria Hill, who holds your fate at this company in her bare hands, finds Loki under your desk—and not at therapy—and you get fired to hell.

“You okay? Don’t look so good.”

“Just peachy!” You laugh, waving her away and going back to your computer despite the grip on your ankle tightening. “I’ll get this back to you as soon as I can.”

Thankfully she flashes you a smile and a nod and shuts the door behind her.

You immediately fumble for your taser as Loki shoves your rolling chair away from the desk, spilling out from under it with a groan.

“Don’t move,” you hiss, jumping to your feet and pointing the taser in his face. “Get up, sit in the chair. Quick.”

“Do you have to put me there? Couldn’t have possibly lain me out somewhere, given me a pillow?” He rubs his aching cheek with a scowl, fingers finding the trail of drool down to his jaw and quickly wiping it away.

You might’ve imagined it, but it sure did look like his cheeks reddened upon feeling it there.

He’s back to a dreadfully annoyed scowl, glaring daggers at you as you hold the taser all the way out in front of you, eyes wide and clearly, laughably terrified.

“You almost fooled me, mortal,” he chuckles, slowly raising empty palms to you as he sinks into your desk chair. “I thought you quit. But you haven’t scurried off quite yet, have you, hm?”

“I’m not going to let you ruin my future,” you snarl back, and by some miracle, your voice doesn’t shake. “A couple creepy guys aren’t going to force a decision like that on me.”

Loki nods, eyebrows twitching suspiciously as he looks at you sitting on the edge of your desk, your taser still at the ready.

“I’ll use it again.” You shake it, just for emphasis.

“I don’t doubt it.”

An uncomfortable silence settles over the little room.

He just stares at you.

Loki does a lot of staring, you’ve noticed. From the showers incident to passing in the halls, he’s always staring.

“To be fair, I thought the office was empty.”

You blink, dropped back into reality by his strange accent.

“Why the fuck would you just assume it was up for grabs??”

“Oh, she has a mouth on her,” Loki laughs, leaning forward in the chair.

“Fuck you.”

He spreads his arms with a smug little smile. “Have it your way. You were, might I just add…” he glances at his bare wrist. “Exactly seventeen minutes late. Little rebel.”

“And why do you know my schedule?”

Loki sighs, evidently bored with all this and annoyed that you decided to come into work today. Like a normal person.

“I observe, you only watch. I reckon I know every employee’s schedule on this floor, I have to find some way to entertain myself…” he sighs again, dramatic and it just makes you want to slap him across the face. “Don’t flatter yourself, darling. It’s not just you.”

“Don’t call me darling.” Eyebrow raised, you slide off the desk with a slight boost of confidence at the fact that he’s not just stalking you. “What about the showers, then? Or the first time you were in here?”

“Ah, the time you used me as your personal shooting range?”

“…yeah.”

Okay, maybe you’re starting to feel a little bit bad about shooting him.

“Strange workings of the universe,” he hums, looking a little too relaxed in your chair now. “Our paths keep crossing. Believe me, if I had it my way, I’d keep well away from the likes of you.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“You’re offended?” He actually looks surprised, cocking his head a tiny bit to the side. “Do you want me to like you?”

Your eyes widen—crap. “No, no, I just—that was a little mean. I mean, I, um, don’t want people to hate me, obviously, but, uh…we’re getting off-topic.”

Very smooth, self, very smooth.

Loki seems to be mildly amused.

“Hill said you were in therapy,” you quickly snap, frustrated at yourself for slipping. “But you’ve been under my desk for the past hour and a half. What’s that about?”

“See, if you hadn’t been so eager to electrocute me, I could’ve explained myself.”

“Well, what else was I supposed to—”

“Anyways,” he butts in, shaking his head, like you are the problem here, the little—

“I’m avoiding it, I thought that would be obvious.”

“Why avoid it?” You ask, and a tiny part of you is actually genuinely curious; “Therapy’s good for you.”

“I don’t particularly enjoy talking about my feelings.”

You gasp. “No…you??”

Halfway through your first snort of laughter and a chunk of snow hits you across the face.

“What the hell,” you sputter, swiping the wet slosh off your cheek. “It’s fucking August, Loki, why—”

“Beyond your comprehension,” he hums, clearly pleased with himself. “I already told you. I don’t like talking about my emotions.”

“That’s really unhealthy. Someday you’ll just explode and you’ll be miserable.”

He points at his chest with a small smile. “I’ll keep all my emotions right here, thank you. Then one day, I’ll just…die.”

“Great plan.”

“It seems to be doing just fine, given that they truly believe that I am in there, pouring out my darkest secrets to a stranger—”

“Who is in there then?”

You blinked—you blinked—and poof, there’s two Lokis.

Two.

Exactly the same, perfect clones of each other, both slightly spreading their arms in a silent what do you think?

You don’t know what to think.

“You drugged me,” you decide, blinking again in confusion and backing away. “Yeah, you drugged me, and I’m hallucinating.”

The two gods shake their heads. “Beyond your comprehension,” they repeat, a strange echo to their voices as they meld.

“So…” you rub your eyes, trying to figure out just what the hell is going on. “They’re talking to a clone of you?”

“A rather emotional one,” Loki laughs, waving a hand and the other clone fizzles into nothing. “I’m giving them the story they want, telling them all about my deranged pleas for attention, how my complete isolation led me to become starved for power and resort to seeking out drastic measures to obtain it…”

“That just makes you seem worse. You get that, right?”

He nods with a small shrug. “They have their ideas of who I am. Nothing at this point could change that, so I might as well speed along the process.”

“So that’s not the truth, then?”

“What?”

“You…being the villain.” None of this makes sense. I mean, it went downhill after you tased him, but then one snowball and two Loki’s later, it’s actually gotten worse. “The stereotypical villain, I mean.”

Loki pauses, gaze drifting away from you to the floor. “What makes you think that, mortal?”

“Just the way you said it,” you explain, “made me think that your clone is in there lying. I dunno, you just made it sound like a lie.”

The god laughs, a small, halfhearted chuckle that might even be able to be called nervous, and he pulls himself to his feet.

You catch him shoot a quick glance at your taser resting beside you, just in case.

“God of lies, da—”

The door swings open.

“I CAN EXPLAIN,” you nearly yell, bolting to the door and nearly running into agent Hill.

“What?” Papers fluttering to the ground around her, she gives you a look of pure bewilderment.

Then you turn around and understand why.

“Explain what, darling?”

Waitwaitwait.

That’s not Loki’s voice—oh god, you can recognise his voice now??

The man laughs and this time it’s you who’s doing the staring: that’s not Loki.

This man is blond.

Wearing a normal business suit.

Sitting on the edge of your desk.

“Forgive her,” he chuckles, pushing off your desk and coming to help pick up Hill’s paperwork, hand coming to rest on your back when he stands. “She’s a bit of a klutz, isn’t she?”

You gape.

Yes, get that dying fish look in your head, because at this point your head is as good as chopped off and stuck on ice.

“I’m sorry,” Hill slowly says to you, a smile starting to appear on her lips. “I didn’t know you had a meeting right now.”

Still staring.

“Oh, no, no,” Loki—or whoever this is—chuckles politely, “I stopped by unannounced, blame me if anyone.”

“And you are…”

“Laing.” Loki flashes a smile. You gape some more. “Doctor Robert Laing.”

Hill shakes his—Loki’s—hand. “Were you a new hire?”

“Ah, no…” Loki’s hand slips to your waist and you would scream, were it not for the inability for you to even lift your tongue. “I’m just here for her, just stopping by. I’m her, ah, well…you know. I’m her’s, she’s mine, that sort of thing.”

Wait. 

WHAT—

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

hope you enjoyed, please reblog and feel free to send me ideas!

~ masterlist link in my bio ~

loki tags: @bluediamond007 @himitoshi @drakesfiance @destiel1597 @dangertoozmanykids101 @archy3001 @jcalpha1 @yzssie @skullvieplu @forthesnakeofdragons @skulliebythesea @wegingerangelica @storiesfrommirkwood @agarwaeneth @adaliamalfoy @laurfangirl424 @paradisaicsam @fitzsimmons-is-forever @ladylokimischief @katelinwrites @tarynkauai @polaristrange @loavesofmeat @canadian-ravenpuff-multishipper @lou-makes-me-strong @holyn0vak @chocolatealmondmillk @swtnrholland @kenzieam @jessiejunebug  @catticas @the-republic-and-face-of-texas @doralupin01 @whitewitchdown @atomiccharmer @falconfeather23435 @babygirlicecream @avengrcs @vethrvolnir2 @bookgirlunicorn @wabisabigrl @myhealingstar @khaleesi-marvel @ei77777 @spacecrumbs @scarlettghost13 @rocks-are-pretty-odd @confessionsofastrugglingteen @easilydistractedwriter @arttasticgreatnessoftheawesome77 @fluffyllamaswearinghats @milktearose @lcyouinhell @h0tshotholland @dontmesswithmemundane @southsidesarcasticwriter @helnik-s @lilith-akemi @fire-in-her-veinz @unlikelysamwinchesteronahunt @mischievousbellerina @kcd15 @mellowgirl01 @lokislilcaribbeanprincess @allthingzhiddleston @scorpionchild81 @lokixme @blue-automne @galaxycharmed @devilbat @kangaroobunny @end-up-well @planetariumx @sarcsep @mrfandomtastic @amaru163 @im-way-too-many-fandoms @caswinchester2000 @kybaeza @wester-than-west @vintagesunshinebitch @adefectivedetective @poetic-nikolai @moonduhsted @kerri-masson @iamverity @innaminitus @spnbarnes @narcissxblack @woohoney @anxiousamandapanda @padmeisgay @authordreaming13 @lokisironthrone @theunknowinglys @highfuncti0ningfangirl @epicfallenismine @stubby-toe-589331 @fandomnerdsarecool @retrofantasyland @arch-venus25 @forever-trapped-in-my-dreams @littleredstarfish @marshyrebelcloud

[galacticlee3]

Mystic Messenger Tickle Headcanons!

(RFA; established relationship)

Warnings: none!

This is my first piece of writing on here so I hope you guys enjoy!

1. Yoosung⭐️

- he’s my precious baby so he goes first lol

- Yoosung is a ticklish cutie, however, he will deny it.

- Worst spots are his ribs, tummy, and all around his knees, but he’s ticklish all over

- Especially his lower ribs

- Zen tasers him there a lot when they hang out because Yoosung will shriek and it’s fun, though very embarrassing, especially in public

- His mom used to make him soup whenever he felt sick and said it was magic

- She would rub his tummy to make sure the magic absorbed into his body

- Yoosung still loves the recipe and makes it whenever he gets sick. One time he had the flu and was in fever delirium and asked MC to rub the magic in and they were very confused

- Yoosung placed their hand on his torso and asked them to rub his tummy to make him feel better, and MC has done it ever since

- also

- this boi cannot win tickle fights. he try but he die

- He loses all control of his body when tickled, and he doesn’t really fight it either

- He just leans against the ler or flops on the floor

- “Do you promise not to stay up all night playing LOLOL and study?”

- “buhut there’s aha nehew eveheNT-”

- “That’s not the right answer~!”

- “NOhoOHooO”

- He has these cute screamy giggles and they are contagious to anyone who hears them

- Doesn’t ler often but when he does he’s very gentle with his lee but teasy and playful.

- Prefers to be the lee though

2. Zen:

-kinda spoilery if you haven’t played his route

- His family wasn’t especially close with him, so he didn’t get tickled a lot when he was younger, with the exception of his brother before he ran away.

- But when he started becoming closer to MC, tickle fights broke out often with MC on the receiving end

- Zen is an actor and he will put on a show. One time MC came home to Zen “asleep” on the couch after a long day and as soon as they sat down, Zen tackled them and tickled them silly.

- Very teasy ler, he will have you blushing before he even starts to wreck you

- Big fan of the Tickle Monster

- He pulls little stunts like this to get the drop on MC and his friends but also just to put smiles on their faces.

- Although one day, the time came

- For Zen to get a taste of his own medicine

- And it was not disappointing lol

- I peg Zen to only be ticklish in a couple of places but he is extremely sensitive in these places which are his underarms, sides and tummy, and his feet

- Like, we all know Zen

- Very dramatic and just an expressive person

- So when he’s tickled he’s very loud and talkative

- Breathy giggles when you start out but when you really get him he has this booming laugh and it gets a bit wheezy

- Tries to act tough but he’s very squirmy and he breaks down pretty quick

3. Jaehee:

- Baehee

- She’s so sweet and she loves you so much

- She was a bit hesitant about skinship when you guys started dating but you both eased into it

- She loves cuddles and she likes to be the big spoon and make you feel safe and warm

- Jaehee notices that you are a bit tense while you guys are cuddling one night, and she asks if anything was up while tracing around your torso, and you tell her everything is fine, until it clicks. She just keeps doing it as you offered up no protest and continues to do it until you start to giggle and she smiles

- She thinks it’s super cute but stops as not to bother you/keep you from relaxing

- But it actually was very relaxing and you enjoyed it, so you asked her to continue and you can just feel her heart swell, she loves you so much man

- Jaehee is not super ticklish in most places but if you surprise her or get her under her arms or her back, she’ll die

- She likes being tickled, but she would rather tickle you, because it makes you happy and you’re just so darn cute when she does

- She prefers relaxing tickles and when she tickles others, its most often gentle scribbles and scratches

- But this doesn’t mean that she won’t completely wreck you because she can and will

- She has mad tickle skills bc she’s an amazing aunt and she knows how to get her niece

- Her nails are very pretty and long but they are extremely effective tickly weapons.

- She gets kind of hyper when she drinks espresso and she gets really energetic and playful, morning tickles are definitely a thing

4. Jumin:

- Okay first things first, this man is a huge freaking tickle spot okay

- He will deny it to the day he dies but it doesn’t matter bc it’s true

- Most places will get him laughing but really bad on his tummy and thighs, especially the backs of his thighs

- One of the times you were over at his house, you guys were watching a movie and Elizabeth jumped onto the couch

- She sat on your lap for a while and joined your blanket burrito party but eventually she wandered over to Jumin

- She started doing the biscuits into his thighs (ya know like the thing cats do with their paws and just like walk in place uwu) and he just started squeaking and giggling before he picked her up and resituated her

- But it was the cutest thing you had ever seen and you knew you had to see it again

- So you reached over and poked your fingers into his thigh and he yelped and you wrecked him good

- He has this really low squeaky laugh and he protests a lot and thinks it’s kind of childish but that doesn't mean that he won’t wreck MC because he loves to and does it often

A when he is a ler, he’s teasy and always talks about how cute you are and if Elizabeth is around he discusses the matter at hand with her

- “Elizabeth, you will notice that MC is quite ticklish just above their knees, if you squeeze like so-“

- “JuHUhUumIHiHIN NOOhOHo”

- “- you get adorable squeals, take note.”

- Laughs along with you when he wrecks you

- he loves to cuddle with you and sometimes it turns into playful tickle fights which you both love

5. Seven:

- hoooo boy

- this man

- let me just start out by saying he is an EVIL ler

- If he finds out you’re ticklish he will never let you live it down

- Takes any chance he gets to tickle you, he loves your laugh and how cute you are when you’re tickled

- He loves raspberries, because they make silly sounds and make you make silly sounds

- He thinks you’re so adorable and calls you pet names such as: Squirmy Wormy, Gigglepants, Tickle Bug, Kitten, and just the normal cutie pies and stuff like that

- He’s big on pet names in general and fawning over you

- He even shares his beloved HB chips, anything for you

- His hands are super sensitive because he types all the time and works with his hands, as well as his neck, waist, and knees

- One time you were giving each other manicures (he wanted to try some nail polish you brought over one time during a sleepover) and he kept messing it up and getting it all over his fingers so you just snatched his hand and did it for him

- His hands are so sensitive the applicator for the polish tickled him, but not enough for him to laugh so he just got this weird wobbly half smile

- You asked him to hold out his hands and wave them to let it dry but you accidentally hit his hand in the process and got some nail polish across his palm. You apologized and tried to wipe it off but he just broke down into soft laughter

- He likes being tickled, he’s a switch, you guys just kind of figured it out and wrecked each other ever since

- He’s just a playful person in general so there are a lot of tickle fights between you two, which Vanderwood finds kind of annoying but it’s funny to watch Seven getting absolutely destroyed™️

[oliviaischillin1204]

ssstay away from me

Pairings: Platonic Roceit

Words: 1,400

should i have written this instead of doing my history reading? only time will tell (jk kids, stay in school, and PLEASE try to have a better work ethic than i do)

Roman blinked. “Did you just-”

“Certainly not,” snarled Deceit, but Roman couldn’t help but note that the right side of his face was flushed quite pink.

Roman raised an eyebrow. “Oh, okay. ‘Cause it sounded like-”

“You misheard-”

“-When I put my hands right here-”

“Ssstay away from me!”

“-And squeezed my fingers-”

“N- no, no, don’t touch me-”

Roman’s lips quirked. “It sounded like a squeal.”

He flexed his fingers, just once, just hard enough to send a volt of tickly feelings through Deceit’s squishy sides. The side in question clamped his lips shut, his breathing noticably more forced, but he didn’t make a sound.

Roman gasped lightly, pulling the snake closer to his chest.

“Oh, now this is just delightful,” Roman cooed, feeling Deceit squirm at his teasing tone. “Looks like someone’s trying to go all silent treatment, huh?”

If looks could kill, Roman would be six feet under right now, he’s sure of it. But there was a certain look in Deceit’s eyes that Roman knew all too well- pride, and stubborness, and maybe even a little bit of anticipation at what was to come.

Roman rubbed his fingers in small circles along Deceit’s sides. “Deedee,” he said in a sing-songy voice, “until you use your words and tell me to stop...”

He leaned even closer, his warm breath on Deceit’s ear sending shivers down his spine, “I’m gonna tickle you.”

He paused, giving the side in question more than enough time to say no or pull away, anything to indicate he didn’t want to do this. Instead he growled, resolutely steeling his gaze as he glared at the floor.

Roman smirked. Oh, this was gonna be fun.

“Suit yourself.” He removed his hands from Deceit’s side, instead holding them out in front of the snake so he could watch as they hovered in the air, fingers wiggling menancingly.

“Where should we start...” Roman murmured, focusing on Deceit’s reactions as he moved his hands from one spot to another. The side in question was now barely fighting off a smile, biting his bottom lip whenever Roman’s hands came too close to making contact with his torso.

Suddenly Roman struck, his hands diving in to attack Deceit’s tummy. The side in question jerked forward, nearly throwing himself onto the floor as he tried to curl in to protect that spot. It didn’t seem to work, though- in fact, Roman was willing to bet that doubling over on himself was making the fingers clawing at his tummy folds tickle even more.

Deceit seemed to realize this at the same time, and began doing a back-and-forth motion in which he apparently couldn’t decide if it was worse to curl in and heighten the tickles, or curl out and give Roman more room to attack.

“You know what, Deceit,” Roman said chipperly, “You insisted that there was no possible way you were ticklish, but judging from how hard you’re trying to hide your pretty smile I’ll assume that was one of your classic lies, hm?”

The lying side tried to open his mouth for a witty retort, but all that came out was a gasping squeak. He slammed his mouth shut again, but it was too late.

“And what was that?” Roman asked gleefully. “Was that a little giggle trying to come out? Deedee, are you a little gigglebug?” He moved his hands away from Deceit’s tummy to return to his sides, tasering them and sending vibrations through Dee’s body that he strained to get away from.

“Aw, come on Deedee. You know you’ll feel better if you just let it out,” Roman cooed. “I’m not gonna stop until I’m positive I’ve tickled every single giggle out of you.”

He leaned forward to plant tickly kisses on Deceit’s neck, punctuating each word as he emphasized, “Every. Single. Giggle.”

Deceit went slightly frantic, throwing his head back and forth to try to escape. When Roman blew a raspberry on that tender spot where his shoulder met his neck, he jerked over so quickly that he actually made his way off of Roman’s lap, landing on the couch cushions beside him. In an instant Roman was scrambling to straddle Deceit. The two scuffled for a few moments- even without his words, Deceit refused to go down without a fight. But he raised his arms to push Roman away, and the creative side saw his chance.

He jabbed his fingers underneath Deceit’s arms, catching him completely by surprise. He reared back, bring his arms down to his sides instinctively, but the ticklish feeling only worsened, especially when Roman started scratching his fingernails lightly against the hollows of his pits. Deceit writhed below him, the human half of his face now a bright red as he grunted and huffed with the effort to not laugh.

Roman pulled away, leering down at the breathless, nearly-teary side below him. He didn’t try to pin his hands- he could tell Deceit was too weak to fight back. All he could focus on was that wobbly smile. He grinned predatorily.

“Are you trying to escape?” He asked in mock anger. “Oh, no, no, no. Only good little gigglebugs get to escape. But bad little gigglebugs? The ones who for some reason refuse to let the tickle monster hear their wonderful laughter?”

Deceit was practucally trembling at his words, fear and excitement fighting for dominance on his face. Roman leaned in so close their noses were almost touching.

“Bad little gigglebugs get tickled until they scream.”

With that, he pressed his thumbs into the dips of Deceit’s hipbones.

Oh, Deceit screamed. He shrieked, actually, straining fruitlessly to get away from Roman’s torturous hands. And when he stopped shrieking, all that was left were his giggles.

His head thrown back, his eyes screwed tightly shut, Deceit laughed and laughed and laughed. It was kinda shocking to see him so carefree. He wasn’t even trying to get away anymore; he just laid there, limp and defeated, letting his peals of laughter pour out of him, unrestricted.

Roman smiled at the sight, switching from drilling around the bone to scratching and spidering his nails along Deceit’s pantline. Now that he won, it was time to gloat.

“There you are, Mr. Giggles,” he teased, having to raise his voice to be heard over Deceit’s laughter. “My good friend Deedee told me you weren’t coming to visit us today. Wasn’t that just so silly of him? The tickle monster always gets what he wants, Deedee, didn’t you know that? Oh, did big, bad Deceit let all of his giggles out? Yeah? Did he? What a good little gigglebug you turned out to be, Deedee.”

As he spoke, he gradually slowed his fingers, until he was merely tracing his fingertips over Deceit’s skin. The lying side did not completely stop laughing, but his breathing evened out, only squirming slightly when Roman’s fingers passed a particularly bad spot.

“Rohoman,” he said through his giggles, his usually smooth voice now hoarse. “I’m d-done. I’m done.” He lightly batted Roman’s hands away from his hips. “Ssstop.”

Roman complied without hesistation, moving off of Deceit’s legs to get him a drink of water. When he returned, Deceit was sitting upright, attempting to straighten his collar and fix his disheveled appearance. Something about the fussiness of the scene made Roman laugh, alerting the other side to his presence.

His eyes narrowed. “Are you laughing at me?” He asked bluntly, long past his ability to phrase things nicely.

Roman shook his head as he handed Deceit the glass of water. “Just laughing.” His eyes narrowed teasingly. “Isn’t it nice to laugh?”

Deceit scoffed into his drink. “You’re incorrigible.”

“I don’t know the meaning of the word,” Roman replied, throwing himself onto the couch next to Deceit.

“So, did you have fun?”

“I...” Deceit paused, considering. “It was very torturous,” he replied, giving a strategic non-answer to Roman’s question.

Rman tsked. “Hey, no lying.” He gave an unexpected poke to Deceit’s side, resulting in a squeal to escape his lips.

Roman raised his eyebrows. “Oh yeah, I almost forgot. You definitely did squeal earlier.”

Roman was sitting on Deceit’s right side, so he was lucky enough to watch his complexion flush pink yet again. “Shut up.”

Roman laughed, unbothered, and eventually Deceit joined in. All in all, it wasn’t the silliest way the two could’ve spent the afternoon. But it came pretty close.

[afarcryfromgotham]

A Far Cry From Gotham

Jason’s story if he didn't go back to Gotham after leaving the League

He gulps down air, sitting on his knees, face staring up to the sky. White and auburn hair plastered to his forehead. Birds circle overhead occasionally blotting out the unforgiving sun. Eyes open as a shadow falls over him. He meets the steeled grey eyes of the older woman, biting his tongue as he learned to do a lifetime ago.

“Well done Jason.” the skin wrinkles around her eyes as she shows her gratitude, “Not only did you survive the trials, but you survived the cleansing. I have nothing else I can teach you.” 

Jason raises an eyebrow, huffing a laugh as she hits him on the head before poking him in the chest, “Control your Rage, little one.”. She cups his face with a calloused hand, “One day your heart will shine brighter than that dark fury inside you, when that day comes it will be glorious.” she smiles at him “tonight you rest; tomorrow you will continue on your quest for knowledge.” she turns walking away, her robes drag over the stone floor as she hobbles away

Jason rises to his feet, stumbling on limbs that feel like jelly “I thought you said-”

“I know what I said, man child.” she glares back at him “you have learned all the all caste can teach you. I know you will not stay here, you are not one who enjoys clipped wings. You will leave tomorrow to find your father for a study in Tranquility.”

Jason scoffs as he follows after her into the mountain face 

The next day sees Jason on a jet funded by the League of Assassins, flying halfway around the world, and air dropping into the wilderness of California.

The next month is spent tracking trails that barely exist, of searching abandoned safe houses and truckstops, all signs are directing him to Hope County, Montana. A name, Richard Dragon, and a reputation, as one of the best Martial Artists in the world, is all he has as he hitchhikes into the southwest corner of Montana.

Jason squints against the sun as the truck rumbles to a stop. He swings down off the bed waving his thanks to the driver. 

He looks up at the Water Tower looming above the town, Falls End, it reads across the side. He raises a hand to block out the sun as he looks around, a pristine white church is to his right, a broken-down bus blocks half the road ahead of him, the town lays beyond it. Light glints off the broken windows of the bus.

“You look lost.” a calm voice comes from the direction of the church. An older African American man is leaning on the fence work around the church, in one hand he loosely holds a bible, the golden cross glinting light back at him “It's okay to be lost, the Lord leads us places all the time, often without us knowing where we’re going.”

“I'm looking for someone,” Jason says, shifting his backpack up onto his shoulders, more than ready to book it up the rock face to his back.

The pastor, signaled by the white-collar, and white leather-bound bible, hums in response, his eyes roaming over Jason. His body language is curious but relaxed, unafraid of him. He's open and patient and Jason doesn't trust it. “Perhaps I can help, do you have a name?”

“Mine or who I'm looking for?” Jason responds shifting in the shadow of the bus so he can see the man across the road better.

“Either. I'm Pastor Jerom Jefferies, this is my church.” he waves to the building behind him as an introduction. 

Ok well now he has to introduce himself, Jason Grumbles “I'm Jason, looking for Richard Dragon.” he sees the man stand up a little more at that, a little more guarded, a little more cautious. So he knows Richard Dragon, or at least the reputation of the man.

“You a student of his?” Jerome asks he friendly tone still his voice

“I'm his son.” Jason finds joy in how startled the other man seems by the declaration “come on in, I’ll give him a call to come down.”

Jason follows under the arch and into the church. The pews are simple and wooden, a few knitted blankets sit on them. The sunlight filters through stained glass windows painting the floor and pews a rainbow of colors. He drops into a pew where he can see the front door and the door in the back and takes a deep breath practicing the meditation Ducra had been into him. He listens to the pastors' voice in the office space not actually paying attention to what's being said. 

“His shift at the lumber yard ends in a few hours,” Jerome says and sits on the opposite side of the pew, “would you like something to eat?”

Jason looks around studying every crack in the wall, and the building in general before shrugging 

Jerome stands to motion for Jason to follow. He shoulders his bag and follows him. 

Jerome asks him questions that Jason barely answers saying he's from Gotham and well-traveled.

Jason looks up at the bar, the neon sign is out but it still shows a woman on the sign with the words SPREAD EAGLE.

The door opens and a girl a few years older then Jason is working the register, two older men are cooking and running food.

Two other patrons, one is carrying a flame thrower the other has a taser. Jason looks around, a set of stairs to his left windows along the back, he can hear a door in the back, it smells pretty good though.

“Jerome” one of the guys greets “whos your new friend.”

“Apparently, he's Dragons son.” Jerome greets

Everyone is looking at him now in surprise, Jason shifts his weight slightly “Jason, sir” he nods hello keeping his hands hooked into the backpack straps

“I can see it, Mary why don't you go help your mother upstairs.”

“But,” the girl pouts 

“Go.” he says his eyes never leaving Jason

Jason stares back, he can see the man is worried and curious. He wants to protect his family. He's got a pistol on his hip tucked under the apron, and a knife on his belt, that Jason doubts he's good enough to use.

“Gary Fairgrave, nice to meet you son.” he cleans the glass he has in hand looking to Jerome

“A table for three, Richard’ll join us when he gets off.” Jerome says

They're seated at a four-person table away from the other patrons. Jason doesn't trust any of it, but he appreciates being sat by a window

“So where’d you serve?” Gary asks as he hands them menus

Jason blinks “I don't understand.”

“Son, you picked out my peacemaker almost as soon as you walked in the door, where’d you serve?” he asks

“I didn't, I grew up on the streets in Gotham,” he responds glancing the room over again

Gary whistles “been there once, back when the Waynes were alive, it was a shit hole then, can't imagine what it's like now.” 

“Hell would be kinder,” Jason responds before looking at the menu

Two glasses of water are set down before Jason decide to just order what the Pastor orders

Jason meets Jerome's eyes and the Pastor is studying him, in return, he sees the Pastor is curious but not concerned by Jasons appearance. He's relaxed even, confident that Jason won't do anything. He's right but he doesn't know that. He bleeds a patience that so sickeningly familiar to his past life it makes Jason want to punch him, the face of an older English butler flashes across his memories. Jason breaks eye contact to look around again, counting anything that could be a weapon “so what's it like here?”

“Falls End is fairly quiet, we’re the only constructed town here, good people, reliable people. What about you?”

“Not much a good people, but I'm reliable,” Jason says with a shrug taking a sip of water before crunching down on an ice cube.

“What makes you say that?” Jerome asks

“Everyone from Gotham is a sinner of some sort, pastor,” he shrugs looking anywhere but at the man in front of him mostly out the window at the slow traffic “you do what you have to to survive.”

‘You've killed.” Jerome concludes Jason nods not supplying that he was an assassin or killed other assassins.

Burgers and fries are set in front of them, they pick at the food, Jason answering his questions.

Jason's eyes go to the door, as the man who walked past the window walks in. The older man is dressed in sawdust-covered jeans, and a sweat-stained shirt, his hair is red with streaks of grey through it, similar to Jason's dark auburn with the white stripe. He smiles talking lowly to Gary at the register before turning and walking towards them. He doesn't carry a weapon, but he doesn't need one. He reminds Jason of a tiger, all lean muscle, coiled and ready to pounce.

Jason meets his eyes, the crystal blue, like what he had before, widen slightly. He wonders what the man sees as Jason stands.

“You look so much like your mother.” is what the man says silencing the bar beside the radio. Everyone's attention is on them again

“I think I look like you.” he responds offering his hand “Jason”

“Richard, but you knew that.” he sits beside Jerome, a beer and an order of fries appear on the table soon after

Jason meets his eyes and is surprised when he can't get a read on the man, beyond the surface level. His hands are scarred from fighting and work, he's content because he has nothing to fear.

“If I’d known about you, you would have been living with me and not him.” the venom in the Russians' voice is surprising. His hand clenches around the bottle. A silent agreement of the two to not speak of the other life before till in private

Jason hums “who was she?”

“Her name is Sandra WOo-San, one of my biggest rivals in the Martial Arts scenes, she had you, then not too long after she slept with that Cain fella, and had your half-sister. I don't know what her name is or where she is, just that Cain raised her to be a fighter.” he polished off his beer and fries as he talked. The man looks at Jason 

“Come on i'll take you back to the house, and we can talk more there.” Richard hums standing tossing down a couple of bills “thanks, Jerome.”

“Of course Richard, call if you need anything. That goes for both of you.” he nods to Jason.

Jason climbs into the passenger seat of an old ford escalade that has seen better days. 

Dragon just sits there for a second “I am really sorry, I wish I knew about you before your passing. Sandra, you’d know her better as Shiva, only told me about you after you were dead in the ground.“ he shifts the truck into reverse and backs out onto the road, before pulling onto the road 

Jason looks out the window as he rides, unable to look at the older man whose regret is nearly palatable. “I was only dead for five months. no one knows what brought me back. I only got my mind back after Talia dropped me in the pit.”

He hears the shocked inhale “where. Where have you been this whole time?”

“Talia found me wandering Gotham as a Zombie. She took me back to Nana Parbat. We guessed at first at how long I'd been back. I was mindless for over a year, she said. Left her son with me. Damian is his name. He brought me out of pit madness after I was put under. I spent a year and a half on her Leviathan guard before Ras started to take notice of me. She sent me around the world to various teachers before I spent the last year training with the All Caste.” 

Jason looks over when the man doesn't say anything, there's pride radiating off him, “sounds like you've learned a lot. Why did you come here, Jerome said you asked for me by name.”

“Ducra sent me here said I need to learn tranquility” he responded 

“And Talia?” Dragon asks slowing to turn 

“She knows I'm looking for you, I haven't told her anything,” he responds 

Dragon nods “good, it'll stay that way, I have no need for the Demons to come for me.”

“Does anyone?” Jason asks and Dragon huffs a laugh

“Absolutely not. “ a small ranch house comes into view surrounded by cars and trucks in various states of disrepair. Jason climbs out looking around his eyes going to the muscle cars 

He hears Dragon grunt, turning to face the man, he's pulling metal and scrap work out of the bed of the truck. Jason moves to help but is waved off. 

“Go inside, the guest room is straight back past the kitchen across from the backdoor” Jason nods and after a moment heads inside. It's a standard hunters cabin on the interior, several sets of various deer and Moose antlers line the wall up the stairs. The kitchen counters are covered in fresh produce and cleaned dishes. He continues past into the narrow hall, the guest room as a bed, a dresser, and a safe in the closet.

Jason sits on the bed listening to the springs squeak and the birds outside. He fishes the burner phone out of his backpack looking at Talias number

“Help yourself to the kitchen kid, I'll be out in the barn if you need anything.” Dragons say after knocking on the door frame

Jason turns the phone off and stands “anything I can help with?”

Dragon smiles and waves for him to follow. Jason tosses the phone on to the bed without a second look. NEXT

[ask-rwby-multishipper]

RWBY TorD Arm Wrestling Tournament - First Round

First Round Matchups: Blake v Coco, Nora v Ciel, Ruby v Ilia, Yang v Penny, Emerald v Neon, Weiss v Pyrrha, Velvet v Cinder

Weiss: Ugh. Arm wrestling? How barbaric.

Yang: Says the girl with toothpick arms.

Weiss: I have very toned and healthy arms!

Ruby: Yeah Yang, shush!

Blake: I’m with Weiss on this one, this seems to really favor those of us who have significantly more upper body strength.

Weiss: And we have to take off our underwear when we lose?! That’s even more unfair!

Yang: Shoulda lifted more.

Weiss: I have no need to “lift.” I am a person of finesse and grace.

Ruby: No offense, Weiss, but I don’t think you’re going to finesse your way out of this.

Weiss: Why?

Ruby: You’re up against Pyrrha first.

Weiss: P-Pyrrha?

Pyrrha, waving: Hello again!

Yang: Yep. She definitely lifts.

Weiss, letting her head fall forward, sighing: I guess my fate is sealed, isn’t it.

Ruby, putting a hand on her shoulder: Weiss....sometimes....you just gotta lift.

Weiss, smacking her hand away: Stop saying lift!

Weiss v Pyrrha

Weiss: How does one....arm wrestle?

Pyrrha, chuckling: It’s rather simple. I would arm wrestle with classmates all the time back in combat school. Well, until the school made me stop after I accidentally broke someone’s wrist. I still feel bad about that....

Weiss: Not helping....

Pyrrha, smiling: Sorry. Really all you do is lock hands, elbow on the table, and try to push your opponent’s arm so far that the back of their hand hits the table. You can’t lean to the side or put any of your body weight into it, just arm strength.

Weiss: Okay.

Pyrrha: Are you ready?

Weiss: Can I just forfeit?

Pyrrha: Forfeit?

Weiss: Yeah. I have no chance at beating your strength, so why even bother?

Pyrrha: Weiss...I’m—

Weiss: No no, I have accepted this, I am fine with taking off my underwear, it’s all fine. This is my life now and there’s nothing I can do about it.

Pyrrha: That’s a tad dramatic...

Weiss: I concede victory to you. *bows*

Pyrrha: Well....hurray?

Yang, whispering to Ruby: Quite a rousing start to the action.

Weiss, sighing: Okay. *reaches beneath her skirt* No one stare! *takes off her light blue panties and hands them to Pyrrha* Your trophy?

Pyrrha, chuckling nervously: Maybe don’t call it that.

Nora: Woo, go Pyrrha!

Pyrrha, smiling: I didn’t do anything.

Weiss, pushing the front of her skirt down a bit: Can I, like, go sit down now?

Pyrrha: Of course. And I’m sorry you felt you had to do that. *steps over to her and kisses her cheek* You are very gracious.

Weiss, blushing: Ohh.... *smiles* Thank you.

Advancing to the Quarterfinals: Pyrrha

~~~

Blake v Coco

Blake: Adel.

Coco: Belladonna.

Blake, extending a hand: Shall we?

Coco, locking hands: Oh, we shall.

Nora: Any bets, anyone?

Ruby: My money’s on Blake, they can swing Yang around with their ribbon when they do their Bumblebee team attack! That takes some strength.

Velvet: But Coco carries a massive Gatling gun with her everywhere. That thing is heavy.

Blake: And....GO!

Coco and Blake begin to strain against each other’s arms, but it quickly turns in Blake’s favor, until pinning Coco’s arm.

Nora: Blake wins!

Blake, sighing and putting their hands on their hips: Don’t sleep on these guns. *shrugs*

Coco, shaking her hand out: Not bad....so I guess this means I give you my underwear?

Blake: I’m afraid so. What, are they super-expensive designer panties?

Coco: How’d you know?

Blake: Wait, they are?

Coco: Why are you surprised? *undoes her belt and pushes off her pants* Did you think under this meticulously assembled outfit I would just wear generic underwear? Please. *pushes down her black panties, all while discretely pulling her shirttail in front of herself* Here.

Blake, taking Coco’s panties and studying them: These are designer. Is this....gold stitiching in the waistband??

Coco, sitting down while keeping her shirt pulled forward: Gold and copper, actually.

Blake, sighing: Wow. Okay then.

Velvet, reaching over and poking Coco’s butt: Boop!

Coco, flinching: Hey!

Velvet: Heheh ^~^

Advancing to the quarterfinals: Blake

~~~

Nora v Ciel

Ciel: Nope.

Nora: What?

Ciel: I have no chance.

Nora: Oh, c’mon, you have to at least try!

Ciel: I once saw you open an aluminum can with your bare hands because you couldn’t find a can opener. I do not want to be your next can of pears.

Nora: Hey, I would go easy on you.

Ciel: Would you?

Nora: No....

Ciel: Then I concede.

Nora: WOO I WIN! Gimme your underwear.

Ciel, blushing and sighing: Oh right, that. *reaches beneath her skirt and takes off her white panties, handing them to Nora* There.

Nora: Well that was easy.

Advancing to the quarterfinals: Nora

~~~

Ruby v Ilia

Yang: I wonder who’s gonna win this one—the girl who carries around a massive metal scythe, or the girl who carries around a glorified taser.

Ilia: I’m about to taser you, Yang. Besides, I think I’ve got a shot!

Weiss: Really?

Ilia: Shut up, toothpick arms.

Weiss: Again, my arms are—!

Ruby: Let’s just have a good, fair arm wrestling match! *offers her hand to Ilia* Ready?

Ilia, taking her hand: Heh, only if you’re ready to lose.

Ruby: Ready, and....GO!

BAM!

Ilia: Ow!

Ruby: Oh.

Nora: Ruby wins!

Ruby: That was....

Ilia, on the ground, turning blue: I have been humiliated....

Ruby: I, uh....I didn’t mean to....beat you so quickly.

Ilia, sniffling: It’s fine, I deserved it. You were right, Yang, it is a glorified taser.

Yang: Well now I feel bad....

Weiss: Oh, get up you drama queen. You lost fair and square, and besides, your arm strength doesn’t even matter. You’re a perfectly capable fighter without such physical strength.

Ilia: Aww, thanks Weiss, you’re so sweet.

Weiss, stuttering: I, uhh....

Ilia, getting back to her feet: I guess I, uhm.... *pushes down her pants* I guess since you won...?

Ruby, blushing: Okay, awkward....

Ilia: Yeah, speak for yourself.... *sighs, then lowers her underwear and tosses them to Ruby* There! *quickly sits down, draping her pants across her lap to cover herself*

Ruby, catching Ilia’s gray trunks: Uhh....yay?

Advancing to the quarterfinals: Ruby

~~~

Yang v Penny

Yang, hands in the air: Okay, first off....robot girl.

Penny: Yes.

Yang: Versus....my robot arm.

Penny: It seems so. Are you concerned about fairness?

Yang: It’s not that, it’s just—

Penny: Because I can adjust my strength settings so I—

Yang: No no no! Gimme all you got!

Penny: You are certain?

Yang: Certain.

Penny: Well, okay then. *offers her hand*

Yang, taking her hand: Let’s do this!

Penny: Commencing in 3....2....1....begin!

They both begin to strain against each other.

Yang: Damn....you’re....sturdy....

Penny: Speak for yourself, Friend Yang.

Yang: You know....both my arm and you...are Atlas manufactured....so isn’t this just an even matchup?

Penny: I feared as such.

*crank*

*CRASH*

Yang, blinking: Wha....

Penny: It appears my wrist joints were not properly fastened.

Nora: AHHHHHHH!

Yang, with Penny’s detached hand in her own: Uhhh.... *places Penny’s hand on the table* Pinned?

Ruby: Penny, what the heck?!

Penny: I have a maintainance appointment tomorrow, don’t worry!

Yang: I win, right?

Blake: Considering you ripped her hand off, yeah, I’d say so.

Yang: Then don’t I get your....do robots wear underwear?

Penny, chuckling: Oh, silly. Of course I wear underwear.

Yang: Should that be obvious?

Penny: I suppose not.

Nora: Okay, hold up. I have been wondering about this forever. Penny, forgive me for such a weird question, but how....anatomically correct are you?

Penny: Hm? Oh, in terms of genitalia?

Ruby: That word sounds so wrong coming out of your mouth.

Nora: Yeah, like....yeah.

Penny, laughing: Friend Nora, Why would I be designed in such a way? I’m an android, I have no use for such things.

Nora: Okay, good point.

Yang: And yet you wear underwear?

Penny: It makes me feel cute.

Yang: Okay, valid.

Penny, tugging down her light green underwear from beneath her skirt, then handing it to Yang: There. Congratulations.

Yang: Thanks. And here, lemme hand this over.

Penny, taking her hand back: Yes, thank you.

Advancing to the quarterfinals: Yang

~~~

Emerald v Neon

Neon: Yeah I’m about to lose.

Emerald: Really? I’m pretty sure you’re going to beat me.

Neon: I’m pretty sure I’m not known for upper body strength.

Emerald: Well neither am I.

Yang: Girls, I think the point of the is to prove who’s more strong.

Neon: Yeah, but....c’mon, look at me. I have trouble opening ketchup bottles.

Emerald: Same!

Yang: Just go for it! One of you has to win!

Emerald, sighing: Alright, I guess. Let’s go for it.

Neon: I’m warning you, if by some miracle I do win, I will be so extra with my celebration.

Emerald: Sure, go off. *they lock hands* Ready?

Neon: Set....

Emerald: Go!

They both begin pushing against each other, grumbling and growling, but their hands won’t budge.

Yang: Woah, you two are pretty evenly matched.

Emerald: This....is so hard.....

Neon: Ehhhhhh...!

Emerald: EHHHHHH!

Neon: Nonononono!

Emerald forces Neon’s hand back far enough for it to touch the table.

Yang: Nice one, Em!

Emerald: I won?!

Neon: NOOOOO!

Emerald: Holy shit I won!

Ruby: Go Emmy!

Emerald: YESYESYESYESYESYES!

Neon, cartoonishly crying: And I had so many dreams....dreams of victory, fame, fortune....

Emerald: Shut up and give me your underwear.

Neon: Wow. No one’s said that to me in weeks.

Emerald: Wait....who’s said that to you before?

Neon: Not important. And fine, I guess since you won and all... *sigh* Fine. *pushes down her shorts from beneath her skirt* Bet you think you’re pretty lucky getting your hands on these, huh?

Emerald, blushing: I mean, “lucky” probably isn’t the word for it.

Neon, quickly pulling her pink underwear off before covering herself with her skirt: Here. *tosses the garment to Emerald* Enjoy your prize.

Emerald: I don’t know what that means but okay.

Advancing to the quarterfinals: Emerald

~~~

Velvet v Cinder

Velvet: Uhm...you aren’t going to use your robot arm, right? That wouldn’t be fair.

Cinder: I’ll use my real arm, don’t worry. I’m still going to beat you, though.

Velvet: We’ll see. *offers her hand* Let’s go.

Cinder, taking her hand: Yes, let’s.

Velvet: Ready....and....go!

Cinder takes an immediate advantage

Velvet: Oh no....

Cinder, successfully pinning Velvet’s arm: Haha!

Velvet, pouting: *whines*

Cinder: Hey, I won fair and square. No sad bunny eyes.

Velvet: *whines some more*

Cinder, frowning: Goddamnit....

Velvet, giggling: I’m just joking with you. *sighs* And I guess I have to give you something.

Cinder, blushing: Oh yeah, that.

Velvet, taking off her shorts: But seeing as how I’ve already had to do a dare that involved much worse than this, this is nothing. *takes off her brown and black striped panties and hands them to Cinder* Congrats.

Cinder, even more blushing: Yeah, thanks....

And thus ends the First Round! Here’s the updated bracket!

The Quarterfinals will commence soon with these matchups:

Neo v Blake,

Nora v Ruby,

Yang v Emerald, and

Pyrrha v Cinder!

[you-guys--are-losers]

Your version of the upside down Spidey kiss? :)

//Ooh, yes! I know that I have gotten multiple requests for this prompt, so excited to finally write it! 

By the way, if anyone knows who originally created the art below, please let me know! I can’t seem to find who it is and I want to give credit. ;) 

A Bit Tangled Up

Summary: When the opportunity presents itself, MJ decides to try her hand at the classic “Spider-Man” kiss. 

Warnings: Language, Second-Hand Embarrassment ;) 

Word Count: 3,281

Characters: Michelle Jones x Peter Parker

“Did you know that there’s a species of ant named after Manhattan?” 

MJ’s question reaches Peter’s ear through his headset, and he can practically picture her face as she says it. She’s probably leaning back in her worn desk chair, peering at the laptop that rests on top of her crossed legs. That’s the position he most often finds her in, after all, when he returns to her quiet room in Queens after a night of patrolling. It’s peaceful, really, to know what to expect when he comes back, and the reminder is sort of nice. 

At least, it would be if he weren’t trying to fight off three different amateur thieves at once. 

“Couldn’t have picked a better time, MJ,” Peter responds, his voice slightly flustered as he dodges one poorly-aimed shot, then another.

The man holding the gun appears confused, and his brow furrows beneath the stupid ski-mask he is wearing. “What did you say, asshole?” the man snaps. Though Peter can tell he’s trying to sound gruff, there is an uncertain undertone in his voice. 

Peter glances up to focus on him, pausing in his task of selecting a web from Karen. “I wasn’t talking to you. It’s rude to listen in on other peoples’ conversations, man.” With that, Peter sends a taser web his way, and the man’s body spasms before he drops to the ground. 

“They found it in Manhattan, and they realized that they hadn’t seen the species before.” MJ’s nonchalant voice enters his ear again, causing a mixed wave of amusement and exasperation to wash over Peter. “Guess what they named it?” 

“Um…” Peter’s mind scrambles to try to figure it out as he continues in his task. 

One of the other men makes a grab for the fallen gun, which Peter easily webs into his own hand. “Hey, man, really? Taking someone else’s toys isn’t cool.” Peter takes the opportunity to web the man to the ground.

MJ’s voice resumes in Peter’s headset. “Don’t want to alarm you or anything, but there’s a stacked guy like three times your height with a meat cleaver on your left.” 

Now, it’s Karen who is speaking in Peter’s ear. “Activate Trochanter Protocol?” 

“Go for it. Thanks, Karen,” Peter pants. As he turns, four sets of massive, iron legs erupt from the suit, smacking away the attacker with so much force that the man is flung across the alleyway. “The Big Ant-ple?”

“Come on, Bug Boy, I’m disappointed in you.” 

“It’s not exactly the best time,” Peter points out as he turns to face his fallen foe. 

“How do you expect to handle decathlon if you can’t perform under pressure?” He can hear a hint of amusement in her voice now, and Peter grins as the guy pulls out a knife and charges him. 

“I think I’ll manage,” he responds, raising an eyebrow. Peter raises the legs threateningly, but he makes no move to charge the thug. Instead, he allows his attacker to come to him. When the man is inches away, Peter reacts with lightning-fast reflexes. He grabs the knife between two fingers, using his super-strength to stop the blade in its tracks. 

Peter watches as the man, who is still holding the blade, blanches behind the ski mask. “Hey, man, have you ever stuck a fork in an outlet?” Peter questions. 

The thug’s eyes widen, but that’s all the warning Karen needs. An electrical charge leaves the fingertips of Peter’s suit, traveling through the blade and then to Peter’s attacker, flowing through his body. Peter allows the charge to flow through his body for a few seconds before letting go. The man falls to the ground, and the blade clatters to the pavement. 

 “I haven’t, no, but I did make a sculpture involving a fork and a toaster to illustrate the delicate balance between genius and insanity. Does that count?” Peter might be imagining it, but he could swear that MJ’s voice is slightly more relaxed now that he is out of danger. 

“I mean, your brain isn’t fried,” Peter reasons, “so I don’t think so. But I appreciate the effort.” 

Now that the three are down, there isn’t such a dire need for speed. However, Peter does want to be out of here before the authorities arrive, so he is swift in webbing the cleaver and the gun to the wall. 

Once he has finished, Peter leaps into the air, attaching his web to the antenna on top of one of the buildings nearby. Once he has shot up into the air, it is easy swinging, and Peter begins to take the familiar route to MJ’s room. 

“ManhattAnt.” 

Peter furrows his brow against the cold as he swings into the quiet of MJ’s street. “What did you just say?” 

“ManhattAnt. What they named the species of ant.” 

A snort escapes Peter as he spots her apartment building. “You’re kidding,” he responds as he lands on the roof of the shorter building next to hers. The gravel shifts slightly beneath his feet, but he stays completely steady as he spots her window, which is eye level with him. Peter shoots a thin stream of web towards her window, nowhere near strong enough to carry him. It is just enough for a little “thunk” to be heard. 

There is a rustling of lavender curtains, and a moment later, the window opens. MJ slides the glass pane all the way up, raising an eyebrow. Peter can’t keep his heart from skipping a beat when he sees her. Her messy curls are pulled up into a loose bun, and she’s wearing those glasses with the thick black rims that Peter secretly loves. 

“Do you really think I would joke about something this serious, Parker?” MJ prods, raising an eyebrow. “Come on in. I’ve got your glass of bug spray waiting for you.” 

MJ moves away from the window, making it easy for Peter to make the quick leap onto her building and to slide in through the window. From there, Peter drops onto her floor and slides the window shut before turning to face her room. 

As much as Peter loves coming back to his house, he thinks that MJ’s might be his favorite place to be after patrol. The soft, comforting gray of her walls paired with her gentle salt lamps and the abundance of activist posters, sweet-smelling teas, and comfortable places to sit make her room the perfect contrast to the overstimulating city he spends his nights defending. 

It’s not often that he comes here. Normally, she joins Ned in Peter’s room, but Ned had to go on a family trip tonight, so here they are. Peter is perfectly alright with that… In fact, maybe a little bit too alright. He’s been trying to keep the thought out of his mind, but lately, when he’s found out he’s going to be spending time alone with MJ, Peter hasn’t felt the least upset. 

In fact, Peter might look forward to spending alone time with his other best friend a little bit too much. 

MJ has seated herself in her spinning chair again, though her laptop rests on her bed now as she turns to face him. The chair is still spinning slightly, and one of her legs, clad in Ravenclaw sweatpants, dangles loose. Peter can see a pair of fuzzy socks poking out from under the pants, and for some reason, a twinge of fondness enters him. 

“It’s lavender tonight,” she hums, gesturing to a mug perched on the edge of her desk beside a plate of pumpkin bread. She’s holding a mug of what Peter can tell is the same tea. 

The warm ceramic feels good in Peter’s hand, even through the suit. Peter lifts up the bottom of his mask in order to sip it, and he lets out a hum as the warm liquid washes down his parched throat. “Is anyone home?” he asks, curious about how soon he has to leave. 

“Not tonight,” MJ replies. “Mom took Sonny to see a movie for his birthday, so- did you just drink that whole thing?” 

Peter’s mechanical white eyes widen over the now-empty mug, and he offers a sheepish shrug as he sets down the burgundy mug. “It was good,” he defends. “Sweet.” 

“That’s because I put a shit-ton of honey in it, loser,” she retorts as he moves on to the pumpkin bread, scarfing it down nearly as fast. “You know, that’s only supposed to work on flies. Not spiders.” 

“Sugar is sugar,” Peter replies through the last bit of pumpkin bread, setting down the plate. 

“And you take your tea like juice,” MJ responds, settling back in her seat. She takes another sit before adding, “I think you finished that in under a minute.” 

“Thanks, MJ,” Peter responds, pulling his mask back down. “Seriously. I know you don’t have to do any of this.” 

“Please, Parker. I’d much rather sit on the headset than actually do my homework. We both know that I live to watch Flash’s face when I finish it in ten minutes.” 

“You know, one of these days he’s going to figure out that you just memorize the answers that you write out beforehand,” Peter points out, reclining against the wall.

“But it’s so much more fun to let him think I’m a robot,” MJ replies, arching an eyebrow. She sets her half-full mug on her desk, then, peering at him. “So was it a good night, then? All in all? Or did having my genius on the other side of the headset distract you?”

Under her gaze, Peter’s skin seems to crawl beneath the suit. He takes a breath then, glancing towards the window. Suddenly, Peter is in possession of more nervous energy than he knows what to do with, and he needs to move or be consumed on it. Peter turns to her wall, allowing his fingers to stick to it, then unstick. 

“Yeah,” he says, trying for nonchalance. “I mean, I got the bad guys, you know? All in a day’s work.” Peter sticks his fingers to the wall again, beginning to climb effortlessly. At least, this way, his back is turned towards her. And besides, he’s done this sort of thing with her and with Ned before while hanging out. It isn’t that weird. 

MJ lets out an amused puff of air, raising an eyebrow. “You’re not good at that part, Parker.” 

By then, Peter has reached the ceiling of her room, where he is suspended by his fingers and the tips of his toes. Peter peers at her, upside down, and his white eyes on the mask widen conspicuously. “I- What?” Peter stammers. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

MJ leans back in the chair, peering at him over the rims of the glasses he likes so much. “That part of superhero-ing,” MJ hums, arching an eyebrow as amusement creeps into her tone. “The part where you have to act all cool and humble and pretend you don’t care.” 

“Pfft, I… What?” Peter’s voice rises to the point of almost cracking near the end of the statement, and he allows a thin stream of web to attach him to her ceiling so that he can slowly lower himself, suspended. “I don’t– What are you talking about? I don’t do that-” 

“You do, Parker, and you suck at it.” MJ tucks a stray strand of hair away from her face with long, slender fingers, a little motion that succeeds in further erasing every logical thought from Peter’s mind. “It’s alright, though.” 

Peter lets out a sharp breath, struggling to control his mess of flustered emotions. Just when he thinks he might have himself at a manageable level of stupidity, though, she says the one thing that could possibly take him right back to square one. 

“It’s pretty cute.” 

Everything that follows happens so fast. Peter has lost control over everything– including his webbing. 

The strands suspending him to the ceiling release, sending him falling sharply. In an effort to keep himself from falling, Peter shoots his web back towards the ceiling, but he is falling at an angle. His efforts at securing himself accomplish two things: one, they actually secure him, and two, Peter succeeds in trapping himself in a tangled cocoon of web. 

Maybe this is some sort of twisted karma, Peter reasons as he dangles six feet above MJ’s floor. If this is what every single bad guy he’s webbed feels like, then he understands why they all seem so pissed off. But Peter doesn’t have much time to explore that thought, because at the moment there is only one subject that is pushing itself to the forefront of his mind. 

MJ. 

MJ thinks he’s cute. Or does she? Wait– did she only mean that his attempt at humility was cute, and not the rest of him? Maybe she had been making fun of him, the way that they always did, as a part of their banter. But then why would she say that, of all things? 

And more importantly, why had it had such an effect on him? 

As the thoughts about MJ dance around Peter’s mind, he forgets to think about one terribly, crucially important detail: MJ herself. It is not until the webbing turns him towards the desk chair that Peter realizes his mistake. Because MJ is not curled up at her desk with a computer perched in her lap, sipping at tea. 

Instead, she is standing from her chair with a slight smirk on her lips, and she is taking a step towards him. 

“Um, MJ, I-I…” Peter stammers, sure that his cheeks are the color of his suit beneath the Iron Spider mask. “That was totally intentional. Definitely. And, um, if you could maybe just help me-” 

“You want to come down from your cocoon?” MJ prods, her eyes glimmering with a wicked sort of amusement. “Well, it looks like you’ve got yourself in a tangle. I could just leave you here, you know… I mean, I’ve had weirder things hanging in my room before than a Spiderboy. ” 

Peter winces. “Right. Bug puns. Um…” Peter is having a hard time focusing, however, because even upside-down, his best friend is the prettiest girl he has ever seen. And right now, dangling at eye-level with her, he has no way of looking away from the deep brown eyes that seem to pore into him from behind her glasses lenses. 

She’s his friend, one of his best friends. He can’t be feeling this way about her– what if she doesn’t feel the same? 

“Peter, your heartbeat is reaching an alarming rate,” Karen’s voice says loudly in his ear. “Would you like me to call May Parker and inform her that-” 

“No, don’t do that!” Peter exclaims. The words are frantic, panicked as they tear themselves from his lips. MJ stops in her tracks, eyes widening slightly.  There is confusion in them now, and Peter is even more flustered than he was before. 

“Parker, are you okay?” MJ says slowly. “I was kidding, but if you need me to help you down, I can-” 

“No,” he interrupts immediately, blinking rapidly. “No, it’s not you, I wasn’t talking to… Um…” Words are flitting through his mind too fast to say, creating a buzz that is only more distracting. MJ is frozen now, and she seems just as unsure about what to do as he is.

“Look, MJ, I…” Peter struggles for words, his heart hammering wildly in his chest. “I wasn’t expecting you to say… That.”

MJ blinks once, then twice. Then, however, a little smile tugs at the corner of her lips. It’s hesitant, and it’s shy, but it’s unmistakable. “You didn’t expect me to tell you that you were cute.” 

So she did mean it that way, then. She meant that he was cute, and she’d said it to him. And of course Peter had panicked like a dork, and now there was no hope of recovering his pride from this. 

But maybe he can rein it in. Maybe if he says something profound, or smooth, he can get this situation back in his favor… 

“Um… Nope.” 

Getting those two measly words out takes more energy than fighting off all three of the men had. 

MJ’s smirk returns, and she shakes her head slightly. For a moment, there is quiet between them, and then a quiet laugh leaves her. Peter stiffens at the sound, but when it washes over him, his whole body relaxes. One laugh, then another, and then she turns her gaze to the ceiling as if she is searching for words. 

“You are,” she informs him with mirth-filled eyes, “such a…” 

“Loser.” 

Peter doesn’t have to wait to know the proper term. Beneath the mask, a lopsided grin of his own twists his mouth. When he finishes her sentence, those dark, playful eyes come to meet his own, upside down. However, the moment that their eyes meet, something in the mood shifts. 

MJ’s grin fades, and so does Peter’s own. For a moment, Peter forgets the stupidity of the situation he is in. He is too busy being wrapped up in the web that is MJ, in her sharp quips and her wicked smirks and her deep, dark eyes. 

All amusement drains out of MJ’s face as she straightens herself up, blinking at him from across the space that divides them. For a moment, the air between them feels electric, and Peter is frozen in her current. 

Then, MJ takes a step towards him. Another, and another, and Peter is frozen in place, upside down as she increases their proximity. MJ’s feet bring her closer to him, so close that Peter can’t breathe. 

And then, MJ’s face is so close that their foreheads are almost touching. Peter is close enough to count her dark lashes, to study every twist of her thick curls, to memorize the rise and fall of her cupid’s bow. His heart pounds out of control, but now Karen has the good sense to stay quiet.  

A tangled mess of emotions sweeps over Peter: awe, panic, hope, the works. They simmer together and bubble over, pouring out of his lips as a stammered, “MJ, you-” 

“Shh,” MJ hums. Her dark eyes seem to scour the mechanical eyes of the mask, and slowly, her fingers rise to brush against the line of his jaw. Peter doesn’t realize what she is doing until she has lifted the mask, gathering it to just below his nose. Peter draws in a sharp breath as the cool air washes over the lower half of his face. 

MJ’s fingers, soft and cool, brush against the corner of his lips, and a shiver goes down Peter’s spine. This close, MJ smells like lemon and lavender tea, and her soft, cooling touch is enough to send his skin tingling. His lips part slightly to speak, though Peter is not sure what he plans to say. 

A long, slender finger comes to rest on Peter’s lips. MJ raises an eyebrow at him through the mask, her eyes meeting his own. “Shut up, loser,” she breathes, and then her eyes flutter shut. Before Peter can disobey her, MJ closes the distance, bringing her lips to rest atop his own. 

MJ’s hands rise to cradle his face, and she arches her back as their lips move together. Peter is not sure how long they remain their, lips moving, exploring in the quiet of MJ’s room. 

All he knows is that MJ tastes like honey, and now Peter understands why a creature would be willing to take its last breath in hope of just one taste. 

[shianhygge-imagines]

Jonquil (Bungou Stray Dogs) [Kunikida/Reader]

AN: I wrote this while in a depressed haze a while ago. Thought I’d try the “hanahaki disease” concept out. Tragic romance... just the thing to make my heart hurt. (AHHH LOOK AT HOW HANDSOME HE IS!)

Jonquil [a toxic flower of the Narcissus genus] - the pure white flower holds the meaning, "Love me" a desire for affection returned.

|Masterlist Link|

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

You couldn’t stop staring when you met him.

Kunikida, Doppo…

In the wake of devastation. Of corpses and injured, Port Mafia and civilians alike. Was the striking appearance of a man in glasses that nearly concealed the golden irises behind. He wasn’t the only individual that had arrived to stop the catastrophe occurring in Yokohama, but he was the one you’d concentrated on in an attempt to control your power.

All around you were the corpses and puppets… the result of your power, “The Stranger.” It was a curse, if you were honest with yourself. A hypnotic power that forced the people you spoke to to hallucinate and abandon all sense of morality or self control. Whenever this happened, the people affected would commit crimes, become severely depressed and kill themselves, or they just became indifferent. Since you discovered this power, nearly a year ago, you’d had trouble controlling it during times of stress, deciding to move in with your aunt and uncle in Yokohama. Away from New York, which was infested with reasons to cause stress.

How were you to know that Yokohama was about the worst place to move to?

Somehow, the Port Mafia had gotten word of your abilities. You didn’t know if they had labeled you a threat or a possible asset, you just know that one moment, you were peacefully strolling down the streets, the next, you started noticing the strange men and women in suits, following you around. You’d deployed all strategies to stay calm: deep breathing, singing, reading, speaking to your friend back home. But it was all for naught, because once the mafia knew you were showing signs of losing control, they aimed to subdue you.

The situation went from zero to a thousand in no time at all. Several individuals had placed their hands on you, and your cry of, “Let go!” was all it took for everyone within a twenty foot radius to fall under the control of your power.

Upon hearing of the situation, the Port Mafia had sent in more people, this time with the sole goal to kill you in order to protect the people of Yokohama. Eventually, the Armed Detective Agency was informed, and Fukuzawa Yukichi was forced to dispatch all members available. This team consisted of Osamu Dazai, Kunikida Doppo, and Yosano Akiko. In the end, it was this team that saved the Port Mafia, the civilians of Yokohama, and yourself.

Your power didn’t protect you from the people you hypnotized, so you were a target amongst the chaos, fleeing from your victims, hand clamped over your mouth to prevent the spread of the afflicted. You remember crying as you dodged your victims. You didn’t mean to lose control. But wanting to take it all back wasn’t going to bring the dead back to life.

“Ahh~ So this is the cause of my losing a day off!” it was teasing, a little nasally, and as you backed away from another attack, you saw a man with brown hair dressed oddly in a trench coat and bandages on his arm. He was staring straight at you with a calculating look, but his face was morphed in exasperation and teasing delight.

“If you’re thinking about that being a creative way to die, you can stop now, Dazai.” it was a firm rebuttal which brought your eyes to his figure, standing with his arms crossed and shifting his glare at both you and the bandaged man, you now knew as “Dazai.”

It wasn’t love at first sight, but he was damn attractive.

But back to the matter at hand. It was a correct deduction that you were the cause of the deaths and fighting. After all, you, F/N A. Camus, were standing at the epicenter of chaos crying and unaffected by the apathetic crimes all around. The man, Dazai, for all his teasing, had soft eyes when you used sign language to communicate the condition for you ability.

Anyone who hears me speak will fall under the hypnosis of my ability. Even a cry of pain is enough.

Your sign language was much to be desired, the sentences not flowing as they should, but it got the point across, as Dazai’s eyes sharpened, “Ah, so the madam cannot control her ability.” A snap of his fingers and a wide grin. “Kunikida-kun! If you would be so kind!”

Dazai had no intention of waiting for Kunikida, whom gave an indignant cry of “Ha?” as his partner leisurely strolled towards you, expertly dodging those under the hypnosis of “The Stranger.”

“Oujou-chan~ Please concentrate on Kunikida-kun!” a simple request, you were, after all, already staring at the bespectacled man. “Yosano-san! Please tend to the wounded!”

Before you knew it, Dazai was crouched next to you, blocking your view of the enraged Kunikida, who had used his ability to summon a taser, using it on anyone who attacked him. Warm brown eyes framed by even darker brown locks, then a warm smile, and a poke to your nose. And all of your victims fell to the floor, knocked out and no longer under your ability’s influence.

Surprised, you had shot Dazai a questioning expression. He only grinned, ignoring Kunikida’s furious yelling about being reckless and not making a plan. “My ability. ‘No Longer Human.’ It cancels out a person’s ability.”

Fatigue and exhaustion, and you found yourself in Dazai’s arms crying more, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!”

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

Within the month, you were tested and accepted into the Armed Detective Agency. Working with Dazai and Fukuzawa-san, you were able to control your ability. Dazai had taken to flirting with you, yet still your attentions wandered and lingered on Kunikida, who seemed to avoid you as much as possible.

You thought, that as with Atsushi’s case, Kunikida would eventually warm up to you. That perhaps his aversion towards you was the product of a fierce and stubborn protectiveness.

“Kunikida-san!” You jogged up to the taller man with a stack of papers in your hand, when he turned around, you held the mission reports out to him with a shy smile. “I finished the paperwork for my last few missions!”

His golden eyes merely narrowed as he took the stack of paper from you hands, and without a word, turned around to leave the office. As you watched his back retreat, your smile dropped and your eyes were cast downward. All your interactions with Kunikida were like this. You were always on your best behavior, but he never spoke to you. You got along with everyone else in the office, but only Kunikida remained aloof to your friendship.

The next time you approached him, was after a group mission, when the two of you were alone. It was a few days after the incident with the Azure Messenger. Watching him stare after Sasaki Nobuko had stirred something within you. During that investigation, you’d started coughing, suspecting that you might have come down with a minor cold.

“Kunikida-san?” He had been in the middle of walking out of the agency, as it was nearly ten at night. Your crush stopped, but made no verbal or physical indication to acknowledge you. “Have I done something to offend you? Is there a reason that you don’t seem to like me?” You were sad and desperate. You didn’t want to get too close to Kunikida, after all, your coughing had recently worsened.

“How can I possibly like someone such as you?” it was sharp, and the man you pined after turned to glare at you with disdain, disgust. “Someone who took the lives of more than a dozen innocents. Someone who goes so strongly against my ideals. I can’t do anything but hate you.”

Your breathing hitched as you once against watched his back retreat out the door. Suddenly, the coughing started up again. This time with a fierceness that shook your entire body. It was like something was caught in your throat and you struggled for breath. You started to gag as you felt something in your throat, darkness crept at the edge of your vision. You coughed until you were forced to your knees bent forward with you hands supporting your body from falling. And just when you were sure that you were to pass out in that office alone, the thing in your throat gave away. With a final cough, the thing landed on the wooden floorboards.

And you wanted to cry at how unfair the world was. That night was the first time you coughed up a petal.

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

Hanahaki Disease.

How poetic that it would be love that killed you. More specifically, the unrequited love that slowly choked and poisoned you to death.

It progressed slowly at first. A few petals as it slowly set in that Kunikida did actually hate you. That because you were the cause of so many deaths, you would never be accepted or liked much less loved by the man that held your one-sided affections. And when Kyouka joined… the disease progressed at a faster rate. A few petals became a dozen. A dozen became whole flowers. With the whole flowers, came the stomach pains, the nausea, the vomiting.

Kyouka has murdered as many people as I have. And yet… how can he accept her? Was it because I’m an adult? That a child’s crimes can be forgiven, but my own cannot? Even when we both are unable to control our powers. Bitter thoughts that accompanied the jonquils that left you.

By this time, nearly everyone had caught wind of your nausea and vomiting, displaying worry.

“Y/N-chan? Do you need any medication?” Naomi had asked you, brows scrunched in worry as you threw up for the fourth time that day.

You only shook your head from your position over the garbage can. “No thank you, Naomi-chan. I don’t think medicine will be able to help me.”

From across the room, Kunikida ‘tsked’ and leveled a glare at you. “Typical symptoms of morning sickness. I’d expect nothing less from someone such as you.”

Everyone in the room froze before bursting out in outrage at Kunikida’s comment. It seemed everyone had a complaint for the man, throwing the room into chaos. You couldn’t do anything when you started coughing violently.

Not wanting anyone in the office area to find out about your illness, you silently made your way into the Director’s office, where Fukuzawa sat with a cup of tea at hand. As you closed the door to the office, the Director leveled a comforting and sympathetic expression as you coughed out the flowers. Being the man that he was, Fukuzawa had long since been aware of your condition. He didn’t know who you loved, but he knew that you didn’t have very long.

“Jonquil flowers.” his gravelly voice muttered lowly, grey eyes trained on the white flowers. “They are poisonous, correct?”

You only nodded, “I don’t think I have long.”

“You have not revealed your feelings to the person? Why is that?”

A wry smile. “Would it make a difference?” Your eyes shot up to look the Director in the eyes as you came clean. “Kunikida hates me for I am the antithesis of everything he believes in. If I tell him that I am dying because of my love for him… what then? His disdain for me is so deeply rooted that I doubt he’ll feel anything except pity. And even if he felt guilty, only returning my love would cure me.” Your eyes darkened significantly, “I don’t want love born of guilt. Like some sick mutation of that pure emotion.”

Fukuzawa didn’t look pleased. He felt helpless. It was his job as the Director of the Armed Detective Agency to keep his employees safe. And he felt that by letting you surrender to your disease, was him failing you. “Would you at least seek treatment? The Agency would cover all costs towards the procedure.”

A shake of your head as you played with the flower in your grasp. “I don’t want to forget the feelings. Even if it kills me.”

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

It was Dazai who found your body a week later. You’d died peacefully, surrounded by hundreds of blood stained jonquils. Dazai could only hold your body grimly, quickly figuring out the cause of your death and why.

At your funeral, Atsushi, Kyouka, Naomi, Haruno, and Kenji cried. Kunikida could only stare at the flower that Dazai gave him. He had been shot with a pointed glare by the usually suicidal man, not exactly blaming Kunikida, but berating him for the way he’d treated you while alive. But still, you were right. All Kunikida felt was pity and a tinge of regret.

But after all this time, it didn’t matter. You were long gone. And the flowers were all that remained still pleading to the man.

“Love me, Kunikida.”

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

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed my work, please consider buying me a Ko-fi!

[cherrybloodkei]

Some time ago I made relationship headcanons for my favs (and my friend's too) and I've kept them in my notes and never would I have thought to post them but here I am doing this for.... idk man I just want to force myself to post more of my own stuff on there. Here y'all go, tell me what you think and don't be shy to share your own headcanons!!!!

Poke villains sfw boyfriends edition

Giovanni

First date would be the very stereotyped Italian restaurant because come on, what else for a mafia boss? As a boyfriend ADORE public display of affection. He makes sure everyone around you two knows you're HIS and his only. In private, you two watch angsty romantic movies and cuddle with luxury wine. You get to go out at least once a week, the day being different each time. He wants it to be a surprise every time and make you fall in love with him over again every time you two go out, whatever it is that you'll be doing.

Proton

Your first date together would be at a parc d'attraction! You'd especially do all the skills games and every time you fail one, he'd do it for you and win you all the price (he won't let you know he practiced for weeks before the date). He doesn't like to show his loving side but if some other person tried to flirt with you, he'll get really aggressive. Maybe threaten them with a knife. If you try to calm him down, he'll get the hint that he's making you uncomfortable and will resort to making out with you in front of them while glaring at them. In private, he always tries to have physical contact. Either it be petting your head, holding hands or groping your ass, he looks for physical comfort. He doesn't plan dates that often so if you wanna go out you gotta tell him about it. He'll plan it all afterward.

Hunter J

First date is a walk in the woods and stargazing. She spent days scouting the best hiking route and relaxing spots to make sure you get the best experience out of it. After that, she walks you home and kiss you goodnight, blushing madly. When you two go out, she likes to hold your hand. She gets cocky every time someone looks at you, she won't hesitate to call the person out and bring them down about how they'll never get her "precious angel". At home thought she's easily flustered. When you two cuddle she gets nervous and if you kiss her out of nowhere, she's gonna freeze and then blush madly again. She loves it when you cook for her so the dates are more like planned extravagant suppers at home.

Lawrence 3

The first date would simply be you two in his room, him showing his all his Pokemon goodies and collections. He's a huge nerd and couldn't help but show you all he's acquired in his life. You two wouldn't very often go out but when you do, you awkwardly stand next to each others. He doesn't like PDA, but if you really insist, you will get to brush his hand with yours from time to time. If someone tries to flirt with you, he'll grab your hand and walk away fast from the scene so you two can resume what you were doing in peace. He's slightly better at home thought. He insist on doting on you, doing everything for you. He's been alone for so long that he's become an expert in chores so he doesn't mind, he says. You basically got yourself a nerdy butler!

Archie (oras)

FIRST DATE AT THE AQUARIUM! He shows off his ocean knowledge approximately every 13 seconds, hoping to impress you! At home, you two like to have fun and play all kind of games. He prefer wrestling, but he's up for some video or board games if that's what you prefer (even thought he doesn't really like board games...). He likes to put you in his laps and rest his chin on your head, and he absolutely wants to be the big spoon to hold you the closer he can!! He takes you often to the beach or on boat tours, so you can get to appreciate the sea as much as him! He doesn't even let others have the time to look at you, he always has an arm around your shoulders, or even you sitting on his shoulders!

N (mmhhh yes I like him,,,,, like, a lot )

On the first date, he introduces you to all of his Pokemon friends. You all go to the forest to make sure you get to meet everyone and you play with them all day long as soon as they get used to you. He wants to make sure you're someone with a good heart who cares for pokemons. When you two go out, it's usually also in the forest or at the parc d'attraction. He doesn't hold your hand but when your shoulders brush, you can see him glance at you and smile slightly. If some stranger tries to get touchy-feely with you, he'll coldly smile at them and tell them you're already his. If they continue thought, he'll start growling and bare his teeth at them. When they finally leave, he'll blush and excuse himself for his weird manerism. At home you two cook a lot together, for yourselves and the pokemons. The house is filled with them and lots of plants too! He can't for the love of Arceus get a job so you have to work longer hours, but he makes it up by making your own garden to help with food and massaging your shoulders to help you relax!

Colress

The first date, well, wasn't exactly a date. You showed up at the Plasma Brigade like he asked you and you go to witness this man's facial expression pass from confused to surprised, then guilt and shame. He completely forgot. So you two got in, ordered all the takouts you could find online and you watched him work on his inventions while talking. It was still nice despite him forgetting about the date in the first place...! For other dates tho, he likes to take you to a lot of any kinds of expositions. Art, music or (especially) science, he likes to wander around with you and talk (mostly judge) everything you two see. If someone tries to get you right under his nose, he'll casually take a taser out of Arceus knows where and playfully threatens them with it. You.... often get kicked out of places because of this, so you go back home and do the same as your first date! At home, you notice how he doesn't take care of himself when he works so you always have to remind him to take breaks to eat, shower and all that. When you get your alone time with him, you often just cuddle in a comfortable silence.... until he falls hard asleep on you.

Shadow triad (I like ninjas ok I'll make it work out!......somehow.)

You.... never really went on a date. One day, you simply turned around in the dark on your room, feeling like you were being watched. And you were. They were there, in the middle of your room, observing. You flipped your balls off obviously but one of them softly restrained you so you would calm down. One of them said to not worry, that they were going to protect you. Very tired and now confused as fuck, you nodded and went back to sleep, thinking it was only a dream. After that, it seemed like life was extra good to you. The house always seems a little bit cleaner than the day before (the dishes actually cleaned themselves??!), every time you're about to trip it feels like you're being lifted up and you don't, and you never seem to encounter any more creeps that wants to jump in your pants. Eventually you remember your dream and try to call the mysterious trio out.... and they answer. They "poof into existance" and await your orders. They're surprised (even if it doesn't show) that you ask them to be more present if they really intend to stick around. You'd rather have friends than shadow bodyguards observing your every moves. And so they do. They don't conceal their appearance around you anymore, and you guys hang out in your own house, doing whatever you feel like at the moment.

Lysandre

The first date is in his own cafe, him acting as your barista. He kicked everyone else out and made sure that the closed sign was turned so it would be only you two and there would be no slip up. Anything you want on his menu, he'll cook to perfection. He tries to keep it slow but memorable on the first date, trying to impress you without being overbearing. Because if he does gets his second date well..... you two go shopping and you physically have to stop him from instant buying everything you look at for more than 3 seconds. He actually did that directly on the second date so you learned from it. Also yiu never seem to encounter anyone to disturb your dates.... thats because he engages security guards to take out anyone who looks at you with interest. He'll take that secret to his grave tho--. At home he also tries to do everything for you, to make you feel like a queen. If you want to do a few chores yourself like laundry or cooking, you have to convince him for a few hours but then he'll let you do what you want. Wouldn't want you to feel like a burden in your own house! You two likes to cuddle on the couch and watch documentaries while snacking on little apéro. He likes it when you your head on his shoulders or laps, so he can pet you!

Guzma

So we all know that Team Skull isn't the richest organisation around... but that doesn't stopped his boss from inviting you in the fanciest restaurant in all of Alola for your first date. He literally spent months scrapping all the money he could to invite you there and get himself a new change of cleaner clothes to try and impress you. After that one thought he'll feel bad for taking you on simple walks around the isles with Tapu-cocoa, but he have the best sightseeing spots so you have to tell him that it was as enjoyable as the first time when you see him looking down. He'll look at you with so much pride and love in his eyes-- If anyone tries to get you away from him, he'll snap his fingers and some of his grunts will just appear out of seemingly nowhere (he knows they try to spy on his dates since they have nothing better to do, better use then to his advantage right?) so you two can escape and resume your date. At home, you two simply like to relax, playing video games or watching action movies. Life is good in Alola.

[unholyhelbiglinked]

The Mitchell Incident | Chapter Fourteen

CHECK OUT THE STORY FROM THE START

Water dripped against the girls scrunched up features. Her stare so blue that it almost matched the clear edge of the very liquid she struggled to swallow. It wasn’t a normal sight, seeing a shorter girl with a head of fiery red hair pulled back quickly against the cold edge of a stream.

She was standing on her tip-toes, the black converse she strapped to her feet had the tongue sticking out and laces unkempt. The once white strings now looked a sickly grey, just like the white shirt the girl wore. She was covered in dirt- the water making a streak against her cheek as she sniffed and dragged her forearm against her skin.

The stranger huffed, furrowing her brow as she looked at the water fountain. Chloe Beale had never learned how to drink from one. Not in her Eight years of life on this earth. She would rather stay thirsty and dry-mouthed than subject herself to this humiliation, even if the hallway is mostly empty.

“Do you not know how to tie your shoes either?” A snarky voice griped, making Chloe’s chest tighten as she whipped her head to the right fast enough to make her lose a grip on which way was up.

She cocked an eyebrow at a girl who had clearly already hit her growth spurt. She was taller than Chloe, golden hair flowing over broad shoulders as a lanky girl stared at her with such grey eyes- grey eyes that looked almost white under the fluorescent lights.

“I uh,” Chloe forced from her throat “I meant to do that, actually.”

“Did you?” The girl responded, not taking much thought to the hostility of the gingers. Instead, she knelt down on the tile floor and started to stitch up the laces that hung at Chloe’s feet. She was too baffled to object, instead, she just obeyed when the stranger tapped her folded knee- gesturing for Chloe to put her foot on it. She did. “I’m Aubrey by the way.”

“Chloe,” She said timidly “Thank you.”

“It would suck if you fell.” Aubrey lifted her icy gaze up to meet Chloe’s for a few seconds, a smile poking through her lips. “I’ve been there before.”

“Yeah,” The smaller girl returned the smile as Aubrey straightened herself up, brushing her hands against her jeans. “I’ve been there.”  

“After lunch, I can teach you how to use one of those things if you want.” The blonde suddenly seemed to grow shy as she knit her fingers behind her back, rocking as she shifted her weight from one foot to another. “You know… if you wanna sit with me or something. I’m just new here and-“

“I would love to, Aubrey.” Chloe cut her new friend off, lifting her chin towards the water fountain. “But don’t bother with that. I’ll never learn.”

She carried that same pensive stare that she did all those years ago, her grey eyes almost ghostly as she parted her lips slightly. It made Chloe want to close in on herself, to forget about the words that she had just uttered. It wasn’t like she had forgotten to tie her shoes like she did for most of the elementary school and into middle- this was serious. This was something that Aubrey didn’t know how to respond to.

She couldn’t even pull air into her lungs, the taste of heavy cream and chocolate still on her lips as she breath pooled in a sharp cloud in front of her. She knew Chloe expected her to speak, to say something other than gawk at her like a zoo animal.

“You’re uh,” She finally whispered, “You’re joking right?”

Chloe was silent. She wished with every ounce of her that she was joking. That she had never taken that job and pushed the metal edge of the shovel into the soil that day. She wished that she never shoved that taser into Beca’s abdomen or waited long enough to hear her story. She wished she didn’t die.

“No, I-“ she fought past the lump in her throat “Aubrey, you think I would lie about something like that?”

“How?” was all the older girl said, staring down at the sidewalk. Her eyes were glossy now, something that twisted the worms in Chloe’s stomach even more. They would never dull, not while she dug her nails into the soft skin of her palm. “I-I mean did you go to the hospital? Is that why you weren’t answering your phone that night? Because you fucking died?”

Her words were a mix of anger and pure misery. She got like this sometimes, flattened by the pure truth and the serious nature of the situation. It was usually attributed to something her father had done- but Chloe was never the cause. She was always to one to hug her friend close and bring her hot chocolate the way Aubrey loved it, with cinnamon on top.

“Gallagher.” Was all Aubrey hissed through clenched teeth, the movement of her eyes causing a single tear to streak against clear skin. “What did he do? Did he hurt you?”

“Bree,” Chloe let out a soft breath, running a shaky hand through knotted hair. “It wasn’t Gallagher. He’s a nice guy… it was Beca.”

“Beca?” She growled now, an inhuman sound for such a mortal girl. “Beca fucking Mitchell?”

Chloe nodded dumbly, knowing she needed to give her friend a moment.  

“How are you here, huh? If you really died… and they brought you back to the hospital then you wouldn’t be here right now, would you? Not in town or getting ice cream with me. I don’t… I don’t get it.”

She was spiraling, breathing heavily as Chloe quickly grasped her elbow, her touch soothing the woman almost instantly despite its cold nature. Chloe was still a calming person- even though her thoughts were anything but. “Aubrey, listen to me. Can you do that?”

The girl whimpered as she nodded, sniffing against the cold as she swallowed roughly- staring into Chloe’s eyes with such intent that it made the girl feel like she was on trial. Aubrey would be a great lawyer.

“When I went to my first shift a month ago, I was stupid. Stupid for not listening for Gallagher when he told me to turn the other cheek if I saw anything. I… I thought I was strong enough to handle anything that was really there.”

“Like a grave robber?” Aubrey asked voice pitched with worry.

“Like Beca.” Chloe sounded out, swallowing “She’s my cat.”

“Your what?”

Chloe let out a groan of frustration. “I have to stop using that as an example. Only Arum knows what the hell I’m talking about.”

“Your Greek Mythology professor?” She shook her head in confusion “Chloe what the hell is going on?”

Her friend was staring down at the ground, mind racing. She was suddenly understanding why it was so hard for Beca to give her this talk earlier last month. It was demoralizing. How did you explain to someone that everything they knew was wrong? Everything they tried to repress would come rushing back in an odd flash. She was hesitating enough for Aubrey to pull away a bit, but Chloe had a form hold.

“Beca’s mom murdered me last month.” She finally spoke, taking her finger and looping it against her collar before pulling it back to reveal the ghost of a bite that stretched across her shoulder and neck. “She sunk her teeth into my neck and ripped out my jugular like a fucking wild animal.”

A sharp intake of breath snapped Chloe back into being calm, into speaking to Aubrey softly instead of taking out her frustrations. The blonde’s fingers shook as she pressed them against the indentation that was forever there.

“Beca should have let me die that night, but she didn’t. I… I don’t know how she did it because she doesn’t want to tell me, but she did. She saved me and now I’m here. I’m here and I’m stuck like this.”

“Like what?” Aubrey drew her touch back as Chloe let the fabric fall back over the scar.

The red-head drew in a sharp breath as she clenched her eyes shut. She was playing with fire, putting down walls that Beca had convinced her to brick up. The hunger shining through just enough for a familiar pressure to from under her eyes, her jaw aching as she scrunched up her face in pain. Aubrey cocking her head to the side as she waited patiently.

The girl finally opened her eyes, the once blue color having seemed to a sharp crimson that could cut glass. Her lips parting slightly as her canine teeth continued to stretch until they looked more like a demon’s and less like a college girl. She hadn’t even seen herself like this, never giving up to look in the mirror- yet here she was, showing her darkest self.

Aubrey swallowed roughly, eyes searching her features as she ran her fingers over Chloe’s lips, her own parted slightly as she struggled to take in exactly what she was seeing, her thumb running slightly under Chloe’s eye as the girl leaned into her touch, not having felt anything like this in such a long time- an embrace she hadn’t let anyone conjure.

“Chlo,” She whispered, voice broken.

A smooth sob moved from Chloe’s chest, it was unwarranted, pushing past her throat as Aubrey wrapped her strong grasp around the smaller girl, letting her press into her chest as tears soaked into the fabric, wicking enough to make a slight chill overtake the blonde.

“I know,” She whispered, running her hand against her friends back, even though she had no clue.  

[elementalwriter67]

Blind to the World of Color

Parings: Jason Todd x Reader

Word Count: 6064

Summary: Based off the Soulmate AU where you’re colorblind until you and your physically touch your soulmate and go color blind again when they die.

A/N: Okay so this is my first time for writing anything DC related so please go easy on me and enjoy.

(Y/N) sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair looking out over the black and white city landscape before her. She sat perched on the edge of an apartment building roof in the middle of crime alley fully decked out in her uniform for this evenings events. Laying back she straightened out her goggles before lifting her head and folding her arms up underneath it. She was currently waiting for her mentor Selina, aka Catwoman, to show up and tell her what the plan for this evening was. A small laugh escaped her at the thought of Selina Kyle being her mentor, her a simple orphan kid living in crime alley was the sidekick to Catwoman. THE Catwoman. She still couldn't believe it, still couldn't believe that Catwoman woman herself had taken the time to train her and teach her everything she knew. It amazed her as much as the thought of one day being able to see in color. It amazed her as much as it did when she heard Selina talk about the colors of the world whenever she would ask her what color a certain thing was because of course, Selina had already met her soulmate. Selina's soulmate was, of course, the one and only Batman which (Y/N) found extremely funny and ironic all things considering but hey that was the universe for you (Y/N) only hoped she could get that lucky. (Y/N) had asked before why Selina bothered to take her under her wing and teach her, and all she got for an answer was that because Selina felt like it nothing more nothing less.

“Oh good, you're here already,” Selina’s voice snapped (Y/N) from her thoughts. Her eyes snapped open as she looked up at Selina who nearly blended into the night sky if it wasn't for the slightly different shade of black mixed with grey and whites.

“And you're late, you were supposed to be here several minutes ago." (Y/N) responded as she stood up and brushed herself off while Selina rolled her eyes.

“Sorry mom, I had to make sure I had what we needed for tonight and that our client wasn't about to back out on us," Selina stated, placing her hands on her hips.

“Right, right, of course then you're forgiven for being late. So is the client still on?" (Y/N) asked shoving her hands into the pockets of her short length leather jacket.

“The client is still on provided we succeed in retrieving the artifact they so desperately want, which we will if Bats doesn't cause too much trouble," Selina said and a knowing smirk crossed (Y/N)'s face as she looked at her.

"Which he will because one he's Batman and two anything to see his lovely soulmate again." (Y/N) teased, a smile spreading across her face as she walked to the edge of the roof, Selina glaring at her as she went to stand beside her.

“I knew I shouldn't have told you that Batman was my soulmate, I knew I shouldn't have and yet I did," Selina grumbled to herself and (Y/N) giggled.

“I'll give you the fact that it took you a while to actually tell me though so props to you on that." (Y/N) said with a small shrug, pulling her hands out of her pocket and pulling her whip from where it was wrapped around her waist acting as an unneeded belt for her uniform, Selina grabbing her own whip.

“Oh, how generous of you (Y/N). Now, you remember what you're supposed to do when Batman inevitably shows up?" Selina asked and (Y/N) nodded as she clicked a button on the handle of her whip, the rope elongating a couple of feet.

“I'm supposed to distract Robin while you distract Batman and make sure that we get out with the artifact intact." (Y/N) answered and Selina nodded.

“Good. Now let's get going." Selina said as she jumped off the roof. (Y/N) watched her fall for a few seconds, the corners of her mouth twitching until her lips stretched into a full-blown smile. She had to stop herself from whooping in excitement as she followed after Selina, using her whip as a sort of grappling hook.

Minutes later (Y/N) landed in a crouch beside Selina on the roof of the museum, standing up (Y/N) followed her to the skylight.

“What’s the security system look like?” (Y/N) asked as she crouched down, placing a claw gloved hand on the window looking down at the floor below searching for any silent alarms.

“Your standard museum security system, nothing overly special should be a piece of cake,” Selina said and (Y/N) nodded. Selina crouched down beside her and pressed her pointer finger into the glass before she drew a large circle in it big enough for the two of them to fit through. (Y/N) reached out with a small suction up and used that to grab the glass and then set it down softly on the roof.

“(Y/V/N) you get the guard over there I’ll handle this one,” Selina stated pointing to one of the guards and (Y/N) nodded as she stood up and stepped through the hole landing silently on the floor in a crouch, Selina landing beside her just as quietly.

“What the fuck?!” The female guard shouted as her and her partner drew their tasers.

“Catwoman! (Y/V/N)!” The male guard shouted. A smile spread across (Y/N) face as she slowly stood up, trying to put as much seduction into it as she could manage in an attempt to keep the male guard's attention completely on her. She may not be dressed as sexily as Selina was and she may not have all the assets like Selina but damn it when she tried for sexy she certainly succeeded judging by how the guard kept staring at her. Maybe if this had been a few years earlier and out on the streets (Y/N) would have found the way the guy was staring at her creepy and probably would have attempted to kick his ass because anyone looking at you like that on the streets of Crime Alley never meant anything good. Now though she was smiling, proud of herself for being able to grab his full attention she’s still going to kick his ass though.

“Aw, thanks for the introduction handsome,” Selina said and (Y/N) glanced at her, Selina caught her glance out of the corner of her eye and tilted her head in a slight nod.

“Shame there won’t be much of a show.” (Y/N) said as she turned her attention back to the guards. (Y/N) dashed forward as Selina lashed out with her whip knocking the taser from the female guard's hands. (Y/N) spun to the side avoiding her guard's taser, she slammed her shoulder into the man’s midsection and he shouted more in surprise than any actual pain. As quick as she could she hit he is with her elbow knocking the taser out of his hands, he threw a punch at her but (Y/N) blocked it with her forearm and with her other hand she punched him in the face. He reeled back grabbing at his broken nose with one of his hands.

“You little bitch!” He shouted and (Y/N) giggled a little.

“(Y/V/N) we don’t have time for games!” Selina called out from the other side of the room where she was tying up the other guard.

“Fine, fine.” (Y/N) grumbled before she rushed the guard again this time punching him in the throat. He coughed struggling for air and while he did that (Y/N) grabbed the back of his head and bashed it into the wall knocking him out. She let his body slump to the floor as she joined Selina in front of the case.

“Not bad, but not as clean as I taught you to do it.” She commented and (Y/N) shrugged.

“I know, but hey it’s taken care of and he’s knocked out that’s all that matters.” (Y/N) stated.

“Fair enough, now why don’t you show me what you’ve learned.” Selina gestured to the case and another smile crossed (Y/N)’s face as she stepped up to the case. Taking a deep breath she felt the sides of the case searching for the barely there hidden alarm, once she found it she reached into the inside pocket of her jacket and pulled out her phone and USB cable.

“Ok give me five seconds I’m going to shut off the silent alarm.” (Y/N) informed Selina as she walked around the back and crouched down plugging her phone in and started hacking into the system.

“Oh, I’m so proud,” Selina stated and (Y/N) chuckled, the sound of crashing glass pulled her away from her task at hand and she peered around the stand to see who had just crashed their party. And surprise, surprise, it was Batman and Robin, what a shock. Quickly (Y/N) ducked behind the stand again, before they could notice her, finishing what she had started not that it mattered much at the moment.

“Catwoman, where’s your little friend?” Robin asked and (Y/N) rolled her eyes.

“Right here boy wonder.” (Y/N) poked at him as she jumped out from behind the stand a confident smirk on her face as she walked up to stand in front of Robin just like Selina was standing in front of Batman.

“That’s not me.” Robin tried desperately to hide the scowl but he couldn’t hide the twitching of his lips and a knowing smirk spread across her lips as she looked at him.

“Oh right, I forgot it’s little birdy got it my mistake little bird.” (Y/N) continued to poke at him, trying to stop herself from giggling. She didn’t really have anything against him, and from what Selina had told her Robin wasn’t a bad kid she just enjoyed ruffling his feathers it was a lot like what Selina would try to do with Batman. Only (Y/N) got more of a reaction out of Robin than Selina got out of Batman.

“Aw! Don’t they just remind you us Bats?” Selina asked a sly smile on her face as she took a step closer towards Batman who (Y/N) was sure was rolling his eyes underneath his cowl. There was a moment of silence between the four of them while Robin glared at (Y/N) and (Y/N) smirked back.

“(Y/V/N) get the artifact,” Selina stated and (Y/N) nodded, spinning on the heels of her feet.

“I’ve got her!” Robin called out and he ran at (Y/N). (Y/N) looked over her shoulder and jumped to the side avoiding the Batarang that was thrown at her, she turned on a dime running past Batman and Selina as the two fought/flirted (though the flirting was more on Selina’s side than anything) (Y/N) reached into her jacket and pulled out one of her throwing knives. Sliding to a stop she spun around facing Robin who was coming at her, smirking she threw the knife at him. Robin’s eyes widened as he dodged the knife, (Y/N)’s smirk grew as she watched the knife hit the glass case surrounding the artifact shattering it.

“Hey! You break it you buy it!” Selina shouted and (Y/N) rolled her eyes.

“I didn’t hit the artifact don’t worry!” (Y/N) shouted back running towards the artifact, she dodged around Robin who made a grab for her darting towards the artifact.

“Is that all you got little bird? I thought the great Batman taught you how to fight? So far you’re not living up to my expectations.” (Y/N) taunted as she jumped and flipped over the case, a Batarang lodging itself into the stand. Spinning around she turned to face Robin who was glaring at her and she smirked waving slightly at him before she swiped the artifact and stashed it in the bag around her shoulders.

“Catwoman! I’ve got the artifact!” (Y/N) shouted jumping on top of the stand and jumping over Robin, then running towards Selina as she broke away from the fight with Batman and ran towards the skylight lifting up the grappling hook that she had swiped off of Batman in the fight. (Y/N) chuckled at her.

“Oh no, you don’t!” Robin shouted. Thinking fast (Y/N) pulled the bag from around her neck and chucked it at Selina.

“Catch!” She shouted seconds before Robin tackled her to the ground. (Y/N) grunted as she bucked and threw him off of her, rolling over she kicked him in the chest throwing him back further. Robin was quick though and she hadn’t expected how quick he actually was so when she went to scramble back onto her feet he pinned her to the ground his hands wrapped around her forearms. (Y/N) tensed and her eyes widened as her entire world exploded with color, her mouth fell open slightly as she stared up at him and this hands down was the most beautiful thing that she had ever seen in her life. Selina had told her what the colors of Robin’s uniform were because (Y/N) had been curious one day and all she could think about as she stared at him was; oh so that’s what the color green looks like, it’s beautiful. Not the first thought she imagined herself having when she met her soulmate and saw color for the first time but hey.

“(Y/V/N)!!” “Robin!!” Batman and Selina shouted at the same time snapping the two of them out of their thoughts, and they jumped away from each other like the other was a burning hot stove. (Y/N) Scrambled to her feet, her heart hammering in her chest and she forced herself to not get distracted by her new world of color. She ducked around Batman when he made an attempt to grab her and she caught the grappling hook that Selina threw down to her and used it to quickly join Selina on the roof.

“What the hell was that all about?” Selina asked as the two of them ran towards the edge of the roof and there was no way (Y/N) was going to be able to wipe the smile off of her face as she jumped on to the next roof with Selina.

“Colors.” (Y/N) breathed out and Selina’s steps faltered slightly as she ran surprise overtaking her as she followed (Y/N).

~Three Weeks Later~

(Y/N) shivered as she leaned against a wall hugging herself, Selina was going to have her head for missing another night of training for the fourth time this week alone but she didn’t care she had to be out here. Had to be out here just in case she saw him, and she had to be out here in order to see the colors. It had been nearly a month since (Y/N) had last seen him, since she had last seen Robin, and she would be lying if she said she didn’t desperately want to see him again because she did. She really really did, which was what had been driving her to skip out on her training with Selina in favor of hanging out on the streets of crime alley in civilian clothes hoping and praying for a chance to see him again. No matter how badly she wanted to see him again she knew that it was stupid for her to get her hopes up after all he was Robin, Batman’s sidekick, the good guy, the guy who three weeks ago had been totally willing to throw her in jail for robbing the museum, and she was just the sidekick to an antihero. Not exactly, someone, Robin would probably want to have as a soulmate, she knew that and yet she couldn’t stop herself from hoping that he would like her, that he wanted to see her again as bad as she wanted to see him. So far though she hadn’t seen much of him, hell she’d seen more of Batman running around fighting crime than she did of Robin. And it only made sense that Batman would keep Robin stashed away in wherever to save him from running the risk of running into her.

Shaking her head she rubbed her hands up and down her arms as she pushed that thought to the back of her mind while she pushed herself up off the wall and began walking down down the street ignoring the way her gut hollowed in despair at the thought. As she walked down the street (Y/N) found herself thinking less about Robin and paying more attention to the colors all around her which despite being able to see them for nearly a month now had yet to get old to her. She’s found that her favorite thing to do though is to sit on one of the highest roofs she can find and watch the sunrise and the sunset, she loved the warm colors of the sky. Her phone buzzing away in her pocket drew her attention away from the neon signs and she pulled it out of her pocket to see that Selina was calling her. With a soft sigh, she squared her shoulders preparing for the lashing she was about to get as she answers the phone.

“Yes?” (Y/N) asked hesitantly, ducking into an alley as she made her way back to her place.

“This is the hundredth time you’ve skipped your training this week, now we had a deal when I decided to train you and if you keep this up we’re done.” Selina’s voice was firm and final. (Y/N) clenched her jaw, and her steps took on ones of purpose as she walked back to the abandoned apartment building she was squatting in with a bunch of others.

“I’m sorry Selina, I’ll be there tomorrow night I promise, it’s just I can’t stop looking for him.” (Y/N)it's voice dropped to a near whisper at the last part. She didn’t need anyone overhearing what she was saying you never knew who was listening to you on the streets, she didn’t care how paranoid it made her sound with her life and this being Gotham anyone knowing that you had a soulmate never meant anything good. After all, a soulmate was good leverage for a villain to use over the person they want to terrorize.

“I understand that (Y/N) which is the second reason I called you,” Selina said and (Y/N) froze where she stood her eyes widening.

“What?” There was no keeping the excitement and hope out of her voice at the thought of seeing him again even if she planned on mainly staying in the shadows.

“I just caught a glimpse of Robin jumping across a rooftop on his lonesome, if you want to talk to him alone now’s your chance.” (Y/N) could hear the smile in Selina’s voice and she could stop the one that spread across her face.

“Thank you so much, Selina, do you know what way he was heading?” (Y/N) asked. She forced herself not to start running as she began walking again and Selina chuckled on the other end.

“North from what I saw, now go get him, tiger,” Selina said and then hung up the phone. (Y/N) made a mental note to thank her again tomorrow as she shoved her phone into her pocket and broke out into a sprint for the next two blocks to the apartment building.

Minutes later and (Y/N) was dressed in her uniform and running and jumping along the rooftops in an attempt to catch up to Robin. She ran for a good twenty minutes before she came to a stop huffing and puffing and looking up at the top of a building. Her mouth was stretched wide in a smile as she stared up above her to see Robin sitting on top of a gargoyle, and part of her was tempted to make her way up there and try to start a conversation with him. But a larger part of her was terrified of what he would say when he saw her again, and unfortunately, the larger part of her stopped her from going up there and talking to the man who had filled her world with color. So instead she sat down on the edge of the building, for now just being this close was good enough for her. Kicking her feet slightly she found that she couldn’t wipe the smile off of her face as she watched him, the smile quickly fell through when she watched as Batman suddenly appeared behind him.

Cursing softly to herself she stood up, she may have been able to slip under Robin’s radar but there was no way Batman wasn’t going to notice her. She stood there for a few seconds watching as Robin stood up and turned to face Batman before she pulled her gaze away and spun around running to the edge of the roof and then jumping off the roof and maneuvering her way into the alleyway below. For the first time in her life, her hands were shaking out of nervousness for some ungodly reason and she tried desperately to get them to stop as she walked down the alley, silently praying that Batman hadn’t seen her. The hair on the back of her neck suddenly stood on end and every instinct in her told her to turn around and face whatever was behind her, but she didn’t she kept walking pretending that she didn’t know they were there. She waited until she could almost physically feel their presence behind her before she grabbed her whip off of her waist and ran towards a wall, she ran up the wall two steps before using it as a kickboard as she kicked herself off the wall and flipped over her potential attack. With the handle in one hand and the rest of the rope wrapped around her fist, she used her whip as a sort of a choke hold, wrapping it around the person’s neck and then pulling them back against her cutting off their air. It took a couple of seconds for her to register what the person she had by the throat was wearing.

“Shit.” (Y/N) cursed as she quickly let go of Robin and took several steps back recoiling her whip and putting it back on her waist. She stood there awkwardly for a moment as she entertained the idea of running and when she tried to her legs wouldn’t move they kept her locked in place.

“Remind me not to sneak up on you again,” Robin muttered out, rubbing his throat as he looked at her. Guilt pooled in her stomach and she bit the inside of her bottom lip slightly as she pushed the guilt away and crossed her arms over her chest.

“What do you want?” (Y/N) snapped at him, forcing the hope to stay out of her voice as she stared at him.

“I….ah...I wanted to talk to you about this.” He hesitated to motion between the two of them and (Y/N) hesitated before nodding her head.

“Alright.” (Y/N) said the bite leaving her voice as she dropped her arms to her sides, and she watched as his shoulders sagged a little the tension leaving him. Her eyes widened a little at seeing that, she didn’t think that he would be nervous about how she would react to him wanting to talk to her not that she could blame him she was a little surprised herself that she’d agree so fastly to talk to him.

“But not here,”-(Y/N) said and she looked up at the rooftop she’d just left- “up there.” She told him before running at the fire escape. She jumped and kicked off the wall pushing herself up far enough to grab the railing of the fire escape, pulling herself up she crouched on the railing and looked down at Robin who stood there staring up at her and she tilted a small smirk coming across her face.

“You coming little bird or you just gonna keep staring at me?” (Y/N) asked him and he shook his head snapping out of whatever thought trail he’d been on and followed after her as (Y/N) jumped from railing to railing climbing up the fire escape to the top. She was panting slightly as she walked over to the edge of the roof and sat down on the edge looking out over the city, after a few seconds Robin sat down beside her. They sat there in an awkward silence, both of them too nervous and unsure of how to exactly start this conversation.

“Jason Todd,” Robin said suddenly and (Y/N)’s eyes widened and she whipped around to face him to see him holding his domino mask in hand and looking at her clearly nervous. (Y/N) stared into his eyes for probably a few seconds too long because she watched as he shifted nervously where he sat, shaking her head (Y/N) reached up and pulled off her goggles and pulled down her hood not once looking away from his amazing blue eyes.

“(Y/N) (Y/L/N).” (Y/N) answered and Jason smiled at her relieved that she’d told him her secret identity too, and she found herself wanting to see more of that smile. She ducked her head down a smile pulling at her lips and a faint blush staining her cheeks, quickly she pulled her goggles and hood back on before lifting her head to look at him to see that he had done the same thing.

“How come the first thing you told me was your secret identity?” (Y/N) asked. Jason and (Y/N) turned around to face each other as they talked and Jason shrugged.

“I figured if you were going to be my soulmate you at least deserved to know who I really was,” Jason answered.

“Yeah but I’m a villain how do you know I won’t turn around and tell other villains your secret identity?” (Y/N) asked and she realized that she was digging herself into a hole but she also couldn’t stop herself from asking.

“Good question, I don’t really know, but how do you know that I won’t turn around and tell Batman your secret identity either?” Jason countered and she opened her mouth to respond before closing it.

“Fair enough, guess we’re just gonna have to trust each other not to rat the other out.” (Y/N) said a smile tugging at her lips, but it feels at what she’d just pointed out. “So what do we do about this whole soulmate thing? I mean I am a villain after all and your Robin.” She added and the small smile that had spread across Jason’s face fell. They sat there in silence both of them looking down on at their laps and (Y/N) was preparing for the worst, even though she honestly hadn’t expected much to come out of whatever this was supposed to be she was still hoping for the best. Jason sighed and (Y/N) looked up at him watching as he ran his gloved fingers through his hair and she raised an eyebrow at him.

“What?” She asked and he looked at her a small crooked smile on his face.

“I’m willing to try this whole soulmate thing if you are, and you know provided you don’t do anything serious as a villain,” Jason said and (Y/N) couldn’t stop herself from giggling. Of all the things she expected this certainly wasn’t what she’d thought he’d say.

“Are you serious? I’m not even going to get the whole you need to become a hero before I will even consider dating you, wow.” She said a smile spreading across her face, a similar one spreading across Jason’s.

“Well I mean I would prefer it if you turned to the light side, Batman would too, but we’re not going to force you the choice is yours. And if you really want to hear the speech I can give you the speech lord knows I’ve heard Batman say it enough times.” Jason joked and (Y/N)’s smile grew and she giggled at him. She didn’t respond to him right away though she was too busy thinking about what he’d just said about her choice to be good. If she was honest with herself she’d never actually thought about becoming a good guy, but she’d never really thought about becoming a villain either Selina had just offered her a chance to do something with her life and someplace warm with food when she desperately needed it and she jumped on the opportunity without thinking about it. But when she considered it she didn’t necessarily see anything wrong with becoming a good guy or at least landing somewhere in between. (Y/N)'s phone buzzed in her pocket pulling her from her thoughts and she pulled it out of her pocket to see a message from Selina.

‘Get back here, we’ve got another client.’ (Y/N) sighed at what she read before standing up and shoving her phone back into her pocket.

“What is it?” Jason asked standing up in front of her.

“Catwoman needs me.” She answered and Jason frowned.

“Well can you at least give me an answer before you leave?” He asked and she smirked. What she did next surprise her as much as it surprised Jason. She popped up onto the balls of her feet and leaned forward kissing Jason’s cheek.

“I’ll give the soulmate thing a try and hey I’ll even promise you that I’ll consider switching sides. For now, though I’ll take it easy on you.” (Y/N) winked at him as she stepped back from him and he laughed, and the sound was intoxicating to her.

“Don’t you mean I’ll be the one taking it easy on you? Because if my memory is correct I was the one kicking your ass back in the museum.” He taunted and this time she laughed.

“And yet we still got away with the artifact so you tell me who really won that Jason?” (Y/N) asked grabbing her whip off of her waist clicking the button on the handle.

“Fair enough, fair enough, so I’ll see you around?” Jason asked and she nodded smiling.

“See you around Robin.” (Y/N) said before she disappeared off into the night leaving Jason on the rooftop.

~One Year Later~

(Y/N) was pacing in front of the entrance to the Batcave, desperately trying to ignore the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach and trying to convince Alfred to let her back into the cave after he had banned. Why was she so unease? Simple Bruce said that he’d found where Jason was and going to get him and after a probably longer than needed screaming match he had left without her leaving her behind to sit with Alfred and watch the monitor. Jason has been missing for what felt like an eternity after he just up and left one night without a goodbye or a note, and (Y/N) had searched everywhere for him and now they had finally found him and Bruce wouldn’t let her go for some godforsaken reason. So you can imagine that (Y/N) was a little more than pissed off and she had attempted to follow Bruce by stealing one of the other vehicles but Alfred had caught her and banned her from the cave saying it would be better if she waited out there and calmed down, and a part of her agreed with Alfred a large part was still pissed though. That had been two hours ago and her anger had only grown the longer Alfred kept her out of the cave and the longer it took for Bruce to send back news.

She knew she should be happy about the fact that they had found Jason, and that he was still alive because she was still seeing in color, but she couldn’t shake the feeling in the pit of her stomach that something was wrong. Something was really, really, really wrong here she just couldn’t figure it out. Pausing in her pacing she took a deep breath trying to calm her racing heart and shaking hands as she walked back to the door.

“Alfred, please! Just let me back into the cave!” (Y/N) shouted hoping this would be the time that he let her back into the cave.

“As I’ve told you before Miss (Y/N) I will not let you back into the cave until you have calmed down which you have not.” Alfred pointed out and (Y/N) cursed as she turned and walked away from the door and into the middle of the room. Huffing in frustration she ran her fingers through her hair lightly gripping fist full of her hair as she closed her eyes and sighed through her nose. As much as she hated to admit it, Alfred was right she needed to calm down if she wasn’t careful she would do something really stupid and just wind up getting into more trouble which she didn’t need right now. What she needed was Jason home and alive so she could go up one side of him and down the other yelling at him for just disappearing like that. She breathed in through her nose and exhaled through her mouth as she opened her eyes. Her hands fell out of her hair and her shoulders sagged as she fell to her knees, her heartbreaking and her stomach dropping.

“ALFRED!!!!!!” (Y/N) screamed her voice heavy with emotions as tears welled in her eyes and fell without her knowing. Distantly she heard the door to the cave open and Alfred shouting her name but he sounded like he was a million miles away. Her hands shook as she brought them up to her eyes rubbing at them viciously, this had to be some sort of sick cosmic prank or something, it had to be, it wasn’t real, she was dreaming. It had to be something, anything but what it was.

“Miss (Y/N) what’s wrong? What happened?” Alfred said watching as she stopped rubbing her eyes and looked at him. His heart broke at the broken look on her face and in her eyes.

“H-He’s…..H-He’s…..H-He’s.” (Y/N) tried desperately to force the word out of her throat but it wouldn’t come and she broke down into sobs, wrapping her arms around herself and curling into a ball. It felt like someone had just ripped a part of her soul away and then set her on fire, it hurt, it hurt so much, she opened her mouth to say something but all that came out was a scream. A gut-wrenching, heartbroken scream that was filled with all the pain inside of her and all of the anger. Alfred wrapped his arms around her pulling her into a hug, he knew what she wouldn’t say. Jason Todd was dead, Bruce had been too late.

[so-many-youtubers-so-little-time]

Collabs and Secrets

Summary: You decide to film a video with the whole buttercream gang, your best friends, but find it’s much harder to collab with them, especially when you are keeping it a secret that you’re dating one of them. 

A/n: So this idea came to me a few days ago and I just wanted to keep it simple but I sort of melded a few ideas and this is the result lol. Forgive any grammar mistakes and spelling errors, also if you notice any inconsistencies just hmu, hope you enjoy! 

Pairing: Joe Sugg x reader

Words: 4.7K 

You fixed your hair and stuck a tongue out at the camera before centering yourself on the huge, empty, sofa then began your intro. 

“Hey, guys! It’s me, (y/n), again! And today...” You paused for suspense, “I have the whole Buttercream gang with me!” And on cue, Josh, Jack, Joe, Oli, Conor, and Caspar jumped out from behind the sofa. 

“Yay!” Caspar yelled excitedly as he fell face-first on the sofa and slid down the front. Jack began stroking your face while making creepy eye contact with the camera and Joe jumped forward and took a seat on the sofa, almost kicking you in the face while doing so. 

You jumped back before facing the camera, “I swear one day, these boys will do something and I’m gonna get seriously injured,” you joked to the camera. 

“Aweh (y/n)...” Conor took a seat next to you before sharply turning to face the camera, “You’reprobablyright, I’msorryinadvance!” He spoke really fast which broke all of you into laughter. 

After all of the guys settled into the sofa or tried to, but Jack and Conor ended up having to sit on the ground, on each side of your legs. Joe and Caspar were seated on each of your sides. Oli on Joe’s other side, and Josh on Caspar’s side. “Everyone seated? Can we properly start now?-” 

“Where’s Mikey?” Caspar interrupted which is when you guys started noticing he wasn’t to be seen. 

“Probably taking a shit,” Josh joked which made you chuckle. 

Joe said gesturing at you, “It’s alright, (Y/n) can take his spot in the ‘Buttercream gang’.” 

“Cor, Mikey’s gotten hotter!” Oli flirted but was interrupted by an appalled Jack. 

“That implies that Mikey was hot, to begin with,” he said with while side eyeing the camera. 

“You are right,” Oli mumbled making everyone laugh more but you turned your attention back to the camera. 

“Anyway!-” You blanked on what you were gonna say next and Josh caught you. 

“Did you forget?!” He nudged you with his hand, which was placed over Caspar’s shoulder

Joe peered over to Josh while snickering, “She did!” 

“She was so busy getting all of us for one video, she actually forgot to plan the video!” Caspar stated before you slightly shoved him, but he was being over dramatic and fell on Josh then rolled onto the ground. 

Everyone laughed again but before Caspar could get up and take his spot again. Josh and Jack lunged for his spot. You scooted closer to Joe and watched them both try to fit on the sofa as Caspar also began fighting for his spot back. 

Oli looked at the camera and said with a deadpan expression, “She’s our only female friend if you haven’t noticed.” 

Conor chuckled then went cross eyed. “A FUH-MALE?!” which no one must’ve heard over the sound of Caspar, Josh, and Jack arguing. 

“Guys! Guys! Guys! The Video!” You tried but they would not bother until they each had the seat next to you. As they continued fighting, you just stared into the camera with a blank expression, Joe noticed and began doing the same. Then Conor noticed, then Oli, and they too stared at the camera as the three men acted childishly. 

Finally, Josh won and got the spot next to you, with Jack stuck beside him and Caspar forced to sit on the ground, near your leg, next to Conor. After they settled down and became jovial again Caspar noticed you and the other boys,“Wha- huh?” Caspar asked as he looked back and forth between you four and the camera. 

“Oh, nothing,” Joe said as you all cut the act and laughed at how in sync you four were. 

Jack pretendingly grumbled in the corner about how unfair it was that Josh got the spot next to you when Oli peered over, “Buddy, we can all hear you-” 

“I don’t think he cares, he just loves (y/n) too much!” Joe kidded to which you made this face at the camera. 

Jack and Conor, who were on opposite ends of the frame began joking around loudly while Joe, Caspar, and Oli also began cracking their own inside jokes, forgetting that they were there to film for your video. 

You tried to grab their attention and focus it back to the video but your voice drowned out, Josh noticed and thankfully helped you out, “Are- Are you guys done?” Josh asked with a slightly annoyed tone while glancing back and forth between each of the boys and the camera until each of the boys had quieted down.  

You looked up at Josh and smiled, opening your mouth to say something when Mikey walked out of the bathroom and stood in front of the camera, blocking it. “You guys started filming without me?!” he questioned with his back to the camera. “Why- Can’t you wait-” He took a step back as he questioned you seven. 

“Mikey!” all of you shouted in unison. 

“The camera, mate!” Joe shouted as Mikey almost knocked over your set up, but he whipped around in time and didn’t.

“Can you just sit down, LP?!” Josh yelled, starting a tsunami of people yelling at Mikey too. So Mikey just mumbled nervously and walked up to the sofa. 

“Mate, whatcha looking for? There’s no space on the sofa?” Joe pointed out as he gestured at how cramped everyone was on the sofa.  

You nodded your head at Joe’s comment and pointed to the ground but Mikey just gestured at the sofa, “I dunno- Couldn’t you make some more space? Just- like- scoot around-?” he shrugged.

“If there was more space on the sofa, why would we be sittin’ on the ground, Mikey?” Caspar questioned. 

After moments of banter, Mikey also resigned to sitting on the ground, near Jack’s feet, even though he was occasionally met with tickles and tasers from him, which distracted everyone but you could finally get back to the video. 

“Ok! So as you’ve read the title, this is a new type of game, basically, a ‘who knows me better’ and a ‘hypothetical scenarios’ game put together-.” 

“Oh boy!” Joe exclaimed before you could finish your sentence. 

“Is there a prize or anything?” Oli questioned as he peered over to you. 

You nodded, “There is actually!” You turned back to the camera, “Whoever wins gets a kiss from me!�� In the corner of your eyes, you noticed Joe’s eyes widen then his expression change to pretend like he wasn’t shocked. 

“Really?!” one of the boys questioned, with hints of surprise and disbelief, while looking at you but you broke out laughing. 

“No,” you replied while laughing at their reactions, “The prize is actually winner’s choice,” you explained when you finally caught your breath.  

“That’s even better!” Conor said as he slowly faced the camera and creepily smirked. 

“Oi! To a limit! I’m not gonna murder anyone or like that cause you won-” 

“Wait, I can still ask for a kiss if I win?” Jake flirted in front of the boys but before Joe chimed in. 

“IF you win.” 

“Oohhh!” Josh went glancing between him and Joe, who then began pretending to get angry and put their fists up, implying that they were gonna fight for you. 

You chuckled before going deadpan and screaming, “The video!” They laughed it off then went back to normal so that you could finish the instructions. “There are some rules for the ‘winners choice’ but I’ll get to that after the game instructions-” 

Conor mumbled something to Jack, causing him to giggle, and you made a mental note to edit that out before going back to the game. “So I asked you guys, my followers, to send in questions and scenarios, some which would include these guys and some which wouldn’t. Then each of you,” you gestured at the boys, “-would get a chance to answer. Whoever answers closest to what I would do or have done in that scenario, gets a point!” 

Oli chimed in, “So we could literally have any answer and if we convinced you enough it would be right?-”

“You couldn’t have done a simple ‘best friend vs. boy friend?” Jack questioned jokingly. 

“She just needed an excuse to get all seven of us on the same screen,” Conor stated while laughing. 

“Yeah plus she doesn't have a boyfriend,” Caspar responded to Jack.

“...Or best friends,” Joe mumbled before giggling. You caught his eyes and gave a glare before jabbing his side with your finger, making him jump back. He pushed you away and you two had a minor poking fight but your attention was caught by Mikey.

“OK, (y/n), but I am obviously at such a disadvantage,” Mikey pointed out, “I’ve known you the least amount of time out of all these boys- I don’t even know your favorite color-” 

“Mikey, we’ve known each for over two years, I reckon that’s a good amount of time to get to know someone,” You told while Conor explained to Mikey that it wasn’t a fact-based question-answer game but rather a set of hypothetical scenarios where they would have to predict how you would act. 

You got back to your sentence, “Whoever has the most points at the end of the game is the winner and can use me however they want-” when the last sentence came out of your mouth you knew it was wrong. And broke out laughing. 

“Whaddya mean ‘use you’ (y/n)?!” Joe questioned while everyone laughed their ass off. 

“What I mean is, the winner can make me do something and I won’t be able to refuse, but... but... nothing inappropriate and nothing which could hurt others. Those are my rules, other than that I’m good with whatever the winner makes me do, cause I trust you all equally.” 

Conor looked up at you with a weird smile and you giggled, “Not you though, I don’t trust you.” 

You picked up your phone and informed the camera, “I have my questions and my score board here,” you showed the boys your notes on your phone without giving away too much. “Shall we get started? Question number one,” 

In an instant, all of the boys dropped their side conversations and diverted their full attention to you. Your mouth opened to read a question but you glanced up and snickered, “Why’d all of you just get so serious so fast?” 

They looked around at each other and also laughed at their behavior when Oli answered, “It’s cause we really wanna win that prize.” 

Your eyes widened and you spoke to the camera, “Am I gonna regret ‘winners choice’?” the guys started talking again but you interrupted, “ANYWAY! Scenario #1: If I was a time traveler, where would I go: the future or the past? And what would I do there? I’m open to your explanations,” you finished but then a detail came to you, “Remember: more than one of you can get points for each question so you guys can team up and discuss, but there can only be one winner, in the end.” You looked around to find them still watching you, “Go on!” you had to say before they began talking amongst themselves.

Jack, Mikey, and Josh discussed on your left but you heard that they disagreed with each other so Josh quit sharing with them. 

Conor and Caspar whispered near your legs, but you didn’t think it was an answer being talked about because they were giggling and rambling on. 

On your right, Joe had turned to face Oli and they seemed like they were actually being serious about the answer so you leaned in closer when Joe turned around and smiled, surprised that you were so close to his face. 

You were tempted to kiss him, and you knew he was too, but the boys were watching so he just began talking with a silly accent, “Excuse you, ma’am, how may we help you?” He asked while extended his neck out to you, making you move back into your original sitting position. 

You chuckled before to trying to eavesdrop on the others again until everyone was ready with their answers. 

“Ok let’s go in a circle, starting with Josh, ending with Joe.” You said as you clapped their shoulders at their names. 

“I think you would travel to the past, before WW2 and try to stop Hitler.” He said so with a serious face.  

You nodded, “Alright, next: Jack,” You peered over Josh and met Jacks eyes who was just finished giggling at something he and Mikey chatted about. 

“Ummm... I think you would travel to the future and visit a personal milestone in your life,” he glanced at the camera before mumbling, “Like our marriage.” 

Which made the guys chuckle but you just rolled your eyes at him and moved on to watch Mikey answer. “I- uh-” he chuckled nervously, “I think you would travel to the past and meet your mother?” He sounded like he was guessing which cracked you up. 

“She doesn’t need to time travel for that, she could just hop on a plane,” Conor joked. 

“Oi, you know what I meant!” Mikey argued as he pointed at Conor. You just laughed it off and looked down at Caspar for his answer. He said past too, and something about bananas. 

Then Conor went, giving the funniest and most unbelievable answer ever, following him it was Oli who was actually the closest to something you would do then finally Joe went. 

“I think you would travel to the future and maybe meet your future self -not a milestone or anything- but ask a couple of questions- maybe try to pinpoint any mistake you made so you could avoid them after you return to present time?” He seemed really into his answer and the more he explained it you could imagine yourself doing that too. 

“Alright good answers, boys, out of the seven of you, I only found three to be something I would do.” The boys leaned in closer to hear who got points, “ the first point goes to Oli-” he pumped the air and smiled as you continued on, “ the second point goes to Jack! I would totally visit a future milestone in my life- just not our marriage- cause that won’t ever happen-” you said with slight disgust as you faced the camera before breaking character, “And the last point goes to...” you waited for effect before swiftly turning the other way and meeting Joe’s eyes, “Mr.Joe Sugg!” He cheered and shouted in victory but you looked down to see the opposite in Caspar and Conor. 

Caspar began- pretend- crying. 

Conor stood up and began swearing profusely which made all you of a laugh, “This game sucks!-” he acted, “You’re a liar, (y/n)- a liar, I say!” He stormed off the frame before entering back with a large grin on his face. He ran a hand through his hair and sat back down for the next question. 

You cleared your throat and waited until everyone was done chatting to carry on to the second question, hoping it wouldn’t take as long as the first question/answer because, after every answer, the boys got too distracted & started having side conversations and wrangling their attentions back for the video took all the energy out of you. “Guys, question #2:” they quieted down and listened, “If I had no obligations for 24 hours, and had the ability to do whatever I wanted, what would I do?” You decided to let the boys answer in whatever order they felt in and reached the end of that answer session. 

Caspar, Joe, and Jack got points at the end of the round since they all predicted that you would either just sit in your room watching tv/youtube or try to meet your idol. 

After a few questions, you decided you needed a break so you called a time out and checked the clock. 8:38. 

“You boys wanna order pizza?” You asked as you held up a pizza place pamphlet. 

“Sure.” Caspar voiced before he went back to chatting and joking around with the others. You tried calling from the living room but the boys were so loud that you had no choice other than going into your bedroom. 

You pulled out your phone and began dialing the pizza place when the door closed and two arms wrapped around your waist. You turned around to find your boyfriend, Joe, with a smile on his lips. 

“I didn’t get to tell you how gorgeous you look,” he leaned into to give a soft kiss. 

When you pulled away you looked up to meet his eyes, “How’re the boys? Do they suspect anything?” 

Joe chuckled to himself then answered, “I don’t think so, me and you’ve been best friends for so long, they’re just used to seeing you and me so close, I mean- Jack can’t stop flirting so-” 

You chuckled, feeling bad for Jack but also delighted that you were so good at keeping everything under wraps. “I know, I know, but something tells me that he’s just doing it all for this video, something’s changed & I just think he’s pretending.” 

Joe nodded and took a step forward, making you take a step back, towards your bed. “Hey,” you whispered, “Not right now,” you warned trying not to smile as he continued walking you towards the bed. His hand rubbing circles on your hip, underneath your shirt. Your legs hit the edge of the bed and you two fell onto the bed. 

“The door-?” You pointed. 

“Locked,” Joe smirked as he laid on top of you. 

“Joe,” You met his eyes, “we can’t, not now, but later tonight maybe...” your hands wandered from his chest to his stomach, before beginning to tickle him. 

He rolled off of you and squirmed as you tickled him even more. Wrinkles around his eyes and laugh lines around his mouth gasped for air in between the laughs. He was about to laugh a little bit too loud so you quickly covered his mouth and ‘shhh’ed. 

The two of you froze but you shouldn’t have put your guard down because, in a swift motion, Joe was on top of you, his hands pinning your wrists down. You gasped but kept the volume down, “Joeseph Graham Sugg, let me go or else someone won’t get to sneak into my house at night,” you warned and gave him a smirk, you could even see the gears in his mind turning. 

He quickly rolled off you and you two just laid there on the bed, side by side. He interlaced his fingers into yours and you turned to face him, “I don’t wanna keep this a secret anymore. I don’t want to keep us a secret anymore.” Your eyes grazed over his lips and went to his sapphire eyes.  

“I know, (y/n), but I don’t know if the fandom will be open for us yet.” He also turned on his side and placed his other hand on your waist. 

“Yeah, I don’t know if the fans should know just yet but the boys deserve to know, I mean they knew that we had crushes on each other, and I think they deserve to know that we’ve been dating for a month now.” 

Joe smiled at the thought of not having to hide this relationship in front of them then nodded, “Yeah, let’s tell them tonight itself.” 

“Tonight?” 

“Yeah, the whole gangs here, let's.” 

You smiled and bit your lip before nodding, “I’m ok with that.” 

Everyone had pizza in their hands and stared at the camera with a deadpan expression, just so you could put in a clip of the break in the video, “That’s good!” You yelled and everyone became normal again. Pizzas were laid out in the center of the coffee table. 

Conor, Jack, Mikey, and Josh were sat in a circle around it. Joe, Caspar, You and Oli were sat on the sofa. 

After dinner, You and the boys got back into position and decided to start filming again. You & Joe glanced at each other, trying to contain smiles and went back to playing the game. Around the sixth question, you looked down to see Caspar stroking your leg which made everyone crack up but after that, the game continued well, even though there were about ten thousand tangent conversations and inside jokes during the whole filming. 

“Who’s winning, (y/n)?” Oli asked as he peered around Joe. 

You checked your count on the phone and looked up with a mix of surprise and shock, “It’s me, isn’t it?” Conor said while grinning at the camera even though he only got two points so far.  

“Ummm actually it’s tied between Caspar, Jack, and Joe.” 

“What?!” Conor yelled pretending to through a fit, “Lemmeseethat!” He rambled as he lunged for your phone but then pulled back, making everyone laugh, “No but seriously,” he went deadpan, “How is Jack up there?” 

“Yeah, how is he up there?” Josh asked in disbelief. 

“What does that mean, mate?” Jack asked with hints of annoyance.

“Alright, Alright, I just called it like it is, you guys still have four more questions to redeem yourselves-” 

“Mikey has a negative point?!” Joe interrupted as he gazed at your phone.  

“What?!” Mikey questioned as he stood up and took your phone to find that Joe was only messing. 

“Mikey, sit down, he was only joking,” you told as he nervously chuckled along with Joe before taking his place again. 

The next three questions flew by and Joe & Jack were still tied but Oli took Caspar’s place in the tie. 

Getting the group of boys to focus again after the previous round took a few moments but you were now ready for the last question. “Ok boys, this is the last one. It’s fairly easy too. Ready?” you asked as you looked around, “If I had a superpower, what would it be and why?” 

The boys took a few moments to discuss amongst themselves. Josh had just given up or he must’ve made up his answer already because he just sat there in silence. Joe was the next one to finish, so he picked up his phone and began scrolling through Insta. Soon all of the boys were ready for the answers so you pointed at Caspar to start them off. 

“I think you would have X-ray vision because you love being nosy.” 

You cracked a smile and glanced at the camera with a puzzling look. 

Following Caspar went Conor, then Joe, then Josh, and so on until everyone had given their answer, you awarded points to Oli and Jack, which meant they were tied. You didn’t know what to do, you wondered if they could ‘rock, paper, Scissors's it but your discussion with Joe came back to your mind and you decided to add a secret question which would be edited out of the video. 

“So do we both win, (Y/n)?” Oli asks with a toothy grin, glad that he won. 

“Actually, I’ve decided to add an extra question worth two points,” you bit your lip, glancing at Joe from the corner of your eyes, “It’s not gonna be in the video though, so umm... yeah lets get to it.” They were a bit confused but they complied when you told all of them to pull their phones out and have the notes app on so that they could show you the answer without any others hearing and agreeing. 

“Ok.. ready? Phones out?” The boys nodded and watched you, your heart beating faster than ever as you opened your mouth, “I’ve been keeping a secret for the past month, what is it?” 

The boys began typing quickly and finished in an instant. “Conor first.” He handed you the phone and mumbled something to Jack before erupting into laughter. You read his answer and closed your eyes before cracking a smile, “No, I am not ‘pregnent with an alien baby’, Conor.” 

The boys broke out in laughter as you shook your head and grabbed Josh’s phone. His answer wasn’t correct either, so you just moved onto Joe’s phone. He obviously knew the answer but he just wrote: ‘You’re cute AF and IDK how lucky I am to have such an amazing woman as my GF and best friend.’ You blushed like a strawberry but got him out of your thoughts and moved on while avoiding eye contact. Following him was Oli, then Caspar, so far none of them had guessed your relationship secret yet but you also knew the chances of guessing that was slim.

Next went Mikey followed lastly by Jack’s phone. He had a smirk on his face as he handed it to you. Mikey tried peering onto his screen but you grabbed it fast like a child. You looked down and read his answer and your eyes went wide, “Oh my god!” Joe glanced and gasped too, “How, Jack?!” you yelled out, he took that as a win and cheered. 

“I knew it!” 

“Wait, what?” Caspar asked as Jack continued cheering. 

Joe decided to tell the others, “(Y/n) and I-”

But Jack yelled out, “JOE AND (Y/N) ARE DATING!” 

What followed after that was just a blur for you. They were all happy for you two obviously but it was overwhelming answering so many questions, at least the guilt weighing you down was gone and you felt open to being yourself around the boys again. 

After lots of explaining and well-wishing, everyone had settled down to film the outro. “So who won the game, (Y/n)?” Conor asked as you all acted normal for the camera. 

“Well... after a very intense round of ‘rock, paper, scissor’s,” you lied, “...Jack Maynard is the winner!” You hung your head in fake sadness as he stood up and cheered. Later, after he settled down, you finished the outro and the boys began filtering out of your home. 

Caspar and Josh left first, they had a meeting the next day and it was pretty late. Next was Mikey, then Oli. 

You were laying on the sofa with your head on Joe’s lap as you two chatted with Conor and Jack. “Ugh go back to being a secret if you’re gonna be so cute,” Conor said with fake disgust written across his face 

“Hey, what’s done is done, mate.” Joe leaned down and kissed you before tickling your side a little. 

You were gonna respond to Conor but a thought came back to you. “Wait, Jack, how’d you know me and Joe are dating?” You sat up and snuggled into Joe’s side. 

“Oh,” he chuckled, “I was editing Sunday’s vlog when I noticed Joe give you a cheeky kiss on the lips, in the background of one of the clips.” 

You scoffed, “Joe!” You playfully slapped his arm, “I told you not to be so obvious-” 

“Sorry, sorry-” 

“Now that Jack’s won, who knows what he’s gonna make me do-” 

“You got yourself into that, (Y/n)” Conor told making you chuckle. 

“Even though I did know you two were dating, I made it till the end of the game without that affecting my points, I still would’ve won cause I know you the best.” Jack shrugged, “I was just trying to get Joe jealous and admit your relationship himself but that never happened.” 

The realization dawned on you, “Ohhh, that’s why you were flirting so much with me-” 

“Yeah who in the right mind would flirt with you, (Y/n),” Jack joked while gagging. You turned to Joe with a sad puppy face but ended up laughing. 

“Jack, you’re true gentlemen,” Conor said sarcastically as he stood up to leave too. 

“You betcha,” Jack said with a cheesy American accent as he stood up too.  

[gingerwritess]

home boy loki needs his hair brushed asap

part 12 of loki’s happy ending, masterlist in bio!

ok now things can start moving between you two eheheheheheh

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

There’s a god in your shower.

No big deal. Just another normal day in the life of me.

What in god’s name possessed you to agree to this, you have no clue, but he’s been in there for almost an hour now and you’re just listening to your water bill shoot through the roof.

No. big. deal.

You’re about to go bang on the door and yell at him to finish up before he drains the ocean when the door swings open and he stomps past you.

Glowing.

You lower your fist and clear your throat, intent on ignoring yet another eyeful of bare godly torso.

“Took you long enough.”

“It’s been nearly a month,” he scowls, shooting you a glare. “I have a lot of hair to wash.”

“Cool.” You nod and awkwardly sit on the side of your bed, trying not to watch him finish drying himself off. “I got you some clean clothes. Just some sweats and a t-shirt, nothing fancy. Sorry.”

He casts you a sideways glance, tightening the towel around his waist. “Thank you.”

After nearly three hours of hiding in your office eating, Loki had gathered the courage—and the blatant shame—to reluctantly request to take a shower. You’d told him you wouldn’t stop him from using the communal showers in the tower, to which he had just raised an eyebrow at you in clear annoyance.

“Oh. Right, only Laing, not you,” you remembered. “You, um, can use mine.”

A slightly awkward car ride and a quick stop in the men’s section of the nearest department store brought you to now, holding out the grey sweats and t-shirt to the freshly washed god—the glowing god, you realise again when you get another good glance at that ridiculously well-defined torso.

He takes them without another word, stepping back with one hand holding the towel around his waist, staring at you in silence.

“Well?”

You blink. “Well what?”

“Shall I dance for you as I drop the towel? Or are you planning on turning around?”

So maybe the staring is obvious. But he’s...glowing.

“Yeah, yeah,” you mumble, hurriedly swivelling around on the bed to turn your back on him. “Sorry.”

“Thank you.”

You hear him rustle around for a bit, wishing he could’ve just stayed in the bathroom to change, considering this is now twice that you’ve seen way more of him than a “workplace associate” should ever get to—have to.

I meant have to.

Your heart beats a tiny, tiny bit faster.

You panic.

“So you’re glowing,” you blurt, burying your face in your hands just in case he rounds the bed and gets a look at you.

He doesn’t need to start thinking he holds any power over you.

“No,” Loki quickly replies from behind you. “I’m not.”

“You totally were. I saw you, your whole torso was glowing.”

“Staring, were we?”

You grab a pillow and lob it somewhere over your head, hoping and praying that it hits him—the soft thunk and hissed “I’ll kill you” seem to say that it did.

“People don’t glow,” you huff into your hands, waiting for the go-ahead to look. “Is that just your natural glow? You wear like, permanent all-body highlighter?”

“I’m not glowing,” he says again, voice slightly muffled—must be putting the shirt on.

The dumb side of your brain heaves a sad, disappointed sigh at that fact, and you want to slap yourself.

Slow footsteps drag over to come to a stop in front of you, and you peek through your fingertips to find a thankfully clothed god standing before you—still glowing.

“Just look.”

You push him by the shoulders over to the mirror on your dresser, flinging a hand towards his reflection as he stares.

The gold shimmer to his pale skin is unmistakable.

“Glowing. I told you.”

“I don’t see it,” he smoothly replies.

His hand twitches against his thigh as he turns away from the mirror, and in the blink of an eye, the entire golden hue surrounding his figure is gone.

“You just made it go away.” You blink a couple times, taking a shocked step away from him. “It was there. I saw it, and you did something with your hand.”

“You’re delusional.” Loki gives you a thin smile.

“Do it again.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Do—do it again,” you repeat, waving your hand at him as you look him up and down. “Show me again.”

There’s a strange lift to your voice, something he’s certain he’s never heard before, not from you, not from anyone on Asgard, not from anyone between the two.

Perhaps from his mother, perhaps centuries ago when he couldn’t quite reach the window sill she’d claimed as her’s and his, back when he’d managed to produce nothing more than a painful spark in the palm of his hand.

“Do that again.”

You’re...interested.

A lump catches in his throat.

“No. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

To appease you would be too indulgent. It’d be stupid, a mindless thrill for a few seconds that’d only begin another downward spiral of yearning.

Impressing a mortal isn’t exactly a feat to consider an accomplishment.

The spell was a stupid idea, he decides, it was too obvious, too drastic. The intensity of the concealment might be necessary, but he’ll have to make extra efforts if he wants to keep up the façade without those, uh...glittery side effects.

“Okay,” you slowly say with a frown, “never mind. Sorry I asked.”

The eye contact is scalding.

Something’s up. Loki’s silent, you’re uncomfortable, and those pants look pretty damn good on him.

Some butts are made for grey sweatpants.

Loki finally breaks, turning around and walking away from you without another word—yeah. Butts like that.

Did I mention you’re uncomfortable?

You loudly clear your throat as you stand, shoving every last thought about your fake boyfriend doctor god to the absolute furthest corner of your mind. Time for mature, professional interactions.

“Need a hairbrush?”

“What?” Loki whirls around at your voice, eyes wide. “Why would I need—”

“Easy, Loki,” you laugh, raising your hands in defence. “Just thought I’d offer.”

He goes silent for a moment, then slowly nods.

“Please.”

He takes it from you without so much as a glance.

Riiip. Riiip. Riiiiiiip.

You chance a quick look into the bathroom only to find Loki positively ripping through his hair with the frenzy of a madman, his hair a wet, matted, tangled mess of dark locks that you could’ve sworn wasn’t like that when he came out of the shower.

Or any other time you’ve seen him, for that matter.

“Loki,” you quickly call, slipping into the bathroom before he can lash out at you again. “Stop, you’ve gotta be gentle, stop—stop—”

He scowls when you grab the brush out of his hand, your other hand smacking him lightly on the arm. “I can do this myself,” he grits out, fingers finding the back of his head and rubbing there with a wince. “Don’t touch me.”

“You’re hurting yourself.” You hold up the brush with a sheepish grin. “Can I, um, can I help?”

There’s a moment of hesititation—then deep contemplation, deciding whether he can live with the shame, you guess—followed by another curt nod.

“Sit on the edge of the bathtub, yeah?”

Surprisingly enough, he does as you say, and when the brush meets his scalp, he flinches.

“Sorry, sorry.”

Staring from the bottom up, you try to work your way around the knots upon knots of matted hair, tugging as gently as possible and trying with every ounce of yourself to not let your fingers brush against his neck.

Loki doesn’t say anything, doesn’t move hardly at all, despite your incessant tugging at his scalp. It’s far from a relaxing moment, and even further from—as some may consider it—a somewhat romantic one.

Even still, you desperately want to dispel any tension that might be starting to break through the surface.

“Your hair wasn’t all tangled when you got in the shower,” you point out, working the brush through a particularly troublesome knot near his neck. “You were using an illusion for that, too, right?”

Half-expecting him to deny it, his curt “I was” comes as a bit of a surprise.

“How come?”

“I’ve been stuck in prison,” he replies, but it’s offhanded, thrown out as an excuse.

You’ve half a mind to call him out on it, but you elect to just change the subject instead. “Have you given anymore thought to actually going to your therapy?”

“You mean go back to prison,” Loki corrects, fingers tightening on the edge of the bath. “Back in the hands of my brother and his little friends, their prodding and poking and watching me through a glass case like an animal—”

CRACK.

You both look down with a start.

“I...sorry. I’ll fix that.”

Somehow in that quick little almost-tangent, he’d gripped the bathtub edge so tightly that the porcelain cracked.

An excellent reminder of whose hair you’re brushing—and who you’ve now brought into your home, fed, and are pretending to date, all to appease a grand plan that has yet to be revealed to you.

You suddenly wish you’d brought your taser.

“We should be getting back to work soon,” you say as brightly as you can, putting extra effort into not tugging too hard on his hair as you hurry to finish. “Three-hour lunch breaks aren’t exactly advised.”

Why’d you do that for him, then?

He just nods, hands moving slightly as the edge of the tub crackles back together.

Only one more little bit of hair left to untangle, and your finger brushes just above the neck of his shirt, a jolt of near electricity zipping up your arm as Loki flinches violently, hissing a curse.

“Don’t touch me.”

Swallowing the lump in your throat—and really wishing for your taser—you hurriedly yank the brush the rest of the way through the tangled lock.

His hair moves with the sideways jerk of his head and you catch a glimpse of the pale skin at the base of his neck, normally covered by his hair and the neckline of his shirt.

...and your heart drops.

Bits of fresh red scar tissue peek out from the neckline, jagged incisions along the back of his neck and only suggesting an array of horror further beneath his shirt than you’d like to imagine.

“Loki,” you breathe, a finger catching in the neckline of his shirt to see the barely-formed scars chasing each other down his back.

He stands abruptly and snatches up your wrist, hair falling to cover the cuts and a demon in his eye screaming murder, then you’re back in your office.

“Glowing,” you blurt out before he’s reached the door, making him freeze with a hand on the knob. “That’s why you were glowing, y-you’re covering your—Loki, that’s not—you have to tell them—”

He’s back to Dr. Laing in the blink of an eye, shutting you up with a deadly glare you can see through the illusion.

“This was a mistake.”

Your hand searches the desk for your taser as you stare at him. “Okay then.”

“I liked you much better when you just played along,” he snaps, and your eyes narrow.

“I think you liked it better when I fed you,” you spit back, fingers wrapping around your taser—just in case. “And when I let you use my shower. And when I brushed your hair.”

“If you’re searching for gratitude, look elsewhere, mortal.”

“Really?” Your laugh turns cold, shaking your head at the fake doctor across from you. “I just saved your ass, and that’s how you’re gonna treat me? Okay.”

You pick up the desk phone.

Loki’s eyes narrow. “What do you think you are doing?”

“Reporting you. Again. For real this time.” You flash him a feigned smile and punch in the numbers. “And I’m telling them that you’re hiding crucial information regarding your employer for the little invasion stunt you pulled. They’re not gonna be too happy about that.”

“They owe me everything,” he hisses, taking a rapid step towards you, hand outstretched. “It was my suffering that brought this team of freaks together, it was my strategy that allowed them to become the heroes your world holds so dear.”

The phone is still ringing, and you put it on speaker. “But someone else was playing puppet master, weren’t they?”

“Hang up the phone,” he orders, snapping his fingers. “Stop this. You don’t know what you’d be starting.”

The phone keeps ringing and Loki’s eyes flit up to yours, wide and—huh.

Panicked.

That’s clear panic in his eyes, fear; Loki’s afraid of something.

“Please.”

Reluctantly, doubtfully, you put the phone back on the receiver.

“You better start talking,” you tell him, dropping back into your chair. “Where’d those cuts come from?”

Instead of answering, Laing-Loki just stares at you, those illusive eyes boring into your skull; you’re glad he’s not Loki right now.

Your grip tightens on the taser.

“Stop it.” It’s barely a growl through gritted teeth, barely intelligible.

His fingers touch down on the desk, a little lean to his body that makes you recoil, wishing you could curl into a little ball and escape the burning in his eyes, but you find yourself unable to break the gaze.

“I said stop,” he repeats, and this time it’s a warning.

“Stop what?”

“You’re pitying me.” The corner of his lip quirks upwards.

It’s not exactly a dashing smile.

“No, I’m not,” you counter with a frown. “Don’t flatter yourself, I care about a lot of people.”

“You’re full of it, aren’t you?” Loki laughs, shards of ice against your skin. “You and your caring heart, you want to fix me, rehabilitate me; I’m just another little project for you, hm?”

“Know what? Never mind. I don’t give a shit about you.” You pull yourself to your feet, plastering a smile on your face and pointing a finger at the door. “Now get out of my life. I’m done helping you, I’m done.”

“You and I,” he laughs, a finger gesturing between the two of you, “we’re breaking up. This is over. Robert Laing deserves better.”

Okay, this is all a joke. Sure, Loki, we can laugh about it.

Smacking his hands on the desk once more, he smiles and pushes himself off, spinning on his heel with a swish of his lab coat.

“Oh, and sympathy?” He turns when he reaches the doorway, halfway out and turning to throw one last grin your way. “Not a good colour on you.”

Up goes your middle finger—and he laughs once more.

The last glimpse of Dr. Laing—Loki—you get is him striding away from you, lab coat fluttering around him, little droplets of dark red starting to stain through the white fabric covering his back.

The illusions must be fading.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

feel free to send me ideas!!

if you enjoyed…what if i linked my venmo…haha no i jest…no obligations….just in case….u don’t have to ha ha…….unless… ??

~ masterlist link in my bio ~

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[thelittleredheadedmusician]

Gotham City Ghostbusters 8

BAT-Girls

ao3

Next Chapter | Previous Chapter

To Barbara, Bruce was like an uncle and she loved being able to spend time with him. Because unlike her father, he wasn’t afraid to tell her things about the city’s ghosts and how to get rid of them. But what she loved even more was when he went out of town on business and she could get the run of the cave, especially since her accident.

Barbara never blamed Jason, even if he blamed himself. He couldn’t control his actions and she was the one who opened the door thinking it was one of her close friends. She hadn’t even thought anything was out of the ordinary until he drew the knife.

The rest of the night had been a blur of florescent lights and hospital scrubs. The way her artery had been slit meant that she should have died, or at the very least lost her leg. Thanks to modern technology, thanks to Bruce, she didn’t lose either. But what became of her leg afterward is what was being called a “phantom limb”. Like a ghost it had remained when the natural order said it should not and because of that it did not always move the way it should and occasionally felt unstable and insubstantial. Requiring her to use a crutch, even if she didn’t always need it, because there was no telling when her leg would no longer take weight.

She took this as a challenge.

Bruce believed it to be a liability, even if he never said it to her. Why else would he keep her from the cave? The boys may have been benched too but they at least still had limited access.

With him away for business though Barbara had free reign. She maneuvered herself easily between the different work tables and equipment, crutch in one hand and Wayne Tech tablet in the other. Barking orders at Tim who ran around gathering supplies for her she set to work on their much needed gadgets while Dick and Jason started with the training.

“Tim!” she called across the cave. “Do you know how to use that beautiful monstrosity of a 3D printer?”

Tim poked his head out of the storage locker he was raiding for extra electrum, “Yeah? Why?”

“Because, I’m done with the design for Steph’s bat and need someone to run the program while I get to work on those goop-a-rangs.” Tim took his armful of broken and bent electrum and dropped it into the oversized funnel that would melt it down for use in their 3D printer that was really more of a mold and metal casting machine than anything. She just liked referring to it as a 3D printer because it ran on similar programing. He snatched the tablet from her as she settled herself into a seat in front of the main worktable.

Years ago it had been discovered that a gelatinous, high-density substance could coat ghosts, stick them to walls and ceilings, and render them powerless. It was Babs’ weapon of choice when she was running around with Bruce and Dick before her accident. After it she had designed her own program to create a electrum crutch with the capabilities of firing the beloved goop. Dick had used his cave access to build it for her and Jason kept her in steady supply of the goop cartridges. She was currently trying to improve on her designs on the weaponized slime and create an armada of goop-grenades and goop-a-rangs rather than having to fire the substance from a gun like her crutch.

After running them through their paces Jason, Dick, and Damian brought over a very exhausted looking Steph, Duke, and Harper and a very mischievous looking Cass. They crowded around Babs and her table, examining the tech there. Duke reached his hand out to fiddle with a half-wired grenade and Barbara slapped it away, “Don’t touch.”

He quickly cradled his hand to his chest and shot her a wounded look that she merely shrugged off. “So…” Harper started, looking at the mess. “When do I get to build mine? You said I could.”

Babs passed her the tablet that Tim had returned and explained, “These are blueprints of previous or current models of tech in use by Bruce as well as my own designs. Anything on the tables – except these, don’t touch these –” she shot Duke a look, “is free reign. Have fun. Don’t blow anything up.”

“Do you know what is effective?” Tim asked kindly.

Harper rolled her eyes and began ticking off her fingers, “Electrum, high-voltages of electricity, and that funky gunk. Plus wards and those crazy weird laser grids.”

“Good. Have fun.” Babs said, her attention focused on soldering wires.

“What do you guys have?” Duke asked, genuinely curious.

“Well Dickiebird has those pretty escrima sticks. Only thing any of us has that’s officially Wayne Tech. They’re super high-voltage electricity on the one end. And then Babs has that wonderful crutch of hers, shoots goop. Damian has that pretentious electrum sword. Then I have these gorgeous twin pistols.” At this he pulled them out of the holster on his hip. “Fire bursts of goop. Made them myself.”

“-tt- They also occasionally misfire, coating Todd in that disgusting slime,” Damian said with a slightly exaggerated eye roll.

Jason just shrugged it off, “Eh, I’m still working out some of the kinks.”

“What about you two?” Duke motioned to Tim and Cass.

“I, have this!” Tim said a little too dramatically and pulled his collapsible bo staff from his pocket. Duke quirked an unimpressed eyebrow. “It’s like Dick’s escrima sticks so it’s got like a super high voltage taser in it, but I made it myself.”

Duke nodded, slightly more impressed and turned to Cass who just shrugged, “Me?”

“Cass can hold her own just fine but these goop grenades are going to be hers.” Babs said as she soldered a few more wires together. Cass clapped her hands and grinned while Steph bumped her hip against her friend’s side.

“Alright! It’s done!” Harper called out, holding up a monstrosity of a weapon.

“That was fast,” Dick told her, looking the large gun over. “Uh… What’s it do?”

“It shoots arcs of electricity. I want to be an electrical engineer and with access to this kinda stuff? Piece of cake,” Harper smirked proudly and propped the gun against her shoulder. Cass shot her fingers guns like Steph had shown her, causing Harper to blush a deep red. Barbara refocused her attention onto the work at hand when she heard a “DING!” from her beloved printer. “Tim! Go get Stephanie her bat.”

“Ha! Get it! I’ll be a BAT-girl!” The blonde was elbowing Damian in the ribs, trying to get their stoic youngest to crack a grin to no avail. Damian just gave her his signature -tt- before walking away.

Tim had wrapped the handle with a special purple grip tape that Barbara had picked up just for the younger girl before he presented it to Steph with a flourish. “Your weapon of choice m’lady,” he said with a deep bow.

Steph snatched the solid electrum bat from Tim with a grin, “Thanks Babs! It’s exactly what I wanted!”

“The end should flick down to reveal a button to fire a goop grenade. Also were you access the refill latch. I’ll give you them once I’m done, until then go with Tim and get a feel for it.” The younger girl smiled even wider at Barbara before skipping off deeper into the cave, Tim just behind her.

“So… What about me?” Duke asked, pulling a chair over to sit beside her.

“Well you never said what you wanted. Harper! Can you stop flirting with Cass and bring me my tablet back?”

Dick and Jason, who had been at the large computer screen behind her chuckled as the blue haired girl blushed again. Cass just smiled slyly, snatched the tablet off the table and handed it to Barbara. She pulled up the menagerie of blueprints and began showing them to Duke.

“Anything interesting?” He shook his head so she continued to show him print after print. “Nothing?” Duke frowned a little and Babs nodded. “This stuff is too impractical for you. It’s ok, you’re a smart guy! I know exactly what you’re thinking.”

“You do?” Duke asked her skeptically.

Babs smirked, that pitch was what got her top sales clerk at the bookstore she worked in part time. “Containment. What’s the good in hunting ghosts if you’ve got nowhere to put them.”

Duke blinked, “Uh, yeah actually. I was kinda thinking about that.”

Barbara nodded and opened up a new folder, the designs in here were all for capturing and holding ghosts rather than just dispatching them into the hereafter.

She once again began flipping through but this time Duke stopped her, “That! I want one of those.”

Barbara studied the blueprint he had stopped her on. It was one of her own designs, a compact, hand held vacuum like containment unit that worked on the same principle of sucking up and holding the ghost. “Now this is just a design, I haven’t tried making one of these just yet.”

“That’s ok. I can help,” Duke told her with a wide smile.

She nodded, “Pass me those pliers.”